radarcruiser

Another thing to consider is using miles to Europe if you have enough.  You don’t get penalized for one way.  We’ve done this many times and have also used A2S for some round trips.

Call RC direct first and have them status match you to diamond based on your Celebrity Elite status.  This will get you a small balcony discount and also qualify you for onboard benefits like 4 free drinks per day.  

We were Diamond on RC and called Celebrity.  They matched us to Elite long before we had the requisite points on Celebrity.

If you have them, consider using miles to book a one way transatlantic flight. Easy to do one way at half the cost of R/T.  

30 minutes ago, iamphil said:

https://www.celebritycruises.com/flights-by-celebrity

It doesn’t say when it will get you to the ship, or when they will get you home. I’m not posting to defend FBC, I’ve used them a couple of times because they offered a better deal than I could book myself.  Each time I’ve had issues (on return flights) that were the airline’s fault and I dealt directly with the airline to resolve.

I gather the OP was traveling around Christmas to/from Florida.  Flights are ALWAYS full at these times, and any hiccup in the system is difficult to recover from.  They can’t just move you, especially a large group, to another flight quickly because there’s no availability.  Often when issues occur around this time it can be days before you can be accommodated.  It’s frustrating, but sometimes there’s nothing they can do.  In almost all cases US airlines will not book you on another carrier, they just tell you to come back when they have availability.  

We have also missed twice in two years.  First time was due to fog.  Legit, it was totally socked in.  Captain sat outside entrance for close to two hours before waving it off.  Second time was the one that irked me.  Was Sept 2023 on Ovation.  When boarding in Seattle they were passing out sheets saying we would miss Dawes because there wasn’t enough daylight this late in the season.  Don’t they know sunrise/sunset times when they make up the schedules?  Can they buy an almanac maybe?  Everyone was in disbelief.

2 minutes ago, SNemeth said:

This is nothing new for Oasis.  Was the same in May.  They offered brunch on sea days, which had both lunch and breakfast items.  

Yes, but they close at noon.  

Currently on Oasis. Did I miss the memo? MDR has not been open for lunch any day. We are on our second and last sea day. They do have “brunch” on sea days, but it ends at noon. 

We checked a 24pack of waters in Miami this week. Showed up at our cabin safe and sound. Put it in a reusable grocery bag and taped it up with a luggage tag. 

Can u book BOGO prior to the cruise, or must you wait til onboard to book?

7 hours ago, jam19872016 said:

I can see multiple people on their balconies right now so unless they are all B2B or they just ignored the request to leave, I think so.

We were able to stay in our cabin for a good bit.  Steward was ok with it.  Some people went down at normal times.

Entering the harbor now. 

Cruise director just said we have the pilot onboard and are “going to attempt to go alongside”. Which I think means we are heading into the port. 

Last update was about 30 mins ago. Pilot was alongside and boarding. Then he and Captain were going to discuss plan.  We are heading east currently about 8 miles offshore. 

Captain George just updated us again. He says winds still gusting to 50 in the port and they won’t send the pilot boat out in that. Now earliest alongside pier is 10am.  That is subject to change if winds stay up. 

28 minutes ago, countess5 said:

We are onboard.  Captain says earliest alongside pier (pier 18 now) is 9am. All disembarkation pushed back 2 hrs at this point.  Could move later. 

2 minutes ago, countess5 said:

Is this weather related. Looking at the webcam it doesn’t”t look that bad, except winds.

 

Cheers! 

Captains says winds were 65 knots earlier.  Subsiding some now. Waves still too big for pilot to come out. 

Currently onboard Silhoutte. We are circling out at sea awaiting the opening. Captain says now earliest alongside pier is now 9am. All debarkation pushed back 2 hours now. Captain says this is dependent on port opening and pilot being able to get aboard.  Also our pier is now Pier 18. 

We took the train to/from Florence last year.  Connection at Bologna, a very large train hub with numerous levels.  Stayed overnight in Ravenna.  Neat town that famous for its mosaics.  Longish bus or cab ride (maybe 10-15 miles) to Port Corsini where the ships dock.  

Folks it’s a crapshoot no matter whether you go through FBC or the airline directly. Airlines change so many schedules now so if you book early you are almost certainly going to have to deal with itinerary changes before you leave.  
 

We booked economy plus directly with an airline for our Europe trip last year.  They changed equipment several months out to a jet without economy plus.  They put us in regular coach with no accommodation offer.  I spent about a dozen hours on the phone over four days trying to get resolution.  Finally they gave me a refund.  Called FBC and booked business class for about the same cost.  No issues.  
 

Also used FBC to book r/t to Buenos Aires this winter.  Booked economy plus and upgraded to business both ways. 
 

I recommend you never hang up with FBC without first receiving a confirmation email.  Check it over closely.  Make sure your names are correct.  Make sure the flights are on carriers you can live with.  Ask if you can select seats now.  Tell them to ticket your flights as soon as you pay for them.  

3 hours ago, ravenrob said:

I am traveling on the Constellation May 15th departing from Ravenna.  Does anyone know what embarkation times are? I see that it arrives in Ravenna at 5AM on the 15th.  I would assume it’s the usual embarkation times but it seems as though Ravenna is not the usual cruise ship terminal at this time.

Last summer we got on just before noon. 

1 hour ago, the penguins said:

I believe the furthest south Celebrity goes is Paradise Bay which is still north of the Antarctic circle.

There will almost certainly be a naturalist to explain things during "scenic cruising", the broadcasts can  typically only be heard on the open decks and not inside the ship. There will also probably be presentations in the theater during the voyage down and back. 

I have used "probably" as post Covid Guest Lecturers have not been available on all cruises.

We just did Antarctica on Infinity. Paradise Bay is as far south as we got.  It was an amazing experience even though it was only a drive by.  Still saw lots of icebergs, glaciers, whales, penguins, seals and sea lions.  There was a very informative naturalist, Celia Garland, on board. She gave talks most days on the cruise and narration while in Antarctica at least once per hour. Rules prohibit them from blasting the narration on open decks down there.  You would have to duck back inside to listen to the narration. 

13 hours ago, chengkp75 said:

The ship provides for "allotments" for the crew, which is where the company sends money from the crew's paycheck, directly to the families at home.  This is far more convenient for the crew than finding a Western Union to wire money home.  They are allowed to "allot" up to 80% of their pay.  Paying cash to the crew has no advantage to them.

Cheng- Thanks for weighing in.  I've heard the crew may not get the full amount of the automatic gratuities, that the company keeps a certain percentage.  Can you confirm that all the money designated as gratuities goes directly to the crew and is additional to their salaries?

Thanks in advance.

On a cruise a few weeks ago one of my fellow cruisers said they had their automatic gratuities removed.  They then paid their waiter, assistant waiter and cabin steward in the requisite amount in cash.  I’m curious if others have done this?  

I hate to say it because I love Celebrity and their casinos, but the BCC is a total disaster right now. You have to hold for 2 hours to get someone who gives you the exact opposite answer of the person you spoke with before.  They change their rules all the time and don’t even follow what’s on their website.