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19 minutes ago, Turtles06 said:

 

Your sentiments are very kind.

 

An important note, though, since this is VERY important to Ukrainians.  The name of their country is "Ukraine," not "the Ukraine."    "The Ukraine" was a region of Russia.  "Ukraine" is an independent, sovereign nation.

 

 

Thank you so much for pointing this out, Turtles06.  I am very close to a crew member from Ukraine and I know she appreciates all the love, support and concern she is getting from her current guests onboard.  Her family has left their home and moved to western Ukraine where they are currently "relatively safe".  My heart goes out to all.

4 hours ago, Turtles06 said:

Celebrity has released new guidance for the eastbound transatlantics at the link below. Requirements for ports of call and debarkation ports are addressed. For Bermuda, Celebrity says: 

 

• Bermuda Travel Authorisation: Fill out a Bermuda Travel authorisation entry form before arriving. The form can be found here.

 

 

https://www.celebritycruises.com/gb/healthy-at-sea/transatlantic-travel-requirements

Thanks for the update.  And I'm happy that Celebrity put this info on their website so there is no question as to what has to be done.

The only thing that Celebrity states on their website is what I copied below (and I am guessing this verbiage is somewhere in the fine print of your cruise contract also).   So......it looks to me as if Celebrity is leaving it up to the individual guest to figure out what form(s) need to be completed in order to enter Bermuda.  I think if I were sailing on the April 8 sailing I would just go ahead and complete the required Travel Authorization form, pay my $40 and put the whole issue "to bed".  I wouldn't wait for Celebrity to tell me what I needed to do.   Note:  When I look at the Travel Authorization form on the Bermuda website, it does list the April 8 Silhouette sailing.  

Also, if you booked through a reliable travel agent (not just a "huge order-taking type agency") your travel agent should be able to offer you guidance.  I know that mine already has.

It is your responsibility to identify and obtain all required travel documents and have them available at the pier when necessary. These appropriate valid travel documents such as passports, visas, inoculation certificate and family legal documents are required for boarding and re-entry into the United States and other countries.

If you do not possess the proper documentation you may be prevented from boarding your flight or ship, or from entering a country, and you may be subject to fines. No refunds will be given to individuals who fail to bring proper documentation. Guests on consecutive sailings must ensure they have the proper travel documents for their entire cruise vacation.

The question has come up about if you have to complete and submit the Bermuda Travel Authorization if you are not planning to get off the ship in Bermuda.  Since this question is popping up on many Roll Calls, I sent an email to the officials in Bermuda questioning as to whether my roommate needs to complete the TA even if she is not getting off the ship in Bermuda and received the following response:

Yes, she will. The TA is required for everyone who enters Bermuda waters, not just the land.

Regards,

23 hours ago, tiff2 said:

1971 on the Franconia to Bermuda. We took our then 18 month old son with us.

1995 children grown, we started cruising on a regular basis. First cruise “alone” on the Nordic Prince to Southern Caribbean.

My first cruise was 1969 on the Franconia from NYC to Bermuda.  That started my "addiction"!  Followed up with many, many Home Lines cruises from NYC.

I got a similar communication last fall regarding my November cruises in a Royal Suite (with all the features you mentioned above, i.e. click to chat, listing of amenities, etc.)  However, the information sent in the email was incorrect.  The shoreside concierge (with his email and contact number) was the incorrect concierge for the ship I was sailing on.  I found out this info when I tried to communicate with him.  I was then directed to the CORRECT shoreside concierge.  The correct concierge apologized that the website had been populated with incorrect information prior to sending the automated email.

I am in a RS again in 5 weeks and have not heard anything from anyone at Celebrity.  Not surprising.

Good luck with this "automated computer-generated email" information being accurate.

Actually, I sail quite frequently in an upper suite and my "requests" are always the same.  One would think that Celebrity would have an accurate data base created with preferences that were previously asked for by frequent upper suite cruisers.  But, I guess that's way too much to ask! :>)

Charla,

Thanks so much for your usual stellar reporting.  Your pictures were great and your posts were entertaining and informative.

I think Mini Me had a wonderful time and I'm quite sure she's already thinking of her next cruise.  What I always tell my friends about cruising is:  "You either love it or you hate it.  There's no in-between".  I think we can put Mini Me into the "love it" category.  She's a beautiful young lady and her outfits were perfect.  She seems to be a very well-behaved child.

Wishing you both a safe and uneventful flight home.

Janice

Being ditched for "Camp at Sea" sounds all too familiar to me.  A few years ago we did a family cruise.  At dinnertime, we had to pry my niece's then 6-year old daughter away from the Kid's Club to have dinner with us.  She rushed through her Luminae dinner (chicken fingers and fries) so she could re-join the Kid's Club. 

My prediction is that your adorable little Mini-Me will be hooked on cruising after this mini-vacation.  But methinks you should have started off "small"......not with first class flights and a Celebrity Suite. Maybe you could have started off with "premium economy" and a balcony cabin.   You have nowhere to go but "up" now......Royal Suite or Penthouse is next! 

51 minutes ago, GenerationX said:

Thank you!  I love our annual mother daughter trip.  It’s a nice chance to spend some time really focused on enjoying each other without all the other work/school/life stuff distracting.  
 

So far I’m really liking the experience cruising with her.  Jury is still out on whether I think Celebrity would have enough to keep her entertained for a full 7 day itinerary.  But on the other hand we’d probably have better ports and more shore activities to keep her amused on a longer cruise. For right now I’m thinking a 4-5 day cruise is the sweet spot on Celebrity with a kid, but we’ll see how restless she seems by Nassau.

I think Celebrity would have enough to keep your daughter busy on a 7-day cruise if you cruised during the summer months or during February/April vacation weeks (not sure if your school system has a February or April week-long break.  We have such breaks here in the Northeast).  If you take Mini-Me on a 7-night cruise in July or August you'll find that the ships are loaded with families and children and that the Children's Programs are really full.

On 3/2/2022 at 11:23 AM, Schmoe38 said:

We sailed to Hawaii with a couple whose luggage was lost by their airline and did not make it to the ship until the first port of call. It was 4 sea days before the first stop. No exceptions would have been a little harsh here.

 

Rules are rules and are not meant to be broken. That doesn’t mean they can’t be bent!

 

Randy

 

 

I agree that rules can and should be bent, if warranted.  However, my personal opinion is that shorts should be allowed in any dining room on the ship until such time as the person can reasonably purchase a pair of long pants (dockers or khakis would be fine).  I think that graphicguy certainly had the opportunity to purchase a pair of long pants but simply chose not to.  From his previous “live from” reports/pictures he appears to be an average sized individual so I think he could have found a pair of long pants to fit him if he wanted to.  Again, just my opinion!!

And a big THANK YOU to you, Charla, for going that extra mile for me.

Janice

If you have the premium beverage package you will not be charged for the Evian in your Suite.  Speak with your Personal Retreat about this.

GenerationX, your breakfast on the plane looked great…..especially the Tito’s and the sunflower.  😍

1 hour ago, LGW59 said:

She is in a sky suite and they called her

 I believe GenerationX originally booked a sky suite, but she upgraded to a Celebrity Suite.

Good luck with your COVID tests.  I'm sure they will be negative.

The shoreside suite concierge calls or emails "upper level suite guests" prior to the cruise.  This does not include Sky Suites, but on M-class ships it covers Celebrity, Royal and Penthouse Suites.  

Wishing you two a safe flight to FLL and a great cruise.

On 2/26/2022 at 1:43 PM, GenerationX said:

I will email you shortly for details.

Hi Charla,

If you've sent me an email can you please re-send it as I have not received it (I checked Junk mail too!).  Again, email address is:  jconlon04 at yahoo.com

If you're just busy and haven't gotten around to it -- no problem!!!  

Thanks so much.

Janice

12 minutes ago, GenerationX said:

Yes I would be very happy and honored to assist. The situation in Ukraine is so sad and it seems like there is so little that we can do to help from the US.  You also give me an idea. We have an immigration attorney at our firm who is volunteering his time to answer legal questions for potential Ukrainian refugees to the US.  Perhaps I’ll see if I can get a few of his business cards before I leave to give to your friend and other crew members from Ukraine who may have friends/family that need advice. 
 

If there’s anything else you think she might like/need that I could bring along to give her I’m happy to do that as well.
 

I will email you shortly for details.

Thank you so very much for your kindness.  I am beside myself as I don't know what to do to help her.  I know she's struggling with not being home with her family (although as she is on the ship at least I know she is safe from harm).  It's a very, very sad situation.

Kudos to you for going on another cruise.  I know you will have a blast.  Your daughter definitely looks like your mini-me.  She's a cutie, for sure.

Charla, I'm wondering if I could be so bold as to ask you to do me a personal favor.  There is a crew member currently onboard Millennium who I have grown very close to over the years.  She, sadly, is from Ukraine.  I have been in touch with her via personal messenger since the war in Ukraine started.  She is heartbroken, to say the least.  My ask is a simple one -- only involving a great, big tight hug.  I'd rather not give her personal information on a public message board.  Would you be able to reach out to me via my email address of  jconlon04 at yahoo.com.  I will then elaborate the request to you.  Thank you so much for considering this request.

For a 7 night cruise the upgrade costs $84.  To me, the aggravation of being on hold, not getting the correct department, etc. etc. for what I'm reading could be more than 2 hours is not worth the $8.40 savings.  it's not worth $8.40 to me to be on hold for such a long amount   My time  and blood pressure level is worth way more than $8.40.  But that's just me.

6 hours ago, GenerationX said:

Last night when I got back to my room I discovered that Celebrity has upped its turndown pillow chocolates game on E-class.  
 

Did I say something last night in my post-short rib pasta bliss about potentially passing on booking in the Retreat on future E-class cruises?  NVM.

 

 

 

We also received these tasty treats on Chic night while in a suite on Summit!

I too enjoy the flatbread in Luminae.  The proper name for this bread is "lavash".  If you google it you will find tons of recipes.  

I sailed on Edge in September and on Summit in November.  I did not have to make a reservation for dinner in Luminae on either of the ships.  That said, things may have changed since November.  But that was my experience.  Hope this helps.

1 hour ago, GenerationX said:

Yes I remember you!  I’m with you on the escargot. I’m planning to do a lunch or 2 at the French bistro specialty restaurant and get my escargot fix there.

 

Good news!!!!  You will be able to get escargot in Luminae on Edge.  While the “full” MDR menu is not available every night they do offer quite a few “standard menu items”.  Plus they are very good about getting you pretty much anything you ask for if you give them 24 hour notice!

I've definitely enjoyed reading all your past reviews.  I'm sure you will fall in LOVE with Edge.  She's a fantastic ship.  But not quite sure that you will find the passenger mix, etc. on Edge (supposedly built for "your generation")any different than it is on any other Celebrity ship.  I sailed Edge when she first came out and, yes, I could see where entertainment, etc. was geared towards "your generation" (as opposed to mine!).  But in recent times sailing her I could see a "shift" in the entertainment, etc back to the "standard Celebrity" ways.  No matter what - you'll have a great time on that fantastic vessel.

I so look forward to enjoying reading your daily postings.  Wishing you a safe flight to Fort Lauderdale and a safe and happy cruise.

Celebrity has roving bar waiters in the MDR.  But I've also seen sommeliers and assistant waiters get people's cocktails when the bar waiter is slammed with drink orders.  Don't worry about getting your drink.  If you don't see the bar waiter quick enough, all you have to do is tell your waiter that you'd like to order a cocktail and someone will definitely show up to take your order.  Plus from my experience the bar waiter typically finds out within a day or two who the "drinkers" are......LOL.....You will have no problems whatsoever.