not easy being green

We have both worked from cruise ships (unfortunately) a few times, when this happens we try and do the bulk before we set sail, since we were docked it was not an issue. The major issue happened when I forgot to turn off the internet when we set sail, we were on the the decks with plenty of time and then remembered a few hours later. OUCH!!! The bill came a month later and other than a shock, we had a good cry and laugh. Just remember if you are docked and using the internet DISCONNECT before you set sail.

@2beagle It all depends on the price of the drink package, and it seems to me no rhyme no reason for the prices - I have seen prices from the mid $ 40's upwards to $ 90's for the Deluxe drinking package. Take the total cost, add 18% gratuities and divide by days. Figure beers are around $ 8, and mix drinks are a tad bit more $$. The last cruise we were on RC made money on us, the cruise before that RC "lost", we over drank... Also welcome to the boards!

We usually go cruising over the holidays on RC minus the few years of Covid and we have done both older and newer ships on RC. We have done a few cruises with extended family last one we were a group of 32, in 2023 we should be around 40! Few of the advantages are in no real order: Don't have to do decorations set up or take down Don't need to worry about being "on time" for events No need to cook and or clean!!!! No need to worry about driving (or being a passenger in a car) - holiday time is notorious for drunk drivers Don't have to travel far to get to "bed" You get to see other places/countries and how they celebrate the holidays Being from up north, it is wonderful not having snow (I have been too cold and it is wonderful to be hot over the holidays) Yes lots of families and kids, to us it is still a blast we are doing just our immediate family this year. Can't wait

Star Class has changed a lot since the restart, have had two experiences with Star Class after the restart and a few before Covid. I am focusing on the restart, one Genie was over the top ~ and the other Genie was not and RC totally heard about both. The Genies due to protocol were not around as much, one Genie we saw every day from a distance (we were walked on and off), and the other Genie we were lucky to see (if ever) even when we disembarked. I have mentioned this before, you "pay a premium price for Star Class" and that is what I expect. Prices on everything is going up and for our vacation dollars I don't want less for more, and when we do the next star class - hopefully RC and the Genies will be better.

The drinks will show up in your onboard folio, and sometimes when the bars are super busy they don't give you a paper receipt to sign. Before they had the drink packages (way back when) we had to check the folio before the last day to hopefully make sure that everything was in check. The deluxe drink package also includes fresh OJ, and bottle water it is not just booze...

Suggestion: Just remember, if you are NOT on an official RC tour and they run late the ship will not wait for you/your group. Too many times I have seen dock runners, and I never planning on being one... If it is not an RC tour you need to give yourself leeway for the "just in case", also make sure your watch/phone/time piece is on ships time and not local time, sometimes they do differ.

We all have TSA Pre Check and also Clear - some credit cards reimburse you for Clear. At some airports this has even a faster than TSA Pre Check. We usually fly out of ORD and you jump the line (even the TSA Pre Check), this cuts out more stress. Also you can add your covid card and it works.

We just booked Hotel Jazz - thank you one and all for the recommendations! Now it is the little thing called passing the Covid test.... Then adventure!

We have rather "large" backpacks and it can fit at least 2 to three days of cloths (top to bottom) and an extra pair of shoes. We also have our toiletries and medicine. This way we care, but not as much when we travel, airlines have never said that the backpacks are too big, just stash them underneath the seats or if we get onboard early enough we put them in the overhead. We live too far from any ports, so we take a plane, we have started to think about driving it might end up being less stressful!

Even before this years "Melt-Down" of airlines we all but once have travelled at least one day before the cruise was expected to leave. The one time we flew day of, the stress was way, WAY, too much. Luckily, we left from a hub airport, and the plan "moved gates twice" and was delayed at least 2 hrs. I think we were the last few to board that time, this was our fifth cruise with RC about 15 years ago - and to this day, NEVER will we fly out day of again too much stress.

Usually a few bars, spa is open for most things (sometimes because it is a port they have a "slight" discount). Some ships also Adventure Ocean is open for at least part of they day, pools open. You will have to check once on board for the rock climbing wall, we have seen it open in ports and also closed.

When we hit Diamond + on a cruise it was 2 days into a 8 nighter, we were at Chops Grille and I asked for something special moving to the next level, so at dessert had "congratulations" written on it! Little things like this make a big impact on loyalty with us.

This is what we now bring on all cruises Universal Travel Power Adapter- EPICKA All in One Worldwide International Wall Charger AC Plug Adaptor with Smart Power USB for USA EU UK AUS Cell Phone Laptop (4 USB + Type C - White + Grey) this is from one of the biggest online stores. Costs about USD $ 24 dollars. Older ships usually have "2" US plugs and "2" international and this will add plenty of much needed power for your devices.

What is the timing on final payment for cruises now? I know Alaska is about 60 days, not sure about other locations. Or are most if not all back to 90 days before sailing? Thank you in advance - knowing full well that most everything is a moving target!

Hi! We have a few days in Barcelona, before our ship leaves, any suggestions of places to stay for those days before we leave? We have looked and not really sure how far out some of the hotels are from the docks. We are not renting a car.

Thank you, I thought so however better to ask then ASSume....

Hi! Are there any special perks/sites on Coco Cay for people who are in Star Class?

In no real order: Open sea...Seeing no land in sight The crew Not worrying about time, needing to be places (more open schedule) Adventure Ocean for the kids that are now adults -- about 17 plus years ago People watching Sorrentos Pizza Being able to walk around day, night, early and or late (always something happening)

If you have a room with a balcony, you could always grab a few drinks and sit outside to watch the ship leave the port. Some ships you can also take a drink to the Heli pad.

Wait if possible, We did the immediate family last holiday season, told the kids that it was an inside cabin (they were happy just to go on a cruise). When we got to the dock it went from a fun trip to a fantastic trip. The kids were blown away, so was the rest of us! It is hard to do, but sometimes bending the truth is worth the wait.

Few things: Schooner Bar for trivia. Being in the casino and people whooping it up at a slot machine to this day still can't figure that one out! Some of the older ships, being on the helipad watching the sun rise... Lastly people watching especially over the December holidays, not sure how they got all that stuff aboard the ship.

We have cruised a few times since everything started back up again (nothing like before), this is how we use our "travel fund". Back in June last year we were on the Edge, and once onboard no masks were required. Granted, the ship was about 40% full. Few months later we went on the Reflection and also the Allure and both you needed masks, in most all places except eating and or at the pool/outside. I don't see any changes for a long time, as long as we get what we pay for we will put up with the ever changing protocols (seems like sometimes even hourly). Hopefully one day soon things will either be back the way they were, or the "NEW" way will be simple.

Please note, it is also WAY less expensive to book the travel insurance when you book the cruise. Once we forgot and it was about $ 150 extra per person for the trip. Since we fly we do the airline insurance with the airline and not Aon (insurance carrier for RC and a few other cruise lines). With Celebrity you can do the insurance anytime before your last payment, without a "penalty".

We have sailed on older ships and newer ships with RC, space to us is what we enjoy so we nowadays tend to go bigger. Also on newer ships (if you have a GS or larger) the internet is included - major cost savings. Then you add the Costal Kitchen and a few of the other perks it comes down to savings overall. With the smaller/older ships you sometimes get much more personal attention and less overall people that has its advantages also. Since you were speaking about Transatlantic I would go newer/larger in a heartbeat.

We use the points to help pay off the cruise, we have all our bills that we can tied to the card and the last cruise we took we had over $ 3,000 off! 100,000 points is $ 1,000 off the price - we do this by phone with BofA and they call RC then it is a done deal.