TeaBag

Food is important to us also.  However, we don't cruise just for the food.  Cruise itinerary is important to us also.  Love sitting on the balcony reading a book and enjoying being on the ocean.

Anyone remember the cream filled swans for dessert and the pastry baskets filled with veggies?  So amazing and so long ago!

Azamara breaks away from Celebrity and RCI Feb 1.  We don't sail till May, so it will be interesting to see the changes.

Thank you for your comparison.

I think it is the same as a sea day in that you don't get off the ship. However, there is scenery since you are closer to land.

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

Have a great cruise and enjoy every minute.  So glad your first impressions have pleased you so much.  Reflection is the only S class we have not been on.  However, Silhouette, a sister to Reflection is our favourite.  Our favourite restaurant on Silhouette is Lawn Club Grill and it is on Reflection too.  See if you can get a discount (if they are not too booked up) and enjoy it too.

Bon Voyage.

What unbelievably rude selfish people.  I would have tolerated that for 5 seconds and then I would have gone to the Maitre'D and asked for THEM to be removed.

Thanks, good to know.  Now I won't keep looking for it.  We just have Gold.

We never get the offer for Celebrity.  Guess it must be only for US people.

Another vote for the train from Heathrow to vicinity of Victoria Station.  Enjoy London and then take National Express from Victoria Station as others have said.  We have scored a £5/pp fare twice.  The bus is lovely and usually only one stop between Victoria station and the depot in Southampton.  Short taxi ride to hotels near the pier.  Since we only have one big bag, we have never had to pay extra.  Driver loads the bags.

Oh Chemmo, the tears are coursing down my cheeks.  I am so sorry for your loss.  I never knew two of you were posting.  Yes, I am so glad you have memories and not dreams.  I wonder if you have books of your cruises, so you can look at them and live the cruise again and again.

I do hope you and your son and DIL will cruise again and enjoy yourselves.

I have so enjoyed your posts over the years.

i, too, would call them and see if they would give you the discount off your original price.  

We have only booked a suite once, so I am not familiar with the current rules.  I do know that you don't need a jacket/tie like the old days.  Khakis and casual shirt should be fine should be fine.

There are 2 chic nights on a 7 day cruise.

Since you are Diamond + on RCCL, you will qualify for Elite on Celebrity but you have to ask for this.  Maybe the Captains Club host can help you with this.

I just got it the other day for asking the TA from Celebrity.  Didn't think I was gong to book any more celebrity Cruises but this was a deal I couldn't pass up.  i think I saved about $130.

OP can you not ask the TA to apply the discount?

I just today, cancelled the first cruise on the above site shown (but not booked with them).  We just booked the May 1, 2024 one, Honolulu to Vancouver with Celebrity.  Yes these are all one way cruises and maybe the OP is looking for a return.  Actually Celebrity had a return last year in April (Vancouver to Honolulu and back).  We were on the first leg.

Silhouette, since it has the Lawn Club Grill.

23 minutes ago, jwlane said:

You'd be surprised how much one can stuff into it.

Especially if you roll the items tightly.

We have sailed on Celebrity for 29 years with a few other cruise lines in between.  We began to feel the decline when Celebrity introduced the AI pricing.  Someone is gong to say you can book cruise only.  I haven't found it for Aqua class.  I also dislike the way part of the ship is only accessible to suite class (Retreat area).

Lowering the standard we have become used to (yes even the TP someone wrote about) and raising prices chases us away for now.

We have enjoyed Celebrity in the past on our 35 cruises but we have no more booked.

We loved Azamara in July and have 3 more booked.

On 12/30/2022 at 8:17 AM, Aardvaark said:

Next cruise Quest Spice Route, Singapore to Athens.  If it weren't for some accumulated airline points, airfare would be more than the cruise.  Humph.

We will be on the Spice route cruise with you.  I agree with the cost of the airfare.  We booked our non stop Vancouver to Singapore end of Nov and got an email the other day that the company we booked through has gone bankrupt.  We phoned Singapore Airlines and they told us we are fine as our tickets were confirmed before this happened.  I hope they are right.  i am nervous too, abut those 16 hr flights as I'm positive my grandmother died of DVT. 

We are really looking forward to transiting the Suez in our aft cabin.  We have only sailed on Quest so far.  We have two booked next Dec on Journey, Singapore to Perth B2B with Perth to Melbourne.

We have been cruising Celebrity for nearly 30 years.  The TP in years gone by was always acceptable.  I think this thin scratchy sandpaper is a cost saving measure.

It was always in the room, on ice, in AQ class (concierge too, I think).  It disappeared when the AI was introduced.  People who have the beverage package don't bother about it and it becomes another saving for the cruise line.  However, if you do ask for it, it will be provided.

I agree that the TP is thin ply.   We have thought of packing our own.

Yes, crazy.  Aren't you glad you nabbed the lower price.

Happy holidays to you.

Welcome to Celebrity TravelingCircus.  I don't think the majority of people on Cruise Critic are whiners and gripers.  I have been on this site for some time and I have learned a ton of things from the posts of others.

So, what are the benefits of boarding early?  If you want to take pictures of this beautiful ship it will be less crowded.  I love the way you can go to your cabin and drop off your hand luggage (they didn't use to do that).  Then you can go to the Oceanview cafe and being among the first on the ship, you will have no trouble finding a table.  It does get very crowded as more people board.  

If you want to make reservations for a speciality restaurant, your chances will be better for booking. I was told once that they keep 50% of the capacity for people booking on board.  i don't know if that is still the case.

At the end of this cruise you will belong to Captains Club and you will be Classic.  You will get 3 points/day for your sunset cabin which, by the way, is a great choice.  Sitting looking at the wake is mesmerising. I would go to the Captains Club host and ask her about getting your Captains Club numbers.

Your husband should contact Celebrity and ask to be put on the email list.  My husband is not on the email list and it doesn't seem to matter, he gets his points the same as I do.

I wish you a great cruise and many more to follow.  if you book on board for the next cruise, there are perks.

You might be interested in this live review of Beyond by stealthdog.  I hope I can post the URL to save you looking for it.

In Sept, we had to stop in Calgary and board a bigger plane for our flight to Gatwick.  No more non-stop Vancouver to Gatwick.  Goodbye WestJet.

We got off Silhouette Nov 3 and the only rough seas we encountered were between Southampton and Lisbon where it is often rough.  This was a TA and was quite smooth.

As for Blu, we love lamb and order it whenever we see it on the menu.  I would say the menu was varied with lots of good entrees.  In all the times we have eaten in Blu, we have never ordered from the MDR because we feel it is more work for the waiters and they work hard enough.

I don't know where you are coming from but if you live in the US, everything in Vancouver will be 40% off since the CDN $ has a brick tied to it at the moment!!  If you are flying in, you could stay in the airport area or Richmond at more reasonable prices.  Just make sure your hotel is close to the Skytrain which will take you right to the pier.  if you ride it from the airport there is a surcharge of $5, I think.  Even still it is only $8/pp to the pier.

Hope you find something that pleases you.