FunCruiser56

We tried to use those free in cabin ones and they were terrible, we bring our own now..

Book your hotel of choice early then check back even up to a few days before your trip. We had booked about 6 months out, joined the loyalty club for that brand. We got our rate lowered by booking and cancelling 3 more times, in the end we paid half of what we originally booked. The price will go down when it gets closer if the hotel has alot of openings avaliable. We sailed April 1, very much still spring break in Ft. Lauderdale. If your willing to keep checking prices, you may find a bargain.

if you dont use the floating dock then tendering is about a 50 yard distance, so very close. The town area is right there and quite compact. you will easily get to your tour in time. Have a great visit in the beautiful port.

Trying to sort through all the choices for Australia/NZ cruising. What the difference between sailing in Nov-Dec VS Jan-March? Rougher seas? Hotter Temps?

Guess I need to start reading some Trip reports!

Bev

Does Dora have a website? Thanks for sharing

Song of Norway was our first cruise Valentines Day 1989. Our cabin was a tiny one on deck 3, blue tiles and fixtures in the bathroom and 2 plate size portholes. No door on the closet, we would watch our clothes swing back and forth and the bed was jamed against the wall so you had to scoot to the end of it to get out.. We had the time of our lives!

We are off Harmony this past weekend. We used luggage valet. Sign up midweek, cost is $25 per person. Friday afternoon we got our flight tags and boarding passes, left our packed bags in the hall the last evening of the cruise.

Sat morning we got up had relaxing breakfast at Park Cafe. Got our carry on and walked off the ship around 9am. While everyone else is searching through the sea of bags we are walking to Customs. Load up the mobile passport app, it will save you time in customs. We were out front getting a taxi by 9:20.

When we arived in our home airport our luggage all arived quickly.

This was our 19th cruise and the easiest disembark ever!

Luggage Valet is the best thing ever! We didnt have to do the bag hunt after our cruise, just went to the Mobile Passport line and we were in our cab 15 min after leaving the ship. Right to secuity, no waiting around to check in our bags. The most stressfree end to our trip ever!.

We did notice that the tracking numbers for our bags were listed with our boarding pass so you can track your luggage if it goes missing.

We will always use this service anytime we can.

Just off the Harmony, I am a total wimp when it comes to heights and have never done any kind of big slide- dry or wet. I decided that no mater what I would do the Abyss. First sea day my husband and I went up and waited for it to open. 4 kids in front of us. Was I nervous- YES. When I climbed to the top and looked out at the wake behind the ship I was so glad to see that great view.

Got into the mat and wiggled my old butt to the Abyss and down I went, no 'drop' just a long winding slide. It was a blast. Don't worry about it, just do it.

Just returned from the Harmony, we are Diamond and our BIL/SIL are gold. When we checked in we were asked how many in our party, 4 we said. I did tell them the C&A levels. they told us stay together. Again when we went up to sit we were again told to stay together in the Diamona area. We thought very nice of them. Don't expect it to work this way all the time though.

We were on the same cruise and had a great time. We had a balcony cabin and also experienced late night smokers when we would sit out on our balcony before bed and check out the stars. Could not find where it came from tho, some folks just don't want to follow the rules...

We also thought Columbus, the Musical was like a high school production. Aqua shows were the best shows on the ship!

I agree, how can they loose your luggage on a direct fight?

Hope you have more cruises in your future!

We too have a preference for Celebrity, especially any of the Solstice Class ships. for us they offer an upgraded experience- ships, service, food, and yess a full ice bucket twice a day :p

We just feel like we have had a relaxing vacation when we cruise with Celebrity.

Enjoy our RCI cruises also but alot more going on so maybe not as relaxing. Guess we will find out next week how everything else goes, we plan on a great time!

my DH has both knees replaced. we have traveled alot and he just tells them when we enter the security area before we get to the detectors. NO card is needed. Be patient and friendly and TSA will treat you respectfully.

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An inside cabin is like a cave and you never see the light of day ;) A promenade cabin has a window with a nice seat to watch all the happenings in the Royal Promenade. Of course if you leave your curtains open you will loose some privacy, just flip them closed!

No noise problems, our sons slept well..

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thanks for taking time to do a review. I too am terrified of heights and have no problem at all with looking straight out or down from our balcony, dont know why but its a different kind of depth perception looking down from a ship especially looking down at water. So hope you will be able to enjoy your balcony!

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We have been on both and I agree, go for the itenerary you like best. I will side with Knolmom about the Equinox and the Hot Glass Show- awesome what they can do at sea, we watched so many of the shows. Otherwise the ships are very similar and both outstanding.

Bev

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looks like you had a wonderful vacation! We will do the ABC islands next year on the Celebrity Reflection so Iam taking notes on the beaches you went to. We will overnite in Aruba so hoping for a island tour on the first day and beach the second. Thanks for taking time to post a great review!

Bev

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the narrow Amazon tags work great for many cruises.

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We were able to get all the coffees on the menu including those with booze, we had the classic bev package, this was on Solstice

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Have enjoyed your cruise very much, we will sail on Harmony April 1 and are looking forward to it alot.

I will give a big recommendation for any of the Celebrity Solstice Class ships for a nice relaxing cruise, great service and food also. We have never encountered huge crowds or lots of kids to dodge ;) Plus your past guest level on RCI will transfer over to Celebrity.

Bev

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from the port in Iceland take a taxi to Hallgrimskirkja, (google it) A massive beautiful church. You can see it from the port. take the time to go up the elevator for a view you won't forget. We walked around the town, people were very friendly.

Also right across from the docks is John Lennons peace light, you can take a ferry over to it and walk around, we ran out of time so were unable to go across.

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We did a great golden circle with Geo-Iceland. Awesome tour, mini bus and the guide really loves to show off his country. See as much as you can, we would love to visit Iceland again someday.

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Did you book through Celebrity or use a TA? If a TA then call them and they will handle it for you.

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ALWAYS LOCK! There are plenty of folks who don't lock and its easier to get in their bags for a thief than for them to mess with the lock. You can buy them for reasonable prices on amazon.

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I go on amazon and buy some meclazine and take one tablet every night before I go to bed starting the night before the cruise. No side effects, no seasickness. the crew recommends eating green apples.

The patch had too many side effects for me and ginger gave me bad headaches and I still got sea sick :(

your location should be fine, you will be all over the ship not staying in your cabin.

Bev

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