bigbenboys

Personally Hubbard is a must.

9 hours ago, Gracie115 said:

 

 

Many of these pretty much are why we DON'T like E class at all.  Tried it twice, won't go back again.  The ships are "cold,"  and I don't mean temperature, just the atmosphere in general. So many spaces that aren't utilized, blank walls heading toward MDR's.   

 

Luminae on E class and especially Beyond & Ascent where it just continues to get bigger and bigger is a huge disappointment compared to M or S class.  Large, more like a MDR than the warm, friendly, FAR better menu choices and excellent service.  On the E class while the wait staff tries valiantly they can't get beyond the number of tables, the warmed over food, the INTENSE noise in the main part of the restaurant, so loud at times you can't hear across your table.

 

The Retreat lounge is not inviting at all.  Never greeted by staff, rarely had bar service because it was understaffed with the bartender frequently the only server in site.  

 

The rooms themselves are built with composite, think LVT flooring, we love the real wood accents of both M & S class.  

 

Kelly Hoppen, the interior "designer" and I use that term very lightly furnished the rooms with uncomfortable seating, especially on balconies and now I am reading they are using those same designs on M & S class as they supposedly "upgrade"  those areas.  

 

OH well, I know many disagree with me but that's fine, we all have choices, and ours is to not book E class again.

 

 

I do agree with all your points. I did like the The Retreat Pool Bar. As to the Retreat Lounge. I found the lack of armrest to be a problem. It is not that I need the armrest to get out of the chair. I like to hold my glass of wine in my hand resting my arm on the armrest and not have reach out to a table. The lack of a desk for the Retreat Concierge I saw as a big problem.

We were on Millie post X Revolution. I did feel that X did a better job retrofitting. The OVC is more like the S Class ships. We are on Apex in 7 days. Friends picked Apex out of Southampton for Iceland. 

3 hours ago, zitsky said:

I’ll be in a M class Sky suite in 6 months.  I don’t like that they seem to all have a view of the lifeboats one or two decks below.  But we wanted to try the Retreat in this class of ship.

 

Since I’m in the Retreat, do you suppose they would remove all the lifeboats if I asked them?  I mean, what are they used for, anyway?  😂

Here are some photos from M Class Sky Suites. The lifeboats are not a problem for me.

We have sailed on all of the M Class and S Class ships. Only sailed on the Edge once. We board Apex in a week.

Overall I like the M Class ships. I like the size of the ship. That most of the suites are on deck 6. Also the locations of AquaClass cabins under the pool or deck 11. 

When it comes to S Class ships. I just love the glassblowing. In my eyes the best cabins on the S Class ships are the concierge class deck 12 on center aft.

The Edge Class with limited experience. X did a great job on the tendering platform. I did like our Sky Suite.

I do hope the Apex will bring me around to liking the Edge Class ships. My biggest complaint is not being able to order off the MDR while dining in Luminae. Yes I know I can dine in the MDR, but I would be dining alone. 

With the Celebrity app you can look at the current 12 night cruise on the Apex. We are on Apex June 27. I've been looking at the new Luminae menus.

No reduced deposit for booking suites. I think it is a 10% deposit for suites.

27 minutes ago, TMLAalum said:

Help, please!

I cannot see the option to purchase a hot glass class on my cruise planner for the 8/28 Eclipse cruise. It isn't under excursions or "special experiences", e.g. pizza making.

It is under Onboard Activities

While reading this thread I'm getting confused. I thought the OP will be on the Beyond. The Beyond is a Edge class ship. It is my understanding that Sushi on five are on Non Edge class ships. That all Edge class ships have Raw on 5. Raw on 5 have many more food options than Sushi on five.

While I've only been on 1 Edge Class sailing. You have the options of The Retreat Sundeck. Raw on 5 or Eden Cafe might be open on port days.

I have enjoyed a number of Prime Rib on Celebrity in the MDR, Blu, and Luminae. My PR in Luminae is twice as thick as what they serve in the MDR. 

5 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

 

 We did not have one in our Aqua Sky Suite on Millennium last month.  

 

I should have added. When we 1st sailed on the Edge we had a tv tray for a table. X added the coffee table in the Sky Suites on the Edge Class ships. See photo

I thought X added a coffee table in the Sky Suites. 

3 hours ago, LimeyUK said:

Thank you for all your responses.  Just incase I can't get a kettle brought to my cabin, I see there is a place called the Hideaway on decks 7 & 8 - looks like they have self serve coffee.  Does it also have just hot water? - I always bring my own tea bags whenever I travel ☺️

Yes, the coffee makers at the hideaway do have a hot water spout.

We are getting ready for our June cruise to Iceland. I just got an email from the Retreat Concierge for our Sept cruise. I sent off what booze I wanted in the suite and what nights and times I want specialty restaurants reservations. DH is turning 62 on our Sept sailing.

Our next sailing is on Apex. After over 36 cruises with X. I'm going to have an early dinner in Luminae with friends. Then order Prime Rib for dinner in my suite. I've never had dinner in my suite before. The reason is I can not order off the MDR menu in Luminae on the E Class ships.

7 hours ago, April Jewel said:

 

That wasn't really the question that was asked.

The question was 'do the bars tend to be noisy and crowded at most times?  What's the best bet for a quiet before- or after-dinner drink?'

 

 

Only been on Edge once. Next cruise is Apex to Iceland. What I have heard is the Martini Bar and Eden can get loud. Noise can be heard from the Martini Bar in Fine Cuts Steakhouse. I personally like being able to walk up to a bar and order my drink, then go sit down. I was disappointed that The Retreat Lounge did not have a real bar. I do like The Retreat Pool Bar.

On 6/9/2024 at 9:26 AM, atakkat said:

We would love to see a Celebrity sailing out of Galveston!

I looked at sailings out of Galveston. The most interesting was a 12 night Galveston to Fort Lauderdale. The only new stop out of Galveston I saw was Merida (Progreso), Mexico. I would like to see sailings like Galveston to LA or to Peru.

11 hours ago, tfred said:

they may get it for you, but it does take someone away from Luminae to run to the other end of the ship to get one plate. Means less service for everyone else. 

You must be talking about the Edge Class ships. M Class ships, Luminae and Blu were cut out of the MDR. S Class ships were build with Blu, but Luminae was cut out of the MDR.

We have been getting the benefit for years. 

On 4/27/2024 at 2:50 PM, kwokpot said:

Yes,I bought my shares when it was $9.99/share

I thought I was doing good. I bought at $13.11/share in 2001. I'm sure I've gotten at least $1300 back in OBC.

My DH's birthday is while we are on our Sept cruise. I booked a royal suite for the occasion. $200 OBC would be nice. Just sent the info to our TA.

On 6/4/2024 at 8:31 AM, drakes2 said:

They also have an Aspen coffee. Espresso Kalua baileys and Frangelico. Topped with whipped cream. 😋 

Photo of Aspen coffee. It was very good.

This reminds me to book glass blowing for Sept.

I worked for an airline manufacturing company for 38 years. I traveled the world for work. I once did 30 flights in 30 days.

This happened before covid. Our flight into Barcelona had to be aborted. There was an aircraft  taking off from our runway. When leaving Barcelona we sat on the tarmac for an hour and a half.  It was not an aircraft issue, flights were backed up.

I will avoid Barcelona airport at all cost. 

I really dont think of myself as a picky eater. If I'm invited to someone's house I will eat what is served.

I choose not to eat veal, lamb, duck, quail, beef cheeks or pigeon. Also leery of fish other than salmon. The foods I like are oysters, clams, shrimp, beef, chicken off the bone, pork, Pacific salmon and turkey.

I've only had 2 bad main entree in Luminae. It was a pork dish that was tough and over cooked. Luminae staff made a shrimp appetizer dish into a main entree. Last Nov it was a beef tenderloin.

The staff in Luminae are great.

I would have said Abu Dhabi to Singapore on a M Class ship, but not on the current schedule.

So I would book b2b. The Solstice Hawaii to Sydney. Then Sydney to Singapore on my own dime. 

Or I would book the Edge from Hawaii to Sydney, then Solstice to Singapore.