Baynanno1

Bo, I have enjoyed reading many of your always thoughtful posts. We carry several test kits with us. Fortunately we have not needed to use them while on board. We were extremely impressed with the crew's attention to cleaning surfaces, including hand rails on the stairways and "touch" surfaces both outside and inside elevators on Eclipse last December. It is good to know that like us, you obviously care about the health of everyone on the ship! I hope you and your traveling companions do not need to use the test kits and have a wonderful cruise!

Indeed a hot dryer is likely to cause more shrinkage than a hot wash, especially to clothes that have only ever been line dried!

https://www.celebritycruises.com/things-to-do-onboard/staterooms/suite-class/sky-suite If you go to Sky Suite specifically, rather than The Retreat in general, this is what you find : Intuitive Service Retreat Butler and team Dedicated pre-cruise Retreat Concierge. Call 1-877-RETREAT. Onboard Retreat Concierge Priority check-in, departure, and port tendering/boarding Reserved theater seating on Evening Chic nights

We were charged $12 for a shuttle some years ago - can't remember the ports. Haven't required a shuttle on recent cruises, so can't comment on current practice. Shuttle from ship through a busy working port to the port entry should not be charged. Usually insisted on due to potential danger if walking - and provided by the port authorities.

Some pre-existing conditions ARE covered.

One of many changes, downgrading the product, that have been introduced since Laura Hodges came into the picture!

There is already a much longer thread on this subject here :

Yes, the use of word change rather than the word test is a worry!

That's a lot longer than 8 weeks! Most have said the trial is due to finish on 20 August.

Very well written! Indeed, why should people who have enjoyed "fume-free' casinos for decades on Celebrity tolerate this change?

Yes, do that, it works to some extent. I emailed again yesterday forwarding my previous unanswered email to executive office to Laura - and my previous unanswered email to Laura to the executive office, each with some additional comment, as well as asking three questions. I received responses from both overnight, neither one answered any of my questions. The executive office was the canned one, while the one from Laura was a little more personal.

My past history WAS on the new website for several weeks - but then it disappeared.

I guess there are comparatively so few of us "down under" that we don't rate a response from Celebrity. I sent emails to three different addresses 5 days ago. While I had no expectation of receiving a phone call - that would cost money 🙄 no response, canned or otherwise has been forthcoming. Maybe I'll write again. 🤔 We have a final payment date soon and several more cruises booked for 2024 and 2025, fortunately booked before the introduction of the new hefty non-refundable deposits. If this harebrained, health threatening trial is put in place throughout their ships, we will also be voting with our feet and moving to a healthier cruise line.

Likewise, I have not been charged for leaving early or for staying off a ship overnight with family, hence my comment re. nickel & diming.

The fee charged certainly looks like nickel and diming - you are leaving the ship 24 hours or so early during which time you will no longer be wining & dining or sleeping on board, all of which you have paid for AND you are charged a fee for forgoing all that food & drink, as well as the use of the cabin!

At least you have a response that someone is looking at your case. Fingers crossed for you.🤞

Well done @Georgia_Peaches 🤩 To those who make the point that vaping is still allowed in the casino in spite of the removal of the signs, might I remind them this is an 8 week trial due to end next month.

@Georgia_Peaches who is currently on board has had an interesting discussion with the Marketing and Revenue Director on board. There is a new thread here : To those who make the point that vaping is still allowed in the casino in spite of the removal of the signs, might I remind them this is an 8 week trial.

Sorry, not laughing at you, but at the system. It seems about par for the course at the moment and we have struck the same. When I did get to the site, the three free nights didn't seem to exist. I think we need a shaking head in addition to the like, laugh and thanks reactions!

The Insider is one of the first things we check out after accessing our stateroom.

Well, you seem to be a step ahead of us, almost 1300 points missing still in spite of sending pre-transfer screen grabs. Loyalty at Preview instead of Discoverer Plus. Almost all was correct until several weeks after the transfer. (Points missing from February cruise.) Good luck!

I have also sent emails yesterday, but no response yet. There is a thread on Facebook. In the relatively short time frame vaping has been around (compared to cigarette smoking) there is already considerable evidence of damage to lungs and other organs from the unsavoury compounds found in e-cigarettes. https://www.lung.org/quit-smoking/e-cigarettes-vaping/impact-of-e-cigarettes-on-lung https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/what-does-vaping-do-to-your-lungs

I hope this incursion into the advertised "100% fresh filtered air" is not introduced fleet wide. The introduction of vaping into an enclosed, or semi-enclosed space makes a mockery of the "HEALTHY AT SEA POLICY." "Creating the best cruise experience possible means prioritizing the well-being of our guests, crew, and the communities we visit. With the guidance of health officials around the globe and the counsel of our dedicated shoreside and shipboard medical teams, we continually update our health and safety protocols to align with global best practices." At a time when so many places around the world are banning the use of any smoking materials in an enclosed space, this introduction is almost unbelievable!

A small increase in gratuities is negligible when compared to the cost of living across the board. On our home front it looks like we might be having cold showers. Among other increases in power supply charges, hot water has gone up almost 50% 🤑 I'll be challenging that tomorrow, as our increases are above the new prices on the supplier's website.

Does anyone ever know the "real" price of any cruise? 🤔 😆