chemmo

I have twice cruised with temporary mobility issues once pre and once post surgery. We looked at scooters and simply decided to manage with a wheelchair and crutches…The difference for us perhaps being that my adult son was cruising with us and was willing to do the majority of the pushing.

Most of the time fellow guests were wonderful. We tried to avoid moving about at peak times (start MDR dining, buffet 8-9am…show start/finish times) and generally got on/off lifts fairly easily. These cruises were all about R&R not sightseeing.
 

Staff were absolutely fabulous, especially the pool staff who helped me in/out of the pool using the ‘ducking stool’. In restaurants waiters always parked up my wheelchair after seeing me seated.

Unexpectedly it was poolside I had a few problems as end sun beds tend to get taken quickly and mid beds didn’t have enough space for me to manoeuvre safely in on crutches. Again most of the time fellow guests would help us get organised.

I won’t pretend it was all plain sailing! We did meet the odd person oblivious to those around them…I particularly remember a lady at the sunset bar being very reluctant to allow me to use the one remaining empty seat being used by her handbag despite the fact I was on my crutches! My husband was reluctant for me to use my crutches too much, not because he was scared of me fallin, more the worry of someone sending me flying!

Cruising, in my opinion, is a great vacation for those with limited mobility. As long as you board taking into account that some guests will be oblivious to your needs and that you can help reduce frustrations by simple things like avoiding peak movement times…

16 hours ago, sixpackeddie said:

I really did, thank you to everyone for their assistance. It’s a valid point to make sure she is capable of operating a scooter otherwise there could be a few casualties with broken toes! Thanks again to everyone for taking the time to assist here.

I write this simply to express that on the ship a wheelchair (as long as you are fit enough to push) can be a reasonable option. Obviously if you are intending to do off the ship activities then a scooter is probably the way to go…

12 hours ago, BecT said:

In a PH now on Eclipse. Booked it because it was 14 days to Antarctica and we wanted to be comfortable during that time since there were so many sea days. It's been awesome especially for picture taking. We set up the inside chairs in front of all the sliding doors to look out at all the beauty and when we wanted to take a picture we quickly opened the doors snapped some pics and went back inside where it was warm. 

 

We're also not fans of the menu change in Luminae so we've been taking advantage of the complimentary dining at Tuscan a lot.  

 

With that being said, I'm not sure we're in any rush to book another one soon. The prices are becoming more outrageous for what you get especially now that gratuities and OBC are no longer included. 

We booked Eclipse for a Fjords cruise early spring which we knew would be cold and also found the PH was very special. We were lucky that the weather was good but still bitter out of the sun! Like you we rearranged some furniture and we also enjoyed balcony breakfasts sailing into the Fjords, wrapped in blankets…The decadence of light in the S PH really is wonderful!

One advantage of the S PH over the M PH is it’s central position…We have been in the M PH on a blustery night and we did feel the motion!

2 hours ago, buncosquad said:

Cost is relative.

 

ICs are one of two reasons I book Celebrity. The other is EVs.

 

ICs for long sailings. EVs for the short 7 night sailings.

 

No other line has such great rooms, unless you go charter and have the run of the place.

Room value is relative too depending on your needs/wants. Any two level room is out for me owing to mobility issues…

Personally, I  do find the E class suite rooms overpriced. Even the RS is a ridiculous cost for a room with a tiny balcony! We have looked closely at E class this year as one is now based in Southampton…All about personal choices…

6 hours ago, TommyD3 said:

My family were pricing cabins on the Apex TA in March 2025 for my 70th birthday. Considered the PH and IC because they each have two bedrooms. For the 4 of us (all adults) the PH is just over $45,000 and the IC is just under $80,000. In my mind that is absurd !!! I could buy a brand new car even w/o any trade in for that kind of money !!!

I must confess I tend to agree! Whilst our M class PH isn’t cheap it certainly isn’t in that league…I priced up the PH on E from Southampton for a Canary Island cruise and simply decided that I could fly to one of the Islands and book an AI resort in a top room for less than a quarter of the price and have a longer holiday! Much as I know these holidays are totally different, the aim is simply an ‘Autumn sunshine break’…As you say, there are lots of other options to spend your hard earned cash on…

9 hours ago, goldsmip115 said:

There is nothing like the PS on an M class ship IMHO. It spoils you for any other suite on the Celebrity line. I have not, yet, experienced the Iconic Suite but my 5 sailings in the PS on M class ships were all wonderful.

We have enjoyed three M PH cruises, all in the Caribbean and all some years ago. When they got rid of the ‘liners’ restaurants we tended to opt for S class for the better dining options…

We have decided to return to M class as I really would like to experience that PH deck again. We have a stop in Santorini, to my mind one of the most amazing places on earth to cruise in/out of…We do not leave until 10pm so the plan will be to enjoy the day on land but then to enjoy a long, leisurely dinner on the deck…We have watched the sun set before here both on land and at sea and the only other sea sunset I have seen to really equate in beauty is Ha Long Bay, Vietnam…Don’t get me wrong we have seen lots of beautiful sunsets (and sunrises) over the years but these two are emotional in their beauty…

On the down side reviews of Infinity are a bit mixed, the recent refurbishment seems to have been fairly minimal. Each time we have cruised M class we have spent our down time on the private deck and always found the butler central to our enjoyment. Reassuring that most service reports are positive…I will probably ask a question nearer the time about recent Infinity PH/RS experiences…

3 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Value is really relative to each person's values and pocketbook.     What may be of value may be of no value to another.      I personally like upper suites but can be very comfortable in a RS but also have often been upgraded to a PH and was very pleased with the product and space.

On both M and S class the RS offering and its perks pretty well offer all the facilities, space and perks one could want, the PH suites offer an additional decadence! On S class the decadence is of light in the living area on M class the decadence is the amazing balcony!

4 hours ago, Midlo said:

I really don’t know for sure about in suite dining from specialty restaurants but I think they would have if I asked. Our butler specifically told me he had access to all the food on the ship and had relationships with managers in every restaurant. I really don’t think he would have said no to anything if he could possibly make it happen. 
Enjoy your cruise. The balcony on that ship with that itinerary should be great!

Thanks, we have cruised RS and PH many times on S and M class and whilst we have never regularly requested in suite dining we have occasionally and, as you say, Butler’s usually can and will try their best for you. There has been so much chat, however, about changes one worries if the ‘norm’ I know is the ‘norm’ now…

1 hour ago, Liao said:

I was in a Celebrity Suite in December and my butler made an exception for us.  He very very politely did say they don’t usually do this, but he spoke with his manager and “we will be most happy to provide this for you”.  I really didn’t want him to go out of his way and I told him it was OK, but he insisted that he wanted to do it for us.  He truly was so accommodating for the entire cruise.  Moral is, just ask, you never know.  Enjoy your cruise and that lovely suite!

Thanks, we love the M class PH but regret the loss of the wonderful liners restaurants. I can see with a Mediterranean itinerary us making the most of the PH deck for dining options…

We will, as we always do, politely ask and with 24 hours notice…

3 minutes ago, billc23 said:

We had a PH on the Ascent last month and most  speciality dining room service was not allowed. They did allow us to order from the MDR, Luminae, and The Bistro. We were told the issue was the proper presentation of the food is important to the experience and they could not provide that as room service dining. I think the proximity of the restaurants is part of the problem because when we did order from the 3 restaurants listed above, the food was delivered by 3 different butlers all at the same time!  I'll be on the Solstice in March and will see how it goes. All the ships seem to have different rules.

 

IMG_8340.pdf 17.8 MB · 2 downloads

Thanks for your reply.
 

The differences between ship policies do make it hard to judge what will/will not be allowed. I think a lot depends on your butler too. Some simply are more willing to go above and beyond to make your experience special.

I am sure if it does come down to the MDR menu we will still enjoy but it would be nice to be able to order a bit wider if we can…

We certainly wouldn’t be ordering food in suite regularly but are hoping for a bit of flexibility of choice a few nights, especially if we ask in advance…

10 minutes ago, Midlo said:

Just off Equinox in a PH suite. As to the question of whether it is still worth it or not there is no one answer for everyone. It really depends on your expectations and your personal financial situation, but to me it is still worth it. The service from the butler, room steward and Luminae staff could not have been better. I have stayed in the PH and RS many times over the past ten years and really didn’t feel as though anything was taken away. I have never ordered specialty dining room service so if it’s not available, I don’t miss it. There was no limit on laundry despite what you read. Any request I had, like afternoon snacks for example, were met with “of course, would you like me to mix it up.” 
My only complaint has to do with the lack of comfort of the new furniture both inside and outside. But that has been beaten to death in other posts so I’ll leave it at that. 
Overall though, for the size of the suite, the superb service you receive, and the other included perks, it is still worth it, but they are getting close to my limit.

Thank you for your feedback.

Can I ask about in suite dining…”I have never ordered speciality dining room service so if it’s not available, I don’t miss it”. Do you know if it definitely was or was not available on request? I simply ask as we will be on an M class ship in the Mediterranean where the PH deck may be a preferred dining option a few nights, especially with the limited dining choices on M class.

Couldn’t agree more about the outside furniture…We have cruised RS on Equinox and PH on Silhouette since they were revolutionised…a multitude or cushions in the room that were a nuisance and a pathetic lack of comfortably padded chairs outside!

2 hours ago, WrittenOnYourHeart said:

I'm back! And lesson learned!!! Royal is not for me anymore - at least not their larger ships!! Anthem was totally full (4905 passengers!!) with 1600 under 18s and it was so obvious - especially since our first 2 sea days and last day and a half of sea days were too cold to be outside (and the afternoon of our first returning sea day we encountered rough seas so Flow Rider, climbing, and iFly were all cancelled meaning everyone was inside.

 

I'm glad I tried it - now I know. And I did love Spectra's Cabaret in Two70. But other than that, I am ready to be back on Celebrity in July!! (Also Disney in November for my best friend's wedding. I actually really like Disney...kids tend to stay in their clubs which don't have the random hours of opening or closing like RCCL did.)

Thanks for coming back with your updated reasoning…Like you whilst I would never say never again I do think I would avoid the bigger ships. I hope you still managed to get a decent vacation.

The restaurant choices on Silhouette are very good as others have said as they have the additional deck restaurants of Lawn Grill and The Porch.

I agree with others, if your choice is based on food only then Murano is the place to go.

The wake view from Tuscan means it is an ideal place to dine when leaving a port at about 6pm. You can watch the port disappear from view and see day turn to night. The magic of this never fails me…The food is what one would expect from a typical steak and pasta restaurant. To my taste the white bean soup is a lovely starter as is the Caesar salad. We always enjoy the antipasti sharing starter board. For steaks I find the rib eye reliably good…Pasta dishes I have found a little heavy and have requested half quantities. The gnocchi I found very dense and would not recommend. The veal I found tasteless…

To be honest if I was you I would look first at the ambiance you want from your dining experience before considering the menus…

Murano is more formal, a longer meal designed to savour not to rush. Some guests can find the atmosphere a bit ‘stuffy’ others, like us find that the formality makes the evening really feel special.

Tuscan is more relaxed, it reminds me of a local family run Italian as is its intention. The decor and view definitely remind you you are dining at sea…

Lawn Grill has both the atmosphere and food one would expect from a family BBQ…more laid back.Again with that real feeling of being at sea.

There are making chocolate and waffle experiences in Bruges….

Call me a glass half full person but when you have visited a city numerous times you can justifiably forget the historical and cultural opportunities and simply give in to a food or wine experience…

On 2/18/2024 at 1:03 AM, dcmom said:

Thanks to everyone for their detailed answers! It sounds like the process isn’t bad at all and we will have plenty of time for some touring on turnaround days. 

Sydney is a beautiful city and easy to get around. You are moored in the harbour where you are only steps away from where you can get a ferry to Manley Bay or a bus to Bondi Beach if you fancy a bit of sun. We found the Ferry times very reliable the buses less so. The Ho Ho bus is also always a good option to see as much as you can in limited time.

You are within easy walking distance of the Botanic Gardens, the Opera house and a wide range of places to enjoy lunch with a view. The Opera house has a one hour tour with lunch which could be another option….If you need to shop for anything there are pharmacies and and small supermarkets close by but often not easy to spot as they are often in one of the many city buildings. 
 

Enjoy!

1 hour ago, Cruiscs said:

Which speciality restaurants do you recommend?

Murano for a more formal, special occasion feel. Definitely the best food quality.

Tuscan for great wake views, a relaxing steak/pasta house feel.

Le Petit Chef. Unusual and amusing but fun rather than fine dining.

Lawn Grill, think of a family BBQ atmosphere and food to match. Less good in cold regions.

The Porch. A bit like a Mediterranean cafe both for food and ambiance. We tend to enjoy for an occasional lunch.

Sushi on Five. More than Sushi, great place for a relaxing lunch or for an informal evening meal.

Sorry if I haven’t given you the clear answer you want! I guess the strength of the Silhouette speciality restaurants is their variety. We will do each of them a few times. Murano we find great on a sea day when you have the time and energy to enjoy a longer and more formal meal. Tuscan we love when we leave a port at about 6pm. You peruse the menu and sip your first drink as you see the ship leave port, you enjoy your starter as day starts to fade and the port begins to slip into the distance and by the time you are sipping your coffee end enjoying a limoncello day has turned to night…

Silhouette is our favourite ship too…The range of speciality restaurants does enhance the dining experience. 

4 hours ago, Cockatoos said:

Just wondering if anyone has bought the unlimited specialty dining package for a cruise on an S class ship, the promo says lunch on sea days, is this held in one of the specialty restaurants or just Sushi?

We have never bought the unlimited package but usually book a RS or PH so unlimited speciality dining is included. It our experience either Murano or Tuscan does a lunch one sea day on a 7 night or less cruise and both might on a longer one. Both offered limited menus not the full evening one. On Reflection and Silhouette The Porch and Lawn Grill are usually open on sea days too for lunch. However, I have seen other posters saying on their cruises that it has been either/or Lawn Grill or The Porch. The Porch has a specific lunch menu, if I remember correctly Lawn Grill offers big burgers.
 

Personally, we find either Sushi or The Porch better options for lunchtime. Both have lighter options and are more casual. 

Sincere best wishes for a wonderful cruise!

2 hours ago, sixpackeddie said:

Wow, that’s great. Does the room service come from Luminae? We were also hoping to order from Fine Cut one night. We are Elite plus so 2 bags are complimentary, it will be nice to have some dry cleaning included too. 
Thank you again for all this valuable information. It’s appreciated.

We have never cruised on E class but if in a higher suite on S or M class we have been able to order from other menus and sometimes things not on any menu. However, we have always let the butler know the day before if we want something not standard. If we have decided last minute to dine in suite we have just used the standard menu offerings. They probably would still get you something different but I just think it is polite if you want something ‘above’ what is included then you should give advance notice…

6 hours ago, mkkao924 said:

For our upcoming cruise, our flight home is in the evening so we have a lot of time to kill.

 

I am wondering what's MDR / buffet's hour on disembarkation day?

 

I assume we have to clean out our stateroom and bring our carry-on with us to the dining room, is that correct?

Can we just chill in the MDR / buffet until our number is called?

 

Typically what's the latest time that we have to get off the ship?

Even when cruising in top suites they want you off the ship 9ish…

Rather than have a waste of a day why not book a day room at a hotel…Leave the ship at your own pace then head to a hotel for a nice lunch, swim and shower and head off for your flight refreshed and relaxed…

Enjoy!

Enjoy your return home, especially as you will be back for Valentines Day!

In your hearts you are still that young college couple and your attitude to life and each other will keep you both forever young…

Thanks for the vicarious cruise…

31 minutes ago, CruiseRQA said:

 

 

My best meal ever was in the Olympic restaurant onboard the Millennium.  

Agree, we have had some fantastic meals in Murano on S class but I will never forget the two we had in Olympic…Just so very, very special…You simply felt from entering the room that it was going to be an occasion you would always remember…

2 hours ago, LandLockedInAZ2 said:

Methinks Mrs Drink It All had good reason to drink and leave the table for long periods of time. 

I must say we felt pretty much the same…We did wonder later if she actually went to the rest room or the ensemble lounge for a top up between courses…

Much as on the night all we felt was frustration that an event we had looked forward to was a disappointment there was a sadness about the whole affair.
 

The M’D apologised to us as we escaped (sorry left) as soon as we could. We apologised to him saying he couldn’t be responsible for the behaviour of guests…However we bumped into one of the other table couples later in the cruise in Michael’s and as we began to review the evening some mirth did creep in as did some pathos…

7 hours ago, rinshin said:

That is terrible.  How many to a table?  Mr. or Ms Know It All are one of the worst kind of table mates.  

I think we were a table of twelve on both occasions. As I said, our first chef’s table was very pleasant. The people were all very nice and the conversation was flowing and inclusive. I have thought about doing it again. One bad experience shouldn’t put you off for ever. However, the prices are steep….

25 minutes ago, curlerguy said:

So $170 plus $65 for wine plus $20% gratuity. That’s over $560 for a couple. It better be one heck of a meal.

We have done two chefs tables…

I have recounted this before but I will relate again, your experience will depend more on your fellow table mates than the food quality.
 

Our first experience was very pleasant. Nice food, excellent service and good company.
 

Our second less so…Unfortunately Mr Know it All and his wife Mrs Drink it All definitely spoilt the experience the second time. Since then we have seen the funnier side of the experience but at the time we felt we had spent a lot of money and then couldn’t wait for the meal to end. Mr Know it All dominated every conversation interrupting every conversation started by other fellow guests being an expert on everything whilst his wife constantly requested extra wine…She also tottered on her very high heels whilst the wine was clearly having an effect between courses to the rest room resulting in our waiters delaying presentation of the next courses….She left a few times and each visit took longer…by the end we were surprised she found her way back…To be honest I was more surprised she wanted to make her way back as her husband had almost killed the art of conversation….As I say, in hindsight we have laughed about the experience but we haven’t repeated it. Perhaps we might if cruising with family or friends…