Georgia_Peaches

We were expecting some as well...particularly because we looked at the pre-maiden voyage as a "practice cruise". One of the big stand outs from OP's initial impression of Granduer is the boarding process. Boarding lines just aren't a thing with Celebrity...we arrived early and were curb to ship in 15 minutes. It's good to read that others are not having some of the same issues as OP and I am glad to know that personnel on board are approachable and hopefully eager to rectify any problems.

Oh no! I couldn’t wait to open this post and read a report…wasn’t expecting this! We are scheduled for a Granduer sailing in 2025 and are mostly Celebrity cruisers as well. We just finished the first voyage on the new Celebrity Ascent and when I say it was nothing short of perfect, it’s no exaggeration. I would expect the same for you! I’m following with great interest and hope things improve!

When is the maiden voyage and are there any life reviews?

Couldn’t agree more! We loved Ascent but found the wine selection by the glass along with the prices to be a major disappointment.

Yes! YIN gets if all. Plus a cozy, dark space with amazing A/c.

Have to agree with your review of the lovely Ascent...except for Eden. We found the vibe to be very chill and relaxing and I didn't notice an off-putting color pallet. I did notice that the live wall spanning up from the Eden restaurant stairs was mostly white with only a few plants. It was explained that it's a living wall that will eventually fill in with plants and lush greenery. On our sailing, there were several occasions with standing room only in anticipation of the show that occurred at 10:45. And while I agree that the lack of the promenade deck is something I truly missed, I liked the area just outside of Eden that offered nice seating and views of the ocean. On another note, I love your description of your stateroom...may have to try an IV in the future. One question...did you receive any sort of Maiden Voyage gift or memento? Just curious... Thanks for the report!

There were at least 75 cabs in 3 lanes lined up awaiting passengers when we disembarked Ascent a few weeks ago. We left the ship and walked right up to the very first cab and away we went. Cost was $18 plus tip. 15 minutes later we were at the Delta luggage drop off. IMO this process was way too easy to entertain a Celebrity shuttle.

I don’t know if US TSA liquid restrictions apply in Europe. When we left Italy I had a full sized bottle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar in my carry on that passed through security without issue. I suggest looking up the rules for the individual countries for which you will be traveling.

Don’t you just love that bewildered look? Reminds me of the look I’d get from my teens when I asked what hit the car or how’d that hole get in the wall… On Ascent a few weeks ago I asked the guy in the photo studio how I got my free digital pics for being an Amethyst Blue Chip member. DH and I still laugh at the look on the poor guy’s face when I suggested it was a thing. I believe he really didn’t know what I was talking about. We didn’t pursue it.

I think OP is comparing the experience between the two, not necessarily the ships themselves.

We get this line from someone every time we go to Cozumel. Last time it happened DH told him that he had a complaint about the food and the service. The guy knew we were on to him so we all just laughed. The first time we actually fell for it though...we were staying at an all inclusive in Cancun and took a day trip over to Isla Mujeres, which was a short ferry ride away from the resort. A guy said, "I am your waiter at ____." It was plausible because at the time the employees were still wearing face coverings. Anyway, he ended up being extremely helpful in guiding us to the golf cart pick up location we were seeking. He also showed us his shop. We didn't buy anything but tipped him for his help. It's a way to engage a potential customer, I guess. Anyway, lesson learned about carrying a bag with an identifiable logo on it...they zero in on it right away.

A great read @Stem to Stern! And I love the font size as I can see it without my readers, which I can never seem to find! Your cruising passion mirrors ours and I’m practically giddy with even the prospect of booking another cruise. Currently, we have Alaska on the Edge booked for 2024 and an Eastern Med on Regent’s Granduer for 2025. We couldn’t agree more with you on Celebrity’s ability to create a variety of quality entertainment on board ship. Though post Covid, we felt a slip in that area…prompting a look around. We landed in the YC on MSC! I’m eager to read about your experiences. Happy pre-embarkation day!

Congratulations! How exciting!

Horrendous! I can't even imagine the anguish this has caused for the families of the victims.

Really looking forward to your review! Thank you for the comparison of the two experiences.

Lol! I love it! 😊

Reservations are recommended but not required. You can make/change them in the app day of or you can stop by in person. For a party of 8 I would definitely try to make a reservation. The MDR portion of the menu will be the same in each restaurant with only a small portion of the menu being unique to a specific restaurant. If in a pinch due to another scheduled activity, go with the dining room that can seat your group the quickest. On our cruise, Tuscan seemed to be the most crowded.

Looking forward to following along on another one of your adventures. Not sure about the doll though… maybe I’ve seen too many bad movies but they scare me! All the same, wishing you safe travels.

It’s easy to pay without checking when you have a card attached to your account. One assumes that charges will be correct. There are several sailing where I didn’t check the charges. I had obc and dumb faith that things were correct. It wasn’t until I started reading otherwise on cruise critic that I became wise to honest mistakes. Who knows how many beers from the mini fridge I’ve been charged for in the past…🤦‍♀️

We had select dining but we made reservations for 8 to 8:30 on most nights. On a few occasions we showed up early and were immediately accommodated as there was no waiting. I have since learned that there were only about 2500+/- passengers on our sailing so that might have had something to do with the lack of wait time. I recommend you check in with the Md when you’re ready and go from there. It can’t hurt to show up a little early.

Awe, you are so right. Finish the story, I'm happy to do! I'm working on him...he's coming around. Can't tell you how much your review is helping...don't worry about mine, LOL...it was the Caribbean for crying out loud 😂. Doesn't hold a candle...

I don't think it's sold out. When we toured, the assistant CD said that the booking process is handled at Guest Relations. IDK if enough people know about it yet for it to be sold out as it is only currently available on Assent.

I was very impressed with the space when we toured it. Had a golf simulator for hundreds of courses...one could simulate a full round of golf. But they also offer football, soccer, and possibly tennis...can't remember. And if you didn't want to simulate anything one could play video games on a large screen. The karaoke set up looked phenomenal and the seating area was cozy. I thought it looked like fun! Definitely not a conference room, but yes, a room for rent but with stuff to do.

I wouldn’t do it, but that’s just me. The extra space is nice and if you get a room with the bed facing the ocean, that’s nice too. But having done a regular veranda (porthole) and then an S1, both on Ascent… we found more value and enjoyment in the porthole. A sunset veranda is even better! We will book this category next time. This is just a personal preference. There was nothing wrong with the Retreat AT ALL. If your budget is tight, keep your current room category and save what you would have spent on the upgrade for something else…like a specialty dinner or two!

Yes, we noticed that as well!