Lilycat2010

One more question.  Is it easy to navigate the port to get from the ship to a ferry?  Is it walkable?  Do you need a taxi?  Thanks in advance!

Thanks for all the responses!

Thanks for the responses.  That one is a bit out of budget, but looks fantastic.

Hello!

Just off the Beyond.  We are Elite on Celebrity, but have also sailed many other lines.  Happy to share my experiences and answer any questions.  

We stayed in a Sunset Veranda on deck 7 and LOVED our cabin, 7329 to be exact.  Ours was very quiet, although we did hear a few other passengers complain about the creaking and the banging.  We felt very fortunate that we didn't encounter that.  Our cabin steward was amazing.  He did a great job.  He brought us a lounger to enjoy on the balcony and I spent a lot of time out there.  I liked the overhand on deck 7.  It provided a lot of shade, so I never got too hot.  I love to sit on the balcony for hours and read.  The cabin had ample storage and the bathroom was very nice.

Overall the service on this cruise was top notch.  Every person we encountered was friendly, helpful and kind.  The staff really makes the ship.  Captain Kate was around and did a talk about her experiences as well.  Very impressive.  

Food (which I know is subjective) was pretty good.  We had dinners in Le Voyage and Eden.  Both were excellent.  The service was outstanding and the food was delicious.  Now, we booked before the prices went up and with OBC and a pre-cruise discount.  My mom wound up joining us at Le Voyage and we were shocked that her meal after tip was $150.  Quite honestly, I would never pay that for the meal, even though it was great.  We ate in all 4 main dining rooms.  Meals were good.  I had one stinker, and one mediocre meal.  The rest were good to very good. We did burn some OBC in Raw on 5 for lunch.  It was peaceful, beautiful, and very good.  We just had a couple of sushi rolls and some edamame.  Sommeliers seemed so much more available this cruise.  They were really quick to ask for drink orders and we never seemed to have to flag one down like we have on past cruises.

The ship is beautiful.  I really loved the Sunset Bar area and all the little seating choices.  We aren't big pool people, but it seemed lively and fun.  We went to most shows and enjoyed them.  The production cast was very talented and I was very impressed with the stage and production aspects of the shows.  Arte, was especially cool, as was Elements.  We didn't see the comedian or magician.  Savannah Smith was their powerhouse vocalist and she did deliver.

I used the gym a bunch and it is well equipped.  I love my Peloton, so was glad to be able to jump on one there.  I do find it odd that the gym and spa have no shower or locker area?  On other class ships I like to work out, then shower and sit in the hot tub.  It was a bit inconvenient on the Beyond.  I made it work, though.  🙂

As usual, we spent way too much time in the casino.  This one was very busy.  But the dealers were all fun, the table mates lively.  The casino wasn't kind to us, but it wasn't brutal, either.  I did hear about a few big wins, just none of them came our way.  

Overall, we loved the Beyond.  Would sail again in a heartbeat.  I love the Sunset Verandas however for the Caribbean.  I don't mind the Infinite Verandas for busy Europe cruises or colder climates.  But my happy place is hanging out on the balcony with a good book.

Feel free to post any questions.  Happy sailing.

Hi,

Has anyone stayed at a resort, maybe an all inclusive, post cruise?  We are contemplating a 7 day Athens to Athens Celebrity Cruise.  Would like to add on some resort time.  We would prefer not to have to take a lengthy ferry ride.  Does anyone have a recommendation for the Athens beach area, or a nearby island with a nice upscale resort?

Thanks!

I was in 524 on the other side of the elevators in May.  No issues with noise!

Thanks to all for the responses!  Looking forward to checking it out.  We have primarily cruised Celebrity.  We spend way too much time in the casino.  🙂. On Celebrity, drinks are comped while gambling and we love the non-smoking aspect.  Perks and offers, however, are terrible!  At least for us.

Thanks!  Was a genuine question.  Haven’t sailed Princess yet, but am contemplating in 2025.  I will have to tell my husband that someone finds me funny, since he never does.  🙂

Does Princess not offer free drinks while actively gambling?

Just off the Edge and the tasting menu was there.  They are not smaller portions, we inquired.  Not sure anyone could make it through!  🙂 

Hello All,

Recently back from my first cruise on the Edge.  Traveled with my hubby (both in our 50s).  My mom (78) came with us in her own cabin.  My husband and I had done the Apex last September in France, Portugal and Spain, so this was our second E class ship.  We enjoyed this cruise so much more than the Apex for a few reasons.  Our Apex cruise was one of the first to be close to capacity and the staff didn't seem ready.  Things were super slow in the dining rooms, food was so-so, I think they were understaffed...  We had lower expectations of the Edge and I even warned my mom that the food may not be as good as she remembered.  

We were pleasantly surprised!  Service was prompt, wine was prompt (most times), food was good.  Yes, there was a lack of beef as has been reported.  But the Normandy restaurant has a filet option, which was very good.  We did eat in Eden one night and in the Rooftop Grille, both were excellent.  I had the filet at the Rooftop Grille, which was delicious.  It was our first time trying that venue and we'd do it again.  We tried Eden on Apex and loved it.  It was just as good, if not better this trip.  I had the Corvina, which was phenomenal.  

On the Apex, we had an Infinity Veranda.  Now, I didn't mind it for the Europe sailing.  We had a port intensive cruise and it was cooler.  The 'window' worked fine.  For a Caribbean sailing I LOVE to sit on my balcony and read for hours on end.  So, on Edge, we booked a Sunset Veranda and enjoyed it so much better.  We're doing another one next year, same time on the Beyond.  I would book an IV for Europe, but not for Caribbean, I think.  That's just me, I'm not a pool go-er, the balcony is where I spend my time on a Caribbean cruise.  And we've gone enough that we don't do many excursions on ports.  We've been there several times, so we just walk around, maybe grab lunch or shop.  We did have a little soot, but I wiped down the chairs well, and used a towel provided by our cabin steward and problem solved.  Our only cabin issue was a shower that didn't drain well and flooded the floor a little.  Not really a big deal.

The entertainment was very good on this cruise as well.  We saw everything except the comedian, we were tired.  The pianist was top notch.  The singers and dancers were some of the best we've seen also.  Really enjoyed the theater this cruise.  Giuseppe was our CD and did an excellent job. 

We didn't do any excursions, nor did we shop on board.  We do like to hit the casino.  And this trip, it hit us.  We like to play table games and they were brutal.  Everyone I talked to in the casino (with the exception of 1 craps player) lost their shirts.  Very nice staff though!  (as they take your money 🙂 ).  My biggest complaint is with the Blue Chip Club.  I hate it.  It provides NO value.  I am now Amethyst, but still get zip from it.  We lost a bundle and when we inquired we weren't 'eligible' for any comps.  Something about new criteria, blah blah blah.  When you spend thousands and they can't comp you a $100 dinner, it seems ridiculous.  And we weren't alone.  There were some players who seemed to live in the casino, and they had similar complaints.

Some final thoughts -  I had a great massage in the spa.  I love the Pelotons in the gym.  I used them several times with no wait.  We enjoyed a breakfast and a lunch in the Eden Cafe.  Sorry, but I didn't go to the OV at dinner, but one of the casino dealers said they've scaled back.  We ate in each of the main dining rooms and enjoyed them all.  The OV was packed at lunch times and we had to circle and hover to get a table several times.  Food was good.  Didn't hear much coughing or hacking.  Elevators were full and busy.  My hubby did come home with a slight cold (no covid), but he often stayed out later and I'm sure was run down.  Embarkation and disembarkation were a breeze.  

Any questions, feel free to ask!

Just returned from the Edge on deck 8.  There was definitely some soot, but no smell.  Our steward wiped things down.  I also went over the chairs with wipes.  Just put down a beach towel provided each time I sat out there.  Had no issues.

As a frequent Celebrity cruiser and gambler, I find zero benefit to BCC.  I have never been offered a free cruise!  Although I have received free cruise offers from HAL and RCI.  We have enjoyed a few casino hosts (Renee on Apex), but most have seemed hard to find and vague.  We gamble a lot, but never seem to reach the magical threshold to the next level.  We were told we were only a few hundred points from getting bumped up, but then after another cruise and lots of gambling, we were told we didn’t qualify.  Calls and e-mails to BCC were useless.  A casino host once told us they could only offer comps and perks if you are Amethyst and above.  I have given up on BCC.

Thank you!  I have called the main number, but got someone who wasn’t able to solve my issue.  Seemed unable or unwilling to connect me with any manager or way to escalate.  
 

Has anyone had success in solving a problem through higher channels? 

Hello,

I am wondering if anyone has contact info for perhaps a CEO or other avenue to pursue an issue.  I have sent an email and received no response.  I called, but they were unable or unwilling to address my concern.

I haven’t been thrilled with Blue Chip Club.  Just hoping for an avenue to receive a response to my issue.  Thanks in advance!

Thank you,  I will check them out!

Hello,

I am looking for any excursions that offer walk in snorkeling from a shoreline, with equipment.  I am traveling with my elderly (but active) parents this November.  Last time we tried snorkeling, we did a private sailboat.  I loved it, but my parents struggled and complained about it being ‘too hard to get out of the water’ and ‘the ladder hurts my feet’.  My mom wouldn’t even try.

I am hoping there is an option that would bus or sail us to a spot where we can walk in to snorkel.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  Hoping to find something we can all enjoy.

Thanks for your responses!

Hi,

Sailing to to the island of St. John for the first time.  I understand the beaches are spectacular and the thing to see.  We are traveling with my parents, who will require shade, bathrooms, and snacks.  I am wondering which would be the best option?  It seems like reports state that some are still recovering.

Can anyone advise?  Thanks!

They did offer priority tendering to suite guests. Although, I had read here to be off early and it totally paid off. In fact, even though we were escorted down to the tenders, when we arrived just before 8:00, there was no line. We took the cable car up, and also had no lines. We had planned to head straight to Oia, and met another couple also seeking transport so we shared a taxi over. We were able to enjoy Oia for hours with minimal crowds. We got our photos in, and explored. Each turn was prettier than the last. Around 11:30, we got hungry and found a restaurant with beautiful views to enjoy a beer and some hummus and tzatziki. When we walked out on to the main drag at around 12:30, it was a mob scene. So busy! Maybe October will be quieter, but we felt we had enough and headed back to the ship. We got the cable car around 1:30 and again, no lines.

Hi, we're just back off the August 31 Italy and Greek Isles 10 day cruise on the Reflection. We are in our early 50s and very active. We generally cruise twice a year and have tried many lines. We've never had a bad cruise, but Celebrity is our reigning favorite. We always book a balcony cabin, but we were celebrating and decided to try a Sky Suite. I've been to Italy on several trips, but never to Greece. And my husband had never been to Rome. This was our first European ocean cruise also. We have done a lot in the Caribbean, New England, and a European river cruise.

We spent 5 nights in Rome ahead of the cruise and loved the city. We booked some private tours and had prearranged a lot there, and for our cruise stops ahead of time. We had a private transfer to the cruise port and arrived around 10:45. Since we were suite guests we were some of the first to board and we got to wander and explore with very few people around. Then, we popped into Luminae for lunch.

I won't give a play by play of our cruise, but I will highlight a few things. First, I did a lot of searching ahead of this cruise to see if a suite is 'worth it'. For us, it was a pretty awesome experience. We loved the roomy cabin. It felt about twice the size of a standard balcony cabin. We were on 12 in 2177. We also loved the larger balcony with the big table. We had a few breakfasts out there when we had early tours. We weren't sure we knew what to do with a butler, but Alex was super friendly and helpful. We had the premium drink package as a perk and it included sparkling water. We asked Alex for a few Pellegrinos in our cabin and from then on, he always made sure our fridge was stocked. Our room steward was also top notch. We did spend some time in Michael's club and found it welcoming and peaceful. We usually had a cocktail there each evening. We would also pop in to pick up a drink, beer or water randomly through the cruise. The bar staff and concierges there were all great. Luminae was a high point for us also. I've always enjoyed Celebrity's main dining rooms, but Luminae definitely offers a step above for both the food and service. How do they remember names and likes and dislikes? My husband likes ice in his water, and I do not - they always greeted him with a large glass of ice. These little things make a good impression. We had Rosebud as our waiter and requested him for each visit. We liked Luminae so much, we cancelled our reservation at Murano (my husband's favorite specialty restaurant), because Luminae felt just as special. My husband is a big 'ambiance' guy. At first, he didn't really like the look of Luminae and kept pressing me to go elsewhere, but by the end of the trip, he didn't want to eat anywhere else. The only missteps there for us were the fish dishes. We didn't care for any that we ordered. The pastas and soups were awesome. We also loved every other main dish we ordered besides the fish choices. So, we would definitely do a suite again for the right price. But we also won't hesitate to book another regular balcony cabin. In fact, we're booked for a 12 night British Isles cruise in 2019, and the cost of a Sky Suite is not justifiable for us. We'll probably wave fondly at Luminae while we head to Opus, but we'll still have a great cruise.

We did eat in one specialty restaurant - The Porch. We booked for dinner at sunset leaving Santorini. It was a beautiful dinner and we enjoyed the views. The food was okay. Good but not memorable. We also had a few lunches and breakfasts at the buffet, which we enjoyed. I especially like the outdoor seating there.

We went to a few shows and they were pretty good. We enjoyed some of the specialty acts, but didn't see them all. The Flyrights - they were so fun. Tre Amici were also super talented. We skipped most of the Broadway review type shows.

We do visit the casino regularly and I am not fond of the new Blue Chip club. I think I'm Onyx. I'm Gold with MLife and felt that I got better perks from that relationship in the past. We aren't high rollers, but do spend a few hours at the tables each day, usually with the minimum bets. When we checked in with the casino host at the end of the cruise, he wasn't able to offer us any comps, which was disappointing. I did have some luck in the casino and wound up ahead at the end of the cruise, but as much time as we spent in there, would have thought a dinner or something was warranted.

I'm a big planner, so I either booked a private tour ahead of the trip, or planned something DIY. The only ship's tour we did was a walking tour of Rhodes. We enjoyed it, and our guide was great, but the equipment was spotty and sometimes we had trouble hearing her.

Overall, we loved the cruise and think it was our best yet. The ports of call were fantastic. We'd like to go back to spend more time in Greece. We met so many nice people on board and the whole trip just exceeded our expectations.

Please feel free to ask any questions, happy to answer.

Here's a recent trip report. Please feel free to ask any questions!

I sailed the Reflection with my husband and my parents. I had a balcony cabin on the 9th deck mid-ship. Nice location, quiet, plenty of storage. My sweet husband ordered me a dozen roses onboard for our cabin. They were beautiful and really lasted the whole 10 day cruise. They were prettier each day.

The whole journey was really great. We boarded quickly and had a nice lunch in the buffet. We waited until the cabins were open to eat, so the crowds had moved out. The muster was a bit of a bust. We had to line up very tightly near the photo gallery. It was very hot and long and I got claustrophobic and a bit dizzy. There were lots of complaints about the set up. My parents are older and they really struggled.

Other than that, I loved what the Reflection had to offer. We had great food in the Opus dining room each night. We ate in Murano for my birthday and they made it really special. What a decadent meal. We ate the remainder of dinners in Opus and enjoyed each one. We had Anytime dining, but reserved the same table and waiter each night once we got settled. He provided excellent service and great recommendations. No complaints about the food!

We do enjoy the casino, some of the lectures, trivia, etc. We thought the entertainment was lackluster. With the exception of Jayne Curry, who is phenomenal, all the other entertainment was so-so. We didn't go to every show, but poked out head in a few times and walked out. We didn't hear glowing reviews from others. The singers and dancers on board seemed talented, but the guest performers weren't our cup of tea.

One comment was the chic nights. I had read on CC about the lack of formal clothing, so we really didn't bring anything super dressy. Wow, was I surprised! I saw a lot of sparkly gowns and tuxedos. We didn't feel out of place in our resort casual wear, plenty of others were dressed down, but many men had on jackets and many women were in glam wear.

We didn't participate in any ship excursions. We tend to do our own thing with locals or on our own. We did enjoy all the ports immensely. I loved the overnight in St. Maarten. It gave us the opportunity to have dinner onshore and try something completely different.

Disembarkation was a breeze. We took advantage of the Luggage Valet service and shipped our bags straight home. It is the best money spent. To leave with no bags to drag around is such a pleasure.

We are booked again on the Reflection to the Greek Isles. Just my husband and I - more of my birthday celebration! We booked our first suite and I'm very excited. We also booked again onboard to go to the British Isles on the Reflection next year. I'd really like to try the Edge, but the itineraries released so far don't work for us.

I haven't sailed NCL in a few years. Travelling with my hubby and parents in about a month on the Gem and we all enjoy casino table games. We're not big slots players.

Can anyone tell me what games they offer on the GEM? I'm sure there's blackjack, craps, roulette. But do they have 3 card poker? Ultimate Texas Hold 'Em? Or any others?

And does anyone know the table minimums?

Thanks so much!

Yes, there was a non-smoking side, but the tables were not all open at all times.

Hi,

Wanted to provide a report on our Eastern sailing on the Oasis of the Seas. There were 9 of us travelling - me and DH, parents, aunt, sister and BIL with their 2 kids (12 and 9). My parents were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary and we wanted a fun, family vacation.

Overall a really great trip and an excellent choice for a big group. There was plenty to do for everyone and we were all able to stay satisfied. The ship was pretty amazing.

We had ocean-facing balcony cabins. The cabin size was great and the balcony was the largest I've had (previously sailed NCL, Celebrity and HAL). Unfortunately, ours was pretty filthy on arrival. There was still trash in drawers, lots of hairs in the bathroom and general gunk on the surfaces. We did point it out and they quickly deep cleaned the cabin and sent us champagne and chocolate covered strawberries for our troubles. Nice touch!

We had My Time Dining and got reservations for the times we needed once on board. We got a great waiter the first night - Alfredo, so we asked to be at the same table each time. It worked out great. They had a 'group' desk for check ins for large parties, and that really helped. Overall the food in the main dining room was quite good. One or two items, I didn't like, but that's any restaurant.

I did not, however, like the Windjammer. I went for one breakfast and didn't return. I just didn't like the choices, flow or overwhelming crowds. At least on a ship this size - there is something for everyone! We did some MDR breakfasts and a few in the Park Cafe, which was really pretty good.

I know food is subjective. The other venues for us were hit or miss. We loved Giovanni's and Izumi for dinner. The hibachi was so much fun with a big group. They squeezed an extra chair for us since we had 9. We had a blast. We had one lunch at Sabor, which we also loved. My DH and I had dinner at 150 Central Park and felt let down. The ambiance and service were impeccable. But the food was just so so. He loved his steak. I disliked the lamb. Dried out! We both disliked the grapefruit dessert. My parents went with my sister to dinner at the Solarium Bistro one night and also reported it was mediocre. Oh, and my DH and dad grabbed a Broadway Dog and were disappointed. They threw them out.

The service and entertainment on the ship could not be beat. Everyone we encountered was friendly and upbeat (with the exception of one surly dealer in the casino). The shows were fantastic! We saw the Aqua show and Come Fly with Me with reservations. We also caught the ice show and the headliner without reservations. Didn't make it to the comedy shows or Cats. Really top notch performers!

We didn't use any RCL excursions. We all kind of did our own things in the ports. We had been to each before. For us this cruise was about Oasis and being together to celebrate with my parents.

I usually get a massage on a cruise, but didn't use the spa this trip. It was a lovely area though, and the gym was really nice. Lots of room and equipment. It was connected to the track, too, so we could walk to get some cardio and then enter to use the weights. Nice!

The pool deck was crazy busy. It was a first cruise for me where I didn't even put on a bathing suit. It was just a bit hot for me to lie in the sun, and the pools were so crowded, I just didn't feel it. I did enjoy going up to watch the Flowrider and check things out, but really didn't stay. I'm usually in a hot tub each day, but couldn't handle the crowds. My sister's family did enjoy it, though!

This probably caused me to spend too much time losing money in the casino. :) Otherwise, I'm sure I would have come out ahead! Ha! It was smoky, but they had plenty of options for table games and they did have some non-smoking tables open in the evenings.

We did try to soak up as much fun as possible. We played trivia, shopped, walked all the neighborhoods. I loved Central Park. Man, that is one cool place on a cruise ship. I had good intentions to try the Rising Tide bar and the zip line, but didn't make either. The Champagne Bar is an elegant stop for a pre-dinner drink.

For us, and the occasion, the Oasis was a great choice. However, I don't think I'll choose this large a ship again in the future. For me and DH, a slightly more intimate, relaxed ship is a better fit. Our next booking is actually the Serenade in February. Hope we enjoy it. Glad we did the Oasis once, though!