cruisellama

The cruise lines are paying attention.  I had an itinerary change recently (skipped and added a port stop).

20 hours ago, D Alt said:

So does Celebrity have a cruise planner similar to RCL?  I haven't booked a cruise with them yet and wondering if I can purchase those extras like internet and shore excursions after i book my cruise. 

Yes.   Some format differences but essentially the same.

There is an old saying, "familiarity breeds contempt" - as you partake in any regular experience (vacation or otherwise), you can loose the "specialness"  and it might even seem mundane, and you need a reset.   Sounds like a good way to re-calibrate.  Interesting that both the RCL and Carnival CEOs are prepping the public (in the financial reports)  for increased rates as its understood cruising is  "too good a deal" compared to land based vacations.

13 hours ago, Censored said:

Im old fashioned and it has always been rude, disrespectful, and a total lack of etiquette to go to MDR or other specialty restaurants to wear a ball cap . Is it time to tell people to take them off? At least in the MDR formal nights???    Hello?  

It depends upon the maitre'd.  I've seen some asked  to remove on occasion.

On 12/25/2022 at 7:40 AM, twangster said:

Not too shabby at all.  Merry Christmas indeed!

Has Starlink faired better in precipitation vs legacy satellite system?

I recall a conversation I had with some crew members in Johnny Rockets on Liberty of the Seas, on the LAST cruise before shutdown.  They noted the new cleaning protocols were a lot of extra work, but should have been in effect long before there was an emerging pandemic.  Felt the benefits would outweigh the extra load on them as they can get sick too.

On 12/27/2022 at 4:23 PM, EvergreenCruzers said:

What did people do before there was a stick and a hoop?

While I too hate hauling my phone on the ship. (and prefer leaving in the cabin)   I think the app has become pretty useful now that the reservation and calendar features are  working well.   Since get internet plans, we just used FB messenger.    Just when you think you're out, they drag you back in....

It's nice to find a cruise that will cover both holidays Christmas and New Years.   B2Bs can work well also.  Great not to worry about entertaining or prepping large holiday meals.

Look up Baby Beach.  South side of the island.  Nice beach area with an adjacent  a bar/restaurant (Rum Reef Bar & Grill) with a pool that you can use.   Has a changing area.   

6 hours ago, Crazycruiser50 said:

We are going on Allure in Feb.  Our first available check in date was today.  I set my alarm for midnight last night and couldn’t get the check in que to open both on the app and main website.  After 10 minutes of frustration I went to bed.  Woke up this morning and was able to get the 11am check in time.  I was really hoping for 10:30am but obviously that slot was gone by me waiting until the morning.  
 

We are booked in a Grande Suite.  I remember reading we can show up 30 mins early to our check in time as a suite perk.  I’ve been looking everywhere and can’t seem to find that perk online anymore.  Does that still exist?

 

Thanks in advance! 

Yes, you can arrive 30 early if in a suite.

On 11/8/2022 at 5:21 PM, ScottishRobbie said:

Interesting. Flowrider, North Star, RipCord etc available for purchase for early December yet nothing available for a week today

Interesting the Ripcord is actually less than what you pay at a "land based" site.  Experienced it on land, but not on a ship.

On 12/19/2022 at 12:27 PM, CrimsonCruiser said:

Is it an actual cookbook? Like with recipes for dishes on the ship restaurants?

Cuz that would be super cool

Yes, consists of recipes from the various on-board dining venues.

On 12/12/2022 at 11:37 AM, Dave H. said:

Last year I sailed on the Apex, and now I am on the Reflection.

Beef has gotten dry, mealy, and bland.  I wouldn't bother with it at this point, it really has declined to the level of a school cafeteria.

The Caesar salad used to have grated parmeson cheese, now they use ground parmesan dust without any flavor.  Set aside the cheese and the dressing lacks any of the flavor from the now absent anchovies as well.  This is an always available item and even available from roomservice.  Such a staple falling off in quality is an intensely sad event.

Pizza has been ruined.  The cheese like that of the parmesan has been cheapened and worsened.  Also the amount of cheese in the pizza has even reduced in volume.  This is an always featured item and also on the room service menu, I found it to be more similar to an Elios pizza and I would prefer Tony's pizza to it.  It isn't even close to a Red Barron or a DiGornos pizza.  I used to like the pizza on this cruise line.

I had a caprese salad and the tomatoes were green and the red portions were a feint pink.  No licopene, no flavor, and an unpleasant texture.  The Buffalo mozzarella lacked any of the rick fat content that it is known for.

I had a bearnaise sauce that contributed wetness without any flavor.  I don't mean mild or subtle, I mean no flavor at all.

The troubles continue with food items completely absent.  There is no almond or oat milk on the ship: soy, lactose free, and regular milk only.  This ship has no oolong tea, it is one of the four teas listed on the menu and they don't have any plans of getting any.

This is not an exhaustive list but I have been noticing more and more deprecated items and then a culling of what items are even available.

Would agree there is some degradation in both menu offering and some food quality.  We did find meat dishes (despite being cooked properly) seemed dry, including  in "Fine Cut"  which in the past, was top notch.  Thought Apex was the weakest of the last 3 we've sailed,   Edge, Reflection, and Apex.   While in Luminae, we had items from the MDR menu instead of the daily Luminae offering.  ( Was not an appealing menu.)  We'll be on Beyond in March.  Fingers crossed.

Anyone else have one of these?   Found it today.  Received it at a Chef's table.

13 hours ago, SpicyCherry said:

It funny that you mentioned Azamara….I had no interest really in Azamara for all the years it was associated with Celebrity…until 2 days ago. We were interested in a cruise that included Monte Carlo and offered an excursion for the Grand Prix. Azamara was one of the first cruise line we came across that offers it. We’re looking into it maybe for our 35th anniversary.

We really enjoyed that line.   Sorry to see them sold off.   Hope they do well.

If in the WJ, take advantage of the cook to order egg/omlette station (get them hot off the grill).

23 hours ago, mike2608 said:

I found out from my travel agent that even though my cruise itinerary which includes the air2sea part has been paid in full 90 days out, the air2sea part will not be paid to the airline until 30 to 45 days until the actual cruise. Which means I probably won't be able to pick out the seats that I want to get ( preferably aisle seats) I hate to sit in the middle seats.. Especially if I am going from the west coast to the east coast in economy.

First try your airline frequent flyer account.   Use the record locator on the A2S to pull it into your airline FF record.  Then make seat reservations.   If your frequent flyer account gives you an error because the tickets were not purchased.  Call A2S and they should fix that.  (It happened to me too, but the call explaining the issue was able to get resolved )

30 minutes ago, 12thman said:

YES! So if no cups how are the beverages served? Can, glass that I can't keep?

They've been using fountain dispensing at the bars and offering cans.  Celebrity doesn't have the self service fountain machines like you find on Royal.   You have to ask at the bar or dining venues.   They may offer those cups as a souvenir in the shop.  We have a few, but they were issued as part of our drink packages years ago.  They also will serve in glasses/cups but they're plain (except for the Retreat).

3 hours ago, 12thman said:

Does Celebrity give out the take home souvenir cups like Royal when you get the refreshment package?

Like this?    Not since they altered the "inclusive" drink package offers.  I haven't seen them on recent cruises.  They were around a way back.

Anyone know the concierges names?

e-docs out - 30 days to go!

Are there any recommendation for hotels near the port?

6 hours ago, WAYNO said:

Less than a month ago we cruised, 7-days from L.A. to the Mexican Riviera.  And we've booked the exact same cruise two more times in the next couple of months.

Our endeavor was to discover how much truly easier it would be for a West Coaster to cruise from the West Coast.  And, at least partially, it is easier, or at least, cheaper.  We are envious of all the Southeastern folks that have easy and quick access to the cruise ports of Florida.

What I really felt, was L.A. is not taking the cruise business seriously, as if they're expecting the cruise industry to leave, or at least downsize.  When we were dropped off at the circus tent outside the ship, it was poorly organized.  Nothing like the Love Boat terminal I used to see on TV.  Folks didn't know where to be, and there were few folks if any, to direct the passengers of where they should be. 

 

And even at the beginning of our booking process, I discovered even ground transportation is very lacking in choices or services provided.  It was like, gee we'll get you there, but it's not really what we do.  I had to settle on a limo, which was nearly as costly as the airfare to get us there.  I know many folks say ground transportation is easily available, but in every case other than a limo, we weren't allowed more than one piece of luggage each.  That's tough.  For me, a 7-day vacation requires a suitcase, and a carry on.  Best they could say was sorry, can't do it. 

So what I see, or saw, was the cruise was magnificent.  But the local cruising services just didn't take it seriously.

Is the port in San Pedro?