kstetser

I know I can do this at the port - but want to get the whole  check in done now and not have to worry about it.

Is there a way to upload a photo rather than take a selfie?  My family is away and I just want this done.   For Disney there is an option to upload, but I can't figure out if that is the case with Celebrity.   If there is an option - can you explain it to me like you would a 5 year old please?

We had planned to take the Tracy Arm boat excursion, but we all afraid we will end up sea sick (small boats are a problem).    We love nature, hiking, exploring and can rent a car for the day.   We also like to have great food!

Suggestions?   2 adults (50s) and one 18 year old.

Thanks!

We use airtags in all our checked luggage and generally can tell where they are.  

So if we have one omnivore and 2 vegetarians in our party, do you think it's worth doing since 2 meals will not sync?   (We enjoy dining experiences, smaller venue restaurants and cooked to order food.)

2 hours ago, JT1962 said:

if you are taking the small boat directly from the ship, it will likely be a 2 deck catamaran from Alien Marine, which is more stable than the smaller boat used by Adventure Bound from Juneau. The waters in Tracy Arm are generally protected and relatively smooth.

If your tour returns to the ship in Tracy Arm, there shouldn’t be much of an issue with motion. If your tour leaves from or returns to Juneau, the waters from Tracy Arm to Juneau could be a little rougher, but likely won’t be an issue either.
 

I would still recommend using whatever you normally take for motion sickness (Bonine works for us). Also, sitting upstairs and / or spending time outside on deck can help.

Thank you.   We are taking it from the ship and return to Juneau.  We will definitely take all the motion sickness precautions!   

For those who have done the Tracey Arm Excursion - how was the motion on the small boat?   We are signed up for it, but we all get sea sick on small boats.  I'm hoping that because it's in a sheltered waterway, it won't be too rocky.   

If you are sailing in a suite, do you still need to select a boarding time?   (This is my first Celebrity cruise)   Is there a separate suite guest check in at the pier?  (We are sailing out of Vancouver on Eclipse.)

We sail Eclipse in late July (first Celebrity cruise).   Is there any word about hiring more staff as the summer progresses or is this what we should expect?    Consistently cold food and lack of provisions is concerning.    I'm really hoping that Celebrity is our new cruise line (after 26 on DCL), but my husband and daughter are already going into this with reservations.   Fingers crossed.

So do you think it would make sense to stop at a Grocery Store and get some snacks and then taxi to Public Beach for the day?  How far of a walk is it to the food/drinks on the beach?    

I booked this for my daughter on Eclipse - where would we go to pick a time once onboard?  Can we do that in the suite lounge?  (This is our first Celebrity cruise and I feel like the newbie that I am.)

We will be sailing on Eclipse in late July in a Celebrity Suite.  This will be our first cruise on Celebrity (25 on DCL).  We are foodies and are excited to try all that Celebrity has to offer.   I do not understand how you arrange to eat anywhere except Luminae.    I've read the website but it still seems very confusing.   It sounds like I can talk to the host in the suite lounge to book Murano and Tuscan Grill for dinner?  

Tell me about Blu?  I feel like the menu in Blu is going to be more appealing to us than Lumanie.  How hard is it to get into Blu?  I think we are permitted to eat there if spots are available.  Do I book that in advance or it is a go there and see sort of situation?

What about Sushi and Le Petite Chef?  Is that just dinner or can we have sushi for lunch also?  We enjoy sushi - I'm not sure about Le Petite Chef.  Can you tell me more about that experience?

Where do you recommend for breakfast/lunch?  We are not big buffet fans and one of us is a vegetarian.  I'm sure we will give the buffet a try, but prefer sit down meals.   Do you find sit-down breakfast to be slow?  That could be a factor on port days.

Any strategy, tips, pros/cons and process information would be really appreciated.  If this were Disney - I'd totally know what to do but I feel completely lost with a new cruise line.   We are really looking forward to this cruise and hope it's the beginning of a great relationship with Celebrity.

Celebrity cancelled their May 22nd Eclipse Hubbard Glacier 7-night and said they are putting the ship in dry dock to fix the problem.  I feel so terrible for the passengers who were cancelled.  

As some may have seen, Celebrity Eclipse port times in May have been significantly reduced due to "barnacles on the hull".   The ship has to travel more slowly now and total port time lost is over 13 hours.    This seems to me like something that should have been known and mitigated by Celebrity.  Has anyone heard of other ships having the same issue?  We are set to sail in late July and I'm trying to decide if I should jump ship, cancel or stick it out (if they can correct the issue).

First cruise on Celebrity, first time to Alaska...not feeling good about it.

This is our first Cruise on Celebrity after 25 on DCL.   My TA said the service/food/quality would all be what we expect or higher than DCL.  So far, this is a GIANT FAIL.  We are going to Alaska at no small cost to experience Alaska, not sit on a boat.   This barnacle issue is not news to them, yet they waited until the summer season had PIF before making the announcement when the first cruise was setting sail (those folks royally got screwed).    This is bait and switch and very poor business practices.  They are completely aware what it takes to maintain a cruise ship - it was a business decision not to keep the ship's hull clean.   Does anyone know if this situation can be remedied without a dry dock?

We are looking at the following cruise on Disney.   We have a 20% off voucher for missing a port last December and need to decide by Monday if we are booking.   I'm reading these ports may not be ideal but not why.   We like nature and hiking.  Usually don't do ship excursions.   Never been to Norway.  We would likely do a land vacation in Europe (somewhere) before or after the cruise.     Would love to hear pros/cons and anything else you might recommend or warn against.
 

7-Night Norwegian Fjords Cruise from Southampton

August 19 - 26, 2023   Saturday - Saturday

·       Amsterdam, Netherlands

·       Skjolden, Norway

·       Nordfjordeid, Norway

·       Sandnes (Stavanger), Norway

50 minutes ago, daisy-mae said:

If your final destination is a Canadian port, then a test will be required before disembarkation.

Yeah - and if you test positive, it says you quarantine in Canada for 14-days before you can fly home.

That would be a total deal breaker for our cruise out of Vancouver.  Can't risk getting stuck in Canada for 2 weeks.  I sure hope there is some clarification/modification to that aspect of their requirements.

Is anyone concerned about getting stuck in Canada for 2 weeks if they test positive before debarking in Canada (for a cruise that ends there)?   I called my travel advisor and she said it is very murky right now and to sit tight for a bit.  The Canadian requirement says that cruise lines would be responsible for handling the 14-day quarantine of passengers if they test positive.  So does that mean Celebrity would have to put my family up in a hotel for 2 weeks until we were allowed to fly home to the US?  It seems there are a few exceptions to the 14-day rule, but it's really not clear to me

Thoughts?

I always have a cruise scheduled!

Hmmm - I think you guys are right.  This is an old email that somehow got bumped.  (System update last night).  I'll ask Admin to delete.

Sorry - I'm an idiot and panicked for nothing.  Thanks to everyone who was so kind to me in your responses.

1 hour ago, cruiseryyc said:

I would book a through ticket on the same airline so you don't have to re-check in; but no matter what they say give yourselves at least two hours in between flights.

It is the same airline, but you have to collect your bags and go through customs when entering Canada.  Then recheck your bags and go back through security again.  That's the issue.

We are trying to book our flights from Philly to Vancouver for a late July cruise.   Our best option has us connecting in Toronto (YYZ) and switching from international to domestic.   So, we will need to go through customs in YYZ.   How long of a layover is needed to get bags, go through customs, recheck bags and get on domestic flight to Vancouver.  We will literally save well over $1,000, so it's worth a bit of a hassle, I just don't want to get stuck in YYZ (as much as I love the song)!

How smooth was the sailing?   We are signed up for it, but I'm concerned about motion.  

We will be sailing on our first Celebrity cruise in late July on the Eclipse (Hubbard Glacier).  We are booked in a Celebrity Suite.

I do not understand about the specialty restaurants/suite guest process.   Do I just book them through the website?  What is included with our suite vs. upcharge?

Would love reviews/comments on the various restaurants.   We will be celebrating my birthday on board.  2 vegetarians in our party and we are all foodies.

Thanks!

Kathi

We are scheduled to sail Eclipse at the end of July (pushed from last summer).  I'm starting to worry also about Canada not opening ports and the hurdles to get into the country.  I so wish we had booked out of Seattle to begin with.  It was not the ports we wanted, but at least we would sail.   Our daughter will be off to college in August, so our window is rapidly closing for travel with her.