psuboater

Even if they aren't officially answering as Celebrity, I absolutely guarantee you they're lurking here. I was a retail buyer for several large companies and I was constantly searching and seeking out feedback online for our products, but never responding as a member of the company as I was not authorized to do so.

Just got off the Norweigan Joy 5 day Mexican Rivera cruise and promptly cancelled our deposit on the Celebrity Summit and booked on the Joy for the same week and itinerary to Bermuda this June. We are getting their version of Concierge Class (Club Balcony), with a premium drink package, unlimited internet and 4 days of specality dining for $1500 LESS than what Celebrity was going to charge us for an aft balcony. We found the wines offered on the premium package were way superior (you are able to get a bottle of wine during your dinner - including Veuve Cliquot champagne and Duckhorn Cabernet), and food was just as good as Celebrity. The buffet dining option is important to us, and they had plenty of Made to Order items that we used to enjoy on X. So if someone from X is reading this, some of us are voting with our wallets and making changes.

Yup, that's why I have 5 "poor" bids in for Sunday's cruise on the Joy. Honestly, happy with the cabin we have and splurged on Vibe, more specialty dining, and the premium drink package, so we'll live the Haven-lite life 😄

I had a deal offered to me last year that was so good I maxed out my bid, thinking it was a sure thing. Still didn't win, assuming because they didn't have the inventory for that category the time we sailed.

The answer is -- it depends. If you live in a city where there's already a high cost of living, the cost is negliable. If you're living somewhere besides a HCL city, then it will be a sticker shock. Living in Seattle, we didn't see that much of a difference. That being said, we used Marriott points to stay at the Marriott Wailea in Maui. We also made a stop at the Costco right next to the Maui airport (pro tip - this will be the cheapest place to fill up your rental car before returning), and bought soda/wine/snacks/alcohol to enjoy in our room to keep costs down. We skipped a formal breakfast to focus on lunch and dinner. The food on Hawaii to me is worth the cost - if you are a fish/sushi lover, I had some of the best dishes of my life there. So much of hawaii's experiences is best explored on foot, and the port intensive schedule might not give you enough time.

The stir-fry station, and then the made to order grill station, along with dining out on the Sunset Bar, is a big draw for us. Pre-pandemic the grill station was truly made to order, but last year it didn't seem to be an option. Now I hear the MTO Stir Fry is gone. When my mom and I travel, we would eat 80% of our meals at the OVC. The choices and the freshness of the meals, along with the QUIET you get dining at the OVC at dinner was a big draw. Our final payment for the Summit in June is next month, but at $2500pp for a balcony for a week to Bermuda, we're seriously considering moving over to the NCL Joy for the same itinerary at half the cost. We're actually going on the Joy this weekend on the west coast and will make our choice when we return. X used to be worth the extra cost, but if they continue to devalue the experience, they're simply a more expensive entry level line.

Sailed in June 2022, as well as Pre-Covid (2018 and 2019). The biggest difference to me is the 4 (possibly 5?) Peloton Bikes offered for free (you have to make a reservation, but mid-way through the cruise, the gym was so empty they just waved me through). The room to do mat work appeared smaller to me, but otherwise, it's a nice gym with an excellent view.

As we say in the PNW, there's no bad weather, just bad clothing choices 🙂 If you're coming from mid-July to mid-September, chances are better than not you won't have any rain. In fact, we took a weekend trip to Vancouver in late July and they were going through a 90+ heat wave. Most likely you're going to have beautiful weather for the trip.

About 15 years ago, we were the first cruise ship to dock at St. Croix after years of the cruise lines pulling out of that port due to safety concerns. The island literally threw a parade for the return of the ships. Up until a few years ago, trying to find a West Coast/Mexico cruise was few and far between because of the safety concerns. As someone said, dead tourists are bad for business, and the ports do everything they can to keep business coming to them. Heck, I see a huge difference in public safety from the winter here in Seattle to cruise season. I haven't felt unsafe downtown (with the exception of some weird months of the pandemic), but I notice a huge difference in the uptick in police/security when the ships are in town.

Thank you! Which ones are the close berths, and which one is the problem berth?

Whoa! That seems expensive on both ends. Premier for me (when I select limited van service, it's been max one stop out of our way) it's about $90 from SEA to the ferry 45 minutes north of the city. A cab or Uber from the airport to the city shouldn't be more than $60. There's also the light rail which is $2.75 from the airport and a 12 minute walk to the Pan Pacific hotel if you're traveling light.

If you have time, I highly recommend the Amtrak Cascades. It's about a 3.5 hour journey, but a lot of it hugs the coastline and will give you fantastic views of the mountains, water, and sea life! My commuter train shares the same line and it never fails to put a smile on my face. I got tickets for this April at $33pp in Coach. There is now trains 2x a day, and it might increase by the time you arrive in September. Not sure how much you saved and are looking to spend, but the Seaplane service on Harbour Air from Lake Union to downtown Vancouver resumes this summer. The flight takes under an hour and is a truly NW experience - flights start at $255. A regular old airplane from SEA to YVR is $128pp one way right now in September, via Alaska Air or Delta.

I take Premier Airport Shuttle almost everytime I go to and from the airport as I now live about an hour from SEA. The drivers are always so polite and excellent drivers (They got me home safely from the airport during our last snow storm this past December!), they're on time and their vans are always clean. Highly recommend! https://premierairportshuttle.com/

Me three! 20 days, can't wait!

Looks like you're coming in October -- which has been hit or miss for rain, but the past couple of years it's been pretty sunny in October. We don't get rain in "buckets" typically, especially that early in the season, we're pretty similar to the weather you get in Ireland - cloudy and misty is most of the winter. Days that have steady, soaking rain don't usually happen until late November. It's been awhile since I've taken that elevator, but there should be one on the pier side. Also to avoid roaming fees, the hotel you're staying at will be more than happy to hail you a cab if need be. Enjoy our city!

Agreed- while I never come into cruising thinking it's going to be the best food I've ever had, value the experience on Celebrity. One of the experiences I look forward to is having dinner at the Sunset bar from the OV. We went on last June and while we noticed some cut backs, it still didn't ruin the experience. Looking at the offerings at the OV this month from that YouTube report honestly was shocking. So if you're taking away a nightly experience like that for us, I will take my dollars elsewhere. .

we thought about trying out Princess for next months cruise (5 day Baja) but went with NCL due to the promotion they were giving, but that's good to keep in mind for the future! I believe the only 7 day options to Bermuda from NY are X and NCL, so there might be a forced hand at play there.

My mom and I take a yearly trip to Bermuda on the Summit. We also just found a last minute NCL cruise next month. I absolutely will be comparing both trips this year and if the cuts are this substantial on X, we'll book on NCL's Bermuda trip starting in 2024.

Most airport hotels are close enough to the light rail station that runs every 7-12 minutes that will take you directly into the city. It's about a 35 minute trip each way, but it's easy. Most likely you'd take your hotel shuttle to the airport, then follow the signs for the light rail. I'd skip the car, driving in Seattle is a pain in non-tourist season, and you'll be paying a lot for the rental+parking and frustration. It's $2.75pp, per way. Even if you took the light rail in the morning and an Uber on the way back to your hotel, you'd come out ahead instead of the car rental. If you and your family are comfortable with public transportation, this might be the best of both worlds.

This is exactly why we loved the Oceanview Cafe for dinner. The Stirfry was my absolute favorite because I was able to control (as much as one can dining out) how healthy I wanted to be. The grilled fish or chicken made to order with a salad was also a go-to choice. Our favorite meals are taking our OVC meals out on the Sunset bar. With the smaller class ships (Summit) having limited dining options, I'm a bit worried what this will look like for our cruise in June.

Are you looking for included breakfast or does it not matter? Depending on budget, my recommendation would be the Edgewater. I don't believe they're more than 4 floors high, have a wonderful restaurant (although not cheap!) and depending on your cruise (NCL, Princess), you will be in walking distance to Pier 66. It also appears they have a fridge in the room. Another reccomendation would be the Marriott Waterfront, which offers breakfast and has a fridge in the room.

If you do not have TSA Precheck or CLEAR, SEA's Spot Saver can be a lifesaver during the busiest times of the year. It's a free service that allows you to reserve a spot of time for you to go through security: https://www.portseattle.org/SEAspotsaver

There's no heated loungers in Persian Gardens on the Summit, unfortunately. It's just a long bench up against the wall.

This might not be the right thread as this is hotel recommendations, but here is my mega list. For most things in downtown Seattle, if you're active, you can walk to wherever you need to go, keeping in mind we are VERY hilly (most people only think of SF for hills). 1) Din Tai Fung/Dough Zone ($$)- I like both - they are excellent choices for dumplings and noodles. Din Tai Fung is a global chain where Dough Zone is more local, but you can't go wrong with either. These two places are where I'd miss if we left Seattle. 2) Sushi ($$$) -Momji Sushi in Capitol Hill is PHENOMENAL. There are a lot of good sushi places, but this is a standout for me. 3) Salt and Straw ($) - technically a Portland import and growing nationally, but the best ice cream in the country, hands down. 4) Canon ($$$) - expensive, but their craft cocktails are theatre in itself. On the drink menu, the icon next to the drink description is what it will be served in. Some examples - a glass apple, a metal canon, an IV bag, a Nintendo Cartridge....and more! 5) Rhein Haus ($) is a cozy traditional beer hall with great appetizers. 6) Butcher's Table ($$$$) - is our favorite steak place in the city. I love the ambiance and their steak flights are worth it. 7) Bateau ($$$$) - They were just featured in the NY Times - they pride themselves on using all cuts of meat of the cow - so you'll get cuts that you won't see on most menus. The earlier you can make a reservation in the night, the better- when a cut is gone, it's gone for the evening. 8. Starbucks Reserve Roastery ($) -- skip the "original" Starbucks at Pike Place and go to the Roastery and Reserve room in Capitol Hill. It's a Willy Wonka of coffee - with giant copper roasters, artesian sandwiches, craft cocktails and unique Starbucks gifts for the Starbucks obsessed. The proscuitto, parm, and argula on croissant seems like it can be made anywhere but it is so heavenly. 9. Another Starbucks trick - the Starbucks in Columbia Tower on Floor 40. It's free to go in, and you get views of the city higher than the Space Needle. 10. Craft Beer - We have some of the best craft beer in the country because most hops are grown in Yakima Valley, WA. Be sure to try Reuben's Brews, Fremont Brewing, Cloudburst and Holy Mountain. 11. Some Random Bar ($$) - In Belltown, used to be my go to for Happy Hour. Try the crab nachos and the house made pina colada (for real - wouldn't think Seattle = Pina Colada, but yes, awesome) 12. Dino's Tomato Pie ($)- If you're missing East Coast pizza, this is the closest thing to it. It's owned by a ex-Jersey guy, and we would happily pay out the nose for delivery to get this pizza. I almost brought it home on the train with me. 13. The Pink Door ($$$) - Views of the Sound from Pike Place Market - excellent Italian food, and sometimes there's circus-like acts of entertainment. 14. Quick bites at the Market: Grabbing a Grilled Cheese at Beechers ($) - then walking through the market where the arts and crafts are on the top floor - you'll come to an outdoor patio with views of the sound that's kind of hidden away, and therefore, not as crowded. For a less touristy selection at the market - Farvahar Persian Cafe ($) is a family run stand that is so good. 15. Copperworks Distillery ($$) - Located right near the touristy pier, the building is amazing and their spirits are good enough to take home. (Still Seattle, but not downtown but worth an Uber): 12. Windy City Pie (Greenlake) ($) - really intereting Chicago style pies 13. Cafe Munir (Ballard/Crownhill) ($$) - Our favorite local joint in Ballard for Lebanese food - I miss their hummus and garlic sauce so much. 14. Pestle Rock (Ballard) ($$) - This is Northern Thai food - so beyond a Pad Thai and a Curry Chicken - really interesting dishes. 15. Ray's Boathouse (Ballard) ($$$) - a Seattle staple that's on the water and great seafood. 16. The Masonry (Fremont) ($$) - Great coal fired pies and an amazing craft beer selection, with outdoor seating/fire pits.