Jim_Iain

I have used Starlink everywhere from Greenland, Iceland, New Zealand, Europe and Asia also TransPacifics and TransAtlantics

I have not noticed any difference in connectivity from any of these locations.   As other's have said on occasion all internet is dropped usually when changing Satellites or Servers.   Usually no more than a couple hours.   You shouldn't have any trouble in the area that you describe.

Speeds on Celebrity are throttled to about 5 MB down and 3 MB up which is fine for Zoom, streaming services like Netflix.   I've had to participate in a number of Zoom meetings as well a VOIP calls. 

The MoveUp Sticky can be very helpful to get an idea of bids and acceptance.   This can be a pretty good guide but in reality it depends on how many of your fellow passengers are also bidding on an upgrade, number of cabins available and to some extent on CC Status.

As a valued Captain’s Club member your bid gets a bonus boost based on your tier. So, you get more value than what you bid. Classic members get an extra 1% multiplier, Select members get a 2% multiplier, Elite members get a 3% multiplier, Elite Plus members get a 4% multiplier, and Zenith members get a 5% multiplier. 

Personally I never found it difficult to get a drink on Apex -   In addition to those listed there is also -

al Bacio Segundo (entrance to OVC that is more of a Bar and Juice station than a Coffee station.

The Club Bar -  Open in the Evening

Le Grand Bistro  -  Also Sells Wine and Drinks in the hallway side of the Bistro

Mast Grill -- Mostly Beer and Wine

Generally CS and above and Zenith receive a call from shore side concierge as well as a follow up e-mail.  My last two sailings in a RS I only received an e-mail.

SkySuites usually get an e-mail approximately 2-3 weeks prior to the cruise. 

21 minutes ago, Maggie 1008 said:

Darn Jim, we will board the Regatta on September 26. Just missed you. 
Will look forward to your Oceania review. 
Cheers, Heather 

Darn -

Would also be nice to hear how you experience Oceania also. 

I'm sure this has been debated before and regulations may be different in the U.S. than UK or other countries.

At least in the U.S.  

Credit cards offer better protection against fraud, as they limit your liability, allow you to dispute charges, and are not directly linked to your bank account. Debit cards offer less protection against fraud, as they expose your money to theft, and are harder to reverse transactions or get your money back

 A link from my Bank

Credit cards offer better protection against fraud, as they limit your liability, allow you to dispute charges, and are not directly linked to your bank account. Debit cards offer less protection against fraud, as they expose your money to theft, and are harder to reverse transactions or get your money back

https://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards/building-credit/credit-card-vs-debit-card/

Yes they are included.   You can either tip with cash or ask the bartender for a zero invoice which you can then write in the tip amount.  

I personally don't tip extra for each drink and if I have had a bartender that provided great service I tip at the end of the cruise.  

4 minutes ago, blue_water said:

Does the move up bidding open 30 days from your cruise date? I thought I read that in the site?

thanks for your feedback!

On the Bidding Page it says 30 days but if it isn't open when you try -  a pop up box will appear saying they open at 21 days. 

As I said above I have tried as far out as 60 day and was able to bid.   Other times shorter than 21 days.   In November I was able to bid at 45 days and by the way won the upgrade.

1 hour ago, blue_water said:

Question - the move-up option is initiated by an email from Celebrity? You cannot start the process on your own?

 

And is this an option only after you’ve made your final payment? Or within 30 days of your cruise date?

Thanks!

 

You do not need an invitation to bid.   Once the bidding is open you can just go to the link  https://www.celebritycruises.com/bid-on-cruise-room-upgrade   Put in Reservation Number and Last Name.    If your reservation is eligible you will be forwarded to the bids.   Usually someone in the FB group or Roll Call will indicated that bidding is open.

On the site it says they open at 21 days but on occasion I've seen it open as much as 45 days in advance.   Celebrity is consistently inconsistent.

About 50% of the time I never receive the invitation and just go in when I hear bidding is open and place my bids.   BTW I also never receive invitations for the webinars and have given up trying to get Celebrity to fix.

11 minutes ago, KKB said:

We booked a cruise for Dec 2024 that we are thinking we need to push to Dec 2025.

It is a non-refundable deposit.

Would we be able to change this reservation with the $200 change fee? ($100pp)

Thanks!

Yes.    As long as you don't cancel.    You can change to another cruise / date for the $200 change fee ($100 p/p).    You may loose perks like Gratuities if booked while they were still included and the On-Board Booking Credit.    Perks will be those that are currently offered.

13 hours ago, jcpc said:

Jim,

 

I think you might enjoy Yacht Club.  We do venture out to see some of the production shows and visit the casino but for the most part after dinner we spend most of the evening in the Top Sail Lounge.

I'll keep working on Iain.   Looks like the next booking may be on Regent Seven Sea.    They have a Africa cruise that has me really itching to book. 

Thanks for your report.   Really enjoying your writing style and pictures.

1 hour ago, DaKahuna said:

 

 I guess it is a matter of opinion.  Our favorite Retreat Lounge is the Michael's Club on the non-Revolutionized ships.  In fact I am very much looking forward to this experience again on our Solstice sailing next April.  

 

 We have only sailed once on the Edge class and that was the Edge in February/March 2020.  We did not like the lounge that much.  There was no bar, you had to wait until a server came around to order a drink, and we though the furniture in the lounge itself was a little uncomfortable, the same way we feel about the lounge on the Revolutionized ships.  

 

 

John,

I have to agree with you.   Actually the Edge Class Retreat experiences as of late have pushed us away from Celebrity to Oceania and SilverSea.   

In my humble opinion Celebrity has not implemented Retreat well on the E-Class and service, personal touch and individually cooked meals in Luminae is suffering (almost institutional banquet style)

I would try MSC Yacht Club but - 

Hearing and reading reports of what the experience is outside the enclave is worrisome.   Because of this I haven't gotten any traction in trying to convince Iain to give them a try.

This wonderful comparison may give me some ammunition.

We had Coffee Maker and Tea Pot in RS on - Apex and Edge -  Nov 2023 and April 2024

3 hours ago, LimeyUK said:

A kettle would be great.  We are in an Aqua class cabin if that helps. What is the Zenith Desk?

Sorry -- Zenith is the highest level of Captain's Club and they have a private number for Zenith Members.   I'm not sure if it help or if being that we always travel in suites. 

I would ask your Stateroom Attendant immediately after arriving and see what they can do for you.

When you docs are available you will be notified by email and the link will become active.  Also a link near the check in will also activate which will pop up luggage tag only.    They become available 30 days prior to sailing. 

Coffee Machines are limited to Upper Suites but good chance you can get a Kettle.   I usually make a request to the Zenith Desk and the seem to always find one for us.   They may be limited.

We currently live in Silicon Valley about an hour away but use to have a second home in SF that my husband used 3 days a week up at the top of Lombard Street.

Personally we  no longer recommend Union Square area hotels.   Yes Westin St. Francis is a fantastic hotel and great shopping at Union Square.  The Tenderloin (one worst part of San Francisco) is just block away and over the years is creeping into Union Square.    It is probably safe but I wouldn't go 1-2 blocks West.

Couple places I would recommend are-

Expensive -

Hyatt Regency 

Omni

Four Seasons

Intercontinental Mark Hopkins

Moderate -

Club Quarters in the Financial District

Hilton

On 6/6/2024 at 9:45 PM, Ducky_01 said:

Has anyone ever sailed a back-to-back?  If so, I wonder what you would do on that changeover day in Southampton?

I've done a number of B2B's in Southampton.    One time we took a Ship's B2B tour to Windsor Castle.   The other choice was Stonehenge.     Next time we just spent the day in Southampton exploring the city. (so much to do and see).   Last time -  Iain wanted to go back to Windsor -  we walked to the train station and then took the train to Windsor.   Unfortunately it was packed as it was the weekend before the coronation. 

39 minutes ago, WestLakeGirl said:

You have a turnaround day in Hawaii I think. For that one you might have to get off the ship and check back in again. At other (non-US ) ports you probably would stay on the ship.

When we did B2B in HNL it was pretty easy.    Unlike many U.S. ports we were not required to leave the ship.  Immigration for all passengers was done on-board the ship.    Once you went through you got a sticker on your SeaPass and could leave the ship.

It may be we had an overnight in Honolulu.  

1 hour ago, Shiba_Lover said:

So basically who knows if we will have the same attendant and butler 🤷 when we move.  😀

Your Butler and Room attendant will know as well as the suites Manager.   Just ask them.

Most of the time when we are in upper suites they always have the Butler continue to take care of us but the Room Attendant stays with their area.

12 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

 

 I am the same way and in addition, a Google Search lets you put in date boundaries, such as last month, or last year ... avoid a lot of very old post responses that way. 

 

 To get back on topic -- I just submitted my information for my OBC for our April Sydney to Honolulu on Solstice for next April. 

 

Another deliminator I use is     site:cruisecritic.com +searchword -searchword

Example without a - deliminator

site:cruisecritic.com +"Jim_Iain"

I've seen bartenders make off menu items and have had a number of them offer to make me an off menu non-alcoholic drink.

1 hour ago, cruisestitch said:

Guest relations definitely know, but your steward may not

My experience is they room stewards and butlers know if you are B2B.    They usually don't know until a day or two before turn around.   They are the ones that also deliver your B2B instructions and transit passes.

I usually ask my stateroom attendant to coordinate with new stateroom attendant to let me know when the new room is vacant so I can move things to the new room safe.  

In addition if you are Elite or above they have priority tendering and no tickets are required.   You show up in a designated lounge and they escort you when a tender is available.