QE2_Fan

I'm not sure what the 'LGC' dinner is, but per other threads understand that the Unlimited dining package is no longer being offered. Sure someone will step in and correct me if that's wrong!

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

If it helps we travel with 2 kids, quad share and have thought along similar lines. Sadly the cost of inside + verandah has never come close to the quad share price, which included 2 alcoholic and 2 non alcoholic packages, which for our family is just too much value to pass up!

One cruise they did have a verandah guarantee offer, and 2 verandahs worked out cheaper than our exisiting quad share Concierge cabin. We went with it due the saving, but still got the beverage 'perks' being verandahs. we were prepared to do 1A/1C per cabin thinking they could be at opposite ends of the ship or different decks even. We hit the guarantee jackpot in the end and scored interconnecting cabins!! The extra space, and 2nd bathroom were very much appreciated!

Haven't seen such a great deal since, so it's been back to quad share.

Not ideal, but we make it work and allows us to enjoy family time and a holiday we may otherwise not have had.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

You also get 240 minutes of internet vs 90, free cappuccino and latte all day, 10% discount on any beverage package, and 15% off all specialty dining. I don't know why a drink package is mentioned as both Elite and Elite Plus get the two hours of drinks in Sky Lounge at night.

I read it that if you have the drink package as a perk (we mostly do) then the evening Elite and above drinks are of lesser value, even at Elite status.

To the OP, I think for the small extra perceived value in Elite + ststus I would instead mix it up a little and try some other lines. Even give Azamara a go, where points earned still count towards your Captains Club ranking.

For one cruise it won't set you back in claiming the Celebrity points ladder too much and will give yourself a chance to reflect and compare if Celebrity is still that 'happy place' you want to return to !!

Good luck!

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

After the predictable responses that people think are clever, I have not seen many updates to the original Dreamworks characters brought on the ship, was it back in 2013? If they have updated the list of characters on board, I haven't seen any and trolls was a late 2016 movie wasn't it?

Not necessarily clever, but showing a little sense of humour....these forums can sometimes do with a little [emoji1]

Earlier posts indicate they have had the Trolls characters aboard some ships

Ovation of the Seas is currently showing the movie in 3D in the theatre (but no character appearances)

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

You can buy anytime to lock in a price and cancel and rebuy if a lower price becomes available. You can cancel it all the way up to 3 days before sailing. But as mentioned above sales on drink packages vary by ship and sailing. Normal I have seen is 20% off but we have had 30% off before.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Correct, we did exactly that...bought at a 20% off promo...then a little while later they had a 30% off promo so I just cancelled and rebooked. They refunded and credited my card within a week.

So yes, do keep a lookout for a promo - you have up to 4 days or so before sailing date to prepurchase.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

 

 

I could see them adding additional smaller complimentary and pay venues, and possibly moving to 2 single level MDR spaces (that big hole hole in the middle of a multiple level MDR eats up a LOT of floor space they are going to need!).

<EEK> single level Dining Rooms, no or reduced Atrium space.....

Seems so much focus on regaining non suite space that these ships will be dark and dingy and nothing like the Light, Bright and Airy S class ships we are so fond of. And expect them to improve further with the E class.

Im hoping they don't reduce the balcony size as seen on the newer Princess ships. The S class balcony's are a generous size where should you have snuck one onboard, you could swing a cat with ease [emoji13]

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Drinks made with Starbucks beans but served at locations other than the stand alone Starbucks kiosks on Oasis, Allure and Harmony are included in the delux drinks package.

Thanks for clarifying. I think I've got confused (am I alone lol? [emoji16]) and yes it's the standalone Starbucks venues where the drinks are excluded from the pkg!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No she does not have an actual Starbucks Store, but I believe you can buy Starbucks coffee drinks at the La Patisserie Cafe on Deck 4. Last I read they are not included in the drinks package either.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Correct on all accounts

 

No cup, no Freestyle

Can go to any bar and get a glass without cup

 

 

Just wanted to add one more comment. On Enchantment in 2015, I did see the crew in Windjammer with a special card that allowed them to fill regular cups from the Freestyle machine.

Not sure if this is still valid or exists on other ships.

Sent from a mobile device

Thanks! I can see my kids wanting to use the FreeStyle machines, but not at the expense of having to carry around a lousy cup lol.

They're lucky they remember to get dressed before leaving the cabin let alone have to carry something eek [emoji33][emoji12]

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

We are new to RCI...so to get a drink from the Freestyle machines you need to remember to drag your cup around with you? Seems a hassle, although the freestyle machines look like fun!

So if you don't have your souvenir cup on you, no freestyle beverages right? But assume you can still get a soda in a normal glass from any bar?

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I would guess 20 would be crowded or packed out there.

 

 

 

Great shots, thanks for sharing!

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Thank you, and sorry for my absence - had a few dramas to deal with!

I didn't know about the wings above the bridge, looks an awesome spot although I think our group is looking for an area with bar service [emoji38][emoji898]

I suppose the Solarium isn't far away, else seems the other spot is North Star Bar.

Had anyone hung out at the back of Windjammers on Deck 14? There is an outdoor space there and assume Windjammer has a bar (if not an outdoor one also?).

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I'm surprised they haven't upped the capped limits on the drink packages to allow for the price hike. I know they've done this preciously, maybe they will again but just out of synch with initial increase to allowing for it in the packages?

It seems to defeat the purpose of the 'deluxe' package otherwise!

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I have no complaints. I've never sent anything back for being inedible, under cooked, etc.

 

 

 

While the meals in the specialty restaurants are sometimes more tasty, meat more tender, presentation nicer, I have still enjoyed every meal in the MDR.

Same here, whilst have had a few things that didn't rate so well we have never had to send a meal back at all!

We have cruised mostly Celebrity and can tell you similar threads exist over there, although I also ready many options that the food on Celebrity is superior in general to that on Royal ships.

Yes the menus don't change as often as we'd like being repeat cruises, but then again there is more than enough to choose from to say I can't face having to choose from the same menu I last saw 12 mths ago!!

And I ALWAYS look forward to getting my fix of French Onion Soup! [emoji3]

Beats the same menus repeating in our house on a weekly basis - oh no, not sausages again [emoji43][emoji13]

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Hello Sailors!

We will shortly (20 Feb) be boarding our first RCCL cruise. Aboard Ovation of the Seas.

Our roll call is pondering a very critical element of the cruise.

Which is the best bar/venue to have Sailaway at?![emoji898][emoji38][emoji898]

We have sailed aboard Celebrity Solstice a few times and traditionally the aft Sunset Bar up on Deck 15 was 'the' place to go as outdoors and offered great views of the port (Sydney Harbour, AUS in our case) as we sailed out.

Not sure Ovation has a similar venue, and also heard some bars are small or not well staffed (270, North Star Bar?), which we want to avoid being part of a large group.

Appreciate your input into this critical (lol) element of our inaugural cruise with Royal, and Ovation!! [emoji13][emoji484]

Cheers!

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I have done the 3 hour one on the Ovation. In addition to the galley, bridge and theatre we visited 270, recycling and engineering.

We are considering the Ovation tour, did it include lunch at all? I'm thinking it doesn't, but ask as we just cruised on Celebrity Solstice and for roughly same price you did a similar behind the scenes tour and it ended with lunch in a speciality restaurant, Muranos.

Sure the Ovation tour will be interesting but seems pricey in comparison.

Cheers!

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

He there. Sorry don't have the flyer but we were on same cruise and also took this offer up. It was for any category from Outside upwards (inside cabins excluded) and included 1 perk and extra OBC, the amount varied based on duration of final cruise chosen and cabin grade.

I understood you have to 31Dec to assign it to an actual cruise, although it will still be valid except you are not guaranteed the perk if the final cruise chosen is not offering anything.

We assigned it to a 2019 cruise just a few days ago but will likely change again as wasnt fully sold on new itineraries nor current pricing![emoji33]

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

It's all got so confusing, last year Celebrity 'standardised' their pricing with the Go Big, Better Best option of 1,2 or all offered perks. (Excluding transatlantic, transpacific and repositioning cruises) You couldn't get a price WITHOUT a perk which a lot of people were not happy about as they preferred getting a base fare.

But now that 'standard' just seems another promotional gimmick where it's offered sometimes, not always, or added on after itineraries have been on sale for a while.

Perks included or not, their latest <high> pricing has kept my wallet shut from future deposits for now.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

We were recently on Solstice and found the internet performance vastly superior from pre xcellerate days. was able to stream and download content without any major issue. Was it perfect - no. But then I'm not expecting it to be, it's not like I have a contract with my local ISP on board with guaranteed speeds.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

The Equinox and S class ships are bright and modern - lots of natural light and open space. They don't have the large mall like Voyager but they have a huge central atrium that stretches from Deck 3 all the day up to Deck 14.... with a live tree planted half way up!

These photos are on Solstice, but Equinox shares same Deck plan.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Just in case you were curious as to how these things get put up... [emoji3]

 

Navigator of the Seas!

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Did always imagine they would need more than a long ladder!!

I need one of those at my place at Christmas time [emoji2]

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Breakfast? Which speciality restaurant is open for breakky?

We normally only do the 3 dinner package form$99 but on our recent Solstice cruise they offered a $149 pkg that was 3 dinners and 2 lunches at any restaurants on board.

We ended up just doing the $99 dinner deal but booked 2 lunches onboard - one at Tuscan for $25 and one at Silks for $20 (based on 'deals' of the day!) so came out slightly ahead.

We did like the flexibility of options and being able to choose the same venue multiple times.

Wonder if this change is aligning with the multi restaurant offerings on the new Edge class ships?

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Or slide it under while open to hold dirty clothes

Great idea! We had four sharing a cabin with a suitcase each, we stored one smaller suitcase into the larger, and both 'sets' easily disappeared under the bed!

(We use a pop up laundry basket for our dirty laundry tucked in the corner near the wardrobe!)

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Yay! how exciting. Now we just need to wait for some much longed for details!

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Your account is factual, fairly unemotional, and complete. I feel like I have a good picture of what actually happened, and I appreciate your input. I am so sorry that your wife has had this accident and pray she has a swift recovery.

 

I hope that Celebrity will see this and reevaluate how they transition folks off the ship in the event of an emergency, as this seems to be a bit of an oversight on Celebrity's part. If there are no porters, assistance in getting to a taxi just seems like common courtesy.

 

Best wishes to you and your family!

Thank you! We are just trying to take it day by day and hopefully we are approaching the finish line!

I agree, I do not have huge expectations of how Celebrity should take in full responsibility in these situations.

I just see it as a gap not to have a streamlined process of the emergency debarkation process where a ships representative and a porter (if required) ensure you are safely off the ship and sent off in prearranged transport. That's not too much to ask but would be a huge piece of mind.

Any decent hotel would do it, why is it so wrong to expect the cruise ship to do that similar service in extenuating circumstances.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk