cruisellama

2 hours ago, SpicyCherry said:

I’m fresh off Symphony and going on another B2B on Wonder next year. My DH truly enjoyed his Lavazza coffee every morning in our Suite(so much so that we are now proud owners of a Lavazza Blue). Now, I’m not a coffee drinker myself but did enjoy waking up to the aroma. So in anticipation of Wonder next year, found some Lavazza Hot Chocolate to try out. However, in the meantime, we will be on Celebrity Edge in less than a month. Already packing up my Lavazza HC pods but……SCREEEEEEEECH!! Wait a minute. Is there even a coffee machine in Sky Suites? Or in any Suite? I sure can’t find any pic or video showing one. Anybody know?

Nope - not in a Sky or Celebrity suite.  

18 minutes ago, Censored said:

the suite class on Edge is what I would like to check out. I think thats a big difference along with food quality

You get Luminae and the Retreat area.  Luminae is like Coastal Kitchen.   You get better service than in the MDRs, and the food might be considered  notch better (depending upon what you're looking for).  Luminae has its own galley that services itself, Retreat bar, and Dinner on the Edge.   Edge Retreat area  provides a good value with less crowded access to the food, drinks, and dedicated pool .  Less people competing for bars and deck chairs.  I've found the service to be more attentive (better staff to guest ratio).  We'll book it because of the "perks" that come along with suite level.

Check in 1 Dec

On 10/31/2022 at 4:28 PM, karl_nj said:

Yes, I would agree with you there.  I think Quantum class has the best solarium out of any cruise ship, on any cruise line.  Especially for sailing out of a cold weather port. I also love how they also have a separate indoor pool that is open to younger passengers (less of an issue for you.)

I'm not sure any of the Solariums on Celebrity are as nice.

Music Hall is also a great venue on Quantum class ships.  On Oasis class ships they rebranded a different space as Music Hall, but it doesn't work as well as it does on Quantum Class ships.

Since Celebrity Edge is a smaller ship, they have fewer bars onboard.  Quantum class ships have the Pub, Boleros, Schooner Bar, Music Hall (each with a different musical perfomer/band), Vintages.  Plus a bar at Two70, Casino Bar, Bionic Bar.  Edge really has 2-3 indoor bars... the big Martini Bar in the middle and Eden in the back.  There is also a bar in "The Club" but it didn't seem like much was going on there.  If you want a drink and to listen to a live performer, you pretty much only have 2 options.

Sounds great! When I had my JS on Anthem, we were traveling with others that were not in a JS, so we didn't try CK.

Celebrity does have some cabin classes that include a 'special' dining room.  There is a suite restaurant, but there is also a dining room for Aquaclass guests, which are just balcony cabins that cost a little more.

Yes, I totally agree that breakfast in Two70 on Anthem is wonderful.  Even if sometimes they don't heat though the breakfast sandwiches as much as they should.  The view (and it being pretty empty) makes up for it.  I'm planning on having breakfast there often next week when i'm on Anthem!

They have something similar in Eden on Edge, but it didn't seem quite the same to me.

Actually found the Eden cafe to be very nice.   Its tucked away behind the bar and even has outside seating.  Many guests don't discover it until halfway through the cruise.   Once people find it, gets crowded for lunch.  I thought it had a nice breakfast menu, but also a very adequate lunch menu.   Both hot (grilled paninis) and cold sandwiches, soups, salads.

16 hours ago, FLTraveler said:

I've never gotten the Cafe Select card. Question: is it actually a separate card rather than loaded to your SeaPass? If you don't use all 15 on a cruise, can you use the others on a future cruise?

Yes a punch card.  Which I really can't figure out why they still use a punch card as they could just as easily load them onto your sea pass card.   We've actually used the same card on different cruises (had unused punches).

Yep just saw it too.

18 hours ago, SpicyCherry said:

I do not believe Suite/Retreat guests get an email from the Retreat Host prior to sailing...at least not for Sky Suites anyway. This is the first time in a Suite on Celebrity so I really have no frame of reference. I have done Grand Suites on RC  so know you are contacted by the Suite Concierge prior, which is awesome. 

I did call The Retreat to see if I could make Specialty Restaurant reservations(w/Dining Package) pre-sailing. The short answer was No. However, when calling in, the phone prompts make you indicate 1 of 2 things: if you are in a Sky Suite OR any other Suite. That make me think that Sky Suite-ers are treated much like RC Junior Suite-ers, and may not get all of the same perks, even though access to The Retreat is a big enough perk for me. In any event, I emailed The Retreat([email protected]) to request, at the very least, a few leg rests or something similar. I am awaiting a response. So, we'll see what happens.

Suite perks are the same BUT you don't get as much attention (service) from the butler staff (concierge).   Good ones will put forth effort.   Try Celebrity customer engagement.  [email protected]  (The desk is operated by the Capt Club loyalty team VP staff so they tend to be a bit more responsive.)  or [email protected].    I found Jennifer to be very helpful on pre-cruise issues (even though that's not in her job jar.

If you strike out ahead of time, prepare your preferences on a piece of paper and give it to your butler when he/she  checks in with you after you get in your cabin.  They'll always ask "what can I do for you?" .  Hand him/her the paper and it will get done.  Always had luck with that - writing on a card makes a difference in getting it right.

1 hour ago, SpicyCherry said:

You ain't lyin'!! Those chairs look uncomfortable and cheap. I understand Sky Suites are their 'lead-in' to the Suite category, but it is still a Suite and should, therefore, be treated as such. May I ask...Who do you plan on making your pre-cruise request to? Just curious....I may do the same.

Get the name of the Retreat concierge and email (they manage all the butlers).  If not before, go to the Retreat concierge desk.    If you're able to get an aft suite, no issue.  On Celebrity Solstice and Millennium class ships, the have more appropriate chairs (& tables) with  leg rests so you can relax on the balcony (which are smaller than Edge class) .   For the  newest class ship, its disappointing they decided to skimp on balcony furniture.   [If you do not get satisfaction, make sure you call it out on the end of cruise survey when they ask about the cabin.  With enough formal feedback, change should eventually occur.]

Not while on the cruise.    If you're on a port/starboard balcony its bad!   Cheap patio chairs that you can't recline.   (If you have an aft room its ok).   We're on Beyond in 2023 and I'm going to make a request pre-cruise to get something adequate.  Even the table is not adequate to have a meal, just drinks.

On 10/26/2022 at 11:54 AM, Toby said:

Royal Caribbean has the Schooner Bar I view as their signature bar on all their ships.  Does Celebrity have a signature bar as well?

 

The martini bar seems to be the center of action.  The bartenders put on a show with multi pours and custom martinis.   On the Millennium and Solstice class ships, the martini bars are "ice bars".   Edge class did away with the iced surface bar; however, they moved the marti bar to the center ship atrium making it a focus area with entertainment and more seating.  On Edge class, the martini bartenders do their demonstrations to music and a light show.  So IMO, the martini bars are the signature bars.

35 minutes ago, GKMCruising said:

Same, but have to keep telling myself all the reasons it's better to wait. That said - @Matt or anyone else have thoughts on future sailings past the current April 2025 dates? Do we expect Icon to remain in Miami for all of 2025 as well, or is it likely to head to Europe for the last half of the year?

I'm sure port LNG fueling infrastructure will be part of the decision on where it will (can) sail.

The illustrations make it look like an integration of Coco Cay and Oasis.    A floating Coco Cay.

If you're getting coffee from metal carafes, the carafe can impart bad flavor if they're not cleaned properly.   I've found more consistency when you get by the cup at the point of origin, whether it be the promenade or dining areas.   I think turn over helps.  We experienced more issues with coffee delivered through room service - questionable carafes.   (Exception was just after shutdown when everything was new or really cleaned)

1 hour ago, cruisellama said:

December-ish

If I remember correctly, if sailing in November, you may see an opportunity to access the later half of 2024 through the on-board cruise reservation team.  

31 minutes ago, RCIfan1912 said:

I know this gets asked every year but when should we expect 2024 cruises to be released for booking?  I should narrow that down, looking to book a 9 day Canada/NE cruise from here in NJ. This Winter I would guess? 

December-ish

Caught a glitch with my A2S flight in January.  Cruise was paid off for some time, but I continued to check my airfare periodically to verify ticket purchase.    I noticed we were getting seat bumps and I would have to reclaim seats (understandable when equipment changes).  But was seeing an "unknown" ticket status in my frequent flyer account.   Called A2S and discovered A2S didn't pay for the tickets, so we were hanging out without tickets.   Caught it early, about 90 days out and they purchased the tickets.  Would had to get closer and lose the seats or my direct flight because of a purchase glitch.   Verify you flights with the airline early to ensure A2S completes transactions.

On 10/11/2022 at 5:42 AM, Jailman said:

On my last sailing on Odyssey while I was sitting around the pool I ordered a drink and when the server brought it, I gave him a $2 bill as a tip.  He looked at it and told me it was "funny money" and gave it back to me.  I tried to tell him it was real but he insisted it was not.  Anyway, it was no tip for him.  Has anyone else ran into this problem?

I'm not sure you would get many US merchants who have seen $2 bills and accept it (there's no extra drawer slot in the registers for a $2, so goes under the drawer)   I have a couple , but keep them as novelties for the grandkids.

If I'm correctly remembering, your  personal calendar events will remain intact when you're off board.

1 hour ago, Pooch said:

Sucks to get old but I have sadly come to the conclusion that, although I might have 5+ drinks a couple of days, I can’t do it every day anymore.  Thankfully after this next cruise, we’ll be Diamond.  I’m pretty comfortable with 4 comped drinks per day & paying OOP for the few extras.

Last time we tried to do the 5+ on day 1 ,  we missed our Chops dinner reservation -   pretty lame right?  

2 hours ago, USCG Teacher said:

Hey crew, really specific question here.  Last week, my TA booked my flights for my cruise next summer using Air2Sea.  I received my record locator and a copy of the itinerary from Air2Sea, along with the directions to call the airline directly to request seating assignments.  When I did so today, the agent couldn't find anything under the record locator provided by Air2Sea, but could find my reservation searching my name and flight info, and there was a different record locator associated with it.  He also said that the reservation was ticketed yet, and that my AAdvantage number was not connected to the reservation.  So I guess the question(s) are:

-Is having a different record locator until the reservation is ticketed a usual occurrence?  If so, how long does it usually take for the reservation to get ticketed?

-If the flight needs to be paid for before it can be ticketed, is it possible to play for the flight through Air2Sea without paying off the entire cruise (final payment isn't due until May)?

-Has anyone had luck paying AA directly to upgrade their economy tickets booked through Air2Sea to economy plus?

I know how extremely specific this question is, so I'm not counting on a ton of feedback here, but I appreciate any experience you all have!  I know I could have my TA track down some of the locator info, but if this is a common occurrence, I don't want to harass her; she does so much already! Thanks as always!

In some cases, you'll find that A2S will book two one way tickets so you will have 2 record locators, one for each leg (outgoing and return).   Also, they don't actually purchase the tickets until sometime under the 90 day cruise payoff.  Sometimes not until 30 days prior.  This means you need to check your frequent flyer account (American Airlines) and verify you flight numbers, seats etc several times until purchase.   Equipment changes can also drop your seats and you find out your pre-reserved seats are gone.  Consequently, I've backed off using them for domestic.   I'd rather pay them early to get my seats and desired reservations.   I want direct flights and have experienced changes pushing to in-directed adding hours to our travel.  Won't put up with that, especially when paying a premium for direct flights.  Keep you eye on the ball with A2S reservations.

Is Nov 13th the 1st Allure cruise from Galveston?

On 10/6/2022 at 10:06 AM, Censored said:

Wondering who goes to this lounge that used to be overcrowded  at happy hour for the free drinks.  Ive noticed that with the new format on free drinks, the room is quite empty.  I use it for a better quality coffee in the morning if I dont have a suite.  The appetizers  are mediocre at best . The concierge is there to answer questions.   

We still will stop by - usually after the rush.   Off hours it seems to be fairly empty and not a bad place to drink coffee and read.     Hit and miss with the concierge as the cruise goes on off hours, but is a good time to get help if available.

On 10/2/2022 at 2:54 AM, AndyPandy said:

What would your typical requests be when you can email.

I know specialist dinning is one, and maybe shows, what else?

If you want a mattress topper or even dinner reservations.

On 1/12/2018 at 5:48 AM, J_Keeble said:

I've just booked Allure of the Seas for October this year under a great deal which included drinks at £1450 for 2 people in a D6 Balcony cabin. Being a cruise nerd I instantly went onto the cruise planner and saw Samba grill as a dining option.

The sample menu just states "dinner" and has a long list of meats listed.

I'm wondering how samba grill works as I don't see an appetisers or desserts? and do you just pick one main?

There is a dessert bar and salad bar.  IMO the meats are overly seasoned - too salty for me.

3 hours ago, Evantra said:

Bump! Same here. looking to do B2B med cruises on Celebrity for April 2024+

Is it fair to compare 2023 sailings in the same region just to plan ahead and get ideas?

Yes.  Itineraries and ship porting tend to follow an annual cycle.  Rates will be different.  Ships will be re-deployed as newer ones enter the fleet.