On Edge

[Missymo]

Ive been on Edge twice so far (More down the road). (I had been pre warned on this site that Suites were on left.  Dropoff first time, I was fortunate that a bunch of us arrived at the same time, and one of the hosts spoke out and asked if anyone in a suite.  As I was (apparently the only one in that group) I walked towards the left side, and she said "this is for suites only " and I said, "I know" . We then proceeded to a quick check in and onboard. Didn't matter what time I had scheduled (I was early) Proceeded immediately. 

[crusinthrough]

26 minutes ago, tugboat said:

When we checked in at Port Everglades on the Edge I ask when going into the building is this for Suite guests.at the top of the escalator I asked again after going the x-ray machine I ask I don’t think this was the Suite line. Oh yes follow them when they tried to seat us upstairs I started looking for someone that looked like they knew what was going and I wasn’t going to stop till I found. Once on the ship they said that never happens. I told her she couldn’t say that anymore because the staff didn’t have a clue that was January 30th on the Edge.

I was on the Jan 30th sailing as well.  I was one of the first people to arrive around 10:30 am.  When I went in the terminal there was a sign to the left that said "Retreat Check In".  This is where I walked.  There was an escalator on the right.  

[tugboat]

13 minutes ago, crusinthrough said:

I was on the Jan 30th sailing as well.  I was one of the first people to arrive around 10:30 am.  When I went in the terminal there was a sign to the left that said "Retreat Check In".  This is where I walked.  There was an escalator on the right.  

See that escalator way on the far right side that is where I was directed up now you know how I missed that. But it doesn’t explain why the staff didn’t know where to direct me once I ask about suite entrance. I stand by what I said earlier Poor Signage 

[Jim_Iain]

Wow.  Sorry to hear of your experience.     Sometime the initial chaos can set the theme for the experience.   I would definitely have a discussion with the Hotel Director.   As a guest in one of the upper suites they will definitely be stopping by anyway at some time to say hello.    Quickest way is either a phone call or just drop off an Attention to Detail card at the front desk and say you would like a chat with them.  

 

The  Hotel Director is in charge of The Butlers, The Retreat Hosts, all of the Restaurant and Bar Managers, Housekeeping etc.    They will make sure things are corrected immediately and will be happy you have brought it to their attention.  

[tugboat]

3 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Wow.  Sorry to hear of your experience.     Sometime the initial chaos can set the theme for the experience.   I would definitely have a discussion with the Hotel Director.   As a guest in one of the upper suites they will definitely be stopping by anyway at some time to say hello.    Quickest way is either a phone call or just drop off an Attention to Detail card at the front desk and say you would like a chat with them.  

 

The  Hotel Director is in charge of The Butlers, The Retreat Hosts, all of the Restaurant and Bar Managers, Housekeeping etc.    They will make sure things are corrected immediately and will be happy you have brought it to their attention.  

The good news is I get to do a do over in April on the Apex I expect things to go I little better.

[MarEll1]

11 hours ago, crusinthrough said:

I was on the Jan 30th sailing as well.  I was one of the first people to arrive around 10:30 am.  When I went in the terminal there was a sign to the left that said "Retreat Check In".  This is where I walked.  There was an escalator on the right.  

We are sailing in Retreat on Edge next Sunday. Just to make sure I understand, when we go to the left (not up the escalator), is there an elevator we take to Retreat boarding area? Thanks for your help!

[morpheusofthesea]

12 hours ago, crusinthrough said:

I was on the Jan 30th sailing as well.  I was one of the first people to arrive around 10:30 am.  When I went in the terminal there was a sign to the left that said "Retreat Check In".  This is where I walked.  There was an escalator on the right.  

The point in this photo is that suite guests DO NOT take the escalator to the right. We take the elevator straight ahead at the end of the corridor.

[NutsAboutGolf]

12 hours ago, crusinthrough said:

I was on the Jan 30th sailing as well.  I was one of the first people to arrive around 10:30 am.  When I went in the terminal there was a sign to the left that said "Retreat Check In".  This is where I walked.  There was an escalator on the right.  

 

Thanks for the pic!  That's exactly what I was talking about.  When I was there, there wasn't anyone at manning the stand either (I wasn't staying in the Retreat).

 

On the signage the word "Retreat" has fairly small lettering compared to the huge "CHECK-IN" letting size, I somewhat see how it could be missed.

[morpheusofthesea]

The escalator is for the general population which when upstairs in the terminal have a different entrance/exit to the gangway, than we suite guests. We suite guests, actually the higher suites present at the time the ship is cleared are sought out first and identified by staff in green shirts (not allowed on ship) which convey this information to on board concierges which come off the ship just prior to clearing and escort them directly to their cabins. One escort per suite cabin, for the highest suites present at time of boarding. Then they scurry back to the terminal to wait for the next VIP. There is only one gangway to board the ship and we did not bump into or fight to board with any from the general population. Celebrity did not have the precovid glass of champagne upon boarding, only a damp face towel and disposal tray at the interior gangway. Having been in and RS and Villa we felt it apropos to tip the escort $10 as one would do at any high end hotel in a suite.

 

 

 

[Longboysfan]

18 hours ago, fsdorado said:

 

I totally understand how you feel.  We've been living in lockdown for so long, especially those of you in NYC.  It felt very weird to be around that many people again, even though there were only 1000 passengers on our sailing at the beginning of February.  Have a great cruise!!  We loved the Edge!!

 

 

Frederick

 

 

Fred:

 

We're also from Plano.

Near Spring Creek and Coit.

[39august]

Yes, there is an elevator for suite pax to go up to the suite boarding lounge. It is to your right after you go inside the indicated doorway. 

[fsdorado]

15 hours ago, crusinthrough said:

I was on the Jan 30th sailing as well.  I was one of the first people to arrive around 10:30 am.  When I went in the terminal there was a sign to the left that said "Retreat Check In".  This is where I walked.  There was an escalator on the right.  

 

When we checked in at the beginning of February, we didn't even go thru those doors.  We went thru a separate door on the left and straight to an elevator.

 

[fsdorado]

3 hours ago, MarEll1 said:

We are sailing in Retreat on Edge next Sunday. Just to make sure I understand, when we go to the left (not up the escalator), is there an elevator we take to Retreat boarding area? Thanks for your help!

 

We went thru a completely separate door to the far left.  We never went into that corridor with the escalator.  We were escorted to an elevator that took us to a dedicated x-ray and metal detector for the shoreside Retreat Lounge.

[crusinthrough]

15 minutes ago, fsdorado said:

 

We went thru a completely separate door to the far left.  We never went into that corridor with the escalator.  We were escorted to an elevator that took us to a dedicated x-ray and metal detector for the shoreside Retreat Lounge.

The escalators are in the same building.  Maybe you did not notice them.  I went left as well to an elevator, which lead up to the suite lounge .  

 

Here is a picture of the front of the building.  When I went in August, I did not see the escalators but I went in the doors on the left behind the pillar that are closed in the picture.  This time I went in the open doors.  I presume since I was there early the doors on the left were not open yet.  

[fsdorado]

30 minutes ago, crusinthrough said:

The escalators are in the same building.  Maybe you did not notice them.  I went left as well to an elevator, which lead up to the suite lounge .  

 

Here is a picture of the front of the building.  When I went in August, I did not see the escalators but I went in the doors on the left behind the pillar that are closed in the picture.  This time I went in the open doors.  I presume since I was there early the doors on the left were not open yet.  

 

It's entirely possible that we didn't notice.  There weren't any non-Retreat passengers boarding so the area was empty.  We were just very excited that, after so long, we were actually boarding a ship!!  In any case, bear left for the Retreat check-in area.

 

 

Frederick

[MarEll1]

1 hour ago, fsdorado said:

 

We went thru a completely separate door to the far left.  We never went into that corridor with the escalator.  We were escorted to an elevator that took us to a dedicated x-ray and metal detector for the shoreside Retreat Lounge.

We will just stay to the left and not go on any escalators! Thanks for the clarification 

[fsdorado]

1 minute ago, MarEll1 said:

We will just stay to the left and not go on any escalators! Thanks for the clarification 

 

Get there around 10:30 (before general boarding starts).  There will be a lot less non-Retreat passengers.  We had one of the shore staff escort us directly to the elevator.  Have a great cruise!!

 

 

Frederick

[morpheusofthesea]

Blow up this photo. See the gentleman on the left, in a flowered shirt, inside the terminal standing in front  (blocking the view) of the  far left elevator? It is the only elevator used for suite guests to get to the Retreat lounge. The other two elevators on the right go to the non suite passenger lounge as does the escalators.

Edited February 24, 2022 by morpheusofthesea

[Oceansaway17]

11 hours ago, tugboat said:

The good news is I get to do a do over in April on the Apex I expect things to go I little better.

except the speed of the internet.

Don from You tube is on and tells how slow it is.

[morpheusofthesea]

Here is photo of front of terminal with lines forming outside. The gentleman in the red shirt is standing in the Retreat line just in front of the last door on the left. The Retreat door. All the doors on the right are for non suite passengers. Blow up the photo.

[cangelmd]

On 2/22/2022 at 8:38 PM, JFontaine said:

Literally and figuratively. 

 

Happy to be on board. Second time in a Villa and it is very nice. Retreat sundeck has been very busy, except this afternoon when it was too windy in the back. Luminae has been disappointing at lunch and dinner,  breakfast was fine. Had a good dinner in one of the main dining rooms - fairly empty, great service and good food. Also had a nice meal at the steakhouse tonight and a good lunch in the buffet. I was told 1300 and 1600 on board. Service throughout has been  perfect.  Staff could not be nicer, kinder, more professional.  Arrival was messy - despite my suite and having the Priority placard I was directed to regular checkin. When I said I should be in Retreat checkin I was told it doesn't matter, and then stood around as staff discussed who wanted to see a Villa suite and escort me on board. It was actually funny listening to this conversation,  but I finally gave up and walked on. I had everything on my phone other than passport and vaccine card, and it took a while to show them everything.  You stand on line, no desk. Messy. 

 

The figurative part. I knew that masks wouldn't be required but I thought some people would wear them. Very very few wear them.  I get that this is the new rule, but I didn't realize how after 2 years it would be so hard for me to be in unavoidable crowds with maskless people.  And that's the purpose of my thread. I wasn't mentally prepared for the elevators, the maskless children, the maskless people sitting next to me in the casino (despite the rules).  Also other hygiene reminders out the window - no person with hand sanitizer, no reminder to use it on boarding.  Saw one haz mat team cleaning a room and about 100 new hires who boarded in Fort Lauderdale on a familiarization tour of ship.  Mask wearing among staff very good with many double masked. 

 

 

 

 

I understand your pain - in your logical brain, you know that you are safer than even in NYC, but it is HARD to let go, because your “gut” doesn’t feel safe. It will come, stay out of elevators with more than 2 people and know you can always walk away.

 I got nothing for your other issues with Luminae and checkin, other than to take note for our upcoming Edge cruise. Also, usually Luminae will get less busy as the week wears on.

Question, if you have a chance could you let me know what the situation in Tortola and St Maarten is? Can you get off on your own or is it Celeb tours only? Thanks in advance.

Do your best to chill and relax, you have a beautiful cabin to relax in!y

[morpheusofthesea]

Notice the signs at the head of each roped line. This one says 'Retreat'.

[morpheusofthesea]

When one pulls up to the terminal, please notice the column with the blue PRIORITY luggage drop off sign. This is where suite guests drop off their luggage on curb, if too early one must wait for porter to load on trolley.(tip $ = 'To Insure Promptness'). Same spot as above photos only farther away from front doors.

[MarEll1]

39 minutes ago, fsdorado said:

 

Get there around 10:30 (before general boarding starts).  There will be a lot less non-Retreat passengers.  We had one of the shore staff escort us directly to the elevator.  Have a great cruise!!

 

 

Frederick

Thank you! We are soooo looking forward to it!

[MarEll1]

6 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

When one pulls up to the terminal, please notice the column with the blue PRIORITY luggage drop off sign. This is where suite guests drop off their luggage on curb, if too early one must wait for porter to load on trolley.(tip $ = 'To Insure Promptness'). Same spot as above photos only farther away from front doors.

Morpheus all your photos are very helpful. Now I know exactly what to expect and where to go.