gofloat

Do you make reservations at these restaurants in advance or once on board? We are cruising on Apex later this year and do not know how things differ on the Edge class ships.

The last cruise I booked was on Azamara. We have one Celebrity cruise booked for 2023 but after taking a Christmas cruise on Azamara I can see that Celebrity has gone downhill and up in price. Azamara had interesting speakers, great food and wine, and very talented entertainment (although a smaller venue than Celebrity). This is all for an all inclusive price and includes laundry facilities and a small ship personalized atmosphere. Celebrity has changed its focus and does not seem to want to appeal to seasoned travelers. They are constantly trying to sell art, jewelry and alcohol and show no interest in the ports. It looks like we are making a switch in loyalty.

I bring the twisted elastic clothesline with hooks on the end and detergent on all of my Celebrity cruises. If you have a veranda stateroom it is possible to hook the clothesline between the chairs, but be aware the cruise line doesn't like you using the balcony for drying clothes (if they really cared they would provide laundry areas on the ship like many other cruise lines). In the bathroom you need to be a bit more creative using the shower head and small knobs on the door to create an area to hang clothes. When you are on back to back cruises and don't want your clothes ruined by the heat the ship uses, you have no other choice other than to bring massive amounts of clothing. We managed on a back to back across the Pacific to Sydney with 2 small suitcases each.

I have cruised on Azamara, Crystal and Celebrity. All of my cruises in the last 10 years have been with these cruise lines. I love Crystal and am sad they are no longer in the mix but I really don't think they are more luxurious. There are more expensively dressed and bejeweled passengers but the food, entertainment and service is much like Azamara (the passengers are much more casual on Azamara). I have heard excellent speakers and great itineraries on both lines. Celebrity is a different animal. It is more popular entertainment focused (no speakers on our last cruise). Musicians are good but they focus on pop music not excellence of performance. Food is good but not gourmet unless you eat in the specialty restaurants. This is OK for a quick trip to the Caribbean but I would pick Azamara for a trip to the Mediterranean or anyplace else.

We were on a Caribbean cruise 2 weeks ago (Silhouette) and there were no special speakers. I was very disappointed. They had someone to describe the excursions, but they mostly just pointed out the shopping areas and beaches. I don't know why the cruise line thinks that cruisers going to beachy destinations have no interest in educational speakers. I am not one to bake in the sun and drink excessively and I still enjoyed the islands that I would have loved some more information about.

Unless you are very picky the Classic Package provides everything you could want including Prosecco, good wines, a long list of beers, plus premium coffees and teas and sodas. If you must have Pelligrino or Grey Goose Vodka, you might have an issue. Instead of Baileys you might ask for a Kahlua and cream. I had a good port after dinner each evening and only paid a little more to have a limoncello. The premium package seems silly to me.

I am amazed that Celebrity has not yet reached out to fix this. Don't they know how many cruisers read Cruise Critic and how negative this is? This might influence loyalty and this is a bad time to not be competitive.

My husband and I have cruised on both lines a number of times pre-Covid. We have a Crystal Cruise booked for November, because the prices are low currently. We enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of Azamara over the more exclusive atmosphere on Crystal. For example, Crystal had a jewelry fashion show when we were on board with items priced over $100,000. Passengers dress fashionably for dinner even on casual nights. The food and wine are a little better on Crystal with opportunities for special dinners and wine events but the food on Azamara is also very good and the service equally good. The entertainment is about the same with music appealing to those in their 70's+. For entertainment we prefer Celebrity which appeals more to those of us in our 60's, and younger. We like the small size of the ships (under 1000 passengers) and almost entirely adults. We find the cost of Azamara cruises to be more appealing and we will book a veranda room where on Crystal we might book a window room. Both lines have a self serve laundry facility which we love. Celebrity does not have this. For us, Azamara has a slight advantage, but we like both lines.

Airport closed again and subways attacked.  Is there any chance Celebrity will change a final destination port?  We leave in November and it certainly does not look like things are calming down.  I have not purchased my departure air ticket yet and wonder how long it takes Celebrity to make decisions when there is unrest.

We were on Solstice when I ordered from the MDR menu.  I didn't do this every night but occasionally the MDR menu was more appealing.  Especially the night when the Blu menu included Octopus, Pheasant a vegetarian option and Lamb.  The Lamb turned out to be quite good according to those who had it, but I ordered from the other menu.

On ‎2‎/‎11‎/‎2019 at 8:48 AM, Xport said:

Despite the fact that you've selected an 8:30 PM dining time, you did so solely to satisfy antiquated requirements of Celebrity's computer systems.  Blu offers Select Dining--that is, arrive when you wish to be seated during dinner hours--rather than fixed dining times and does not accept reservations--for a time or a specific table--for flexible dining.

 

Upon arriving in you stateroom on embarkation day, you will likely find a letter from Blu's Maitre 'D which suggests a dining time for first night dinner.  That practice is intended to allow the Blu Maitre 'D to "level out" dining demand on the first night until such time as he/she can gauge the dining time preferences of a new group of guests but is--by no means--binding; you may still show up when you wish during operating hours on the first night.

 

Having completed 18 AquaClass cruises, I can recall only one instance--it happened to be a "first night" when a very significant number of AquaClass guests all seemed to arrive at Blu at the same time--in which I needed to wait about twenty minutes for a table [they will give you a "beeper" to alert you when it is ready should you choose to go to nearby Ensemble Lounge for a drink].  Otherwise--perhaps I've been lucky--I've always been seated immediately or within a matter of a few minutes.  Despite coming across as somewhat cumbersome, the system has always worked very well for me.

 

As a courtesy, it will be appreciated if you notify the Blu Maitre 'D or Hostess/Host of your Specialty Dining plans in advance so they not expect you.

 

Should you wish to dine in the Main Dining Room and know in advance--day/time--when you want to do so, it is most efficient to have the Blu Maitre 'D or Hostess/Host make a reservation for you, you'll show up at the MDR Select Dining Room entry, join the "with reservation" line, and they'll be expecting you.  If you decide to dine in the MDR on an impromptu base, show up at the MDR Select Dining Room entry when you wish, join the "without reservation line, and they will seat you either immediately or when a table becomes available.

 

Blu does not offer the full MDR menu; rather they offer a few appetizer, entrée [steak, chicken, salmon], and desert favorites from the MDR menu that are available nightly in both restaurants.  The Blu menu isn't available in the Main Dining Room.  On Solstice-Class ships [Equinox is one of them], Blu and the MDR do not share a galley.

 

Enjoy your cruise and enjoy Blu; obviously I'm a fan!  

On my last cruise I was able to order from the full MDR menu.  Many times the Blu menu had nothing that appealed to me.  Just ask for the MDR menu.  They don't like delivering the food from the MDR because it is in a different area of the ship, but they will if you choose.

4 hours ago, helen haywood said:

I have just booked cabin 1561 on Equinox.  I normally sail in 2B cabins.  This was a last minute cruise choice and Select Dining (a deal breaker for us) was unavailable thus I looked at Aqua Class to have anytime dining in Blu.  Have never sailed in AQ.  This, alas, was the only cabin option; none of the A2s were available.  I normally would never want to be under the pool deck!  I read the Sticky on cabins in this location and some said they had no noise issues, some did.  Some found the overhang very off putting, some did not.  Personally, I will miss being able to look directly up at the stars but, hey, I can go up one deck and see plenty.  The shade issue would actually be a bonus.  I don't want to be in the sun (one melanoma removed was one too many...) and sometimes my 2B cabins didn't have a single spot on the balcony that wasn't in direct sun.

 

I will read up on how to go to the MDR if my husband insists on first night Prime Rib...  Just hope others who have sailed in A1s can say some reassuring words.

You can ask for the MDR menu in Aqua Class and be served in Blu.  I did this several times recently when the Aqua Class menu did not appeal to me or there was something special in the MDR.

I believe the T pool area is $175 per couple or $99 for an individual, This may vary slightly by length or cruise.

Therapy pool is not a hot tub even though it looks like one. Water can be on the cool side.

I am a new cruiser on Celebrity, currently on Solstice, and I absolutely hate the policy that connects your dining room to a level of room. We have met people we are friendly with who are in suites and in regular balconies and because we are in Aqua class we can't just get together for dinner without paying a charge for a specialty restaurant or to eat in the 'suites' restaurant. This is ridiculous. On Azamara or Crystal cruises we can all eat together any time we wish. This is a true draw back to cruising on Celebrity and I hope enough people complain that they change this policy. Also in Blu there are no sharing tables so you don't meet other dinners easily. We like anytime dining and shareable tables where we meet others. Between this and no laundry I think Celebrity is shooting themselves in the foot. Otherwise we have really liked Celebrity.

You can get pancakes from room service. He needs to try Celebrity's waffles in the buffet, they are legendary.

Can you get real maple syrup on Celebrity cruises or do I need to bring my own? I am a maple syrup fanatic.

I plan to take a suitcase of dirty clothes off the boat and take a taxi to a laundromat that does washing and folding at the end of the first cruise of my B2B. Does Celebrity have an issue with leaving and returning with a full suitcase? The cost would be much cheaper than relying on bag of laundry sales. Additionally I am not a size 0 and could only fit a few pieces in the bag. This is my first time on Celebrity, but it may be my last if I can't get laundry done at a reasonable price. It will be back to Azamara for me (they have free dyi laundry).

One other idea that we've done quite easily on very long cruises, particularly B2B: Leave our stuff at a wash and fold on shore in the am, pick it up in the afternoon. Cost: Usually less than $10. Quality: Usually excellent.

 

Or use the sink and a portable laundry line. We do that , too.

 

 

A recent comparison of costs of laundry:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=56744374&postcount=63

We are thinking of doing this on a back to back cruise with Honolulu as the connecting cruise city. Is there any issue taking large amounts of clothing (a suitcase full) off the ship and then back on? I figured that even with the cost of a taxi it will be much cheaper than using the ship laundry service and the laundry will be done more professionally.

Please let me know how this worked for you.

We will be completing our requirements to become Elite level on the first leg of a back to back. Will we be considered Elite on the 2nd leg and receive the additional perks?

Gofloat

Does anyone know if I can bring 4 bottles of wine on board at the beginning of a back to back cruise? Do they hold the 2nd 2 bottles for the 2nd half? We are embarking out of Vancouver and sailing b2b cruises to get to Sydney. Also, is it true that we can bring water on board? Do I understand it correctly that we can purchase gifts of wine and other alcohol for ourselves on the Celebrity site and have those delivered to our room? I am sorry for all these questions but I am new to Celebrity. We don't drink a lot and there is no drinks package included for the transpacific portion of the cruise. We like an occasional glass of wine, an evening drink, and lots of water and don't like it chlorinated.

How about the Azamara Club Cruise info? Will that also be merged? The loyalty program is already merged with Celebrities.

We are Celebrity cruisers but have cruised other lines. What can I expect on Azamara?

 

Thank you and congratulations!

If you are like us and are retired or soon to retire, enjoy meeting other passengers, don't mind having a small troupe of very talented entertainers instead of large splashy shows, like to eat when you want and where you want, enjoy a high standard of food and drink, not be asked constantly to buy drinks packages, enjoy not standing in long lines for things, enjoy wearing neat but casual clothing (no very formal events), are not looking for loud alcohol fueled parties or children taking up the pool, this is a cruise line for you. If you are a wine or food 'snob' or expect 24/7 attention because you feel you are special, I would not recommend this cruise line. There are many very wealthy people on these boats but they will not be showing off their wealth, they will just be having a great time with the likes of us. This is our favorite cruise line. The only thing that has had us switch to other lines is a limited itinerary. Our latest non-Azamara cruises have been down the coast of Africa and from the US/Canada to Australia. If you are looking for the standard European, Alaskan, Caribbean, Asian or South American cruises they will have an itinerary for you. I have never been on Celebrity and will be taking my first cruise on that line in September next year.

I have a very short time in Cape Town. My cruise arrives at 5pm and I disembark the next morning. I would like to go to the wineries and dinner in the wine region closest to the cruise ship but I am uncertain what mode of transportation is available to get there. All tours seem to be in the morning or early afternoon. What are my transportation options? I would prefer to have a guide to learn about the area, but have had no luck finding one online. Is renting a car a viable option, or are there taxis that will travel to an area a half hour out of the city and then wait to take you back? Do the wineries close at 5pm? It should still be light until late into the evening.

GoFloat cruising on Crystal Cruises into CapeTown Dec. 22, 2017

I enjoy Azamara cruises more than any of the other cruise lines for the following reasons. I like a small community feel where I meet others but can also spend time with my husband away from everyone else. I like the fact that I fit in with the demographic age 55-75, American, Canadian, Australian or UK mostly, active but not mountain climbers. I like the service and fact some of the service providers begin to know my name and preferences. I like not having drunk people trying to drink all they can because they have purchased drink packages and want to get their monies worth. I like staying longer in some ports and the educational lectures. I like the food choices and wine choices that are not extra charges. I like not being asked to constantly buy something. The only thing I don't like is the music choices that seem heavy on ABBA and disco (I am a rock'n roll, blues and jazz fan).

I have cruised on Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Princess Cruises and Crystal cruises. With the exception of Crystal cruises the others do not cater to what I like and Crystal is too expensive. If this sounds like you, you should enjoy Azamara.