Ride-The-Waves

We flew back to the US on 4 July, booked through Flights by Celebrity. It wasn't until about 5 weeks prior to that flight that FBC confirmed the return (FCO-MCO) half of our flights. Even then, one week later we were contacted directly by Celebrity HQs in Miami to explain that the flights selected did not meet Celebrity's requirements for time between arrival Civitavecchia and departure FCO. They did offer and confirm a good Business Class option and that flight, on America via PHL, was on time and very comfortable. Since you are schedule to fly more than 6 weeks from now suggest call FBC as well as email them requesting they provide finalized ticketing.routing. It will work and the cost benefit was worth it. Do be warned: even with Business Class the check-in, immigration and security processing at FCO it took over one hour and a half. To make sure we arrived FCO with plenty of time before flight (which was on-time) we arranged for private transfer via Rome Cabs which as perfect.

Doing our first Oceania cruise in November and looking forward to the ship. So far the Oceania experience has been less than positive. It also appears that many things on O are simply designed to "nickel and dime" you from your money. The incomprehensible shore excursion program being one. Another the "deviation" fee for air travel. Third the over the top cost of booking business class air through Oceania. None of these are passenger friendly. We have sailed with Azamara and enjoy the "R" class ships - perfect size for our needs. We have also sailed the larger ships and Celebrity's Solstice class offers a lot for the value. Despise the behemoths (Oasis) and the Celebrity Edge class abominations. To sail O this Fall have booked air separately from O, international business class at almost half the cost O wanted. Currently working shore excursions since the alternatives offered by O with convoluted pricing just don't make sense. I'm sure we will enjoy the cruise itself once embarked and underway. Great itinerary and what appears to be a wonderful ship. But in this case, getting there with O is NOT half the fun. Azamara had (pre-pandemic) a wonderful feeling of "returning home" on embarkation. Not getting the same sense from O...

All the whining about flying is truly amazing. Its as if no one has even flown before. Never been impacted by weather. Its only a very tiny percentage of airline passengers who have been displaced. Airlines are doing a good job getting passengers to destinations on time. No doubt about it. And, its simple logic that you fly in to an international destination a day or more early to make a cruise connection (or a business meeting or other scheduled event). Have been flying internationally since prop-jobs across the Pond. Weather, mechanicals, etc, all can impact air travel. Don't complain - practice good travel protocols.

Just back from a cruise in the Med. Flying home on American we were issued "Pre-Check" hard copy tickets for use in Philly (which is becoming American's east coast hub). However, in Philly after rechecking bags the "Pre-check" line was closed. I asked the TSA rep why since we pay for pre-check screening. Answer: "because its closed." Second time this has happened at PHL.

You would have really liked ocean liners. Three classes each with their own restaurants, venues and perks. The cruising trend today is returning to the days of yesteryear with different venues by cost status. Personally, like the idea of Luminae on Celebrity and the availability of Michael's Club as a haven. Its nice and the concierge provides a service not otherwise available. Note here that O does similar by having different "clubs/concierge" for different levels cabins.

The friendly confines of Oceania...for this who serve country.

It appears that Oceania is scamming cruisers when it comes to their pricing. Intentionally obfuscating prices and costs, and making it very difficult to select and book. Horrible practice. However, it appears they make a lot of money from the practice.

Must disagree. My spouse tells a tale from her childhood of driving past the Empire State Buisling in NYC and her father telling her to "look up and see the building." Stepping on the 7th Continent is more than worth several conventional cruises. We sailed on Fram to south of the Antarctic Circle and made at least a dozen landings. Each one was unique and worth the cost. "Drive bys" just don't work.

Dined in specialty restaurants three times on our just completed Reflection cruise: Lawn Grill first night discount and twice in Tuscan. Lawn Grill was great with excellent service despite to heat in the outdoor setting. Second time in Tuscan was unsatisfactory from a food perspective. We were Retreat guests and believe the food in Luminae was better than Tuscan and definitely Tuscan was not worth the $106 charge for the meal. We did tip the server $20 cash. Next cruise on Reflection we will likely avoid specially restaurants and stick with Luninae.

We have sailed on both Edge and all the Solstice class ships. Just back from a great cruise on Reflection. Did NOT like Edge. The "E"class is dark, confusing and not as "friendly" as Solstice and her sisters. Just booked a European B2B on Reflection for May 2023.

We have sailed on both Edge and all the Solstice class ships. Just back from a great cruise on Reflection. Did NOT like Edge. The "E"class is dark, confusing and not as "friendly" as Solstice and her sisters. Just booked a European B2B on Reflection for May 2023.

Haven't shopped at Wally's since March 2020 just for that reason.

The usual waiting time is one hour for incoming flights. Drivers are released after that time. Just back from "X" cruise from/to Civitavecchia and used "Bob's Limo" for three trips: arrival FCO to Rome hotel, Rome to the port on embarkation day, and port to FCO on returning to Civitavecchia. "Bob's Limo" drivers were all on time, professional, good vehicles, and good drivers. Our flights to and from FCO were all on-time.

Just back this Monday from an "X" cruise disembarking Civitavecchia. The cruise line wanted flights departing 11AM or later and "forced" us to change reservations to a flight departing FCO at 11:05. We moored Civitavecchia at 0530ish and walked off just before 0700 to the luggage area in the cruise terminal. Booked with "Bob's Limo" for pickup at the pier and driver was waiting. (Used "Bob's Limo" for FCO to Rome hotel pre-cruise and for transfer Rome to Civitavecchia port on departure day: on time and on target for all three trips). Just FYI, the price for the private transportation was equivalent for Celebrity's price for two. The real issue is not the drive between the port and FCO, rather the one and a half to two hour experience processing through airline checkin, immigration and security. Dreadful.

That sounds like RCI and not Celebrity. Have friends who have sailed both. RCI unceremoniously dumped them on the pier while Celebrity provided assistance throughout. Also, Celebrity takes cleanliness and mask wearing by crew more seriously than RCI.

Off to get onboard an eastbound 747 (It Never rains in Southern California...) ...and embark a cruise ship in Europe. Taking full precautions to include pre-boarding testing. Stay safe.

Fully vexed and double booster, as well. Its also a "major inconvenience" to test for and carry a driver's license. Have liability insurance. "Normal"people have no interest in getting on a cruise ship right now. Only us international travelers do that (we have stepped foot on all 7 continents) - with a few exceptions for the "party" boats. We have lived in Europe for many years - me since 1949. We follow the protocols of societies we visit and reside. We have no interest in catching COVID, whatever the variant. Its all detrimental to good health. "Cruisers" are a segment of a society, be in US or other. These societies protect themselves from diseases and viruses as best the can. Its what societies elect leaders to do for them. Until "cruisers" can be isolated outside a given society so that they do not bring back viruses and diseases to that society, maybe eliminating testing might work. Until then, we live with what is really a non-invasive and non-detrimental process to insure the safety and health of all onboard a ship.

We all need to remember that governments and businesses provide guidelines to customers/citizens which benefit all constituencies. Just like yelling "FIRE" in a crowded theater, actions detrimental to public health and order come under guidance beneficial to all and are issued for the benefit of all constituents. NOT wearing a mask is currently deemed detrimental to public health. Many do not wear one regardless, especially in the US. Freedom? I was in Romania shortly after dictator Ceaucescu was executed in December 1989. The concept of "democracy" and "freedom" was alien to their society. What few automobile drivers there were felt that traffic laws and regulations not longer matter. "Freedom" means you are "free" to do whatever you want regardless of harm to others. The result? Some horrendous traffic crashes at intersections?

You know this how? Detailed and accurate polling? Supposition? Need to also remember that there are less than 15 percent of all cruisers who read/post on CC. I would suggest that the vast public majority, based on public commentary that cruise ships are cesspools filled with COVID, would profess that all cruising should be halted until COVID is vanquished.

Operative word "seemingly." Cruise ships and cruise lines know, accurately, what their infection rates are. Making those public is detrimental to business. We were on a Princess trans-Atlantic in March. In theory, everyone tested negative prior to embarkation. By the time the ship tested those flying back to the US two days prior to disembarkation the infection rate had jumped to around 20 percent (of those tested) and suddenly new mandates for wearing masks everywhere on board became the norm. Businesses (cruise lines in this case) must test to both insure the viability of their business and because so many people do not follow good COVID protocols ashore and at home. Pre-cruise testing does not catch everyone who is positive. That doesn't mean testing should not be required. COVID incubation times range between 3 and 8 days. Better testing would be to require both a PCR test 8 days out and also an antigen test 1-2 days prior to embarkation. Let the howling begin. Businesses need to know their liabilities and testing helps. Cruise lines are not forthcoming with data they collect because its bad for business. People (passengers) need to know the threats they will face onboard. This includes threats to health. Several years ago we sailed Mumbai to the Aqaba through the Northern Arabian Sea. No one complained about the extra security to protect from pirates. Same for COVID testing. Extra security. 😀

No. Read it again. Same protocols we are facing to embark Celebrity on Friday in Italy.

Looks like there are numerous posters who are against medical testing, testing to determine if one has cancer, a disease, or whatever. COVID-19 is a virus easily transmitted between humans of all kinds. Makes sense from my perspective to know if I'm ill, or not. Makes sense to practice good protocols to stay healthy. Testing is one way to know your health, And, its not just a US CDC requirement. Flying to Rome today. Italy requires masking in many public places, to include transportation of all kinds. Celebrity has informed they require pre-cruise testing to embark in Italy. We will do that in Rome. If one doesn't like ,medical testing, doesn't like to know if you are infected, likes to infect others. then, yes, eliminate all medical testing. Or, alternatively, stay off cruise ships and keep your infection transmission to your local environment.

Retch! "Live" reports do nothing good and are just to stroke egos.

Just the exact opposite experience. Celebrity booked hotels are nominally 1.5 to 2 times as expensive for the same room. Do yourself a favor: book direct or through a hotel booking site. Don't overpay to have Celebrity do it for you.

Flights by Celebrity is notoriously bad/slow in updating you actual itinerary. They booked us US-Rome and it was perfect. Took them 3 months to book Rome-US and continued to defer actual reservations. Finally able to get them to book us on LH returning. Then they sent a note saying that their booking was inconsistent with policies for disembarkation day and rep booked us on AA. Not a happy camper, but it gets us home. The conundrum: even after the rebooking Flights by Celebrity continue to show a return flight that didn't connect with anything...the transAtlantic segment was missing. Good news was the "final" cruise booklet showed the correct flights. Its not LH, its incompetence at FBC.