PelicanLvr

On 11/27/2022 at 10:30 AM, NCteacherlovescruising said:

I have never been there so no idea what itinerary's would be ideal.  My friends are well traveled so they would know much more about it, however I'm a much more experienced cruiser.  I do want to fly in early to explore, so that's an excellent point!

 

Celebrity will open their itinerary's on December 5th, correct?

Tami,

When you say "I have never been there..."  do you mean you haven't been to the Greek Islands / Adriatic ports or all of Europe?

On 11/27/2022 at 4:58 PM, NCteacherlovescruising said:

• Athens (Piraeus),Greece
• Santorini,Greece
• Mykonos,Greece
• Zakynthos,Greece
• Corfu,Greece
• Kotor,Montenegro
• Dubrovnik,Croatia
• Split,Croatia
• Venice,Italy
• Venice (Trieste),Italy

 

IMHO, while this is a wonderful itinerary, it is an itinerary for someone who has already been to the cruise-highlights of Europe like: Rome, Florence, & Barcelona.

Just my 2 cents....food for thought.

Enjoy your planning and the trip!!

P.L.

PS:  Please spend at least one night in Venice (on the island) to soak it in.  Go to St, Mark's Square at night to hear the orchestras play in the outdoor cafes.  Unforgettable experience!

StockJock,

Have been to all the ports on your itinerary and as usual the CC faithful are giving "spot-on" advice.  I have 2 things to say:

1. Santorini:  You are absolutely doing the right thing.  Take a ship tour to get you off early by tender.  You are there until 10PM.  Don't miss the opportunity to have dinner in this spectacular setting at sunset either overlooking the caldera or at the Amoudi waterside restaurants, just below Oia (the restaurants will call for a taxi back to the ship).

2.  Don't miss Ephesus.  There are ruins, and there are ruins.  This is right up there with the best.  Book a private tour or put up with the carpet "show"....Ephesus is worth it.

Have a great trip!

Amcco above is correct.  It's usually several months out (not weeks) that suddenly the FVs are available if they are not booked by larger groups. Just keep checking.

Also suggest a call to X to ask if they might keep a waiting list for that availability.  But I would still keep checking yourself.

On 11/10/2022 at 1:34 PM, GrammieK said:

The info my TA provided when I called is that the sale only applies to veranda cabins. 

Looking at the sale brochure, at the top of the list of included cruises is the title

"CATEGORY*"    -- Note the *

At the bottom of the list is:

* available on all stateroom categories

Holding out hope it indeed applies to all categories!!

Another vote for Guided Tours Israel.  

We got their name from these boards 10 years ago and used them.  Outstanding.  They are still recommended as a top tour provider there. 

Highly recommended.  

OP - First welcome to Cruise Critic.  I see you're new around here.  Enjoy!

Generally, the more info you give when you post a question, the better the info you get back.

So, What city are you flying into?  Advice is different for Miami vs. Rio!

Agree that Santorini is a DO NOT MISS port.

As suggested above, get to Oia.  Getting there by boat sounds good...also by taxi or bus.  Most beautiful town on the island.  

Just soak it in and have lunch there.  

I suggest you ask your private tour operator for scheduling suggestions.  They should know what works at their location.

Do not presume you can get an early time.

Water Bottles:  I have not heard of room attendants stocking "free" (on the packages) water:

You used to always be able to get a bottle of water whenever you ordered a drink of any kind.  Was not subject to the "no 2 drinks at a time rule".  Ask for one.  "I'll have a XXXX and a bottle of water".

Ask if the bar has a "large" bottle or if not if you can have 2 small ones per card.

There was no problem stopping twice (at different bars) to grab waters on way back to room.

Tables are usually set up at port embarkation areas so grab a bottle each when returning to the ship....Same on the way ashore - grab a bottle there and not from your room supply.

We have used these techniques to build the water supply in our room.   

Don't forget water bottles are available in places like cafe bacio and other venues you might not think of.  Just ask.

Crew is happy to give you whatever they are allowed. 

Yes, do that Early Entry Vatican Tour.

We did a similar tour with "Walks of Italy" in March 2019.  It was a highlight of our Rome week.  Walking thru an empty Vatican Museum into the Sistine Chapel (which had about 25 people in it) was unforgettable. 

Also consider a similar tour for the Coliseum.  In 2019, tours had access to areas off-limits to general public.  

Both are well worth the cost!!!

4 hours ago, SusanDK said:

 When you refer to larger balconies on the slant, would you be referring to something like cabin # 7206 or #7208 on the Eclipse?

 

I

 

Yes that is correct....both have extended (deeper) balconies.  7206 is deeper than 7208 but both are much larger than standard balconies.  As I said before this may be useful in Alaskan Weather.

I prefer these "forward slant cabins" to the "slanted" cabins mid-ship which also have the deeper balconies.  The forward ones are less busy away from the main elevators and atrium.   

Search this board as there is lots of info about these balconies.

Enjoy your trip.

By picking your specific cabin you can probably book one of the "larger balcony" cabins located on the slant of the ship. 

These would be especially good for Alaska because part of the balcony would be covered.  Rain is not uncommon there.

All great suggestions above.

Also, check out the bar at Cafe al Bacio.  The bar was always a bit limited (it's the coffee cafe) but my DW and I find it inviting for a pre-dinner glass of wine or dessert and drinks post dinner.  It's open to the atrium, but far-enough removed for a quiet conversation.   

Another possibility to check out.

PL

PS:  OP - Welcome to CC!  I see this is your first post!  

This is not something to fool around with! 

Pay an expediter and get it renewed.  Peace of mind is worth the price.  

OP - Your posts are very thoughtful and you are really thinking "on the right track".

We too are active and in our younger sixties (though we won't be able to say that too much longer). 

As you seem to understand, Europe is all about itinerary.  Someone above said, you will be off the ship most of the day.  You will only return for the evening to move to the next port.  We love "Connie" and have sailed her multiple times.....not too big, not too small, just right for us.

There will be multiple bars, a lovely coffee & desert venue, several restaurants (some extra $), musicians playing around the ship and a nightly show usually at 7 & 9 pm.  

I will say the ship does "quiet-down" after 11 pm, especially in Europe....if that matters to you...but there is always a nice place for one last drink!

Have a wonderful trip.

PL

PS:  Venice is a "must-see".  Just watch out for the Venice ship-size rules because it's much harder to get there from the other ports.  Can Connie still go actually to Venice?  

OP - Did you book a GTY or a specific cabin?

3 hours ago, samc493 said:

Hello-

I'm new to Celebrity - Hoping someone has experienced this type of itinerary and can explain how it works.  We just booked the June 23 sailing on the Constellation out of Venice/Ravenna.  The website advertises an extra night for Venice - but Celebrity reps are telling us that we have to board by 3:30pm on the 23rd and they haven't made any decisions about allowing passengers to then disembark on the evening of the 23rd or the morning of the 24th prior to sail away at 2pm.... so how exactly do we experience an extra night in Venice?  Our flight arrives in Venice around 10am on the 23rd but that doesn't allow any time to see Venice before heading to Ravenna for a 3:30 embarkation.  We can fly in a day early and get a hotel in Venice - I'm just not sure why they would schedule this extra night to sit in port??  Thanks in advance for any advice/insight! 

This could be X reaching new heights of stupidity!

First, as Wonderman just said - It a long way to Venice so once you are in Ravenna forget about going into Venice from 3:30 on the 23rd till sailaway.  X should not advertise conveniently seeing Venice from Ravenna in that situation.

In the past (including when we were overnight in Venice at the start of a cruise and other overnights in Europe) the ship functioned like your "hotel".  Gangway was fully open 24/7.  One cruise we can back after midnight in Venice having dinner and cafe time in St. Mark's.  Great experience!

Saying you have to stay on the ship is crazy.  Ravenna has nice restaurants and cafes to enjoy in addition to the mosaics and all the sites.   It would be a shame to hold you prisoner.    

Kinda like what they says about tax laws:

When one loophole is closed, people find another.

So when someone finds that new cruising hidden-value, please post it here!

Does anyone know how an infected passenger is "flown home"?

I can't imagine any airline would accept them and what about the required negative test to enter the USA?

In the old pre-Covid days X used to sell unlimited access to the Persian Gardens for about $100 per person for a 7 day cruise.  Is that still being offered? Maybe that might interest the OP.

Agree that no shore excursions are needed in Bermuda.  It is an easy island with efficient and reliable good public transportation.  Taxis are extremely expensive....but you can always use them if you want.

Suggest you take the Ferry from the Dockyard into Hamilton.  Nice ride and pretty views from the water. Hamilton is a pretty town with nice shops. Good restaurants too for lunch or dinner.

From Hamilton, take the bus either onward to St. G or back to the Dockyard.  The "pink" buses are high-up with a good view.  On way back to Dockyard from Hamilton get a bus that goes along the South Road for the ocean views.  Even get out at Horseshoe Bay or Warwick Long Bay (our favorite) and take a look there.  The walk on the beach between the two is beautiful.

Look up what sites interests your group and plot your own adventure.....just go.  Don't rely on a group tour...you see only what they take you to.  

Easy to get around.  No English-language barrier and their $ equals US $.  People are very friendly.  Go on your own and find the "real-Bermuda".  

Enjoy.    

Another vote for Rome in Limo.  Highly recommended.

We had a custom-designed day with Rome in Limo from Liverno.  Did exactly what we wanted and spent every hour we had on tour.  Very highly recommended. 

If Rome in Limo is in your budget, don't hesitate to use them.

Yes, if you book a ship tour (to Oia or elsewhere) you get off first and are tendered to a dock that buses and car can get to.  You will not have to do the cable car to Fira going to your tour.   At least that's how it used to be.

M-class including Summit have the "sweet 16" cabins on deck 6.  Are any available?