jonsmum

We're just back from Abu Dhabi and can tell you that immigration seem to be a law unto themselves. In theory - yes, it shouldn't be a problem, especially as you will have been in port for a couple of nights anyway. However, given the issues that we experienced (we arrived early,the day before we were scheduled to disembark) I wouldn't bank on it! I suggest that you contact Celebrity to double check what the arrangements will be, before booking your flights.

So.... we had to miss our last stop (Oman) this morning due to high winds. Fair enough. We made speedy progress to Abu Dhabi where we were due to dock tomorrow morning. NOT allowed off the ship, but spent a pleasant enough day chilling etc. Tonight at 10.15pm, an announcement was made that ALL passengers were required to have a face to face meeting with immigration THIS EVENING and hand in their passport - which had only just been returned to us.

TOTAL CHAOS ensued as the announcement neglected to tell us where to go!!! Eventually, by word of mouth and FINALLY an announcement, we sorted out what to do. Called by deck number, but of course most didn't wait for their deck to be called. HUGE queue to GET OFF (!!!!) the ship and go through immigration to hand in our passports - to add insult to injury, the nice immigration officer greeted everyone with 'Welcome to Abu Dhabi!"

Left wondering how we would get them back. About 15 mins ago (at 11pm) a further announcement - our passports would be ready for collection from the Rendez-vous lounge at our convenience from 4am!!!

Oh and of course we have to vacate our rooms by 7am in the morning!!!

If you are travelling on Celebrity in this part of the world - you have been warned!! More to follow when we get home re the fiasco in Mumbai!!

It was only $20 on our March/April Panama sailing. Wondering if the route makes a difference or whether it has simply gone up. Only send things than can stand a hot wash and tumble drying - nothing delicate. Never had a problem if I remember to obey those rules!

We did Miami to San Diego via the Panama Canal in April this year, on the Infinity. If you like hot weather, this is the time to go! We had up to 35C most days - it was truly amazing, our best cruise so far. A fantastic itinerary with (for us) the perfect mix of sea (relaxing/sunbathing) days to port days. Would highly recommend.

Wow! There are some seriously judgmental people on here. Hope I never end up on the same cruise as them.

OP - thank you for voicing your concerns. You have highlighted some issues that might well be of concern to other parents. I for one would never have considered it necessary to check the child/staff ratio in the Fun Factory before booking our grandchildren in, when they finally get to sail with us. Having worked with children all my life, for me it is a given that youngsters are never left alone with just one adult that they don't know. Ever. I now realise it is wrong to assume that all countrys take safeguarding as seriously as I am used to. Not just from the childs viewpoint, but I wouldn't want to be the adult placed in that situation either.

Wow - what a helpful lot of people on here! Thank you so much. Now all I need to do is get hubbie to part with some cash! Thank you everyone for being so welcoming.

Thanks everyone. We are looking at a cruise that includes the Amazon, so long haul. We now only travel economy on short haul, hence the enquiry re upgrading. Has anyone done this? Will Oceania (via our TA) do this for us so we can simply pay the difference? Like others, we always fly in at least 1 day in advance as we book our own flights. Would we be able to request flights that accommodate this? Likewise the flight home - we would probably want to stay on in S America for a couple of days.

Hope someone can help, otherwise I guess it's a phone call to our TA who we know deal with Oceania, to get their take on it.

Thank you Lyn.

Although we have been loyal to Celebrity, we are looking at Oceania for our 2018 cruise/s, as they seem to have more interesting itineraries. We have a few questions before we go any further, and hope you can help.

Is taking the Oceania package (with airfare included) cost effective from the UK?

Is it possible to upgrade from Economy to Premium Economy fare, on an All-Inclusve basis?

We are sun lovers, and are used to a veranda that allows the sun to shine onto it ie: it does not have a complete, but partial overhang. Looking at the photos, most Oceania ships seem have ‘straight up and down’ sides, so that there is a complete overhang over the balconies. Am I correct in my thinking?

How easy is it to get a sunbed on deck, away from the noise of the pool?

Thank you for your help.

It might be worth contacting X. We were in a very similar situation last October, when I had breathing problems and wasn't allowed to fly. We cancelled literally days before departure. We got back extras that we had booked - bev packages, excursions etc and I think, but am not certain, port taxes etc. The rest was covered on our insurance so we actually weren't out of pocket at all. Give them a ring, you've got nothing to loose.

Thanks for your concern Hilary. Apparently I'm looking at more chemo within the next year, but it hasn't stopped us booking cruises! We're off to the Arabian Sea and India in Nov and have Alaska booked for next August. If it turns out we can't travel - well that's what insurance is for - and we know that we'll get every penny back, so no worries. ALWAYS take out insurance people - you never know what is round the corner.

In the UK it is unusual for anyone to travel without insurance, and indeed, many travel companies actually insist on it. Like others - we have had to cancel trips because of illness. Last year we were due to travel to Sydney to pick up a cruise. It wasn't until 2 days before our flight that we were told there was no way I could fly. We got back absolutely everything back via Celebrity and our insurance company. Just imagine how much we would have been out of pocket if we hadn't had insurance! NEVER travel without insurance!!

autumn lass - like you I'm chronically ill. While I was having chemo and for a year after, I couldn't get insurance at a sensible rate. Now, as it is more than a year since treatment, I don't have to pay any supplemnt on our standard insurance (and there are no restrictions as to where we can go,) even though I'm now no longer technically in remission. We get our insurance through our bank (NW). Might be worth checking it out?

Contrary to some perceptions, I do not think that the responses to the questions asked ie ‘What do you think about compensation’ and ‘am being unreasonable in thinking that Celebrity should have acted more generously in a situation that put me in physical danger?’have anything whatsoever to do with cultural differences. Indeed, there was a discussion on TV only the other day about the increasing compensation culture in the UK and how it has driven up insurance premiums, and this story serves to reinforce this.

It is my belief that the preponderance of what have been called ‘negative’ comments are the result of seeing the situation for what it was – a relatively minor inconvenience, and having the ability to travel the world knowing that stuff happens, and getting on with life . I’m failing to understand how the OP was ‘put in physical danger’. A ‘slight cut ‘ to the knee was sustained, not a leg lost! Surely it is common sense to feel your way in unfamiliar surroundings if it is pitch black .

Sorry OP but I’m with the majority – Yes, you are being unreasonable to expect anything at all (other than an explanation and apology – both of which I understand were forthcoming).

On our last cruise I grabbed a pile of pool towels and sandwiched a couple of cushions between them. VERY comfy! We stored the towels at the top of the wardrobe when not using them and returned them to the 'dirty towels' bin at the end of the cruise. Worked perfectly for us and I intend to do the same on our upcoming cruise.

We had exactly that email before our cruise in April - it is genuine. We investigated before clicking the link and they come from a mass information company that many firms - including X - use when they need to contact lots of people with the same information. If you don't acknowledge it, you will keep getting the same email!!

Not a valid survey for X.

Both people in the same cabin are required to have the same package. The exception may be if one person is under age.

This is a misconception. We always have 2 different packages as my OH is teetotal, so he has a Premium non-alcohol one and I have a Classic Package. Never been a problem.

OH and I both got the survey. We both survived until it got to the 'preferences' questions. 'destination, accommodation, dining option, evening entertainment and speakers' weren't the right answers. We were both booted into touch. Nice to know we're on the same page as X (not!!).

Both hubbie and I were 'selected' for the questionnaire. 10 - 15 mins to complete, it said. We got through the 'income' hurdle, but failed at the 'priorities when booking' one. It would seem that destination, accommodation, dining options, evening entertainment and guest speakers aren't what they are looking for either Took the grand total of 5 mins each!!

Yes, one side of Blu is all windows that look out on to the ocean.

The thing that does upset me though is when perfectly able bodied people use disabled facilities. They see an unused disabled toilet and think that it just won't matter if they "pop" in and use it. The trouble is.... I might have misjudged the distance and time needed to walk to that disabled toilet, I might be in increasing need to sit..... never mind the use its purpose aspect of it. Every moment I have to wait to use it matters.....

 

It is this sort of attitude that really riles me. I have an invisible disability that makes my need to use disabled facilities as genuine as those with 'visible' disabilities. I do not wear a sign around my neck that says I have a problem that requires that I have instant access to 'the bathroom'. Why should I? Just because you can't see my problem does not mean it doesn't exist. This attitude is what this thread is all about.

 

Please people, next time you see an 'able bodied' person using disabled facilities, think before making a judgement.

Yes, there is an outdoor movie venue on deck 12, which can be accessed by stairs from outside the Oceanview Bar and from deck 11. It's part of the 'Rooftop Terrace' and is directly above the A1 cabins on deck 11, but when inside the room, we couldn't hear a thing. Have to say that we found it very chilly and difficult to hear the film - and that was in April heading to San Diego from the Panama Canal where we'd had temps of 35C most days! We wrapped up in towels in an attempt to keep warm, before giving in and retiring to the bar. No idea what is currently being shown and have no idea what it was that we tried to watch - sorry!

It was still being made at the table in March/April.

Is it only the S class Conciege rooms that have glass doors then? We were in CC on Solstice and had glass doors - beautiful bathroom.

Hi

We did a Panama Canal cruise from Miami earlier this year. Simply AMAZING!! We solved our flight booking problem by using the ITA site, which searches for the cheapest flights. Apparently this is the site that Tour Operators use. It was way cheaper than anything X could offer. You can't actually book from the site, but can use the info that you find and give it to you agent.

https://matrix.itasoftware.com

Hope that helps.