Charles4515

The aspiration to become Diamond is falling for a marketing con. It is nice to be Diamond but for it to be a dream is foolish. To be in the Diamond lLounge was no big deal and by the time OP gets to Diamond the new designation as Crown Lounge may leave Diamonds out. That seems to be the trajectory. If they want to feel special they should book suites. There you get a special lounge and dining option. As a bonus OP will get to Diamond faster that way than a bunch of short cruises in an OV or inside.

You only need a valid passport for that itinerary. You don’t need 6 months.

Generaly there are not because of the PVSA which requires a stop at a foreign port but there are Hawaii cruises on NCL that have an exception so they depart from Hawaii and return to Hawaii without a foreign port.

I don't book the packages but I think it is par for the course Celebrity is on pay more and give less. No problem with complaints about that. As far as improvements and changes I don't see suggesting changes in the perks as being the most productive changes to make. I would rather suggest they improve the food.

I have been on over 60 cruises and I don't book for the loyalty programs. Been on Azamara, Carnival, Celebrity, Cunard, Holland America, NCL, Princess,RCI and Oceania. I don't expect each line to match RCI'S program. The programs are nice but I just see them as a gift not an entitlement. I won't whine because Celebrity does not give me what I get on another line.

So book RCI if their program works better for you.

You can book golf on your own. Port Royal which is close to the Dockyard will have cruise ship specials. https://www.portroyalgolfcourse.com

It is advisable not to order from Amazon.

Don't forget to get eclipse glasses whether you are doing a cruise or land vacation to see the 2024 eclipse. You don't want to look at the sun without eye protection. I would order now in case supplies doen't last. I don't need to travel anywhere since I live under the path of the total eclipse but I ordered glasses from https://www.eclipseglasses.com and they came in about a week. I bought the plastic ones (Bill Nye Plastic plus 2 paper) but the cheap paper ones are fine.

The terminal and carousel were built to handle the luggage load from Oasis Class ships.

That is a good idea and I will keep it in mind but I probably won't mention the credit card. They might take me up on that. They are not supposed to charge a flat rate there so can only cus me out if they pull that flat rate scam.

Some drivers count on tourists just going along. That does not work with me. I told a driver once in Baltimore when he dropped me off at Baltimore Penn station that all he was getting was what I gave him and there was nothing he could do because he had not turned on the meter. I could have given him zero. I had stuff like that happen in DC at Union Station and they had to accept what I gave them. They can't protest when they don't have the meter on. If a driver wants to turn off the meter and charge a flat rate they have to ask me first.

It never happened to me in Fort Lauderdale but not running the meter is prettry common in Baltimore. When it happens I don’t add a tip. When I get in taxis in Fort Lauderdale I make it pretty obvious I am watching the meter, I lean over and look at it, so perhaps that’s why the never pulled that trick.

So you have no information only speculation. I listened to the webinar and the answer to the question was vague enough for wishful thinking by that blog and some speculation by some cruise critic members to run with. I didn’t hear anything to indicate there would be dedicated lounges or merging of the programs.

I always check both Lyft and Uber as their surge pricing often does not coincide. If their price is high I take a taxi. That is going to Port Everglades. The problem with going to Port Everglades in a taxi is congestion inside the port can run up the meter at peak Still the most we ever paid for a cab to the port was $28 even with congestion. Going from Port Everglades to the airport we always take a taxi because they are lined up and ready to go and the airport is so close the taxi fare is always reasonable.

Who reported this? Information you heard where about a lounge comparable to Royal? There was no Elite Lounge pre pandemic. There were the Elite breakfast hours and the Elite social hours from 5-7 in a lounge. No dedicated lounge.

Right. It has been so long since the last opportunity that the PUP points have started to fade away.

They contract out for buses so they probably only rent a finite number. Really though cruise line transfers to and from Port Everglades are not needed. Lyft, Uber and Taxis are all less expensive and more convenient.

You can earn Power Up Points where you get one CC point per 3 PUP points. At the rate they have been offering those you might be able to get a few more CC points before your sailing.

It should be noted that what you get will get a status match, in ;your case the match will be Select on Celebrity but your points don't transfer to Celebrity and any points earned on Celebrity will not be added to your Crown and Anchor points. Points earned will be Captains Club points. If the January cruise is your first on Celebrity you will be starting at zero points in the Captains Club.

The casino can be open while in port in Bermuda if the ship gets a license. Celebrity ships on regular port calls have been obtaining a licence. They have been opening the casino at 9:00 PM.

Or at least say according to Google......

It was a while ago but I didn’t care for Pearl Island. Blue Lagoon was much better than Pearl when booking without the yucky lunch. I would book it with Stingrays and skip the rays and go straight to the beach. Hopefully it will reopen before my next cruise that calls at Nassau.

Stay on the ship. I never found much to do that was worth it except the beach and snorkeling. I always do Blue Lagoon but it has not reopened.

I have always guaranteed my booking there with a credit card. They have a cancellation policy like most hotels, I believe that it is 48 hours before your booked date can cancel with no penalty. Nothing is put on your card until check in. When I check in they put a hold per night like most hotels. Don’t worry about that. When I check out I get a final bill and they run my card for the actual charges. I book in a Tower room. I don’t know if offer upfront prepaid rates. I have always booked being able to cancel. I book directly with the hotel on their website or calling not through a third party.