Georgia_Peaches

So just so I'm understanding, you took an accumulation of coins and traded them in for bills at the cashier's window? Like, I could pack my laundry and couch coins that I've squirreled away in a jar and they will take them just like the Coinstar machine in my local grocery store?

Indoors due to rain...or it's just cold? I'm assuming that I will still be spending time on deck if it's not raining when we embark at the end of the month. But it's my first cold weather cruise so I'm really not sure what to expect.

Exactly why we always sit at the front of the plane!

Under the dining tab there are menus but I will admit that they are not always accurate. They also post themed menus in the daily and I have seen it on signs in the buffet as well. On the day of the seafood buffet the cruise director actually mentioned it in his morning remarks.

Eagerly following as we will embark Edge on May 31st. Happy embarkation day! Enjoy your cruise!

Also, check the daily or the app for theme lunches and dinners. On our last cruise on e class, there was a seafood buffet for lunch on the last sea day.

I recommend you research some video tours on YouTube for the answer to your shower question. There’s a guy who is really tall… 6’6” who does a lot of room tour videos and he makes a point of showing off the position of the shower head because he’s so tall.

Post title made me sad. I’m so sorry for your loss. May you find comfort in the presence of your family on this cruise. I agree with others… no need to tell celebrity at this time, if ever. Sincere condolences. 💐

Agree. Not sure what the answer is though. If the cruise industry paid a salary to crew and didn't rely on gratuities then I imagine cruise fares would increase significantly...and then there would be an outcry about that as well.

I popped into this review not thinking I’d stay long as I’ve not had a great deal of interest in the Galápagos Islands….boy was I wrong! Your pictures are stunning and trip report truly engaging. I’m glad your illness wasn’t too serious and that they took great care of you! Thank you for taking the time to share this vacation with us. You have me rethinking g my stance on a Galápagos Islands cruise for sure. 😊

A dreadful story, for sure. I can’t imagine that the impact of the whale was felt by Meraviglia as it would be but a tiny blip on a ship her size.

The PH on M class in on my bucket list! It looks spectacular! I want to reserve it in honor of DH's retirement but his retirement is ever elusive. He says he has 10 more years to go but I'm not sure I can hold out that long so will have to investigate another reason to splurge!

Very nice report! Thank you for sharing. We have a Signature suite booked for July which is located in the same hallway as the Reflection Suite. We get the unlimited dining and the 2 bottles of liquor and such. Am wondering if these are considered upper suites.

You're not required, nor is it expected that you will tip beyond what has already been included in your fare. Tipping is a cultural thing in America and not the norm in Europe and elsewhere. Tip above what you've already paid if you feel compelled. But you're doing nothing wrong if you don't offer additional tips. It's personal and completely up to you. Going off what others say they do with regard to tipping is never the way, IMO.

You pick your room keys up at your stateroom and you can go there directly after boarding to drop off your things. Also, most of the muster drill is in the app and becomes available 24 hours prior to embarkation. As long as you watch the videos in the app, all you'll have to do is go to your muster station and have your card scanned. You can also do this in your stateroom if you don't want the app.

Nice job to your DH...or did you get the big wins?

Some of us actually have a strategy. The last 3 cruises on Celebrity have netted me a hand-pay on each. One of them even paid for our cruise! I thought I was a sharp tack until I saw my win/loss statement when Uncle Sam put his hand out for a chunk of my winnings...lol. Then I discovered MSC, which doesn't follow US tax laws and is not beholden to them to report passenger winnings...but I haven't won much on MSC, so there's that...🤦‍♀️

Wowza! That explains why I haven’t been offered a sky suite!

I spend a lot of time and money in the casino. Have sailed in a comped balcony room before but never a suite. I think I’d have to see it in writing. But I read a review today for Apex, I think. The reviewer lamented that they missed out on a sky suite “free” cruise offer bc they didn’t claim it before the deadline which was before the future cruise desk closed on the last night. I have been under the impression that Retreat was sailing sold out. Hard to believe they’d need to give away free suites. Who knows?

Nice to know we’ve moved beyond the limited dinner buffet offerings of a year ago.

We request ice in the evening and occasionally order room service. That's it. However, they often insist on thing like escorting us to dinner and the theater, hand delivering our desired news paper and setting up our deck chairs on the pool deck. YC butlers are awesome.

There may be others but I plan to do a live review of our Edge, May 31.

@Stem to Stern did a Live From review of the Summit a few months back (later 2023, I think) and he was in the Retreat. Photos and his account of the cruise made me want to book the Summit! I would pour through some Youtube videos for recent tours and reviews. Since the ship has been refurbished, I think it looks very classy and upscale. Though I haven't pulled the trigger on a Summit booking, I haven't ruled it out for the near future.

It will take a lot more than this for me not to cruise with Celebrity but I completely understand. I felt that way about buying my gas from Exxon after the Valdez oil spill in '89. Like gas companies, there are plenty of cruising options out there...I'm sure there will be some fallout for Celebrity over this...time will tell.

We are booked in a DO stateroom on deck 8 in November. I'm glad to know the rooms were cool. Congratulations on your nice win! and thank you for the review!