RichYak

You should avoid the ships with "World" in the name. They are newest, but like Celebrity E-class Retreat, YC space isn't big enough to handle so many YC cabins. I sailed Meraviglia, which was great. I understand that anything with Sea* in the name also has ample space per YC guest. As far as the food, I found the ingredients to be of a higher quality than on Celebrity--better fish, better beef, lobster tails of an acceptable size, etc. YC also has their own buffet, obviously smaller than the main buffet, but plenty of choices. As far as your "packed Carnival cruise ship" comment, I would say if you leave the YC area, you also feel like you're on a packed Celebrity cruise ship, but with more activities going on. These activities create some crowded, but completely avoidable, public areas. We left YC on occasion to have drinks at the champagne bar and the Irish pub style bar. Both were great and never crowded. The real crowds are found on the pool deck and in the main buffet, both of which there is no need to visit. All in all, what I wrote upthread was not hyperbole. The YC experience absolutely blew away any Retreat experience I've had.

What ship did you sail in YC?

For me, MSC Yacht Club blew away the Retreat and it wasn’t close. Food, booze, service, facilities, butler… all better in YC.

Apparently it's not fine to mention.

It's called *****. It's not a travel agency so it's fine to mention.

Sure, I get that, and I've referred to the naming as unfortunate on many occasions. But once inside the stateroom, any reasonable person must realize that the jig is up and there really isn't an exterior space. Thankfully, OP has figured this out prior to sailing while there may still be options.

I don't know what it is about IV cabins that makes some people so delusional.

What you describe was the process I experienced on Meraviglia last month.

Setting realistic expectations shouldn’t require posting on an internet forum. That said, I’m glad that, after comments in this thread, OP’s children suddenly acquired characteristics that will serve them well on Celebrity

Exactly. I don’t know why this is so complicated. Enable wifi calling on your mobile phone, purchase an internet package on board, and you’re always available in case of emergency. It’s simple and responsible.

Before I booked my Meraviglia cruise, I spent upwards of an hour researching the area school calendars. That research led me to book the 3/17/24 sailing. In choosing to sail on Easter Sunday, you never really had a chance.

Ah, once again we are like-minded as this was pretty much what I was going to post. Not knowing OP's children, all we have to go on is their posted comment, which seems to indicate that yes, they made the wrong choice. I suspect, however, that all will survive the trauma of an Alaskan cruise on Celebrity.

Last month while on a cruise, I had no problem sending and receiving txts with a friend who has an android device. I have an iPhone that was in airplane mode with wifi enabled.

Thank you. This is exactly the kind of information I'm looking for.

Your mobile phone number.