alexandria

For that matter, ignore the positive comments on CC also! For every "never again" X customer there is an X "cheerleader". Filter out the opinions, stick with the factual information that you are looking for and form your own judgment about the pros and cons of Celebrity and your cruise once you've sailed. Fair winds and following seas! 🛳️

Twice a day on our late November Summit cruise.

I wonder what entity regulates and inspects the gambling devices on board since they are only available for use once in international waters. Those machines can be programmed by a tech with the proper software and cable to alter the probabilities that you would find in a deck of cards to whatever is desired by the owner or operator of the machine. For example, in a five card poker hand the probability of three of a kind is generally calculated to be about 2.1%. That means that a card player would statistically expect to have a full house once in every fifty or so hands. However, the machine could be programmed to alter the probability to 0.5% meaning that the video poker player would have a full house once in every two hundred hands. In jurisdictions where those machines are lawful (such as Nevada), they are highly regulated and regularly inspected to ensure a player has the same odds of winning on a video poker machine that they would have with a deck of cards. In other jurisdictions where the machines are outlawed (or considered coin operated amusement devices with unlawful cash payouts by unscrupulous owners), the machines are often reprogrammed to reduce payout amounts and frequency and increasing profits to the machine owner/operator. I'm not accusing Celebrity of wrongdoing but it bears keeping in mind...on a cruise ship a player likely doesn't have the same regulatory protection to ensure fair gaming as they have in places like Las Vegas.

I believe I read every post in this thread and don't see where you are coming up with your assertion that you would be asked to reveal tinnitus or bipolar disorder to a massage therapist. Was that mentioned upthread that I missed? However, in an earlier post you asked how it would be relevant that you have cancer or heart disease and you were given a "straight answer" as to why that information should be disclosed. Now it appears that you have moved the goalposts. Are you just trying to be argumentative? 🤔 I haven't seen anyone provide details on what is included on the Celebrity spa medical questionnaire, perhaps the spa on Celebrity uses something similar to this: https://www.chocolatespa.com/assets/pdf/health-questionnaire.pdf But as noted by the OP, one can always choose not to patronize the spa onboard and/or the spa can refuse service to a passenger who will not fill out their questionnaire. Either way, problem solved!

Agree. As you noted, there are medical conditions that a person providing services in the spa should know about as it can effect how they perform those services. The most common conditions that a customer would be well-served to disclose are diabetes, heart or circulatory system conditions and whether they are taking blood thinners. If one chooses not to disclose relevant medical conditions when receiving spa services they should be aware of the risks that non-disclosure poses. It also sounds as though the onboard spa staff could use some training on how to approach that issue with customers. Handing them a clipboard and expecting them to complete a multi-page medical history is not very reasonable, necessary or customer-service oriented. However, a brief explanation of what information they need and why they need it may alleviate the concerns expressed by the OP and allow them to make an informed decision about whether to utilize the spa. That explanation could even be presented on a single sheet of paper with a few simple "yes" or "no" questions.

Email sent, thanks.

My wife and I are booked on our first Seabourn cruise in late March through a travel agent, we have already made final payment which was due in December. We are not receiving any OBC from Seabourn or our TA. Is it too late to qualify for this $250 OBC if referred? Thanks!

You want a bunch of people you don't know to convince you that you won't regret going on a cruise in the cabin you selected at the price you paid? Seriously? 🤨 Only you can decide whether the cruise line, cruise itinerary, ship and cabin will meet your vacation needs and desires or not. Just decide...cancel or cruise. It isn't rocket science nor is it a matter of life and death. It's just one of many vacation options. 🙂

I commented on this in the related thread you recently started. 🙂

Check insuremytrip or similar websites to compare insurance options for your trip. Even though you paid for your cruise months ago and sail in eleven days, you won't have any trouble getting travel insurance with medical, evacuation and such. But check the limits of coverage for trip interruption and travel delay, considering you only paid taxes and port fees and travel insurance limits on those is often about half what you actually paid in trip costs, those coverages may only amount to a few hundred dollars. But it is probably worth it for the medical and evacuation coverage. Don't worry about prepaying gratuities. They'll end up on your onboard account and will be charged to your credit card just like they would be if they were prepaid. The only difference is when the charge appears...now or in a few weeks when your cruise is over. Enjoy your trip.

Seabourn doesn't have "butlers", instead they have what they call a "Personal Suite Host, which their website describes: One of your suite’s most gracious, charming amenities is your Personal Suite Host and Suite Attendant. They perfectly personify Seabourn’s attentive, yet unobtrusive service, dedicated to ensuring that everything is always exactly as you wish. You’ll find they possess a cheerful, genie-like intuition about what might delight you. After they welcome you with a warm smile and glass of Champagne, they may suggest drawing you a Pure Pampering℠ bubble bath, or help you arrange an in-suite cocktail party. Their skilled, thoughtful care may well prove to be one of your fondest memories of your voyage. What you may appreciate most is your Personal Suite Hosts and Suite Attendants, whose thoughtful, unobtrusive service is delivered with care. Experience Seabourn’s luxury with our Personal Suite Host and Suite Attendant. Your Personal Suite Hosts and Suite Attendants Will Welcome you with Champagne and canapés Personalize your nightly turndown service Assist you with any special requests Manage your laundry service needs Replenish your ice and bar setup Draw you a Pure Pampering℠ bath In searching for future cruises, I have found that for similar itineraries, both Silversea and Seabourn generally offer better pricing than equivalent size cabins on Celebrity and include much more in the base cruise fare. Of course, Celebrity ships carry between two to five times as many passengers so if you prefer the larger ships and their amenities, the smaller ships of these luxury lines may not be for you.

Perhaps you missed OP's update posted earlier and quoted above? Dronabinol comes in liquid and capsule form, not gummies, and as an FDA approved prescription medication, Dronabinol is dispensed by a pharmacy upon a written prescription, not obtained from a medical marijuana dispensary with a medical marijuana card. Organic Remedies is a cannabis product and is not FDA approved.

Why borrow trouble from tomorrow??? I suppose I don't understand the point of this thread. Do you think Celebrity has ignored all of the posted reviews you reference but your thread will garner their immediate attention and as a result they will mobilize an army of workers to resolve any of your anticipated concerns before you step onboard? Why not just relax, stop worrying about what you have read from others, and enjoy your cruise? If there are things about your sailing that trouble you then let Celebrity know. What others notice may be unimportant to you and your experience may differ from what you have read in some recent reviews. In my decades of cruising I have often found that one person will describe what an awful cruise experience they had when another person on the very same sailing will report that it was the most glorious trip of a lifetime! It appears that with the exception of one or two cruises, you have sailed extensively, and exclusively, on Celebrity over the past ten years. If you haven't noticed any issues then that should tell you all you need to know! Enjoy your cruises! 🙂

I haven't flown TAP yet but I booked flights in their A321neoLR business class during their Cyber Monday sale for an upcoming transatlantic cruise. For not much more than an economy ticket, my wife and I were able to get two of the "throne" seats (rows 2 and 4 have those). From watching some video reviews, it looks like those seats have more storage but the foot well when the seat is flat or significantly reclined is a little more narrow. Neither of us are large folks, so that won't be an issue for us. The seats in rows 1, 3 and 5 have less storage but a wider area for your feet. The A330 has a different layout so you'd want to check the configuration of the actual aircraft for that route. There are quite a few good videos online showing the product and service. I don't know the current pricing and how it compares to business class on other airlines, but when we booked, the price was a steal so it didn't take much thought before pulling the trigger!

Unless the law has recently changed, Florida law provides that possession of the substances identified by the OP is a felony unless they are possessed by a qualified patient (which requires that one be a Florida resident) who is authorized to possess those substances and when those substances have been prescribed by an authorized Florida medical provider and dispensed by an authorized medical marijuana center. There are no exceptions for out-of-state residents, visitors or tourists who may be authorized to possess those substances in their home state. Those persons are subject to arrest and prosecution. Just the process of an arrest and retaining an attorney, even if that attorney is successful in having the charges dismissed or deferred, will cost thousands of dollars and will cause the OP and/or her sister to miss the sailing (for a reason that most assuredly would not be covered by trip insurance). It is also a federal crime to transport those across state lines. I'm not suggesting that the OP or her sister would take such a risk and face the potential of severe consequences, instead this reply is in response to those who recommend taking the risk rather than finding a legal alternative solution (which may, unfortunately, include postponing or cancelling the planned cruise). If the OP and/or her sister are contemplating following the advice of some posters and bringing those substances to the cruise terminal, they would be well-served to consult with an experienced Florida attorney before making that decision. 🙂

Great points, thanks. I was able to find another area of the website that allowed me to reserve a dining time. And there was very little availability for our preferred "earlier" dining time (most nights only had 8pm or 8:30pm open) so I appreciate the suggestion of making a reservation now as a placeholder as we are now assured of one evening there during our preferred time. Our sailing of eleven nights only permitted one reservation but that should be sufficient with all of the other dining options on board. I'm sure there will be no shortage of quality meals during our journey! 😁

I don't believe there is any holding/reserving excursions without paying. That system would be problematic as excursions would quickly become "full" with passengers who just "reserved" a slew of excursions while they decide what to do and thus preventing passengers who are ready to book and pay from signing up for their selected excursions. So if one wants to book an excursion, they need to book it and make the appropriate payment. Just read the cancellation policy very carefully and book and pay for just those excursions you think you will take. If, after talking with your travel companions, you need to cancel one or two of those bookings for a refund in accordance with the cancellation policy, no big deal.

Those "medications" will not be permitted on board and should she choose to bring them anyway, she could face adverse legal consequences. It is also, to my best understanding, a crime in Florida to possess those "medications" absent a Florida medical marijuana card. At last report, Florida does not recognize out-of-state medical marijuana cards to permit possession of those "medications" by tourists. Glad she is improving and her condition is stable. However, your sister may want to really think through whether a cruise is the right/best vacation option for her at this point in her treatment considering the side-effects she is experiencing. If she is unable to be prescribed an FDA approved medication that will have similar therapeutic efficacy and as a result does not have relief from certain chemo side-effects, then being on a ship with any attendant motion sickness may serve to worsen her symptoms. And if she is feeling poorly and suffering from significant nausea, will she really enjoy the cruise, including the dining? You and she may wish to look at the provisions of your travel insurance that might cover cancellation if her diagnosis occurred after booking (or if she has coverage for pre-existing conditions) and consider postponing until she is further along in her treatment and no longer requires such medications. But only she can decide whether she is willing to "tough it out" on board and face the very real potential of spending much of the cruise being sick in her cabin. That could be a very long and miserable 21 days for you both. Best wishes.

The way I'm reading the post and follow up, the OP didn't book through Celebrity and transfer it to their TA. It reads as though the fact the OP booked while on board is irrelevant and just where the OP was located when they arranged future cruise bookings with their own TA via phone and email. If I am misunderstanding, perhaps OP can clarify.

Exactly. Anyone who thinks that on any cruise they sail they can expect to have their own dedicated personal butler who is devoted to serving only a single passenger or party and who is standing by to anticipate and meet their every whim and desire is simply delusional. All of the angst over this issue is frankly pretty laughable and pitiful, all at the same time. It makes many other first-world problems look like third-world problems by comparison. O h, the humanity! 😧 Those who desire their own personal and dedicated butler can always bring their own staff. I seem to remember one or more Love Boat episodes where a passenger did just that. 😃

I'm unable to book Solis for a late March cruise on Quest (which I understand will be the first ship to convert from TK to Solis). It still shows Thomas Keller and the "RESERVE NOW" button does not function. I am curious...how do experienced Seabourn passengers decide what night(s) to book? I've always preferred to book any alternative dining after I've seen the MDR menus and can see if there is a night or two whose menu is less appealing than others. Also, does anyone have information on the expected capacity of Solis on the Quest? We'll be on for eleven nights with a sailing that is currently at about 60% full so I'm wondering whether it is even important to book in advance of sailing.

Starting your cruise vacation by confronting onboard Celebrity staff (who are not the decision-makers and don't send out the emails) with a copy of that email seems (to me, at least) like a miserable way to start the week for both you and the unfortunate Celebrity minions who will be the recipient of your displeasure or the displeasure of those who follow your recommended course of action. Not to mention disingenuous for those who have spent the last four months or so in this thread discussing the elimination of "dedicated butlers." But perhaps your comment was tongue-in-cheek. It is what it is and the best option, IMO, for those who are dissatisfied with Celebrity's decision and the manner they have implemented it is to vote with your wallet and cruise another line! Fair winds and following seas to those who are sailing in 2024! 🛳️

Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean that people aren't out to get me! 😁

You might also consider the Brightline train and book Premium tickets (about $32 each). The Premium ticket includes an Uber ride from the Miami cruise terminal to the Brightline station in Miami, lounge access at the Miami station with complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, snacks and light sandwiches, one checked bag per ticket (you can also carry on luggage if you prefer), train travel from Miami to Ft. Lauderdale in the premium car, and an Uber ride from the Ft. Lauderdale station to the cruise terminal (as long as it is within five miles of the Brightline station...I show it to be about 4.5 miles away). So it would probably cost $64 for two persons. Just book the train ticket for the arrival time closest to your Ascent boarding time and wait in comfort in the Miamia Brightline lounge until the train departs! We did it on a recent cruise out of Miami (stayed in West Palm the night before) and we found it to be a great option to get to the ship from our West Palm hotel. https://www.gobrightline.com/

Has your sister reached out to Celebrity to ask? If her medication is FDA approved, I'd be surprised if Celebrity would prevent her from bringing those on board. However, if this marijuana based "medication" is not FDA approved (and they have only approved Epidiolex, Marinol, Syndros and Cesamet, none of which are approved for treatment of cancer symptoms or side-effects), then it is likely she will be prohibited from bringing those onboard. Celebrity cannot approve possession of a controlled substance or marijuana if it would be in contravention of federal law, the laws of the countries visited and/or the laws of the state of embarkation/disembarkation. While it is unlikely to occur, if she did bring unapproved "medication" on board, she could potentially face adverse legal consequences, including arrest in a foreign country. This may be helpful: https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/traveling-with-cancer--7-questions-to-ask-your-doctor.h00-159621012.html Best wishes to your sister for a full and complete recovery.