buckbohdan

We're in the process of leaving port at the moment. Some lucky people have got to visit the helipad for the sail away.

Freedom of the Seas left at 5pm and then we had to wait for a ferry to pass us before we could push away from the pier. With us facing inwards we've had to reverse out and turn around in the port before we head out to sea and on to Cartagena.

 

The lucky folks were suite guests and a few other special invitees. It was great to be out there.

I know in the past there have been delays in disembarkation from the Eclipse in Ft Lauderdale due to the configuration of the pier and customs. Once you are off the ship could you please comment on your experience.

 

Thank you again,

 

Gianna

What has your experience been as you were on that ship?

Our experience as well .....

 

I'm very sympathetic with you on the cost of air-fares between the states and Europe. They are high. You can off-set that by being a savvy cruise shopper. The industry is very competitive as there are more cabins floating around out there than there are folks to book them at retail. Thus, the discounts/deals being offered to land the bookings and make a particular cruise profitable for the lines. The more you cruise, the smarter you will get. Its fun.

 

My booking agent of choice for now is SkyMiles (Delta Airlines) Cruises. (Google skymiles cruises). Because I am from Atlanta GA and it is Delta's hub, I fly with Delta as much as I can and use sky miles. I would not doubt that British Airways has something like this. When I book a cruise through Delta Cruises, I get miles rewards. Another thing I like about this web site is that you can locate a cruise you are interested in and go all the way through the booking process to identify what cabins, by Category, are available. You don't have to book the cruise or provide any credit card info to do this. Again, its not real time but it's close and reflects blocks of cabins that the line has released to booking agents/wholesalers. The lines always hold cabins, usually the most desirable ones, and manages those themselves (one advantage of booking directly with the line). I have heard from other UK residents that you can book at the lower USD prices if you use a US agent. This can be tricky maybe other Brits can add to this topic.

Check out Celebrity's Choice Air program. Their pricing has been very good, one way and round trip. Might be helpful.

Thank You so much for Posting day by day as I am really looking forward to our time on the Eclipse for our Honeymoon on April 5th. We have a Balcony Cabin that they said is slightly Obstructed but did they lie... is it Fully Obstructed? It is Cabin #6157. All these menus the food looks soooo good!!! Also, I noticed there is a Love and Marriage game like on Royal....How can we get on it as contestants as we will be married 1 week on this cruise :) Thanks for posting too!!! I am looking forward to seeing more!!

You can look out but not down as top of lifeboat is at your balcony.

Thank you for the info on the wine. But can you tell me the price of a single malt scotch or high quality vodka? Safe to assume if I want ice it is free.

 

Thank you,

Bill

An earlier post by another party has the answer you seek.

Cruisenut,

Great stuff..thanks.

And thanks for the others posting info as well.

Look forward to the upcoming days!!:D

Attached is the latest update to the spreadsheet for S Class ship cabins. Thanks to all the recent Silhouette sailers who have submitted their comments.

Please remember to include your ship name when reporting.

 

As always, please let me know of any discrepancies and email me if you'd like an Excel version.

 

Happy Sailing!

Fantastic. Thanks for managing this thread.

I just made my deposit for my May 2012 cruise.When can I order my beverage package?After final payment?I want to order ahead of time so I can get my first drink as soon as I board the ship.Are there any issues to getting bottles of water and cans of pop to take to your room?Can you get more than one at a time? Or just go to different bars to get them.I am buying a package just for myself to use but lots of times I wake up in the middle of the night and will drink a bottle of water or can of pop.

 

Laura

Just make a routine of getting a large bottle of water leaving the buffet after breakfast and return it to your room, or at another point during the day when you return to your room. you then have it. That's what we did, so we always had a bottle for use.

If you pay to go there is only a slip to sign. There is no form to fill out and you never need to worry about tipping as there is a 15% service charge included on every bill - unless you have such great service that you feel a need to tip extra - but that is the case with the prepaid package as well.

 

I believe with the premium package ALL beers are included. Drinks with spirits and wine have a $12 menu price cap. This covers most items except for high end spirits such as upper end single malts, cognacs etc. On the wine end most champagnes by the glass will be over the limit but they'll have some other sparkling wines included and possibly one champagne.

 

The welcome aboard champagne is a complimentary glass of sparkling wine passed out right as you board - it is a welcome aboard drink and not a meet and greet.

 

The biggest exclusions are that there is no room service included, no mini bar (in cabin) purchases, no bottles of wine (only wine by the glass), and there is one bar (Cellar masters) where most of the wine available is from special vending machines and those are not included.

The cellar masters does have a sommelier who pours the same wine as what is on the try by ounce. Those are included up to $12 per glass. The premium also includes all premium non alcoholic drinks........basically imported waters, vitamin drinks, fancy teas and coffees, fresh OJ. At dinner you select the wine by the glass and they keep coming back asking it you wish to have a refill. Bartenders get to know you by name, same as the bar waiters and they don't need to see your card anymore, they remember your name. All beers and drinks up to $12 per drink.

fresh OJ walking into the buffet, a coffee drink during the day, 2 martinis , or high end cocktails during the day, 2 glasses of wine during dinner and you hit the $49 a day charge. everything else is free........water getting off the ship, bottle of Perrier, sodas, beers, frozen drinks.

The nice thing is this becomes like an all inclusive. Rather than think about spending $4.00 for a double expresso, $4.00 for a fresh OJ or perrier or large water, you just do it.

We even got a drink going back to the room to enjoy there while we relaxed and got ready for the evening.

It was great on the 10 night cruise and I plan on doing it again on the 14 night TA.:D And if you can work it out, prepay one two months before and another a month before and as you are charged when booked on line, you spread out your costs and reduce the damage at cruise conclusion.

I'm a bit confused... :confused: If I like smoothies and sparkling water, but regular beer, 8$ wine glass are enough for me... do I still have to pay for the Premium alcohol package, or would the classic alcohol package cover everything I need?

Look at the celebrity website to make your final decision as some of what you want is in the premium package.

I am a Platinum RCL going on Solstice in two weeks, I was surprised that the menu on this thread seems to say they are charging for hot tea and orange juice in the Buffet and MDR. I am reading this correctly?

 

On RCL, teas were always free 24/7 and OJ in the buffet was free.

fresh squeezed OJ is a charge on all cruise lines. Also super specialty teas are a charge on all cruise lines.

Oj from the tap and standard teas are no charge.

Thanks for the list, it helped us decide NOT to do the beverage package.

 

Judy

Party animals aren't ya!!!!!!!!!!!!

RIL is worth every cent when you need to maximize your time and see everything in a day. Even then you only see the highlights. The guide reserved with RIL for the vatican is a plus to see an overview of the best there. Many of the places visited one can spend hours absorbing history. One can only plan to go back to have that second opportunity to spend those additional hours.