Live from Millennium Panama Canal East-to-West April 21 - May 6, 2023

[mahdnc]

12 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

Interesting, we are Elite and did not receive an invite! 
 

 

Obviously Celebrity is saving your helipad invite for something more worthy--like the canal transit.

[davekathy]

25 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

Interesting, we are Elite and did not receive an invite! 
 

Maybe a lottery system(?). Crap I don't want to be part of that system again! If you see the CC concierge ask what the criteria is and is it fleetwide. The last two we went to was on the Summit (2019 and 2022). Standard balcony stateroom. On our 2022 Summit cruise we were walking up the stairs to the helipad I overheard a staff member that was escorting us answer someone that it was a tier level invite (?). Nothing on our recent March Apex cruise. The helipad is to small for the event. 

Edited April 22, 2023 by davekathy

[DaKahuna]

Getting ready to call it a night.  
stopped in the Retreat Lounge for a post dinner Long Island Ice Tea. 
 

 

And am finishing the night with a cucumber martini at the martini bar.

 

 

Good night ya’ll

 

[DaKahuna]

Just now, davekathy said:

If you see the CC concierge ask what the criteria is and is it fleetwide. The last two we went to was on the Summit (2019 and 2022). Standard balcony stateroom. On our 2022 Summit cruise we were walking up the stairs to the helipad I overheard a staff member that was escorting us answer someone that it was a tier level invite (?). Nothing on our recent March Apex cruise. The helipad is to small for the event. 

We have done multiple Helipad sail aways and one sailing into Nassau. 
 

I am sure we’ll have at least one opportunity on this cruise but doubt it will be the Canal as that’s just too popular to make it exclusive.

 

[davekathy]

6 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

We have done multiple Helipad sail aways

We have also and always well attended. The best two were on the Summit NE/Canada cruises on the St. Lawrence river.. 

[Fly and Sail]

27 minutes ago, davekathy said:

Maybe a lottery system(?). Crap I don't want to be part of that system again! If you see the CC concierge ask what the criteria is and is it fleetwide. The last two we went to was on the Summit (2019 and 2022). Standard balcony stateroom. On our 2022 Summit cruise we were walking up the stairs to the helipad I overheard a staff member that was escorting us answer someone that it was a tier level invite (?). Nothing on our recent March Apex cruise. The helipad is to small for the event. 

 

A few stats as far as the "lottery" is concerned:

 

According to the Tuscan Maitre 'D there are 2200 guests on board, out of which 600 (!!) are Elite and above. Hence the Elite Breakfast at Tuscan has also been quasi-suspended and will be held at the Metropolitan Restaurant on Deck 5 (no doubt a total zoo).

 

 

[Boo's Mom]

$524 for premium wifi? 

Dang - does it come with a little tech guy? In a tuxedo? 

[Boo's Mom]

A plant on your balcony?! 

I haven't seen that before. 🌵

[mahdnc]

2 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

I am sure we’ll have at least one opportunity on this cruise but doubt it will be the Canal as that’s just too popular to make it exclusive.

 

 

I am guessing that during the long canal transit day, you will find that Celebrity will be rotating several groups to the helipad.  They did that during our Solstice cruise when we visited Doubtful, Dusky, and Milford Sound in one day.  There were 3 groups invited to the helipad, one group for each sound.

[Boo's Mom]

41 minutes ago, Boo's Mom said:

$524 for premium wifi? 

Dang - does it come with a little tech guy? In a tuxedo? 

I just [used my brain] and realized you were on a 16 night cruise. lol  🍷

 

[Fly and Sail]

The air condition regulator is really a joke. Looks like something my uncle built in the 80s for the garden shack. Hot or Cold but no option to choose how strong it's supposed to be. With the air vent right next to the bed, I have technicians on the way to shut the entire thing off.

 

Also, my cabin phone literally fell apart and I had it replaced. Is there no cabin quality check?

 

Mattress is still perfect though.

[Fly and Sail]

4 hours ago, Boo's Mom said:

$524 for premium wifi? 

Dang - does it come with a little tech guy? In a tuxedo? 

 

Celebrity pricing for wifi is based on daily rates, with this one being 15 days you have 15x$35. Thankfully the CC discount for E/E+ takes a lot of the blow off.

 

I'm quite excited how the Starlink performs, so far it's fine but it's 4am and I doubt any more people other than me are nuts enough to use it right now. 😬

[hcat]

9 hours ago, Fly and Sail said:

 

A few stats as far as the "lottery" is concerned:

 

According to the Tuscan Maitre 'D there are 2200 guests on board, out of which 600 (!!) are Elite and above. Hence the Elite Breakfast at Tuscan has also been quasi-suspended and will be held at the Metropolitan Restaurant on Deck 5 (no doubt a total zoo).

 

 

that  breakfast should be V E R Y interesting..may as well go to reg mdr dining

 

you could ask Cap Club rep about the helipad invite ..usually would work but maybe just too many are  on board??

 

we have enjoyed the helipad gaterings but sometimes it is too hot and sunny and not worth the trouble...

 

 

[The Colonel_Cruises]

3 minutes ago, hcat said:

that  breakfast should be V E R Y interesting..may as well go to reg mdr dining

 

you could ask Cap Club rep about the helipad invite ..usually would work but maybe just too many are  on board??

 

we have enjoyed the helipad gaterings but sometimes it is too hot and sunny and not worth the trouble...

 

 

I swung by Metropolitan Deck 5 and they confirmed daily Elite breakfast at 8:00 AM. 

[DaKahuna]

7 hours ago, Boo's Mom said:

A plant on your balcony?! 

I haven't seen that before. 🌵

We have not had one before either.  Was surprised to see it.

 

[DaKahuna]

4 hours ago, Fly and Sail said:

The air condition regulator is really a joke. Looks like something my uncle built in the 80s for the garden shack. Hot or Cold but no option to choose how strong it's supposed to be. With the air vent right next to the bed, I have technicians on the way to shut the entire thing off.

 

Also, my cabin phone literally fell apart and I had it replaced. Is there no cabin quality check?

 

Mattress is still perfect though.

My DW woke up and said she was cold, she turned it to about the 4 o’clock position and now it’s blowing hot air.  I’ll play with it until I find a setting she likes and I’ll live with that.

 

It was strange just now.  I had to show her how to get the water to come out of the shower head.  It’s been too long since we had that configuration for our shower controller.

 

I am thinking we will skip the Elite Breakfast but am interested in how it goes for those of you that do attend.  Maybe we’ll try it later in the cruise.

 

[DaKahuna]

3 hours ago, Fly and Sail said:

 

I'm quite excited how the Starlink performs, so far it's fine but it's 4am and I doubt any more people other than me are nuts enough to use it right now. 😬

I have been posting my Starlink speeds over on a thread that Jim started.

 

 

so far it has been as expected.

 

[Boo's Mom]

Have they offered Chef's Table on your sailing? 

I am on the Millennium in July.  I only saw it available on disembarkation day, briefly - and then I guess it sold out.  

 

Will you be doing Le Petit Chef? 

I am still debating. 

I am traveling with my family of 12. 

Not sure if I want to invest here. 

I have previously done Qsine. (DH wasn't thrilled)

 

Thank you, DaKahuna!  🛳enJOY your day! 

 

[cruisestitch]

9 hours ago, Fly and Sail said:

 

A few stats as far as the "lottery" is concerned:

 

According to the Tuscan Maitre 'D there are 2200 guests on board, out of which 600 (!!) are Elite and above. Hence the Elite Breakfast at Tuscan has also been quasi-suspended and will be held at the Metropolitan Restaurant on Deck 5 (no doubt a total zoo).

 

 

Not a zoo as of 815. Maybe twenty people so far.

[DaKahuna]

13 minutes ago, Boo's Mom said:

Have they offered Chef's Table on your sailing? 

I am on the Millennium in July.  I only saw it available on disembarkation day, briefly - and then I guess it sold out.  

 

Will you be doing Le Petit Chef? 

I am still debating. 

I am traveling with my family of 12. 

Not sure if I want to invest here. 

I have previously done Qsine. (DH wasn't thrilled)

 

Thank you, DaKahuna!  🛳enJOY your day! 

 

I have not seen anything, but then again I have not been looking, regarding Chef’s Table.  
 

We cancelled Petit Chef. Just could not convinve myself it was worth it.  Doing the Vueve Clicquot Dinner instead. 

[Fly and Sail]

27 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

My DW woke up and said she was cold, she turned it to about the 4 o’clock position and now it’s blowing hot air.  I’ll play with it until I find a setting she likes and I’ll live with that.

 

It was strange just now.  I had to show her how to get the water to come out of the shower head.  It’s been too long since we had that configuration for our shower controller.

 

I am thinking we will skip the Elite Breakfast but am interested in how it goes for those of you that do attend.  Maybe we’ll try it later in the cruise.

 

Better go to Luminae. I went to BLU which is nice and serene.

 

I covered my aircon with ductape which I carried in expectation of this problem. Does help in Alaska but not so much here in tropical weather.

 

Btw the App now shows the CHIC night as TONIGHT!

[TeeRick]

17 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

I do not see one.  Have been through all the documents left in our room so guess it’s the Sky Bar for us.

 

We took this cruise on Infinity around this time of year.  Extremely hot and humid outside when we went.  The Sky Bar is a better choice I think!

[DaKahuna]

22 minutes ago, Fly and Sail said:

Better go to Luminae. I went to BLU which is nice and serene.

 

I covered my aircon with ductape which I carried in expectation of this problem. Does help in Alaska but not so much here in tropical weather.

 

Btw the App now shows the CHIC night as TONIGHT!

 

you may want to close and reopen your app.

 

mine shows smart casual 

 

[Fly and Sail]

6 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

you may want to close and reopen your app.

 

mine shows smart casual 

Mine does too now. Mind blown. 🤯😂

 

[Schmoe38]

9 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

you may want to close and reopen your app.

 

mine shows smart casual 

 

John

 

You need to hit your “refresh” button a few times during the day in order to capture any changes in the app.

 

Randy