charlie52

Random I know, but still wondering… can anyone tell me if Topo Chico mineral water can be found in any bar on Edge or should I bring my own??

My daughter and son in law are considering POA for a seven day cruise after his convention is over on Oahu. They have come to us for advice as they do not cruise at all ... I am not sure how to advise... We sail mostly on Celebrity and I have little knowledge of NCL... My concerns are mostly the age of the ship. My daughter likes shiny new things and I have never sailed on this ship so I have no reference... any thoughts from those that have been on her?

[emoji13] I was so hoping that was wrong

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Did you see post #34?

Yes, but alas... I cannot read it[emoji13] Does it give a time for flights out of FLL???? Is after 2pm correct???

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alliecruiser - it depends where your ship ports.

 

If you're asking about the Eclipse, she ports in Miami, so for a flight out of FLL the time last year was for flights after 2:00.

 

For flights out of the port city (in this case Miami) the time last year was 11:30.

 

 

 

I will post the new information sheet as soon as I have it so we all know for sure.

Very anxious to hear verified information. We fly out of FLL and have used luggage valet and LOVED IT!!! Our flight in March is at 12 20 and (fingers crossed) we want to use it...we alway fly out of FLL and I would almost swear cut off was noon for either...I don't believe we have ever had a flight after 2pm

I'm very anxious to hear...make a big difference in how I pack and post cruise plans...

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Can you tell me if the time of the first departure to use Luggage Valet is still noon

I have been cruising since my teens and have enjoyed many many wonderful trips so far. As I have aged, I have started booking more cruises and also watching different prices. Of course prices have risen as our food prices at home etc....We do get less and pay more however I find Celebrity still has an excellent Balance of things we look for....Food, Nice ships and friendly staff. Itineraries are getting old though and we don't like the Azamarra ships.....

 

 

 

About 10-12 years ago As Airlines started to change their reservation systems to charge more closer to departure or when flights got full, I noticed Cruise pricing changing as well. Obviously cruiselines want to maximize their revenue. At this time we booked cruises and just paid what we paid....we booked far out. But then about 5 years later as technology started to catch up we learned how pricing was changing and could always change....and the importance of using a travel agent, or yourself to monitor these changes. We started to book trips 6-2 months before to get good deals. We also noticed that if you liked a particular cabin and only wanted to cruise in that cabin, we had to book early.

 

 

 

Jump Forward to today. Celebrity's suite class is a smashing success.....If you want a Royal,PH or Celebrity suite you need to book as far out as you can especially if you are "in season". If you want those larger slanted balconies or sunset view cabins, once again you must book far out. I recently learned that Cruiselines will often only "sell" half a ship....opening up only 1/2 for booking.....Then as more cabins are sold and the prices rise, people pay more......then anywhere from 9-12 months out they release the other 1/2 at lower prices depending on the heaviness and demand for bookings etc. They are using similar financial models as airlines. Analyzing bookings 3 years back to maximize their selling capabilities etc.

 

 

 

This Europe summer season was Very "Soft" for cruiselines. People who booked their cabins two years ago invariably paid more then those who could book only 4-6 months out. Some differences we noted were Huge. We were booked on an 11 night Med cruise from Rome in a Sky Suite...We booked three months prior..We paid $2500 per person with all 4 perks...Go Big. For us this was a great deal. In Michaels club we met a couple who booked their "Preferred room" 2 years ago and had paid $4600 per head with limited perks. The Equinox on one of their 11 day January 17 Cruises was recently selling Sky Suites for 11 nights 4 perks go big for $2300 per person.....Roughly $200 per day.....Yet Before final payment these cruises were double that.

 

 

 

We like to fly First and Business class using miles. So we have started to look at cruises we might "Want".....We book the business class airfare with miles confirming our two seats......IF the cruises price drops after final payment they we are all set and we book. If not....Then it is $150 for the first ticket and $50 for the second ticket to re deposit the miles in your account....So for a $200 gamble we already are set with F or J air. I estimate we lose about $400 per year gambling on the cruises pricing.....However we have saved $10,000++ on cruise pricing per year using this strategy.

 

 

 

Ultimately the point of my email is that you need to weigh whats important to you? Are you willing to pay more to have your favourite cabin? How much more? If you want the big suites you better start booking way out. We met Couples in Michaels club (PH and Royal suite guests) who have traveled in suites on Crystal and Regent etc however they liked Celebrity because they said they don't want to travel with all old people like them! Lovely people. If you have the flexibility and time, you can get some GREAT deals out there. Also keep in mind that Your tech savy is very important in booking cruises.....You can set alarms for price drops, check the cruiselines websites and a variety of online travel sources. If not you, then use an excellent travel agent who is on top of all this. While Celebrity tries not to refund price drops (sometimes they do).....you can usually work to balance with some onboard credit or perks etc. Keep in mind what my grandmother taught me "You Don't ask, You don't get"......Just be reasonable and choose your battles wisely.

 

 

 

As cruiselines get smarter, so must we passengers. Thus I share my experiences. Safe wonderful sails to all.

Thanks, VERY informative post!!

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Will be interested to hear about bike ride. Did you book pre cruise? Where do you rent?

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We are considering a Princess cruise. Her itineraries look really good and we are tiring of Celebrity. We have not sailed on Princess in 10 years. We switched to Celebrity because of their strict smoking policy. I am extremely sensitive to smoke and cannot tolerate it at all indoors. We tried RC...we were told that they had smoking areas and non smoking areas. I had to laugh when we went to the casino and found that the non smoking area was one side of the room and smoking on the other...problem was no one told the smoke to stay on the non smoking side :eek:

Just wondering if anyone can tell me if the policies have changed recently.

Thank you,

Karen

Have you seen the thread that is still active here on the Princess boards comparing the S class and the Grand class ship Ruby? It has all kinds of pictures and comparisons.

 

I personally love the Ruby and Emerald, neither of which is sailing the Caribbean next year. However the Crown, their sister ship is in the Caribbean in 2017.

Thank you for the heads up I will check it out!

We are Celebrity cruisers thinking of taking a Princess cruise in the carribbean. Can anyone help us decide which ship would be best for us? We love the S class Celebrity ships. It has been years since we were on a Princess ship and would love advice from those of you who may know both lines.

Thanks, Karen

Enjoying your review! Thank you for posting the Luminae menus and titling the food pictures. We will be on board in a few weeks and it is nice to see what to expect.

Enjoying your review so much! We will be on Solstice in a mere 33 days (not that I am counting:)) It will be our very first time in a Sky Suite...would LOVE to see some suite pics!!!

Karen

I have seen videos on CC filmed with a GoPro mounted somehow on the balcony. Not sure if it was mounted on the rail, on a chair or what?? Can anyone tell me what accessory you used to attach. I had thought of using the GoPro flexible clamp but I fear that it would not open wide enough. Thanks!

Norris, we are so enjoying your reviews and comparisons of Celebrity and Princess. We switched over to Celebrity years ago because of their strict smoking policy. My wife is very sensitive to smoke. I like to play blackjack after dinner and the smoke in the casino was just too much for her. Other than that we really enjoyed Princess. I realize that you are a smoker, so you may not be able to answer, but I am wondering if any of the policies have changed. I must say that I am also spoiled to dining in BLU and the thought of a MDR experience does not rank very high. Are their other venues for dining on Princess or just specialty restaurants? Would we need to book a suite and if we did does that change the dining experience? Thanks again for the comparison. We are toying with going back to Princess mainly because of the itineraries.

Watching your sail away while we are in the middle of an ice storm!! I thought it was at 3:30?? Power is flickering in and out...hurry before wifi goes out[emoji15][emoji1]

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We never made it there[emoji30]

Weather was too bad...fingers crossed next time round

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I finally found it...Seven Seas Charters!

Happy sailing!!!

I am following also. We had a great tour booked a few years ago that did just what you are describing but weather kept the ship from the islands. I have tried and tried to find my emails but no luck. I am truly hoping someone here will recommend.

Karen

Just back from a one day excursion to the Magic Kingdom followed by 3 days on the Disney Dream. We took our adult children and grandchildren (6,5,4 and 3) to celebrate Mimi's birthday. We had a wonderful time. This was our first Disney Cruise. We usually sail Celebrity about twice a year. We have also sailed RCI, NCL and Princess.

Short list of what was great and what we would do differently.

IMHO...

I would NEVER sail Disney without children...

Nor would I sail with young children and NOT sail on Disney

Disney is perfect for kids!!

We arrived to the terminal early (10:30am) thinking early boarding and the kids could swim. They didn't begin boarding until at least 11. The kids were extremely restless and hungry by the time we were on board. Once we ate it was so close to our rooms being open that we just waited. If we had it to do over we wouldn't arrive before noon.

The children's activity area is fantastic. Reviews led me to believe that our Grands would want to go and never leave. I was even afraid I wouldn't get enough time with them. That was not the case with our crew. They loved the area and the games...but only if we stayed with them. Zero adult time was had by our group on this cruise.

I would not miss the evening shows. We are not big on entertainment on our cruises but for the kids the shows are FANTASTIC!

The staterooms are the best I have ever been in. The storage is amazing and I love the split bath.

Service and food are on par with Celebrity.

I had absolutely no complaints on this cruise...except the weather. We were in the remnants of Hurricane Erika which made our stay at Castaway Cay short and very, very wet. The perils of cruising during Hurricane season.

Disney is a great cruise line for those cruising with children. I understand that they do have adult areas, but honestly, with so many other cruise lines out there I cannot understand why anyone would cruise Disney without little ones.

Great, great, great family cruise!!!!

Thanks to the OP for the question because it has been confusing to me too...and thanks for the answers that helps alot!!

If I might ask another question? On the three night cruise on Dream I am thinking that the Pirate night would be night #2 and the "dress up" night would be the last night. I am correct or is it always different?

We sail two to three times a year but this is the first time on Disney. Since we are on such a short (three day) cruise I am thinking that it will be more informal in the dining room than on Celebrity. I am packing collared shirts and slacks for my husband. I am wondering if nice capri's would be acceptable for me. Also, will my 4 year old grand son need slacks for dinner or will he be okay in dress shorts? Thanks for your help, I know people get sick of dress code questions :cool:

We have done this cruise twice and it is without a doubt our very favorite!!! The only way they could improve it is to include St Croix ( our fav island). Great ship, great islands... perfect cruise!!!

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We are on the short Disney Dream cruise to the Bahamas with all the kids and Grands in August. We have decided against Atlantis because of the $$ and our Grands are too young (5,4,3,3) to enjoy a lot of it. We are planning to just stay on the ship and enjoy the pool... But after seeing how close the Hilton looks to the port I am wondering about trying to get the family to go there. The beach in the port webcam looks very calm and nice. My 3 year old grand daughter is ALL ABOUT going to the beach and I would be crushed if for some weather reason we couldn't make it to the beach at Castaway the day after we stop at Nassau.

Do they do day passes there? If yes, any idea of $$

Is it as close to the port as the webcam makes it look?

Nice hotel??

Is the beach area as calm and nice as it looks on the webcam?

Food options?

Could we walk it with four very young children?

Or would two cab rides be a better option?