chemmo

So looking forward to following your adventures! We are not boarding Infinity until next September so interested as to how you find her. Surprisingly we considered just about every ship in the fleet before we decided we fancied a return to M class. There is something about the ship’s layout that is very classy. Your window looks lovely! I can imagine sitting next to it reading a book on a sea day!

Oh, I love your live posts! Almost like being there. It will be interesting to read the ‘facts’ of the small ship experience and to get a flavour for the ‘feel’. Over the years I think it has been the ambiance of Celebrity that has kept many of us loyal… How many of us will you tempt to try a dalliance with another?

I think it was the M’D (Marco?) who suggested we chose a few specials on the Eclipse. Another he did for us was a crepe Suzette…When we boarded again in Barcelona he greeted us as old friends and had arranged a special starter for us that first night! Such happy memories…

Agree…

We have been lucky enough to have booked a RS a few times and the included speciality restaurants really is a bonus. We tend to book Tuscan on nights where we are leaving a port and Murano most of the rest…On a few cruises the speciality staff have been kind enough to make us a ‘special’ when they have realised we have had 3+ bookings. I will never forget the smell of the Steak Diane prepared table side….Wonderful!

We are from the UK so our T&C’s will be different than yours. However, Celebrity genuinely made every effort to accommodate me following the sad passing of my DH this year. We had two cruises booked. We cancelled one with no penalty and transferred the other. Staff we spoke to were both caring and compassionate…Genuinely couldn’t have asked for better customer service. Quite simply if your sister in law decides to keep this booking I suggest she phones up and asks for all options available. They will, hopefully, as they did for me, go through all options. Obviously I have no experience of NCL…I would suggest with the cruise on that line being so imminent your sister in law may need to look at insurance policies and T&C’s on credit cards which may offer some cover she may not even be aware of… Deepest sympathy to you all…

We cruise Celebrity because we like the full ship experience. We book Silhouette, Eclipse, Infinity….to enjoy what is on board… We usually then book the Retreat because we want the bigger room and what goes with it but that is an ‘accessory’ just like booking a speciality dining package…In years gone by when our cruises were more about itinerary we wouldn’t have been able to afford nor would we have wanted or appreciated a suite… I do find some posts quite divisive…a bit us and them…Not appropriate, not needed in my personal opinion…We are all simply lovers of sea travel…

Unfortunately Celebrity are beginning to price out us. Villa suite for three guests from Southampton £36,500…After posting that someone must be willing to pay as there are no RS or PH available…Iconic suite available though at only £68,500… I just can’t see the justification of spending that amount…there are just so many other options available at a fraction of the price… The rudest guests we ever met were in one PH when we were in the other…Their manner and attitude to staff was awful…After one conversation in Michael’s Club we made every effort to avoid them…They met all your undesirable criteria ‘rude, loud and expecting everything’…

The Grand Marnier soufflé is lovely but I love the smell and the theatre when they make the ballon rouge!

This was our best cruise ever! Fantastic time… Look out for dining package offers on line or when you board…Recommend with the length of your cruise you give them all a go! Murano, traditional speciality dining, quality food and excellent service with that added bit of drama of table side preparation. Our favourite. Tuscan Grill, a steak and pasta venue with great wake views, ideal to sit there as you leave a port and slowly watch the land fade into the distance… LPC, fun rather than fine dining. If you haven’t experienced before it is worth doing but most people find once is enough… Sushi on five, much more on offer than just sushi. We often enjoy on a sea day lunch rather than in the evening… Sincere best wishes for a wonderful cruise!

The nature of changes resembles a group of individuals with no real knowledge of cruising being locked in a room and told they can’t come out until they have a list of ways to save on spending and ways to up income… Everyone has their own little idea, the chairperson hasn’t a clue which ideas are good and which are bad so agrees to all random ideas! The proviso being if they don’t work they can always cancel, reconvene and try a few more…

Firstly, Infinity is not in for a full refit so I can’t see them wanting to reduce stocks significantly. We were on the Summit just before she went for her revolution and didn’t notice any shortages etc. What we did notice the last day were some sun beds and chairs being stacked and strapped from mid afternoon, presumably to be taken off the ship. We had decided to get off as late as possible and saw a procession of mattresses leaving….

If someone in a CS has put in a bid for the RS then that frees up a CS 🤞 for you!

It’s scary how much you drink on a cruise! It seems to be just a constant flow…

A later get up…Or if I wake early a leisurely coffee on the balcony. No preordering coffee on a sea day so often a quick visit to the cafe for a take away… Head for Tuscan that doesn’t stop it’s Captains Club breakfast until 10am. Sit watching the wake views sipping a Bellini enjoying the delights of a salmon plate or if I am hungry enough an ultimate platter… After breakfast a return to the room for a rest, check on emails update live review and answer any questions. Browse the Today and decide if I am going to attend any of the activities/talks. Every cruise I say I will do more of these but frequently the desire to simply enjoy the deck wins the day! Head for a swim in the Solarium. By now most sun beds will be taken. Not bothered, I will simply place my sandals and throw over dress on a ledge or a chair in the Aqua Spa cafe if it isn’t open…Enjoy my leisurely swim then head towards the sunset bar dripping along the way…If I am still very wet on arrival I will continue to drip on a toadstool whilst I sip a pina colada… Lunchtime will depend on the ship, if there is a Porch then that is probably where we will head, if not then Sushi on five…Whichever we choose we will dine lightly… Afternoon, a very leisurely stroll around the ship making sure I keep out of the way of the serious joggers and don’t fall over the sun beds many of which have moved from their regimented positions to an interesting obstacle course. Stop and chat along the way to fellow guests and meandering staff simply savouring the sounds, sights and smells of a cruise ship at sea. When ready a return to the room with a drink to enjoy on the balcony where I will make a pretence of reading a book and gently rock to sleep for a restful afternoon nap. Murano tends to be our evening dining venue on sea days…we are rested enough to enjoy a longer meal. Freshen up, decide where to enjoy a pre dinner drink…If it isn’t too windy perhaps the sunset bar, if I care about my hair perhaps the Retreat lounge or ensemble lounge…Check the music on and where it is happening… A really leisurely meal…Savouring the food service and atmosphere. We love that Murano manages to be classy without being pretentious, formal without being stuffy… Probably a drink somewhere after, maybe listening to music near the atrium or in the ensemble lounge or retreat lounge or perhaps just head back to our room and enjoy a last drink on the balcony…The beauty of a sea day is you can make it up as you go along… OP thank you for such a lovely thread to remind us of the joy of cruising!

Only time we have had it is in a suite and brought by the butler. We had not requested it, simply returned early to our suite saying we were tired and going to watch a film. A few minutes later he returned with a bowl of warm popcorn for us. It may have been microwave…not sure but it was a much appreciated gesture.

We nearly cancelled a cruise when I realised I would still be wearing an orthopaedic boot when walking…However we decided to go ahead… Pool side staff super helpful getting me in/out of the pool using the ducking stool! Ladies cloakroom attendant helping me access as I limped on my crutches… People poolside manoeuvring their sun beds to fit me in… Tuscan staff seeing me struggle to get comfortable on a chair and descending with a multitude of pillows… I couldn’t have been better looked after. It is the staff and the clientele on Celebrity that create the ambiance that keep us returning! OP, thank you for this breath of fresh air post!

When in a RS or PH we are usually escorted on board. You check in at ‘Special Delivery’ where your luggage is taken, you are then taken to the next available agent for check in. By the time check in is complete a member of staff will be waiting to take you on board. How well this system works varies from port to port. Also some agents seem to want to ‘gather’ a few suite guests and take them together. If this is the case it is usually quicker to just board yourself…. Debarkation we simply tell the concierge what time we want to get off and meet them at that time in the Retreat Lounge. Sometimes we will be individually escorted off on other occasions it will be with a group.

In our experience in a RS or PH you get 2 one litre bottles of the spirits you request plus beers, sodas, water etc. There is a bottle of champagne in your suite as you board. In our experience you do not have free miniature bottles or wrapped snacks although your butler will bring you almost any snack you request. Beers, sodas etc are regularly replenished. Some guests have reported they have asked and received bottles of wine too. Whilst this has never been a regular request by us on the odd occasion we have asked (when dining in suite) the response has been mixed. First time a bottle of our preferred wine was brought up no issue. Next cruise we were told the butler would bring it up but by the glass…As there were three of us this obviously simply made the butler’s delivery harder and he popped back up with refills! I write this simply to note different ships have different rules sometimes…

Like you we have been suite cruising many years…We clearly remember when the only PH perks were two bottles of spirits and a ‘free’ specialty dinner. True luxury lines are also not receiving the best of reviews. I have friends recently back from Regent who had a good cruise but were lamenting a lesser quality cheese board, a smaller included wine selection and a few other miscellaneous ‘not quite the standard it was’ things…They also commented that the list of ‘included’ vs ‘extra cost’ activities seemed less balanced… Re the ship within a ship concept I think it is very much alive and kicking as bookings and pricing show, not just for Celebrity but for other lines too. Many of us don’t want a small ship we do want the bigger ship experience but the ‘club’ ambiance of the Retreat areas to return to when we are ready…I am aware what we pay for for a RS or PH is comparable to a ‘more luxury line’ but I don’t want a more luxury line I want the ship within a ship experience and I don’t think I am alone…

I think those of us who are regular followers of CC will focus on the reports of those we know give balanced reviews. I know your reviews will state what the actual situation is on board, the facts (included, not included…) plus then you will give an overview of your ‘whole’ experience…The opinion… We are aware that it isn’t only Celebrity making cuts nor is it just cruise lines. Many UK hotels suddenly are now offering good prices for rooms but are charging extra for breakfast and parking which previously were included in the price…Definitely rattling regulars! Restaurants are reducing the number of items on the menu, early bird offers are becoming increasingly rare….Quite simply it seems the whole hospitality industry post lockdown has rethought its ‘best’ options to reduce cost and maximise income… I do think Celebrity has been misguided in the way it has introduced change…quietly slipped in as if no one would notice…It has come across as both underhanded and petty. I honestly think it would have been better if they had ‘campaigned’ what we see as cuts as part of a bigger package with some clear ‘gains’… I don’t know if it is just me but I do think Celebrity has been misguided and missed some revenue options as it has been too focused on just saving $. For example, having made room service chargeable why not balance that by offer things people may see as worth paying extra for? For example, a brunch menu between 9am and 11am. Then people may at least feel that something better is on offer than there was before even if it does incur a cost… Looking forward to your reviews…

A couple of my friends are presently on Silhouette….I had been saying for years they should give Celebrity a go. Unfortunately they booked a short cruise which last year had reviews as a booze cruise and now poor reviews on the MDR… I do hope that the weather at least is kind to them…

What is really worrying is most of the changes are literally only saving them peanuts! A couple of members of staff here, a bottle of water there, a few pillow chocolates…Whilst my Mum always said “Watch the pennies and the £’s will look after themselves” I cannot believe these petty reductions in service will actually help the overall financial situation of Celebrity and if people start cancelling or cruising less then those pennies saved will be £ and $ lost…

You know it wouldn’t surprise me….

We love the fries from room service and the chicken noodle soup. Pure comfort food… Sincere thanks for toasting our health, I promise to return the favour when we are finally back at sea next September!