e11wa

We've done Chefs Table onboard 3 times, one Splendor, Rhapsody, and on Celebrities Eclipse.

Splendor was fantastic, chef was really engaging, and the Somellier was a fellow aussie.

onboard Rhapsody was the chefs first time hosting, and he was very clearly very nervous in his presentation, and didn't seem particularly interested in explaining the process and thinking behind each dish.

On board the Celebrity Eclipse, Chefs Table was something else entirely.

We met Executive Chef Darren in the wine bar, followed by a galley tour and finally into the private dining room.

The chef dined with us for part of the evening, and prepared the main course, and also desert table side.

In the ~11 days after the chefs table outting, we would often see Chef Darren in the buffet and he continued to be very engaging each time we saw him, chatting about different things and getting some great tips about places to go in the ports we were visiting.

If you've never done a degustation type dinner before, I would highly recommend.

If you've dined in Michelin Starred establishments, I'd probably suggest giving it a miss.

Would we do it again? Not unless it was gifted to us.

Just hooked up my WDTVLive media played the the samsung TV in our S1 on the eclipse last week.

HDMI input in the side, and took my samsung remote with me.

You were able to use the buttons on the side of the TV for adjusting inputs.

Also used the PC 3.5mm (1/8") jack to run the sound through my bose Sound link Mini also.

worked well.

was pleased.

perhaps its a tide thing?

Where are you off to Gary. My wife and I are on the Eclipse in 40 days time (not that I'm Counting!!) from Miami to the Southern Caribbean. Sure you will have a Fab time, wherever you are going

see you in Miami!

Do people do any wash in their room?

always.

back in the olden times people washed in a tub and put some elbow grease into it. I see no reason I cant do the same. half an hour every few days really isn't a drag, and I know that my t-shirts aren't going to have their prints damaged in hot dryers, and i'll get back all of my sox, not 7 of the 8 that go to the laundry.

We always travel with pre-bagged powder we bring from home, it works just as well in the bathtub as it does in a washer in a coin laundry.

Especially sailing in the caribbean or in the Med in summer most stuff is dry in a few hours when we're relaxing in our room watching movies or TV.

hows the weather up there?

 

Wave Promo - Classic Package

Abu Dhabi,United Arab Emir.

mine says same.

dont sweat it.

i live in australia..

as for the OBC, it should be a line item on your booking confirmation if you got one from X

To find your order history go to Manage Reservation. Once there on the right hand side look for Order History, click on that and the Beverage package should show up there. OBC or prepaid Gratuties don't show up but, beverage package, speciality restaurant bookings or pre purchased internet packages will.

Thanks for the tip.

I'd upgraded to the Premium bev pkg just before the price went up in May last year, and was wondering it may get lost in the backend of celebrity IT catastrophe , but there it is.

cheers!

e./

If you ever get bored, go sit and listen to some of the complaints at Guest Services and yo'll have a few laughs. Some are unbelievable!

I'm gonna do that next time!

sailed in September and did not have any of these issues.

We were in Aft JS, 8098, sme as we were on Splendour the year before.

The only time we noticed the vibration was during docking operations.

Service in MDR was great.

windjammer was great.

schooner bar, solarium bar, pool bar, champagne bar were all excellent.

just make small talk with the bartenders the first time you meet them and you should find you have great service.

2x 750ml bottles of wine per state room only.

no hard liquor.

I think the British and Americans have probably slightly differing viewpoints on terrorism. Mainly due to the fact that a lot of Brits are inured to terrorism due to the fact that we had to live with it for decades due to the IRA. Whereas, it's all new to Americans.

 

But, no. I won't be changing any travel plans now or in the near future.

Gotta go some time...

Might as well be experiencing some far away port on a trip of a lifetime.

However, I understand my outlook on life is quite different to many other people.

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Yep cash management is definitely an important part of sensible strategy.

I usually add about half my original bet each time I win, ie if I play 10 and win, I play 15, win, play 25, win, play 35 etc.

When I lose, go back to the original $10 bet. Repeat.

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Thanks for all the tips!

I have spent the last few months learning the cards, and playing with Live Dealer online.

Put in about $100 over the course of 4 months, and recently withdrew about $700 from a solid weekend and some good strategy.

I think as long as you dont lose your mind, the ability to do well is pretty good..

But weather that is still the case when playing with a dealer face to face remains to be seen.

it is not as easy as just 'dumping' a show.

I move musicals for a living, and the average show is somewhere in the region of 20-40 semi trucks worth of gear.

Obviously, the lighting and sound isn't something that would go, but moving the sets and machinery that goes with CATS is a massive undertaking, and not something that can be simply undertaken over night, or in a day.

Couple that with the requirement to tech and rehearse a new show, as well as cuing sound lighting and mechanics isn't something that happens in the flap of a wing.

I've just opened a production of The Royal Shakespeare Companies Matilda the Musical, and that was ~30 trucks, a 4 week production build with 6 weeks of rehearsals in the theatre with nothing else going on for that entire time.

While it may not be a show you like, I guarantee that the powers that be did their homework before committing the commission of sets, wardrobe and automation to a production that would be hugely difficult, and anything but cost effective to change.

By the time you add it all up, it comes out at $4700 Cdn with taxes, etc added in. What the heck happened to cheap cruising?

that is about $4900 aussie dollars. for a week.

That is what it costs just to get my wife and I to miami from australia.

 

We liked Fratelli Fresh also. http://www.fratellifresh.com.au Very lively. Good food. Locations in other parts Sydney as well.

The restaurant is Cafe Sopra, and its 11/10.

it is my wife and I's pick for italian when we get the urge.

Their location around at Walsh Bay is great.

Same with us at Via Napoli.

nice.

to the OP, sydney is really a foodie city.

heaps of great places. really comes down to what you want, how far you want to go, and how much you're prepared to spend.

yep. 5 minutes walk.

and we're full blown regulars there, so even when its packed we get get a seat ;)

Sounds like you might live in my neck of the woods. ;)

certainly seems that way.

Cremorne over here.

The best pizzeria in Sydney (IMHO) is in Lane Cove, a short taxi ride from the city. Via Napoli serves classic Neopolitan-style pizzas and is certified by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana. It's a good idea to book http://www.vianapolipizzeria.com.au/

And I'll second ellwa's recommendation of Radio Cairo. They have really interesting food there.

+1 for Via Napoli. so good.

While it might seem expensive at first, for those of us from the US, remember the there is no tax, and generally no tip. So a $15 burger with a view of the harbor is really like a $11-$12 burger in the states.

there is tax, but it is built in to the price.

you americans and your added tax!!

As a visitor to sydney, one of the important things to remember is that The Rocks area where you ship will dock is where Australia was first settled by white man. As such, there is loads of history and quite a few little hidden gems for eating and drinking in the area.

Pub food.

The Glenmore. great pub food. amazing view of the opera house, circular quay, and the ship. about a 5 minute walk from Circular Quay Terminal

Australian Heritage Hotel

. Great ausssie pub food, awesome selection of food. about 100m from The Glenmore

Upmarket.

Cafe Sopra Walsh Bay. Modern Italian. great food, friendly staff, short walk around Hickson Road from Circular Quay.

Cafe Sydney. Very up-market eatery, view of circular quay, the harbour bridge and the Opera House

If you are prepared to travel a little further and head over the Harbour Bridge, there is some stellar dining in neutral bay/cremorne, about 15 minutes from teh city.

My pick(and my local) is Radio Cairo. It is a unique blend of African/Sri Lankan/Middle Eastern/Caribbean. bookings essential friday-saturday.

we cancelled and booked the nov southern eclipse sailing and delighted with an overnight in aruba

We're on the same sailing!

A bit bumed we miss Antigua, but spending a night in a far-flung port is exciting.

So we should wait until we have left the port for 60 minutes before upgrading our drinks package?

 

I will make a point of asking this in August to see if we are told the facts.

Unfortunately you'll be up for the VAT for everything on board if you don't leave the EU...