Curt From Canada

I am not sure how I have missed this in the past, but the option of substituting in Chef's Table for one of the nights with the 3 Night Specialty Dining Package seems like a great idea on small ships that only have 1 or 2 speciality restaurants.  I think the uncharge is ~$49.  It seems worth it instead of dining 3 times in Chops.

My question is about the best way to make the substitution.  I am guessing there are few options, but we are looking for any process folks have used in the past:

• Book Chef's Table ahead of time and make the switch when we get on board?
• Book Chef's Table ahead of time and have RCL "correct" the bill when we are at Chef's Table?
• Do not book Chef's Table ahead of time and book once on board (embarkation day) when booking the other two Chop's reservation?
• Other?

There are 5 of us, so we are slightly concerned about Chef's Table being over booked on a night we would want.

Any input/ideas would be greatly appreciated ...

Curt from Canada

Following with much interest.  My soulmate and I plus 3 friends are on Enchantment in March.  We will be the ones monopolizing the dance floor.

We love sailing out of Baltimore.  Small but fit for purpose departure areas ... and definitely quick to the ship.

Have a blast ...

Curt from Canada

31 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Explorer does !  I was just in it yesterday.  Deck 11 next to Chops.  

Brilliant ... calling my MEI Specialist now!

Thanks

Curt from Canada

I have not been on Mariner, but Adventure, Explorer and Voyager do not have them.  It is the only one at sea I am aware of.  It is not my full time "job" on cruise ships, but I always on the "lookout" for anything like it.  So far it is the only one after 26 cruises.

I think you are correct ... this might be one of those "Use Only When Under Sail" washrooms.

Curt from Canada

28 minutes ago, CravingaCruise said:

Really?  Tell me more!  What’s so special about this washroom?

A "Pew" with a View:

You are in for the treat of a lifetime!!  Navigator has the BEST PUBLIC WASHROOM at sea.  Deck 11 aft elevators port side.  Do not pay any attention to any "passé" gender based signage ... you will be DIAMOND!!  If I remember correctly, Diamond members can use any public washroom regardless of gender.  Please check this out ahead of time with the Diamond Concierge (as I could be wrong)

Have a blast ...

Curt from Canada

Our first cruise was our worst cruise (2006).  In the 26 cruises since, it continued to get better.  Multiple issues:

• We had significant delays (due to weather) on our early morning flight (7AM planned departure).  We finally arrived in Miami Airport at 2:30PM (no breakfast & no lunch).  We just got to the ship on time before departure.  We never even considered flying in the night before ... Oooooops, our bad (RCL wins this one ... RCL 1 - Confused Canucks [CC] 0).
• By the time we got on the ship, the muster drill had just started.  All of the food & beverage venues were closed or were closing.  Like animals after a long cold winter we scavenged tables for scraps of food and drink.  One single orange and one regular coke is all we could find.  We never even considered flying in the night before ... Oooooops, our bad (RCL wins this one ... RCL 2 - CC 0).
• Every night the ship was alive with music and dancing.  We had taken lessons in university, but had forgotten everything.  All those people having fun and we were like two sticks in the mud.  We never thought that you could have so much fun dancing on a ship to live music, we should have started lessons up again ... Oooooops, our bad (RCL wins this one ... RCL 3 - CC 0).  I am sensing a trend.
• The food was excellent!! We stuffed ourselves silly.  No one told us there was too much good food to be had on vacation.  We gained a pound per day EACH.  We never thought to pace ourselves ... Oooooops our bad (RCL wins this one ... RCL 4 - CC 0).
• The last night of the cruise was very depressing.  We had WAYTOO much fun.  We did not want to go home.  No one told us the last night could be that bad.  We did not do our homework and research cruising ahead of time ... Oooooops our bad (RCL wins [in a shutout no less] 5 - CC 0).

We learned our lessons well:

1. We fly in the night before.
2. We want to take credit for the new Muster Drill process, but RCL gets a bonus goal for that (RCL 6 - CC 0).
3. Our Foxtrot is smooth, our Rumba is steamy and our Swing can clear a dance floor (sorry).
4. We pace ourselves in the restaurants (Quality, not Quantity) and get some alternate exercise when we are not dancing.
5. We always make sure have between 3 to 6 cruises booked before the last night.  Making sure the next one is no more than 90 days away.

For experienced cruisers there is nothing new here to help.  For rookies ... DO YOUR HOMEWORK.

Curt from Canada

11 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

North Sea…easy pass for me lol. Once this summer was enough 

There are people who are "born to the sea" and others that are "born to the suites".

Book Serenade and get the kids to promise they ill be on their best behaviour.  I am certain they would keep their word.

Curt from Canada

29 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

Yesterday, I stumbled upon a repositioning sailing for Serenade on September 12, 2023 (12 night sailing). It has been almost 20 years since I have done a 12 night but this seems like a great itinerary and great pricing.

Someone talk me out of this and tell me that it's not because I am on the verge of doing something that I probably shouldn't lol.....

Itinerary: Tampa-Georgetown-Aruba-Curacao-Bonaire-PDCC-Boston

Cost starting at (double occ): $728 (inside); $798 (outside); $948 (balcony); $1328 (suite)

Is it because "everyone" is on Jewel to Greenland at pretty much the same time?

Curt from Canada

15 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

It was unusually warm today in Kristiansand. The temperature was in the low 20s (Celsius). Off the top of my head, no clue what that translates to in Fahrenheit

That is approximately 68 degF to 74 DegF (from one of the last "bilingual" Canadians [Imperial & Metric]) ... actually was taught both in school (when Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth).

Curt from Canada

I dress for no one. Not at work (OK, maybe for customers), not at home, and not on a cruise. With one massive exception. I dress for my soulmate. Since I really can’t see what I am wearing, and I really could care less about what anyone else thinks, I dress for only one person ... the woman I fell in love with 43 years ago and the woman I want to make happy every single day of my life. 

I also do not care what other people wear … I am looking at my soulmate, everyone else is the equivalent of “visual background noise” … Sorry if some of you are upset.

These genuine requests for what is normal and tolerated in the MDR and on Formal nights are sincere questions (and good ones). My advice is ... Ask your soulmate(s). Ask the person(s) who you are devoted to. Ask the only person(s) on the earth that matters. You and they will be much happier as a result. 

On a cruise (and many times at home), I wear what my soulmate wants.  She also asks me what I prefer that she wears, and I am honest and very appreciative when she responds. When we do this, almost always she says I “look sexy”, and I feel great (I also laugh a little ... OK, maybe a lot). I think she is the most beautiful woman on the ship, and I would wear anything to make her happy. 

I hope everyone can have this feeling when they go cruising. 

Curt from Canada. 

1). Live Music.  Dancing is "OK" with a DJ, but dancing to live music is a real treat.  Boleros and Music Hall ... here we come.

2). "A la carte" cruising.  Being able to choose what the experience is (rather than "Always Included style") allows us to pick only the things we really want.  The amount we drink, eat, stay connected, and "play" with the "expensive" toys (Coco Cay, on board extras, excursions, etc) varies from cruise to cruise ... choice is something we must have.

3). Entertainment ... To see Broadway/West End at sea is a real treat.  Some of the other larger ship entertainment is "off the charts" (The Gift ... definitely not you).

4). Higher Level Loyalty Perks ... we have not done our homework, but the Royal program seems to have some significant advantages.  Our sense is they will "pull back" over time, but compared to others they seem to have a significant advantage.

5). Did I mention Live Music?

Curt from Canada

17 minutes ago, KristiZ said:

@Curt From CanadaPinnacles are allowed in the Concierge Club but not Diamond Plus. Hope that helps!

Thank you ... this is not a surprise and it is nice to have confirmation.  

Separately, your summaries are a treat.  Really well done, and Norway is stunning (so the pictures help me feel like I am there).  Radiance class ships are one of our favourites.  Lots of connection with the sea.  We have done 20 foot swells ... looking forward to the 30 foot versions to set a "new record".

Can't wait for your next post.

Thanks again,

Curt from Canada

Question:  Is the Concierge Lounge now suites only?  The D+ note seemed to imply that the Diamond Lounge is now (at least for this sailing) for D, D+ and Pinnacles.

Following very closely.  We are on Jewel for this itinerary a year from now.

Thanks for all your time and effort

Curt from Canada

Following this one (top of the list).  This looks identical to our 2023 sailing.  Enjoy the "Top of the World".

Curt from Canada

In 2017, we were on Freedom.  We were lined up in the first night MDR "cattle call" (waiting to get into the MDR).  I hate being in this line ... I have no idea what we were doing.  Sardines have more room in their can.  

A tall gentleman two or three couples in front of us turned around to look at the length of the line and the "crush" of it.  In a loud and booming voice he said:

"These poor people ... they have not eaten in 20 minutes".

That was funny enough for my soulmate and I (I certainly laughed out loud).  Funnier still, 80% of the people did not get the joke.

We have not stood in that line since.

Curt from Canada

26 years of cruising and 26 cruises ... still I have rookie questions about On Board Credit (I have never had any in 26 years ... until now).  No taunting from the "veterans", these are real rookie questions.

1).  For "regular" purchases, I do not remember any option for charging to OBC.  Speciality dining, shop purchases, drinks, etc had no option to use OBC specifically.  You just used your Seapass Card.  Does the OBC credit just get automatically applied to your stateroom balance?

2). For the "Casino OBC Cashback Gambit", it appears that to charge a slot machine from your Stateroom Account you do need to select a "Charge to my OBC" option at the slot machine.  Can you charge to your Stateroom Account (and not use OBC)?

3).  Does the "Casino OBC Cashback Gambit" require you to select the "Charge to my OBC" option at the slot machine?

Three somewhat basic questions, deserves a little bit of taunting.  If you can answer all three, feel free to send your best ... "How can you have cruised for 26 years and NOT KNOW THIS" taunt.  I will book an extra appointment with my psychiatrist this week. ... so I will be fine.

Curt from Canada

10 minutes ago, Pattycruise said:

There are 2 types of OBC  refundable and non refundable.  You can ask at guest services as to which kind you have on your room.

Nonrefundable OBC when pulled for play in the casino (ask casino host for instruction) will be in promotional chips or the slot play and the  machine will "know" the $ amount.  
It is easy to see when you are done with your promotional chips at the table.
For slot machines,
Don't forget to tap your seapass card on the machine you will play and the mechanism will turn green and say "Hi_____________".  You then withdraw your $ to the machine and the machine will record your play.
For  every $5 spent on a slot machine ($10 on video poker) you earn 1 point. So note how many points you start with and how much OBC you move into the machine so you will know when you are done with that freeplay and can cash out your winnings.   So for $50 nonrefundable OBC you would need to earn 10 points before you can cash out.
Note, you cannot change machines once you download the OBC promotional money.....because it will not allow you to cash out until you spend it.  So if it is a large amount of nonrefundable OBC you might want to transfer in smaller amounts if you are the type to change machines frequently.

Refundable OBC can be withdrawn through the machine (again, ask the casino host how, they have a small slip of paper with directions), there is no need to play that money, you transfer it to the machine, cash out and bring the slip to the cashier.

All C&A members of all levels get promotional freeplay on their seapass card (from $2-$8) that is nonrefundable.  It must be played by midnight of day 2 or you lose it.

 

Thank you ... this is helpful.  One critical question for non-refundable OBC, does the "Slot Machine Gambit" (I just made that up) where you:

• Withdraw say $500 from your room account into the slot machine.
• Immediately cash out and take the $500 from the cashier.
• The OBC (non-refundable) is used to cover the withdrawal from the stateroom account.

I have never done it before, so this is very new to me.

Thanks again and any input would be greatly appreciated,

Curt from Canada

I found this "Helpful Hint" on the APP (and now I can not find it again).  This is new, and very surprising.  Does anyone have any thoughts or experience? 

Curt from Canada

46 minutes ago, Shari said:

We just got home from our Bermuda cruise on Celebrity.  Getting the Travel Authorization was a nightmare.  We had all of our information (including the negative test results) uploaded by noon 2 days before embarkation.  We flew to New Jersey and arrived at the hotel 3pm the afternoon before embarkation.  I checked my email and nothing from Bermuda so I called the number that was on the received verification email and waited nearly an hour (started at 78 in line).  Once I was able to talk to the Bermuda rep I found out we were okay and he sent the Travel Authorization immediately.  We had to sign it electronically and download the pdf.  Many people did not do this the day before and they were standing outside the port in the rain on hold waiting for their TA.  Lesson learned is be proactive and don't assume Bermuda will do their job in sending the approval.

Shari ... thank you for being the " Canary in the Cave".  They seem to have simplified everything for the BTA (by making the cruise lines do most of the work).

I am curious.  After the initial gauntlet you had to run to get on the ship how did it go?  Any highs any lows?  Most importantly, my dancing shoes are already packed, are any of the bands "dance worthy".  We think we might be hanging out in the Rendezvous Lounge a lot, but this is our first time on X so we are not sure.

Any information would be greatly appreciated,

Curt from Canada

On 5/21/2022 at 2:11 PM, SJ Vail said:

They did it to accommodate us and the Bermuda Covid test requirements (negative test within 2 days of embarkation and Bermuda website states as long as they are first stop they’ll accept that one test). We are thankful since we would all be out of compliance to enter Bermuda with the original itinerary 

Of course, nothing in life (that is important) is easy.  It appears as though this change in itinerary has made testing easier, but there is now a "debate" on who confirms the test.  There appear to be two "competing" interpretations of the latest "direction":

1).  Celebrity will take our BTA and match to our MAY 31 Rapid Antigen Test at the pier to complete the BTA process.  (Everyone will have needed to submit their $40 and make the application with their upload of an appropriate Vaccination Record). Or ...

2).  Send in the MAY 31 Rapid Antigen Test on the 31st to the BTA so they can approve our BTA before we get to the pier on JUN 02.

I would bet money it is point 1).  The BTA could then:

• collect the money
• have X do all the hard work (get criticized if there were issues)
• need fewer staff (since X was doing extra work for the BTA)
• have more money of their weekly BBQ from 12noon to sundown on every Friday

I am very interested on what happens to those cruising on MAY 23st.

Curt from Canada

Celebrity just changed the JUN 02, 2022 itinerary to make getting the BTA easier:

Curt from Canada

3 hours ago, YOLO said:

Yesterday I was able to click on the link in the "ACTION REQUIRED" email sent to us last Saturday for our cruise tomorrow.  It was then simple to upload our Covid test results.  Worry free.  Now just waiting for an email back on the status of our Bermuda Travel Authorizations...

Given that I am getting on a Bermuda cruise in JUN, I would be very grateful if you update how this went.

Thank you,

Curt from Canada

1). That little black dress she wears that makes me as dizzy as the first time I met her.

2). A live band that starts playing swing music at 5PM and finishes sometime after midnight.

3). My soulmate ... that is critical for points 1) and 2).

4). Friends travelling with us.

5). A bartender that will listen to me explain for 20 minutes how I want my martini prepared (and have it ready every day at 5PM).

Simple life and simple needs ... CAN'T WAIT TO GET ON THAT SHIP!!!!

Curt from Canada

Notice the "T" (Tender) ... the docks might be full.

Curt from Canada