ChucktownSteve

hahaha Koke "like" was the term used. Kinda the same as Kobe adjacent?

I wish Celebrity would bring back the Kobe like hamburgers for a charge. That's luxury!

Our Baltics cruise in 2017 was the same. Perry Golf participants did not affect our cruise in the least. As a matter of fact it was the best cruise we've ever sailed but it had nothing to do with the Perry Golf program.

My TA always sets the final payment two weeks before the cruise line requires it so if there is a problem, they have time to deal with it. Two weeks doesn't make much difference to me since it's paid by credit card anyway. I always get a reminder email from them one week before their deadline. Once my credit card had to be changed due to fraud. It gave us enough time to change payment. I've dealt with the TA in New England that I will never do business with. American cancelled my flight so I was a "no show" for the cruise because they rebooked me to arrive after the ship sailed. I had already received my insurance claim payment several months later before the TA tagged my credit card for a cancellation fee which I had to eat. My current TA of over a decade has never charged me to change or cancel a cruise. It's tough to find a good TA. Good luck.

When I booked our three Regent cruises during the height of the pandemic, I compared an equal square footage suite on Celebrity. The actual PP/PN was less on Regent. That also included the Hotel, air, excursions, specialty restaurants, premium liquor set up in the cabin or throughout the ship, more OBC and as much laundry as we like. I LUV that our luggage is picked up in our hotel room while we're eating breakfast and deposited at our cabin! I saw how Royal Caribbean Group, after acquiring Celebrity and Azamara, kept cutting corners to increase their bottom line. Regent's food throughout the ship far exceeded the diversity and quality I enjoy than I found on Azamara, Oceania and the Celebrity Resort restaurants. I expect similar bottom line changes with their SilverSea acquisition. On Celebrity, the lessor meat quality, especially in the buffet and main dining fail for me. They wanted to drive people to the paid specialty restaurants. The crew and passengers we've encountered on Regent are like no other line. Except for a very few, I never got the impression that you were judged by others for your dress or cabin selection. The worst I found that on was Oceania. The Regent crew and fellow passengers have been the best we've encountered than on any of the several lines we've sailed. RSSC checks all the boxes for us. BTW my DW goes along with cruising because I enjoy it so much. Next week we fly to LAX to embark on the Splendor for 16 nights! This week is the first time she has ever said, "I am so looking forward to this cruise." This is our third Regent sailing.

I agree with you on the Air Fare! We were booked on a Venice to Athens cruise this coming May but moved it to a December 2024 Caribbean sailing both on Onward. I didn't mind booking the Owner's suite for a new experience but $9K-$12K was way too much for my comfort getting there. We can drive to FLL and POM. We fly next week to LAX for a Panama Canal cruise on the way to Miami but it's on another cruise line. There we rent a car for a three hour drive home. I've sailed Journey and Quest.

They were probably thinking of Azamara who has owner's suites. But those are on the stern. The Club Ocean Suites overlook the bow. Doesn't the Splendor have an observation lounge on deck 11? Wouldn't that overlook the bow????

I agree. We were on the Mariner to Alaska a few months ago. I could be on the rail while my DW enjoyed the view over the bow from the comfort of her seat consuming a libation.

In Vancouver earlier this year they picked up our luggage while we ate at the supplied breakfast buffet. We chose to take an Uber because we didn't want to arrive with the bus crowd. We got there before the herd thus we processed easily and quickly. The Uber was about $9cad. We we got to the port, all the taxis were waiting at the dock area and didn't bother coming by the hotels. So while waiting for a taxi with a few in line before us, I downloaded the app, called a car and it arrived before the next taxi did. When we got to L.A. there were no taxis to take us to LAX so we used Uber again. The buses to the airport were still loading when we left. That's why I don't use their transportation.

I saw enough info to book it. Thanks. That's how I feel about the Caribbean I have a Celebrity 7 night comp Blue chip veranda cruise this Sunday. The only port I'm getting off is Saint Maarten for my "liquor run" and perhaps a trinket for the DW who won't be sailing with me. Coincidentally the AZ cruise we switched to also includes Saint Maarten. My handful of Blue bottles I'll be picking up might last that long. lol My first cruise was 1985. The best cruise we've ever sailed was Azamara to the Baltic with three days in St. Petersburg. That was a standard veranda. Won't see that country again. But don't worry since I've been to Russia, I understand I can't run for President. rofl. BTW do you know how to tell when the Hallmark movie is ending? They all have that one kiss at the end. Then fade. Lifetime sometimes has two kisses.

Maybe, maybe not now. It really depends upon what Sycamore does. Perhaps someone who's recently/currently been in a PLUS cabin can clarify

My cruise was 12/10/2021 (13 Nights) on Quest with a P1 - CLUB VERANDA PLUS solo.

It did when I booked my last AZ cruise but YMMV. Can't speak for since Sycamore actually took over.

Thankx. I always ask because the worst they can say is no. I'm glad that might be an option. My real favorite is Blue or Platinum but I wouldn't expect that to be included so my everyday is Black which I can live with. 😁 I'm looking forward to going back to Oceania again. I was pleased with our experience on the O class ship.

I totally agree. Had I not gotten that incredible price with two suite upgrade including all the extras I would not have booked as I indicated in my previous post comparing price to Celebrity. The AZ owners suite is not cheap either. I don't consider Stoli or JW red to be of the caliber they should give the occupants, when you can go to any bar and get Grey Goose or JW Black with the liquor package included with the higher price AZ veranda or suite. I even had the same situation with the plus veranda V1: cheap liquor in the cabin but better at the bar. That's not logical. I asked the cabin attendant if he could switch out the red for black. He checked and said I would have to give him the four free little bottles to get one black of the same size. So I gave them away to people but walked to the bar to get my black at no extra charge. What I hope Sycamore realizes that RCG didn't is there are some things that are a high customer perceived value with a low out of pocket cost that justifies their higher fare. It's about perception.

I appreciate that very much since I haven't been following that thread. Nice of you to think of me. We'll be in 7119 That is quite a unique bath/shower combo! The balcony is incredible in size. Disappointed in the quality of the liquor in the top suite though. I consider those bottom shelf. I had those in an AZ V1. All the suites in Regent get top shelf. BTW that's every cabin. I had three different ltrs on our last two cruises. I was lucky to book three Regent cruises during the height of the pandemic so their suites for the same Square Footage were actually less per person per night than Celebrity suites at the time. But at that time Regent also included so much more for less. Now that their small ships are sailing booked, its not so easy to find as good pricing. I expect we'll have a good time on Azamara and the itinerary includes my liquor run port to Saint Maarten. I've been buying from the same company for over 20 years and always get a great price on my Blue. I know I will enjoy the AZ suite. But it would be nice if AZ stepped up

Thankx, I can do a tub/shower but usually prefer no tub. However I did take a bath on our Regent cruise in May so we'll see. Don't worry, I didn't ask the butler to scrub my back. roflmao There was no tub on our September Regent cruise. However their bathrooms are much larger and nicer than Azamara. I hate AZ's small showers. But I don't select a sailing based upon the bathroom. lol

Well I recently moved my Club World Owner's Suite from the May 2023 Venice embarkation to a Caribbean Club World Owner's Suite embarking December 2024. Not only did they move the port 2.5 hrs away but I found the Business class airfare to be $9K!!! Not a good combination. Plus it's only a 4 hour drive to the POM. Guess I'll just have to wait to experience the best AZ has. "=)

We'll be embarking on 1/5 so we appreciate you taking care of her for us. We'll do the same paying it forward.

I use them too. I've been reimbursed for any ATM fees. Concur best exchange rate.

Why wouldn't they since the coffee's are that much as well?

Don, IMO Celebrity started moving away from the traditional cruise once the five year period following the transfer from Chandris expired. Chandris developed/built the excellent traditional cruise experience while RCG and LLP have moved to go cut corners, younger and woke. Remember the ultra loud atrium DJs rocking through multiple decks trying to attract the youngins several years ago?

I just became Elite+ and my first cruise without AI is coming up next week. When you say Specialty coffees are included, Outside of the Elite breakfast, does it include Café al Bacio all day and during meals?

who complained? Maybe you should include other cruise lines in your plans so they want to entice you to return?

It was true when I gambled at the MGM. I raised my bets as the pit boss approached the table and reduced it as he moved on. When I checked my rating later, it showed my average bet was much higher than I usually bet and my table time was much longer than I actually played. Maybe not true in the very small ship casinos but it was in the large casino when I played.