Jacques O

We stayed a few times at the Ibis hotel next to the train station. Not top-luxury, but good value for money and very conventienly located (specially if you arrive to Amsterdam by train). Then, there is no issue with getting a taxi - and if you travel light, you are able to go on food to the cruise terminal. it's very easy, and I would say, 15mn walking distance.

Jacques 

is this self service laundry free? (washing machine, soap?)

Thanks for the info Cruisestitch.

yes, the terminology is a bit ambiguious.

I hope we'll be able to enjoy a nice breakfast in a special venue.

Hello,

I've been through the perks for Elite members in the Captain Circle's section, and was surprised not to find the special breakfast offered every morning in a dedicated venue.

Last year, on the Reflection in June, we enjoyed a quiet breakfast in the Tuscan Grill aft...

have they phased out this activity?

Jacques (sailing on the Transat to the USA on the Eclipse on 28 Oct.)

Sorry to hear this sad news. My condolences to his familly. I sailed on the Reflection last year in June, in the Aegean Sea. He was the Captain. I had the chance to speak to him a couple of times, then, and found him a very approachable and open man. Yes, i think his was a great captain, appreciated by his crew and passengers.

J.

Hello, i'm booked on the Eclipse, out of Southampton, for the Transat crossing , on 28 Oct.

i suppose there will be many Elite members on board, and therefore,coupons wlll be handed over....

i would rather have the drinks served in the sky lounge...... last year, on the Relfection to the Agean Sea, in June, it's where the Elite drinks were served. The place was not too busy, and i had a great time there.

the coupons are handed over every day, for each evening? how does it work?

we don't have a drink package because we find it expensive.... unless there are some special offers i'm not aware of. may be on board, when we embark ?

thanks

Jacques O.

Hello Raven82 and Tenpin,

I'll take note of Erwin, the Maitre D'..

We are booked on Costa Med for the 7-day cruise (out of Marseille). Looking forward to the cruise; itinerary is one of the best for Western Med.

Haven't sailed with Costa for many years. Hope we are pleased with it. I understand that the Med is one of the best and loved ship. Great. After all, she is 'quite' small by today's standard!

Incidentally, the roll call is silent. only two members.... (including me)...

Jacques O, in Paris

Thanks for the lovely photos, Terry.

i'm sure we'll have a great time in Bodrum, even if when we get there on Monday most sites will be closed.

We might take a boat excursion to visit the islands or discover the coast. That'll be a change compared to sailing on the big Reflection!

Jacques

Hi!

I'll be on the Reflection too, in Bodrum on Monday 13th June....

does any one know if when there is a cruise ship or during the summer season, the sites are open?

I believe the sites (archeological and Castle) are really worth a visit.... would be frustrating not to have a great day there...

Thanks for your help

jacques O, in paris

Hello, Yes, i was wondering the same myselft....

i'm sailing on the Reflection (Celebrity) and we'll call there on Monday 13 June.... I read and checked on various sites that museums and the like are closed on Mondays....

Does any one know if that is the case during the summer period? what else is there to see and do, apart from the 'official' sites?

Thanks for your help,

Jacques O, in Paris

Hello everyone,

We are booked on the Reflection out of Roma on 6th JUne.

we are now Elite members! Looking forward to the complimentary drinks! What type of drinks is on offer?

thanks for your reply,

Jacques

Hi there,

Thanks for your review. We are booked on the Constellation for the 8th July cruise. fingers crossed for good weather!

we are very much looking forward to our cruise.

were there a lot of activities? we like trivia and quizz. it's really fun (even if rarery ever come first!)

Jacques O, in Paris.

thanks for your info, Hallasm. Very useful.

let's hope we can make it within our allocated time.

J.

Hi everyone,

i'm sailing on the Constellation to the baltic sea, calling at Copenhagen on Friday 18 July; i'm travelling with my mum.

we'd like to go to Kronborg castle, (Hamlet castle!), in Helsingor.

how can we get there? from our berth (Langelinie).

by bus? by train? from osterport train station?

is it worth it buying a one day traveler card? or the copenhagen travel card, which might include a discount for the entrance at the castle?

thanks for your tips and advice,

Jacques O, in Paris.

Hi Paula,

can you send me the pdf guide?

thanks a lot.

we are sailing on the Celebrity Constellation out of Amserdam this coming Tuesday (8th July). Any one reading this post booked on the ship too?

bastille81@hotmail.com

Jacques O, from Paris.

hello Donna,

a few weeks ago, I asked a similar question:

here is the link to the post

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2045205

I have in the end booked a AQ guarantee... I have been tempted to do so by the post replies!

Our cruise ia a 12-day one to the Baltic sea leaving on 8th July on Constellation (sister ship to Summit).

We have been assigned to deck 11!

BLu is said to be excellent.

I would say that if the price difference is not too big for your AQ class cabin, over a Concierge or standard balcony cabin, go for it!

I'm looking forward to the sailing!

Jacques O, paris.

[The only botanical garden we saw was the one in Reykjavik.

Akureyri is a neat little town with good shopping, but if you have a chance to go to Myvatn and to the baths there and the caldera, you really should, as this is some of the best parts of the natural wonders of Iceland.

Dettifoss is a really cool waterfall in that region as well.

Hello,

last year, on a cruise on the Queen Elizabeth, we called at Akureyri.

we took the ship excursion to lake Myvatn, the solfataras (sulphur springs and muds), and the Godafoss waterfalls.

We enjoyed good weather during the tour, whereas the weather was dull in AKurery.

I would recommand the ship's tour for that excursion, as it's not possible to do it on your own. Like Nitemare, I would strongly recommandant this tour.

As for the botanical garden, we saw it and it's a beautiful one.

Absolutely no need to take a ships tour to explore the city; you can do it on foot (botanical garden, folks museum, the main church (uphill).

We had the time to take the excursion inland and walked around town for a couple of hours.

Hope this help,

Jacques O, Paris.

[

I was able to compare the prices of wine bottles.

I was totally astonished that in one year the prices on ALL bottles went up by at least 21 % - not a few wines (due to winemakers increases or shortage) but each and EVERY single bottle !

-

Hello,

ah, not a good news... booked on the Constelation for 12 days to the Baltic in July.

I sailed on the Eclipse 2 years ago in July, and noticed that the wine prices were not so high.... compared to Cunard, where prices are just ridiculous.

I guess Celebrity is catching up.... In my view, this is stupid because it may deter people to buy wine. I do buy bottles, I try to make each last two nights..... but i'm not happy to pay a high price (and I usually get the 'affordable ones'....

Jacques O, paris

Hello every one

last week, I bought a cruise on the Constellation to the Baltic Sea, out of Amsterdam, sailing on 8th July. Did it on line, through a US major cruise agent.

The internet pages on the cruise, for the cabin and price I chose (guarantee) showed 75 US OBC, plus a free excursion, and free gratuities, as well as 100 usd reduction for senior citizen.

when I paid, there was no mention of these perks, except for the free gratuities, which appeared on the invoice (price breakdowns).

Once I saw that, I phone the cruise agent, but the lady said that I had booked a special offer, and that for that 'cheap' fare, there were no perks at all, except the gratuities.

needless to say that I'm not happy at all. Their internet site is totally misleading. they make you think that you are elligible to perks (and the internet pages show that, when you go through your booking); but in the end, you end up getting virtually nothing.

I'm sure that some of you have encountered a similar situation. Is there anything that can be done?

jacques O, paris.

Hello lyndamr

As for me, I would definitely choose the Celebrity ship,over the Adventure.

Now, it depends on the fare and the perks (OBC and the like), and the itinerary.

I have sailed with Royal Caribeean and Celebrity;

2 years ago, we sailed in the Med on the Soltice (had not sailed with Celebrity for about 10 years and was a bit apprehensive..... it was pointless as the food (buffet or DR) and service was of high quality.)

The Solstice class vessels (to which the Silouhette belong) are fabulous: very comfortable, very well appointed. Really, a notch up from the Adventure series. (well, they are more recent...).

We are booked on the Constellation in the Baltic Sea in July.

If you wanted to try Celebrity, this is the opportunity!

Jacques O, in Paris.

hello,

a few years ago, we called at Kristiansand.

we walked around town (not much interesting to see), apart from the cathedral and a market (I think the local museum was closed).

we took a local bus to go to the site of the German cannon, which was just amazing. certainly worth a visit. And it's easy to go to the site by bus.

Jacques O.

Hello again, thanks for your advice....

I have just booked the cruise... an AQ cabin (guarantee), with a US online cruise agent.

Mind you, the site showed a 100 USD discount for senior passengers, but when the two fares added for the grand total... there was no sign of that reduced fare... and I noticed that after I had completed the booking! Spent 30 mn on the phone... The lady said that she had called Celebrity, but that there was no reduction for those over 55 !! That is really misleading.

So, it's an 8th July departure out of Amsterdam to the Baltic Capitals.

Let's hope the AQ status matches my expectations!

I'm certainly looking forward to the cruise; i'm going to post a note on the roll call.

Jacques

I would definitely try to book AQ on deck 11 on Connie. We were in 1116 in December and it was a great stateroom, very quiet, larger balcony than what you have on deck 9, we had 2 chairs, 2 tables, a foot stool. The staterooms are brand new and the balconies do NOT have the overhang which we loved because it gave such great views of the sky and did not feel closed in at all.

Hi Gracie115,

Thanks for your warm recommandation.

Ideally, I'd love to get a deck-11 cabin, but if I book an AquaClass cabin, it will be a garantee one, and i'm not sure they'll allocate us up there..... I'm apprehensive about the overhang above deck 9 (lack of light and sun) and noise from the pool deck or lido....

we are 'Select' tier of the Captain club..... this might help !

J.

Hi again,

one question about Blu: it works on an open-sitting basis, but surely we can share tables? I like to spend some time with fellow passengers whilsts dining.

Jacques

Hello everyone,

Thanks for your quick replies and your comments. Hum.... i'm tempted to book and AQ category. The supplement is 100 usd, equivalent to just more than 8 usd per day.... per person! Let's hope the cabin location will be fine...

Jacques