the penguins

10 hours ago, PTC DAWG said:

I was curious about lunch and breakfast meals myself. 

Also I assume they never had any sheets or towels washed and never used any of the public restrooms as staff in there are also included in the Auto Grats.

9 hours ago, rmalbers said:

X captains can DEFINITELY not do whatever they want.  They cannot deviate from the planned route unless they get approval and coordination from the team in FL.

Plus the route for every day has to be signed off by every Bridge Officer from the lowest to the Captain plus the Environmental Officer before its submitted to Corporate. A system one Captain described as planning by Committee.

2 hours ago, PTC DAWG said:

What about the behind the scenes folks? 
 

Now we really are getting off track..my mistake. 🙂

no your not - it's something everyone who chooses to remove the auto grats has to accept i.e. removing the grats means some staff work for less money.

15 minutes ago, the penguins said:

it's like any other restaurant. If lots of people turn up at the same time you may have to wait. Worst case is you get a buzzer so you can wait in a bar/lounge/al bacio etc. Agreeing to share a table can also cut the wait time. We always pre book for 6.30 every night as soon as we book the cruise as we like a relaxed meal and go to the theatre for the 9.0pm show. We always share a table (ideally a 6) as this for us is one of the reasons we cruise - we eat as a couple every night at home. No right or wrong just personal choice.

a

6 hours ago, PepC450 said:

Sounds like, at minimum, make a reservation for 1st night and recommended for other nights too unless you're willing to wait. Good to know. Thank you! 

it's like any other restaurant. If lots of people turn up at the same time you may have to wait. Worst case is you get a buzzer so you can wait in a bar/louge/al bacio etc. Agreeing to share a table can also cut the wait time. We always pre book for 6.30 every night as soon as we book the cruise as we like a relaxed meal and go to the theatre for the 9.0pm show. WNo right or wrong just personal choice.

On 5/18/2024 at 7:54 PM, edgee said:

Want to cruise on Eclipse in Sky Suite. Do not want to be in cabin under pool deck, nor cabin with connecting door. Looks like there is one cabin on the entire ship that meets my criteria and it us a deck 11 sunset sky suite. We normally like to cruise forward on a ship due to less engine vibration. Any opinions on if vibration is an issue for S class rear facing cabins? Thanks.

Never had a cabin at the rear but always feel a vibration when having breakfast in Tuscan. 

10 hours ago, celebrity cruiser said:

Yes I understand it is 23 pp/day

 

What I am looking for is on a 7 day cruise what do I give the waiter, asst waiter, butler stateroom attendant and so on for the duration of the cruise that would equal to the 46 per cabin/day

X publishes the breakdown and the current figures are shown below.

If you were to remove the auto grats it would be impossible to tip all the people who woluld otherwise be covered (for example the laundry staff).

On 1/18/2020 at 6:28 PM, dkjretired said:

So

 

Sorry for all the rude and uninformative responses , this is why I'm not posting on here anymore. 

 

Here is the amounts of the tips, Celebrity doesn't really break it down anymore

 

• $15.50 per person, per day in standard accommodations
• $16.00 per person, per day in Concierge Class and AquaClass^® staterooms
• $19.00 per person, per day in suites

 

X does break it down and you can collect the breakdown from Guest Relations.

The current breakdown is shown below:

17 hours ago, dctravel said:

We are headed to Alaska at the end of July on the Solstice. We are so excited! We have anytime dining, and noted that many reservation times are already booked up for the main dining room. Will other times open up on board, or should I make reservations for times we are comfortable with (but not prefer) now so we don't get a too late or too early meal?

 

Thanks for the advice!

 

dctravel

Just like any restaurant if lots of people turn up at the same time you may have to wait Worst that can happen is you will be given the option of taking a buzzer and waiting in a bar/lounge/coffee shop.

On 1/16/2024 at 12:48 PM, Hawkstar33 said:

I understand that prices are higher than in the past. The world is changing, yet people still cruising, regardless of rising cost. I'm not saying any of you are wrong, and what you do is your business, but after reading post after post, it just amazes me how far people are willing to go, and what they are willing to do, to avoid paying for a beverage package of any type, especially Elite n Elite+ cruisers..All the money that has been spent on cruises to get to that level, and this has become a major issue. ..Who luggage tags cases of bottled water. Who carries 2 bottles in their carryon bag to embarkation. Who fills their pockets with water bottles.  Who brings a giant yeti. Who carries a big tote to load up at Happy hour.  Who hits 8 different bars during HH, to fill the room fridge. Who is smuggling drinks out of Elite breakfast and HH. Who has a friend get them a drink off their package. Who goes to the breakfast first for the freebies, then hits Oceanview. Who plans their day around how they can skirt the system.  I'm sure there are other things done. Some say it's fun, but really.   Last thing I'm doing, is any of those things. And definitely Not worrying about it months in advance, and surely not when onboard.  While free, the limited choices are pretty much a joke, during those times for us personally.  So we pay.  Save in advance. Never think about it again.  

We are Elite+, don't drink any alcohol and don't need 24 hour unlimited WiFi. For us any form of drink/Internet package is a total waste of money - the Elite+ benefits cover us just fine. We do like a large balcony - We use it for a minimum of 4 hours every sea day (cruise mainly itineraries with lots of those).

No right or wrong just personal choice.

55 minutes ago, travelbuds said:

Have credit card with chip but never needed to use a PIN with it. Have purchased items from Canada with credit card in past; kept it in Canadian currency. Shows up on credit card statment in USD. No transaction fee.

Unless you are making a contactless purchase you will need to enter the pin every time in the UK and Europe. The transaction fee doesn't show as such just the rate of exchange can be very bad on some cards. 

15 minutes ago, markeb said:

 

 

I'd almost say contactless is the norm. The limit used to be £30 as I recall, but I'm pretty sure that's been lifted or eliminated. Apple Pay, Google Pay, and contactless. At least it means we don't have to remove all doubt where we're from by signing a slip...

contactless limit is now £100 but there are frequent spot check that require you to enter the pin number. This can prove difficult when/if you only have the card on your phone rather than an physical card. I am a volunteer cashier at a local charity/not for profit store and these checks whilst important to prevent fraud are a real pain. I strongly advise that you always carry a real card, we take to separate cards: one in my name with Boss (Anita) as the secondary card holder and one in the Bosses name with me as the secondary. One set remains on the ship for use if one of the first set is lost/stolen/compromised.

1 hour ago, ScottC4746 said:

And my experience, I always ask for the charge to go through in local currency as I often get a more favorable exchange rate.  Keyword: Often, not always.  Some countries are chip and pin for example UK.  I do not have a charge card being American that works that way, so I have to remind them it is a chip and sign where I have to sign a charge slip.  It is has been two to three years since I have been to the UK, so it might have changed.

Never had a better rate from a store. Essential you must have a Credit Card that doesn't charge a fee so you get the rate on the day. 

Everywhere in the UK/Europe Chip and Pin is the norm. Thankfully the US is now catching up and at long last when we visit our family in Dallas we can get our Gas at the pump without any issues. 

10 hours ago, travelbuds said:

Thank you for  your comments. Curious who does the conversion if not the credit card issuer?

The store/ stores processor. Each purchase shows in the currency of the country you are in and the store will ask if you would like them to change it to your currency - sounds helpful but it just costs you extra. The answer is always "no thank you". The same applies to us on the ship as X will generously offer to convert our account from $ to £. Just make sure you use a card that does not charge a currency transaction/ conversion fee - there are lots to choose from.

2 hours ago, travelbuds said:

We usually bring a couple extra watches while traveling just in case. Thanks.

you will be on local time at every port.

Private excursion companies and private guides will all operate to match the time the ship is in port. No need to stress - relax and enjoy.

As you haven't been to Europe before the following may help: Credit cards are widely accepted (make sure you have one that doesn't charge you a fee) and don't let the Credit card company/shop do the conversion i.e. leave everything in the local currency. You will need a little local currency (Nor). If you have any small bills left don't change them back just use them for any extra tipping on the ship -  

7 hours ago, itsanita said:

We have always used anytime dinning, but for our next cruise it was full and we are assigned the early dinning at 6pm. 

 

That is the time we are leaving most ports.  Must you be in the dinning room by 6pm?   Will they lock you out if you arrive late?   

 

And I read above that you can just go to 'anytime dining' even if you are assigned the early dining?  Is that always true?

ask as soon as you board if you can swop to Anytime - there may well be passengers who are trying to swop to Fixed

On 5/10/2024 at 4:20 PM, Ergates The Ant said:

I’ve never been able to drink enough to justify any of the packages, however much they discount them. And especially when I remember that we both have to purchase the package! I’ve always found the free decaf coffee on Celebrity  perfectly acceptable, and although I treat myself to one cup of ‘proper’ coffee a day, I often save that experience to enjoy ashore for half the price. I’ve hung onto my teeth and their enamel for this long, so I won’t be messing them up now with more than one glass of fruit juice a day and one can of ( diet) fizz, and I’m very fussy about tea. I’ll take my favourite brand of teabags, and avoid paying through the nose for the privilege of being given a posh tea bag and a cup of tepid water to dunk it in. A glass of wine with dinner, and maybe a Bailey’s afterwards isn’t going to break the bank, and I’d have to splash out on the premium package to cover the Baileys. So it’s a no brainer for us to pay as we go. 
I wonder how many people actually save by buying a package? Obviously it doesn’t hurt Celebrity or any of the cruise companies if passengers don’t drink up to the limit. And given the inflated on board prices, it probably doesn’t matter if everyone drank themselves silly, as presumably most of the alcohol is duty free, so an even bigger mark-up.

How many people save? Not the majority otherwise X wouldn't be offering the packages. 

53 minutes ago, NMTraveller said:

I will likely book Princess also.  Don’t want to wait and find out it is on an E class ship.

Princess are using Sky 14 days from Southampton - we will book if and if with a refundable deposit will hope to switch to X but only if its S class.

On 10/5/2023 at 1:03 AM, Jetswdo said:

ok, at the risk of sounding totally stupid,  does the video on the app have to be watched on the ship upon embarkation? It is on the app now already.  Is it very crowded to go in the am upon boarding to Murano?  Just wondering.  Anita

Not stupid. We we watch it before boarding. Go straight to the cabin pick up key, drop bags, go to muster station (usually the MDR on Deck 4 for the cabin we like) then to Al Bacio for our first lattes - job done. 

On 5/11/2024 at 4:21 PM, Mark_K said:

Yes, I’m waiting, no I don’t have an idea.
 

Particularly waiting for August, 2026, cruises around Iceland, northwestern Spain, or the western Med, at the time of the solar eclipse.

 

Cunard and Princess have already announced theirs.

We have already "pre booked" with our TA for Princes' Solar Eclipse cruise which goes on sale 23 May - X is way behind with this.

3 hours ago, BeasleysMom66 said:

 

Whether is is enforced isn't the issue.  Your claiming that Celebrity isn't telling passengers to have their entire party together for check in/boarding IS.  Enforcement I am certain is entirely port dependent but I am sure that if denied boarding due to the entire group not being present but intending to sail telling the port agent that @crazyank said it isn't enforced is sufficient for them.

perfect explanation. For sure if it goes wrong at check in crazyank won't be there to take the flack. As an aside Southampton for one is a port that checks (or at least it did last time we cruised from  there) that the whole party is there before even allowing you access to the terminal building.

On 5/3/2024 at 9:04 PM, NMTraveller said:

OK.  Has anyone done a Princess Norwegian Fjords cruise?  It is looking like HAL vs Princess right now.

If you really want Fjords fly direct to Bergen and take the 12 night Classic Round-trip on Hurtigruten - 22 ports, right up to the North Cape - no need to take the more expensive Exoedition Cruise. You visit Fjords that lines like X, HAL, Princess etc can only dream of. Great local food served on the ship. Excellent viewing areas. Wide range of tours - don't miss the exclusive night concert in the Arctic Cathedral. Not your classic cruise but a true adventure. All the ports you stop at in the day going North you stop at in the night coming back and v.v. 

We went over Christmas and New Year. Also been on X and Royal both good in their way but no comparison with the Hurtigruten experience ( we have also been to the Antarctic with H hence our CC name).

4 minutes ago, crazyank said:

Not true.  there is no such requiremnt

Please see Post  27 above for the proof that there is.

42 minutes ago, pilot said:

Passengers are not required to check in together. Not sure why you think this?

Thanks to BeasleysMom66 - for the written proof.

21 hours ago, ajtaylor29 said:

yes, we are splurging on this cruise since we're on for so long! 1st leg in a Celebrity suite, 2nd leg in a Sunset Sky Suite!

have a great cruise.

Love your CC name - it's the boss's (Anita's) initials and maiden name. Our grandson lives in Dallas and we will be staying with him in November sadly flying both ways whereas normally we do one way as a Transatlantic cruise.