Plumlee2028 Posted September 5, 2021 Report Share Posted September 5, 2021 Hello All, In another thread we have all discussed our trips so I figured we could combine a bit here: I just returned home from a sailing on Edge from August 28-Sept 4. We had to get a negative PCR or Antigen test within 3 days of sailing All passengers over 12 mandatory vaccinations. On our sailing, there were no kids under 12, so 100% of people onboard were vaccinated. Itinerary: Day 1: Leave Fort Lauderdale at 6pm: I had an 11:30am check in, and arrived at the terminal at about 11. I was checked in and ready at 11:10 and onboard at about 11:30. The ship was already going and the staterooms were ready. I tried the buffet and spent time at the pool and the solarium and walked around the entirety of the ship. My bag got to my room around 1:30pm. I enjoyed live music in the Grand Plaza. The band "Mambo 4" is from Chile and they perform a variety including lots of classic rock, Beatles, and modern music as well. Dinner was in Cyprus, and the Sea Bass Ceviche starter and Aegean Sea Bass entree were great. The show was a comedian. Every night had no less than 4 different musical acts throughout the night including theatre shows, Mambo 4, the solo Guitarist/singer, and acoustic acts in Eden. Day 2: Nassau: 7:00am-12:30pm (Celebrity Excursions only; original time was 7:00am-2:30pm but was shortened.) Tried out Blue Lagoon Island. Typically kind of boat over to a beach island with a lunch etc. The island had separate beach locations for Celebrity guests, and they also have animal exhibits (I didn't participate in those). Celebrity did provide a 15% rebate because the tour was shorted slightly due to the shorter time in port. The tour dropped us off at the cruise pier, we hopped on the ship, and left after, giving a half a sea day to follow. I tried dinner in Cosmopolitan which was very good. The show was Kaleidoscope. Most shows onboard have a lose story line or theme that will lead to singing/dancing/acrobatics. The theatre is impressive to sit in. I usually sat in the bottom level about halfway and you can clearly see all of the performers very close. Day 3: Sea Day. Pretty typical sea day. Lots of pool time, solarium, eating at Mast Grill, pool games, Casino, etc. I ate dinner at the Rooftop Garden, which I really enjoyed. I ate at 6:30, so the sun was still out and it was "evening Chic" night so I was a little worried about the heat, but it was very pleasant. The show was Charity Lockhart who performs Aretha Franklin Covers. Day 4 St Thomas: 1pm-9pm (changed from original time of 11am-7pm: Enjoyed the morning, and my tour was at 1:45pm. Took a open air bus halfway around the island to a marina for a catamaran over to St John. Snorkeled off Honeymoon Beach, which was excellent for snorkeling. Calm water and nice reefs and grass for turtles grazing as well. I tried dinner in Tuscan The Show was Katerina Rossa, who is a Violinist playing with the Show Orchestra. Day 5: St Maarten: 7am-5pm (celebrity excursions only): For St Maarten I did a Catamaran and Beach/Snorkel excursion on the "Golden Eagle" which was nice. The snorkeling was not as good as St John, but the beach was great as was the boat. Immediately after I joined my second tour which was simply a bus over to Orient Beach for a couple hours and returned to the ship. Dinner was in Cyprus. The Show was A Hot Summer Night's Dream, which again kind of a loose theme of the Gymnast performing as a sort of Fairy causing problems and bringing people together with a sort of Shakespeare connotation. Day 6-7 Sea Days. The sea days were pretty typical sea days. Day 6 I ate at Fine Cut Steak House which was excellent and day 7 at Cosmopolitan again. The two shows were "Uptown" on day 6, which is a modern take on mo town with the band which was great. The senior ship officers and Captain Kate even came for that show. In the morning on Day 7, I went to Captain Kate's presentation which was definitely a highlight. Day 7 the show was "Colors of Life" which has a similar style to the other shows but really uses the LED screen to bring lots of colors out. The last big event of day 7 was Silent Disco in the Grand Plaza, I watched from above and its hilarious to watch. They had a 3 way DJ battle with the two resident DJs and the Cruise Director, Lauren. Day 8: Back to Fort Lauderdale. Debarking was easy. They asked us to be out of our staterooms by 8, so I left at 8 for my 8:30 number to be called, which was called at about 8:15. Getting off, there was a large group of representative staff to greet us and thank us, including the Cruise Director and Activities Manager Brittany. The crew onboard was amazing, which I expected but they exceeded my expectation. Most were able to recognize me within a day or two, even at places I didn't visit too often. Many would stop service to have a short conversation. I was very impressed with how out and about the ship's officers are including bridge teams and the captain, as well as the activities staff and hotel director, managers etc. The Cruise Director, Lauren and Activities Manager Brittany were always around and finding ways and times to talk to everybody they met, greeting you as you walk in to the theatre, etc. It was my first Celebrity cruise, so I don't have much to compare to, but the number of shows, activities, music performers, spaces, etc I imagine anyone who enjoys Celebrity would get just as much, if not more out of sailing with them now. PPPJJ-GCVAB, MaryS, cruisellama and 1 other 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted September 5, 2021 Report Share Posted September 5, 2021 What were the masking requirements ? cruisellama 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plumlee2028 Posted September 5, 2021 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2021 Masks are required in ports but not on the ship. WAAAYTOOO and cruisellama 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisellama Posted September 5, 2021 Report Share Posted September 5, 2021 4 hours ago, Plumlee2028 said: We had to get a negative PCR or Antigen test within 3 days of sailing All passengers over 12 mandatory vaccinations. On our sailing, there were no kids under 12, so 100% of people onboard were vaccinated. Did you have to have an disembarkation test? (or are they gone because of the 100% vax) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plumlee2028 Posted September 5, 2021 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2021 56 minutes ago, cruisellama said: Did you have to have an disembarkation test? (or are they gone because of the 100% vax) No. The only testing would have been people for international flights etc. Basically anyone who needs it for some reason other than the cruise. cruisellama and KristiZ 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathyC Posted September 29, 2021 Report Share Posted September 29, 2021 @Plumlee2028was Celebrity offering any type of luggage valet service to the airport yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plumlee2028 Posted September 29, 2021 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2021 13 hours ago, KathyC said: @Plumlee2028was Celebrity offering any type of luggage valet service to the airport yet? I didn't notice any, but admittedly I didn't look hard for it. I work for an airline so I was already planning to try and hop a different flight than I had booked. I did book the transfer through Celebrity, and they did the normal luggage pick up in the evening and I picked it up in the cruise terminal like normal. Then I wheeled it out to the bus for the drive to the airport. cruisellama and KathyC 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisellama Posted September 30, 2021 Report Share Posted September 30, 2021 22 hours ago, Plumlee2028 said: I didn't notice any, but admittedly I didn't look hard for it. I work for an airline so I was already planning to try and hop a different flight than I had booked. I did book the transfer through Celebrity, and they did the normal luggage pick up in the evening and I picked it up in the cruise terminal like normal. Then I wheeled it out to the bus for the drive to the airport. You would have received a letter in your stateroom if the luggage valet service was being offered. We've used it and well worth the extra fee not having to lug bags back. Wish it existed for embarkation day. WAAAYTOOO and KathyC 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob_KY Posted November 23, 2021 Report Share Posted November 23, 2021 On 9/5/2021 at 12:16 PM, WAAAYTOOO said: What were the masking requirements ? We did a 5day Freedom OTS cruise to get our "cruise legs" back. Donning the Mask on the ship was very tolerable. A great vacation (thanks [email protected])! What kicked us was the long periods of wearing the mask at the airports and flights. rjweber3 and WAAAYTOOO 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plumlee2028 Posted November 24, 2021 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2021 14 hours ago, Bob_KY said: We did a 5day Freedom OTS cruise to get our "cruise legs" back. Donning the Mask on the ship was very tolerable. A great vacation (thanks [email protected])! What kicked us was the long periods of wearing the mask at the airports and flights. I got back last week from 5 nights on Adventure. It was interesting, because I was on Adventure out of Nassau which didn't require masks. I had no issue wearing them when required, the only negative for me was just forgetting it at the table when getting up for the restroom or something. So basically it was just like what happens everywhere else in life. Bob_KY 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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