alj1208

I couldn't find HAL's information about what Covid treatments are available on board, but if you look at some of the other cruise lines, you'll see language like the passage below from Princess. Reading between the lines, if they're carrying ventilators (I assume so from the statement, "equipment and procedures... across the full clinical spectrum including intensive care."), they're probably carrying Paxlovid, IMHO.

Every ship has dedicated medical staff (doctors, nurses, etc.) operating ship medical centers to serve guests and crew on board.

They are up to date on the latest COVID-19 scientific status and trained on all relevant COVID-19 procedures.

We’ve enhanced our shipboard medical capabilities with the necessary staffing, medications, supplies, oxygen, equipment and procedures to triage and treat multiple COVID-19 cases across the full clinical spectrum including intensive care.

We’ve also expanded onboard medical roles to include staff responsible for overseeing public health issues, including outbreak prevention and response.

The medical staff requirements and equipment on each ship meet or exceed the guidelines from the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) Healthcare Guidelines for Cruise Ship Medical Facilities.

My guess is the ships may be carrying limited quantities of Paxlovid, but if they're carrying it, they would likely ration the drug and give it to those they perceive as higher risk. In the US currently, rationing is no longer necessary due to there being enough to go around (at least with current Covid levels).

There is no way (IMHO) a cruise line spokesperson would want to touch this topic or confirm the ships have Paxlovid other than to say something general such as, we ensure proper medical care is available to passengers who need it ... or similar.

There are many reasons they wouldn't want to make a statement about carrying the medicine (not enough for everyone who might ask for it, fear that cruisers would relax protocols/precautions, and more). I'm assuming the ships might also carry it should crew members become ill,  as a major sick-out/outbreak among crew/serious illness  would attract attention and cause concerns for passengers and crew alike. From a purely business standpoint, the cruise lines would also want crew healthy and back to work ASAP, so another reason why Paxlovid might be on the ships. This is all just one person's guessing, so take it with a grain of salt!

These are excellent responses and incredibly helpful. Keep them coming if anyone has more to say. Also wondering if the ships carry Paxlovid in the infirmaries.

We're considering a 7-day Fjords cruise, possibly Norse Legends on Rotterdam. My greatest concern is it that one of us would test positive, and we'd end up being moved from our stateroom and isolated. We are a family of 3 (3 adults and a teenager). We're all vaxxed and boosted. I've read the protocols on HAL's website. I can accept them (masks, etc.). I guess I'm interested in people's experiences. Does fear of testing positive (then being moved and isolated) ruin the experience, or is the risk pretty low and not a big deal? Has anyone had the experience of testing positive on a HAL cruise and being moved? How did they treat you? This is the first time we're considering cruising since the pandemic, and if we're going to spend the money, we'd like to be reasonably sure we'll have a good time, while accepting the risk of testing positive. Anecdotally and in your experience, how prevalent is COVID on the ships? There is no way to tell from the cruise lines or news stories. Thanks for any insights.

Definitely stay in Rome for 2 nights, and don’t waste a night in a hotel near the port. The ride to the port is easy (maybe an hour or slightly more), and it’s all highway. There won’t be traffic on a Sunday.

We hired a private car transfer to drive us from Rome to the port the morning of the cruise, and it was great. We were not in a suite, but we were among the first on the ship. No lines.

In Rome, we stayed at Hotel Artimede in connecting rooms for 2 nights with our teenage son. We did a private one-day Rome tour the day after our arrival. We did the “Rome with the Vatican” tour with ItalyTours.EU. It was so worth the extra money, as the private tour allowed us to move efficiently around the city. The tour company really did deliver “Rome in a day.”

We were offered a 10 percent discount for a same-day booking at Eden during our July Mediterranean cruise. 

Date of Cruise:       July 27, 2019                                                                                                                                          

Ship:  Edge                                                                                                                                                   

Cabin #:7184 and #7186 (connecting cabins for family cruise)                                                                                                                                                             

Deck #:7                                                                                                                                                

Cabin Category:  Top category for infinite veranda                                                                                                                                                            

Cabin Location:    Mid-ship                                                                                                                                            

Bed Position:     7184 as the bed by the bathroom. 7186 has the bed by the infinite veranda.                                                                                                                                              

Balcony Type:  Infinite Veranda                                                                                                                                                

Balcony/Window Size:                                                                                                                                                  

Balcony/Window View/Obstruction:  Full view with lifeboats slightly visible                                                                                                                      

Balcony Overhang?:                                                                                                                                                      

Magic Carpet Issues?:    We were right next to the magic carpet, but it did not obstruct our view because it was either stopped on a higher deck or at embarkation level.                                                                                                                                               

Noise Issues?:   No                                                                                                                                               

Wind Issues?:      No                                                                                                                                            

Connecting Cabin? Where Does it Connect?:     Yes. These are connecting cabins. The connecting doors are on the wall in between the two cabins like in a hotel room.  See the attached photo, cabin 2, which includes a visual of the connecting door on the wall.

Suite Details:                                                                                                                                                    

Advantages/Problems/Comments:      This was a great connecting cabin for families. Each cabin had its own heavy door separating it from the other, so it probably would not be a noise problem for people who are not in a family group and don't want to be connected. Also, the connecting doors shut automatically, so this would be a problem for families who have young children. The doors are heavy and difficult to turn the latch, so younger kids would not be able to open the door to get into the next cabin. Our son is a teenager and was in the connecting room, and it was not a problem. We did occasionally prop the two doors open with shoes when we wanted to be "together."      

Also, note that one cabin would be a very tight squeeze for three adults or families with older kids. The third bed is a trundle (a drawer) and would not be a comfortable option. We were so glad we chose connecting cabins instead of trying to crowd into one tiny cabin. Yes, it's still very small for more than two people even with the infinite veranda!                                                                                                               

Would You Book It Again?: Yes, but in general, we didn't feel the infinite veranda was an improvement and would opt for a ship with real balconies.

Photos or Photo Links:

Curious if anyone has an update about taking their kids on Celebrity Edge?

Every family is different, but we are getting connecting cabins for peace of mind. Our son is 12 (an only child, no friend coming with us, so he'd be alone). We aren't sharing a triple because our DS is really tall --  5' 8" already -- and wouldn't fit on the trundle bed that serves as the third "bunk" on Celebrity. So, we sprang for connecting cabins, although it is expensive.

If I had two boys, ages 11 and 13, and they were relatively mature and responsible, I would consider side-by-side cabins but would probably be a little nervous about it.  I would make sure there is a way to communicate instantly, such as  cell phones, walkie talkie or even a baby monitor just for communication (to make it more like everyone is together). I would set extremely clear rules about not letting anyone in the room, staying in the room when expected, safety, what to do in case of emergency. I will add that my parents always did split up when we got side-by-side rooms until we were maybe 16.

I am prone to seasickness. The cabin makes a difference. Mid-ship is better. Bonine works well. I hear the transderm patch is better for serious motion. I have brought the patch with me on cruises just in case but didn’t need it. I felt better knowing I had it, although you are supposed to put it on before you get on the ship. You might consider asking your doctor for anxiety medicine, if fear of sickness is what’s bothering you. 

Jesseslola, 

Our cruise is Western Mediterranean in July. Too bad.

We are cruising as a family on the Edge in the Mediterranean this summer. We are a couple with a tween boy, and Celebrity is our favorite line, whether we are traveling as a couple or as a family. I'd love to hear feedback from other families. I also posted on the family board. Thanks!

Hi,

We will be on the Celebrity Edge in the Mediterranean this summer and would love to hear from families who have been on Celebrity's newest ship. We are a family of three (a couple with a tween boy). We like Celebrity in general and have taken our son on Celebrity in the past. I'd be interested in hearing about the kids' club on the new ship and anything else that would be of interest to families. 

It sounds like a great place, Cruisemom -- and an excellent value. I appreciate the details regarding what 3 stars means in Italy. I am sure we will be happy! We hope to be out in Rome exploring, so it's not worthwhile for extra amenities we would not sure.

Cruisemom,

Thank you so much for the tips! I booked the Albergo Santa Chiara. We got a large room that can fit 4 people, even though we are just 3. I was wondering if you can tell me a little bit more about the hotel. The booking website says it's 3 stars. We usually go 4 stars or higher, but I have also stayed in 3 stars in Europe that are great. Just looking for a little more detail. We like a little charm, very clean and up-to-date rooms, comfy beds, and a nice place to eat. Also, how's the AC? DH hates the heat, and we're going in late July.

Hello,

We are a family of three (2 adults, 1 child - Age 12) cruising out of Rome this summer. We are flying in two nights early so we can tour Rome. The cruise line has us in a hotel that looks like it's outside the center (Crowne Plaza St. Peter's), and the quotes are overpriced for what we are getting. Can we do better on our own? We are thinking we'd like a car private transfer, airport to hotel, and hotel to cruise port as well. Any recommendations are welcome. We are not budget travelers per se, but we like to make sure we are getting our money's worth, and it looks like we could get a nicer and better located hotel for what the cruise line is charging!

12 hours ago, Essiesmom said:

 

 

I haven't reviewed the booking regs. for Celebrity recently, but the child in the adjoining/connecting cabin is not a teen, but a TWEEN, so under 13?  Would they let a 12 y/o be booked alone in a cabin?  EM

The Celebrity rep told us an adult must be booked in the tween's room, even with connecting cabins. So, cabin one is one adult/one child, and the second cabin is one adult. We are fine with that. Our goal is to have the extra space and a real bed for everyone. The suites were significantly more expensive than connecting cabins, and the third person in a suite still sleeps on a trundle or single sofa bed. Our son happens to be very tall for his age at 5' 8". At the rate he's growing, he could be 5' 10" by cruise time :)

13 minutes ago, ocngypz said:

No, I didn't take any pictures.  My cabin was 8225.....the connecting door was on the left in the shared wall.

Thank you for the info! 

2 hours ago, ocngypz said:

The cabins each have a door in the shared wall.... like the old days of Celebrity... and like hotel rooms.  I was in 8225 - a connecting cabin.

You don't have a photo, do you? The Celebrity customer service rep had a hard time explaining on the phone exactly how the cabins connect. The rep stated there was some sort of partition and specifically said there was no door in the middle of the room connecting to the other cabin. I am thinking the rep was mistaken, since you were actually in this type of room? Our cabin numbers are 7184 and 7186. On the deck plan, there is a little bar drawn in between to indicate connecting.

I decided to book adjoining cabins for our cruise on the Edge next summer. We are a couple with a very tall tween, and we decided to spend the extra money for two cabins so we all have a real bed. We are aware that an adult must be placed in the cabin tween is in. Does anyone know what the adjoining cabins are like? How are they joined? These are infinite veranda cabins. Thanks!

Update on my original concerns about trundle beds:  

I talked to Celebrity and my travel agent.

It appears there is a conflict between the deck plans on the Celebrity website and the deck plans in the Edge brochure. On the website, the triangle symbol = upper berth, but in the brochure, the triangle symbol = "single sofa bed." The cabins with the square symbols are described as quads with double sofa beds. In fact, those quads have trundles (one person in the drawer, and one on the couch).   Could this be a case of the web content writers mistakenly assuming a triangle means upper berth as with other Celebrity ships?

On that basis, I elected to change our cabin to a triple (with triangle symbol), Celebrity's rep stating that this is a single sofa bed, not a trundle and NOT a pullman/upper berth. 

The new cabin number is 8205. I am sure folks have more fun things to do on the maiden voyage than look into this, but I sure would be curious if anyone has any information that would clarify. In cabins with the triangle symbol, what exactly does the third person sleep on?  Are there any pullmans/upper berths on the Edge? Are all the quads trundle situations?

I appreciate the useful ideas and comments. I guess what I am most troubled by is that Celebrity should be clear at booking, which is what they promise in the FAQ. Had they been clear, I would have booked adjoining cabins, and one of us would have shared a room with our son. We can make due, as you all have suggested, but for the money we are spending, I feel let down. The bottom line is, none of us on this thread have been able to figure out for sure what the third bed actually is, and that’s not okay IMHO. 

Thanks, Jazz. I appreciate the feedback. Since you have experience in customer service, what do you suggest? I am also looking for advice from other passengers who may have encountered this. I am willing to pay more for connecting rooms and would have done so had this been made clear. The connecting rooms are now gone. We cruised recently on HAL, and a sofa bed was indeed a sofa bed and of reasonable size.

Hi all,

We are booked on the Edge for a Mediterranean cruise this summer. The deck plan symbols show sofa beds, but it appears the sofa bed is actually a trundle, according to the cabin photos that have been in the news recently. A celebrity rep confirmed my suspicions by phone. Our son, Age 12,  is really tall (5' 8" already), and I would not have booked this stateroom (Infinity Veranda) if I had know that he would be sleeping in a drawer! I will add that this is a relatively expensive cruise, and I would not expect to have been sold a drawer for that kind of money.

Looks like all the connecting rooms are gone. I think Celebrity should have disclosed this before we booked, and I feel their language is misleading and even deceptive. The official cabin photos on the Celebrity website say (in hidden fine print) "some staterooms may have a trundle bed," whereas the deck plans (which is what I used to pick an individual cabin) say "convertible sofa bed."  

We have already bought the expensive separate plane tickets which are non-refundable. Any advice? Does Celebrity offer any alternatives like a mattress on the floor or moving a real sofa bed into the cabin?

We went to Alaska on HAL with our son, age 10 at the time. I hate to be negative, but the kids club was very uninviting. It was dark, and the counselors weren’t particularly friendly. They did nothing to reach out to our son to make him comfortable. He refused to even try it. We have cruised Celebrity, and it was a different story. No bells and whistles or theme characters, of course, but a really professional and upbeat kids club operation. I actually felt HAL was boring for the adults, too, and we’re a little on the older side for parents (late 40s). I won’t take a HAL cruise again.