PBC29

From a company perspective it totally makes sense: Board early = hope passengers will spend more given the crew have more time for sales pitches while people are waiting in lounges and buffet with less things to do. Then there is the (everyone at once) issue. Imagine if all 2500+ passengers showed up right before the cut off = ship would be late leaving costing the company $$$ an may not sail with everyone due to document issues.

From a passenger perspective: Drink more, eat more, explore the ship, check table assignments and make reservations for specialty dining, spa or gym classes.

Personally we fly in the day of sailing on most of our cruises so we're landing or catching the cab when boarding begins or already started. Many times when we board waiting time for cabins to be ready is 5-10min or no wait at all. Love watching as they make the announcement the cabins are ready how many passengers act so relieved with that "FINALLY- It's about time" look. Hey nobody said you had to be at the ship at 9-10am to be one of the 1st few hundred people on board.

Ship card when we were on an MSC cruise - had to put the card in a slot (and keep it there) to make the cabin lights work. Forgot to take it out as I was leaving for dinner an didn't notice until trying to get a drink. Had my travel partner open the door so I could look for it, sure enough the lights were already on so found the card instantly. BTW I was in my late 20's at the time.

About six years ago: Not personally but know people who had their luggage searched (not by security) after they put it out in the hall the final night. Put the bags out then went for the last night of fun, upon returning for some sleep their bag was unzipped with some clothing partially sticking out. Security was called but nothing was actually taken.

Did watch as one guy in the casino dropped a stack of chips people scrambled to pick them up. He got most of it back within minutes, not sure if he ever got it all back.

Flew Delta out of NY to FL last week an they didn't ask anything. I booked in Oct an flew alone so you'd think they'd ask more if flying alone when confirming you need assistance and in a wheelchair.

Didn't like the fact the booking lady from lord only knows what country couldn't understand what an aisle chair is - took 15minutes of explaining what that is then just transferred me over to a guy with a southern accent. I said "I need an aisle chair" his reply "ok no problem". Come on which word is so difficult to understand - aisle or chair.

Can see using names in roll calls but just answering a question won't bother.

If they charged for the connections party they might care more to make it work, also promote it more. Plenty of roll calls don't seem to know about it.

I have a feeling my wife will show up on one of these threads after we go on our first cruise because she enjoys staying in her PJ's and wears dressing gowns constatly. Oh well....

Surprised I haven't been mentioned, regularly wear my superman/batman pajamas to the breakfast buffet. No crew has ever said a word other than did the theme songs as I went by. Granted haven't sailed on Celebrity yet so we'll see if they are more strict.

I was looking at the itinerary modification alerts - Nov 18 Summit sailing still shows St. Croix https://www.celebritycruises.com/content/dam/celebrity/pdf/11-18-17-SM-Southern-Carib-Hurricanes-Modification-Everbridge-Letter-v2.pdf

Hmm Not what I see when checking the site.

I looked at Summit itineraries for later this month (November), and St. Croix is on those so I'm not sure why they would take it off a January itinerary if the ship is able to be there in November...

 

Ultimately, I'm okay with wherever they send us on our January 13th cruise, but I want to know to make plans. If we are in fact going to be in St. Lucia on the 16th, it looks like we'll be tendering and I find that makes it difficult to make arrangements for shore excursions that aren't booked through the ship.

11/5 and 11/19 St. Croix switched to St. Kitts. 12/26 St. Croix switched to St Lucia. As per the "caribbean itinerary Modification Alert" Blue section at the top of the Celebrity website. Jan 16th shows Roseau Dominica for the Summit when I just did a mock booking.

what is interesting is on the Celebrity website....if I do a mock booking for my January 13th Summit cruise....and view the itinerary, it shows our current designated ports. The desktop version of the website has a link to "Itinerary Map" and if you click on that - it shows what I think will be our true itinerary - with St. Croix, St. Marten, and Dominica being replaced by St. Kitts, Antigua, and St. Lucia respectively.

 

yes i know it is the Celebrity website---hmmm - but I think they are giving us a sneak peak of what is to come?

Thanks for the tip on looking at the map vs written word January 20th Equinox: San Juan, St Thomas, St Kitts instead of written word San Juan, St Maarten, St. Kitts. Wonder if/when they'll change the written word to match the map.

Not long enough to feel the need/worth to get again. I'll stick with the inside cabin normally get.

Depends on the water taxi. The smaller ones are not, although I have been able to step aboard and then the dock hands lift my scooter on board. This would not work for someone who could not stand and walk. The larger one they use to go to the center of town is. They have a ramp from the dock to the taxi. I have used it on several occasions.

Good to know Thanks

We have done this several times using a mobility scooter. Although it's doable, I'd suggest you consider the water taxi from the cruise port. About $7/person/R.T.

???? We were told the water taxi isn't wheelchair/scooter accessible.

When I was getting government assistance I rarely got the "what do you do" questions but I usually answered "I work for the government" which is technically true. With all the silly hoops they make physically challenged people do in order to get benefits it's work. More often I get the "why are you in a wheelchair" or "what's wrong with you", those answers vary depending whose asking an where we are.

I laugh at the replies if you email a question. Is it the first day on the job for everyone? Asking what should be a simple question: " what is the minimum cash deposit required for setting up an on board account at the beginning of a seven day cruise?" Reply I got: "I think you can". Well that answers the question asked very well.

Formal night NO - Embarkation night might be better as dress code rules are pretty lax. Not to mention bonus pic with the shirts during muster drill.

Nope still going in January. Final payment was due by yesterday at the latest. Personally would have liked to know if we'll have port changes as St. Maarten and San Juan (3pm-11pm) still seem questionable before final payment but oh well. Wonder if the first few ships back to the damaged islands have few passengers get off or complain about things if they do - might the future stops be changed for a while longer. Not making much $$$ sitting at the dock and it's not helping the island economy very much.

Curious as our Equinox sailing Jan 20th supposedly has TWO groups (guessing not huge as we could book as not being a part of them) "Cruise of Irish Stars" and a Fleetwood Mac tribute band. Tribute band group sites are showing embarkation at Port Everglades but the ship is actually going from Miami. Recently looked up both groups and Tribute band sites are now blank, so I'm wondering did it get cancelled or is it sold out. Called Celebrity and all the rep said is "yes we have groups booked" won't confirm what they are. Heck for all I know something else is booked too. Called the TA for the Irish group an they confirmed it's under half the ship but wouldn't give an exact number.

The Fleetwood Mac group cancelled. Our Irish group is still on board, final payments were due today so TA couldn't give numbers.

Sailing isn't until Jan 20th on Equinox but personally find it odd some small 3rd party sites have us going to St. Croix instead of originally scheduled stop at St. Maarten. Plenty of time before we sail but I just find it odd small 3rd party sites would take the time to make changes if the actual cruise line hasn't posted,called or emailed anything. Maybe they know an Celebrity is just being slow telling actual passengers, we shall see.

Celebrity doe out give out insulated cups with their drink packages.

The bartenders do give you a can of soda and a glass of ice if you like,or bottle of any kind of water that is included , all you have to do is ask.

.:)

Odd this is the 1st I've read about getting an insulated cup - wonder if they have them why not just give them out instead of making people specifically ask for it.

Yes.

You might consider UberX too. Running around $30.

Bad experiences with Uber and UberX as well as taxis in FL - Being in a wheelchair although it folds an fits easily in 90% of car trunks some drivers just don't want to deal with it. Gone with Jeff before an all the drivers have been cool about helping into an out of the vehicles. Was just asking to be curious if much has changed since our last trip price wise since he hasn't gone up or down - just wondering if anyone else went down not that we'll use someone else. Not always easy to find an accessible ride from FLL to Miami.

Considering using Jiffy Jeff again at 15pp is this still about the same for most shuttle services doing this trip?

I'm a full time wheelchair user an you really have to do your own research before booking anything that claims to be "accessible". We had the opposite happen on multiple cruises. Family an friends would do excursions that weren't listed as "accessible" yet when they got back to the ship everyone was saying how I could have done them. Yes there were accessibility issues but not big enough to say everyone in a wheelchair is unable to go an do these things. Sure not everyone in a chair is as able to do things like I can but there are variations of disability and accessibility. Nowhere is 100% accessible to everyone, at some point someone is going to need help doing things that are listed simply as "accessible". For my upcoming cruise they have a few "accessible" excursions listed but only TWO specifically say WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE.

Oh good so I won't look too out of place in my Superman or Batman one piece pajamas in the buffet at breakfast - Jan 20th Equinox. From a lot of posts it seemed we might be dealing with a bunch of fuddy duddies. Glad to read it should be somewhat like our past caribbean MSC and Costa sailings.

Only difference I can figure is how you get them in the end - Top: by downloading from website or SD/thumb drive they give you/ Bottom: actual pictures you can hold in your hand (have to pack carefully in order not to bend) an instantly put in a frame when you get home.