LB_NJ

I booked directly with Celebrity and was told the first time there were no discounts. The second time they offered me $100 per cruise (both 10 days or longer). It is a matter of pure luck whether you OR your TA will get someone knowledgeable. Your TA will just have to make a couple of calls until they get someone knowledgeable.

The Cunard website lists Al Fresco dining as an extra cost option on the QE. Anyone know what this is?

You should really post this in the Florida cruise port section. You will get better information. Having been to Florida numerous times, and I have relatives there, it is a large state and there will be places that are relatively untouched and areas with significant devastation. I strongly recommend that you post to the Florida forums in TripAdvisor to find out which parts have been left relatively unscathed. Also, we are still in the heart of Hurricane season for at least another 30 days. You need to be flexible.

This may be due to exchange rate. However, prices are always subject to change. I don't think Celebrity changes as often as Royal (Royal prices tend to vary a lot more)

Carefully read the policy. Usually, the medical limit on cruise travel insurance issued by the cruise lines is very low.

Select anytime dining and then as soon as reservations open make reservations for specific times. If you make reservations the wait time is minimal. If you don't make reservations, it can be a long wait.

Completely full.

Celebrity is running an excursion called "Best of Cartagena." Does anyone know anything about this excursion?

Occasionally I will order an extra appetizer and maybe once a cruise an extra entree. Is this a problem, is there an extra charge?

How is this Cartagena Colombia tour?

On Summit we ate the first night at Tuscan Grille and we liked it. I would not spend $130, however we thought it was definitely better than what they had in the MDR.

Except for changing rooms (upgrades that you ask for go through the TA, the type you bid for goes through Celebrity assuming the TA allows it, there is a big box store TA that does not participate in the bid upgrade process) and payment for the cruise itself everything goes through Celebrity. If the price drops you have to go through the TA. This pain in the neck is why I decided to book direct with Celebrity for my next trip.

And I love it. To each his own.

Oceania (at least pre-COVID) had the best buffet I have had on a mainstream cruise line. At a certain point people will decide the quality does not justify the price of the cruise and business drops off.

We like port intensive cruises where the ports are relatively safe so we don't have to book an excursion and we can just get off and wander on our own. We have a cruise booked that has an overnight in Colombia that I am not thrilled about. All the excursions say something about crime is a problem. We booked it because it fit our schedule. I would probably do a TA on the Queen Mary 2, however that is the ONLY ship I would do it on. And I might do it in the winter.

Even mid-June would be iffy to wait. You can sometimes get great deals by waiting to the last minute but you have to be flexible with what cruise line you are willing to sail, what itinerary you will get, what class of cabin you are willing to take and what port you sail out of. This is not the Caribbean. Having said all that the month of May is way early for an Alaska cruise (weather iffy and some areas may still be iced in/not open) so shouldn't book up as fast. If it is a small premium book fully refundable, give you more flexibility. Then just keep checking prices and ask for price adjustment as necessary. Personally, I have never found a good travel agent great if you have one, last 2 cruises I booked were direct with Celebrity. FYI, as a complete guess you may get a better deal on Black Friday then waiting till you get aboard..

A couple of questions very specific to an Alaska itinerary. Do they bring aboard sled dogs at any part of the cruise? I think some of the cruise lines do that. I ask because we did a land trip to Alaska and stayed at a place that had attached a sled dog kennel and my wife loved that. Does a park ranger come aboard for Glacier bay, do they bring along a passport stamp (no not the country passport, specific for US national parks)? FYI, not specific to Cunard, there are issues with Skagway so if not fixed there may be a substitute port. Saw this on other forum sites.

Are you thinking the 10 day cruise. That is the one we are looking at. My ONLY concern is that there are only 1 or 2 non-stop flights a day from my preferred airport to Vancouver so will probably fly in 2 days before just in case.

In reading the Cunard website it looks like some of the cruises do not do the inside passage.

This says only for cruises that sail by November 30, 2022. I am hoping that they just haven't gotten around to extending the date.

What about outdoor viewing spaces on both ships? Thinking it would be important in Alaska. Also, I think Princess sails the inside passage and not clear that Cunard does.

Not sure exactly what question you are asking however this is on the website: Covid-19 Assistance Book any Celebrity Cruise that’s sailing between now and April 30, 2023, and you’ll have the following reassurance at no extra charge: 100% cruise fare refund for you, and your Traveling Party, if any of you tests positive for COVID-19 within 10 days prior to the cruise or at the boarding terminal.** Pro-rated cruise fare refund for anyone who has their cruise cut short due to testing positive for COVID-19 or being suspected of having COVID-19 during the cruise. I am guessing that if you have to cancel for any other reason, it is up to whatever travel insurance you have to cover the costs of cancellation. If you are talking about medical care I always assumed your personal insurance would be required to cover it or pay out of pocket. One thing that I hope is only a glitch, if you click on terms and conditions, they state that the cruise has to sail by this November, 2022.

Debating between 2 different 7 day cruises to Alaska. One in a Princess Grill Suite on the QE rnd trp Vancouver or a suite on the Royal Princess rnd trp Seattle. Any thoughts? Food quality and a relaxed overall experience are important.

FYI, on Celebrity we usually do the Celebrity Select time dining however we tend to dine at the same time each evening and on the last cruise they tried to give us the same wait staff each night.

A lot of clothes these days say cold water wash, tumble dry low. I am guessing this is problematic.