CaribbeanBound

Besides, if ANY reputable firm fails to get you back to the ship in time then THAT will be one of the last tours they ever do since word will quickly spread.  It (failing to make it back to the ship in time) just doesn't happen with quality companies that have a history of conducting tours in that city.  Just do your research, opt for the earlier tours, don't gamble on unproven companies or extra long tours, and you'll be fine!

Pillow menu: I seem to recall actually seeing one a few years ago.  Basically, your choices at the time were: feather, foam, or a feather-substitute fiber-fill.

My all-included interior cabin for 2 on Summit for August to Canada is now priced $1400 higher than when I booked in early December.

Busy but not "crowded" most days.  Sea days would be heavier at lunch.

But if it fills up, just conduct a search online and book a similar tour with another quality operator.  Typically the tour you book online will be smaller and less expensive.  And yes, you will get back to the ship in plenty of time.  95% of the tours I book have been booked online.

There is indeed local bus service from downtown (not necessarily the pier, but within about 8 blocks).  Take bus 20, 40, 42, 51, or A, from the Bishop Street / North Beretania Street bus stop or North Beretania Street bus stop opposite Smith Street (depending upon your bus route).  It's an easy slightly uphill 10-to-12 minute walk from Pier 11 to either bus stop.  I recommend you Google it to review your route based upon day and time of day. Just be sure you select the bus icon.  The bus ride itself will take 40-55 minutes depending upon the route and time of day.  Once you arrive at the Pearl Harbor Memorial stop, you'll cross the highway at a crosswalk to get to the memorial (5 min).

Peggy's Cove is very much worth visiting, just try to exit the ship early and get there before the tour busses.

Mission accomplished.  GREAT PIC!  

Can't say I've ever stayed on the ship while it's in port.  I have to get out and explore and people-watch, even I've been to that port before.

Note that ships sometimes arrive early in the morning and get cleared earlier than expected.  When this happens, you can leave the ship even before the official arrival time.  They will NOT make an early announcement.  You must wander down to the gangplank to see if it opened early.

Thank you.  Totally unaware of this program. Signed up today using the link in the original post.

Ditto confirmed

If you're not at a tendering port, I'm unaware of anything that would prevent you from lining up prior to gangway opening and being among the first to depart the ship when the gangplank opens.

Frankly, you "can" actually get off the ship before the official time if the ship has been cleared.  They will not make a general ship announcement until the official time.  So, if you want to try to get off early, head on down to the gangplank and see if it's open and okay to leave the ship.  We've gotten off the ship several times between 30-60 minutes prior to the official time.  Clearly, far from "often" but not unusual.

Good advice from Princeton.  I have nothing more to add, other than there is yet another area you can visit and that's Ford Island.  It also requires a separate reservation, also $1, but reservations/tickets are only released 1-2 weeks in advance.

More info here: https://www.nps.gov/perl/ford-island-bus-tour.htm 

This tour offers a special trip to visit these less-visited sites up-close with a park ranger. Visitor will board a motor coach from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center (1 Arizona Memorial Place) with Park Rangers and travel to Ford Island for a 90-minute round-trip tour to some of the most fascinating “hidden gems” of Pearl Harbor National Memorial. 

Visitors will disembark the bus at predetermined locations for a short walk from the parking area to the USS Utah and USS Oklahoma Memorials. 

If you take this tour be sure to follow directions so that your Pearl Harbor memorial reservations do not overlap.

OMEINV nailed the answer and you got additional good info on how to try to get an earlier tender from the other respondees.

"grab a lobster roll for lunch and wash it down with a craft beer"

Geeze, what more could you WANT? 😂

That's news to me.  Thanks for the update.

I'd love to find a good proactive TA.  I've heard they exist but haven't worked with a great one in over 20 years.

I've booked directly and have used a TA in the past.  None have ever lasted more than 2 years.  Yes, I usually find TAs provide a lower cost and more OBC.  For my current booking I called my last known TA and found him no longer at the firm and was assigned to someone else.  I had all my ducks in a row and was looking to book on the spot (how easy can you get) but the guy I spoke to was telling me things that made no sense.  After going in circles I asked for a manager who confirmed I was correct and the TA didn't have a good grasp on his recommendations.  I was too fed up with them at that point so I called Celebrity Captains Club and booked directly with them instead.  ALL of their answers were good and made sense.  Interestingly for my particular booking the only difference was a $50 OBC so I didn't lose much and that was a small price to pay NOT to continue to work with the new TA I was assigned.  So, I'm open to a new TA who really has their act together.

Great problem to have. More Ideas:

1. Book excursions

2. Hit the spa

3. Arrange more specialty restaurant meals

4. Hit up the ship's retail stores

5. Double up on the Bingo cards

6. Buy a round of drinks for everyone at the bar

Thank you.  It worked.  I did it online as I haven't downloaded the app yet.  I've never had to go through the process of reserving dinner times on a daily basis (adding each day to the cart as I progressed through all 11 nights of the cruise).  Interesting.  Lots of time choices.  Although I couldn't get the set 6pm dinner seating in advance when I booked the cruise, I was able to get a daily 6pm dinner reservation, so I'm good.  

On 1/9/2023 at 4:21 PM, Pinboy said:

Try this : ( I hope it works ).

Activate your booking on line--- go to Cruise Planner---- scroll down to Dining or Specialty Dining-- Click on it and choose " Anytime Dining or Main Dining "--- I believe you can make a reservation there for each day of the cruise, so select the 8:30 option and confirm the time.

If that doesn't work, perhaps you can call Celebrity and ask the Agent to book it for you.

If THAT doesn't work wait until you board the ship -- Or, keep reading this thread and wait for someone who knows more than me.

That does work!

Thanks for the detailed correction.  When I think "spa" I think "massage" and that's not open to services on Day 1.  I really should have been clearer and thinking broader.  

Interesting, I'm aware of the ability to reserve a "seating", but when that's not available or you elected "Anytime Dining" I've not been able to locate anywhere on the website to book times for each individual day.  Anyone know exactly where I can find the ability to make daily reservations?

Yes, have done the service.  Nicely done.  No reason to second guess it.  You give them your shoes and you get the same shoes back with a shine.

No, you don't tip at the time of the shine.

In the past, the "formal" days were typically sea days.  Never the first night nor the last night.