LIVE Suite Review 1/30-2/6: A (Solo) Woman on the Edge

[PeterGavin]

YAY ... the Celebrity FUNmother returns.

 

Like those above, I am certainly looking forward to more great posts of your tales at sea. The Equinox was great.. so now will see the Edge through your eyes, GenX !!

[vickykay]

Always enjoy your reviews.  We board the Apex on Sat, assuming neg test tomorrow.  So looking forward to getting back to cruising. Enjoy!

[parrothead33]

Looking forward to another entertaining review.  Loved the Edge when we sailed in Nov. 2019 and looking forward to our cruise on Apex in April.  Be safe and enjoy!  Cheers.

[jimbri]

Enjoy your cruise!

[GenerationX]

11 hours ago, jj6961 said:

Oh no, again? 

glad your getting out of the cold for two weeks.  When I booked this there was no single supplement quite a deal. 

I won’t hijack this thread, the OP is a fab writer.  

Thank you! Yes, there were some good hidden treasure solo supplement free sailings in January in February.
 

Just out of curiosity, have you had any luck finding any no/low solo supplement sailings in 2023?  

I haven’t found anything yet and I’m so ready to start planning next year’s solo vacay.

[ricflyer]

Looking forward to this!! I will be on the same itinerary Feb 13.  

[TeeRick]

15 hours ago, GenerationX said:

Hello Again CC!

 

So remember back in November when I did a live review from the Equinox and I was desperately trying to resist buying a vintage Louis Vuitton bag in the luxury shop in case I needed that money to book a last minute winter cruise?

 

Well, it turned out to be a wise decision!  It only took about 6 days of single digit temperatures and 2 instances of our garage door freezing shut for me to decide that hopping on a ship and sailing away to warmer weather could NOT wait till my next cruise booked in March.

 

As an added bonus, this time I’ll be trying Edge class for the first time!  After spending years reading the many mixed reviews and looking at sky suite prices that were about as budget friendly as a Birkin bag, I’ll finally get to experience the first of the line of ships designed with my generation in mind (allegedly).

 

I know I’m starting this live report a bit early (I don’t fly out for 3 days, 13 hours and 5 minutes, but hey who’s counting), but I must admit that I am particularly excited for this cruise!

 

When I started eyeing this sailing shortly after Christmas, the plan was for hubby and I to go together.  But then came late December, when omicron really reared its ugly head and with it the “horror stories” of onboard outbreaks and significant numbers of passengers quarantined.  My better half decided he wasn’t comfortable cruising this winter.  

 

I fully respect my husband’s risk tolerance and the decisions of all those who decide not to sail right now. But for me, I’m in my late 30’s, relatively healthy and at the peak period for the immunity from my COVID booster (according to the early studies anyway).  For me personally, the opportunity to try E-class for the first time on a low passenger count sailing at a price that was half what Celebrity was asking pre-shutdown was well worth taking a risk with a few extra precautions taken onboard.

 

In that spirit, one evening after working an 18 hour day then slipping on ice on our driveway, I let my husband know that I intended to sail on the Edge with or without him.  My dear husband, being used to my adamant temperament and well aware of my utter disdain for all temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, responded with: “very well my love, just let me know when I have to take you to the airport”.

 

Like others who are choosing to sail right now, I’m heading out knowing that this cruise may be somewhat different from my other 2 post-shutdown Celebrity sailings.

 

I’m a pretty outgoing person and one of my favorite parts of solo cruising is having the opportunity to meet and get to know so many new people.  But this cruise I’ll probably keep to myself more the first few days.  I want to minimize the risk of being contact traced early on and having to spend one of my first days onboard locked in my stateroom awaiting test results. 

 

That being said if you’re going to be onboard with me and are up for having a social distanced chat from across the barbthe fist few days, please don't be shy and do come say hello! I’d love to test my ability to make new friends at a 6 foot distance.

 

Also, while I’ll be sailing in a sky suite, I’ll only be having a couple of dinners in my usual favorite, Luminae.  I got generous OBC with this booking and Edge comes with a whole new world of restaurants to explore.  

 

Plus I looked over the Luminae dinner menus for our sailing and most nights they just didn’t look that exciting to me.
 

Pro tip:  if you’re a hyper planner like me and like to book your specialty dinning in advance, usually the dining room menus for your sailing will pop up in the Celebrity app a few weeks before your cruise.  I look through them and find the nights where I’m not crazy about the menu and book my specialty restaurants for those nights.

 

I also won’t be spending a ton of time in ports on this cruise. Our scheduled ports of call are Nassau, Costa Maya, Cozumel and Roatan.  I’ve never been overly thrilled with Nassau or Costa Maya, so will spend those days exploring an even more empty ship.  

 

I have half day excursions booked through Celebrity in Cozumel and Roatan, but if for some reason we don’t make those ports, I won’t be too disappointed. Edge is really the destination for me on this cruise (and I would probably rethink sailing right now if visiting the scheduled ports had been REALLY important to me).

 

I plan to try all of the specialty restaurants except La Petit Chef (according to the app, this sailing it’s a show I’ve seen before) and I also made a reservation one night to try the Cyprus main dining room.

 

As I decided on whether to book this cruise I spent a lot of time on CC and social media following the info being reported from onboard. (BTW, a big thank you to all those cruisers for taking the time to share!).

 

One common theme I saw in comments from current Edge cruisers was that while the ship has been fairly low occupancy, suites have been sold out, so Luminae and Retreat areas have been more crowded than the common areas so I’ll be sure to report on my experiences with that.

 

I’ll also definitely spend some time checking out the casino and onboard shopping scene.  I’ve also reserved a cabana with bottle service for the first sea day and will likely partake in any and all wine-related events that are offered. (My husband enjoys joking that my annual spending on wine, cigars, slot machines and wardrobe could economically stabilize a small third world country.  Really, the man is so dramatic.)

 

If there’s anything else in particular folks want to know about please feel free to ask.  Now I’m off to tackle a few more things on my pre-cruise checklist. Saturday morning it’s wheels up for Florida!

 

Love the smile!  You look like you will be sailing in a suite!😀

[jj6961]

2 hours ago, GenerationX said:

Thank you! Yes, there were some good hidden treasure solo supplement free sailings in January in February.
 

Just out of curiosity, have you had any luck finding any no/low solo supplement sailings in 2023?  

I haven’t found anything yet and I’m so ready to start planning next year’s solo vacay.

Nothing yet.  I follow a threat on CC for solo cruisers where deals are posted, that’s how I found this sailing.

[quicklabs]

11 hours ago, msteries said:

Really enjoying your spirit since I, too, cruise without my husband, who will take any excuse not to travel.  (this year it’s the aging dog).  I went solo on the Edge in its inaugural year and am so looking forward to the Apex 1/28 to 2/5.  I like meeting new people and generally found a bar with congenial people to return to the same time each evening.  Not sure that will be safe this year so I have been thinking about how to engage a bit differently.  Thinking of staying masked and slowly walking by others in the area, chatting a bit from a little more distance than usual if they seem to also wish to chat.  Up on deck in the retreat it is generally very windy, so I will feel free to order a drink (or two or three) and keep the mask off.  On the Edge be sure and find the wonderful little Eden outside deck seating area.

I hope you have a wonderful cruise.  SW Ohio is in for two days of frigid weather with windchills way below zero, and some more snow..  Even if SFlorida is only 59 at sail-away, I will be happy!

 

Hi Neighbor!

We're in Beavercreek.  I enjoy biking from the Beavercreek Station to the Yellow Springs station, but NOT in late January.  I understand completely about being unable to travel due to concern about leaving an aging dog behind.   Enjoy your cruise!

[Jim_Iain]

Oh Boy!   I've been waiting for the next chapter of your adventures at sea.   I love hearing about all the pre-cruise planning as I am also a big planner.  

 

Have a wonderful cruise and enjoy the warm weather.

[kpark895]

I've enjoyed all of your previous reviews, and I'm positive this will be no different!  Looking forward to hearing more.

[Susanb10567]

Following along…heading back on the Edge 3/27 which was postponed from 2/6..

 

Bon Voyage..have a great cruise..

[STLCRUISIN]

GenerationX - We're also from the St. Louis area and feel your pain with this bitter weather. But heading on the Equinox in February for 12 days of bliss!!!

 

Enjoyed your last review and looking forward to reading about your time on the Edge.

[jcpc]

I've definitely enjoyed reading all your past reviews.  I'm sure you will fall in LOVE with Edge.  She's a fantastic ship.  But not quite sure that you will find the passenger mix, etc. on Edge (supposedly built for "your generation")any different than it is on any other Celebrity ship.  I sailed Edge when she first came out and, yes, I could see where entertainment, etc. was geared towards "your generation" (as opposed to mine!).  But in recent times sailing her I could see a "shift" in the entertainment, etc back to the "standard Celebrity" ways.  No matter what - you'll have a great time on that fantastic vessel.

 

I so look forward to enjoying reading your daily postings.  Wishing you a safe flight to Fort Lauderdale and a safe and happy cruise.

[maggieq]

We loved the edge. What we did miss was the martini bar on the solstice class and the sky lounge.  

[GenerationX]

9 hours ago, jj6961 said:

Nothing yet.  I follow a threat on CC for solo cruisers where deals are posted, that’s how I found this sailing.

 

 Nice! Ok I’m going to have to find that thread!

[GenerationX]

5 hours ago, STLCRUISIN said:

GenerationX - We're also from the St. Louis area and feel your pain with this bitter weather. But heading on the Equinox in February for 12 days of bliss!!!

 

Enjoyed your last review and looking forward to reading about your time on the Edge.

Hey neighbor! 12 days on Equinox sounds amazing! Stay warm in the meantime and have an amazing cruise!

[DaKahuna]

Loved your Equinox series and looking forward to your life aboard Edge.  Our last pre-COVID cruise was on Edge and we really enjoyed ourselves.  Loved the Retreat Sundeck / bar, especially being able to get sandwich or wrap for lunch in port. 
 

 

[GenerationX]

9 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Oh Boy!   I've been waiting for the next chapter of your adventures at sea.   I love hearing about all the pre-cruise planning as I am also a big planner.  

 

Have a wonderful cruise and enjoy the warm weather.

Thank you! I always enjoy your live reviews as well.  I will certainly be sure to enjoy the Caribbean weather to the fullest.

[GenerationX]

I’ve had a couple of very good mail days this week.

 

First my luggage tags arrived about 6 days after I requested them online.  The luggage tag request form had a glitch for months where it wouldn’t let you select your country to complete the mailing address, so I wasn’t expecting to get them having booked so close to sailing. But just for kicks I decided to try the request form out again when I was booking my shore excursions and it worked!  Glad I’ll be able to save a little color printer ink.

 

Not far behind came my package from Optum with my pre-cruise home COVID tests.  For my previous cruises, I was easily able to get a test appointment at my local CVS the day before I flew out.  Unfortunately in my area ever since Christmas there’s not been a rapid test appointment to be found for asymptomatic people who just need a negative test for travel.  I figured (correctly) that the test availability issue wouldn’t go away in a month, so I ordered the home tests very shortly after booking my cruise. 
 

When I ordered my tests from the link on Celebrity’s website, a notice popped up about high demand and to expect delays of 3-5 days before orders shipped out.  My order actually shipped the very next day (woohoo!) but then sat in the no man’s land that is a FedEx distribution center in California for 3 days (doh!) before it even started making its way towards Missouri.  It also encountered a weather delay that stalled it in Kansas for a day.

 

Celebrity’s website suggests ordering these tests “at least a week” before you need them to test and has a chart on it that suggests you can order and receive them within 3 business days.  However, given my experience, I would say if be sure to order AT LEAST 2 weeks before you need to test just to be safe.

 

Also, if you’re like me and you also have some of the regular Binax rapid tests that you can buy at Walgreens, Walmart, etc. in your house, you may want to store your cruise tests separately from those.  I kept my cruise tests in the shipping box that came from Celebrity and put them on a high shelf in a medicine cabinet in a different bathroom.

 

As you can see, the packaging for these supervised tests is identical in size and a somewhat similar color to the packaging for the regular store bought Binax rapid tests (which CANNOT be used for the pre-cruise test).

 

I didn’t want to risk anyone (including sleepy me) who was just trying to make sure that their sniffles were just allergies or a winter cold accidentally grabbing and opening one of my cruise test boxes (if the seal on the cruise test box is broken before you log on with the test proctor, the cruise test may be deemed invalid).

 

My plan is to test using my laptop first thing Friday morning. I’ve watched several YouTube videos of the at home cruise test process and I’m feeling pretty confident that I know what I’m doing (a feeling I know myself well enough to be slightly wary of).
 

I’ll report on the experience and how it goes. I’m feeling fine [knocks wood] so please send positive thoughts that all will be well!

 

 

 

 

[raudacruise]

Looking forward to reading your review every day. You are a ray of sunshine in these dreary times.🌞

[Calton]

Have a lovely time 😁.

 

We are joining the edge on the 6th Feb for our back to back. 

Hooe to see you for a socially distanced cocktail 🍸 

[Cruising Is Bliss]

Love your reviews thank you for doing them!

[peanut head]

16 hours ago, GenerationX said:

 

 Nice! Ok I’m going to have to find that thread!

Hey GenerationX, do you book on your own or go through a TA?

[go.without.you]

HI! We met briefly on Equinox in November. I am booked on the Edge (1st time) for March, also in a Sky Suite, so I'm curious to see your review. Edge Luminae doesn't allow you to order from the MDR menu so I'm going to miss that (escargot....don't judge me).

 

I've been debating about trying one of the other restaurants but I don't want to give up the service you get in Luminae. Have a great time and pack that globe dress!