JLS07

On 9/22/2023 at 2:16 PM, Whinenowine said:

Totally agree.  Unfortunately in my part of the world (near NYC) it's nigh impossible to find it at the release price, and has been for almost a decade.  I was lucky (maybe even smart) enough to stock up about 6-7yrs ago when the prices really began to skyrocket.  I found a store in NY which had a bunch of jugs (1.75L) of the Weller 12yr at a much better price than the 750s.  Since it's the same bourbony goodness inside, I bought every one they had at a price equivalent of roughly $65/750ml.  I'm still working my way through that treasure trove...I'm down to my last 2 big bottles.  

That would be nice.  In FL all Weller items are controlled by ABC liquor (on a handshake deal from the previous owners).  You can't buy anything higher than the green label without being in the ABC Valut program (costs $500 for the chance that you might be picked and you might be able to click on the email fast enough).

I got my one Weller 12 a couple years back in France of all places.  There was this cool store that translated to "Slice of whiskey, sip of cheese" where they had it for about $80.

I was completely shocked that they had such good pours on the Beyond this summer after so many years of nothing.  I use to be able to sit in Michael's club and drink Booker's, Baker's - basically almost anything I wanted.  They had tasting nights each night, and by the third night it was just me and the bartender trying stuff out for $20 charge and a heavy cash tip.  That was only 5 to 10 years ago also - not that long ago.

On 9/22/2023 at 1:00 PM, JCMass. said:

Thanks for this, we are going on our first Celebrity cruise on the Summit, in two weeks.  so we thought we would try Celebrity but all the comments here make it sound awful. 

Got see for yourself - you will enjoy it.  People (myself included) are complaining because we had a 9.5/10 for the price of a 7/10.  Now we have an 8/10 for the price of an 8/10.  There was this, almost, unknown value within Celebrity that only those that cruised it knew about.  You were treated like a Ritz Carlton guest for the price of JW or Marriott.

Yes the food was better "back in the day" - it is still really good now, and you won't go hungry

Yes the service was better "back in the day" - they had a better crew to guest ratio, but it is still really good

Yes the prices were better "back in the day" - they are still fairly reasonably priced for a family of four compared to the next step up (Regent, Oceania, etc).  

On 9/19/2023 at 1:35 PM, young_k92 said:

First, this topic is not intended to start a verbal war. I'm honestly asking, because I do not have unlimited funds to spend on trying new cruise lines in an attempt to find one that doesn't make me, to be honest, hate cruising. And we're trying to decide if we should try Celebrity or move on to HAL.

 

Background: My husband and I are almost-50 Gen Xers who cruise exclusively as a couple and have only cruised Carnival. We usually average about one cruise every 5 years. We started in 2005. We started on a 5-day on the smallest ship in the fleet, and have done 8-day as well as a 14-day Journeys cruise. Each time, we've cruised a bit larger class of ship, but we will never book a cruise on a mega ship. Just not for us. Our next cruise is in October on MSC (not YC).

 

Our last cruise on Carnival was on the Magic in the Caribbean last January. For various reasons, it became apparent to us that, post-Covid, Carnival would not be receiving any more of our hard-earned dollars. It was so bad, that we were booked on a B2B and chose to get off the ship after our first leg, even with it costing us some of those dollars. We are stuck on a previously-booked 14-day Journeys cruise to Alaska next year, praying that the length, itinerary, and sailing month makes the other passengers at least semi well behaved. We're not snobs. Before Covid, we considered Carnival people to be "our people," but post-Covid, it seems to be a different cruise line.

 

So, I've been reading a lot of the posts here on the Celebrity forum. It almost sounds like RCI is turning a once premium line into what Carnival was like pre-Covid. Anyone that can elaborate on this possibility? Honestly, I wouldn't mind trying a line that was like Carnival 18 years ago. We rather enjoyed our pre-Covid cruises. But I want to be prepared not to expect "premium" when it isn't anymore.

 

And, if someone with experience could elaborate on the difference between Celebrity and HAL post-Covid, I would appreciate it. The plan was to try MSC first, then Celebrity, then HAL. But after reading these reviews, I'm wondering if moving straight to HAL might be a better option for us.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

First, I admit I haven't read any other posts besides the first one, so if this is redundant, I apologize.

I have been openly critical of some of the decisions Celebrity has made (see this thread I started:https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2925128-celebrity-at-a-crossroads/).  That being said, it is far from Carnival and won't ever go there IMHO.  Sure there have been cuts, and yes there are some passengers that more resemble Carnival passengers but that represents maybe 10% or 5% of those on board.

I have cruised Carnival once.  It was a Cuban cruise many years ago (during that small window when we could go there).  It was the only option that fit our schedule and had an overnight in Havana.  It was 2 days in Havana and one sea day - so very quick trip.  Havana was amazing, the sea day was disgusting.  

They had a hairiest belly contest.  The women were blindfolded and had to feel up the guys to determine who had the hairiest belly.  The last women - grandmother aged - LICKED the men.  Yes - LICKED them to see who was the hairiest.  The whole day was like that.  We literally just went to our room and stayed in there the rest of the cruise (one sea day).

Celebrity is, as I said months ago, at a cross roads.  And they may decide to drop down a notch in elegance, but the gap between were they will be and where Carnival is at will still be quite massive.

18 hours ago, Whinenowine said:

Yeah at the same price I'd have to agree.  But as @beernutz said, 29 for the Eagle vs 18 for the Blantons is a no brainer in favor of Blantons for me.  Now if they had the Blantons Gold...that would be a game changer for me. That, along with the Weller 12yr are my special occasion pours-of-choice.

Weller 12 has the odd distinction to me of being the best value at MSPR ($40) and most overrated on the secondary ($200+).  Crazy how much it costs if you can't get it at store prices, but at store prices it is insanely underpriced for the quality.

This summer on a European cruise they had Blanton's, Eagle Rare, and EH Taylor small batch in Eden on Beyond.  The week before on Apex they had nothing at all worthwhile.  I couldn't find it anywhere else on the ship.

I believe it was:

$11 EHT

$15 ER

$22? Blanton's (I want to say it was double ETH)

I was all over that ETH at $11 a pour (don't do the drink package now that they make both people get it).  Since it was only at Eden I would walk there to get my drink then back to wherever we were hanging out or to dinner.

I have found that not doing the drink package and leaving a nice CASH tip is a way to very heavy pours on nights 2+.  Just go to the same bartender every time and leave a cash tip.

On 7/24/2023 at 1:45 PM, GreenDice said:

@JLS07 I am going to be in 11272 on Apex next year. Sounded like you were in the same cabin. I hope you left the loungers when you disembarked. 😉

Other than the slight noise from Oceanview, are there anything else I might find concerning? Did the door facing the long corridor bother you at all?

That was the exact cabin.

The hallway was actually nice because it was clear which was our room - the one at the end.  The only people down there are the 4 rooms (suite and room next to it, and the room to your right of the door).  Very private and quiet.

And I am exaggerating the noise maybe a bit.  When you are outside and when people are moving tables and chairs around we could hear it.  It wasn't like there was a ton of noise all day and night.

14 hours ago, quacker5 said:

Finally decided to book a sunset veranda on Apex but have been unable to find this info. The only cabins available are immediately adjacent to the suites on decks 8, 9 and 11 (which look like the smallest balconies.) We are really looking forward to relaxing on loungers and cannot tell if they will fit in addition to chairs on those smaller balconies. Does anyone know?  Most of the pics I’ve seen show the very large verandahs in the middle staterooms where loungers seem to fit comfortably. 
The only other choice we have is a sunset stateroom on 7th deck- right in the middle of the stern. I’m worried that we’ll have too much noise from shows in Eden. And not sure if the shows are just in the evening, into the early hours after midnight, or also in the afternoon. 
Advice from aft cruisers on Edge or Apex would be so appreciated. Ty!  
 

 
 

 

We just got off SV cruises on both the Apex and Beyond.The Apex was a Norwegian cruise and the Beyond was Mediterranean cruise.

All SV on the Apex had loungers and none of the Beyond did.  We asked for loungers the first day on the Beyond and were told they don't use them due to soot issues.  The Beyond had a nice table and a couple chairs, but honestly we didn't use it as much as due to the temperatures - it was brutally hot.

The normal SV (not the suite) all seemed about the same size, and all had the same layout based on which ship you were on.  So while Apex vs Beyond might differ, the actual rooms didn't differ that much on each ship.

Our Apex was 11th floor and towards the starboard side (third from the end) and the Beyond was 10th the middle port SV.  Both were wonderful.  

I would suggest trying to avoid the 12th floor SV.  While it wasn't an issue on the 11th floor, we could SLIGHTLY hear the buffet, and I would imagine on the 12th it would be much louder.

14 hours ago, Sunshine2023 said:

Would I be able to buy wine at each port and bring it on the ship? 

I have never been stopped with bottles of wine I purchase during the cruise.  

Granted I don't make a habit of it, it is only when I see a particularly interesting bottle for a good price.   I would think that if they saw you for two or three ports in a row bringing bottles onboard they might start holding the bottles.

I think it very much matters which cruise too.  I have never done this on a Caribbean cruise (never find anything of value in their liquor stores) but I do this all the time in my European cruises. I remember seeing tables of alcohol on some cruises in the Caribbean at the security area whereas on the European ones, they see it in the bag and just say "that will stay in your room? Right." and let me go.

17 hours ago, Sunshine2023 said:

Do you recommend buying the beverage package. It seems very expensive. Any suggestions would be helpful as I am new to cruising.

We find a lot of value in the non-alcoholic package (coffees, shakes, juices, waters) but not as much in the alcoholic package.  

The gap between the non-alcoholic and alcoholic is about $60 a day, which is 4 drinks per day.  I simply don' t drink that much per day to justify the added costs.  I find I am better off in the long run by being very generous with cash to a bartender or two and then try to seek them out for my drinks for the week. They are making nice tips, my costs to the cruise line is less, and my pours are very heavy pours.

On 5/26/2023 at 8:22 AM, kml246 said:

 

It's the way to go if you don't have an included package. Only risk is whoever you share the login credentials with can boot you off your device 😬

Yes - don't piss off your wife or husband or they can kick you off repeatedly.  🙂

Otherwise, just have the same login and use it 3 times.  Once you are in you are in.  Then as long as you aren't switching devices then there isn't an issue.

On 5/24/2023 at 12:11 PM, elmaexec said:

The difference is that with multiple devices for one person, you can only use one device at a time. So if you’re trying to share it, one device has to sign out before the next device can be signed on. With multiple people, each with one device, they can be using them at the same time. 

This is absolutely 100% not true.

You can have as many devices as you purchased logged in at a time.  We bought 3 logins on one account over spring break and didn't have any issues until I need to be logged in to both my phone and computer (work issues) at the same time.  Then my wife and daughter were down to one login.  But the issue was if they tried to switch devices sometimes it would kick me off instead.  So for about 4 hours one day it was annoying, the rest of the trip was zero problem at all.  All three of us were online at the same time without any issues.

I am planning on doing this exact way over the summer on our two cruises.

1 hour ago, Piper77 said:

I'm registered for Anytime Dining on the Beyond and I noticed that there are 4 different main dining rooms that all seem to have a different theme.  Am I able to choose which dining room I eat at each night and do the menus actually vary that much?  Was trying to do some reservations in advance to make sure I get to try each one out but time selection is pretty limited 30 days out already.

 

Thanks!

First, most of the time you can get a table within about 30 minutes of asking (assuming not a huge party).

Second, think of the restaurants as which decor do you want, not what food do you want.  There are no restrictions for each night's menu based on which restaurant you are in.  Order Italian in the French restaurant, French in the Greek one, etc.

Lastly, every night you will have these choices:

4 classic starters (shrimp cocktail, escargot, French onion soup, and Cesar salad),

3 starters from each of the greek, Italian, cosmo, and French restaurants

3 classic entrees (Chicken, salmon, steak),

3 entrees from each of the greek, Italian, cosmo, and French restaurants

These choices never change and are available every single night and can be ordered from any of the MDR regardless of which you are in.

This is all in addition to the 3-4 starters and 3-4 entrees that do rotate every night.

Bonus - you also can order from the vegetarian menu every night too - which expands your choices.  I typically found a great salad there every night to add to my meals.

Any given night, you have about 22 starters and entrees to pick from.  16 are the same and 6 vary night to night.

49 minutes ago, DJLDRUMS said:

Where were you sailing to and from? Did you find the Apex handled the rough seas better than other class ships?

Caribbean sailing.  I thought the ship did well.  Of course it moaned and creaked some, but that is to be expected.  

We sail Apex and Beyond within a week of each other in Europe this summer so I will report back with a comparison.  SV for both, within one deck also, so it should be very comparable for at least that classification of room.

We were on Apex in March. There were some noises but nothing like the video. More than I have heard in S and M class ships though. But this was also the roughest seas I have ever seen - to the point they closed all IV windows on the ship. 

No way, and I believe that the 4th bed is a bunk bed that comes down from the ceiling.  I have done 4 in a room when it was two adults and two kids (16 and 10).

I would think 4 adults, 4 adult size clothing, space needed, and the 4th bed sleeping arrangement would be way less than ideal.

28 minutes ago, Cruisingirl2012 said:

Are moveup offers sent to different categories, we are booked in prime oceanview cabin, is it possible that we would get a moveup offer?

MoveUp offers are based on category.  So the price/options you get as inside cabins is going to differ from a concierge class.  But everyone gets an offer - what the offer is differs based on category level.

40 minutes ago, PatandStu said:

Why move? From the photos, it looks like balconies closer to midship look down in the lifeboats. 

Actually the move is to the angled balconies. Those are about 1 1/2 times the size of a normal balcony. Any of them on any deck is well worth it. There are about 24 per deck. Middle facing back are the best. But any of them are better than any other normal veranda. 

1 hour ago, MAGSMFC said:

Does anyone know if Celebrity send MoveUp emails for sailings that look like they are sold out. 
 

If you receive one would you advise to make a bid or not bother.

 

Many thanks for any advice.

You can make any bid you want - there is no risk.  If the prices seems reasonable then do it.  Worst case is the bid isn't taken and you keep your existing room.  If the minimum price is worth it to you then of course make a bid.

They will send out MoveUps to everyone for every sailing - even if full.  They may have cancelations and a room opens at the last minute.  

Even if there is only one room they can get multiple MoveUps due to a domino effect.  A lower level suite moves to higher suite, a AQ moves to lower level suite, a concierge class moves to AQ, veranda to CC, window to veranda, inside to window.

They get 6 move ups, and probably 5K - 8K more revenue without adding almost any expenses.

19 hours ago, PatandStu said:

We’ve booked the Equinox to the ABC islands in September. We are Celebrity newbies but we have several cruises under our belts. Me more than DH because I’ve travelled a few times with my parents. 
We’ve sailed Disney, RCI, Carnival and NCL. 
What should we know about Celebrity & Equinox in particular? 
I usually research our vacations to the nth degree and had another line in mind, but our ta found us a sweet deal on Equinox. So, I’m ready to absorb others experiences & advice.
Thanks, Pat 

Couple of my favorite spots:

1) The Lawn club.  Go put your feet in real grass while at sea!

2) The treats at Cafe Al Bacio - they have wonderful small desert treats to get with your afternoon coffees

3) Best Restaurant on the ship is Murano - definitely worth one non-chic night dinner.  

4) Best drinks - World Class bar

5) Best atmosphere - Martini Bar

6) Best view - Sky View Lounge (front of ship looking out)

Make sure to get the app - everything on that now.  All activities, menus, etc.

What class room do you have?  Normal, Aqua Class, Suite?  That changes your main dinning options.

I was on the Apex in March and the shows were fine.  I thought the shows in Eden were better - even though same performers.

comedian - terrible, just awful.

musical/cirque du soleil kind of show - it was good, but we have seen better on Celebrity in the past.  The main female vocalist was just yelling and the acrobatics did not have as much of a wow factor

RnB show - they were good, but better in the Club on another night

Last time we were on an E-Class we had a great magician, the cirque du soleil kind of show was amazing and the Beatles cover band was outstanding.  Just really varies almost week to week to see who is on the ship.

On 4/5/2023 at 8:28 AM, JerseyGirlatHeart said:

Love the S-Class ships and have been on the Reflection numerous times (along with all sister ships); have not done the E-class.  Looking at doing a B2B2B 22-day on Reflection or a 21-day B2B on the Beyond, both in Aqua Class, same price range, same perks.  Know my preferred cabin locations on the Reflection, not a clue on the E-class.  Which one would you select and if E-class, what cabin location and why?  Thanks for the assist.

For a 22 day cruise I would do Reflection since you know your preferences.  If it was a 7 day one I would suggest trying a E Class ship.

E Class MDR is significantly better than S or M.  The interior art/design is significantly better.

But if you are getting Blu, then MDR isn't an issue.  The balcony and exterior of S class is far better than E class.  I love getting a drink and sitting on the lawn, or the middle of the ship with the view straight up the top.

3 hours ago, goofysmom99 said:

I think X also counts on inertia.  People tend stay with what they know and absorb price creep.  

I think this is definite true.  When I first graduated college I got a job offer from a small cruise line (now bankrupt) to basically run numbers for them and determine which price point was the best for their lines.  Take into account, that a higher price with less people going might make more money than a lower price but at capacity.

MoveUp has solved this.  Lines can charge premium prices for the suites to start with and then charge significantly less a month before the cruise without appearing to lower prices since they never post what the total MoveUp price is (original cabin plus MoveUp price).

Here is an example: I have a 7 night sunset veranda this summer.  Price for 4 is about $5500.  Just got a move up for $3500 for sky suite.  Total price would be $9,000.  But on the website it still shows for sale for $12,000. The illusion of the higher price is there but the reality is that the real revenue on average for Celebrity is significantly lower than the $12,000 they list as the price.

46 minutes ago, jelayne said:

We have been on 6 sailings and discounts on the specialty restaurants has been almost nonexistent.  On the all 3 E class ships the best discount offered on board was $5 only on Roof Top Grill and LPC.  No discounts on Eden, Fine Cut or LeVoyage.

I wouldn’t expect le voyage or eden. 
 

little surprised no fine cut or le petit. 

19 minutes ago, airhose said:

Can you get the tasting menu at Eden without the wine pairing?  Is there any additional charge for just the tasting menu?  I would hope that the portions were smaller for each course!  TIA.

No.  But you can basically recreate it off the a la carte menu.  It is slightly disappointing in that there is a lot more wasted food that way (they don't give you the tasting sizes) but you can do it.

6 minutes ago, 4Nathan said:

Thank you for all the info. I reserved dinner at Eden and will make the other reservations on boarding.  Just 367 days to go - lots of time to watch more YouTube videos and dream about Celebrity’s delicious food! One more quick newbie question - does Celebrity ever have cruise planner sales on dining packages? More than the current 7% off ($210 CAD)?

You can always cancel and rebook through celebrity If there is a discount.  We do that with excursions sometimes.  Wait for a small sale and then just check from time to time.  Especially around major holidays they sometimes have.a sale across the board.

Eden must haves: Crab cake, Lobster casserole and filet.  Outstanding items.