Xport

We were on a large boat into the Misty Fjords, via an NCL excursion. I would imagine that Celebrity's shoorex would use the same company (unless you do the small catamaran as described below- although I do not recall any glaciers along our boat trip).

 

For the amount charged I was very disappointed in our experience. Lots of people onboard. Pretty scenery though.

Excursion participation can vary widely from day to day and trip to trip...

When I did this tour on 1 June, there were four cruise ships in port at Ketchikan but only 61--I'd judge that to account for about 25% of the tour boat's guest capacity--participants... Don't know whether it was by design of not but, on my excursion to Misty Fjords, all guests were from Celebrity Infinity; the tour was not remotely close to being crowded...

I'm a little confused because I could have swore that the Fjords excursion was the day in Juneau, I'll have to check my dailies.

Anything is possible but I don't think so, Don.. According to the guide aboard Wilderness Explorer, Misty Fjord is located about thirty miles from Ketchikan... And the Daily indicated that we sailed 286 nautical miles [surely not in a straight line] from Juneau to Ketchikan...

When I did Misty Fjord via float plane in 2011, that tour was also out of Ketchikan...

Recently returned from an Alaska trip aboard Infinity and--from your comments--think that you may be referring to Celebrity Tour #KE62 "Misty Fjords & Wilderness Explorer"... If I'm correct, following is a link to the website for the tour operator that Celebrity used for the excursion...

http://allenmarinetours.com/

I did the tour on 1 June--and despite teeming rains in Ketchikan [under the circumstances, it was helpful that the tour boat used a dock immediately adjacent to the one at which Infinity was ported]--thoroughly enjoyed it... Misty Fjord was beautiful despite the weather, the scenery along the way was memorable, and though not expected, we did--as a bonus--come upon a breaching whale and spent some time following it...

While in Juneau a day earlier [with perfect weather], I did Celebrity Tour #JU40 "Mendenhall Glacier, Whale Watching & Wildlife Quest"... The visit to Mendenhall Glacier was by bus but the much longer whale watching/wildlife quest portion of that excursion was also provided by Allen Marine... We had great whale watching success [five whales, each with multiple breaches] and did indeed see lots of other wildlife [primarily sea lions, seals and eagles; often from very close perspective]…

In my opinion [and they get very strong reviews otherwise], Allen Marine does a very nice job...

While it may or may not matter to you, you should be aware that...

• On Millennium Class ships, standard balcony cabins--including those in Category 2-C--feature 170 square feet of interior space... Balcony cabins in the Concierge Class and Aqua Class categories feature 191 square feet of interior space...
  
• On Solstice Class ships, balcony cabins in all categories--standard, Concierge Class, and AquaClass-- feature 194 square feet of interior space...
  

If the interior space difference is not material to you, the "Sweet Sixteen" staterooms seem to be popular, and comparatively, tend to be well priced; I have never personally sailed in one...

As a resident of the Fort Lauderdale area, I strongly suspect--but do not know for certain--that following is the website for the swamp safari facility that Celebrity's tour operator will use in the area... It is--by far--the largest and best known in the area...

http://www.billieswamp.com/

I've done it four or five times with friends/relatives visiting Southeast Florida and--to a person--they've always thoroughly enjoyed it...

Their website FAQ does not address physical considerations for participation [beyond pregnancy for the buggy ride]--and I am not particularly aware of any--but, if so inclined, you might want give them a call to confirm...

Enjoy!

oh my goodness, that would be so wonderful but since there's 9 of us who are on our 4th 'annual girls cruise' I 'don't think 'sneaking' is an option!!!

My notes say there's already 16 who want to do this on the Edge...trying to figure out how to make it work. But if you can get it on the 12/6 sailing the four of us are booked into Le Grand Bistro on the 7th so let's do it!!!

Hi, J...

I've otherwise reported here on Cruise Critic that Le Petit Chef fully replaced Qsine on Infinity as of 17 May [the day I boarded in San Diego for my 17 night back-to-back]…

I didn't do it--you know how I am about avoiding all finfish and most seafood including lobster [instead went to Tuscan Grille four times!]--but I will say that it quickly became wildly popular with very high marks for both the food and the entertainment/animation [which, for now--I understand it might eventually become customizable to the guest's menu preferences--is geared to the standard menu]…

I'll be eager to get your personal assessment! Have fun!

BH...

--M

Le Petit Chef fully replaced Qsine on Infinity effective with the 17 May Pacific Coastal cruise from San Diego to Vancouver...

On 28 May, I reported that Qsine had been replaced by Le Petit Chef on Infinity as of 17 May... You'll find that thread here...

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2639651

I do not know how Celebrity handled the cancellation/refund of pre-cruise Qsine reservations during my sailings... You may, of course, cancel the reservation via Cruise Planner--with a refund to the credit card you used to make the reservation--up to three days prior to embarkation date or after boarding--via a discussion with the Maitre 'D--with your payment refunded to your onboard account [as refundable Onboard Credit]...

While a Passport Card may be sufficient to cruise—I’m not personally convinced under the circumstances described here—it is never, to the best of my knowledge, sufficient to fly between any two American airports (ie; San Juan to Newark though, for now, a Driver’s License may be sufficient).

Passport Cards are primarily used to expedite Immigration clearance during motor vehicle trips crossing the US/Canada and US/Mexico borders.

Don’t want to dampen your enthusiasm but strongly encourage you to research for definitive answers at the US State Department website rather than rely on guidance/interpretation you receive—no matter how well intended—from Celebrity or Cruise Critic members...

Potentially, there is much at stake should you make the wrong decision... Read carefully; consider all possibilities (including the possible need to return to the US from any port on an emergency basis).

Back to back on Infinity now...

Le Petit Chef replaced Qsine effective with the Pacific Coastal cruise that departed San Diego on 17 May...

No personal experience yet but wildly popular; guests seemingly love it!

Alternatively, you might want to consider contacting Celebrity's Special Needs Department for guidance...

• By phone: 866-592-7225
  
• By e-mail: special_needs@celebrity.com
  

What I wouldn't mind seeing in the future is a change to the program that somehow rewards those who spend onboard.

Though I have no first-hand experience with them and have not done the research, it is my understanding--just from reading the associated forum here on Cruise Critic--that Holland America's Mariner Society does feature a secondary formula for measuring guest loyalty based upon onboard spend...

It is my impression--again, no direct experience--that HAL's loyalty program is not noted for its generosity as compared to Celebrity...

A balcony cabin earns 3 points per night with Celebrity, but 5 with Azamara.

Without knowing the stateroom categories that Mr. Click has sailed on Celebrity and the stateroom category that he has booked on Azamara, your observation may or may not make a difference in cruise point accrual for his upcoming Azamara cruise... If he has sailed Concierge Class or AquaClass on Celebrity, he will see no difference... If he has sailed in standard veranda cabins on Celebrity and is sailing in a standard veranda cabin on Azamara, current Azamara practice--it wasn't always more favorable--will result in a two point/night improvement in loyalty measurement...

Following is an excerpt of a post I made to this forum on 8 March 2018...

-----

Prior to 23 November 2013, Azamara's Le Club Voyage and Celebrity's Captain's Club both featured three loyalty tiers [Adventurer/Classic, Explorer/Select, and Discoverer/Elite], offered identical benefits across both programs, and used a Cruise Credit approach--rather than the current Cruise Point approach--to determine loyalty tier...

• One Cruise Credit was earned per trip...
  
• There was opportunity to earn an additional Cruise Credit based upon level of accommodation...
  
  • On Azamara, the additional credit was awarded to those sailing in a suite [only]...
    
  • On Celebrity, the additional credit was awarded to those sailing in an AquaClass Veranda, a Concierge Class Veranda, or a suite...
    
  • And finally, if applicable, an additional Cruise Credit was awarded--to a maximum of three and regardless of level accommodation--on sailings of twelve nights or longer...
    

-----

In my own case--given the timing of several of my cruises with Azamara [all in veranda cabins] and given that I've always sailed in Concierge Class or above on Celebrity--Azamara's practices prior to January 2015 actually "cost me" nearly 100 cruise points in my total relative to what I'd have earned had I sailed Celebrity vs Azamara and delayed my graduation from Elite+/Discoverer+ to top tier--in both programs--by about a year...

They do but remember there was a change in how points were calculated in 2012 for both lines

Actually, one “former” Cruise Credit was converted to thirty Cruise Points as of 23 November 2013. The conversion was handled identically by Celebrity and Azamara with your Cruise Point total—points still cross-acculate—the same in both loyalty programs.

Another question along these lines... we are Elite with Celebrity so I know we get benefits with Azamara but do we earn Celebrity points or Azamara points on our Azamara cruise in Januray 2019? Do we need to join Azamara's club separately?

Cruise points—whether earned while sailing Celebrity or Azamara—cross-accumulate; there is no differentiation.

Your Captain’s Club membership # is your Le Club Voyage membership # and should be associated with your Azamara reservation. Once you have completed your Azamara cruise, it will be included in your cruise history on “My Celebrity”.

An Elite Captain’s Club member will be recognized as a Discoverer (equivalent level with equivalent point requirement) member of Le Club Voyage. Benefits can differ between the two programs at equivalent tier levels (see LCV website via link provided above).

It is a great perk for the bottom feeders that only book the cheapest cabins and always look for the cheapest rates and deals that got to Elite Plus before the change. You got one point for each cruise no matter how long.

Sorry but your recollection is incomplete...

Celebrity changed from a Cruise Point based system for measuring loyalty to their current Cruise Credit based system for measuring loyalty on 23 November 2013...

• Under the former Cruise Point methodology...
  
  • One Point was awarded for each cruise of any duration...
    
  • An additional point was awarded if sailing Concierge Class, AquaClass, or in a suite...
    
  • An additional point--to a maximum of three per sailing--was awarded for cruises of twelve nights or longer...
    
    • A Captain's Club member reached Elite level after earning 10 Cruise Points...
      

Each Cruise Point earned under the former system was converted to thirty Cruise Credits under the new system for effect on 23 November 2013... At the same time, the Elite + and Zenith membership tier levels with expanded benefits were added; the benefits associated with Elite membership--as previously defined--did not change...

When they state (approximate) 2,900 double occupancy, does that mean 2,900 passengers, or 5,800 passengers'?

2,900 guests total assuming two per stateroom... Edge is approximately the same size with about the same passenger load as are the Solstice-Class ships...

Since they alternate bed by bath/balcony/bath/balcony, just count.

Which is why I suggested that one count from an established deck-specific reference point in my earlier post here...

I'm not sure that one who hasn't sailed/hasn't sailed much with Celebrity would necessarily know that the decks essentially overlay [Decks 10 and 11 are interrupted by a series of differing Suites aft of the forward-facing mid-ships slant before the pattern picks up again; Deck 12 is entirely different--versus Decks 10 and 11--right up to the rear most balcony cabins on both Port and Starboard]...

I was merely pointing out that reference to a black square on the deck plan doesn't work for AquaClass; not all who sail in that stateroom category would necessarily know that cabin occupancy is limited to two or that none of the AQ cabins--again, the subject of inquiry for this thread--features a convertible sofa bed other than--perhaps--by the total absence of the black squares on the deck plan for AquaClass cabins after reading the suggestion posted above [which does, I believe, work reliably on Decks 6 through 9]...

I've sailed enough to have my favorite cabins/favorite bed configuration [not sure why but I prefer adjacency to the balcony] but--at the end of the day--I'm relatively indifferent if availability at the time of booking suggests I need be...

On the deck plans the cabins with the black square have beds by the bathroom

As noted above, AquaClass cabins--the subject of the Original Poster's inquiry--have a maximum capacity of two guests...

While I understand that your observation as cited is true in other stateroom categories [the black square denotes the presence of a convertible sofa bed], it does not apply to AquaClass cabins [none of the sofas in AquaClass staterooms are convertible to accommodate more than two cabin occupants; none will have a black square on the deck plan]...

But how do you know what your cabin layout is? If you go to Celebrity site a put in your cabin number then put in the adjoining room you get the same image with bed near the balcony.

 

Anyone know the layout of 1578?

There is a "sticky" spreadsheet at the top of the Celebrity sub-forum page that provides cabin reviews--including bed position--for many staterooms on the Solstice-Class ships [Deck plans are virtually identical on Solstice, Equinox, Eclipse and Silhouette; Reflection has some differences]... Following is a link to the spreadsheet...

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1lYvbGYBf2WB3jSFTVuliFltauVnhdqfheWJTeFujSbs/edit#gid=888679914

Tab down until you get to Stateroom #1578 [records #528, 529, and 530] and you'll find that, in that cabin, the bed is adjacent to the bath...

That said, your question was indirectly answered earlier in this thread without consulting the spreadsheet...

• Duanerice1 noted that 1552 [i like that cabin too] has the bed adjacent to the balcony...
  
• In the following post, keesar properly notes that bed position alternates one room to the next between being adjacent to the bath and balcony...
  

Moving rearward along the starboard side [even numbered cabins; port side cabins are odd numbered] of Deck 11 and knowing that the bed in 1552 is adjacent to the balcony, 1556, 1560, 1564, 1568, 1572, 1576, and 1580 [etc] will also have the bed adjacent to the balcony...

By implication 1554, 1558, 1562, 1566, 1570, 1574, 1578, 1582, [etc] will have the bed adjacent to the bath...

Interesting and surprised that they have maintained the status quo of accumulation of points between brands. This goes back to when the Azamara ships were acquired initially as Celebrity ships. They even had the one ship replace either Horizon or Zenith in Bermuda one summer after people had already booked H or Z. They were just transferred over to the Journey and as a bit of an aside that was the only time that one of the soon to be Azamara Ships actually had children's programs. I think many thought that they would continue the points accumulation until after everyone who had sailed booking under Celebrity had completed their sailing which would take a couple of years. They never did it and who knows why. Shortly after that summer they made Azamara a separate line.

I'd been told that, during the period in which Dan Hanrahan served as leader of both lines [dating back to when the two R-Class ships were originally acquired/Azamara was quickly formed as a separate line rather than as an adjunct to Celebrity], he wanted to facilitate guest movement between the two...

Leadership has changed but Azamara still uses Celebrity's loyalty accounting system, Don... When Celebrity added the Elite + and Zenith membership tiers in November 2013, Azamara immediately followed suit [but did not redefine benefits until January 1, 2015; during 2014, Discoverer + and Discoverer Platinum members continued to receive Celebrity Elite benefits] with the same Cruise Credit to Cruise Point conversion for prior cruises, the same approach to determining future Cruise Point accruals, and the same tier point thresholds for each of the membership levels... The two lines have always shared--and still share--Captain's Club and Le Club Voyage membership numbers...

Given the IS issues that both lines face [if one can believe it, the Azamara website has--to my mind--far more challenges than the Celebrity website does], I suspect that Azamara's development of a dedicated loyalty accounting system has not received any sort of funding/resource priority... To this day, an Azamara cruiser needs to log into My Celebrity--even if he/she has never sailed Celebrity--to get one's cruise history and LCV status!

Wow! You guys were straight on it! Great! Thanks for your help!

I too am glad to have helped... As it turned out, my last post was probably redundant as others clarified while I was still writing!

All RCI brands - RCCL, Celebrity, and Azamara - have reciprocity regarding various tier levels, which means that you will receive the tier benefits aligned with the level you are on with one when sailing on another.

 

However, the points earned on each sailing remain accrued with the line you are cruising on. In other words you will receive similar tier benefits cruising on each but the points remain with the actual line you are on at the time. The points do not accumulate as a total amount of all three in one account - they remain separate with each line.

 

Here is the breakdown of tier level benefits reciprocity with each program. This is from the Celebrity Captains Club, so the level identified in each group in bold type is the Celebrity tier level. The other comparative tiers are listed with each by cruise line:

 

The following Celebrity program levels are equivalent for loyalty program recognition purposes:

• Preview
  
  • Azamara LeClub Voyage: Preview
    

  [*]Classic

  • Azamara LeClub Voyage: Adventurer
    

  [*]Select

  • Azamara LeClub Voyage: Explorer
    
  • Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Society: Platinum
    

  [*]Elite

  • Azamara LeClub Voyage: Discoverer
    
  • Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Society: Diamond
    

  [*]Elite Plus

  • Azamara LeClub Voyage: Discoverer Plus
    
  • Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Society: Diamond
    

  [*]Zenith

  • Azamara LeClub Voyage: Discoverer Platinum
    
  • Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Society: Diamond
    

It should be noted that RCI Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle are all Elite on Celebrity, and Elite, Elite Plus, and Zenith are all Diamond on RCI.

 

You would have to go to each cruise line's loyalty website to see what benefits are associated with each tier.

Please see my post above... And cruisestitch is correct; Cruise Points do cross-accumulate between Celebrity and Azamara... Loyalty integration between Celebrity's Captain's Club and Azamara's Le Club Voyage is very different than the limited reciprocity/tier recognition--with no cross-accumulation of Cruise Points--that exists between either Captain's Club/Le Club Voyage and Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society... A Crown & Anchor member with Diamond, Diamond +, or Pinnacle tier status is recognized as Elite by Celebrity or Discoverer by Azamara...

When Celebrity cruisers sail Azamara [or vice versa]...

• Elite membership on Celebrity equates to Discoverer membership on Azamara...
  
• Elite + membership on Celebrity equates to Discoverer + membership on Azamara...
  
• Zenith membership on Celebrity equates to Discoverer Platinum membership on Azamara...
  

The benefits associated with those membership tiers vary significantly between Celebrity and Azamara...

Though it has often been suggested [for years now] that the practice may stop, Cruise Points continue to cross-accumulate between Celebrity and Azamara... As an Elite + member of Celebrity's Captain's Club, you will be a Discoverer + member of Azamara's Le Club Voyage...

You will find a summary of the benefits associated with Le Club Voyage membership--by tier--here...

https://www.azamaraclubcruises.com/le-club-voyage/le-club-voyage-program/member-benefits...

Depending upon what's important to you, Azamara's membership benefits on a comparative basis--particularly with respect to lesser internet [if not sailing in a Suite] and laundry allowances [in all cabin categories]--are quite different than those offered by Celebrity... Azamara has no reason to offer things like the nightly cocktail hour [all Azamara cruise fares include a basic alcohol package] or specialty coffees [the offerings (other than Nespresso) at Mosaic--Azamara's venue comparable to Celebrity's Café Al Bacio--are also included in your cruise fare]...

You may want to do a comparison between the two programs... You'll find a summary of Captain's Club benefits by membership level here...

https://www.celebritycruises.com/captains-club/tiers-and-benefits

When Edge’s first Caribbean Cruises were opened for booking in March 2017, pricing for the solo cabins approximated 75-80% of the cost associated with the two person cost of a mid-range standard Infinite Veranda cabin...

There is still solo cabin availability for my Caribbean cruise next March; the solo staterooms for the Transatlantic next April—first offered for sale last October—were sold out months ago...