snyniew

On 7/9/2019 at 5:18 PM, karla_sue said:

Thank you all for the advise and helpful information and personal experiences.  I don't do the powdered protein. Since I like the dining room, I will most likely do 1 egg and some kind of meat and let my guys (either hubby or son) eat what I can't. It won't be a hardship on them! LOL!!!  For dinner, I will do a 1 for sample of some appetizers they order and do something I like (full of good protein) for my dinner.  I haven't gotten sick yet (definitely know the feeling when I am full!) so I think by then, I will have a handle on the sizing of a portion I can eat.  

We chose a non food-centric vacation now for summer since I am still learning what I can tolerate but I had an opportunity to jump on a Christmas cruise and didn't want to not go because of the surgery. It will be a very good test of my will, but I think not getting sick from too much food will keep me in check and that many months out, I will know my real limits.  

 

Again, thanks for the suggestions and help!

I'm 11 years out RNY and usually get the question of you didn't like it. I just say I'm full and want to still have a bite or so of desert. It was a joke with our waiters on the first cruise that I didn't eat anything and my friend didn't drink because she was driving. I do pretty much order something from every course but never finish anything. It's fine and I get to satisfy my taste for what appealed to me.

Just order what you want, have a few bites to satisfy the taste and don't worry about setting it aside. My nieces love going with me as they eat their entire dinner and then clean up my plate. One will even ask if I'm done (I might still be eating when she asks) because she wants the rest of my dinner. 

19 hours ago, mkcurran said:

I am most likely going to book with no perks. The numbers just don't add up to pay extra. If I thought I would drink more than one or two alcoholic drinks a day I might do the two free perks when booking. 

It's not just the alcoholic drinks. I can get my moneys worth out of what I drink in bottled water as I can drink 10+ a day as well as the specialty coffees, smoothies, and other canned drinks (not always soda). Can also get the virgin drinks as well. Everyone is different and makes their own decision but just because it says alcohol package doesn't mean it only covers that. Add up what you may think you'll drink in a day and see how it may stack up.

On 7/15/2019 at 7:10 PM, mkcurran said:

As we are not big soda drinkers, probably not. 

you also have the option of choosing the beverage package as a perk when you book the cruise. That would include bottled water, soda, alcoholic drinks, specialty coffees. For me picking that perk is worth it just by how much water I drink during the day. They will always have a person when you disembark selling them so you can take them on shore with you. I also always stockpile some in my room and have the steward empty the minibar so I can put them in there.

If you can catch one of their 20% off sales I'd do it before you sail. If not I would wait until I got onboard. Find what bar you think you'll be spending the most time at and have one of the bartenders do it. They get credit for the packages they sell so the rest of the cruise they make sure  they take good care of you.

I was flying in 2 days before and at 11 pm the night before they cancelled my flights. Couldn't get me out until the next day so had to book last minute on another carrier. Wouldn't risk it especially in the winter. Besides you're going out of San Juan (guessing by the 8:30 departure) so always fun to explore OSJ the day before. Also if you are on the Summit, they have changed the Muster Drill to about 4:30 pm instead of 7:45 so you would be required to probably go to a special one for those that missed the scheduled one.

On the last day Cafe al Bacio filled an entire gallon zip lock bag full of the coconut macaroons for us to take back home for my niece who is gluten free. She had them years ago on the Summit and loved them. She was very thankful when we got home.

I've got it in December. Concierge gives you the nicer canvas tote vs the nylon tote you get in the other cabins. 

My room steward changed mine for a bottle of red. Shouldn't be a problem.

I tried to upgrade for my April sailing when there was a sale going on the beverage package. However the upgrade price remained the same $10 + 18% on the cruise planner, even calling the Captain's Club they asked and it was not a discounted price to upgrade.

If the custom line is long get a porter. They bypass the long lines and have one of their own. I believe they even jump to the front of the taxi line as well. 

TropiSport, reef safe and natural ingredients. I've used it and unlike some of the others it's greasy feeling once you put it on.

I cruise solo all the time and have never been charged more that double occupancy. I think by booking double and having a no show you'll only get the single captain club points vs booking solo you get double. Still get the same OBC as I believe it's per cabin not per person.

In order to use the Celebrity app you had to be  on WiFi so if not that maybe why it was data. I was on the Summit and turned my phone into airplane mode, really the only way not to be charged for the data and such. Then for the Celebrity App you log into the Celebrity WiFi and just say you are using the free app.  

4 hours ago, Tourist1292 said:

Where do you see the option for package upgrade on cruise planer? I can only find the individual packages there.

It only showed upgrade options within 30 days of sailing. But for me if I can’t get the sale prices I’ll do it on board & give one of the bartenders the credit. They’ll take care of you the rest of the cruise 

I just looked at my cruise planner and the price to upgrade to premium is still showing $11.80. I wonder if they have a date as to when it goes into effect which is why some show 18% vs 20%. 

13 minutes ago, GenerationX said:

 

 Thank you Susan!

 

Very jealous that you’ll be sailing on EDGE!  I will be sure to report on how the solo experience is comparing to my prior Celebrity sailings.

 

When I was looking for cruises my TA got me a quote on a Silversea Carribean sailing that had a low single supplement and airfare credit that made it affordable. DH and I have been thinking about trying the line since these days their pricing isn’t that much higher than what we paid for a suite in S-Class and our TA gives good perks for their bookings. I thought it would be a cost effective way to try it out.

 

Then I spoke to another attorney in my firm who has sailed on Silversea a few times and he cautioned me it could be a “very awkward” experience for a younger woman traveling alone.  He mentioned that on the one sailing where he saw a solo cruiser it seemed to him that both the other passengers and crew “weren’t sure what to make of him” and were distant as a result.

 

I am pretty outgoing and have never had a problem starting conversations and making new friends on Celebrity during my solo hours when DH is engrossed in a card game in the casino, so I’m hoping this won’t be too much different.

 

If you don’t mind me asking, what was it like dining alone on your Cunard solo sailing?  

 

On MDR nights I was thinking I’ll just asked to be seated at a large table, but I assume at the specialties I’ll be sitting at a 2 top alone.  Hopefully I don’t get too many stares!  When we were on Reflection a few years ago I ate alone in Tuscan Grille one night when DH wasn’t feeling well.  The waiters, sommelier and maitre d  all made a point of checking on me often and chatting with me for a few minutes when they could.  I’m hoping this experience will be similar.  If nothing else it will allow me to take great notes and keep up with my reporting on food quality!

I did the Equinox solo (kinda friends were there but didn't go to specialty dining). Same experience that everyone was very attentive to me. I cancelled my final dining in Tuscan as I'd rather be w/ friend in MDR but friends I met on the cruise who were dining in Tuscan were looking for me to ask me to join them. Everyone I've met on Celebrity has been very nice and inclusive when they find out you are a solo cruiser.

My 2 are missing as well. Someone on another tread said X is making some modifications to the website so that's probably the reason for it. I'm giving it a few day and will check again.

1 hour ago, jdacombe said:

Hi,

My wife and I plus our son are booked on the Silhouette for a cruise to the Norwegian Fjords in August. As part of the package my wife and I received the Classic Drinks Package and our son, as the 3rd passenger, the classic non-alcoholic package, I have upgraded all three to the Premium Drinks Package, I wonder if anyone could confirm what is the maximum allowed per drink with this package, I have seen both $13 and $15, if it's the latter has Celebrity Cruises recently made this increase?

I don't know if anyone can help with this but we are all sharing the one stateroom (Concierge Class), our son, who is about 6' 5'' and around 14 stone has drawn the short straw and is on the sofa bed, will it be large enough for him to sleep on?

As an aside he is quite an imposing figure with his size, haircut and beard, and quite a collection of tattoos - very much in the Viking mould, so if anyone is on this particular cruise don't be alarmed if you see him, he's completely harmless and very quiet.

Very many thanks for any help

At 6'5" that sofa bed is going to be pretty small for him. My niece who's about 5'8" fully stretched out almost filled the length of it.

Second Luvcrusn on Calabaza in Barbados. Have sailed with them twice with the third time coming up in April. St. Lucia Spencer Ambrose has a great tour that I've done in the past and probably plan on doing in December. St. Maarten I've done a tour with Captain Bob's and doing it again in April. On boats tour the entire island with a couple snorkel spots and then a stop (on the water) at Maho beach. Carambola is a nice relaxing beach day in St. Kitts. Antigua I just did a ship tour to swim with the stingrays.

Actually in December it was at 4:45 pm

22 minutes ago, wrk2cruise said:

There is no limit to the number of drinks per day on Celebrity.

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On 3/4/2019 at 8:54 AM, amevola said:

Good morning,

 

Next January, we will be sailing on Celebrity Summit round trip from San Juan.  Our flight home is at 5:40pm.

 

First, how late can we disembark?  We have gone with the flow of rooms before now due to earlier flights so I am not sure how late flights can change things.

 

Second, are there tour companies that cater to disembarkation day passengers?  I have seen one tour operator recommended, but he seems to do full day excursions for those who are in port for a whole day.

 

Thanks for any advice and for anything someone would like to add.

You could take a taxi into OSJ and have your luggage stored at Barrichina (for free) and then explore OSJ and the forts. I know I had a 4:30 pm flight in December and decided to do the ship tour to El Yunque with airport drop-off. It was a good tour (I had a lot of OBC to use) and someone was at the airport with your luggage so it was secure until you got there.

19 minutes ago, ule said:

Since you all are so knowledgeable I am going to ask my next question here before I post to the general board!!!! 

 

On Celebrity,  if you select a drink package as one of your perks, do you have to pay anything additional for gratuities?  I know we can either tip or add a tip as we are getting beverages from a bar.  Someone was trying to tell us that if  you select the drink package as one of your perks, that an 18%  gratuity is added to each beverage "purchase" and will be added to your onboard account.  So conceivably if I were to drink $1000 of liquor on my cruise I would have to pay another $180 on my account at the end.

 

I've seen conflicting answers on this issue on the message board. 

No,  you don't have to pay any additional gratuity it's all included in the perk. Only time you'd have to pay is if you purchase a drink over the package drink price limit then you pay the difference + 18%

I've done many Celebrity cruises and have never been bored in the evening and usually don't end up in bed until 2 am or later. It's not going to be as crowded as NCL or Carnival or RC. Usually end up in Revelations or what ever the club is on the top deck and there tends to be a group of people up there dancing until later. Yes, there may be some nights where things shut down earlier depending on who is out. I've even taken my nieces who range from 18-22 and they have all enjoyed themselves and ask to go again.

Not sold out and it's on there only if you pull up the Ship and then look for Summit Sailings and don't put in a date. Still shows there.