Live Edge Review - July 3-10, 2021

[KKB]

1 hour ago, SHIP TRAVELER said:

We got $25 free play each.  Our friends didn't have a Drivers License with them so got none.  That amount would about cover the cab fare ($25) each way.  We actually took the local bus both ways but that might be too big of an adventure for some.  We were on Royal out of New Orleans and did not play in ships casino because of the smoke. This was Feb 2020 so like everything else  in the world, the free play may have changed by now.

We did NCL Getaway Dec. 2019 poker cruise.

LOVED the ship BUT the casino was SO SO smoky we barely played at all.

[KKB]

29 minutes ago, mafig said:

Is the $50 free play per person?  Can  you break it up in increments, like $10 in this machine, $10 in another, etc.......

 

Can you explain what access to minibar means?  

Not sure about the Freeplay...I've had both situations at other casinos.

If BOTH people in the room get the Drinks & More package they keep the mini-bar stocked!

[TommyD3]

3 hours ago, elf426 said:

Muster Drill 2021 is. the. best. I can’t believe I forgot about it last night, but we got a survey this morning and it reminded me. You literally open the app and watch a 20 second video about the life jackets, click complete, then listen to the emergency horn sound, click complete and go to your muster station to verify you completed your drill. Why people wait to do this is beyond me. Be Like Mike, Just Do It.

Can both people in the cabin watch the video on one cell phone and get credit or does each person have to watch on their phone? Thanks !!!

[npb]

How many unvaccinated onboard?

[3red7s]

19 hours ago, elf426 said:

Hi everyone, longtime lurker, occasional poster here. One can never have too many trip reviews, so I’m throwing my hat in the ring after several “gee, I should have done that” trips. I’m what you may call snarky, and generally don’t see many reviews with sass (perhaps for a reason).

 

Some background: My husband and I are 30-something DINKS from Central Florida and reasonably avid cruisers. Over the past several years, due to work schedules and such, my husband has reached D+ on RCI via several single-supplement JS and above cruises (no, I don’t “let” him cruise alone…if I had a dollar for every time I got asked that). We’ve also sailed together on Allure, Freedom and Navigator. As such, we status matched to Elite on Celebrity. We’ve previously sailed together on Reflection and he did a solo trip on Edge in its maiden season. I’m personally excited to see what all the hype around Edge is about.

 

On Friday we drove down to Ft. Lauderdale to escape the aerial bombarding our neighborhood faces every 4^th of July weekend. Sharing a community with vacation rentals really has a downside when no one gives a **** about the people that live there year-round. We checked into the Hyatt Centric Los Olas for the night, receiving an upgrade to a King Balcony due to his Globalist status (sensing a trend here?). Truth be told, we heard fireworks there, too, so there is no escaping it no matter how hard you try. The room was nice, our valet and breakfast were comped and I’d recommend it to anyone needing a pre-cruise hotel.

 

This morning we killed time at the Hard Rock Seminole, coming out ahead for once. Our drive to the port was about 20 minutes from the casino for our 1:00pm check in time. From dropping luggage with the porters to boarding the Edge, total time was less than 30 minutes. Seriously, we were walking down the stairs of the parking garage at exactly 1:00 and were on board at about 1:23. It’d have been faster but we picked the security lane behind a couple carrying on SEVEN bags (if you’re on here I curse you…if you’re not, I curse you) and then followed some, uh, less swift gals up the gangway. Oh – did no one in the lives from the first sailing mention the blue bracelets? We got them after presenting our vaccine cards at check-in with no explanation – are they meant to stay on all week? What happens if I take it off – will I be thrown overboard? What if it gets all soggy and gross after the third day, can I get a new one? They serve no tracking purpose.

 

Once onboard we went to our stateroom to drop our (one each) backpacks. We are sailing in an Infinite Veranda stateroom, 9^th deck forward. It’s a decent size and I like the color scheme. It’s modern without being too “cool”. I’m still trying to get used to the layout versus a traditional balcony and have mentally accepted that our room will just be unusually humid all week.

 

We had originally purchased the Indulge package as I spent way too much time at Café al Bacio on Reflection and my husband consumes Vitamin Water like he’s sponsored. When we learned about the Drinks and More package, which includes “free” casino money, we upgraded again. I’ll probably do the wine tasting alone and don’t particularly care about the minibar, but hey, they dangled the carrot and we bit. I’m happy to report that so far, Café al Bacio onboard Edge is just as good, however, specialty coffee in the MDR leaves something to be desired.

 

Re: dining, this is the first cruise that I can remember that we don’t have any plans for specialty dining. Onboard Royal we’ve enjoyed Chops and Izumi, and our sailing on Reflection we were in Aqua Class and dined in Blu. I’m sure I’m wrong, but I don’t recall Chops costing $50/pp like Fine Cut does. Seems a little pricy (says the couple that upgraded their drinks package twice….yeah, I know). I’m ok with exploring the MDR setup on board for the moment and plan to eat at each of the four while onboard. HOWEVER (and why should I even have to say this), if your small human is fussing at the table so much that we can hear them halfway across the dining room, can you please take them out of the restaurant? I’m sure I’ll get crucified as a non-parent saying this, but how someone dresses in the MDR doesn’t bother me an ounce, but a noisy child just rubs me the wrong way.

 

We also stopped by the spa/fitness center so I could reserve some time on the Peloton bikes they have onboard. If you’re not part of the cult...ahem…part of the…no, it’s a cult…there were five Peloton bikes in the gym when we toured (with cages). You do need to reserve time with the spa desk – our guide said the previous week they were booked solid! I optimistically packed four days of workout attire and signed up for as many days.

 

I hate to say that we have no plans of getting off the ship in port, but our scuba excursion in St. Thomas was cancelled a couple of weeks ago and we didn’t want to replace it. Having been to Nassau countless times, we’re taking the opportunity to enjoy the ship with limited capacity for the week.

 

Thanks for joining me so far, I’ll try to update everyone throughout the week.

LOL...you are funny & i am enjoying the review.  We sail for our 2nd time on the Edge, departing 8/14.  Question:  what are the pros/cons to checking in on the app vs just on line? 

[helen haywood]

If you check in on the app then you have a digital copy of your Express Pass.

[MamaFej]

Another 50+ fan of The Weeknd here. 
 

Thanks for the fun thread. 

[Cruising89143]

12 minutes ago, MamaFej said:

Another 50+ fan of The Weeknd here. 
 

Thanks for the fun thread. 

Add me to the list too.

[ItsADryHumor]

30 minutes ago, cruisingator2 said:

Add me to the list too.

And also Megan and Cardi B, but I’ll deny it to my kids. 🤣

[sofietucker]

5 hours ago, GACRUISER456 said:

Question - is there any sushi on the buffet these days?  Like late afternoon or dinner?  I know Raw on 5 is there, but we used to enjoy a little snack late afternoon up there.  Thanks!  We sail next week and can’t wait!

The only place we saw it was in Raw... You can wander by in midday (when they are shut) and watch the fabulous art of sushi and sashimi making. Remember the Magic Carpet menu for dinner is Raw's too.

Edited July 4, 2021 by sofietucker

[sofietucker]

3 hours ago, TommyD3 said:

Can both people in the cabin watch the video on one cell phone and get credit or does each person have to watch on their phone? Thanks !!!

Only one, for us. We showed up together and both got our stickers on our seapasses.

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

Re the strange wristbands:  wouldn't it be simpler and cheaper to just put them on the unvaxed?  A lot fewer people to deal with.

[sofietucker]

5 hours ago, Travelexpert35 said:

Love..love the silent disco. On the transpacific cruise I went by myself to the disco and joined in with some other girls. Had a blast.

SO. MUCH. FUN! And if you're low-key, it doesn't *have* to be participatory: you can stand in the corner and bop all by yourself. There was a Battle of the DJs with CD Lauren--who was just learning--as the third DJ. Our fave guy switched very quickly between all the cool Beatles tunes because, he later explained, he was trying to drive folks to Lauren's channel so she could gain confidence ("I'm a gentleman," lol). 

[sofietucker]

Go to the productions! The dance troupe is sharp, sharp, sharp--one of the tightest we've seen in over 30 cruises. Good singers, fun acrobats, great costumes--the shows take a page from Cirque du Soleil.

[verizon]

Its better for the vaxed passenger to wear it since it can be removed from your wrist.

[rsail203]

3 minutes ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

Re the strange wristbands:  wouldn't it be simpler and cheaper to just put them on the unvaxed?  A lot fewer people to deal with.

Then the unvaxes could just take off the bands. Would you trust them?

[Blizzard56]

17 minutes ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

Re the strange wristbands:  wouldn't it be simpler and cheaper to just put them on the unvaxed?  A lot fewer people to deal with.

Yes, but sadly, they would most likely be the ones that will take it off 

[KKB]

2 hours ago, npb said:

How many unvaccinated onboard?

I heard like 20? 24? 

 

[goldsmip115]

Yes, the unvaxed would be the first to cut them off even if it meant bringing a chainsaw onboard.  I’m sure the FL Governor would be happy to provide the chainsaws at the port.  Wear those wristbands with pride.  Hopefully DeSantis won’t find a way to distribute them at the port!

[graphicguy]

12 minutes ago, KKB said:

I heard like 20? 24? 

 

Sounds like Celebrity is sticking to the less than 5% passengers unvaccinated…mostly kids, I’ll assume.  The Celebrity rep who called me yesterday inquiring about my vaccine status said as much when I asked her.  She was also emphatic that if I didn’t have my vaccination proof at checkin, I would have to follow all the unvaccinated protocols.

[st3drume]

You should have qualified for perks that include paid gratuities and free drinks. Sailing Sept 4 2021 on Edge so interested in experience. Capt Kate was outstanding with passengers when I sailed on the Summit with her. Wore mermaid outfit at crew vs passengers pool games. Drink package includes water, specialty coffees with booze, all drinks - upgrade to premium if want top shelf stuff.

[elf426]

6 hours ago, GACRUISER456 said:

Question - is there any sushi on the buffet these days?  Like late afternoon or dinner?  I know Raw on 5 is there, but we used to enjoy a little snack late afternoon up there.  Thanks!  We sail next week and can’t wait!

I haven't seen any but I've only been for breakfast and lunch today, which swayed very Americana due to the holiday. I'll try to remember to keep an eye out for it.

[st3drume]

Check if bracelet id for vaccinated. 

[elf426]

5 hours ago, KKB said:

Not sure about the Freeplay...I've had both situations at other casinos.

If BOTH people in the room get the Drinks & More package they keep the mini-bar stocked!

Freeplay can be transferred at your discretion on the machines - all at once or $10 at a time. You do you.

[elf426]

5 hours ago, TommyD3 said:

Can both people in the cabin watch the video on one cell phone and get credit or does each person have to watch on their phone? Thanks !!!

As long as your booking is together it can be done on one phone. My husband and I watched together and you just have to select both (or all names) on the reservation. You'll both have to be present and present your cards at the muster station, though.