bookitdanno

2 hours ago, jelayne said:

Can read what it says beyond Hold That Thought.

Thanks to @melbur for sharing.

Currently doing this on Jewel of the Seas, where the Hotel Director says they will be fleet wide.

All of those rooms show a pull out couch for extra people. So the bed will be by the bath. 

The question arises from time to time about carrying on luggage instead of using the porters.

Finding the largest size that will go through the scanners has always been in doubt.

I emailed Port Everglades:

@garyl62 Thanks for the great review and especially the pics.

Since every place seems to have their own definition of how done a steak is, can I ask how you ordered that filet to be done?

TIA

I wish that Celebrity would just build the grats into the cruise fare. This would stop the removing of grats by some, and make them a part of the basic cruise fare.  Non refundable, non removeable.

15 minutes ago, Arizona Wildcat said:

Have not found this to be true is the bartenders are not that busy.  Bartenders can make pretty much any drink you order.  They are not restricted to only making those on the menu.

I do not care for martinis.   They have often made my DW a smaller version and poured me a glass on wine.

I was talking about making their specialty martinis. They are happy to make G&T and anything else.

In my opinion, asking them to make a small version of a specialty martini so one pays less is like going to a specialty restaurant and asking for a smaller portion, and expecting them to charge less. As far as happy hour, that is their busiest time with regular patrons. There are several bars where people can get the HH drinks, but only one Martini Bar with their specialties.

Just my opinion, YMMV

6 minutes ago, jelayne said:

On some ships they do make the small martinis from the Captains Club drink menu during Happy Hour.  

If they do that. The people paying for  premium liquor martinis won't be able to be served. They won't do this if busy. And shouldn't be asked to.

On our last cruise,  our letter outlining our elite benefits said the drinks were not available at the Martini bar and in restaurants.

No. The bartenders are only allowed to make menu items. In the case of martinis, these are the larger ones.  The special Martini bar martinis are just that. For the Martini bar. Asking them to make a smaller version puts them in a bind of pleasing a customer  by making an off menu drink.  Smaller,  regular martinis at available at any other bar. 

Disaronno Amaretto is not part of the classic package. Drinks made with it will be premium.

I think it will remain a choice on Celebrity.

"Due to government regulations requiring cruise lines to submit final departure manifests at least 60 minutes prior to sailing, guests are requested to complete Check-in no later than 3 days prior to their cruise. If you do not complete Check-in 3 days prior, you will be required to complete this process at the pier at least two hours prior to the published sailing time. Please note: All guests must be checked-in and onboard the ship no later than 90 minutes prior to the published sailing time or you will not be permitted to sail."

30 minutes ago, RichYak said:

In the past 6 months, I've cancelled flights on Delta, United, and American (last week). All gave me full credit with no penalty on non-refundable economy fares. I already used most of the American credit on a Jetblue booking.

True. Also true: the airlines received $54,000,000,000.00 That's 54 Billion dollars in bailout money from the US Government for the Covid Bailout. The cruise lines NADA because they are not US flagged companies.

Puts the airlines in a position to do this, while the cruise lines are trying, and will continue to try, to dig out from under massive debt incurred from 2020-2022.

29 minutes ago, RichYak said:

To be fair, is this really what you think you've been reading on these boards? Yes, there are many negative posts but is it really necessary to overdramatize them this way? Even the most negative posters have not made such widespread claims.

 

It behooves all of us to keep reviews honest, unemotional, and factual. Both the negative and positive ones have value. Lets not delegitimize either. Thank you for yours.

Sorry to disagree, @RichYak, but if you have been reading the negative posts, which go on interminably, you will see that Celebrity food has been compared to spam, cat food and dumpster diving, that entertainment is poor and lacking, that ships are in miserable condition, that there is barely enough at night in the OVC to scrape together a meal. Balderdash!

If you want to write the way you did, and somebody should, please start with the hatchet men and haters on those threads. I don't see anyone calling THEM out for being way over the top. How about "went to the OVC and there was only pizza and pasta": that's a fair and balanced post, for sure, real close to saying there is nothing to eat. It goes on, and on, and yes, it is piling on.

And when people who have actually been on a cruise come here and report otherwise, they are mocked and there veracity is impugned.

Add me to the list of those who are sick of them and their negativity, and think there is no problem in responding to them in kind, with facts, not what the app says you will find in 3 months.

The good news is.... Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, which includes Celebrity, is breaking all records for bookings and at high prices, too. So somebody doesn't believe all the doom and gloom.

Leaving on Beyond in a few weeks, and looking forward to it.

I'll probably get dinged for this, but I think its high time the mods shut down some of these obviously over the top negative threads, very surprised they haven't before this. UPDATE: one of those threads finally got locked, after 498 posts.

There are actually TWO captains of the Beyond, snd they alternate. Anyone know the nsme of the other captain?

43 minutes ago, Stem to Stern said:

Pre-Covid we found Cellar Masters was a great venue choice on Equinox.  Ours was scheduled before the venue opened for business.  It is nice that it isn’t so open to the atrium-like area of the ship like the martini bar is.  The Captain was gracious enough to make an appearance.  She was a welcome addition to our conversation.

Much better location than the martini bar

Why not go to one of the Captain's Club events and address the matter directly with Captain Kate?

If anyone can get to the bottom of the problem and fix it, she is the one!   

True

Trolls

Anyone know how often the bartenders and waitstaff at New York restaurants are tested for Covid?

You can always go pig out in the OVC. 🐷😄

Thanks for posting this positive review.

So tired of all the negativity.

Looking forward to our April cruise on Beyond.

Received my deposit refund for a cancelled cruise Monday,  7 days after I cancelled. But then, I have a terrific TA!

If tilapia was selling for $18 per pound, people would be clamoring for it, and complaining if it was not on the menu. That IS how one defines a "luxury"  item, right?

Thought I would try to lighten the mood here a little.

Just picked this up on BBC news.

Maximum 2 drinks a week recommended by Health Canada!

Seems like a long shot this will be accepted in Canada (or anywhere else).

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64311705