CrankySailor

5 hours ago, Russiamomm said:

There is a 3% charge.  No way around it unless you have high status in the casino. 

Thanks!

Hi. Anyone know if NCL charges a fee when charging a cash withdrawal to the room? Last time I sailed Celebrity, I think they allowed a certain amount each day at no fee. Just trying to determine how much cash to take along.

Thx.

Apologies if posted already.

Not a good review - echoes what many on CC have said.

Partner and I are sailing on1/27 and I am sure we will have a nice time (with two of our besties - so automatically an 8 out of 10 experience).  As long as food and service are good, the rest is largely what you make of it, in my opinion.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-10/celebrity-edge-cruise-ship-review

1 hour ago, C-Dragons said:

Are you sailing out of Terminal 25? We used the app and I don’t remember X confirming our expedited check-in. Once you have entered all your info and uploaded your photo, you should be all set.

Yes...on Edge.  Their FAQs state that the pass will indicate “Expedited Boarding” and I assume there is a separate line (similar to TSA PreCheck).

Anyone know at what point X determies if you are available for Xpedited check-in at the pier in Port Everglades?  I completed everything and have the passes digitally, in the app, but I have not been flagged for expedited check-in.  I had assumed that once I had all my info entered (passport, photo, payment card), I would be good to go.  Cruise is on 1/27 - so maybe they only work the boarding process a week out or so?

47 minutes ago, floralscent said:

I just found this on Celebrity's website under the Classic pkg.  Does this mean the gratuity is charged on  'every check'...meaning each drink?  That's how I interpret it.

 

Classic Package

$59 USD/per night*

Includes drinks up to $9 and those of the Standard Beverage Package. An 18% service charge is added to each check. Wines by the bottle are discounted by 15%

 

“Those of the Standard Beverage Package “ - I believe means the beers on the Standard list.  You can’t pay the difference in price...would have to pay full price for it.  If so, is ridiculous, as a bottle of beer should not be more than $9 (unless some of the very specialized imports from Belgium, etc.).

Bump.

There are separate beer lists for the Classic package and Premium package.  My understanding is that you cannot pay the difference for the beers.  That is, if you have Classic and order a Premium beer, you have to pay for the Premium beer in full.  Have not sailed on X in a couple of years, so not certain, but that is how it was xplained to me.

Anyone have any information to share about the blackjack games available on Edge?

Specifically, did there seem to be any “player friendly” games (e.g., double-deck without restrictive rules, ‘stand 17’ tables with reasonable minimums, etc.)?

I thought at one time, a few years ago, RCCL introduced ‘stand 17’ on all blackjack games across the whole fleet (Celebrity and Royal), but that didn’t seem to last very long.

Thanks.

Just off Viking Sky on Dec. 17th. Great ship and cruise. We used OBC for tips. No problem.

Grrrr...called Viking today and they said "no." Guess I will ask on-board on day 1 and then decide if I use the OBC for the drink package or gratuities.

Thx.

Good news! Thanks all!

hello. Does anyone know if Viking enforces not allowing OBC to be used to offset gratuities? Their materials say this is not allowed (which is NOT the policy of most other main line cruise brands), but wondering if that is enforced (i.e., if there are credits available in the onboard account they will offset gratuity charges).

Thanks.

Looking at the 8-day Romantic Danube cruise....and I can see itineraries on the Longships, as well as some "older" ships (specifically, the Prestige and Legend).

Have never done a river cruise, but have sailed on Viking Oceans, and I know they offer a high-quality product. Hoping someone with experience on the different Viking River ships has some thoughts here.

Thx.

The Gastropub on Eclipse is part of the Passport Bar, opened 3-7 pm. There was never a food menu and only a cooler full of nice beers. We got off the Eclipse 12/21.

Oh....that seems to be a change. Last year, there was a food menu (burgers, fish and chips, truffle fries, etc.). Perhaps the reviews were universally poor and they did away with the food.

Anyone sail recently on Eclipse (or other S Class w this venue)? Last year the food was poor and the bar service was mediocre (was easier to go get your own bottle and have them ring it in for you). Great place to watch football, and I want to like it, so hoping it has improved.

Thx.

PS - any recent experience at the World Class Bar? Drinks are good, but they have one tender making very complex drinks...so the wait to get your drink was often 15+ minutes. Hoping they figured out they need 2 or 3 bartenders.

A couple of years ago, RCCL made a big deal about all of their ships offering "stand on all 17s" blackjack games on all ships and all table minimums. Two years ago on Constellation that was the case, but I think last year when I sailed on Eclipse it was not. Anyone know if they abandoned the S17 rule and are back to Hit soft 17s? S17 reduces the house edge quite a bit, so would not be surprised if they cut it.

I am local (Fort Lauderdale). If I cruise from Miami, I park at the Park-N-Fly lot next to the airport (private, off-premises lot). They will not shuttle you to the Port, but you can take an Uber. I think indoor parking is $10 per day, and outdoor is $7.50 (go to their site to be sure). Have to do the math to see if it is worth the extra cost of Uber, the extra time to drive to/from the lot vs. just paying the $20. I use PNF every week in Fort Lauderdale for work, and they are very reputable. I also earn tons of free parking, so it's totally worth it for me?

Will also be on Eclipse in Jan (1/2) in AQ.

Looking formthe Blu dinner menus - in the order they will be served - so I can plan some specialty dining. Some of the meals are really good and I don't want to miss them...while others I wouldn't mind so much :)

If anyone has the menus in order (or has seen them on here) - please let me know.

Thx.

I have a reservation on this sailing, and I am trying to help some friends reserve a stateroom. I booked it when the cruise first opened (back in Dec 2015 while I was also on Eclipse). It seems to have disappeared from the website - the previous holiday sailing ending on 1/2/18 is there...as is the next 14-night sailing on 1/7/18. Anyone else on this sailing heard from Celebrity? When I go into my account online, I can still see the reservation - it has not been cxld.

Note - this is the 2018 sailing...not 1/2/2017 (which I am also sailing! :) )

Thx.

Hello,

 

We are a Gay married couple thinking about travelling on the Viking Star in 2017 and cruising one of the Mediterranean routes.

 

Is there anyone in the forum that has advice or direct experience with this?

 

We are a very quiet couple that just wants a great experience that wraps around good food, good experiences, and great destinations.

 

We would probably like to eat alone most nights, but would not be opposed to joining others.

 

Any advice on the Viking ships and how they do or do not cater to Gay couples?

 

Thank you.

Partner and I just back from the Med Getaway in Feb. we never felt the least bit uncomfortable (though at 48 and 55, we were towards the younger end of the age spectrum). There were a few other gay couples on the ship. We ate alone, but at dinner, the couples at neighboring tables for two were always pleasant. I am way behind at posting a review...but I can tell you the food was fantastic. Not one bad morsel, honestly. We were very, very impressed. Big step up from what we were accustomed to with Celebrity. Quiet, elegant, classy, beautiful ship.

Taking a cruise in Feb on another line (Viking Oceans), but thought I would pose this question to the good people on the Celebrity board.

Wondering if anyone has taken an excursion to Pompeii (from Naples) with any lines, and if you have thoughts on whether it's worth the time. If I take the excursion, it cuts my time in Naples by 4 hours...and I am only there for 8 hours total (which is really like 7 hours when you figure getting off/back on ship), and seems like you can easily fill a day in Naples (eating pizza!). Have always wanted to go to Pompeii, so leaning towards going.

Messina - I realize this is not a common cruise ship port - wondering if anyone has gone to Taormina on their own (without an excursion)? Seems easy enough to get there from Messina (90 minute bus ride)? Seems like a great place to go for views of Mt Etna - and have heard great things abiut it, in general. In Messina for 10 hours.

Thx much!

Hi. Wondering if anyone has taken an excursion to Pompeii with Viking (or any other lines), and if you have thoughts on whether it's worth the time. If I take the excursion, it cuts my time in Naples by 4 hours...and I am only there for 8 hours total (which is really like 7 hours when you figure getting off/back on ship), and seems like you can easily fill a day in Naples (eating pizza!). Have always wanted to go to Pompeii, so leaning towards going.

Messina - has anyone gone to Taormina on their own (without an excursion)? Seems easy enough to get there from Messina (90 minute bus ride)? Seems like a great place to go for views of Mt Etna - and have heard great things abiut it, in general. In Messina for 10 hours.

Thx.

Anyone know where Silhouette will be January 12-18, 2017?

She is sailing a 4-nighter January 8-12, and a 3-nighter January 19-22...then back on "normal" 7-night itineraries...but I can't find anything for 1/12-18 (even Googling for a special interest cruise). Figure some cruise geek out there has some way of finding out where she's going! :)

I am a Vegas regular, and the original rules posted by the OP aren't that far off from the standard now. Excepting the 8 decks instead of 6 (house edge improvement of approximately 0.15%).

 

In Vegas two weeks ago, the only Stand on Soft 17 at The Wynn was in the Salon. Even $300 tables on the floor on Saturday night were hist Soft 17. Same at Venetian, Bellagio, Aria and MGM. Stand on Soft 17 is getting harder to find everywhere.

 

Also, don't know the last time I saw a single deck game that wasn't 6:5.

 

My bigger hangup is that the casino on board is not up to standard. Dealers are fair at best and make a LOT of mistakes, so keep your eyes open.

 

Even more troubling is the fact that the shoe is not protected. In all other casinos, open a table and you start with 6 (or eight) new decks. after a certain period of time, they're all replaced. When this is done, it takes place right at the table, in plain sight for anyone to see. On board, the table closes and they carry the shoe to the cage and put it away. Then, when the table opens, back out it comes! Not that I think they would intentionally do anything, but back to the amateur level of the staff, I have no doubt accidents happen, shoes get dropped or cards spill out. I'm sure the "think" they've got them all, but no way putting my usual Vegas bank roll on that!

Agree - Vegas, especially on-strip, nearly impossible to find a good game (all 6-deck shoes with H17...or worse...those same rules with CSMs).

There is one fabulous game at Bally's in the "High Limit" room - it's $25 min (so not really high limit), but is a S17 game (and I think resplitting Aces is allowed). There is also a $25 two-deck game in that room, but I think it is a H17 (still better than the 6-deck mess on the main floor).

I try to get my friends to stay off-strip for better gaming - but with no luck. Not sure what the issue is - they never leave the property we are staying in! So, I just play craps in LV (or if I want something slow and relaxing, PaiGow Poker).

Thanks for the review. How was disembarkation? I read that Miami has luggage carousels like airports. Did that make it easier or harder to find your luggage?

It was pretty easy - lines to leave are a bit long after getting luggage (only two Customs agents!) but it was orderly. I have experienced disembarkations that we utter chaos - no lines, just a mass of people jumping in. Here, even the porters get in line....no jumping ahead even when someone is slipping them money. Maybe took 30 minutes from the time you left the ship tomget outside.

The luggage carousels are easy too. You just need to find someone to tell you which carousel to use based on your departure group number. There are several agents with clipboards.