GottaKnowWhen

I spent some time today digging back through paper and electronic files. In March 2020 we had a Celebrity transatlantic cancellation, just a week or so into the total shutdown. I took 125% FCC en lieu of a refund. Later applied that to some cruises (b2b2b) in Fall 2020. Those were cancelled. I applied the FCC to a Spring 2021 b2b Caribbean cruise. Those were cancelled. I think that was when I had the FCC applied to the Bermuda trip which we just had to cancel. Along the way, one of the notices I got from Celebrity said “ if you take the 125% rather than a refund, you’ll also receive $200 extra OBC”. I am just going with the flow now, waiting to see what happens next. It won’t change my life if I get $200 OBC or not the next time I try to roll the FCC forward. I will be upset, though, if the FCC vanishes! Stan

Jim, if your taxes and port fees show up on my cards by mistake, I will be sure to buy you a really nice drink sometime. Too many cancellations and changes over the last 27 months. I know that my August 19 Iceland trip was paid off in early May 2020, the funds and perks moved forward to 2021 and more recently to 2022. Along the way I picked up a new perk, the Indulge package. Eight other booked cruises, all at least partially paid for, were cancelled along the way. Some refunds, some FCC. I don’t know how my Bermuda trip was paid for. FCC? A moved cancelled reservation? Credit card? I have started to dig back through old emails and Booking Confirmations and credit card statements, just out of curiosity. And I don’t know if it matters in terms of retaining OBC or not. I can’t say I am anxious or concerned, just curious to see how it comes out. Stan

The phone lady said “cruise fare will be refunded to your card…” which surprised me, I was expecting FCC, never asked for a refund. I didn’t question her. Either is fine with me.

I was scheduled to sail on May 23. I did the eMed online test on Saturday May 21. I showed a slight Positive, which was not a total surprise; I had a Positive PCR on May 6 and CDC says that any tests might show Positive for up to 90 days. I did have in hand a Certificate of Recovery which would have allowed me to board my Celebrity cruise to Bermuda, but Bermuda (and most Caribbean Islands as well) do not currently accept anything but a recent Negative test.) So, on the 21st I cancelled my hotel reservations, cancelled airline, cancelled my private tour on Bermuda, and called Celebrity Engagement Center. I was on hold for a bit, explained to the person who answered that I needed to cancel, was transferred, explained to the next person that I needed to cancel. She took my name, reservation number etc., verified all of that, and asked me to email a copy of my Positive test result. I did that. I couldn't be sure that they had received the email so on Monday 23rd I emailed my CVP and asked him to check; he emailed back that my records showed the cancellation and that refunds etc. were in the queue. Meanwhile on May 22 I booked a June 19 cruise, but NOT to Bermuda or Caribbean. Today, June 1, I received an email from Celebrity acknowledging the cancellation and outlining the following: - charges to my onboard account had been refunded to my OBC account. = Excursion cancelled, credit to OBC = Specialty dining cancelled, credit to OBC - Upgrade from Classic to Premium Alcohol Package - refund pending to my credit card, to be credited within two billing cycles. Ok, I didn't have a Specialty Dining reservation, but no harm, no foul. My OBC account now shows zero charges against it. Unknowns: - What happens to my OBC? - What happens with my cruise fare? FCC or Refund? I could speculate based on others' experiences I've read about here, but I am content to just sit and wait to see what happens. Stay tuned for updates. Stan

We used them several times in several parts of Spain. Large groups I had arranged and just 2-4 of us. When I had to start canceling in 2020 due to the pandemic, they were quick to refund. They may not be back running smoothly yet, but I would book through them again if I were back in their neighborhood.

I sent them an email yesterday asking for clarification on this FAQ section, and 90 vs. 180 vs. 270 days. If/when I hear back I’ll post here. Stan

I cannot be certain of the timing, but I believe I have you to thank. Your discussions (and probably others’) alerted me to the whole COR process. Our sequence was: she was exposed, Saturday, started heavy coughing Tuesday, I had a sore throat Thursday. Ah ha! We are sick! Home test, we were definitely positive. Friday, off to local Urgent Care. Two requests. - Paxlovid prescription please, and a PCR test to verify/document our condition. Done and done. So we have a COR good for 90 days? Nine months? Stan

It has been happening with me! I was still a faint pink 15 days after starting Paxlovid. Which led to cruise cancellation. Haven’t checked again since then. Stan

3000x2400 for indoor shots on chic night, 1800x2400 for shots on the pier with the ship in the background.

Good show. Fun to see their enthusiasm. I like the looks of that itinerary but am quite overbooked right now. I do wish they had techs who would work on Lisa’s lighting, but at least they got the video and sound right. Stan

No, Kate said the cat was too involved in soaking up sunshine.

Thanks to all for useful insights! Just booked a June cruise, just booked airfare (slightly more than the cost of the cruise) 😳 and starting on the hotel rooms for the days before/after the cruise.

Thanks for the clarification. The CDC policies make so much sense, I am glad Celebrity follows them, it’s too bad Italy and Bermuda and many others don’t adapt as situations change and experience accumulates about how to cope with the pandemic.

Not sure of the details of your situation. But “they” are wrong if they say you need to test negative. You need to be symptom free (e.g. no fever) but the whole point is that you may test Positive for up to 90 days, and the Certificate confirms you are in that 90 day period and that you are 10 days beyond testing positive and that you are symptom free. At least that is what I understand from CDC and Celebrity sites.

All good points. But from what I have seen online, the U.S. will accept the Certificate of Recovery (aka Documentation of Recovery) en lieu of a negative test. But airlines etc may or may not.

1. Check either the CDC site or Celebrity. 2. Note that this process is new since January this year, could change again by October. 3. IF you get Covid, and IF you can show you had Covid more than 10 days ago, and IF you document your illness with a formally administered PCR test, and IF a credible source can confirm you are now symptom free, THEN it may be assumed that any antigen test results can be ignored and you may be deemed Recovered no matter what the tests say. But, if you just happen to get a positive antigen at the end of a cruise, then you need to deal with the then-current guidelines for isolation etc.

Not sure what any of your travails have to do with the retreat. You are experiencing problems dealing with new inexperienced lightly trained phone answer people who know maybe how to follow a script. Fact of life. Shoreside staff is not the same as shipboard staff. I hope you come back to describe your onboard Retreat experience.

We had a neighboring balcony where the woman used to hang her laundry. Her bra blew onto our balcony. I took it down and turned it in at lost-and-found. Have always been curious as to whether she claimed it...

No idea how “safe” it is - suppose it depends on one’s needs. I have always used water from the sink taps, from the jugs in Ocean View, I use frozen water (ice cubes) that they make from the same tap water, and I have never had an issue.

On our most recent cruise, Equinox in Jan-Feb, we had a good relationship with the very professional photographers aboard. They did multiple shots when we asked, they backed off quickly when we weren’t in the mood, we wound up with many very quality candids and portraits in our Package. Never any pressure, never any harassment, they just want to provide their professional service to those that want it.

We’ve not been on an E class yet, we have been on all M class and most S class. Have never been to a theater event where the sound level was tolerable for any period of time. We go, we listen, I check my phone’s db meter to verify that I am not being too sensitive, and then we quickly leave. Some of the House Band presentations in the Grand Foyer are quite good with tolerable sound level.

Does Guest Services maintain a special stash of liquor? Or is there some other reason for you to visit them throughout the cruise? Just curious…

This discussion reminded me that I had not attended to my photo gallery recently. I just uploaded a few shots from our 2017 visit to Ravenna, these may provide a feel for what this place is like. Selected Ravenna photos - 2017 I also need to put up some of my Venice shots, but that will be maybe next week... Stan

No, I haven’t recently. I mentioned train as an option, but for me a rental car would make far more sense, a train ride with one or two connections would be interesting, a taxi for $600 ($300 each way?) would not be my choice. Stan

@LGW59Our times in Venice we have usually bought a multi day vaporetto pass. Easy to get around the main area, easy to explore other spots around the lagoon. The trio of Murano, Burano, Torcello worth a day or two. Visit the Navy boat yard. Definitely the Ghetto. Lots of good restaurants. Enjoy the quiet in the evenings as many tourists leave for less expensive lodging on the mainland.