chemmo

Such an important observation. All of us want different things from our vacation time. I clearly remember a close friend saying how much she had enjoyed hiking Vesuvius….When in Naples that would be so far down my list of things to do… In contrast, however, I would add that a benefit of travel is for you to move from your comfort zone and try things you wouldn’t normally see or do. I remember us going snorkelling in the Maldives because our then teen son wanted to….One of the things in my now older years I am so thrilled I did! I do think a strength of posts on CC is that they often do encourage you to look beyond ‘obvious’ itineraries and put together the spectacular one…

The biggest mistake people make visiting Europe is trying to do too much in one go hitting bucket list site after bucket list site totally missing need to stop, reflect, breath in the atmosphere…Very like when visitors from the UK do a ten day tour of LA, the Grand Canyon and LV and return home and say ‘We have seen America’…. I honestly think the best way to visit Europe is to combine a land stay with a cruise. So easy to enjoy time in Spain then cruise from Barcelona or enjoy visiting Italy then cruise from Rome or Venice…

May be a UK thing…I made a change recently at no cost. Remember those of us in the UK only have full deposit option, no non refundable option.

Terms and conditions vary depending where you are from. In the UK it costs £75 each for guests 1 and 2 (no more if there is a guest 3/4 in the room). If you are Elite or over you get a free change. This can be to any other cruise at any time or date. Coming from Ireland I am unsure if you have exactly the same T & C’s… If you are looking to swap to 2026 some itineraries may not yet be out limiting your choices. Simply do a mock booking on line for the cruises you are interested in and see if dates you want come up. If they don’t simply sit on your present booking until nearer the time. Sincere best wishes for a wonderful family wedding next year and a fabulous cruise the year after.

Totally our experience. If we are charged fine…if not a bonus.

You have reminded me of the joys of visiting a big city full of history and remembering to look down the small streets and alleyways. Also of the importance of enjoying the present (nice food, drink and ambiance) as well as reflecting on the history of the city… Far too easy in the Mediterranean to gallop around bucket list sights and forget to simply soak its culture and beauty.… Always love your reviews, I will be looking at your posts with my daily morning coffee…

Thank you for your review. We are back on Reflection next year, last visit was (I think) 2016! Pleased to hear she is still in good shape.

Really gimmicky but the first time we visited we giggled right through it. Definitely worth experiencing once. Second time we went the ‘novelty’ wasn’t there and there won’t be a third…Must agree with others who have said it is a ‘once and done’. I believe there are three storylines but we have only seen two. Different menus accompany each so it may be worthwhile popping into LPC on boarding, look at the different menus and specifically book an evening with your preferred choices. We didn’t find any issues with the all eat at the same time routines and at each break the waiters were quick to spot and refill empty glasses. We preferred the menu that started with bouillabaisse but I can’t remember the rest!

On a few occasions we have been tempted to book through Celebrity for ‘ease’ and found in the end we have preferred to do it independently. Main reasons being: Not only has the price been higher than booking independently we couldn’t always book the exact category of room we wanted (sea view, suite level rooms). Pick up and drop off from the airport isn’t usually individual. I have memories of sitting on a half filled coach in Rome in Summer waiting for another flight to arrive to fill our coach. It would have been cheaper and more pleasant to book a private transfer. Much as I understand your Marriott loyalty isn’t it worth doing a bit of shopping around? At the end of the day you are only stopping one night. I must confess for a one night pre cruise stay as long as the hotel is convenient, clean and has the facilities you need does the name matter?

There is a general menu which actually is quite good for a crash out day. Chicken noodle soup, chicken Caesar salad and club sandwiches spring to mind as things we have enjoyed! I honestly can’t remember if this menu was specific to suites or available to all the difference being in a suite you don’t pay for it. We have always had a general rule with room service that if we ask in advance (24 hours) we hope the butler can sort something for us but if we decide we want something last minute we stick to requesting from the general menu. Whilst many avoid the buffet port days are the ideal time to visit and enjoy regardless of what room you are in. The area will usually be quiet until 1.30-2.00pm as people return from excursions. It is nice to ‘graze’ all the options and dine by the window or outside. Never an issue on port days getting a seat. Another option we have taken is to pick up a couple of customised sandwiches and salad from the buffet and take it back to enjoy on our balcony… Finally we often find that three full meals a day is an overload! Why not order a late full breakfast in your suite. Come lunch time a lack of options becomes less of an issue! The room service salads may be enough…. Enjoy your cruise!

We have a similar saying in the UK but it tends to be the drizzle turns to rain rather than the clouds disappear and the sun comes out…

Lunch options are limited port days on all ships but especially on M class ships. I strongly suggest you discuss this with your butler on boarding. Let him know which ports you are not getting off or doing a short excursion. We were in the PH on Millie and our butler was able to arrange an Indian meal for us not on any menu. We did request he sorted us a ‘something’ 24 hours in advance. The Indian theme was his idea. Definitely not something I would feel it reasonable to request last minute.

After many years of flying in to Florida we have come to the conclusion that there is no ‘safe’ time to cruise! We thought the year we booked for towards the end of March would be safe but nooooo. Heavy snowfalls closed most Eastern Airports including our link one, Philadelphia. We ended up crossing the pond on three legs instead of two via Fort Worth and arriving a day late in Miami instead of Fort Lauderdale and without our luggage….Fortunately we always fly in with at least two nights to spare… Op I think you may have done a lot of readers a favour by highlighting this. Many travellers don’t realise the possible impact of the weather on their travel plans and that no one is there to hold their hand. Fortunately we do follow the weather and posted for advice on CC about the likelihood of Philadelphia closing and some great locals gave us the heads up the airport was shut well before the airline officially cancelled the flight. Hence we were searching alternatives and first on the phone as the flight was officially cancelled. We were very grateful we had been alert and for the advice of the good people who took the trouble to help us here on CC.

Happy Birthday to your DH. Hope you both have a fantastic cruise. If you liaise with the shoreside concierge pre cruise about special occasions follow up once on board. Our experience has literally been from excellent (our son’s birthday with four cakes) to no on board communication of our special request for a special occasion. It wasn’t a big deal as my husband on boarding was on the case…However, if he hadn’t been what for us was a very special belated birthday celebration would have gone unacknowledged.

I understand your disappointment…. One of the real disappointment of travel is when those ‘bucket list’ sights, much anticipated, don’t come to fruition. Just heard on the news that the Acropolis is closed today because of a heatwave. On a positive note if you miss a bucket list sight doesn’t that give you the ‘right’ to return!

Not done the Moroccan stop but cruised the Canary Islands a couple of times and also enjoyed Winter breaks there. Obviously the islands are a year round resort so cruising there between October and March will usually give you some sunshine (not guaranteed but more reliable than the Mediterranean at this time of year). More importantly their tourist season doesn’t shut down as many smaller Mediterranean ports do. However, the ports used by cruise ships are not generally destinations in themselves. Definitely look at booking excursions or hiring a car if you want to see more than a few bars…Each of the Islands has places of interest to visit, especially if you are interested in vulcanology! Whilst rarely very cold you will get wet days and days where a cardigan is needed if you are not in direct sun. Sea temperatures are never particularly hot and at this time of year are cooler still. If you did want a ‘beach type’ break you need to look at a resort with a heated pool and have a plan B incase the weather isn’t good. On our two cruises we particularly enjoyed the cruising towards and from the islands. Definitely worth some deck time!

It is simple supply and demand… Those who pay full price choose their preferred type of suite in their preferred location. Then some people near to cruise time will offer amounts they are willing to pay to upgrade to specific suites aware their may or not get an upgrade. You have paid to be guaranteed a suite. Your suite will be allocated based on the consequences of the purchases of others…

‘Safety’ can often mean rules like tripping hazards, space between furnishings…Perhaps the deck space in some of these rooms means that legally they can only have chairs and tables? Just a thought…Perhaps some ship hotel managers are more willing to be flexible with the rules than others… If this is the case perhaps at some stage they could offer a waiver option. ‘Yes, you can have a sun bed on your balcony but you have signed a waiver saying the tripping (or other hazard) has been explained to you’.

Yes, to be honest sometimes things change easily and on other occasions you do have to simply make choices…..

Thanks for your suggestions. I have never considered a cabana before but it could be ideal for me on this cruise…With some mobility issues it would be nice knowing I have an outdoor space with comfortable seating reserved. Certainly on sea days when it can be so busy poolside it will be ideal for the three of us. However, I also think the family may relax more going ashore on excursions leaving me behind knowing that the LCG M’D will keep me fed and watered! Sincere thanks again for your advice.

Thanks! We have enjoyed the M and S PH suites. Definitely love the M PH deck but prefer the restaurant selections on S class, especially Reflection and Silhouette. I guess this time we just fancied a change. I am travelling with my son and fiancée so the two bedrooms of the Reflection suite will be useful. Although travelling as a family we have never had a problem with the sofa beds in the lounge in the PH/RS. I will definitely take some sea sickness tablets with me re the location and should get more exercise getting about the ship than we usually do when staying in an S class PH or RS! I do love the Elite breakfast in Tuscan but it is a long walk! We have cruised Reflection before and did find the pool area crowded on sea days and obviously there is no suite deck, hence my interest in the cabana….Also on some port days I may stay on board while the family explore more. The cabana would be a nice space for me to sit and read. I have visited most ports before and have some mobility issues so I will use my strength wisely! As the perk is discretionary I will ask on boarding…If we are not given one complementary then I may book for the first sea day and see how useful I find it… Thanks to all that have replied.

Agree, nor in a PH. It was only because we saw a review where they had been given a cabana for the cruise I asked. I am wondering if their cruise was just post covid when ships were cruising at low capacity.

Thank you. We have done a few S class PH cruises and it hasn’t been an offered perk. To be honest we just thought we may enjoy a cabana on the sea days of the cruise…We may ask once on board… How did you enjoy the Reflection suite vs the PH?

I have just been looking at a review on the Reflection Suite where they said they had a Cabana for the cruise included with the Suite. Is this a definite perk of the suite? I can’t find confirmation on the website. Not a deal breaker but would be nice…

No, Celebrity is unlikely to communicate directly with you as the booking ‘belongs’ to the TA. We find UK TAs often unwilling or unable to make any changes to bookings. Whilst some of this may be laziness a good portion is probably because they have a group booking agreement with X which probably does not have flexibility. After booking through a TA once or twice initially because their prices were slightly better or they offered a little more OBC we have found we prefer to book directly with X.