On Edge

[morpheusofthesea]

As one approaches the terminal DO NOT pull in to the right. Stay to the left and go down to the front of the terminal at the other end of building. If you miss the stop, no problem. One can really go no farther, has to make a u-turn about where the bus on the left in photo is. Go to stop sign and make another U-turn, and try again.

Edited February 24, 2022 by morpheusofthesea

[fsdorado]

35 minutes ago, cangelmd said:

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

 

When we were in Tortola and St. Maarten on 2/9-10, you could go off on your own.  But before we boarded on 2/6, you could only go on Celebrity Shore Excursions in Tortola.  We found out after we boarded that the requirements had changed.  The best thing to do is check this web site often - Travel Requirements for US Cruises | Celebrity Cruises - and scroll down to the "While Ashore" section for the latest requirements.

 

[fsdorado]

22 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

As one approaches the terminal DO NOT pull in to the right. Stay to the left and go down to the front of the terminal at the other end of building. If you miss the stop, no problem. One can really go no farther, has to make a u-turn about where the bus on the left in photo is. Go to stop sign and make another U-turn, and try again.

 

We were way too excited to take pictures of the boarding process.  Your photos are very helpful!!

 

[MarKay525]

Thank you to everyone who has posted photos and described in detail exactly where this first-time-in-a-suite cruiser will need to go in just 31 days!

 

DH & I agree that we need to start going to (select) restaurants again to get used to being around vaccinated, but unmasked strangers.

Except for members of the fully vaxed & boosted neighborhood Gourmet Dinner Club, our fellow cruisers and Celebrity crew members will probably be the safest group of people we've been around since this mess started! The brain/gut just needs a little time to adjust.

 

Thanks OP for a great thread.

Kay

[fsdorado]

11 minutes ago, MarKay525 said:

Thank you to everyone who has posted photos and described in detail exactly where this first-time-in-a-suite cruiser will need to go in just 31 days!

 

DH & I agree that we need to start going to (select) restaurants again to get used to being around vaccinated, but unmasked strangers.

Except for members of the fully vaxed & boosted neighborhood Gourmet Dinner Club, our fellow cruisers and Celebrity crew members will probably be the safest group of people we've been around since this mess started! The brain/gut just needs a little time to adjust.

 

Thanks OP for a great thread.

Kay

 

Have a wonderful and relaxing cruise!!

[cangelmd]

1 hour 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.

Great photos! Pre-Covid, this priority was only for upper level suites, is it for all suites now?

We we’re on one post Covid cruise in a suite and our luggage got lost for a few hours, but I put that off to being second cruise after start up. Our butler told us it was delivered t9 the wrong deck.

[morpheusofthesea]

1 hour ago, fsdorado said:

 

We were way too excited to take pictures of the boarding process.  Your photos are very helpful!!

 

I know exactly how you feel. I could not find any photos from our first cruise back, except our cabin. I also took photos of the parking garage across the street, because I knew we would be coming back and our memory isn't what it used to be.

Edited February 24, 2022 by morpheusofthesea

[CalTexCruiser]

Thanks to all for the helpful photos...our first time in Port Everglades so really appreciate.

 

Our shoreside concierge emailed us a Dash Sign that says "PRIORITY" on it--she said to place it on the car's dashboard as we drive into the terminal area.

 

Does that do anything?  Or is it just an annoyance for the Uber/Lyft driver?

[morpheusofthesea]

6 minutes ago, cangelmd said:

Great photos! Pre-Covid, this priority was only for upper level suites, is it for all suites now?

We we’re on one post Covid cruise in a suite and our luggage got lost for a few hours, but I put that off to being second cruise after start up. Our butler told us it was delivered t9 the wrong deck.

Since our first cruise on July 4, 2021, it has been the drop-off point for all Retreat guests. You were on our August Equinox cruise in a CS as I recall. All the non-suite passengers have to go another 1000 ft to drop off and walk back to the lines on the right in the photo. You are always very helpful and gracious to fellow posters. Thank you.

[DaKahuna]

Something I learned -- instead of using the term Suite use the term Retreat.  As you will notice all of the signage has been changed so non-Celebrity staff may not know they mean the same thing and therefore not able to help with you ask about line for "suite" guest. 

 

[morpheusofthesea]

3 minutes ago, CalTexCruiser said:

Thanks to all for the helpful photos...our first time in Port Everglades so really appreciate.

 

Our shoreside concierge emailed us a Dash Sign that says "PRIORITY" on it--she said to place it on the car's dashboard as we drive into the terminal area.

 

Does that do anything?  Or is it just an annoyance for the Uber/Lyft driver?

I made copies. Put one on dash. Completely ignored by green shirted staff and traffic cops. One must speak up and say "RETREAT Suite guests !" Printing was a waste of scrap paper. The shoreside concierge make a great build-up of preparing not much. I only wanted one item on our balcony. A deck lounge chair that reclines. Butler said he got the request, but as you can see there is no room for it with all the furniture on the balcony. I told him to remove a chair and table. Now having gone on 6 cruises with Celebrity since July 2021, the best butler/host gets me a 'cushioned' Retreat recliner instead of the 'webbed run of mill' type. ( It was his suggestion). I further had to change the two bottles of spirits I requested (for my TA) I pushed him into getting the spirits with their gift boxes (if possible). The pajamas I no longer get monogramed so we can give them as gifts as well.

[cangelmd]

1 hour ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Since our first cruise on July 4, 2021, it has been the drop-off point for all Retreat guests. You were on our August Equinox cruise in a CS as I recall. All the non-suite passengers have to go another 1000 ft to drop off and walk back to the lines on the right in the photo. You are always very helpful and gracious to fellow posters. Thank you.

We will try that in a few weeks. The one time we were in a Royal, we got a window placard for the taxi, as someone else mentioned.

Until the numbers recover to full capacity, it won’t make a huge difference, honestly.

[JFontaine]

6 hours 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.

Was this photo taken recently?  I believe the Priority sign has been moved. 

[JFontaine]

7 hours ago, cangelmd said:

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

First, thank you for your kind understanding.   

No restrictions in Tortola or St. Martin. One other ship with us in Tortola. No other ships in St. Martin (a first for me for this port). 

 

[morpheusofthesea]

8 hours ago, JFontaine said:

Was this photo taken recently?  I believe the Priority sign has been moved. 

December 23, 2021 sailing of Equinox. Got to port 10:15. Knew just where to pull up from our prior Celebrity cruises. Most welcoming sight were the presence, right where this pillar and lines were forming, of 2 porters with luggage trolleys waiting for Retreat suite guests. All the other porters and trolleys were another 1000' ahead for non suite passengers. The presence of porters at this point, so close to the entrance was our reassurance that we were still okay for drop off at this point.

Edited February 25, 2022 by morpheusofthesea

[JFontaine]

Captain just announced masks are now optional in casino and theater.  The good news must be no (or very few) reported cases. 

[RichYak]

12 minutes ago, JFontaine said:

Captain just announced masks are now optional in casino and theater.  The good news must be no (or very few) reported cases. 

That's great news! Are you gonna be ok? 😇

[CalTexCruiser]

25 minutes ago, JFontaine said:

Captain just announced masks are now optional in casino and theater.  The good news must be no (or very few) reported cases. 

 

Big thumbs up!  we're getting on in 2 days.

[JFontaine]

1 hour ago, RichYak said:

That's great news! Are you gonna be ok? 😇

Yes!  I had a double scotch and slipped a filtered mask on top of the N95!  

[FFMilesJunkie]

On 2/22/2022 at 9:38 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. 

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry to bump this older thread but a quick question about being escorted on the ship. A friend of mine just returned from the Apex in a Villa. He said the escort on the ship was a bit sloppy just like you described, but he also got pinged getting off the ship.  He was rushing off since the ship was delayed, but when he swiped his card, he got a "ding" and they said someone would be there to escort him off the ship.  They ended up waiting and finally someone showed up and escorted them to pick up a curling iron that was confiscated and then to the luggage area.  He said it felt a little awkward especially since they were in a hurry.  He couldn't tell if the escort was due to having the curling iron or because they were trying to treat him like a VIP.  Did you get escorted off the ship?

[JFontaine]

12 minutes ago, FFMilesJunkie said:

 

Sorry to bump this older thread but a quick question about being escorted on the ship. A friend of mine just returned from the Apex in a Villa. He said the escort on the ship was a bit sloppy just like you described, but he also got pinged getting off the ship.  He was rushing off since the ship was delayed, but when he swiped his card, he got a "ding" and they said someone would be there to escort him off the ship.  They ended up waiting and finally someone showed up and escorted them to pick up a curling iron that was confiscated and then to the luggage area.  He said it felt a little awkward especially since they were in a hurry.  He couldn't tell if the escort was due to having the curling iron or because they were trying to treat him like a VIP.  Did you get escorted off the ship?

No.  People who leave from the Retreat get an escort, sometimes,  and the escort team uses their key card to make the elevator non-stop.  I once had an escort from a Penthouse through a service door when I had a very early flight (thanks to airline change) - but I think those escorts are very rare.