phoenix_dream

No, they won't let you all board and IMHO to do so would be incredibly inconsiderate of those who are paying for the privilege of being in a suite as well as not fair to others who don't happen to have a relative in a suite trying to get them special favors. Maybe the right and most considerate thing to do is to change your cabin to the same kind of cabin as the rest of your group. That's something I certainly would do out of respect for my family members. And be advised that if you want them to dine with you in Luminae (and considering the young children and babies comment you won't make a lot of friends that way), they will need to pay each day, and then it will be based on availability which could be a problem given the size of your group. And they also aren't allowed in any other Retreat areas so hopefully you didn't plan on letting them in.

The only part of your post I find somewhat offense with is how you feel the need to distinguish yourself as someone who paid full price rather than a move up. You have no idea how much people do or do not pay to move up and I'm not sure why it matters. It's akin to comparing someone who paid price "x" and then someone else got it cheaper at a sale and paid price "y", and then saying the first person should have more privilege. Not cool.

Been on many Alaska sailings and I don't recall ever being able to see the land most of the time from either side of the ship except in the Inside Passage.

I've sailed more than 70 times (67 on Celebrity) and IMHO it is just unpredictable overall. In some ports it might be more likely one way or another but we would need to know which port to answer the question

I don't know of any. People have reported being moved due to setting aside quarantine cabins, but usually it was a different cabin or a move up, and certainly not a downgrade from a suite

I can tell you for me it is because generally speaking the Celebrity ships are larger than the upscale ships. They have more venues and activities, and I am much less likely to get sea sick (which I suffer from) on a larger ship than a smaller one.

This is very interesting and disturbing. I'm wondering if this has anything to do with all of the "free" cruises offered. I don't know about this particular cruise but I know it applied to several Solstice sailings. Maybe the Blue Chip Club and the regular booking folks got things mixed up?? I would never take an offer like this and would be very, very upset if it was anything other than a request. I am of the mind that a VIP type person and/or group wanted a suite and none was available.

I agree that they will do what they can to have your table available. They can't always hold it, especially on a full ship, but they will do their best. We used that method on our last sailing on Summit a few weeks ago and they did a great job, but there were times we had to wait 10-20 minutes.

If the policy has changed, it has literally changed within the last couple of weeks. I seriously doubt that it has. There really would be no good reason. They share kitchens on M class ships. Obviously I am not onboard right now so can't say with 100% certainty but I highly doubt it has changed. If anything, Celebrity is bending over backwards these days to get and keep people on their ships so more than ever this doesn't make sense to me. But we'll see if anyone else reports a change.

Totally not true. We have always done it on M class ships multiple times, and did it on a September Summit sailing that was full capacity. And I did not ever "push the issue". In fact, it was offered to us as an option before we even asked for it on our September cruise.

Thanks for all the input so far!

Thanks for the feedback. I'll just wait and see what happens. We usually have reasonably early check-in times anyway (11 or 11;30) so I'm not all that worried about it, but it would be nice.

ok - discovered this too late to correct - there is no "mattress d" in Blu LOL

From recent posts it sounds like B2B testing varies based on where the cruise is sailing and possibly what the Covid rate is on the first leg. Am I understanding this correctly? I have 3 B2B cruises coming up early next year and wondering where things stand as of now (realizing that it could all change by January). Thankfully they are all out of Florida so we could better handle a missed second leg if we had the misfortune of testing positive or getting sick on the first leg.

Board the 12th for a B2B.

Couldn’t disagree with you more about the cabins on 11, with one exception. On very hot weather cruises no overhang can make the balcony too hot. Never had any problems with noise of any kind or vibration. Never smelled buffet food. Love the location as it is right by the rear elevators and a quick walk down to the buffet. We have sailed there several times and wouldn’t hesitate to do so again. Our cabins have always been on the side near the elevators. You can order off the MDR menu in Blu on M class ships so no need to go there (although you certainly can, just ask the Blu mattress d for a reservation). You are certainly welcome to your opinion but just wanted to put my very different view out there as well.

Awesome! Do you know if he will still be there in January? Would love to see him again. Last time we cruised Equinox he had gone on holiday beginning that week😔

So they do allow Zeniths to board with suites still? I saw a posting on a Zenith FB page where the person was saying that perk has been eliminated. I'm hoping not as I just earned Zenith!

I agree to a point. But I think if you know you have Covid, or you were a cabin mate of someone who has Covid with an excellent chance of coming down with it yourself (and it is most contagious a couple days before symptoms and a couple days then), it is morally appropriate to at least wear a mask around others. Yes, people need to take responsibility for their own health. But many people remain seriously impacted by Covid despite vaccines and boosters and if I can help them also be able to live a more normal life then that is what I will do and I wish others would as well. It's all fine and good to say move on, it's not 2020. And that's true. But removing all restrictions leaves those people, and it's not a tiny percentage, unable to continue to enjoy the same things we are able to enjoy. Is your opinion then, the heck with that 10 or 20% of people - I don't like restrictions and I'll be fine so too bad, so sad? If you can't cruise anymore that's your problem, not mine. It sure sounds like it. Maybe you'd feel differently if you were one of those people or a loved one was.

As well as the ethical/moral choice of whether you want to risk infecting others.

If I'm remembering correctly from this past January, there is a "lounge" of sorts. Basically it is just a little separate seating area with a few soft drink options. I recommend not getting there too early so you can just board the ship.

Airfares are insane but honestly it's really annoying me when people are getting free cruises and then complaining about paying airfare (not directing this specifically at you - that's a general statement). Many of us - like me - are also having to pay those high airfares and never got a free cruise offer, despite sailing on Celebrity more than 60 times over 20 years and doing some (modest) gambling on each cruise. So in December, for example, I am sailing on Solstice on a cruise that I paid full fare on, knowing that it is one of the sailings being offered free for many. I love Celebrity and this surely won't stop me from still sailing on her, but I confess it just doesn't sit well with me.

I think it is a different situation if that someone is sharing a cabin with you. I think in general they stopped close contact testing

I don't believe they are doing this anymore

Wondering if Vinod was still in Luminae? One of our favorite waiters of all time! Glad to hear you had a good experience - we are sailing in January and can't wait. One of our very favorite of all the Celebrity ships.