Reel Love

Loving your review Georgia_Peaches! (as always!)  🙂

In your first post you noted that you are in the retreat....we (group of eight) are planning an Alaskan cruise and hoping to all book in a suite for the first time.  Question for you (and others who have sailed in suites before) - are folks in suites allowed to attend/eat in the MDR's if they don't like the menu in Luminae?  (Apologies in advance for what is likely a rookie question lol.  We are seasoned X cruisers but know nothing about suites).  Thank you! 

Fabulous review SerraG!  Really appreciating your pics and comments as we are looking to book Alaska in early 2026, and possibly for the first time in a suite so this is very helpful (as are comments from others who have been to Alaska and are chiming in!)  Gathering some great info here. 🙂  

We once gave a shout out to our excellent stateroom attendant on a comment card part way through a cruise.  The next time he saw us he thanked us profusely and happily showed us the large Kit Kat chocolate bar that he got as a result.  No idea if it was through the scratch card that others have mentioned, or if he was allowed to pick something from the staff commissary/store or whatever, but it certainly was humbling to see how excited he was about the recognition and a small treat as a result. 

Had never thought to submit a compliment part way through a cruise until reading from other CC members how helpful it can be on many levels to the hard working staff (thank you fellow CC'ers).  We make a point of doing so every cruise now!  

Thank you so very, very much mahdnc for sharing all of the pics and videos.  They are fantastic!  And for folks like me who would like to cruise through the Panama Canal but are not sure for various reasons that it may actually happen, following your thread is more enjoyable than you may know!!!  Sincere appreciation for taking the time and effort to post!  🙂

Just catching up mahdnc.  Excellent review and very much appreciate it.  And thank you for the "stats" breaking down your roll call; found that rather interesting.  Can't wait to see your pics sailing through the canal. 🙂

Oh my!  So very sorry to read about the loss of Alf 💔 😪

Ugh....sorry to hear that you have to deplane.  Here's hoping for a quick resolution and that you are on your way again soon!

Looking forward to another great review!  Have a fabulous B2B  🙂  (by the way, love the socks in your earlier post about saving water 🍾🍾😂)

On 3/11/2024 at 11:44 AM, jam19872016 said:

 

 

Welcome aboard drinks at the martini bar so grabbed one for each of us and out in the room for tonight

Thoroughly enjoying your review so far! 

Quick question about the "welcome aboard drinks".....are they serving the sparkling again except that you have to go to a certain location to get it yourself as opposed to staff walking around serving when you step aboard?  Thank you so much.

Following.  Really enjoyed your last X review and I'm sure this one will be just as informative and entertaining. 🙂   Have a wonderful time!  

22 hours ago, jelayne said:

Not related to checking in.  Did you book air, transfers, or pre cruise hotel with Celebrity, that can delay the E docs.  We have had cruises where the edocs are not ready to 2 weeks pre cruise. 
 

 

Thank you jelayne.  Did not book anything else with Celebrity such as air or transfers.  Good to hear that it is not that unusual this far out (about 33 days) that it is not available.  I do not sail nearly as often as many folks on this board so always appreciate the experience of folks such as yourself and mahdnc  🙂

22 hours ago, mahdnc said:

 

That could be.  Also your online docs aren't ready until 30 days before sailing.

Thank you!  I think we are about 33 days out from sailing, so that could certainly be the reason!

4 hours ago, mahdnc said:

 

A custom luggage tag is in the Guest Ticket Booklet (e-docs) for you to make copies of.

I can't seem to print my Guest Booklet/Tags for my April cruise.....it is "greyed out" where it says to print these documents.  Would you or anyone else on this thread happen to know if that is because I have not finished my on-line check-in yet?  (sorry, can't remember from last time I cruised lol).

4 hours ago, Peteymil said:

We were on the Silhouette in February.  I have not been a huge Tuscan fan over the last few years but decided to give it a try as we were on a 10 night cruise.

It was delicious and so much better than in the past. Everything we had was delicious-and the service was outstanding.

So good to hear.  We board the Silhouette in about four weeks and booked Tuscan Grille for DH's birthday.  Understand many variables such as food is subjective, depends on the chefs, etc. but do appreciate hearing a positive comment from recent experience.  Thank you for sharing!  🙂

10 minutes ago, Jeremiah1212 said:

You can choose any cabin in the category that is available. TA’s do not hold specific cabins. For example if the TA has 5 C1’s in their group they can sell any 5 C1 cabins at the group rate they secured. However they won’t have group space available in all cabin categories.

Thank you so much!  This is good information to know and will certainly keep in mind for future bookings.  

5 hours ago, paulh84 said:

 

Call and ask what they can do to get you in a group rate. You'll get a refundable deposit, classic drink package and basic WiFi at close to or lower than the NRD Cruise Only price. My most recent booking was a $1700+ difference on a seven night cruise in Aqua. 

Curious.....can you choose a specific cabin (such as on the hump/angle) if able to be put into a group rate or are you limited to choosing within a specific "block" of staterooms that the TA has for this rate?

Wow.....just wow!   I am laughing at some of your experiences and comments, and certainly feel for you with other experiences!  Given what you have endured so far and how you have handled it/commented, you have a fantastic attitude and I applaud you!!  Love your motto of "drink less, not go dry!"   Wishing you nothing but a fabulous time from here on out!

So sorry to hear about your friend.  Love Barwick Cruiser's suggestion to raise a glass in honour of Susie..... ❤️   

Despite this recent loss, truly hope that you have a wonderful cruise.  Looking forward to following along.

Following.  Have a great cruise! 😃   (and btw, no apologies for starting your review prior to embarkation!  Many of us enjoy the "lead up" to a cruise and can gain some great tidbits from fellow CC'ers about good restaurants, hotels etc. in the embarkation city)

52 minutes ago, cmaleblanc said:

 

We are! My sister is also in Nova Scotia. We are in Newfoundland. First night sleep at home, and have to go out and shovel again, I'm going to need another vacation! 

Lol..... well, very happy to hear that you made it home safely given the weather you have had to deal with in the East!   Again, great review and book yourself that next vacation!!!  🙂

Thanks so much for the review and good to hear your experience was so enjoyable!  We are considering booking the Apex next so enjoying anything I can read about recent sailings on her.   Safe travels home!  

(PS.....4 feet of snow!  Wondering if you are from the East coast lol.  My brother is in Halifax and they've been hammered the last couple of weekends!) 

Oh Jeannette.....so very sorry to learn about your beautiful Bella. 😔   Our furry children are certainly part of the family.  

Here is hoping that you have a terrific cruise and relax and enjoy!!  Thank you for taking us along!!

Based on your comment of "purely a ship experience" I would give a slight nod to try the Edge.  Have sailed all three classes (Solstice class is my personal favourite), but I found the Edge to be quite stunning and really enjoyed the ship.  But as PTC Dawg said, really hard to go wrong with either choice.  Whichever class of ship you choose.....enjoy! 🙂

GenerationX, thank you so much for once again doing a live review!  I 100% know that I am not alone in saying that your reviews/writing style brings lots of smiles and several laughs to many of us here on Cruise Critic who still have to wait several weeks before boarding.

So sorry to hear about your recent losses and challenges  😔   Given the stresses you have faced recently, this cruise is well deserved to relax, and so sorry that Jeremy was unable to sail with you!  Without a doubt you have a great guy in your life!!!!  🙂

5 hours ago, Texed said:

 

Hopefully, you and your friends enjoyed the experience. 😊

We did Texed, thank you!!!  😊   It was pretty cool thing to experience and happy we can now say we have done it!

We have never received an invite, but I always thought it would be cool to try it at least once.  Have only sailed Celebrity 8 or 9 times so not nearly as often as many folks on this board and didn't know if you had to sail a certain number of times to "qualify" for an invite.  Finally thought "what the heck" and simply went to the CC host and made the request and voila, attended our first sailaway from the helipad.  He also allowed our four friends/travel mates to attend with us, and it was their first sailing on Celebrity.