frteach

I'm also sure that the porters will not know anything about "premium access", as this has been already discussed in another similar thread. They are not even employed by the cruise line. Packaging up perks that everyone is supposed to think that they need is called marketing. Cruise lines are gearing up to find ways to increase the amount spent in addition to the base fares.

It's all marketing! Every cruise line is trying to keep the base price low, and then "package" whatever they think we would like and make us pay extra for it. On that Premium Access package there are mostly things that are totally unneccessary and likely won't be used. The wi-fi and the room service (which was free until quite recently) are the most valuable for the people who use it and the rest is just "fluff". Never needed luggage before it was delivered, never had any trouble finding luggage on disembarking, and what is being served at the fancy lunch for 1 1/2 hours that is not available elsewhere? If you are on a ship shore excursion you have priority tendering. As some in this thread are saying, the staff at the port don't know anything about it anyway. Is there really a separate place to put "priority" luggage that is different from the place where the "everybody else's" luggage will go? Are they putting extra stickers on it? Except for suite guests, who really do pay lots more than the rest of us and get good treatment for that reason, I don't like this tendency to divide cruisers into the haves and the have nots, but it looks like it's here to stay. Ready for the arguments.

Thanks, Nutsaboutgolf. Not something that everybody could wear for sure. I was picturing a rash on a different body part, so I'm glad to be enlightened!

What is a "rashguard"? Trying to picture it.

I heard that it is lowered for tendering when the ship's tenders are being used (they are the lifeboats). If the port's own tenders are being used, there is regular entry. On our Iceland cruise on Apex, the carpet never left deck 14, and was only open on the embarkation day in Amsterdam. Very windy and too cool.

Yes, we have medical approval, and thanks for your concern. I am really trying to make this as stress free as possible for both of us, but things will undoubtedly come up. After the trip I will report about how it went on this forum.

Photo is a great idea. I will do that. Thanks for all the support.

I will definitely get a bell and tie it to the door, thanks for the idea. We have used lanyards for the sea passes for many cruises, but when we are in the room I tend to hang them on the wall, and he has to be reminded to take it, so he probably wouldn't have it if I wasn't with him. He is really excited about this next cruise, as am I. I am hopeful that all will be well.

Thanks, I have wheelchair assistance at the airport. The tracking device is a great idea. I also have door alarms, but I don't know if they would work on the cabin doors. He is familiar with Celebrity ships, but he can't remember numbers at all. We are travelling with family, so someone will always be with him. If they can give him a wrist bracelet, I will try to get him to wear it. I am painfully aware that these trips will not be possible soon, and am in a kind of "seize the day" attitude.

Thanks for these links. I am cruising with my husband for the first time since he was diagnosed with dementia. His mobility issues are not as advanced as needing a walker, but he does move slowly and stiffly with considerable tremors. We are cruising with Celebrity on the Apex, and I would be interested in hearing from anyone who knows what help is available, if any. He doesn't wander, but we may still get separated on the ship. I hope not. I did get an accessible cabin, so I would like to hear what I can expect there too.

I liked it on my 2022 Iceland cruise, since it was cool and rainy in June. You are still able to enjoy the view from the veranda with the window up. We will see how it goes in April in the Caribbean. I am a "hump veranda" person on the S class usually.

Yes, you can get that done at the customer relations desk.

I started reading this thread and was only 3-4 posts in when I started to wonder why all the posters assumed you were identifying as male! Wear whatever makes you comfortable! When I see the tank tops and baseball caps in the dining room these days, it is clear that there are no more rules, at least no one is enforcing any. Does Celebrity still not allow people in wearing shorts (except on the first night)? They used to send them back to put on pants, at least the men. For women they do allow capris, only a bit longer than shorts, so all these suggestions are only a guideline. For me, hairy pits and legs don't really go with the white tablecloths, but I am also a live and let live person, certainly willing to admit that the world is much less formal now.

Glad to be enlightened for 2024. I was stuck in the past when I was thinking about only 3 drinks. When we first started cruising, it was only 3, and there were coupons to redeem. We first cruised with Elites who also had the drinks pkg, and they used to give us their coupons. This was done quite a bit during the HH, since no one checked the cards. I think we will be fine for the drinks, but I do like my special coffees as well...

Thanks for confirmation, doghog. I am going to try to take my HH drink into the dining room with me, as several posters have said that it is possible, and we will see if I am stopped. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Ditto for my H's glass of red wine. We only need one with dinner anyway. We will also go to the Elite lounge event and judge for ourselves if it is worth it.

Love those almond croissants. Thanks for sharing everything.

This has been a good discussion for me bc I was definitely in need of an update on the Elite drinks rules, having sailed with Always Included before and after I reached Elite status. Last year I was on Explorer OTS and enjoyed the Diamond Lounge and the 4 drinks anytime, any drinks. I wish I could say that I am fully enlightened now, but I'm not really. Maybe I won't figure it out until I'm on board. Anyway, you people seem to get it, so set me straight. During the HH, 5-7, any bar, not restaurants or MDR, drinks from the list are unlimited, and we can take any drink into the DR. We eat as early as possible after 5:30. At least one poster stated that they were served whatever they wanted, and were not limited to the list, although the warning at the bottom of the list seems pretty clear. At the Elite Lounge or Event, (which occurs how often, where, and for how long?) there is a different list, more limited, sometimes good canapes and music, and sometimes nothing at all. Did I read that someone got a drink that was not on the list at one of these events as well? I'm trying to save money too, so no pkg will be purchased, but I hope this works out. We will certainly buy what we really want around the pool or in the evening, of course. To change the subject, I was reading the CC tier benefits on the website and I saw no mention of the complimentary 90 min (I believe that was the number) of internet for Elite members that we used to get. Has this been discontinued? The agent I spoke to when I booked the cruise seemed not to know this, and recommended that I use it up for both of us, then see about getting more for whatever time was left on the cruise. Am I hijacking this thread? Sorry!

Thanks for the update, kwokpot. As I said, we used to have the drink pkg when we cruised in the past, so we didn't care about the elite drink perks and didn't need them. Nice to know that we can drink to our heart's content for the HH, but we still won't have more than 2! Guess I will read up on the CC perks! Really looking forward to this next cruise.

Ex-Airbalancer, I think we are talking about different Elite perks. To my understanding, Elite gets 3 free drinks during the HH from 5-7, chosen from a list, and I guess these are available from any bar. This is not to be confused with the Elite cocktail parties, which are unlimited drinks from a list, and also have hors d'oeuvres. It is not always convenient for us to attend these events, but we usually use the HH perks. We will never drink 3 each in the 2 hour period, however. We can take a glass of wine into the MDR. I haven't cruised Celebrity since 2022, and things could have changed. Last time we cruised it was with AI so we weren't bothered about drinks. This will be my first time trying to work with the Elite perks only. Maybe someone who has cruised more recently can tell me if it is different now. I love Celebrity and am happy to be Elite, I was just opining that the RC way of letting you use your perk anytime seems more convenient for us.

I think Celebrity has to take a long look at the CC benefits pkg for Elite and above. Laundry is nice, and I do use that one, but I can't really see why they continue to have the 3 drinks that you get only during the HH, and only from a limited list. Why can't I have a colada instead of a screwdriver? And why only within a 2 hour period, at a particular bar? Why can't they load the drinks on our card and allow us to have them any time of day, and any drink except the high priced stuff, like their own RCI cruiseline does for Diamond? We cruised Explorer OTS last year and I enjoyed that way of doing it. I can see myself cruising RC more often, since we are no longer drinking enough to make the high priced drink pkg worthwhile. BTW, the ice show was fantastic, as was the skating. We are both 70+.

Love the Silhouette, Way too much positivity in your post,lol. Glad you had a good time.

I will be contrary and say that we love the OVC on embarkation day. Never had any trouble finding a spot to sit, and we always head outside first to see if there are any seats there. The bustle just adds to our excitement about getting on a cruise again. Do what you enjoy!

All you need to do is ask your room steward for one if you can't find it in the room. I post a schedule for each day of the cruise on the wall with magnets, and our steward noticed we had a beach day and brought towels and the bag without being asked. They don't like you using the pool towels, so they will bring others.

hrhdhd, did you say there was no limit on the drinks between 5 - 7 from the limited selection for Elite and above? Not just 3 drinks? Did you mean Elite +?

One more question about the Elite breakfast. Is there table service or a buffet style? Can I take out the coffee and the drink to enjoy on the balcony? My H will still want to go to the buffet, so I will probably be there too. Thanks for the menu, which suggests table service. Love the idea of bagels and salmon.