BrianAlt

This is now my next cruise even though I have 4 booked during 2024.

This is now my next cruise even though I have 4 booked during 2024.

Got a great deal on this cruise when I booked it.

Hi everyone,
I collect Royal Caribbean Casino Chip as a collection.  If you happen to visit the casino, please help to take a look whether they have a unique $5 chip design or an inaugural chip with the ship name on it.  Currently there is no online information on these two chips.
Sharing photo of my collection.
Regards,

Just booked this one.

Surprisingly, I didn't look for this board until now.  I'll be on board with my wife, 2 adult children and their significant others, my MiL and her husband, my wife's sister, her husband, and their two children (one in college, one in high school).  That's 12 of us, 6 cabins.
It's surprising we still can't book any dining for this cruise.  Royal, take my money!  PLEASE!

I am whole on the five blocks they said I would get.
It took a while.  Quite a while.
I have received everything I was due.

Since I was on Anthem last week, I spoke to the LA about our block and mentioned that I was dubious about it being sent to us in Portugal. 🇵🇹
She looked us up and confirmed that there was an order in for it with FedEx but that it had been delayed due to restocking issues.
Well, wouldn't you know, during the cruise I received an email from FedEx about our order (which I would have been suspicious about if I hadn't spoken to the LA) so I looked up the tracking number and it appears to be legit; it's coming from Sunrise, FL, which I seem to remember seeing mentioned somewhere in a block-related thread.
It's supposed to arrive by this coming Thursday. 🤞

I'll be on the Edge in a Sky Suite on Sunday.

I'm very excited for @Matt to take his first cruise on Celebrity!  I think he's going to love it.  But perhaps the kids less so?  Although I think they'll still find their niche while on board.  The Edge class ships really are beautiful ships.  Let's post some tips for Matt here!

Tips for Matt (this is based on a SUMMIT sailing ... therefore on a larger ship YMMV):
Standard internet (as a part of their Always Included rate) was terrible.  A large lineup resulted on DAY 02 to upgrade to their "fast" internet (which was not great, but was good enough). Standard drink package (as a part of their Always Included rate) was "OK" (we are "low maintenance drinkers" ... nothing fancy).  They have the cutest little martini glasses (emphasis on little ... really, really little 😉). Returning Cruiser Event was a zoo ... this is now officially on the "Do Not Attend" list. 😉 Rendezvous Lounge was the best place for dancing of any ship we have been on.  Not sure if the larger ships try to (or need to) recreate that vibe. Cafe al Bacio is fantastic.  we could have lived there.  Coffee to go or stay was a highlight. Entertainment was "OK" (nothing special) ... again this was a small ship. Food was "hit and miss" (some very, very good ... some not so good).  I think this is similar to most comments on most lines since the restart. I hope this helps ...
Curt from Canada

Registering celebritycruiseblog.com now....  darn it, it's taken!
 
 

I'm very excited for @Matt to take his first cruise on Celebrity!  I think he's going to love it.  But perhaps the kids less so?  Although I think they'll still find their niche while on board.  The Edge class ships really are beautiful ships.  Let's post some tips for Matt here!

Summary:  We sailed the week of 5 March 2023 with about 3200 fellow passengers.  Celebrity Beyond lives up to its name.  Its design and service goes beyond earlier Edge and Apex ships. Port visits included:  St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Puerto Plata DR.   At first glimpse, Beyond fixes some of the “nits” that Edge and Apex rolled out with.  For example, the Martini Bar is positioned into the center of the atrium, making it a focus while adding more seating, the Sunset bar is made over to give a Moroccan feel with various levels of seating on the aft starboard edge, and most noticeable for Retreat members, there’s an additional deck that holds a pool and two hot tubs.   The Retreat hits new levels now contained within 3 - decks with Luminae positioned between the Retreat lounge and upper pool deck (Decks 15-17 forward).
 
Embarkation: Port Everglades Celebrity  terminal is  updated and easy to negotiate on embarkation day.   The suite lounge is comfortable, but even at 10:30 (the early boarding time) we couldn’t find any seating.  Service was great, but had to stand for about 15 minutes and embarkation commenced.  We were onboard before 11am.
 
Ship Experiences
Food & Dining:  We stayed in a Sky Suite so had access to Luminae and Blu for main dining.  Except for 3 specialty restaurants, we dined in those venues all week for major meals.  Also dined in the Aqua cafe, Eden cafe, and Oceanview cafe.  All venues were well maintained, but it was obvious the menu quality & strength has been reduced (just as on the Royal parent).  Its not the Celebrity dining of 5 years ago.   
 
Le Voyage - Daniel Boulud’s intimate signature specialty restaurant on Beyond (and highest price).  Features assorted entrees a tasting menu and chef’s table.  We’re not fans of Daniel’s stye of French cuisine , but we needed to try the new venue.  Restaurant ambiance and service is first rate; however, the food is ordinary.  I would give a 10 to service and an ambiance, and rate the food between 7-8. The restaurant is a small space in the on deck 4 that has a rather hard to see front outer sliding door (think Star Trek).  It opens into a small space with the maitre’d and you then pass through a second sliding door into a very intimate dining area with about 14 small tables.  A small private dining room off to the side can accommodate a 6-8 person chefs table.  Its a 2 hour experience and service is old school cruise line style.  But the menu being the weakest part of the experience.  Not bad, not exquisite, just about equivalent to a Luminae offering at a premium price.
 
Luminae - Visited for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  If you’ve sailed Celebrity with Luminae in the past, you’ll notice a weaker menu.  (In fact our honest waiters confirmed our observation on several nights).   The Baja Eggs content/presentation was different from what I was used to on other ships.  When I attempted to explain to the waiter, he didn’t understand what I was trying to communicate (new guy with little English).  Second issue with a lunchtime Margarita Flatbread that had a blue food residue on the bottom.  Not knowing what this was (as it looked like mold), we informed the waiter resulting on a visit from the chef.  He apologized profusely, but admitted the blue material came from a placing the flatbread on a dirty tray  (that’s called cross contamination in a US restaurant kitchen).  We found out a few of the staff were on first contracts.  Which explained the low energy service and wait times.  Lunches could go 2 hours.
 
Retreat Lounge :  All good and exceeded expectations with service and food / drink offerings. Three deck areas:  Lounge, sun deck, and pool deck with pool and hot tubs with connectivity to the Luminae on deck 16.  (The arrangement is far more efficient arrangement than the new suite neighborhood on Wonder of the Seas configuration).  The total area seems large enough to accommodate everyone.   The availability of pool, hot tubs, and food within the private area allows guest to pretty much homestead in the Retreat.
 
Blu :   A lighter (maybe healthier) breakfast and dinner offering for AquaClass guests.   As suite guest, we also were given unlimited access and found the menu to be more attractive than Luminae on several occasions.   Service was also a little faster allowing you to not get too bogged down at a sit down dining venue.
 
Le Petit Chef:  French “like” cuisine with a clever animated table projection story about the creation of the dish.  The meal contained 4 courses and a projected petit chef walks you through the making of the particular dishes and his path to becoming a chef.   Kids would love it.   Its more about the show than the food.  Food was OK, but again, nothing you could not experience in the complimentary Normandy “French” restaurant.  In viewing the menu, it seems than many of the items are actually available as complimentary menu items in other venues.  Box checked.
 
Raw on 5:   As we enjoy shell fish, we really enjoyed Raw on 5.   We are raw oyster fans and had our fill.  They offer an Imperial Tower which is a seafood extravaganza of crab legs, oysters, lobster clams, shrimp, fish that will challenge 2 to finish.   Sushi is also offered with pricing well in line with what you would pay off the ship.
Oceanview Cafe:  Main buffet.   Nice offerings, but not as many as pre-Covid.   More of less on the serving tables.  Also noticed they would let stations go “empty” about 20 minutes prior to closing so you were out of luck if you got there too close to closing.
Onboard Activities
Entertainment:  Very ample.  Three theater productions, a couple of aft Eden productions and top liners.  Ship entertainment venues offer great screens for effects and the production teams know how to make best use of the “special effects” offered by the screen.
Service & Staff:  All good - no complaints.   They all worked to keep you happy.  They all seemed happy and enjoyed being with the guests.  Very attentive butler and room steward keep the room ship shape and ensured we had coffee first thing in the morning.
Ship Quality:   The newest and brightest in the Celebrity fleet.  Ship is fantastic and it seems they applied practical lessons learned from earlier Edge class ships.   Lots of space and filled with very nice art.  Edge deck plans exhibit a noticeable amount of asymmetry so you find there are not necessarily direct walking paths from bow to stern on certain decks forcing you to go up - go straight - go down to get from bow to stern,    Just takes some thought to select decks with straight paths between forward and aft section of the ship.  Elevator capacity seemed ample for the 3200 passengers if you avoid dinner rush.  Elevator capacity is being challenged on all ships pushing capacity.   We did notice the ship structure itself was obviously “noisy”.  When the sea state increased a bit, everything seemed to “creak” in the cabin.   In fact just walking the decks you could hear creaking and cracking everywhere you walked (like the rigging on a sailboat) .  We overheard one family saying maintenance showed up at their cabin and made adjustments to panels and doors that were apparently loose.  Appeared to be a feature on the ship.   I wondered if its still under warrantee.
Cabin/Stateroom: 10-215 port side Sky Suite with ample floor space and comfortable atmosphere.   Balcony was sufficient with lounge, chairs and small table.  Like the cabin, would stay there again.  Only nuisance was the creaking and cracking when seas were a little rough.  Room had plenty of light, and a very nice bath with a tub.
Summary:  The best in the Celebrity fleet at this time.  Outshines Edge and Apex.  Service was superb.  I don’t think the food is at the same level as experienced prior to Covid (menus are weaker).  But I believe that’s probably across lines and ships.  I would sail Beyond again and look forward to Ascent.  Footnote:  If you want a real balcony room on an Edge class ship, you have to book a suite.  All other outside rooms use what’s called an infinite veranda which encloses and integrates the balcony area into the room.  Instead of an open space, the window can be opened to the outside.  As someone who’s used to balconies, and after seeing family members IV cabins,  I would not book one myself.  (Would bite the bullet and move to a Sky Suite)

Boarding Apex in 2 and half hours!

I asked Bard, Google’s new answer to ChatGPT, to write a blog post about my upcoming cruise on Ovation OT Seas. Here it is. 
I recently had the pleasure of taking a cruise on Ovation of the Seas from Hawaii to Vancouver. It was an amazing experience, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a luxurious and relaxing vacation.
The ship itself is absolutely stunning. It's one of the largest cruise ships in the world, and it's packed with amenities and activities. There's something for everyone on board, whether you're looking to relax by the pool, explore the onboard shops, or take part in one of the many activities.
I especially enjoyed the ship's two theater shows. The first show, "The Music of the Night," is a tribute to Andrew Lloyd Webber's musicals. The second show, "A Chorus Line," is a classic musical that tells the story of a group of dancers auditioning for a Broadway show. Both shows are incredibly well-produced and feature talented cast members.
I also enjoyed the ship's many restaurants. There's everything from casual buffets to fine dining restaurants on board. I especially enjoyed the Italian restaurant, Jamie's Italian. The food was delicious, and the service was excellent.
The cruise itself was a great experience. We stopped at several ports in Hawaii, including Honolulu, Maui, and Kauai. Each port was beautiful, and there was plenty to do and see. I especially enjoyed hiking in the rainforest on Kauai.
The cruise ended in Vancouver, and I was sad to see it go. It was an amazing experience, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a luxurious and relaxing vacation.
Here are some tips for planning your own cruise:
Book your cruise well in advance, especially if you're traveling during peak season. Choose a cruise line and itinerary that fits your interests and budget. Pack light clothing, as you'll be spending most of your time in the sun. Don't forget to pack your sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. Enjoy your cruise!

I asked Bard, Google’s new answer to ChatGPT, to write a blog post about my upcoming cruise on Ovation OT Seas. Here it is. 
I recently had the pleasure of taking a cruise on Ovation of the Seas from Hawaii to Vancouver. It was an amazing experience, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a luxurious and relaxing vacation.
The ship itself is absolutely stunning. It's one of the largest cruise ships in the world, and it's packed with amenities and activities. There's something for everyone on board, whether you're looking to relax by the pool, explore the onboard shops, or take part in one of the many activities.
I especially enjoyed the ship's two theater shows. The first show, "The Music of the Night," is a tribute to Andrew Lloyd Webber's musicals. The second show, "A Chorus Line," is a classic musical that tells the story of a group of dancers auditioning for a Broadway show. Both shows are incredibly well-produced and feature talented cast members.
I also enjoyed the ship's many restaurants. There's everything from casual buffets to fine dining restaurants on board. I especially enjoyed the Italian restaurant, Jamie's Italian. The food was delicious, and the service was excellent.
The cruise itself was a great experience. We stopped at several ports in Hawaii, including Honolulu, Maui, and Kauai. Each port was beautiful, and there was plenty to do and see. I especially enjoyed hiking in the rainforest on Kauai.
The cruise ended in Vancouver, and I was sad to see it go. It was an amazing experience, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a luxurious and relaxing vacation.
Here are some tips for planning your own cruise:
Book your cruise well in advance, especially if you're traveling during peak season. Choose a cruise line and itinerary that fits your interests and budget. Pack light clothing, as you'll be spending most of your time in the sun. Don't forget to pack your sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. Enjoy your cruise!

No one noticed that these are wrong.  No way is Chorus Line being performed on Ovation.  And a tribute show is possible, but I see no indication that Ovation is performing this show.  Bard just made these up!

I'll add those in a couple of months.

No one noticed that these are wrong.  No way is Chorus Line being performed on Ovation.  And a tribute show is possible, but I see no indication that Ovation is performing this show.  Bard just made these up!

I asked Bard, Google’s new answer to ChatGPT, to write a blog post about my upcoming cruise on Ovation OT Seas. Here it is. 
I recently had the pleasure of taking a cruise on Ovation of the Seas from Hawaii to Vancouver. It was an amazing experience, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a luxurious and relaxing vacation.
The ship itself is absolutely stunning. It's one of the largest cruise ships in the world, and it's packed with amenities and activities. There's something for everyone on board, whether you're looking to relax by the pool, explore the onboard shops, or take part in one of the many activities.
I especially enjoyed the ship's two theater shows. The first show, "The Music of the Night," is a tribute to Andrew Lloyd Webber's musicals. The second show, "A Chorus Line," is a classic musical that tells the story of a group of dancers auditioning for a Broadway show. Both shows are incredibly well-produced and feature talented cast members.
I also enjoyed the ship's many restaurants. There's everything from casual buffets to fine dining restaurants on board. I especially enjoyed the Italian restaurant, Jamie's Italian. The food was delicious, and the service was excellent.
The cruise itself was a great experience. We stopped at several ports in Hawaii, including Honolulu, Maui, and Kauai. Each port was beautiful, and there was plenty to do and see. I especially enjoyed hiking in the rainforest on Kauai.
The cruise ended in Vancouver, and I was sad to see it go. It was an amazing experience, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a luxurious and relaxing vacation.
Here are some tips for planning your own cruise:
Book your cruise well in advance, especially if you're traveling during peak season. Choose a cruise line and itinerary that fits your interests and budget. Pack light clothing, as you'll be spending most of your time in the sun. Don't forget to pack your sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. Enjoy your cruise!

I asked Bard, Google’s new answer to ChatGPT, to write a blog post about my upcoming cruise on Ovation OT Seas. Here it is. 
I recently had the pleasure of taking a cruise on Ovation of the Seas from Hawaii to Vancouver. It was an amazing experience, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a luxurious and relaxing vacation.
The ship itself is absolutely stunning. It's one of the largest cruise ships in the world, and it's packed with amenities and activities. There's something for everyone on board, whether you're looking to relax by the pool, explore the onboard shops, or take part in one of the many activities.
I especially enjoyed the ship's two theater shows. The first show, "The Music of the Night," is a tribute to Andrew Lloyd Webber's musicals. The second show, "A Chorus Line," is a classic musical that tells the story of a group of dancers auditioning for a Broadway show. Both shows are incredibly well-produced and feature talented cast members.
I also enjoyed the ship's many restaurants. There's everything from casual buffets to fine dining restaurants on board. I especially enjoyed the Italian restaurant, Jamie's Italian. The food was delicious, and the service was excellent.
The cruise itself was a great experience. We stopped at several ports in Hawaii, including Honolulu, Maui, and Kauai. Each port was beautiful, and there was plenty to do and see. I especially enjoyed hiking in the rainforest on Kauai.
The cruise ended in Vancouver, and I was sad to see it go. It was an amazing experience, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a luxurious and relaxing vacation.
Here are some tips for planning your own cruise:
Book your cruise well in advance, especially if you're traveling during peak season. Choose a cruise line and itinerary that fits your interests and budget. Pack light clothing, as you'll be spending most of your time in the sun. Don't forget to pack your sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. Enjoy your cruise!

Yes, we need "Proof of Cruise" photos! 🤣

I asked Bard, Google’s new answer to ChatGPT, to write a blog post about my upcoming cruise on Ovation OT Seas. Here it is. 
I recently had the pleasure of taking a cruise on Ovation of the Seas from Hawaii to Vancouver. It was an amazing experience, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a luxurious and relaxing vacation.
The ship itself is absolutely stunning. It's one of the largest cruise ships in the world, and it's packed with amenities and activities. There's something for everyone on board, whether you're looking to relax by the pool, explore the onboard shops, or take part in one of the many activities.
I especially enjoyed the ship's two theater shows. The first show, "The Music of the Night," is a tribute to Andrew Lloyd Webber's musicals. The second show, "A Chorus Line," is a classic musical that tells the story of a group of dancers auditioning for a Broadway show. Both shows are incredibly well-produced and feature talented cast members.
I also enjoyed the ship's many restaurants. There's everything from casual buffets to fine dining restaurants on board. I especially enjoyed the Italian restaurant, Jamie's Italian. The food was delicious, and the service was excellent.
The cruise itself was a great experience. We stopped at several ports in Hawaii, including Honolulu, Maui, and Kauai. Each port was beautiful, and there was plenty to do and see. I especially enjoyed hiking in the rainforest on Kauai.
The cruise ended in Vancouver, and I was sad to see it go. It was an amazing experience, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a luxurious and relaxing vacation.
Here are some tips for planning your own cruise:
Book your cruise well in advance, especially if you're traveling during peak season. Choose a cruise line and itinerary that fits your interests and budget. Pack light clothing, as you'll be spending most of your time in the sun. Don't forget to pack your sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. Enjoy your cruise!

I asked Bard, Google’s new answer to ChatGPT, to write a blog post about my upcoming cruise on Ovation OT Seas. Here it is. 
I recently had the pleasure of taking a cruise on Ovation of the Seas from Hawaii to Vancouver. It was an amazing experience, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a luxurious and relaxing vacation.
The ship itself is absolutely stunning. It's one of the largest cruise ships in the world, and it's packed with amenities and activities. There's something for everyone on board, whether you're looking to relax by the pool, explore the onboard shops, or take part in one of the many activities.
I especially enjoyed the ship's two theater shows. The first show, "The Music of the Night," is a tribute to Andrew Lloyd Webber's musicals. The second show, "A Chorus Line," is a classic musical that tells the story of a group of dancers auditioning for a Broadway show. Both shows are incredibly well-produced and feature talented cast members.
I also enjoyed the ship's many restaurants. There's everything from casual buffets to fine dining restaurants on board. I especially enjoyed the Italian restaurant, Jamie's Italian. The food was delicious, and the service was excellent.
The cruise itself was a great experience. We stopped at several ports in Hawaii, including Honolulu, Maui, and Kauai. Each port was beautiful, and there was plenty to do and see. I especially enjoyed hiking in the rainforest on Kauai.
The cruise ended in Vancouver, and I was sad to see it go. It was an amazing experience, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a luxurious and relaxing vacation.
Here are some tips for planning your own cruise:
Book your cruise well in advance, especially if you're traveling during peak season. Choose a cruise line and itinerary that fits your interests and budget. Pack light clothing, as you'll be spending most of your time in the sun. Don't forget to pack your sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. Enjoy your cruise!