emelle

I usually wear "dressy" flat sandals at dinner in luminae and have never, ever had a problem. At lunch I may wear Chaco's or some similar more casual sandal or maybe my athletic shoes. No problems.

In the past this has only been available for upper level suites, with a limited number available for each voyage. I have used the option (not cheap). There is a space available option, with fee, for dining in Luminae as your guest. Not sure if available on your cruise nor exactly who pays, nor price nowdays. You would work this out onboard.

Just off the Constellation. Did not eat in MDR, though occasionally ordered from MDR menu in Luminae. Service in Luminae was top notch, food mostly very good. Room attendant and others that took care of us did a splendid job. Ship is small, but well kept. We don't do many of the daily activities, but they had the usual variety. Sushi on 5 and Oceanview were fine to good when we needed them for lunch. We are not Martini bar utilizers, but when we went through the area (as well as cellar masters) at night, there were plenty of people there enjoying it. Your milage may vary depending on cabin vs. suite, but the ship itself is fine/excellent for it's size and age, imo.

Sailed in most S class ships in RS. The balcony tub is a large bathtub with jets. Not temperature controlled. Does cool off....all said, I've used it on a cruise to Antarctica....Warmth lasted just long enough so I got out before I "wrinkled" up. Your milage may vary. There is a hot tub in the Retreat, I just prefer my own. 

Have fun!

Agree with lots of what has been said. We sailed in one of these suites pre-covid. Two things not mentioned and may or may not apply to you.......

No walk in shower that I remember. I am very short (5ft) and it was somewhat difficult to move in and out of the tub shower, which had a high wall...especially if the ship was moving a lot. My husband who is taller, did not have the entrance problem, but missed the walk in shower found in RS (which is our usual choice).

While the private hallway may be good for most trips, on our voyage the Reflection suite (at the end of the hallway) was occupied by a family with many children. The noise from the kids coming and going down the hallway was much more noticable than any noise from the sky lounge or other areas. Having had children, we realized the likely futility of complaining to management, so we let it slide.....it did not disturb sleep. But obviously I remember it.

We also missed the half bath of the RS on S class. All saying we likely would not book again, but really  what a privilege to be able to choose.

Recent Alaska land tour and cruise tour this summer on Celebrity. No real restriction.....however, some "hotels" did not have elevators----but the bus driver and helpers delivered bigger bags to the room door. I felt glad we only asked them to transport the two "larger and smaller" four wheel rolling bags (typical for travel) that DH and I had. You were responsible for the items you had on the bus with you (back packs/totes etc)......While on the bus portion of the tour, the bigger bags went underneath the bus and smaller bags (think back pack, totes etc) went on top with passengers. Do not expect to get smaller roll ons (like you might get to fit up top on a larger plane) on the top/seating area of the bus every day unless you have someone who can lift it and unless you are sure, and I mean sure it will fit in the overhead compartments (which are smaller than an airline). There may or may not be extra seats on the bus for "storing" items and the room under the seats is  ok for a small bag but not a larger bag. All larger luggage/bags however are delivered to your room each day and on travel mornings are to be outside the roomdoor or at a specific site at a specific time for loading on the coach.

When and if you go on the train portion, the guide will tell you, noooooo large bags on the train with you. Only what will fit in your lap, because the top of the train car is glass and without storage and the seats are all filled with people on the train (that was true)....I packed our meds and important items in a backpack like bag that I could fit on my lap. DH carried his CPAP on his lap and a small bag and the rest of the luggage went I believe on a bus/truck to meet the train at the end of the train portion (only a few hours).

The land portion is a multistop trip and the fewer bags you have to keep track of the better. My husband has CPAP to add to our "bag count." I also found it most helpful that the smaller tote etc that I carried every day on the land portion would totally close. Open totes/bags are more likely to lose items on this tyoe of trip. HTH.

We (family of two adults and one adult daughter) did such a private tour in Aruba I believe, but that doesn't look like part of your itenerary. Interesting because we (who have snorkeled from Hawaii to the Carribean to Galapagos) did not like the machines.....perhaps it was because currents and depths to coral below seemed more difficult to navigate. Also it seemed it was easier for the guide to scoot off and get too far ahead of us (seas were not the clearest either) and if we were "struggling" with the machines, it was a bit scary to lose sight of others. But maybe we just needed more practice. We survived obviously! Hope you find a provider.

I agree, mix it up since it's your first time. Preious posters and I agree on the specialties for the most part. Don't forget Porch, if it's still around and you like seafood. I use it for lunch on sea days or if we are staying on board and I get the seafood tower. DH won't touch seafood so I get all I want!

I would say though, as an upper level suite, be sure you communicate with the Luminae maitre  d'.....especially if you will not be there the first day. I find they like to see your face, match you with the picture they have, find out which table you may prefer, and they want to please you, etc. While service first day may be getting all the gears working....some of luminae (if you are a previous cruiser) is finding your favorite waiter and being sure you are seated in their area, getting the water/bread service person to know your preferences, the sommielier the same etc. After the first time, it smoothes itself out and usually you don't have to specify unless you change your mind. I like luminae menu, fwiw, and DH if he doesn't knows he can have a steak from the MDR menu....the waiter will learn and accomidate quickly. At the beginning of the first dinner, I always tell the luminae waiter that each eveing I want a "bowl" of extra green veggies...then I give an example....if asparagus/spinach/brocolli etc are on the menu that night, they should just make an extra "plain" serving for me. After the second dinner, they will "speak it for me" after I have ordered my entree..." and of course an extra serving of green veggie for Mrs.-------..." and there are smiles all around.

Murano is good for a special evening and while husband likes Tuscan, it's too much "steak house" for me....but we usually go once a cruise. Sushi on 5 is lunch time for us (they have small slider burgers for DH) and we have never done Petit chef because though it's just not my thing, it may be yours. HTH and have a great time.

Sorry to hear this....we are on a similar trip shortly and will also have the kits and will be sure to find wifi to do it I presume. Or maybe they will have it straightened out by then....

Thanks for asking. I posted something similar on Alaska board and not much response. Appreciate the responses here on the Celebrity board. May could condense the topic though. 

It is a work in progress to get things back going I think and we are just going to try to leave our usual selves at home (we try each time we cruise) and enjoy the journey.

Depending on how "limber" your parents are or how difficult it is for them to sleep on a sofa bed, it may or may not be ok.....an aching back could spoil the trip. I have never slept on that sofa bed, though my adult kids have in the RS on M and S class without problem. The privacy issues, IMO, if you want to make it work, should be no problem. The suite is huge and the second bathroom, as I remember it (it's my husband's when we are in that suite) is larger than most in a balcony cabin. Go and remember it's to be together and have an adventure. My 2 cents!

Purplesmuf, very doubtful anyone else used my card......i don't let it out of my sight,but interesting question. I will ask when I am onboard. Of course with Celebrity IT, who knows!

Well my docs say elite and pearl for my next cruise and I can guarantee you I have never, ever played one machine nor one game in the casino......never. So not sure what the pearl means on mine......????????

We are on a Celebrity cruise tour starting in Fairbanks and motoring down to Seward and sailing south from Seward to Vancouver this early summer.

When we did a similar but Princess trip years ago, (land then sea) it seems that we had to pack bags to stay with us and bags to go to the ship (in other words we only could take a single suitcase (plus hand luggage) with us on the land portion of the trip.)

Does anyone know what Celebrity is doing this season? The people I have asked on the phone at Celebrity do not know and I can't find anything written. Thanks for your experience.

On S class, RS has a bath and a half....I enjoy letting my husband have the half bathroom. More space in the suite and the RS has a walk in shower, while the CS has a bath/shower combo that if you are short (like me) is a problem to enter and exit, because of the height of the tub, especially if the seas are rough. The RS also has a nicer wet bar area with sink for dirty glasses/dishes etc and also has a wine fridge in addition to the regular small fridge. The RS also has a larger balcony and a one person hot tub (think indoor jet tub like) on the balcony. I have stayed in both and prefer the RS (my favorite on S class). Great problem to have.

One of my family's best trips ever......several years ago on the Expedition (before Flora). We are very adventurous and loved all the snorkeling and hikes. Swimming with sea lions, turtles, fish and penguins was a blast. Glad to know the guides are back in business and perhaps the area will have more income for preserving the treasure.

Glad your trip is going better.

What all above said.....also may depend if you get "attached" to a particular waiter or don't want to sit near the "prep" area in the back.

We usually were there by 6:30-7:00 and had problems only one night....waited for just a few minutes to get a table with "our" waiter for the cruise. If you are a large party, and there are other large parties too....that may cause some delay in getting enough tables together to seat you all (we saw that happen once or twice in November).

We had it on our 12 or so day Panama canal cruise on Infinity in November. I don't order many deserts (trying to keep my "girlish" figure), but I always succumb to the spectacle and love when it comes around.

And no extra charge....in fact we were in Tuscan (husband request) and missed the sphere night....the waiter and Matre 'd were happy I asked about it at lunch the next day (not knowing what i had missed) and they had one for me that night, with great ceremony!

Yes....you can play it. I sat right down on our last cruise and "played" some Chopin. (Sorry for those who don't like classical....it was in my brain from youth)....problem was, for those of us who like to play the piano...it was out of tune and the action was really off. However, what do you expect from sea air and the motion of the ocean? I really enjoyed playing a little here and there on our relatively long (for us) cruise...but would never have subjected guests to the music (so out of tune!).

Just checked and we are now RS guarantee for a Connie cruise in late 2020. Who knows! We've booked hotels, flights etc.....so much for early planning (we still work so have to get those sorts of things done when we can). Hopefully it will sort itself out.

My understanding of the robe question was that the robes to take were only on Edge or revolutionized older ships in RS/PH. Thus I have never seen them either because I have so far been on a pre-revolutionized ships, though always in a RS/PH. I really don't need another robe at home anyway. So I am glad it is now an optional thing.

We were on Infinity in PH last month (Panama canal transit). Not revolutionized yet. Butler, suite attendant and Michael's club concierge were all fabulous. Loved the room, the deck and layout. Booked another M class penthouse for Carribean before the ship is changed, just so I can have that fabulous suite and deck. I prefer the M class PH to the S class because of that deck alone. The butler's kitchen area doesn't hurt either.

We do find the specialty restaurants limited on M class....but are most of the time quite content with Luminae. I frequently ask for "extra green vegetables" and specify lightly steamed of sautéed and have no problem adding it to the entree. Sometimes I just want an extra plain salad and if I ask, they make it happen. Our Luminae waiters have always been ready to please and if they were not, I would ask the maitre d' to change our table area to another waiter! But this has never happened in multiple cruises on both S and M class ships.

We have cruised other lines, but Celebrity seems to fit us best at this time in our lives.

Just got back from crossing, on Infinity, pacific to Atlantic. It does not matter which side your cabin is.....because which side of the locks you enter can change at the "last moment," depending on the traffic that day and time (ours did....the pilots and canal control changed us to one side because of traffic that day) so you can't plan on that unless you have the penthouse, which will afford you greater cabin views, but only aft. 

As others have said, plan to be outside, plan to move around the ship, take sun protection (A loose Coolibar shirt and a sun hat work wonders for me and I don't need as much sunscreen). Take good binoculars (we did not and regretted it). Take good sunglasses and stay hydrated.Take closed toed, sturdy  shoes if you want to view from the helipad (they opened the helipad to all for viewing during our transit, but you have to have the appropriate shoes and the helipad has to be dry).  Also be prepared for torrential rain.....you never know, especially during the rainy season. Read David McCoullagh's (hope I spelled that correctly) book before or during your transit---I did and it was a great accessory, though teadious in some portions---and go to the lectures about the canal, panama and the history etc.....especially if you are at all interested in that sort of thing. The lectures re-run on board on a TV channel, on the hour, but only on the day after the lecture----so we were not guaranteed we could catch a lecture if we did not attend. Also on the TV replay you do not get the benefit of the use of the pointer by the instructor as in the theatre...so as they point to "....as at this point of the lock...." or whatever, on the TV replay you only see the overall picture, not the "point!"  

On Youtube, you can also find a repeat of an old PBS NOVA show from 1987 where essentially McCoullagh narrates a summary of the book (search Panama Canal, NOVA etc on YOUtube and its about an hour long). Celebrity replayed this show one night in the theatre, but it was at 10:00 and we were too tired to go, but found the show online. I would suggest watching before you go, since internet may not be powerful enough onboard to watch it when you like.

Let me know if you have additional questions. Good luck....it was more fascinating than I even thought it would be.

Glad all are safe. A great trip when we went and yes, so sorry to hear about all the problems the area has had recently. Makes it more "real" when you have been there, experienced the ship and country. 

Interesting and appreciated review of Luminae. Not much to add except this.....about the vegetables.....

While I appreciate fine dining and great food and wine parings, I usually find the offerings, on land or in Luminae short on vegetables of the "usual" sort. Especially after several days of not having a home kitchen and fresh market at my disposal......So I begin each cruise by politely asking my waiter for "extra green and fresh/steamed/lightly sauteed vegetables." I may have to explain or remind them one more time, but from then on I always get a small serving bowl of whatever is "fresh" that meal....maybe a mixture of spinach and carrots or brocolli and string beans or asparagus etc. etc. It's always plenty and enough to share with DH or whomever may be with us on the trip (if we have a large group the waitstaff usually adjusts to several bowls of "fresh green veggies for Mrs _____.")  I also at times ask for extra fresh salad greens to make an appetizer more of a salad dish.

So i encourage you to ask if you want extra, "plain" veggies with your meal. I've never had a problem with the Luminae staff making it happen.