Celebrity Eclipse - Newbie Questions

[DYKWIA]

A few that Mrs DYKWIA and I thought of

 

(1) Can we bring soft drinks, bottled water, our own tea and coffee, and sweets and chocolates on board at the start and at ports?

 

(2) Mrs DYKWIA doesn't drink, if I buy a bottle of wine at the table can it be used the following day, and perhaps go to a different restaurant - i.e. Have half the wine in the MDR on one day and finish the bottle off in the Tuscan Grille the following day?

 

(3) Do you get shower gel in the veranda rooms (Class 1C) - no mention of it?

 

(4) We're trying to plan on eating in the specialty restaurants, on a 14 day cruise is there a standard pattern to when the formal nights are? Is there a standard 14 days MDR menu for eclipse?

 

(5) Light grey plain business suit (very smart and custom made), smart shirt patterned tie - OK for formal night? Will I look slightly out of place? Would prefer not to have to hire an ill fitting Dinner Suit, but don't want to feel self-conscious and feel that I'm a bit under dressed for the occaision.

 

(6) Is it possible to do a Mediterranean cruise cashless (apart from Euros for the ports)? I've noticed some cruise lines say / infer you can charge casino credit to your room, saves getting dollars out just to play the in casino

 

(7) We're from the UK, will we be able to get Duty Free on board whilst in international waters on our western med cruise (7th Sept), Is Gibraltar Duty Free, I'm not sure any other ports are? Mrs DYKWIA loves her Duty free smokes.

 

(8) is it possible to connect your camera / laptop / ipad etc to the TV with an HDMI cable or is this disabled?

 

(9) We're expecting the Med in summer to be pretty warm - are public areas on the ship (including MDR) and rooms well air conditioned or will we find it very warm?

[20pluscruises]

A few that Mrs DYKWIA and I thought of

 

(1) Can we bring soft drinks, bottled water, our own tea and coffee, and sweets and chocolates on board at the start and at ports?

 

(2) Mrs DYKWIA doesn't drink, if I buy a bottle of wine at the table can it be used the following day, and perhaps go to a different restaurant - i.e. Have half the wine in the MDR on one day and finish the bottle off in the Tuscan Grille the following day?

 

(3) Do you get shower gel in the veranda rooms (Class 1C) - no mention of it?

 

(4) We're trying to plan on eating in the specialty restaurants, on a 14 day cruise is there a standard pattern to when the formal nights are? Is there a standard 14 days MDR menu for eclipse?

 

(5) Light grey plain business suit (very smart and custom made), smart shirt patterned tie - OK for formal night? Will I look slightly out of place? Would prefer not to have to hire an ill fitting Dinner Suit, but don't want to feel self-conscious and feel that I'm a bit under dressed for the occaision.

 

(6) Is it possible to do a Mediterranean cruise cashless (apart from Euros for the ports)? I've noticed some cruise lines say / infer you can charge casino credit to your room, saves getting dollars out just to play the in casino

 

(7) We're from the UK, will we be able to get Duty Free on board whilst in international waters on our western med cruise (7th Sept), Is Gibraltar Duty Free, I'm not sure any other ports are? Mrs DYKWIA loves her Duty free smokes.

 

(8) is it possible to connect your camera / laptop / ipad etc to the TV with an HDMI cable or is this disabled?

 

(9) We're expecting the Med in summer to be pretty warm - are public areas on the ship (including MDR) and rooms well air conditioned or will we find it very warm?

 

1. Yes

 

2. Yes

 

3. Yes

 

5. Yes

 

9. Yes.

Edited June 17, 2014 by 20pluscruises

[WestLakeGirl]

1. Yes bring all you want

2. Easy in the MDR, a bit more trouble if tou go from one restaurant to another but it can be done

3. No. Standard verandah will have bar soap only, concierge class have shower gel, but standard balcony rooms dont

4. Sort of, but there are variants especially around holidays

5. Business suit will be fine. Some will be in dinner suits, some even in kilts, many will be in business wear

6. You can charge casino on your room but since we don't gamble I'm not sure of the details

7. You can buy cigarettes on board. There aren't many places you can smoke, nowhere inside, no staterooms, no verandahs, but you can buy them whenever the shop is open while at sea. No information about Gibralter

8. Probably not. A few report success and workaround s, most who try can't connect

9. Mostly well air conditioned. Depends on how close you are to outside doors and how often they are opened

Edited June 17, 2014 by WestLakeGirl

[cle-guy]

A few that Mrs DYKWIA and I thought of

 

(1) Can we bring soft drinks, bottled water, our own tea and coffee, and sweets and chocolates on board at the start and at ports?

Yes, as much as you can carry. Many people just check it like luggage and put luggage tags on their cases. However Coffee and tea, how will you brew it.....? I know in the UK they put kettles in cabins, not sure if they do in Med Cruises.

(2) Mrs DYKWIA doesn't drink, if I buy a bottle of wine at the table can it be used the following day, and perhaps go to a different restaurant - i.e. Have half the wine in the MDR on one day and finish the bottle off in the Tuscan Grille the following day?

Yes, just let your sommelier know where you will be dining the next night and they will tag it and have it waiting for you.

(3) Do you get shower gel in the veranda rooms (Class 1C) - no mention of it?

No, only Concierge and above.

(4) We're trying to plan on eating in the specialty restaurants, on a 14 day cruise is there a standard pattern to when the formal nights are? Is there a standard 14 days MDR menu for eclipse?

There is a standard 14 day menu, it changes seasonally, not sure how you go about finding the menu or your particular cruise, short of checking in with roll calls prior to yours close to sailing and asking.

(5) Light grey plain business suit (very smart and custom made), smart shirt patterned tie - OK for formal night? Will I look slightly out of place? Would prefer not to have to hire an ill fitting Dinner Suit, but don't want to feel self-conscious and feel that I'm a bit under dressed for the occaision.

You will be fine. if you end up feeling out of place (and you shouldn't) go specialty dining those nights, they do not require formal wear, only MDR does.

(6) Is it possible to do a Mediterranean cruise cashless (apart from Euros for the ports)? I've noticed some cruise lines say / infer you can charge casino credit to your room, saves getting dollars out just to play the in casino

You can get cash from the casino, however I believe there is a 5% sur-charge for doing so, you'd be better using an ATM someplace along your journey to get cash.

(7) We're from the UK, will we be able to get Duty Free on board whilst in international waters on our western med cruise (7th Sept), Is Gibraltar Duty Free, I'm not sure any other ports are? Mrs DYKWIA loves her Duty free smokes.

Yes you can bring duty free on. However if it's wine or spirits, you will be asked to check it when reboarding and they will deliver on your last night of cruise, and not allow you to consume it. However I have found them quite lax in this procedure, I got my 2 bottles of Port on when in Portugal just fine.

(8) is it possible to connect your camera / laptop / ipad etc to the TV with an HDMI cable or is this disabled?

It can be done, here's a good thread with good information.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1825855&highlight=apple+tv

(9) We're expecting the Med in summer to be pretty warm - are public areas on the ship (including MDR) and rooms well air conditioned or will we find it very warm?

It will vary time of day place to place, but you should be generally comfortable.

[DYKWIA]

Cruise is ex UK so we're expecting a kettle in the cabin.

 

Many thanks for your answers, very helpful:)

[kevinyork]

7) We're from the UK, will we be able to get Duty Free on board whilst in international waters on our western med cruise (7th Sept), Is Gibraltar Duty Free, I'm not sure any other ports are? Mrs DYKWIA loves her Duty free smokes.

 

 

 

Gibraltar is Duty Free and Tobacco and Alcohol is good value. Any alcohol purchased there will be taken off you when you re-board and delivered to your room on the last day. Duty Free alcohol is sold in the shop onboard but again you cannot access it till its delivered to your room on the last day.

 

As the ship stops in Gibraltar that allows duty free to be sold onboard and no additional European Tax added to the onboard costs.

 

 

 

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[cruisestitch]

The MDR doesn't require formal wear. The business suit fits the dress code just fine.

[upwarduk]

Cruise is ex UK so we're expecting a kettle in

 

All cabins should have a kettle, as you will be sailing out of Southampton.

If not, ask.

[Jenna109]

Duty free here is very cheap BUT do take care as the allowances are 200 cig's, and 1 litre of spirits. They will sell you as much as you want but when we returned from a Med. Cruise into Southampton the customs were out in full force and tables were full - being taken out of cases.

This was two years ago and I cannot be definite that no changes have been made but worth checking:eek:

[cle-guy]

DO they actually levy additional duty if one claims it outright?

 

In the USA, it seems they generally look the other way if you actually do claim it, and only hassle you and collect if you aren't honest with them up front. This of course can vary officer to officer, but talking to some who have left with extras, it was never billed.

 

I arrived to the UK with 3 bottles of booze from cruise, then flew back to USA with 4 bottles of booze and souvenirs, claimed it all, and they let me pass with no payment when I flew thru Newark.

[Jenna109]

http://www.gibraltarinfo.gi/gibraltar-customs-allowance.aspx

For travellers buying in Gibraltar and intending to import into Spain and the UK.

 

No change to allowances - this site gives the information. They will and do tell you in the shops that you can take very large amounts into UK:eek:

[kevinyork]

DO they actually levy additional duty if one claims it outright?

 

 

 

In the USA, it seems they generally look the other way if you actually do claim it, and only hassle you and collect if you aren't honest with them up front. This of course can vary officer to officer, but talking to some who have left with extras, it was never billed.

 

 

 

I arrived to the UK with 3 bottles of booze from cruise, then flew back to USA with 4 bottles of booze and souvenirs, claimed it all, and they let me pass with no payment when I flew thru Newark.

 

 

Customs at Southampton is rarely staffed. But if caught then the limits above are imposed rendering it best to hand over anything over the limits. UK excise duty is high hence the lure for some to bring in duty free from elsewhere.

 

 

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[DYKWIA]

What happens if you arrive back into the UK with your 200 cigarettes Duty Free from Gibraltar + 600 from Spain (where Duty is paid - but still A LOT cheaper than the UK)

 

Is that allowed, if you can show they were purchased in different ports?

[kevinyork]

DO they actually levy additional duty if one claims it outright?

 

 

 

In the USA, it seems they generally look the other way if you actually do claim it, and only hassle you and collect if you aren't honest with them up front. This of course can vary officer to officer, but talking to some who have left with extras, it was never billed.

 

 

 

I arrived to the UK with 3 bottles of booze from cruise, then flew back to USA with 4 bottles of booze and souvenirs, claimed it all, and they let me pass with no payment when I flew thru Newark.

 

 

Curt. I did you a miss-service a few days ago I think re your prolific posts. Im sorry and hope I didnt offend. You are very knowledgeable re the Celebrity product.

 

 

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[kevinyork]

What happens if you arrive back into the UK with your 200 cigarettes Duty Free from Gibraltar + 600 from Spain (where Duty is paid - but still A LOT cheaper than the UK)

 

 

 

Is that allowed, if you can show they were purchased in different ports?

 

 

Keeps your receipts as proof. Also I believe the packets are differently marked to show their origin.

 

 

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[cle-guy]

Curt. I did you a miss-service a few days ago I think re your prolific posts. Im sorry and hope I didnt offend. You are very knowledgeable re the Celebrity product.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

LOL, I honestly don't even think twice about things. Seriously I just share my experiences, and try to find the minute details that may make one thing different than another than others may not have noticed. Like someone will say concierge cabins are larger than standard. Well if they only sailed Connie or Summit and not Reflection or Eclipse, they are right, as M class are larger, S class are the same size. Little things like that I try to get around, as I have been bitten by prior unintended misinformation I've picked up in these forums.

 

A bad day at sea is still better than a great day on land!:D