poffles

I have a related question to this ... If the cruise booked is sailing much further out, would adding HIA later still qualify as an HIA Early Booking add on or is the Early Booking only an offer at time of booking? This is all assuming the offer still shows (later) as available if booked new.

Another newbie (hoping to sail HAL) but what I've read/seen about Early Booking HIA is that it is not related to initial release so much as it's on sailings that are a year or more out. Not sure the exact window but even just now I can select a Caribbean sailing for next November and this offer is available and these would have been released some time ago (I think?). I've been focused on this looking at future Panama sailings because of the included gratuities (and other upgrades) though I'm likely only fooling myself and the cost is just buried in higher cruise cost 🙂

I watched a documentary years ago and found it quite interesting and eye opening. I definitely would need to find it and watch it again as well as look into this read.

Thanks. Yes first time so I was not 'really' considering Pinnacle, really hoping 2027 does me good and it isn't the only option. It's a retirement trip gift to myself so doing some homework for sure.

I meant non-smoking anywhere inside, my reading Eurodam and NA are non-smoking anywhere inside (including casino), outside on deck I can avoid more easily. Not all HAL ships go through old locks, my reading indicates the Pinnacle are too big for old locks.

Thanks! Yes I've read some on CO (I'm an obsessive researcher sometimes to my own demise) and will definitely cost that out to know true value for sure. That said, I am looking for a non-smoking ship and thinking smaller one that will go through old locks (Eurodam and NA are calling to me) but no way of knowing what ships will do this in 2027, Eurodam is there 2026 for the time I want in 2027 but I think this ship is elsewhere in 2027 ... thought I read about world cruise but don't quote me on that. I wish Pinnacle were no-smoking anywhere interior, I would consider settling for new locks.

Sticker shock as in higher and they go down or just that inflation has hit them and they were what they were. I've looked at April 2026 and they definitely aren't 'cheap', especially for this Canadian that has to multiply the cost (UGH) but hoping they aren't higher still than what I see for that. Time will tell I guess, based on my reading here from others, it sounds like the Panama 2027 cruise(s) might be released Nov/Dec (2024) so not far away. 🤞

Thank you ... def help and confirms what I was thinking but thought maybe I'm assuming too much. I've never awaited and booked a cruise when it first came out so figured no harm in seeing what others have experienced. I will likely book if price is not initially perceived to be jacked up and reap the HIA+ benefits. Edit to add: And I will definitely keep an eye on the price as time goes along.

Hi ... I am new to Holland (Celebrity loyal) and am keeping a watchful eye for Panama 2027. This has me wondering what others have experienced with pricing of newly released HAL cruises, is the price more often initially high until 'traffic' settles down or is it rather that this might be better costing, or maybe it's all the same? I realize this can be a total crap shoot for many reasons, my ask is more to not walk into a trap of inflated cost that others have known to be a pattern upon first release. I am not looking for a unique cabin that might sell out but I am anxious to book and enjoy the wait, I also want HIA+ Early Booking which I am trusting to be refundable deposit bookings. Hopefully the 2027 pricing won't be so bad that it stops me in my tracks, I really want to try HAL and a longer itinerary. Thanks all....

If your question is what Celebrity ships do not have IV verandas, this type cabin was first introduced on Edge class so they are the only ships that have them, prior class ships (Solstice and Millennium) do not have any.

I think these would come out together with spring (2027) Panama cruises in the other direction, which I'm waiting on. From what I've been reading, last release was Nov/Dec 2023 so anticipating Nov/Dec 2024. Sure someone will correct me if I am off base. No guarantee of the past being perfect indicator of what they do each year but it is the best we have to go by in addition to keeping a watchful eye.

It was an email, I got same yesterday. I perked up when I seen it was a PUP opportunity but having to book a cruise like this and on such short cruise for 5 Club Points 🤣 Total bonus for those already booked. Here is the link in the email for those that already have one booked. Power Up Points Booking Activity Form (celebritycruises.com)

What Jim said ⬆️. I've been there as one ship in port and we docked at Mallory Square, 2 ships another time and we ended up at Outer Mole and had to shuttle. So glad my next cruise port there we are alone, shuttle wasn't the end of the world but it's nice to just walk right into things. Oh and it didn't seem to matter that our arrival time was an hour before the other ship, it's where they have a ship penciled in which makes sense. Oh and my both visits were Celebrity ships.

For those that have done this, is or can the cruise still be booked in CAD or does this require it to be fully US currency booking.

Celebrity is entirely no smoking anywhere inside the ship including casino and some Holland America ships are no smoking casinos (Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam, Oosterdam, Westerdam, Zuiderdam) Holland Smoking Areas I have sailed Celebrity (all ship classes) but have not sailed Holland so going by their posted information as well as many others that have sailed and validated this.

Just to (re)point out what Fouremco stated 'no longer manufactured or sold in Canada' so it was available years back and then poof. In Canada it was sold under brand name Bonamine before it disappeared. While available in Canada I was able to get meclizine tablets from a pharmacy/pharmacist (without prescription) and as one might expect the cost was low and it was plenty to last me a while. Perhaps fake news but it was apparently due to a supplier issue with an ingredient but it clearly grew to be the end of the end.

😂🤫 Shhh ... big secret 😉

I just sailed her last November (inside room) and the trip was great. I have learned that much of our own experiences come down to our own expectations and for me it would take a lot to call anything out. My cruise was a B2B and the Apex was followed by the Reflection and that is an older ship that many say even worse things about given how it would be aging but I loved that cruise too. My only reflective thoughts on the two cruises due to them being B2B and easy to compare is that I felt the Reflection to be more cozy feeling. The Edge class ships are classy and beautiful and modern and the art around the ships is next level. Don't get too lost in reviews, or look for your fears there. I tend to do that too, I will read 20 great reviews and think ok that's the one and then read a bad one and it will take me down. For someone that's never cruised it can be overwhelming but I can tell you I've not been on a bad cruise and there have been some where the crew could have used some TLC. I have not sailed Europe so cannot speak to any Celebrity ship there but I will say that one factor for sure would be size of ship if you have any tender ports as the more passengers the more 'fun' sharing tenders. Celebrity ships are not the biggest out there so I would expect this would not be the nightmare one might face on some other ships. Maybe some higher cost cruises are among your choices which I could not speak to .. stupid budget restrictions though I expect I would not like them anyway as they would not be my style 🍻 Oh and I'm sailing Apex again March 2025 🙂 They cannot wait to get finally sail an Edge class ship!

Clarifying that the status match is loyalty status match for the cruise club memberships and not casino status matching .. in case others reading this think otherwise. https://www.celebritycruises.com/ca/captains-club/loyalty-match

Said a few times but unlikely. Tier matching is not about matching benefits and the ways of doing things across entities, it's just status matching and getting upgraded within 'another' program where you haven't 'worked your way up'. If only we could pick and choose what we like about all programs and come up with a new one 🙂 Oh to dream. It would not surprise me if Celebrity altered to do drink coupons but I do not see why this would change now since RCL and Celebrity already did matching. It would also not surprise me to see RCL changing their drink coupon benefit. Who knows ...

Maybe answered but I am a Diet Coke drinker and having had Classic and Premium drink packages a few times each, the 'pop' as we call it in Canada is the exact same in both packages. They 100% serve Coca Cola range of drinks and they serve them in the can. I personally have never had it served from a soda fountain as other cruise lines do (I dislike soda fountains as they often taste flat); equally as some other cruise lines packages differ and have soda fountain for some packages with higher packages providing a can. Celebrity has always served my Diet Coke in the can which I often just what I want ... unopened with a glass of ice to go take away to drink wherever I want, often back to my cabin.

As said by Canada_eh58, our weather is a crap shoot. Even within a day it can be all over the place. I never look at weather forecasts here and even if I happen across hearing it on the news or from someone in conversation it will go in one ear and out the other. The only thing that might stick is a weather event that might warrant attention. That said, I doubt you will find many life long Canadians ever saying they find our weather 'freezing' in October. Layering is your friend along with a raincoat, leave the umbrella home as the wind will likely trash it. 🙂

Okay ...updating 6 months later. Applicant 1: Approval notification today June 9 2024 (also no interview required) Now waiting for the card ... Yay !! So in the end it was around 3 months difference between the processing of the two I submitted within minutes for the same household. All good but interesting how varied it can be. Good luck to everyone and happy travels.

Missed this before my (now deleted) response .. PHEW !

Delete ...