cruisinfly

Thank you, Wildcat, certainly discussed but no actual resolution. No source to truth and no definition of exactly what's included. Maybe that's just something we have to live with but I really do like to know what I'm paying for. Maybe the "FAQ" is correct, maybe not. Also, why would a $27/day package include more than an $81/day package? makes no sense.

Hi, I've seen several recent questions regarding beverage packages. Is there a source for the "truth" on what is actually included in the all-inclusive beverage packages? I see a lot of differing information directly from Celebrity depending on where I look on their website/app. If I look in the cruise planner for my June cruise, it states a classic package includes all the zero proof package drinks plus some booze (cut-n-paste from the classic package cruise planner for $80.99 per day includes: Zero Proof: Acqua Panna water, Evian water, San Pellegrino, Premium coffees, Red Bull & Editions, Sodas, Premium teas, Vitamin water, Bottled Iced Teas, Aqua Spa Fresh Juices, Zero Proof Cocktails Frozen & Non-Frozen) However, if I look at the FAQ page for beverage package comparisons at https://www.celebritycruises.com/things-to-do-onboard/onboard-packages/beverage-packages/compare-packages, it specifically states the classic package "Does not include Smoothies or Aqua Spa Fresh Juice." and also "non-premium bottled water". It also says classic includes drinks up to $10...but I've also seen this listed as up to $11, 12, and 13! Which is correct? Didn't they raise onboard beverage prices? Did they do that without increasing what the drink package covers? Why would the much-cheaper zero proof package ($26.99 in my cruise planner) include premium juices and water but the far more expensive classic package not include those? The reason I ask is that I'm not a big alcohol drinker (some is okay). I definitely want to enjoy the aqua spa fresh juice. The Classic package is included in my cruise and I hate to pay more to upgrade to the Premium alcohol package just to get fresh juice when I won't really take advantage of the premium alcohol. Thoughts?

This is how Celebrity is increasing their revenue while staying competitive in the cruise market. (lower advertised prices/cost to book while increasing revenue by making money onboard) You are correct that when specialty restaurants were a new thing, the extra fee was noted as a gratuity to the staff. It was also quite reasonable. This has evolved into a lucrative revenue stream. I don't hold it against them, however, as long as their "included" dining continues to be high quality with good service. (Note that a lot of people say "free" dining...it's not "free", it's included in the price of the cruise.) On an NCL cruise before COVID, the service and food in the main dining room was very poor while their specialty restaurants had excellent food and service. I felt that this was done intentionally to "convince" people who wanted good food/service to spend extra money to get it. I haven't been back on NCL since (and they seem to be close to bankruptcy).

Yay for us!

According to Celebrity, Solstice has Starlink. They imply that everybody's internet will be fast (I can't imagine they'd keep their original satellite internet service if they've added Starlink. Starlink should be much cheaper!): https://www.celebritycruises.com/cruise-ships/celebrity-solstice "Celebrity Solstice is now equipped with Starlink internet service by SpaceX, bringing you high speed connectivity. Enjoy faster, more reliable internet onboard."

Thank you to cw2go for posting. Based on her price reduction, I checked on my Alaska cruise on the Solstice for June and sure enough, the price dropped by $864. (I checked yesterday and no change. There was also no change on the advertised promotion.) I called and after a few minutes on hold, they adjusted the price and sent a new booking confirmation! For this cruise, the price of Aqua Class is currently cheaper than booking a standard veranda or concierge class with all-inclusive added. (Aqua Class prices include all-inclusive.)

Cozumel is quite safe, no need to book a ships tour if you want to do something independently. I was there in December and June. Google "Cabanas at Chankanaab", simple cab ride to/from the port. Great experience at a great price.

I just booked a celebrity cruise and they highlighted their best price guarantee. Not sure why this wouldn't apply to you. https://www.celebritycruises.com/company/customer-support/best-price-guarantee

Sorry for the late reply. No, we each tested individually.

I would choose Celebrity but it really depends on your own preferences. RCL more family oriented. Celebrity more for adults. The Equinox is an excellent ship! One of my favorite cruises was on the Equinox.

I don't think they can test more than one person at a time with a single device/account. You can use different devices/accounts but you'll have your own session. We did ours individually.

I've seen a lot of questions/discussions on COVID testing. My family took our eMed COVID tests and I thought I'd share my experience/procedures for anybody else planning to do this. Here's my experience in chronological order: 1. I ordered the test kits from eMed dot com around 1 month prior to our cruise. They came in a pack of 6. I have a family of 5 so I ordered 1 pack. 2. I submitted a claim for reimbursement to my health insurance company. They are supposed to cover the cost of these tests. 3. I created an eMed account. 4. I downloaded the NAVICA app and created an NAVICA account. 5. I was able to add all of my family members, wife and children, to my account. (My family members did not need their own login or account.) 6. I received the eMed test kits within a couple of days. Leave the individual test kits sealed/closed until the proctor tells you to open them. Don't order too early, the expiration date was in 11 months from the day I received them. 7. Two days before departure, We took our proctored eMed tests. No appointment needed (nor available). Here's how they worked. 7a. I used my Android cell phone for the tests. I scanned the QR code on the eMed test kit box to "start testing". This brought me to a login page (eMed account). 7b. I selected who was testing (all my family members were under my account). The software checked the network, microphone, speaker, and camera. You need to have photo ID available. (kids under 15 don't need photo ID but and adult will need to help with their test and have their ID). You will use the camera to show the proctor your photo ID. 7c. Answered a few questions, then it said "connecting you to a test proctor". This took around 30-60 seconds before the proctor came on the line. 7d. Most proctors didn't speak English very well and were hard to understand but we got through it. Using my cell camera, I showed them the QR code/Expiration date. I had to remove a sleeve on the box to expose that info. 7e. They kept switching between my front-facing camera and my rear facing camera. I did not control that. Was a bit odd. They then gave step-by-step instructions to administer the test. They want the camera facing you and the test card flat on the table in front of you. I propped up the phone. 7d. Open the box, take out what's inside: a swab, a test card, and a dropper of liquid. Box was much bigger than it needed to be. 7e. Open the test card, set it flat on the table. Place 6 drops of liquid in the small hole on top. 7f. Open the swab, gently swab your nose 5 times in each nostril. Insert the swab into the large hole in the card so it's visible in the small hole, twist 3 times. 7g. Expose adhesive and seal the card. Keep the card visible in the camera. They start a 15 minute timer and leave you. You can get up and leave but be sure you're back before the timer expires and your card is visible in the camera the whole time. 7h. Once the timer expires, a button will come up on the phone that says "I'm ready", press it and you'll be connected to a new proctor. Took around 30 seconds. 7i. You'll hold the camera over the QR code and test window on the card. Then they ask you to read the results: Two pink lines-positive, One pink line next to control-negative. All of our tests were negative. Yay! We are going on our cruise! 8. It took them about 1 minute to e-mail the test results to my e-mail address. All my family's results went to my e-mail address. 9. About 4 minutes later, your results showed up in the NAVICA app. I printed both the eMed e-mailed results and the results downloaded from NAVICA. (I think they just need the NAVICA results). I can also see the results on my cell phone NAVICA app. Overall, each test took around 20 minutes total. It was very convenient to test at home. The app/cell phone worked great for testing. I would definitely use these tests again. Hope this answers questions anyone might have. Good luck!

Happened with my cruise on the Liberty. Kept checking every day and it magically showed up around 25 days or so before the cruise.

This is an interesting thread. The original poster, Tntt, has a good point and if not too inconvenient, might be good to have a CO detector for travel. Note the overall risk is low. (By the way, CO is the hazard we're discussing here, not CO2. CO is deadly at 150 parts per million and dangerous in lower quantities above 75 ppm. CO2 tastes good when mixed with water and is generally not a risk until concentrations exceed 80,000 parts per million. Very rare unless you're hauling dry ice in a sealed vehicle, defective submarine, defective spacecraft, closed and sealed area, have a faulty rebreather, work around large quantities of it, or are in a low spot near an active volcano.) ) I don't think cruise ships have CO detectors in cabins. Not sure if they have them in public areas. Cruise ships have smoke detectors in every cabin but they don't make a sound when they alarm. They only signal the bridge. Sources of CO can be: faulty water heaters, gas dryers, ovens, grills, fire places, engines that burn fuel, any combustion/burning, welding.

Just so folks know, CO can be dangerous even when outdoors if in proximity to the source, such as a boat's exhaust. Risk of exhaust backdraft while running. Known issue for boaters who swim near a boat with running engine. Risk of passing out/drowning. It does happen.

While I wouldn't bring one on a modern cruise ship because I don't think it's needed, I do think it's a good idea to take one on a vacation if you will be staying in an older/foreign hotel, airbnb, or other rental. In general, the risk is very low and CO sources are generally easy to determine so not the end of the world if you don't have one. CO detectors are not radioactive so shouldn't be a problem (unless they have a lithium-ion battery which may be an issue on aircraft). Some smoke detectors are photoelectric as well. It's really sad that a "resort" does not already have CO detectors in their rooms and tragic that there was a source of CO. It's in the tropics, right, no heater? This also happened in Mexico near Tulum not too long ago.

Hi, I've cruised both Royal and Celebrity. There are quite a few differences I have experienced between the cruises but they also vary based on which individual ship/crew you have. In general, I feel Celebrity is more upscale/luxury catering more to adults who are over 40. (That being said, my teenagers love Celebrity as well.) Celebrity seems to have fewer passengers, more space per passenger, no rushing, fewer lines, and generally better service. Activities focus on the more mature crowd rather than rowdy youth. The food was generally better on Celebrity in both regular dining, suite dining, and specialty restaurants. Cafe al Bacio is my favorite coffee shop. Celebrity is my favorite cruise line to date. Royal is more focused on families and attracting younger crowds, specifically with their larger ships. They are filled with activities catering to active folks and youth such as the flowrider, waterslides, rock walls, kids areas, etc. I found the specialty dining on Royal to be excellent but the rest can be hit-or-miss. I found more lines, more crowds, and less interested service. Some of the larger Royal ships seem like shopping malls but that may be a bit harsh. A Royal cruise is generally cheaper than Celebrity, but not always. Entertainment may be a bit better in some cases on Royal but I really liked being able to mosey into the Celebrity show lounge 10 minutes before a show and still find a good seat. On Royal, there were more crowds, lines and you might not get a seat if you're not early enough. Bar service and mixed drinks were much better on Celebrity. I'm actually going back on Royal this summer and I've enjoyed every cruise I've been on. I just know what to expect. Enjoy!