Islander500

Hello all, I love to read books that focus on an area before I travel there. They can be fiction or non-fiction as I find that either can provide interesting context, details and a point-of-view about the area. Will be traveling to Boston, Bar Harbor, Sydney, Halifax, PEI, Portland and Quebec City. Would appreciate it if you would share your particular favorites! Thanks in advance. 📚

Much appreciated to all; your feedback was extremely helpful. Helps make my decision much easier.

First some background... I often book AQ on Solstice Class ships for two reasons. One, I like BLU not so much for the special menu (and I'm able to order from MDR on some nights) but because I can sit by the huge glass windows and enjoy the ocean views during dinner. For me, that is very special. Second, on non-port intensive cruises, I like relaxing in the Persian Garden with, again, the views. So on a recent cruise on Edge, I really did not like the location of BLU and really preferred the 4 restaurant options (thankfully, I had booked a veranda.) I'm considering a transatlantic on Apex and wondering how the location and views from BLU compares to the location on Solstice class ships. Ive seen a few pics on-line and the views look quite blocked and unappealing to me. Would love to hear from those who have experienced BLU on any of the Edge ships. I heard that they have made some modifications since the Edge ship, so if you can be ship-specific about your experience, it would be very helpful. Of course, I would miss out on the Persian Garden if I don't book AQ but I can buy a pass for that and I'd rather just do the regular restaurants with some specialty nights if the views from BLU are not appealing. Thanks so much for your help!

I missed this entire Wi-Fi discussion because I thought the Elevate package (which I have for an upcoming Cruise) included the premium wifi package. Just learned it doesn’t, just includes basic. On my planner, only purchasing the premium Wi-Fi is included, not the cost to upgrade from Basic to Premium. Anyone have that info or link to such? Did I just miss a sale on the upgrade? 🥲

Just answered my own question. We don’t anrrive until later in the day. Thanks cruisetitch. Thinking you already figured that out. 🤣

Halifax, but was figuring this was a general question about how celebrity handles these HoHo passes anywhere. But any help appreciated. Ty

On my upcoming Celebrity Cruise, the Hop Off Hop On “so-called excursion” is sale priced with a 30% reduction so it is cheaper than the price on the HoHo bus website. I have OBC so would like to purchase through Celebrity. However, it says the “excursion” starts at 10am while the HoHo website says the bus starts at 8:30am on that date. Anyone have any experience booking the HoHo through Celebrity and being made to wait until later in the day to start using the pass? thanks…

That’s a great deal! Congrats. Is it a 7 day cruise?

I have friends who just moved up from Concierge to AQ on a Solstice class transatlantic for total of $450.

Do all suites include access to Luminae?

Indeed it was. 😍

On a May trip a few years back, my family rented a jeep and we went driving into Canada (it's not far from the border) and saw many black bears on very near the road, many of them strolling and feeding with their cubs. Took great pictures & videos. It was a fantastic DYI excursion. Oops.Just went back to doublecheck and that DYI wasn't in Ketchikan. Now have to dig deeper in my emails because I was planning to do the same thing in an upcoming Alaska cruise. 🙄

Sheila, I was also hoping that they would have the new light grey soft furnishings as they had on Equinox when I sailed in January.

What was the AQ room you from which you moved? I hate that fan noise, too. Looking forward to your review. Boarding Solstice in May.

I’d like to understand what you did but I’m confused. Can you explain in a more step-by-step way? I really want to understand. Are you saying that you can change from a refundable fare to a non/refundable fare after final payment and get the cruise repriced? Ty

I ordered one from Mast Grill in Jan. It was thin, already over cooked but returned to grill to be warmed up. Took just one bite. Not worth the calories, for sure.

Thank you. I obviously don’t focus on this even when it’s obvious. 😂

On a recent Equinox cruise, my DH asked me what the Pearl designation meant on our seapass card. Since we seldom ,if ever, go into the casino I figured it meant that it was based on what experts’ say is the chances of finding a pearl in an oyster—1 in about 10,000. Now, I’m curious to know what other designations there are & what do they mean?

We sailed on Equinox in early January in AQ and dined in BLU. The waiters both told us each night we could select appetizers from the MDR & even entrees or desserts. They offered that information without being asked. Although we didn’t opt for that every evening, we did order the onion soup several times, the Crème Brûlée, Shrimp Appetizer (get a double order because it’s now only 3 small shrimp) and maybe one entree during the 10-day cruise. It was very nice to have that option and having the menu on the app made it easy to check what was on the MDR menu. Loved having the app!

Good to hear. We were on EQUINOX.

West Side Treasures in St Lucia was one of best ship excursions we’ve done & great use of OBC. Review posted in Caribbean destination board.

Loved Take Three as well. Wow! What an incredible group of talented musicians. They mentioned they had 12 music degrees amongst the 3 of them & from top music schools. We were so delighted when they returned at the end of the cruise to perform again. Agree with @39augustthat the singer who joked that she was a female impressionist (not impersonator) did nail every singer she performed, not just by changing her look (wig) but her voice, moves & entire act. She even did a male singer. Finally, we also enjoyed Matt & Lainey which highlighted his guitar(s) playing and loved his fantastic interpretation of Dire Straits’ Sultans of Swing, as well as other songs. The shows on this cruise were really extra special.

We were in Equinox earlier this month. No drink menus had been updated. Old menus & old prices. Seemed to me that upgrading to premium was a waste since menu prices per drink had not been updated.

I did a zoom meeting on Equinox a few weeks ago after upgrading to the premium internet using ear phones. It wasn’t perfect but sufficient for my needs. The basic internet was barely adequate for emails.

Was gone on my Jan 2nd Equinox cruise. I checked on 3 sea days. Others noticed this on other ships?