jasm8449

When I first read the title I cringed thinking 'oh no, don't tell me someone actually videos her eating her lunch'. But OP did no such thing. I also find it interesting when I see captains grabbing a tray and self serving themselves a meal in the OV just like the rest of us. Of course the OP might find this as surprising as any of us were the first time we experienced the same thing.

Some posters here should think about their reply before hitting send. If it's just plain mean then delete it and move on.

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I think this is a nice option as long as the MDR food remains as enjoyable as it was on our Reflection and Silhouette TA's, and the variety of no-charge menu options remain the same. The upcharge items are for dishes that are new to the MDR and/or not available anywhere on the ship, such as the Nova Scotia lobster. If size and preparation are on point, we would like the opportunity to enjoy an Atlantic cold water lobster for that price. IMHO it's better than Tuscan, for example, where you already pay a pretty penny for a steak, and then are offered a "better" steak for even more $$.

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I just completed a cruise with a scooter for the first time due to a hip injury. It was a foldable travel scooter and it gave me terrific independence on and off the ship. My DH could go do his thing and I could go off to my activities. He didn't have to push me around in a wheelchair all the time. Although I wasn't crazy about having to use a scooter, I can't imagine how I would have been able to enjoy the cruise without it. That was my experience.

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Just got off the Reflection Transatlantic 2 weeks ago. MDR food was very good. - breakfast lunch and dinner. No upcharges.

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What microwave???

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I'm trying to figure out what the port agent's role might be. Their contact information is always in the dailies on port days. (I snap a photo f the contact info with my cell). I thought they are hired by Celebrity to among other things, provide some aid to passengers when in port. It would make sense to me that Guest services would contact the port agent to be on hand to at minimum get them and their luggage to a taxi or arrange for a car and driver (at the passenger's) expense to take the family to the hospital or hotel. Unless the accident was the fault of the cruise line, IMHO that should be the extent of their involvement. If they do more, that's great. However taking what the poster said about disembarking kids and luggage in the pouring rain at face value, it is inexcusable that they were not helped to get safely down the gangway.

When we cruise, I make sure to have a good insurance plan with a responsive 24/7 live operator emergency number, a cell phone with an international plan, and a reliable person at home who I've emailed before we leave with a copy of our insurance policy, our cell number, copy of passports and credit cards, and our itinerary. One call to that person and they can start the ball rolling with the insurance people, arranging hotel accommodation, contacting the consulate if they have an office in that port, etc. A concierge or front desk at the hotel can be asked to arrange to pick up the passengers at the pier. All this can be done or at least be in progress while the distressed family is packing up to disembark.

Hope for the best and plan for the worst.

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I've never been assigned a muster station where there were no seats, unless you meant all seats were taken. Where was your muster station?

Just got off a Refection cruise using a scooter for the first time. Did the same thing I've always done pre-scooter to ensure a seat for muster drill. Went to the muster station or lounge on same floor about 20 minutes before the drill start time - took something to read.

After the drill avoided the long waits for an elevator by waiting 10 minutes on the same floor before trying to get on an elevator. The entire drill takes place in your muster station. No longer do you have to wear your life jacket or go outside on deck to your lifeboat station.

Are uber cars allowed into the port?

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Is there any benefit to purchasing HOHO bus tickets online prior to arriving in Malaga, rather than purchasing tickets at the bus stop?

What we do:

Make sure we have good insurance that covers high medical costs, air ambulance to hospital or back home, coverage for a friend or family member flight and accommodation to get to you if hospitalized and offers a rep to deal with the hospital.

Keep the policy and emergency numbers in a folder. Also on our cell phones. Take a cell phone in ports.

Email a duplicate of our itinerary, insurance policy and phone numbers to a capable friend or relative who can contact the insurance company and make the calls if we are injured hospitalized or need assistance in dealing with the emergency.

Take a photo with my cell of the port agent info from the daily.

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We were on this cruise and had a great time. Service everywhere was outstanding. We've sailed celebrity for 15 years and this was our third terrific TA in a row. Unlike the OP however, we found the food in the MDR to be very good and artfully plated. We relied on our cravings, experience with many menu items and our waiter's recommendations as to which dishes were 'successful' each night and always enjoyed our breakfasts, lunches or dinners in Opus. We did find some dishes to be under seasoned but that was preferable to some prior cruises when food could be over salted. This was easily remedied with our adding salt and pepper to our taste.

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I thought Elite + specialty non-alcoholic coffees were complimentary at whatever venue you ordered them - specialty restaurants, MDR, Secundo Al Bacio, etc.

Is this incorrect?

We will be Elite Plus on our next cruise which means coffee drinks at Al Bacio will be complimentary. We don't have drink package. How would the gratuity be handled for the comped coffees?

Thank you for responding. I do remember that there were some other lunch/dinner/all day items that were on the Concierge menu last year, that were not on the regular Veranda menu.

I was also looking for those menu items as well.

Can anyone tell me where I might see a current Concierge class room service menu?

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What comedy show s booked in advance?

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Having staff carry your tray to a clean table at the buffet

String quartet

Smoother calmer service and fine dining in the MDR. Too frenzied now.

More choice on room service breakfast menu

Activities staff

What I don't miss:

Not having a choice of dining venues. (Though prices are too high)

Coming back from ports between lunch and dinner with no place serving food...not even the buffet.

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Thanks, all. Allow me to rephrase my original question:

Does the bartending staff receive any gratuity from Celebrity when they provide a drink to a passenger in exchange for an Elite drink coupon?

I expect we will be given Elite drink coupons for our upcoming TA. Are gratuities included in the coupon? (We are not on a drink package).

Space saver bags work great if your airline's allowance is by size only. But some airlines are by size and weight. For instance Air Canada 10kg and Lufthansa only 8kg.

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I don't know why I can't remember, but I can't remember.....Are there fold-down shower seats in the regular Veranda cabins?

Thank you Shonya and Momma Bear! I've researched the heck out of both the SS and TS. There are lots of cruisecritc posts about the TS, but I really wanted to hear from people who have tried out or own the SS. I've now ordered one and am anxiously awaiting its arrival. I have a trial period to see if it works for me. Yes, it is expensive for what it is, and substantially higher as I am paying in Canadian funds. However, the primary goal for me is independence, and if I can't get the scooter in and out of my car by myself, then I won't have that independence. Don't want to have to be restricted to when DH or anyone else is available.

What also sold me on the SS was the seat back, variable speeds - up to 7mph, disc brakes, and single cross bar instead of a triangle, to make getting on and off easier.

It has been years since we've been at a port that required a tender, and I had no mobility issues back then. Momma Bear, have you used your Smartscoot with a tender and can you tell me what I should expect?

I am surprised that your TA would not have informed you that you need to be prepared to get an 'undesirable' balcony cabin on the ship.

For the first time in 20 years, I booked a guarantee on my upcoming cruise. I was obviously hoping for something midship (I have mobility issues), without obstruction, but giving it a lot of thought, I was prepared to either change cabins within the same class, if available, or if not possible, then pay to upgrade to the cabin I wanted/needed. I'm also from Canada, so the price difference between a guarantee balcony and a set cabin was substantial in CDN dollars.

I got a 2C, partially obstructed, at the forward end of the ship. I was able to switch to another 2C, at midship.

Balcony guarantees can be a great way to save $$, but the bottom line is you have to know yourself and that you would be happy with the worst case scenario. In the meantime, if you haven't already done so, check out the cabin spreadsheet for a description of the view from the exact ship and cabin number you have been assigned. Also check youtube - someone may have posted a video of your exact cabin. I found mine on youtube, and it was very helpful in allaying any fears I had about the so-called obstruction.

We enjoy both the Aqua Spa Cafe and the Mast Grill - great food and a nice break from from the Oceanview.

On the S class ships, (not sure about 'M' class), there are way too few tables at either of those venues. We would like to be able to sit at either, but invariably all the tables are taken with nowhere to comfortably sit and enjoy our meals - even when no tables are being used by card players, etc.

Does anyone know why Celebrity won't or shouldn't add additional tables & chairs at these spots?