TeeRick

Like gas prices......

We had the premium WiFi recently on Equinox with Starlink. Our cabin was mid-ship. It was the best (fastest and most consistent) WiFi we have ever experienced on a ship.

Cruise Critic seems to be obsessed with lobster discussions.

Jim- same for us! Those former M-Class restaurants were fabulous!

Yes you can get it anywhere. Cruise or no cruise. There are continuous comments here on CC about people getting infected on cruises despite masking and boosters. Why is that a surprise these days? We traveled and cruised over a two week period in January. We had boosters, no masks at all. We never caught COVID. Probably just lucky? The point is to just do what you can do for your own situations. And enjoy cruising.

Yes others have said this too on earlier posts. But I don't really buy that explanation. If that was the case, why not close all bars (except the Pool Bar) in every port? Why just Grand Cayman?

Yes definitely look around. By your comments it seems that you truly enjoy Celebrity- except prices! Maybe that 50% increase will be moderated later this year. Maybe not. You can reserve a cabin with a refundable deposit and just see if you get a price that is better to your liking before final payment.

I have seen posts on the RCCL board about this. So maybe it is both Royal and Celebrity.

There are standard US 3-prong and there is a round euro type too that is 220V. Check the Shark description for your dryer. It is likely dual voltage like most electronics these days. If so either outlet would be OK, but you would need an adapter if you want to use the euro-type plug.

Canada/NE cruises are always some of the most popular. They sell out.

CS is not considered an upper suite. It recently (for me) was $900 pp deposit. Not sure if this has changed in 2023.

On my last cruise (EQ) in January, I found it to be the same as others reported. The OVC at breakfast and lunch had good selections and service. Same as I remember from past cruises. The OVC at dinner was very much reduced in selections. On our cruise, pizza, salad bar, pasta bar. Others more recently on other ships have reported this expanded a bit to a few other selections.

If the ship arrives at 7AM, expect it will take a minimum of 30 min to clear for passengers to leave the ship. To be safe I would not plan anything before 8AM.

Only M-Class does the full transit. It has nothing to do with old or new locks. It has everything to do with fitting under the Bridge of the Americas on the Pacific side of the canal. We did Infinity a few years ago Miami to San Diego. We went through the old locks which I enjoyed as more historical.

OK you will have to "settle" with Luminae! LOL. Food pictures look great! Anyway before our recent cruise (Equinox), all specialty restaurants were either sold out or had 9:30 PM dining times. Online. But when we boarded we went directly to Murano and they had plenty of open times. Same for Tuscan. We took a couple of nights at 6:30 PM. The maitre 'D explained that they keep about half their slots in reserve and not available online.

Yet the Retreat is still selling out at these prices.

@Barwick Cruiser thanks for the review. It goes to show that some posters here are causing pre-cruise "food anxiety" to the point where people are cancelling (or considering cancelling) their cruises. Or they are then pre-disposed to be negative. But you just need to try it for yourselves. There are negative reviews to the changes since Jan 1 and Celebrity should have notified about the OVC dinner changes in particular. But lots of positive to neutral reviews too. And negative comments from a number here who have not even cruised yet in 2023. Why get anxiety from their comments? Just enjoy your cruise! Thanks again!

When the bartenders did the "show" at the Martini Bar a lot of people crowded the rail to take pictures and watch. While we were eating. All around us.

Sounds awesome!

Don't think this would solve the problem with food. You are assuming they could serve thousands of guests each night with Blu or Luminae quality? It would quickly become MDR - like. The only way to solve the problem is to go back to the quality ingredients and portions from just a year ago.

A couple years back we dined in Fine Cut on Edge. The food was very good. But they gave us a rail table overlooking the Martini Bar. It was quite noisy! I don't know if this has been remedied on Edge, or changed on APEX and BEYOND. Ask for an inner table.

I'm glad you have not experienced a decline in quality. Many posters here have reported this but others have not. It seems E-Class MDR's appear to be more favorable. Anyway what I meant by Banquet food is that many, many people have to be served with similar dishes simultaneously. So expecting 5-star restaurant quality is too high of a standard.

Are you doing the Galapagos on Celebrity or on Silversea?

In the US, if the USPS link no longer works, you can get 4 boxes (8 tests) free every month if on Medicare through your local pharmacy. They are probably better because they were not handled in the mail. Most private health plans also reimburse them if you get them at a pharmacy.

Not very likely that the Reflection will be revolutionized this year. Some here are saying 2025. No schedule for all of the remaining ships yet. But you will enjoy Reflection as is.