floridafolks

We have been able to get Limoncello on our sailings - at least on Solstice, Millenium, Constellation. They do not stock it in every bar, but have found it and keep it in the bars we frequent. FWIW- it has been covered on Classic pkg. BTW, if you run across a bartender named Songpol from Thailand- he makes a terrific martini using limoncello and fresh lemons!:D

Did it say how much the passes cost? Last time I was on Reflection they were $75pp for 7 day cruise. I don’t know if that was embarkation day rate or the regular rate.

Ours is a 16 day cruise and it was $149 pp for the entire cruise

Hi all.....does anyone know how many passes are available for persian garden on celebrity solstice? We know it's limited but just looking for a ballpark figure. Thanks in advance.

We are currently on Solstice and the had a sign up at spa reception desk that 40 passes are available.

Would love to hear more! How was the tour?

How long did you stay in Xi'an?

Did you book a hotel there?

How many were in your group?

 

Thanks in advance!

Our tour was fantastic! We flew from SFO to Xi’an direct and were met by our China Highlights guide and driver for transfer from airport to hotel. We stayed at Hilton inside the city walls(using points) The next day we were picked up at hotel early and saw the TerraCotta Warriors - then the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Muslim Street, Drum and Bell towers before returning to hotel. The next day we were able to walk city wall from our hotel location before being picked up by guide and driver for trip to airport later that afternoon. We did the tour with just 2 of us. This was great and let us tailor timing to our desires. ( We had done a small group tour with 5 people in Beijing last year with same China Highlights and that was very good too. )

If you have other questions, do not hesitate to ask.

Note - Since you are also heading to Shanghai - When arriving in Shanghai we got to take the Maglev into town- a great experience and easy with luggage. We stayed at the Andaz (using points) and it was fabulous with a great location and complimentary happy hour with great drinks and hors d’ oeuvres each evening. My DH is a Diet Coke addict and soft drinks were complimentary all day. Everything in the room was controlled by an IPad.

We are just finishing up a wonderful 4day 3 night post cruise trip to Angkor Wat/Siem Reap. There is so much to see that I would never suggest just an overnight visit. Flights were easily arranged. We used the services of Sam Sophea and all was excellent. We were met at airport and transferred to hotel in Siem Reap. We had daily tours with him and now are awaiting our trip back to airport to return home. We stayed at Park Hyatt on points and it has a great location able to walk to Pub Street and Night Market.

This has been a great no hassle way to visit awe inspiring Angkor Wat!

Thank you for suggesting this company. We are hoping to travel to the Terra Cotta Warriors pre-cruise (we deprt from Shanghai so the Bejing trip won't work). Unfortunatley she doesn't seem to offer this as an option but will keep her in mind for our overnight call in Beijing.

We are flying using FF points on direct flight SFO to Xi'an pre-cruise next month to see Terra Cotta warriors before departing from Shanghai on our Millenium cruise. We are using China Highlights for pickup/drop off at airport and private tour while in Xi'an. (We used same company for tour post cruise last fall in Beijing and were very happy. ). We then are using Choice air for flight from Xi'an to Shanghai. China Highlights will customize your trip and they also offer excursions in Shanghai, if you want.

To be seated together as a group' date=' all of the reservations must be "linked." If you used a TA, they must do this (even if they didn't book all of the reservations.) If no TA, you can call DCL yourself with all the reservation numbers. The high chair will be automatic--nothing special to get one.

 

Anyone in the group who has your information can do your on line check in and select PAT for you. You get the same PAT by selecting the same time. The computer will show you all available times. Basically agree that everyone in the group will do on line check in at X day and time, and select the earliest available time (or whatever time suits you). If it isn't available, get the nearest time to that. You can edit the times later if you can't all get what you want, and you can always delay boarding until the later time so you will all board together. Your PAT is NOT a boarding time, but it is tied to your boarding number. Earlier PAT = earlier boarding.

 

You can purchase a cake on the DCL web site any time up to 3 days before the cruise. If you do nothing, there is a birthday dessert, a button, and the servers will sing HB.

 

Nursery reservations can be made in advance up to 3 days before the cruise; they are excellent about allowing you to change times on board if needed. Programming for kids 3-12 have on line sign up, but this only makes it easier to do it either at the terminal or on board. There are no time reservations for kids 3 and older--take them to the age appropriate area and drop them off. If you are not waiting around the terminal to board, it is far easier to do the kid registration on the ship. There is typically a long line at the terminal and no line on board.[/quote']

Thank you for your help! Are we charged for the nursery at time we make reservation online pre-cruise, or is it charged to onboard account? Is it possible to cancel reservation for nursery once onboard if we find we don't need it?

There will be 11 of us on a 3day Dream cruise to celebrate my husband's 70 th birthday. How do we get a table for 11 including a high chair? Do I arrange this beforehand or after boarding? If I get the reservations linked, will they automatically place us at same table?

Since this is our first Disney cruise I understand we can request a Port arrival time 75 days in advance. Unfortunately my husband and I will be on a cruise in Asia then. Can one of our sons request a PAT for all of us, or do we have to do it separately. How can we all get same PAT?

How do I arrange a bday cake for one dinner?

Do you make reservations for the nursery or kids program in advance or once on the ship?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Hi Jazz

 

Yeah, that was definitely the start of the new norm when they introduced the BBB a year or two ago. Perhaps other posters are correct that they may have shortened the time span for the 0-perk reduced fares; but for now it seems that they may have taken a further step for 2018 cruises by not providing a way to opt out of a 1-perk and receive a lower fare.

 

Time will tell.

Larry, I will share my exception. We booked a Feb 2018 Solstice cruise with perks. Shortly after booking, I noticed a senior rate on the Celebrity website. I called my TA - not a big box- and got the lower Senior rate with no perks. It saved $1100 per person! For us, that was definitely worth giving up the perks:)

I just checked again and nope, I still don't seem to have the option.

 

Maybe I will pose the question over at the roll call to see if any of my fellow travelers have been able to pre-book using OBC..:confused:

I also do not have option for April 17 cruise. I called Captains Club and was told it is for cruises beginning on/after April 22. I believe you said your cruise was soon, so perhaps this is the reason.

This link to new drink packages works.

 

The beer list on the premium package is one of the best I've seen anywhere. I'll pay the $1 extra to upgrade beer. At most, I'll drink a couple a day. Of course, there's nothing wrong with Sam Adams on the Classic Package either.

Thanks for the link. Agree about the beer.

I find it odd that fountain sodas are on classic, but can sodas are listed under premium. Surely a can of soda is less than $9, so why is is not available under classic?

Also, I do not see limoncello listed at all - a fav for DH. Where would that be?

Mostly sad about the move of Baileys - love it on the rocks, with BBC, and Aspen coffee. But will just gladly pay the small up charge rather than have a need to upgrade to premium.

You are correct. Only the teas and basic cappuccino, latte and expresso are included in the Elite+ benefit. They will often add a vanilla powder if you ask, but everything else is charged. To your Seapass card. At least it should be charged. If you order the specialty coffees in the MDR or other venues they need to go to al Bacio to get it. They do have a machine in Michael's Club, but that is restricted to Suite passengers and Zeniths. They can only make the basic coffees and have to get anything else from al Bacio.

How about Luminae? I see cappuccino and latte on the menu- are they complimentary for Elite Plus?

Bonnie,

 

I have read conflicting reports on where Azamara will be docking in Venice. Will it be the big Marittma or San Basilla? We are on the May 13th sailing. This is a change for the 2017 season. Would you be able to confirm which pier for me?

 

Thanks for your help.

 

Kathy

Our first Azamara cruise leaves from Venice in May. It would be helpful to know if we dock at San Basillo or Maritima in order to arrange proper transport to and from the ship. There seems to be a number of others with the same question, but no answers thus far. Our express pass gives us the times to board but not the location. Please help.

Docked in Civatavecchia on the Epic last September at 6.00am. Straight off the ship at 6.01am which had moored up at 12 (Bis) N, and walked through the port and to the railway station. Arrived at 6.40am, had a quick bite to eat and onto the 7.02am train to Rome which was already in the station. There were no shuttle buses around at that time.

Does anyone know what time the shuttle bus from port entrance to train station starts in the morning? Somewhere I thought I saw 7:50 am was first shuttle bus, but I cannot find confirmation. Anyone know? Is the cost about 2 euro pp?

Post-cruise in September we want to explore a bit. How hard/how long to get to Kyoto and/or Hiroshima? Just 2 adults, one previous visit to Japan, Osaka area about 12 years ago. Thanks in advance for any tips:)

Here is our experience last fall-hope some of it helps. We bought the week long JR pass to explore a bit pre-cruise from Tokyo. Some of our time was spent going to both Kyoto and Hiroshima with Himeji Castle on the way. We also loved visiting Miyajima while in Hiroshima. This was very easy and were highlights of our trip. We did use the Shinkansen bullet trains, but not the Nozomi. The Sakura Shinkansen do not take much longer than the Nozomi.

You can look on the hyperdia site to see costs and schedules. The JR pass was a much better value than buying individual tickets. We had our 7 days mapped out with JR voucher purchased before leaving home. When we exchanged the voucher for the pass in Japan, we made our seat reservations on the bullet trains, price covered by the pass.

Also we left our big luggage at our hotel in Tokyo, so we could travel with just a carry on. It was ideal to travel on train with little luggage. It was our first time in Japan, but we found train travel very easy and comfortable.

The benefit applies at any bar or restaurant on the ship. It does not apply to room service.

 

 

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That is news to me. We have been elite plus for a couple of years and always thought we needed to go to Cafe Bacio and order something from the non-alcoholic pages of their menu! Good to know! thanks

We have used lowcostaxi twice and they were great both times. They took us from the airport to our hotel, near the cruise port and after the cruise they picked us up at the hotel and brought us back to the airport. They are really great. (Note the spelling...only 1 t ):)

Just checking back to see if anyone else has other suggestions for private shuttle from the San Basilio cruise terminal to VCE airport.

Thanks

Double check with the Houston consulate to be sure they still allow walk-in applications.

 

For India and, I think Russia, the Houston consulates use companies, such as Cox & Kings to do their visas for them -- no more walk-ins.

I can definitely verify that the Houston Chinese Consulate only accepts walk-ins-- no appointments given. We dropped our application off on Tuesday and just picked up our passports with visa inside today (Friday,)

BTW, the Houston Consulate does not accept express service requests. Their website states this and there are many signs in the office stating no express service available at this consulate office.

Since there was no box for "10 year" visa, I checked the "other" box for length of time for visa requested and then typed in the space next to it "10 year visa requested." We were both given a 10 year visa.

They were very thorough in asking us for supporting documentation- airline tickets and cruise/hotel reservations. Do not use staples anywhere-- I knew not to use staples on the application, but I had stapled my hotel reservations and airline ticket confirmations and the lady was kind enough to use a staple remover to take them out.

You can find the list of complementary spirits and cocktails here

 

https://www.azamaraclubcruises.co.uk/booked-guests/onboard-packages/complimentary-beverages

soon to be first time azamara-

So do they not include limoncello, Baileys or Frangelico?

How is the lemon drop made from the included list that has been mentioned here?

Yes they are, but you will probably find that Azamara knowledge on a Celebrity ship is not good. Go armed with information on special offers, available onboard perks etc before you go.

 

Phil

We have never sailed Azamara, but are considering it. We are Elite Plus on Celebrity, so that would make us Discoverer Plus on Azamara. If we book the Azamara cruise while onboard our next Celebrity cruise, would we be entitled to the 7% discount and $200 OBC? If the Celebrity onboard booking agents are unfamiliar with Azamara perks, is there some dept I could refer them to? Is there a link that I should print out before boarding so I would get the available discounts? I assume that the onboard booking could be transferred to a TA? Would I later be allowed to request an upgrade for $199pp?

Also, what are these "quarterly savings" that folks are mentioning?

Thanks for the help.

I'll be visiting Warnemende on July 3rd of this year from the Silhouette. I am trying to decide whether to take SPB's walking/ train tour or to do it DIY.

From what I have read SBP tours does a great job (we are booking them for our stop in St. Petersburg) but I haven't read many reviews for them specifically on the Warnemunde/ Rostock/ Schewrin tour. The thing I like about the tour is that I don't have to worry about the language barrier and that it's basically an easy way to sightsee.

What I don't like is that they only give 1 hour to see all of the castle and the grounds! ONE hour. My hubby loves castles and I love the gardens so one hour isn't much. They spend one hour having lunch. I could do with a snack and keep going.

So...about the DIY, I have read many post on CC. Some cruisers say they had a difficult time others say it's easy. I have read that the lander ticket includes the tram in Rostock and others say that it does not.

I've read that one should purchase their ticket online in advance to avoid confusion and backing up the ticket queue. I've also read that the lander ticket can only be purchased from the dispensing machine at the station and that you must have a chip and pin card to purchase from said machine. I have a chip but no pin. I have traveled via train in Europe before and usually it takes a moment to get oriented but I've never had any real issues.

Also we will be there on a Sunday and our ship is in port from 9:30 until 23:59. If we choose DIY I'd like to go to Schewrin as early as possible. Hang out see the sights and then head back for a stop in Rostock. Then Warnemunde last. Since we will be there so late I am thinking about dinner in Warnemunde. Any suggestions? I am also wondering since my visit will be on Sunday that everything will be closed by the time we return from Schewrin and Rostock.

Has anyone done the SPB tour? What about all the discrepancies I am reading about tickets? This is the ticket (link) that I am thinking I need.

https://fahrkarten.bahn.de/privatkunde/pauschalpreisbuchen/pauschalpreis_start.post?angebotsgruppe=7&returnurl=http://www.bahn.com/i/view/overseas/en/prices/germany-regional/mecklenburg-western-pomerania-ticket.shtml&scope=standalone&lang=en&country=overseas

 

Thanks for any info or insights you might be able to offer :-)

We plan to DIY to Schwerin next month following info on Travelanni's webpage. The one bit that I can clarify/verify for you is that the Lander tickets CAN be purchased online. I just did it yesterday following the English instructions on the DB website. You get a chance to print the ticket out at the end of the transaction. Also they send an email with the ticket as an attachment. Also if you register on the site, you can always go back and reprint the tickets if you lose the original. The instructions were very easy to follow.

After visiting Ephesus twice, we branched out and took a dolmus (with the locals) to the hill town of Sirince and had a lovely day- beautiful spot and great fruit flavored wines!

The next two times we opted to have a Turkish Bath- once just outside of Kusadasi and once in Selcuk.

You can pay the ticket at the Town Shop just next to the bus stop.

Could you clarify-- do we need DKK to pay for tickets at the Town Shop or can we use credit card? This is our first stop in Denmark, so wondered if there is an ATM at Oceankaj to get DKK or do we need to wait until we get into town?

thanks again for your help.

This thread is kinda old- any recent update? Are Wang Wangs still served on HAL--are they included in Signature Beverage Package, but just not on the menus? Just curious???

On board credit from Celebrity is Non-Refundable. OBC given by your TA is normally refundable. I say normally because some TA's give OBC's or other perks and claim that they are from the TA, but they are actually from Celebrity. You kind of don't want to be dealing with those TA's.

 

I suggest you call your TA and ask them if it's refundable if you don't use it.

To be certain, I would suggest to the OP to go to guest relations after OBC has posted. Ask what the coding is-- if it is OBN, then it is non refundable --If it is OBR, then it is refundable. They will fortunately charge against the OBN first. Any OBR will automatically go back to your credit card on record. OBN must be dealt with by (I think) 10pm the night prior to disembarkation or you lose it.

True story- the night before disembarkation we were chatting at Elite Happy Hour with a friend we had met on the cruise. He mentioned he had almost $1000 in OBC that he had not spent and said it would go back on his credit card. I asked him if it was OBN or OBR and he had no idea. I suggested he check at guest relations to make sure. He did check and it was OBN!!:eek: I told him to make a beeline for the casino, which he did. He did not mind losing the 5% as he was shortly going to lose it all.

PS (We received some lovely wine from him for Christmas- thanking us for all we saved him!)

Moral of the story - verify if your OBC is OBR or OBN! As you say, sometimes the TAs lead one to believe the OBC is from them when it is from Celebrity.