Shiba_Lover

Nothing negative on Royal - I think it depends on what you are after. Are you taking children? For sure go for Royal. Royal has a lot of activities that kids would enjoy, or even adults if you like to do waterslides or thrill ride activities. You won't find that on Celebrity. Some of the Royal ships even have ice skating. Royal also has more food options than Celebrity, several quick serve places - again handy if either the adults in your party like that or there are kids who want to eat on a different schedule. Both will have evening activities like music and shows. Royal will have slightly better production shows (be sure to reserve). Both have a casino. If you want non-stop action and plenty of activities (other than trivia) or have kids - I would opt for Royal. If you want more relaxing - go for Celebrity. It's just a matter of what you are looking for in your trip.

I don't think you (or anyone) would ever have the proper data to do a real analysis. I suspect it takes into account (in no particular order).... 1. What the bidder actually paid for the cabin 2. What the bidder has bid 3. Bidder's loyalty status 4. Profit to Celebrity of the bid 5. Availability of cabins in relation to bid (if there are 10 aqua cabins vs 1 aqua cabin, maybe a lower bid is more likely to be accepted) 6 Re-shuffling of all the cabins to actually execute the move ups (aligned with the availability) (ie - if people move from aqua to sky suite, then it can move concierge to aqua and so on) Or maybe they just assign people random numbers and draw the lucky number. Who knows???? I don't think anyone would ever have all of this for all the bidders. And we don't even know what they actually consider when deciding how to award the move ups.

Yes - just talk to them (don't wait until the night before as that's when everyone else talks to them about disembarking, reserving a car, etc). Just tell them what you'd like to do and they will explain. You basically keep your luggage with you the night before (don't put it out in the hall). You will take it with you to the retreat lounge in the morning and they will escort you to the special exit line, skipping the main line to get off the ship.

Also - if you have an international plan added - they may charge you to make a phone call internationally, but not to use the internet / text. I usually make sure to put my phone on wi-fi calling for the preference for calls. I avoid any charges for phone call and the calls go over internet instead.

Pretty sure they make people pay otherwise it would be full of people calling in just to chat for free. "Hey - just calling to see where we keep the extra ziploc bags" and "how's the weather there in Santorini". Check with your service provider - see if they have an international roaming plan. It may be less expensive to pay for one month of that than an internet plan. You can still "unplug" as much as you want by just not bothering to check your phone. Put your phone on do not disturb. Put the cat sitter/ your family contact as an emergency contact. They will still ring/beep/chime through (phone or text) and everyone else will be muted.

I'm in another group (can't mention it here) for Celebrity / Galapagos - and if it helps to put your wife's mind at ease - several people on the Flora mention they have either a sensitivity to gluten or have celiac disease. They have mentioned this once onboard and they say the chef takes really good care of them every day, even when making sauces.

Depends on which suite. If you booked one that includes the specialty dining like an iconic site, then i think it's included. If a sky suite and you are paying for Eden, then no, you pay the gratuity

If you are on a private tour, you can tell the guide if you wish to eat. They can eliminate one of the stops if you want to take a break. If not, just grab a granola bar or something to eat on the run.

Finally - something I know the answer to! First - you have to purchase very frequently from the SAME liquor store ALL the time. Second - you have to be a big purchaser in a small pool of purchasers. Then, the stores are allocated some bottles. The stores hold a drawing for these special buyers to be able to purchase their allocations. IF you are chosen - you can then purchase a bottle. Now, after you have actually been the selected lucky person to purchase a bottle of Pappy (because the store my only get 1 25 year and a few 15 and 12 year) and then purchased the bottle, you will find that you have also gained many new friends.

Yes, you are correct - I see that one as Royal in the video. I do see it on the celebrity website as well, so I think you should be good with the configuration you want. Enjoy the cruise!!!

and if you watch this next one - it shows the picture you have, but I think it looks like the penthouse suite bathroom

Here's a youtube video I saw recently - but it may depend on the actual room number.

Is your granddaughter a US citizen?

I thought you had to book this on the American Express website through their travel site, not through a TA to get their Cruise Privileges?

I'm sure it's been mentioned, but you will carry on small hand/ tote or back pack and true luggage will be collected at the pier and delivered to the room. If you want to visit the pool or have anything your kids will need, put swimsuits or other items in the bag you will carry on. It could be many hours before you get your luggage ( or it could be fast).

100 pp seems low for booking a suite. Normally, when you book a B2B - you get a $100 discount per cruise. The OBC I would think would be higher than 100 pp for a cruise booked onboard. When you moved to a CC, the discount per cruise should still hold, but the OBC may drop since the category is lower, but not disappear. The TA should be able to handle it. If not - time to find a new TA for next time.

I have said something a few times. What I've said is.... Hi, could you please turn off the sound or use headphones. Thank you. And just left it at that. The times I've said it, the person playing music, watching a video and conducting a 4 person business meeting have all either turned off sound or put on headphones. There's no need to be rude or nasty, just ask nicely.

I (personal opinion) think that if THEY send you an email with an offer - it can come at any time. But for you to choose to go on the site and choose to try to upgrade - it is limited to 30 days. But again - see post number 3 😁

The executive office just called me. They said they would pass along my feedback and in the trial vaping is limited to certain areas and only while playing. I reiterated that I think this it's being ignored onboard already and people will vape anywhere and they cannot contain the"smoke" to certain areas. I did not get the impression they were really interested. 😞

Equinox is currently in the Caribbean. I almost think there is a higher number of people who are likely to vape onboard now. The demographics for a Caribbean cruise are a bit different than other X cruises I think. I wonder if they had conducted this "test" in say the Med on a 12-day voyage if they would have even more negative feedback?

Yeah - I wrote back and said that based on feedback on social media boards, I politely disagreed with their assumption that guests who do not vape feel that allowing vaping will not impact negatively their experience.

Here's the email I got. Pretty much a garbage response.

yeah, its a pretty garbage response.

Here's the response I got..

Thanks for the update!