2 hours ago, nikel said:

It does not make sense since this is the timeframe for the Transatlantic from Southampton to Ft Lauderdale

I am booked on that cruise and would be so unhappy should it be canceled.

I cruised on the Carnival Celebration with my grandchildren over New Year’s Eve.  Nice, huge ship that offers lots of food variety.  It was great for what it was, but I can’t imagine going on a Carnival without taking kids.  They are not good at any special requests as they profess to be.  The service was lacking.  

I didn’t have any problem spending the amount needed to get my 30,000 points, which translates to $300 OBC.  However, I will not be using this card any longer as it really isn’t worth it after those initials points.  It only gives  point per $ spentexcept if you spend it on Celebrity, which gives you $2 for ever 1 spent.  Not worth it after the initial reward.

I have booked my first Celebrity and it is a 13 night transatlantic.  If you want “adults only,” I would book a longer cruise when school is in session.  There aren’t too many kids on those. I did a 16 day Hawaii cruise mid January.  We had maybe 8 kids on there.   I don’t expect to see any kids on an early November cruise.  

9 hours ago, miched said:

Celebrity  use to have a Plus package.   It is no longer offered.   I think it caused too much confusion and work for the cabin attendants.   We had it 4 times and each time we had to inform the attendant that we had it.  None of them knew what was supposed to be in it.   We showed them the description and even had to get Guest Relations involved.  Doing all of that it was still hit or miss on what we got everyday in our cabin.  
 

The advantage for us was the Casino credit and the wine tasting.   Depending on how many days the cruise was the casino credit was more than the cost of the package.   
 

The wine tasting event was never the same.  One time it was the Around the World wine event and another it was Wine and Food Pairing.  The other 2 were the same that is included for the Captains Club. 
 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

Planning my first Celebrity on the Apex next year.  Curious about the casino.  Does BJ pay 3/2.  I will be surprised if they do, but thought  I would ask.    Might I expect a poker game and in so, what kind of rake do they take? Someone noted on the board that the slots were really paying on a particular Celebrity.  This will be another thing that might have a surprising answer.  I would perceive them to be fairly tight.

thank You

If I were to move-up to Aqua, would that come with spa access?

I am booked with the “big box” store travel.  Did I read that you cannot take advantage of “move -up” if you are booked with them?  Thank you.

15 hours ago, jwlane said:

Yes & yes, with prior notification.  We've emailed CelebrityEngagementCenter@celebrity.com pre-cruise.

Thanks so much for the info.  How far ahead of the cruise do they allow you to book it?

Has anyone ever requested a vegan dinner?  Will they accommodate?  Thank you

I have booked a AI solo veranda on the Apex.  I understand that if I move up my drink pkg stays with me, but should I move up to Aqua will I automatically get spa access without any extra charge?  Also, if I go from a solo to Aqua woukd I be charged double because it is a cabin for 2?  Thank you.

36 minutes ago, Redtravel said:

Most recent Celebrity cruise had all kinds of people.  Sadly, many looked like they rolled out of bed and onto the ship.   Pajamas in the MDR for breakfast.  Torn jeans, gym shorts, hats, flip flops, muscle shirts, etc.  were often seen at dinner in MDR.  Before pandemic , you never saw this.  Celebrity accepts everyone, but disregards their own dress codes. It’s more of a come as you are.  Why not?  Guests pay. The more guests, the more profit.  Celebrity is not what it was before the pandemic.  Accept or move on.

Nothing is the same as it was.  I have booked my first Celebrity for next year on the Apex.  I am not one that wants to be dressed up all of the time.  I just was on the Carnival Celebration over New Year’s Eve.  I can’t imagine the telling anyone telling the cruisers on there that they needed to dress.  That being said, I expected this and went with my grandchildren.  I do not have the extensive cruising experience as others on here, but after over a dozen cruises on Holland, NCL, Royal, Carnival, and Princess, I have decided that I really don’t object to a few rules that might keep the guys in “wife beaters” out of the MDR.again, nothing will ever be like it was.  They won’t insist on Tuxes, but just a few rules.

Can you purchase the pass and cancel it just before boarding?

1 hour ago, Senga said:

2 hours ago, Ellaleah said:

 

Southampton.  You can use a cart to transfer your luggage to the National Express coach.  Determine which terminal you are arriving at then check the National Express website for detailed instructions and maps.

Thank you for the info. So will National Express employee load the luggage for us?

2 hours ago, gumshoe958 said:

You don’t have to buy tickets in advance but it’ll be cheaper if you do, and you’ll be guaranteed to get on the coach if it’s full.

But there are ticket machines at all the Heathrow stops, or you can buy a mobile ticket online once you’ve landed.

 

As for flexibility, apparently you can pay £5 extra for a ‘Change & Go’ add-on which allows the following:

 

• Board any available coach 12 hours before or after your original departure time
• Amend your ticket to a new departure date - free of charge
• Refund on your ticket up to 24 hours before departure

So if your flight is delayed, then there's no need to panic; you can just hop on the next available coach.

Simply add the 'Change & Go' option to your ticket in the Add Extras section of the booking process.

 

(source: https://www.nationalexpress.com/en/airports/heathrow)

I am planning a trip to LHR for a cruise leaving South Hampton.  I’m trying to understand the process of securing my luggage at LHR and getting it to theNational Express.  We are older.  Do they have porters?  How far away is it?

I booked 2 solo verandas on the Apex for 11/24.  It was a great price AI and the solos were all sold out by the next day.  We got the 75% off.  I think it is really advantageous in this situation.

I, too, am new to Celebrity and the whole “move-up” process.  I read on this board that if one were to upgrade to a higher level, which might normally include a drink pkg, they would get the new higher level room, but not the drink pkg.  if I should make a successful offer on an “Aqua” cabin, woukd I get the spa access with it?

What about the charge from the cruise lines for a transfer from London to South Hampton?  We are booked on Celebrity for late 2024 and they don’t have the transfers listed yet.  I’d be grateful to have an idea.  Thank you.

11 hours ago, terrydtx said:

11 hours ago, kirtihk said:

 

On our one and done cruise on NCL in 2017 in order to remove the service charge you had to request in writing with specific reasons and names as to why they should be removed. The last day of that cruise I was in line for guest services to question an item on my bill and the man in front of me was arguing with them about his service charges. He told them where he lived there was no tipping and he refused to pay on the ship. He was told by a supervisor that his excuse was not valid and he had to submit his request with specifics in writing. I have no idea how that came out.

Edited 11 hours ago by terrydt

I have only been on one NCL, but I cannot how bad a cruise experience woukd have to be for me to remove gratuities!

On 2/1/2023 at 9:06 AM, Torquer said:

On 1/31/2023 at 11:54 PM, Ellaleah said:

 

I'm sure there are many options for Lisbon tours.  The summer before covid, we used Tours4Cruisers that we had researched earlier on the internet before the cruise and had good reviews.  You could buy tickets for the tour right as you left the cruise terminal.  In 2019, they were 19 EUR per person for a 4 hour tour.  They took us to many of the interesting tourists sites around the city with stops at the Belem Tower, Jeronimos Monastery, Discovery Monument, and Edward VII park which has a nice view of the city.  On the way back to the port, you could either take the bus all the way, or get off in the center of the city and walk, which we did.

 

Before the tour we walked around the Alfama section of the city, which was right across from where our ship docked.  It was a wonderful and historic place to walk, but it also on a hill so may not be appropriate for you.

Thanks so much for this info.

What is the advantage of being in Aqua Class?

I will have 1 day in Lisbon on my cruise.  What woukd you do with one day?  My sister and I are 76 and 82 so nothing too strenuous.  Suggestions for tours are appreciated.  Thank you.

My sister and I are planning a cruise far 11/24, but thinking that we might stay in London for a couple of days prior as I have never been.  What would be our best option for transportation and would we be able to do that on cruise day?  How long of a ride is it?  We are seniors and do not want to be dragging our luggage around on a train.  Any suggestions for this or for what you might do with 2 days in London?  Thank you for your thoughts.

Thank you all for the feedback and the menus.  They are much appreciated.

I just booked my first Celebrity on the Apex.  From what I understand there is a choice of 4 complimentary restaurants and I know that we need to contact the Maitre’d to advise them of our special need.  Does that really work?  I was just on the Carnival Celebration with a party of 5.  We had asked for GF and dairy free ahead of time and every time we ordered it was a big deal.  It seems to me that it is very difficult for them to accommodate special dietary needs if you don’t eat in the same restaurant every night.  We were on the Ruby Princess 1/22 and they were great at accommodating the vegan diet, but it was 60% full and we ate in the same dining room every night.  Anyone have any experience as to how to go about this the best way?  
thank you

I was on the Celebration 12/27/22-1/3/23.  I agree that it a beautiful ship with lots of food choices and I agree about Big Chicken.  I thought  that they were purposely short staffed.  I certainly don’t know that for sure, but the service was compromised.  I asked to have a bucket of ice in my room daily and the response from my steward was “ Can you remind me?”  I felt that they were stretched thin.  It took 2 hours in Cucina because there were not enough waiters. I thought that Carnival went along way to promote that they will meet special dietary needs.  They do not!  Every time we asked for GF bread they looked shocked and it took a long time.  We didn’t even want to ask if anything was Dairy free as we could see that it was not.   Those are my only complaints other than Carnival on the sea does not have the same answers to questions as Carnival on land and they should,

4 hours ago, kcroxyoursox said:

Bumping this up. Anyone been to any of these recently that would or would not recommend? Thinking of booking with Rony - will he know which is best to go to or should we tell him which one we want?

I left it up to Arnold, Rony’s.