Gracie115

We haven't brought formal clothes along for many years now. It's not just the expense from the airlines but the more we travel the less we want to lug around a multitude of suitcases. We try each time to bring a bit less....and still have just as much fun.

Ouch..... but thanks

Thanks.....do you remember how expensive this was?

Did Oceania provide an excursion for the Nazca lines? We are booked in late 2024 and have an overnight in Lima and would love to do this....on husband's bucket list....very high on the list.

We are using them in October for a transport from Rome to the Pisa area and then from Pisa to Civitavecchia a week later. Price was good and I expect the service to be as good as all the posts I've read here.

If you look at Holland America you may well find a round trip option. Right now they have a 25 day Boston to Boston which tours through Iceland & Greenland. Also a 35 day again out of Boston, that takes you again to Iceland, but also to Norway, Ireland and Rotterdam. But, you would have to get to Boston of course. Celebrity/Royal/Princess do not offer round trips like this.

THIS part of those guidelines is just amazing to me....why bother at all: Test results from any commercially available Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), including self-tests, will be accepted. Tests do not have to be supervised or proctored.

I do agree that the Neptune is better than the Celebrity Sky Suite as far as the room is concerned. All other suites on Celebrity are much better than any Neptune. The perks you receive from Celebrity are far superior. The Neptune lounge really added nothing to our experience, unlike Michael's(now the Retreat lounge)which offers free adult beverages all day and evening, occasionally brought in live music and on our last X cruise had the BEST daily trivia challenge we've ever had. The laundry perk in a Neptune is nice I agree. We are Elite Plus on X so receive some good laundry deals. We also like Aqua but on the Edge class that means the "window" balcony and we really don't like that option.

I don't know if the RS on Equinox was updated or not, but regardless, you will love it. Such a wonderful suite. Have a great cruise.

So? To each his own...... we appreciate the hard work done by staff and choose to give with a warm hand. If others don't, that's their perogative.

1618 is a WONDERFUL CS. You have one of the largest balconies on the ship and being on the back side of the hump you will be protected from any bad weather. We've had this room several times on Equinox, Silhouette, Eclipse I suspect you will love it!! Enjoy.

We will not be home for the 9 days before our sailing so hopeful that we will be contacted before then...but appreciate the phone number above provided to reach a Retreat Concierge.

We have always tipped extra, these people, for the most part work incredibly hard for long hours every single day. Yes, some room stewards are better than others, but none have been bad. Wait staff, room stewards, bartenders, cocktail waitstaff all receive something from us, sometimes on the last day, sometimes throughout the cruise. We also answer the survey in great detail, naming all the people that helped make our cruise special. I can NOT imagine removing the automated gratuities for any reason. You would be hurting not only the visible staff, but also rarely seen employees that share in those gratuities.

I think the Celebrity Suite is far superior to a Neptune suite which is only one fairly large room. Not only a separate bedroom, but 2 separate entrances into the bathroom, so no one need be disturbed if more than 2 are occupying the room. 2 large flat screen TV's one in the bedroom, one in the living room. The balcony is far larger, especially on the S class hump cabin CS's. Walk in closet on the S class, full dining area with table and chairs on the M class. We were in a Neptune Suite on our one HAL cruise, I think it compares far closer to a Junior Suite on Royal, although it does not have the walk in closet that the JS has. And as you said the perks FAR outweigh what you get in a Neptune Suite. Luminae, the Suite restaurant and Michael's(or now called the Retreat) Lounge are wonderful. I will say the HAL now has "Club Orange" which is a separate dining area that Neptunes have access to, but can also be accessed by anyone willing to pay the up charge. HAL itineraries are however FAR more varied than Celebrity, which is really too bad as we love the Celebrity brand.

Yup that’s what I’ve been saying…… it’s crazy

I wish I had that much trust in people, unfortunately I don't. I do believe the vast majority will do what is right, but there are always, always those that won't and this "protocol" makes it easy for those very people to slide by.

Well that's just crazy....trust in 2-3000 people most of which you know nothing about. At this point they should either leave the requirement of a proctored test, or one done at a medical facility or just eliminate it entirely. I don't care which, I've been vaccinated, boosted and boosted again, but to say you just need ANY test done anywhere with out any medical assistance is goofy and just time consuming for no real purpose. I or anyone can take a test and use the same one for everyone in their group.... goofy.

On the X Website for Italy departures AFTER Sept 5th

For UK, Barcelona, Italy these are the testing "requirements" as of Sept. 5th. Seems pointless with no proctoring required. This is direct from the X website this morning: Sailing Testing Requirements: All guests ages 2 and older must present a negative COVID-19 test result to board their sailing. A negative test result from any commercially available test, including self-tests, will be accepted. Tests do not have to be monitored or proctored. Test results may be presented as a printout, screenshot or photo of the test result or the actual test. Pre-Arrival/Embarkation Covid-19 Test Vaccinated Guests: Must test negative for COVID-19 within 2 days prior to sailing. Unvaccinated Guests: Must test negative for COVID-19 within 1 day of sailing.

That may be but I'm bringing my EMED tests along anyway for our Apex cruise just in case

That's right I forgot about that. Makes me wonder if the cruiseline is trying to help EMED and other labs that may have a large supply of tests available???? This testing protocol is just silly. One person could take a test and then photograph the results 6 times, or however many are in the group, and turn that in. Wonder who thought this up?

These are the new "testing" requirements for sailing out of Italy as of September 5th, and all I can say is "why bother at all" if they don't care how the test is done or whether it's proctored or not.....crazy. Sailing Testing Requirements: All guests ages 2 and older must present a negative COVID-19 test result to board their sailing. A negative test result from any commercially available test, including self-tests, will be accepted. Tests do not have to be monitored or proctored. Test results may be presented as a printout, screenshot or photo of the test result or the actual test.

Is room service available all day long?

On a TA I would pick the Reflection. Even though neither has been "revolutionized" Reflection is about 10 years newer, has more specialty dining venues, the Lawn Club, and many other things that Connie doesn't have. We like the "M" class ships but on a TA the ship with more of pretty much everything would win out. We've done a TA on Reflection and unlike others never found Luminae overcrowded. Michael's would get busy right around 6PM but was quiet other than that.

A lot of mention here on what entertainment is available on the smaller ships, what about the Marina & Riveria and now Vista? We don't need to be constantly entertained but like to have some music to listen to in the evenings. Do those ships provide that?