sbt518

We booked through a TA here in the US and got $425 from them, plus we're captains club members and booked during the original 123 Go promotion so we got all three options, $300OBC, plus drinks package plus prepaid gratuities.

 

We already paid for the upgrade to the premium package during the confusion when people weren't sure it could be done on board so we'll have to get some spa treatments or maybe I'll get some jewelry :D

 

For only our 2nd Celebrity cruise I think we got a good deal!

OK, sounds like we'll be eliminating Sorrento and spending more time in Naples.

 

Thanks.

My husband and I will be in Naples for one day in late June on the Reflection.

We are comfortable on public transportaion, not good at speaking Italian and have different goals for our day in Naples.

 

I want to see Pompeii, as much as I can fit into one day and still go to Sorrento. He wants to go eat pizza in Naples at one of the original pizza places.

 

So right now the plan is to get off the ship ASAP, take the train to Pompeii, DIY or get on a tour there. Spend a few hours and then take the train to Sorrento.

Wander around there for a bit, have a snack (got to save room for pizza!) and then take the high speed boat back to Naples.

 

Once back in Naples go to one of the original pizzerias for pizza and if there is time, and we have room, try one of the famous Sfogiatelle (however it is spelled) pastries.

 

Has anyone done something similar? Is this too much to do in one day, should we skip Sorrento and just go back on train to Naples from Pompeii?

We changed our booking to take advantage of the 123Go promotion a few weeks ago.

 

Finally the classic beverage package showed up on our reservation and I called my TA to upgrade to the premium. He called -X- and they told him that we have to upgrade on board. That due to people having problems with their reservations and upgrades that were done before they were no longer letting people upgrade before.

 

This is fine with us as we'll have $750 in OBC and prepaid gratuities plus the premium alcohol package on a port intensive Europe cruise so we don't need a while bunch of OBC. I just hope it works.

 

Has anyone else been told this?

Hi Sbt518,

 

That I know of, there's no deadline to order the premium package. The promotion is scheduled to end on 2/18. That might be what you are concerned about.

 

As long as your TA notified Celebrity that you wish to purchase the Premium upgrade, I wouldnt worry about it. From other members reports, they are a bit behind in making the additions to bookings, but they are happening. What matters most, is that Celebrity is notified.

 

I'd suggest following up with your TA next week. I hope this helps !

 

Thanks Andy, I thought we had to have the upgrade completed by the 2/18 deadline.

 

I'll call the TA and let them know we want to upgrade, I thought also I needed to call Celebrity to do this as it says on the 123 Go info but that I could not make that call until our changed reservation changed.

 

Now I understand.

I think I read that the deadline to upgrade to the premium beverage package is Feb 18th.

 

And that it takes a month for the package to show on your itinerary if you book with a TA.

 

I'm concerned about this because we just cancelled and rebooked our reservation a week ago to take advantage of the 123 Go promotion but we want to upgrade to the premium package.

 

The TA said it would take at least 2 weeks, maybe more to show on the X system that we have the package. Now I'm worried that we'll miss the window of opportunity.

 

Does anyone have any suggestions?

I love how you color coordinated your outfits on formal night! Don't know if that was intentional but it is great, I hope you display that photo in your house somewhere.

 

And I appreciate the review, we are going in June of next year and all the information I can get is much appreciated so thanks very much.

Some on here seem to have had a different experience than we have on the last three cruises. On each of those, they had host at the entrance to each of the Latitudes parties, both the general Latitudes and the Silver and up one. Each person in the cabin got an invitation if they were Latitudes and they were collected before you went in. We saw many (and I mean dozens) turned away for not having the invitation. Some were friends, others in the cabin that were not Latitudes etc. Many upset people but they were very firm. If you said you forgot it, they sent you back to the room for it. No exceptions. Maybe some ships are a little more flexible???

 

Last year on the Star only my DH got an invitation for the party but I went anyway. They said at the door that the invitation was your entry to the raffle but other than that I didn't need it. And that had I known that I could have gone to guest relations to get an invitation.

 

I had no problems getting into the party though. I think I recall that it said latitudes on my sea pass card.

Thanks for another great review Sherri!

 

We also did Bernard's tour in March when we were in St. Maarten. Ours was slightly different, we did not go to Rima's or the iguana place and maybe we had more time at the beach or in Marigot to compensate. But we loved the tour for our first visit to the island.

 

I just wanted to add, for those people looking to see the flights at the Sunset Beach bar. You can check out the flight schedule on their website.

http://www.sunsetsxm.com/index.php/home/arriving-flights

For those of you wanting tips, tour information, etc for the ports, I will try to post all of this at the end of my review.

 

In the meantime, I had developed a website for our Roll Call that has a lot of this information. If you click on this LINK - you'll find the website.

 

For each port, "hover" your cursor over it, and a drop-down menu will appear. There will be information on tours - including private tours, ship excursions (with RCI), and DIY tips. There will also be a link for "Spotlight" - and this will bring up additional books, websites and movies devoted to that port. This is where we got some of the movies that we watched.

You can ignore the events, member information, etc! :D

 

I hope this helps some of you with your planning...or, you can wait until "The End." :)

 

Our Roll Call used this site extensively to help us prepare for our adventure! It was fun building it and maintaining it for my year of "planning"!!!!

 

 

This is fantastic! As far as I'm concerned you don't need to waste your time putting all the movies in one list, I can get them from this website you made.

 

Apparently you have to get to another trip review after this one so I don't want to keep you from your fans when this information is already all put together here.

This is an amazing review. I've been following along the whole time and my DH and I are looking into a Med cruise next June with many of the same stops.

 

I really like that you watched movies to prepare yourself for this (who wants to read books when the movie version is out there!)

 

Can you post a list of the ones you watched when you post the tour information?

 

Not only is this thread hilarious it is also an invaluable resource for others planning similar itineraries.

Thank you so much for all your time and effort.

[quote name='Gig103']I feel like Europe is very easy to navigate on land, unlike Alaska. That is why I've been to Europe and rented cars and taken trains several times, but will be taking an Alaskan cruise.

Take a look at the ports on the Med, and decide if you want to see them all? Keep things in mind like the Civitavecchia and Livorno ports are not convenient to Rome and Florence, respectively.

Either will be beautiful![/quote]

I do agree with this and have traveled Europe and Italy by train. AND I agree with your comment about Rome so we've picked a Reflection sailing that starts and ends in Rome so we can spend more than 12 hours there.
We will miss Venice, Florence and Pisa but could someday go back to Italy and do those by land. We'll also be going to several Greek Islands and an overnight in Istanbul. So I think this will be a good mixture of history and relaxation with the islands and 3 sea days.

I'm not sure I'd ever go to Turkey on a land vacation so I'm excited to spend a day and a half in Istanbul and a day in Kusadasi (sp?)

When I was in Athens I wasn't a huge fan of the city so I'll rush the husband through all the important sites in one day!

And then someday we'll go on cruise that leaves from Barcelona or just maybe a trip to Spain because it is on my bucket list to see Gaudi's work as well. As is the Panama Canal AND Alaska, so we must save our pennies...

We can't do it all with this one trip so with thanks to all of you for your input we've settled on something that will work for us for this trip.

Now it is looking like the Med in June.

 

I asked the husband if he could take 2 weeks off in June next year because a friend of ours is also looking at this cruise and he said he thought he could.

 

Next thing I know he's telling me there are Sunset Veranda cabins available and we should get one before they are gone!:D

How about a compromise--do Norway. Europe with the fabulous scenery of an Alaska cruise and the not so hot temperatures of the Med.

 

That certainly is an option and those leave from Southampton usually. Flights to London are cheaper than the mainland of Europe and we have a friend we could stay with in London.

 

I think basically I need to spend all of 2013 cruising in order to go on all these birthday cruises.

You all make such great points.

 

We've only been on the Eclipse once and we were sold on -X- from then on. I know that Princess has better Alaskan itineraries but I want to cruise Celebrity on my birthday.

 

The Solstice from Seattle is intriguing though. I'll have to look at the schedule.

 

I definitely want to do a cruise from Barcelona, I've never been there but I think August is not the time to do that. The husband does not deal well with the heat.

TLCOhio, great photos as always! Those are the types of images that make me want to go back. And I do want to cruise the Norwegian Fjords someday and also the Baltics. But I feel like my husband needs to see the architectural and archaeological wonders of Europe first. Like do the "basics" before the more exotic.

 

But I think Emcee207 and the others of you who have reminded me how hot and crowded Europe can be in August have convinced me to go Alaska in August and then do Europe later.

 

Now, to start the research!

I know, I could have worse problems than this right?

 

I think will all of you reminding me just how hot it can get in the Med in August, I remember 34C days in Crete! It was NASTY.

My husband would probably enjoy Europe more in Spring or Fall when we wouldn't be dying of heat exhaustion. And yes, August is not a good time to go. Why couldn't my parents have planned for my 40th birthday cruise better?

 

So I'm leaning towards Alaska. Plus since it is a more relaxing cruise and cheaper I will have more opportunity for on board pampering for my b-day.

 

And yes, YVRCruiser, it IS only 7 days but we'll spend a few days in Vancouver before and maybe after.

I'm sure I'll get back to you on ideas for that later. :p If you don't mind.

 

Our wedding anniversary is in May so I'll tell the husband that for the next big one we're taking 2 weeks to go to Europe. All is not lost Med lovers! I will make it back there.

I am an architect. So I've studied most or all of the typical sites people see when the cruise the Med and I've visited them but on a student's budget (youth hostels, train pass, backpack)

 

I spent a summer working on an archaeological excavation in Crete and then 2 weeks taking Greek ferries around the islands basically sleeping all day on the beach, going back to our youth hostel to shower and partying all night.

 

So I love Europe and the islands and would love to spend more time there, eat some real food, travel in AC etc. I am concerned about the heat in August and also I recall most of Europe shuts down for the month of August for vacation? So maybe August is not the best time to go.

 

I'm also concerned that 1 day in Rome is not enough to show my husband everything he needs to see. Or 1 day in any European port city.

 

So that has me leaning towards Alaska. But can I really go all the way to Alaska and not go to Denali NP? What a shame.

 

We love photography and nature so I think Alaska would be amazing. I mean, we spend our whole life in a city, why should I vacation in one? I want to breathe clean air and see trees, and birds and fish and maybe bears and moose and mountains and water and..... you know.

 

I was actually only considering Alaska until I started seeing people's reviews and photos of their Med cruises this year and it made me say "I WANT TO GO BACK THERE!"

 

I have actually checked itineraries and targeted the Century 08/11/13 RT Vancouver or the Reflection 08/10/13 or 08/19/13. I've never been to Turkey so the overnight in Istanbul on the 08/19 itin. sounds interesting.

 

But then, if I can go for 13 days to Europe then maybe I could squeeze out a few more days to do a short land tour in Alaska before or after a one way cruise.

 

GAH! I'm going to drive myself insane with this.

I'm dreading errr, I mean excitedly planning for my 40th birthday next year (2013) and DH and I are going to go on a cruise to celebrate.

My birthday is in August so that is when we'll go.

 

We can't take more than a week or 10 days so it would be a shorter trip.

 

If we did Alaska we'd probably do a R/T Vancouver cruise and save the land portion for another year when we can take more time. Spending a few days in Vancouver before the cruise.

 

If we did the Med we'd take a 10 or 11 night cruise and fly in the day before.

 

I've been to Europe by land on the cheap when I was a student.

I've never been to Alaska.

My husband has never been to either.

 

We're 40sih (you knew that though from reading this) fairly active and like to see wildlife as well as tour cities.

So I can't decide which to pick. He said it is my choice, plan it and he'll be ready to go when the time comes.

 

I know we'd love both but they are so different. And I've decided that we're cruising on Celebrity even if they aren't the best for either of these itineraries because it is my birthday and I want to be spoiled and I know I can get that on Celebrity.

 

Any suggestions?

What would you do? Or what DID you do for your big birthday/anniversary etc?

 

Thanks In Advance!

Currently in NYC there are several types of vehicles being used as yellow cabs.

 

Legally you can only have as many people in the taxi as there are seatbelts so for most that is 4 passengers plus the driver. You might get 5 in the minivan cabs.

 

So there are Toyota Prius taxis, you'd probably need 3 of those with all your luggage. There are also minivans and SUVs which have more luggage room and then there are these new cabs that are sort of like tiny buses made by Nissan, they are just rolling them out, I've only seen a few.

 

Here is a website with info on most of the taxi types although I didn't see the prius and I know they exist because I've ridden in them.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/media/totweb/taxioftomorrow_taxioftoday.html

 

Also, the "taxi of tomorrow" is the new style.

We had the premium alcohol package on the Eclipse a few weeks ago and I agree it was a great deal.

 

Also I was able to order a bottle of water and a martini at the same time a few times when I asked. BUT my husband was right next to me ordering his own martini so I think it was obvious to the bartender we weren't sharing the package.

 

I found that I enjoyed many non-alcoholic drinks that I normally would not splurge for on a cruise. Cafe al Bacio became our favorite place quickly.

 

I kept a tally of the drinks each of us ordered and we spent between $55 a day (one day) to $100/day. Our average was about $80 and it was about a third to a half non-alcoholic drinks. The convenience and the freedom to order whatever we wanted were great. We also loved the molecular bar so one cocktail before dinner and 2 after dinner and you are halfway to your package per day price.

Thanks Cheryl.

I'll put that in my spreadsheet!

 

I usually drink ketel one and soda and DH likes the Jack and Cokes.

 

We will probably try the fancy stuff too but not as much.

 

So I need to see what works out best for us pricewise.

Has anyone cruised recently and know the cost of a basic cocktail?

Like Jack and Coke or Rum and Coke?

 

I've looked at the very extensive list posted at the beginning of this thread and at the bottom it says that the cost of basic drinks is unknown.

 

We're doing some calculating to see how much we think our drinks will decide so the above info would help.

 

Thanks!

It was $368 or $378 (I can't remember) last night when I looked.

 

Edited to add, I just checked again and it is $378, are you sailing for more than 7 days?

I've had a busy busy year at work and earned myself some extra money and accumulated a LOT of PTO so the husband and I decided to cruise the Western Carib. on NCL.

 

We looked at the suites and it was twice as much pp than a balcony or mini suite so we decided we didn't need the perks.

 

But now looking at this, I sort of want them and we have the money.

 

aaaaaaaaarrrrrrrgggghhhhh can't decide!

 

Also, he was leaning towards the mini-suite rather than the balcony b/c he is not a small man and likes the idea of the tub vs. shower. To me it doesn't seem worth it but I think the price difference between balcony and mini suite is only $100 so he can have his larger bathroom for that.

 

But all those suite perks are making me reconsider. :confused: