miched

When in a suite I have a hard time not dining in Luminae on sea days.   Eden is nice for their  chocolate cookies and brownies.   It is a hard choice between Luminae and Eden Cafe on sea days.   We will have lunch in Luminae and then go to Eden Cafe and stock up on their brownies and Cookies.  Their cookies are different than those served at Cafe al Bacio and the buffet.   Have a little and keep the rest of for later on.   Chocolate and bourbon makes a nice combo. 

I suggest to try the Chocolate Pill for desert in Luminae if you love chocolate.  It is on the Daniel Buolard (sp) option at the bottom of the main dinner menu every night in Luminae.  It is easy to miss when the desert menu is delivered because it isn’t on it.  So you have to remember to order it.   Or just take a photo of the main menu and look it when ordering a desert.  Tip also order a scoop of gelato or ice cream to go with it.  Honestly I can’t tell the difference so I get the flavor that I want and is available.  I think gelato has less cream so it doesn’t have as many calories.  

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

You need to try all of the bars.

What I could tell you today will change tomorrow. 
 

I like old fashions.   It doesn’t take me long to find the bar and BT that makes it the correct way (the way that I like it).    Same bar different BT and the drink is different.   I will tell them how I like it and they still can’t get it right. 
 

The BTs in the retreat lounge will normally make the drinks the way you like.   I usually start out with asking for an Old Fashion to give it a try.   You never know, I may like it better than the way that i usually drink them.  
 

You have a drink pack.  Try as many drinks as you think you may like.  EX at the Martini Bar I order a drink.   Don’t like it then looking  at the menu based on that drink I can eliminate many others as they are just a variation.   I don’t like real sweet foo foo drinks so I usually avoid those frozen drinks at the pool.   I may occasionally give one a try but end up leaving it. 
 

You need to find the bar, and BT on your own 

On our last cruise on the Constellation in a suite we spent most of our bar time in the Retreat Lounge,  and Cellar Masters.   Never sat at the Martini bar, Rendezvous, or any outside bars.  We found the bar and BTs that we liked.   Prior to that cruise we were also in a suite and spent most of our bar time in the Retreat lounge, Craft Social, Eden,  and Martini Bar.   The time before on the Beyond we spent a lot of time at the World Class bar.   The BTs changed and so did some of their drinks, especially paying extra for a drink that use to be included in the premium pack. 
 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

On 4/9/2024 at 4:07 AM, jam19872016 said:

The duck is another Celebrity favorite. I tried duck so many times on various cruise lines, including "

Cunard, and found it to range from didn't care for to just OK. 

 

I'd pretty much just concluded I didn't like duck but tried it again anyway and was blown away by how good this dish was! 

I found the duck on Celebrity to be rather chewy.  😱

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

Having the same problem this morning.   
 

Gave up.  Don’t really need to sign in for what I wanted to see.

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

Never noticed it.

I had to go to the website to see what this thread was referring to.

Sometimes when there is too much it is like you can’t see the forest for the trees.  
 

Happy cruising  🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

It use to be the prepaid gratuities, $400 pp SBC, premium bev pack,  premium wifi. and butler.   On our last cruise in a SS we didn’t have a dedicated butler but have heard that they are rolling out the service again starting on the Edge Class ships.   May take some time to staffing the whole fleet.   New bookings don’t  include the gratuities or any SBC.  

Everything is nice but the way the prices are I doubt we will be booking anymore in a suite.  Can’t justify the extra cost.    I know people will say once you try a suite you will never go back.  Not true. We have  done it a few times and not missed it.   We booked our next 3 cruises in AQ and won’t do a move up bid. 
 

Enjoy it while you can and don’t chase after what others do. 
 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

1 hour ago, DaKahuna said:

 

 I would be willing to bet it has to do with all the negative feedback they have received regarding the Kelly Hoppen designed spaces.  

 

 

Do you think?    I am sure that they regret commissioning her.   
 

Too bad they let her ruin the other ships during their upgrading before waking up.  
 

I do have to congratulate Kelly   for giving them a bigger con job than P. T. Barnum, and snow job than Colonel Parker.  Shame on those that approved the final designs.  They should all be canned.  

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

5 hours ago, FINTPOPE said:

The Constellation is currently in dry dock and Michael's Club is being renamed The Retreat Lounge

The big winner is not designed by Kelly Hoppen.   I wonder why they made that comment????🙄

Adding 12 more cabins with a capacity of 4 people will also add 12 to 48 more passengers in Luminae with the normal being 24.   The area isn’t that large and If they add more tables it will be very congested 

Happy  to see that they are going to have a walk in shower instead of those dangerous  bath tubs. 
 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

If you booked thru a big box warehouse your cruise won’t be eligible.   
 

I think there is also a clause that pertains to group rates not being eligible.  🤷‍♂️
 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

We usually sail in AQ and occasionally a suite depending on the  price point.   
 

I have heard many comments that the suites and AQ get the best room attendants and servers.  I don’t know where they get that info. We had some that were rookies.  It was their first time ever on a cruise ship. 
 

We have had some bad ones but overall they have been good.  
 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

We were on the Seashore in Feb in the YC for a 3 night cruise.  We wanted to test the waters.   Another couple joined us as they never cruised before and wanted to try one.  They were also in the YC.   
 

The elevator system sucked.   The choice of bourbons was Buffalo Trace.  Excuse:   The supplies haven’t been distributed.   Nothing else was available for the whole cruise.  Wine choice were minimal.    Basically red or white.  Exaggerating a little but not by much.   Not many choices 

During the evening we were sitting in the lounge  having a drink and just relaxing.  We were served drinks and asked for a napkin.   The response, they are at the bar.    
 

Asked for a Americano at breakfast.   The server started to pour coffee out of a pitcher.    I said I want a Americano.   She said yes it is coffee.   I said no it is espresso with hot water.  She said that she never heard of that.  

Reading all of the great experiences and threads of reviews I read on CC  I was expecting the same.  I guess my expectations were too high.   Didn't experience anything near theirs.   The other couple felt the same.  They weren’t impressed enough to take another cruise.   
 

Me and my wife aren’t high maintenance.   We are mainly do it ourself type.  Don’t like others doing something that we can do ourselves.  We don’t demand or ask for much but we found that normal service  was very poor and lacking.   
 

Before the cruise I was excited and planning on booking another cruise on board but I didn’t.    It didn’t impress me.  Sorry. 

One and done. 

You will probably have to cancel the existing cruise and book a new one.   If you have to do that it is best to do it on board and get a new future cruise booking for the SBC.   
 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

4 hours ago, gfkcruiser said:

Was that Canadian issue recent?  Our service covers us to/from US to Canada and Mexico.  

It was many years ago.   I always keep roaming turned off on my phone.  Don’t see any use for it.  
 

I am not sure how that international plan works but my niece  went to a casino in Windsor Ontario.   It is a city across from Detroit.  She got hit will a large bill because she was texting and her phone was connected to I think was called Rogers Service.   She purchased the international plan from AT&T to use for a future cruise.  She also got a big bill for her usage on board the ship.  Don’t really know the whole story but I don’t see the need to keep in touch with anyone unless it is really important.   
 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

The last time on the Beyond we went to get our free scoop of gelato.  We were ready to give our card and was told  it wasn’t needed as they didn’t charge for the gelato.   There was only one flavor  per day.  Sometimes there is a very long line and other times walk up.  It is in the buffet at the ice cream station.  
 

We recently got off of doing 3 cruises on Celebrity and didn’t even bother getting our free scoop on any of those cruises.    It doesn’t seem to be any different than their ice cream.   Put the two side by side and get it the taste test.   Wouldn’t pay extra for it. 
 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

We have did both. 
 

The create and pour was fun.  They served some wine while the artist instructed us how to do a sketch.   It was also very interesting 

The music and Mixology consisted of a BT making 4 different drinks while someone explained how to make it and what is in it while some music is being played by the band.  It has been the same drink on different cruises.  Manhattan, Mai Tai, Cosmo  and something made with Pimms and I think Champagne.    The Mai Tai doesn’t really taste like one and wasn’t that good.   Actually none of them were worth drinking.   As you can see this is how the drinks looked when we left.  We had a drink pack but if we didn’t we probably would have finished them,   The event last about 1/2 hour.   On our last cruise they only made 3.  They didn’t do the Cosmo.   
 

Photo of a sea horse that we were shown how to sketch

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

We have ATT.   I have permanently turned off roaming.  I live close to Canada and sometimes with roaming on we would pick up Canada and get hit with the bill.   
 

When we board the ship in FL we never had that problem with extra charges.   We would turn on air plane mode after we connect to the ships internet as we usually have the internet package.      It would be very easy to forget about doing that if we didn’t.    We will also remind each other for the same reason.  
 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅
 

5 hours ago, miched said:

I went to a bar and asked for MM neat.   The bartender brought me the bottle and asked if I needed a straw.  Didn’t have to ask for a double.  
 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

The reason he did that was because I was there the first 2 days during the afternoon when my wife was napping.  I would sit there watching the sports or just talking to him.or passengers.   I would always ask for MM neat.   I had about 3 by that time and when I asked for another he brought me the bottle and asked if I needed a straw.  He was just messing around, everyone laughed and some asked me what kind of package I had.    After that it became the standing joke whenever I order my first drink.     I would ask for the MM and he would bring over the bottle and ask if I needed a straw.    Naturally I didn’t get it all at once but I know I emptied a few of them.  
 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

Try this link for offers and etc about the Blue Chip Club

http://www.bluechipcluboffers.com

Also look in the menu tab at the top left for interesting info 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

We were on the Beyond in Feb. This was posted in the casino.  It is the qualifications for a comped cruise. 
 

We had a lot of SBC so my wife and I both ran it thru the VP machines once to “cash’ it out.    I did about $500 or $600 and my wife did about the same.  At the end I had 54 points.  Bonus was 50 points also gave $1 free play.   My wife ended up with 47.   It wasn’t worth playing more to get the extra 3 points for a $1 free play.   We ended up losing about 8% of our SBC.     It looks like we got around  100 points/ $1000 played.     At that rate I would have to play $4000 thru the machines losing $320 to get $100 off  

I think regular slots earn more.   Don’t know what table game earn.  
 

Good luck gaming 💰💸🎰

I went to a bar and asked for MM neat.   The bartender brought me the bottle and asked if I needed a straw.  Didn’t have to ask for a double.  
 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

Why would Celebrity require you to sign a receipt with a zero charge  creating more paper when they are trying to go green and eliminate excess paper.  It also adds more useless work for the staff keeping them from serving the passengers.  
 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

12 hours ago, jfer8580 said:

Hi,

can I ask you if you had a lot of knocking and pinging in that room ?  We were in it for the March 1st sailing and had to be moved it was so noisy. 

I don’t remember if there was on that cruise.   It was fairly nice  weather and the seas were rather smooth.   There were times on all ships when the seas were rough that you would hear creaking, and other noises.  
 

It does seem though as if the new Edge class ships have more louder noises in their cabins than the other classes. 
 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

3 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

 

 I would caution against that as you may find that while you are able to enjoy the Retreat amenities, your daughter may not be able to accompany you since she is not sailing in a suite. 

 

 

If you are in a suite and book one of those cabins for a family member that are also in the same category.  That is the purpose of those cabins.  You may have to pay more than the rate for an inside cabin. It is like those adjoining cabins next to the penthouse suites on the M class.  We had 11172 and asked the attendant about the adjoining door to 11170.  He said it is for families in that suite wanting the extras space for others traveling with them.   It isn’t the same  as booking  a regular inside cabin, or IV with a SS.  
 

That is also why I suggested to look into it.

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

1 hour ago, cincymel said:

 

So maybe I should bring a can koozie on my upcoming cruise?

I always pack a few.    One for the can, bottle of beer or water, and one for a glass.  They wlll give you a glass of ice if you request it.  
 

I use  these Freakers.   The one that goes on a bottle will cover a wine bottle, and a 64 oz growler.   They stretch that much and don’t loose their shape.   They also fit in a pocket when not using over a container. 
 

https://www.freakerusa.com

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

I don’t think they have carbonated fountain drinks.  Everything is in a can.   I always see them pour from  a can to make mix drinks that use soda.  
 

I mention this because some people do prefer a drink from a fountain over a can.   Relatives have told me  that they go to McD’s to get their colas because they say it is better than from a bottle or can.  
 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅