Beyond LIVE Semi-Solo AQ Class 11/8/22

[GenerationX]

Hello and happy Friday CC Friends!  Man, it feels like forever since I’ve been on a cruise ship…

 

Fortunately, three long, hard months after DH and I stepped off my Bermuda birthday cruise on Summit, on Monday I will fly to Florida to sail on the Beyond!  Would anyone like to come along?

 

I think most may know me from previous reviews, but a quick about me:  

 

Married 40 year old lawyer from outside of St. Louis, MO. Celebrity is our preferred cruise line and I’m Elite status level.  Due to differing vacation allowances and abilities to work remotely, I sail about 70% of the time either solo or semi-solo with a friend in a separate cabin (what can I say? I need my personal space).  I’ve also done one cruise with our 10 year old daughter who I’m delighted to say quickly became a fellow Celebrity Cruises addict and will be making her return to the seas with me on Solstice in spring of next year, but future cruise plans are for the wrap up post so moving on…

 

I’ve sailed on all the S and M class ships in the current fleet, but this will be only my second time sailing E class.  I sailed on Edge in a sky suite in February of last year and had a great cruise.  If my husband and I are ever blessed with another daughter I think I would push to name her after my butler on that cruise, Anastasia.  She was really something!

 

This cruise I will be sailing semi-solo.  My good girlfriend Red (dedicated spa and casino enthusiast who has appeared in previous reviews) is also sailing in a separate aqua class cabin.  

 

I originally booked this cruise in one of the solo infinite verandas at a bargain price.  Then a couple of weeks ago won a move up bid to aqua class.

 

I’m very much looking forward to seeing the improvements that have been made on E class from Edge to Beyond but, in full candor, I’m a bit nervous about this whole infinite veranda thing which just on its face has never sounded very appealing to me.  

 

Alas, suites were well above my budget for this cruise, and I figured a cruise in a glorified oceanview is better than no cruise at all. I also assume I won’t spend a ton of time in the room anyway with a brand new ship to explore.  Plus I feel like it’s unfair of me to knock the IV too hard until I’ve tried it, so off I go!

 

Before my review really gets underway, I would like to say massive thank you’s to @PinkSandGirl and @DragonOfTheSeas, whose fantastic reviews of their sailings on Beyond’s repo to FLL have been giving me life during my final countdown to this cruise.  Thanks to you guys, I feel like I’ll be stepping onboard fully prepared.

 

In the next day or 2 I’ll be doing a couple of posts (between pre cruise errands) about details on my booking and move up experience and plans while onboard.

 

As always feel free to jump in any time with questions/thoughts/suggestions.   

 

Can’t wait to start another cruise with everyone!

 

 

[CruisinMama2003]

Im here for this! Love your Live reviews 🙂

 

Have the BEST time! Cheers 🍾🥂🏝

[NaplesKnitter]

Hi, We have always enjoyed reading your reviews but this is the first time we are sailing on the same ship ! We are looking forward to meeting you!  Looking forward to the Gatsby Party!   

[dlh015]

Pulling up a chair! Thanks for taking us along!

 

Bon Voyage!

[Smmessineo]

Thanks for taking us along with you! 

[lola2013]

Another follower…have a great cruise.

It’s 96 days until I board Equinox.  Your report will carry me through the long days.

Bon Voyage ⚓️

Edited November 4, 2022 by lola2013

[ambrtonj]

Looking forward to it.

[GenerationX]

QUICK UPDATE:

 

I was just sitting in the spa after work getting my pre-cruise pedicure and scanning my email when I saw an email that briefly stopped my heart.

 

It was an auto email from Celebrity telling me that health and safety requirements may have changed for my cruise.

 

As most I’m sure are aware, a little while ago Celebrity had dropped COVID testing requirements for shorter cruises (like mine which is 5 nights), for vaccinated travelers.

 

When I saw the email I was terrified that testing had suddenly been reinstated and I was going to have to rush and find a way to get proctored COVID tested on Sunday. (I planned to self test with a home kit Monday morning just to be safe.)

 

Based at on my read of the updated website though, it appears that instead, things have swung the other way and Celebrity has now removed pre-cruise testing requirements for all cruises, regardless of length and passenger vaccination status, with the exception of cruises in some jurisdictions (exceptions screen shot below).

 

Someone please correct me if I’m misreading though.

 

The website says that the change was effective as of 11/2, so it’s odd that I just got an email about it 2 days later, but hey, I’m just glad it wasn’t adding a hoop for me to jump through to sail.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 5, 2022 by GenerationX

[Wallys_World]

I’m on the Summit now and when I boarded I had to check a box that I was vaccinated/boosted but they didn’t ask for my vax card or to show proof of a negative test. Pretty much just walked right on!

[MarKay525]

1 hour ago, NaplesKnitter said:

<snip>   Looking forward to the Gatsby Party!   

Sounds like so much fun. Please post lots of photos.

[PSU]

Looking forward to meeting you. My husband and I are also on the Beyond on Nov. 8. 

[Janthere]

Very much looking forward to your review of Beyond! Myself and a friend are also sailing semi-solo in (me in Aqua Class and her in a solo IV cabin) on Beyond over Thanksgiving week so your detailed and funny reviews are of particular interest! Safe travels and I can't wait to read all about your adventure! Thank you for live blogging!

[Spikedr]

I love your live reviews! So happy to have another. Enjoy the trip!

[parrothead33]

Thank you for allowing us to tag along, can’t wait to hear about your latest adventure.  Safe travels.

[countess5]

Signing on and looking forward to the morning read with coffee. Will be boarding Beyond in February for a B2B. 

 

Thanks for another live!

 

Cheers! 

[Lena11033]

11 hours ago, GenerationX said:

QUICK UPDATE:

 

I was just sitting in the spa after work getting my pre-cruise pedicure and scanning my email when I saw an email that briefly stopped my heart.

 

It was an auto email from Celebrity telling me that health and safety requirements may have changed for my cruise.

 

As most I’m sure are aware, a little while ago Celebrity had dropped COVID testing requirements for shorter cruises (like mine which is 5 nights), for vaccinated travelers.

 

When I saw the email I was terrified that testing had suddenly been reinstated and I was going to have to rush and find a way to get proctored COVID tested on Sunday. (I planned to self test with a home kit Monday morning just to be safe.)

 

Based at on my read of the updated website though, it appears that instead, things have swung the other way and Celebrity has now removed pre-cruise testing requirements for all cruises, regardless of length and passenger vaccination status, with the exception of cruises in some jurisdictions (exceptions screen shot below).

 

Someone please correct me if I’m misreading though.

 

The website says that the change was effective as of 11/2, so it’s odd that I just got an email about it 2 days later, but hey, I’m just glad it wasn’t adding a hoop for me to jump through to sail.

 

 

 

 

 

Think some of these emails are automated in advance so often don't take into account changes. But yes they dropped testing with a few exceptions a few days ago, you are good.

[amcco]

13 hours ago, GenerationX said:

QUICK UPDATE:

 

I was just sitting in the spa after work getting my pre-cruise pedicure 

 

 

 

Lol - this is my routine as well! My daughter and I go for a pedicure before any trip I take. She loves this routine as much as I do 💕

[Susanb10567]

Following along…have really enjoyed your other reviews…

 

Have a wonderful cruise. Not heading on the Beyond until January 2024 but have the Apex a month from today.

[Barwick Cruiser]

Here I was wondering what I was going to read with my morning coffee now that the TAs are mostly returned, still following @mahdnc, and here you are!! Have very much enjoyed your previous travelogues and so much looking forward to following you on this one as well! My Sept Eclipse to Alaska seems so long ago now 😢

 

Have fun and wishing you smooth seas and good luck with the IV! 
Cathy

[utopiahereicome]

Following, sailing solo on Beyond in January in SV, looking forward to your review!

[Buckeye94]

Yay! I'm looking forward to a short break from work and meeting @GenerationX  ,@hcat and others I've followed here for advice on board. See you at the Gatsby party! My accessories arrived just in time! 😀

Edited November 5, 2022 by Buckeye94

[asnaleah]

Following along, safe travels!

[hcat]

See you on Tuesday!

Looking forward to the Cruise and your live review!

Hope our Gatsby Party is one of the highlights!

 

 

[IsItTimeToCruiseYet?]

Another review from Generation  X!!!! 🍷 🙂I am so looking forward to reading your reviews on the BEYOND. My husband/I will be on the BEYOND in early 2023 in an ocean view accessible cabin.  Hopefully, we'll have Captain Kate/Bug!

 

We are sailing on the SUMMIT in a few weeks to see our amazing friend, Putri (Café Al Bacio Server) and her fiancée, Kyle (solo guitar player). It's a surprise and can't wait to see them.  

 

I enjoy your reviews and your enthusiasm is outstanding!  Enjoy and have a great time!  Hope to meet you on a future X cruise!

 

Have a fabulous cruise!  Let the party start!!!

 

 

[GenerationX]

A Little About How This Cruise Came to Be…

 

A suggestion for others like me who are trying to cruise as much as possible within a fixed budget: find yourself a cruise deal hunting buddy.

 

Future vacay searching/planning is one way I de-stress after work and Red’s Blue Chip status often sends good offers her way.  

 

Granted, my lowly $100 max per cruise in slots play doesn’t get me the sweet Blue Chip deals that a serious gambler like Red does, but we’ve found that the sailings that she gets good Blue Chip offers for usually also tend to have good market prices for a lowly Pearl like me.  

 

We always send each other a text when one of us comes across a well priced sailing. This Beyond sailing came to me courtesy of such a text from Red back in March.  

 

During the promo that was running, Celebrity was charging a full solo supplement.  However the solo infinite veranda class staterooms (1 passenger max occupancy) were priced under $2K with premium beverage and wifi, tips and $300 OBC included.

 

A couple of months after I booked, I noticed that Celebrity had waived solo supplements for a number of cruises, including this one, and I priced out straight upgrading to aqua class before final payment.  But when I looked into it, if I made the change, in addition to paying several hundred dollars more, I would have lost most of my perks (the upgraded beverage package, better wifi and OBC).

 

Instead, I decided to take my chances and put in a just above minimum Move Up bid of $400 for AQ class (since when you win a move up, you keep the perks of your original booking).

 

Lucky enough, 2 weeks ago I got the emails saying that my move up was accepted and sending my new cruise docs and luggage tags!

 

While I won’t get the extra captains club points and didn’t get to pick my cabin location, it’s worth the sacrifice to me for the amount of money and perks that I saved.

 

Soon to come:  a preview of the fun agenda for our 6 days on the Beyond!