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Xport

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Posts posted by Xport

  1. 3 hours ago, ipeeinthepool said:

    FYI, the Celebrity Silhouette has returned to Miami only 2 days into a 9 day cruise and is hanging out near the Regal Princess 

     

    Celebrity Silhouette left PortMiami--they were docked at a container berth--to resume her cruise more than 45 minutes ago...

     

    It appears that her return to Florida was for a medical evacuation unrelated to Covid-19...  If the ship had returned for concerns related to Coronovirus, Silhouette would not have been permitted to dock--under current government guidelines--on an unscheduled basis...

     

     

  2. While it is possible that a HAL ship is also at PortMiami this morning, it's been confirmed that Celebrity Silhouette unexpectedly needed to return to Florida--apparently for yet undescribed medical reasons--this morning...  Silhouette is currently docked at a container terminal at POM...

     

    As Celebrity's Millennium-Class and Solstice-Class ships have been "revolutionized"/modernized--Silhouette came out of dry dock several weeks ago--ship hulls have been painted dark blue [not unlike the HAL livery] rather than white...

     

     

  3. 38 minutes ago, cscurlock said:

    If it was a heart attack or something else they probably would have air lifted them off.  Going all the way back to port is overkill for that.

     

    In March 2011, I was aboard Infinity--Fort Lauderdale to San Diego via the Panama Canal--when a guest had a coronary event while we were sailing south of Cuba.  From a political perspective, an air lift originating in The US that crossed Cuban air space wasn't possible and the distance to fly  round-trip to the ship's location south of Cuba for an airlift was described as excessive.

     

    It was a different time; surely nothing comparable to Covid-19 was in play.  Infinity turned around to Florida and anchored just off Key West where the patient was transferred to a Coast Guard  ship for transit to shore and then to the tiny community hospital in Key West for further evaluation and, if sufficient for the patient's needs [further transfer to Miami or Fort Lauderdale might still have been needed], treatment.

     

    If Covid-19 is potentially in play in the current situation or the patient's assessed needs are considered significant, I can understand why Silhouette would return to the Fort Lauderdale or Miami area--but probably not allowed to dock unexpectedly under present government practice--so as to access the far more sophisticated medical capability available on the mainland...

     

    The logistical challenges associated with ill passengers--especially now--are an absolute nightmare...  I'm hopeful that those currently aboard Silhouette are able to salvage some of the current cruise...  

    • Like 1
  4. 2 hours ago, gordylad said:

    Thanks can anyone recommend one which has bed by the balcony ? Looking at the cabins and how they stick out it might be a crazy question but is there privacy when sunbathing or are you being looked down from the bridge?

     

    On Millennium-Class ships, bed position does not alternate from stateroom to stateroom--by the bath versus by the balcony--as it does on Solstice-Class ships and on Edge-Class ships...  Cabins on Millennium-Class ships are configured differently than they are on Celebrity's more recent ships [for instance, the generous closets are located opposite the bath in an entry alcove], but the beds are always located closer to the bath than they are to the balcony...  There are hundreds of cabin photos on-line--including at the Celebrity website, on another current thread here on Cruise Critic, via web search--that will provide you with opportunity to see a common layout for standard veranda cabins on Millennium-Class ships but be careful...  On Millennium-Class,, Concierge Class and AquaClass cabins are wider than are standard veranda cabins--not true on Solstice or Edge-Class--so as to provide more interior space [some have estimated the difference as ~ twenty square feet] with an interior configuration that is the same as is provided in standard veranda staterooms...

     

    I can't comment as to whether or not those on the Bridge will be able to observe you sunbathing on an extended Sweet Sixteen veranda [honestly, not sure it matters as there are hundreds of security cameras on all ships]--I've visited several that friends have occupied one but have never booked one myself--but, if you look at the related thread attached above--you will note in a photo that those verandas are only partially covered [nearest the balcony door] and are uncovered [nearest the rail] so that those in the staterooms above can indeed look down and see at least part of the Sweet Sixteen verandas...

     

    The Sweet Sixteen cabins provide a great opportunity at a favorable price--relative to other standard veranda cabins--for those who expect to enjoy/maximize use of their extended balconies..  That said the aft-facing Concierge Class [C-1] cabins on the  Millennium-Class ships--particularly those on Decks 7 and 8--feature both more interior space and huge balconies but are often some of the priciest non-suite real estate on those ships and are among the earliest to be booked...

     

     

  5. 38 minutes ago, Laurab23 said:

    Thinking of booking this cabin. Is it a good one? Near the elevator which is where I like to be.

     

    Laura

     

    Following is a link to your post of last Friday in which you made similar inquiry...

     

     

  6. 17 hours ago, MEcruzr said:

    I bet there are more Zeniths and casino "high rollers" in the Retreat and Luminae than you'll ever see from this program. 

     

    Don't bet on it!  The facts are...

     

    • Zenith members of Captain's Club and "[very] high rollers" from the Blue Chip Club are entitled to use the Retreat Lounge [Michael's Club on those ships which have not yet been revolutionized] regardless of stateroom category...  That said, Zenith members also have a Premium Alcohol Package as part of the loyalty program and those who are "very high rollers" also have a Classic or Premium Alcohol Package based upon play level in Blue Chip Club...  With both options, there is no particular reason or incentive to hang out in the Retreat Lounge or Michael's Club unless sailing with friends who are staying in a suite and do not have a beverage package...
    • Zenith members and Blue Chip "high rollers" do not have access to Luminae or, on those ships that now have one, to the Retreat Sundeck unless they happen to be staying in a suite...

    There are not a whole lot of Zenith members [some cruises have none, some have a handful or two with fingers left over, Transatlantic cruises may have about twenty]…  There are far fewer Blue Chip "[very] high rollers" than there are Zenith members...

     

    The guest categories that you cite are not particularly contributing to crowds in The Retreat/Michael's Club and are not contributing at all--by virtue of loyalty or casino status--to crowding in Luminae or on the Retreat Sundeck...

  7. 12 minutes ago, GRBlizz said:

    I'm sailing in April, and so eager to see it launch too. I fear it may not launch until just before the ship has its first sailing at the start of April.

     

    Based upon past practice, I would not expect that the app will be implemented for Apex until just prior to--perhaps a few weeks before--her first revenue sailing...  In my experience, the app will not always be accurate until one actually boards the ship...

  8. In this post, you asked if 6033 is a Sweet 16 cabin...  If you were asking if you should change, I missed it...

     

    As 6035 was described as the highest numbered of the Sweet 16 cabins in your earlier thread (people seem to like it; it is about as far aft of the theater as possible within that group of staterooms and that area was reported as quiet), I was of the impression that you had your answer in your earlier thread if you want a Sweet 16...

     

     

    1 hour ago, yvrbos said:

    Xport, this time I was specifically asking about 6033 as the one that I have reserved is closer to the theater. I was wondering if I should change to 6033.

     

  9. 19 minutes ago, brockmom said:

    We were recently disappointed when we didn’t get an invite as Elite Plus we figured we were a shoe in...

     

    While Elite Plus status in Captain's Club is certainly indicative of significant loyalty, it is not uncommon for there to be several hundred Elite Plus members aboard...  From a loyalty perspective, Zenith members [some cruises have none, some have a handful or two with fingers left over, Transatlantic cruises can have twice that number] still tend to be invited if a Helipad Sail-Away is held but, again, it is not a perk...  

  10. 8 hours ago, uktog said:

    So loyal guests elsewhere in the world don’t matter?  I don’t think so! 
    And last time I looked Marinaro was in the US so you can’t use that defence for him 🤔

     

    I am from The United States and a Discoverer Platinum member...  Though I get more e-mail communications from Azamara than I can count [several per week and yet another marketing communication this morning], I haven't received the referenced notification either...

  11. 3 minutes ago, Xport said:

     

    Interesting observation given that the Concierge Class lunch [which is also available to Captain's Club Zenith members, to back-to-back guests, and occasionally by invitation [so I've been told], to the highest playing guests of the casino's Blue Chip Club] is the only sit-down/waiter service lunch offered in the Main Dining Room [or on Edge, in one of the four Main Dining Rooms]--fleet wide--on embarkation day...

     

    Suite guests have access to sit-down/waiter service embarkation day lunch in Luminae...

     

    Otherwise, lunch is available on embarkation on a self-service basis at The Oceanview Café, The Mast Grill, and--if open-- The Spa Café...  Sometimes Sushi On Five is open for embarkation day lunch on an upcharge basis... 

     

  12. 43 minutes ago, fstuff1 said:

    unfortunately, it was the same menu as the other mdr's that's open to the general public  on embarkation day.

     

    Interesting observation given that the Concierge Class lunch [which is also available to Captain's Club Zenith members, to back-to-back guests, and occasionally by invitation [so I've been told], to the highest playing guests of the casino's Blue Chip Club] is the only sit-down/waiter service lunch offered in the Main Dining Room [or on Edge, in one of the four Main Dining Rooms]--fleet wide--on embarkation day...

     

    Suite guests have access to sit-down/waiter service embarkation day lunch in Luminae...

     

    Otherwise, lunch is available on embarkation on a self-service basis at The Oceanview Café, The Mast Grill, and--if open--The Spa Café...  Sometimes Sushi On Five is open for embarkation day lunch on an upcharge basis... 

    • Like 1
  13. 9 hours ago, C-sea said:

    Has any entertainment been added to the lounge area of "The Retreat" on Edge, possibly during happy hour?

     

    Edge offers no more entertainment in The Retreat Lounge than is offered in The Retreat Lounge/Michael's Club on any of Celebrity's other ships...  When offered--and it sometimes is not--I've never seen it more than once/week [which is the duration of Edge's current Caribbean itineraries]…  Unless something has changed very recently, it has certainly not been a nightly event...

    • Thanks 1
  14. 1 hour ago, az_tchr said:

     

    They also vary by a small amount depending on the date you booked your cruise.

     

    In another current thread, the original poster indicated that she is considering booking a five day cruise on Infinity...

     

    The new gratuity rates apply to all bookings made on and after January 6, 2020...

     

    For those who booked prior to that date, one must prepay gratuities in full prior to embarkation date to secure the former rates...  If not prepaid, the new rates will be charged daily to the guest's onboard account...

     

    Here's a link--including a schedule of the old/new rates and transition rules--to the related announcement...

     

    http://creative.rccl.com/Sales/Celebrity/General_Info/Flyers/17059991_CEL_PCP_Gratuities.pdf

    • Thanks 1
  15. It depends upon your stateroom category. The per person daily rate by stateroom category are listed on Celebrity’s website.

     

    Sorry I don’t remember them all; they changed in early January...

  16. 1 hour ago, terrydtx said:

    You are right, I was thinking Blu for dinner and it came out lunch. Thank you for un-confusing my confusion, LOL


    I was relatively certain that your comment was unintentional...

     

    Original poster is a first time cruiser—any line—and happens to be sailing in Aqua Class...  Just didn’t want them to be searching for a lunch option that isn’t available....

    • Thanks 1
  17. 31 minutes ago, terrydtx said:

    You will find the same at Blu for lunch as well.


    With respect and to avoid confusion, Blu doesn’t serve lunch...

     

    Blu does feature a few specialty cocktails at dinner that also exceed the price limit associated with the Classic Beverage Package...  Same deal; pay the difference plus 20% gratuity on the upcharge amount.

    • Like 1
    • Thanks 1
  18. On 2/15/2020 at 4:20 PM, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

    No pool?


    No secret!

     

    It’s been clear from the outset that—due to weight/balance considerations—no pool could be added to revolutionized M-Class and S-Class ships upon addition of the Retreat Sundeck areas...  Edge is smaller than her S-Class sisters—with about the same guest capacity—but Edge weighs a good bit more (some related to the additional forward pool; some related to the midships Magic Carpet) than the S-Class ships...

  19. At double occupancy, Edge carries 2900 guests...  By comparison, Royal Caribbean Oasis-Class ships—the ships that feature “Headliner” entertainment—carry about 5500 guests at double occupancy...

     

    I happen to be generally satisfied with the shows on Celebrity but would guess—if I understand the context of your question correctly—that they are akin to what you would find on Royal ships of equivalent size...  Truth is most Royal ships are larger than Celebrity’s largest—Reflection (3150 guests)—but the others don’t feature “Headliners” either...

     

    No need—or ability—to reserve show times  in advance or once aboard any Celebrity ship...

     

    Enjoy Edge!

     

     

     

     

  20. On 2/7/2020 at 11:41 AM, misterkevin said:

    I think our experience with crowding and waits for dining will vary by ship, time of year which impacts the percent of cabins with triple/quadruple occupancy, and Maitre 'D at Blu.

     

    By definition, AquaClass staterooms accommodate a maximum of two guests...  Not true in Suite-Class categories--triple and quadruple occupancy is permitted--so as to sometimes [I've seen it with some frequency including a nightly group of eight (two families who didn't care for Luminae and insisted upon being seated together)] further strain seating availability in Blu for AquaClass guests... 

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