sherylc

We had the same issue but with 5 pm flight out of Narita. We booked a trip through viator where we are just paying for van and driver (about $500 for the day). No guiding, but better than sitting around airport all day and about the same price (for 4 of us) that the cruise would have charged for the transportation with a couple preset stops.

Thanks for the directions with pictures -- appreciated! My biggest question, though, is how travel is WITH luggage. Is there a place for it on these trains? (We are planning on doing a train from Hiroshima to Shinagawa but are going to try for the green car back row to put luggage behind us.

We will be coming from Shinagawa Station.

I will also be leaving out of the Daikoku Terminal next month. How is traveling to Yokohama by train WITH luggage? We will each have one large suitcase or duffel and a single carryon. Just not sure how the trains are carrying luggage (we will be coming from Tokyo)

Not in this case. Celebrity told some of those affected that there had been a computer glitch where inventory wasn't reduced when the ship changed from the Solstice to the Millennium. Many groups were split up where one or two cabins of a 6 cabin group were told they were cancelled -- no options at all. What's worse is that there is now quite a bit of inventory available (final payment date just passed) and these "cancelled" people would have to pay the new price if they wanted back on.

You might want to read this (this is for our upcoming cruise -- luckily we weren't "cancelled" due to the cruise being oversold but many were -- so it definitely does happen)

It's the problem of having the Haven on a "non-Haven" ship. We were in the 3 bedroom garden villa, so yes, we did spend quite a bit on the suite (2 week cruise). But only included dinner option was MDR. We ate in the Specialty restaurants several times and sometimes in our suite. But the times in the MDR (except for one exceptional night) were unimpressive. But the SERVICE -- OMG! We could barely tie our shoes without someone trying to do it for us! Escorted us everywhere (even to dinner no matter where we ate), escorted off ship, then found if we ever got in line for tenders and escorted back on. So the service was great. They just need to figure out a Haven restaurant for these older ships for dinner -- they have it figured out for breakfast and lunch.

Wow, they have always gotten it right and served hot? Our whole table actually finished our food while waiting for them to serve a steak to our 4th that was anywhere near mid-rare (first was well done and then just took forever for a replacement). Maybe the people around you are willing to spend thousands of dollars and then just accept whatever comes, regardless of quality.

LOL. The specialty dining was very good as were the breakfast and lunch in their "modified Haven option", but the quality of the food in the MDR was disappointing. We have done several Celebrity cruises and got used to Luminae level food, but even the MDR food on other cruise lines seemed better than NCL this last August (and unfortunately it wasn't just us -- many diners sent food back around us, which we didn't do.)

Thanks all for the responses. I didn't realize they changed the MDR menu back to the rotating menus. That makes a big difference. We had the rotating menus on the Star when staying in the Haven (no Haven dining room) and we struggled to find anything good most days, so it looks like we will be doing a combination of the Haven Restaurant and Specialty Dining.

We will be sailing in the Haven on the Prima in a few weeks. I've seen both the MDR and the Haven dinner menus and noted that the MDR menu has a lot more options although both seem to stay the same the entire week. Is it possible to order perhaps an appetizer and a dessert (or any combination) off the MDR menu while other items off the Haven menu while eating in the Haven restaurant (We do this on non E-class Celebrity cruises all the time while in their Retreat). If yes, can they handle these type of orders when we sit down to eat, or do they have to be made in advance (and if so how far in advance)? Thanks all -- we have some pretty picky eaters who would do better with the MDR menu, but hate to miss the Haven Restaurant experience or that menu for others in our party.

We had the exact same thing happen for our group of 6. Sailing in January. Even the Concierge line couldn't do anything until we get on the ship. Hopefully will be able to take our parties of 4 and turn them into 6 once onboard!

Ship is offering a combination sea lion and manatee experience at Chankanab. We will be there is January and I'm a bit concerned that the water might be too cold to really enjoy the experiences. Also wondering if it's only a few minutes in the water. Has anyone done these experiences? Any experience with Chankanab in the winter? Thanks

Has there been any priority on return to the ship or only FROM the ship?

I really enjoy a virgin Miami Vice (pina colada plus strawberry daquiri). Have had it with and without alcohol, but I think it actually tastes better without.