bigbenboys

It sounds very good! I am glad you are happy with the new benefits. I am trying to calculate how long will I need to get there:)

 

I did the calculations for myself. I'm turning 55 this month. I might work 2 more years. I'm currently Elite Plus. If I continue to cruise at the same rate it will take me 7 years to get to Zenith level. I thought that is not to bad.

 

My thought on Michael Club for Zenith only. That is fine with me, but I hope that Zenith's would not be turned away from a Elite event in the Sky Lounge. Like most cruises it all depends on the numbers of members at each level. On one of our Alaska cruises we only had about 26 Elite members and only about 10showed up in Michaels Club for drinks. Richard

[quote name='ClaudiaB']We're sailing aqua class next month. Typically we've brought on a case of bottled water as we like to drink it all day long. Will the cabin steward give us as much water as we'd like? How does it work actually? I seem to remember reading that only one bottle was given a day or just one at a time.[/quote]

We had 2 bottles, then 4. It seems to be as much as you can drink. Lets see what other people have gotten. Richard

What's the point of eating something that only is edible when drenched in garlic and butter? No appeal to me.

 

So you don't like lobster? Richard

 

I can eat 2 orders of the escargot before dinner. The mushroom are more rich so only 1 order of them. And yes I eat oysters, calamari, clams. 3 beers and 18 raw oysters is a great lunch. Richard

There is a problem with the gas turbine engine and so they are moving us to the navy pier and we will be here overnight. They are going to allow us off between 6:30pm and midnight. Not a bad place to be stuck!

 

What!! Some of the bars/night clubs don't get going until 11pm to 4am. Back on the ship at midnight? Well it is better than nothing. What happens if your not back onboard by midnight? Richard

What good luck. I'd go hit the bars in Key West. Should be great fun.:DRichard

This notion of paying for bottled water intrigues me. Coming from a country where potable water is the norm I cant see the need to pay extra for a bottle. What is wrong with filling water up from a fountain at breakfast into a sipper bottle and taking it with you or are cruise lines so tight that one is nor permitted to fill one's own bottle with water.

 

This can be done. And I think the water is fine on the ships. But you cant just fill your water bottle from the fountain. You must put the water in a glass and fill your bottle. Then get another glass to fill the rest of your bttle. When I have done this I like 1 glass of ice and then ice filled with water. The real question is how many people go to the fountain with a screw top bottle and fill their used bottles.:eek: Yes I have seen it done many time even with the sign posted. Richard

You can make reservations...if there is an opening you can go to Blu. Sorry, should have added that....

 

From my understanding Blu is 1st come 1st served, that you can't make reservations. Anyone know different? Richard

Thanks Kevinyork, we are based in the UK so if I book a 7 day cruise in an ordinary balcony cabin - we will get 14 new points plus 25 bonus points bringing the total to 39 captains club points - is that correct?

 

This is the USA info from Celebrity website. State room must be Aqua or above

 

Special 123Go! offer for Captain's Club members

 

Enjoy 25 Bonus Club Points and 50% Reduced Deposits.

First, receive 25 bonus Club Points** in addition to the usual Club Points you earn when you book November 29—December 31, 2013, in an AquaClass® or above stateroom.

Second, enjoy 50% reduced deposits* when you book. It's our way of saying "thank you" for sailing with us again.

**Captain's Club offer is valid for Classic tier members and above.

Choose from these incredible offers

 

FREE Beverage Packages

 

Receive a Classic Beverage Packages for two, including spirits, valued at $88* per day, with beverage gratuities covered by us

FREE

Gratuities

 

Receive pre-paid gratuities for two, value of up to $30* per day

Onboard Credit

up to $300

per stateroom

 

Receive $100* for 3- to 5-night sailings Receive $200* for 6- to 9-night sailings Receive $300* for 10-night or more sailings

Michaels Club was still being used for the Elite event in the evenings and even for Breakfast. It has all depended on the number of people that are VIP and Elite on your cruise. We were on a cruise and we only had 100 VIP and Elites total. They used Michaels Club. With the higher numbers it would be held in the Sky Observation lounge. Then if the numbers were even higher they would give out vouchers. As to the drinks. You cant take any drinks out of the breakfast or evening events. If you are on the vouchers, yes you can stop and get a drink at the bar using your vouchers and take them into dinner. Richard

Cancel one of them, rebook it and pick up the 25 pt. bonus....

 

In our case. We booked a cruise for May 30th 2014 awhile back. We had already booked A1 rooms. And did get a very good price. I did the math and it would cost us a extra $576 per cabin with this new promo. The only bonus would be the 25 points for each of us. As we are both Elite plus now. Just not worth it for a 7 day cruise with 1160 points to get to the next level. Richard

I was involved in a conversation the other day about company's and there websites. I found it very interesting. The short of it was if your going to build a new website you need to start with a app for our mobile devices. Then back build a website. This would have given Azamara away of fixing some problems before it was released on their new website. And to make a better transition to the new website. Richard

We were Elite and are now Elite Plus. I'm fine with our new level. I did the math to get to the next level we need 1160 points. We do Concierge/Aqua Class so that's 232 days. We normally do 3 cruises a year. If we stay on that rate we will reach it in 7 years. Not to bad. But not a goal. Richard

We booked a cruise for May 30th 2014 awhile back. We had already booked A1 rooms. I did the math and it would cost us a extra $576 per cabin with this new promo. Richard

You dont have to prepay your tips when dining in Blu. If your booking yourself you just pick early or later dining. As you know you can dine when you want in Blu. That way you can uses your onboard credits for tiping. You only must pre pay for Select Dining. I call my TA and had ours changed on our last cruise. Richard

Am planning 2014 cruise. Cruise begins in Venice and ends in Rome. Anyone who has done this cruise could tell me if you flew from Rome to US to go home? Or did you go back to Venice to go back to US? Did Celebrity arrange air? Did your TA arrange for it?

 

We went on Azarama and used Choice Air. We flew to Rome SEA/ATL/FCO and from Venice VCE/ATL/SEA. I did the research for what airline and flights I wanted then booked with Choice Air. Richard

Out of all our cruises we have only been upgraded once and that was on HAL. The room was nice. I liked the double sinks in the bathroom. That being said I wanted the room we booked. We were not told until we checked in at the pier. HAL told us no we could not have the rooms we booked. Never went back to HAL. We have 65 nights with HAL. When we cruise we book the rooms we want. It is not as much about cost as it is about location on the ship. On Celebrity we book center aft just below the Oceanview café. If they would upgrade us on a S Class ship down one floor to Deck 11 Penthouse it might be ok if we were still center aft. But if it was on a M Class ship upgraded down to deck 6 Penthouse I would be very unhappy. Richard

On our last cruise in Sept 2013 with Celebrity I never got a email. I found out thru CC on the Roll Call. Richard

My opinion: Do NOT like the new booking engine. No way to surf pricing and cabin availability accurately. I do not want to provide personal information until I am ready to book. I do not want anyone to contact me to complete my booking or give me pricing, I want to have the "option" to do this on my own.

 

There are other ways for Azamara (RCCL) to harvest client (potential client) information and alienating their clientele via the web is not one of them.

 

And again this is just my opinion.

 

Your not alone in your opinion. Richard

I've read one poster who said that when staying in Aqua cabins and dining in Blu that you don't have to wear formal attire such as suits and gowns and that every night is "smart casual" Is this accurate information?

 

Our last cruise I wore dress grey jeans on formal night to Blu. Formal attire is only asked of in the MDR on formal night. If you eat in Blu, and any of the specially restaurants on formal nights only smart casual is required. Buffet you can wear shorts and flip flops if you wish on formal night. Richard

The selection in the buffet is anything but sparse. I agree it's a nut house on the first day and do enjoy Bistro on 5, but that is a really sparse selection.

 

For me the buffet on the S class ship is the greatest. With all the islands. On our last cruise I at the East Indian food almost every day. It was so good. some days I went back for 2nd's. Richard

Last month in BLU they had prime rib twice in 15 days. We'd both order our rare. One would come out about 3/4 -1 of an inch thick and the other seemed to be under 1/2 an inch. Taste, temp and texture was OK, not great. But it was nice and rare to medium rare as requested.

 

Our last cruise they never had Prime Rib in Blu. They had Rib Eye twice. I was so disapointed. I always order my beef on cruises rare. I'll have to remember to ask for thick cut. Thanks Richard

I agree, you have to actually think what the purpose of a passport is and leaving it on the ship defeats that purpose and puts you at risk. All it takes is once, a car accident, illness, flat tire, etc.

 

All the more reason to take the ship sponsored shore excursions. Richard

We carry our passports while on foreign soil. You need them to fly back to the USA if you miss the ship.

 

Before the ship leaves port someone will go in your room and into your safe and get your passport out of your safe. Then someone at the port will meet you with your passport. I'm not sure of all the detail for it has not happened to me. But it has been talked about on CC. I've been all over the world many times. The only country that I carried my passport with me at all times was Russia and I had my resident card that you get from the hotel with me. Richard

Im confused..ELITE happy hour WAS 4-6 but changed to 5-7. I thought it was still 5-7...or has it changed????

 

Yes I remember the hours being 4-6 back in 2009. They changed the hours to be more in line with 2nd seating MDR. What year they changed I don't remember. I did a search here and it was still 4-6 back in 2010 in Michaels Club. Richard

 

 

ELITE - Happy hour, Great benefit but can it be improved

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks VVNH16A

This is a copy and paste from VVNH16A back in Mar 2010

The addition of a happy hour for Elite CC members was a welcome addition last year but I know there was always "issues" from the late diners that Happy Hour was in the middle of the afternoon from[/b] 4-6[/b]....a time that was not the best for late seating. Problems were also obvious from the early diners perspective, who are enjoying a drink dressed appropriately for dinner be it smart casual or formal and then you have other Elite members walk in very casual (before 6pm).

 

I know this has been brought up to the attention of Celebrity Hotel Managers and was to be a point of discussion at a recent meeting of all Hotel managers to discuss things such as what is and is not working the best. Again the discussion was very positive towards Celebrity for having an Elite Happy Hour, but now can the times be 'tweaked" to accomodate both early and late diners. Does anyone know if we can expect changes in the Happy Hour times..say 5-8 pm??

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Rich

For us the specialty restaurants are ok. The reason we stopped doing traditional MDR is the change of the Elite evening. The evening Elite event use to be 4pm to 7pm. Now it is 5pm to 8pm. The hot appetizers don't come out until 6pm.

 

We now leave the event by 6:30pm for 6:45pm dinner in Select Dining or we book Aquaclass and eat in Blu and Select Dining. I'm not that hip on Blu, but there is not a set eating time. Richard