yoj13

Quick question. We are on a cruise disembarking Rome, can any regular cruiser tell me if Celebrity have busses going to the airport for a cruise finishing in Rome? I know we got a Celebrity transfer for a cruise we finished in Barcelona a couple of years ago.

 

Just investigating possible ways to get to Fumicino for a flight at 12:40 on the day of disembarkation. Looking at private transfers also. Does anyone know the likely cost of a Celebrity transfer??

 

Thanks.

Our friends are considering using Celebrity for an airport Transfer in early May and they have been quoted $75 per person.

More often than not I use Firefox and have no trouble logging on to http://www.celebritycruises.com. Internet Explorer for me is slow and takes me to the co.uk site immediately.

From the UK we always used an American TA and have had some amazing deals in the past. However, since our currency is not so good and you never know where it will be by final payment time, it is best to check the UK Agents as well.

Thank you for your review. It makes interesting reading as we will be doing similar only in December 2017, actually 15th as it happens. We have almost 50 cruises under our belts but have never been on Cunard so we are looking forward to experiencing what they have to offer. We have added on the Caribbean voyage and 4 days in New York before returning to Southampton courtesy of Cunard. It's a special birthday for one of us so we are pushing the boat out!!!!! Our ship to the Caribbean is Harmony of the Seas and whilst she is using Brooklyn Cruise Terminal this season, unfortunately for us, December 2017, she has moved to Cape Liberty so we are now looking at alternative ways to get from Brooklyn to Cape Liberty, but I'm sure we will find a way. Thanks again for the review

We disembarked Solstice (currently doing the Australia/New Zealand trip) in December and the time to vacate staterooms was 8.30 so a big difference to 7 a.m.

I too disembarked the Solstice on November 27. I am not surprised that, coughing, flu, infected chests and the likes were prevalaint.

I have never seen so many passengers who just cough without the use of a hankerchief, tissue or even their hand. They didn't care wherever they were or whatever they were doing, they just coughed. No wonder there were so many sick people. How the crew stay healthy is beyond me but maybe they don't.

I did see quite a significant number of passengers using the hand gel, but theres always the few who can't or won't use the gel and I think it's impossible to enforce use of it - you might just create World War 3!!!

Ask guest relations for a sheet of A4 paper (or larger) Beg or borrow a felt tip pen (preferably one with a thicker wick) and print on it in large letters,

Please don't slam the door and stick it to your door. Trust me, your neighbours will get the message.

Of course, people are on vacation, but so am I. High noise levels at that time of the morning (3am - 5 am) I would be calling Guest Services, it really is nothing short of inconsiderate

Like I have said, I was asked for my name & cabin number when I handed the camera in. Do they still do this? I know protocol changes all the time but I'm talking recently here.

I am so sorry to hear of your misfortune. I can understand how upset your child must be. Usually the T pool hasn't a lot going on at that time of the day.

I found a very nice camera once on the promenade deck of Equinox. It was obvious someone had forgotten to pick it up (easily done) I took it to Guest Relations and was asked for my name and room number which I happily gave. Later that day I had the most wonderful letter waiting for me in the letter holder outside my door from the owner of the camera. Of course he thought he had seen the last of it so was more than overjoyed to see the return of it.

I hope by the end of the cruise, you have the good fortune to have your items back. Fingers crossed.

Yes there is. When you have disembarked the ship, you will find the paid Celebrity shuttles waiting in the parking area. Follow your nose to the exit and turn left. Once you are out of the exit gate you will see the HOHO coaches. Walk a very short distance and on some spare land you will see the coaches provided by the Marseille Port Authority. They are free.

However, they don't go quite as far into the city as the Celebrity shuttle but far enough. You are picked up where they drop you off and it is well organised. It is a short walk to the Marina, well signposted and picturesque. You will pass a beautiful church and some interesting streets. In the Marina area, there are lots of trips you can take including one which will take you right up to the imposing Cathedral. If you are relatively fit and active, the FREE bus will do the job.

No problem whatsoever. Same procedure as anywhere else in the world. At the beginning of our second day, we were taken to their office/department store and joined the line to pay. The gratuity is given at the end of the tour.

Sadly there are now 41 people dead and 239 injured so more grieving familes around the world. Its just so very sad for all concerned.

The latest news is that there are 36 dead and over 150 injured, some with life threatening injuries. The footage shown here in the UK is tremendously upsetting. Although not the largest airport in Europe, it is the busiest. It is so sad but really Celebrity need to get their act together and quickly. I've been to Istanbul with Celebrity and security was virtually non existent in the port area. I have friends on the Equinox sailing on the 9th July so no doubt she will get to know as soon as a decision has been made.

The entertainment on Celebrity, in my humble opinion, has gone downhill fast. There is a thread on CC regarding the 'new' production shows currently being offered and the majority have great difficulty understanding what they are all about and I am one of them. If you don't enjoy a drink in the evening or perhaps listening to some very mediocre singers, it may well be early nights for you. Most nights the casino was also not functioning to even half capacity, The whole ship (Eclipse) lacked any atmosphere. A nice stroll around promenade deck maybe an alternative, but honestly Celebrity need to reassess their entertainment programme sooner rather than later.

Our friends have just sailed Thomson, much older ships than the S class, but food, service and entertainment exemplary.

Come on Celebrity, you really need to do better than this

We had the same journey to do last fall. Unfortunately they will not take you into the cruise terminal at Fort Lauderdale due to some special license they need. Apparently all traffic is videoed and if they don't have the relevant license a nice, hefty fine appears. If they continue to mis-obey the rules, they could find themselves off the road.

We took go shuttle up to Fort Lauderdale airport and the driver very kindly took us to departures where we took a taxi down to the port. Very easy to do and much cheaper than a taxi from Miami direct. (although not as convenient) but we did have all day to get approximately 26 miles!

We are doing a B2B later this year. After the first 14 nights we should move from Elite to Elite plus. Will the points be added sufficiently quickly for us enjoy our new found Elite plus status or would I have to have a word with the Captains Club Hostess whoever that may be at the time?

I always smile inwardly when I read the official dress code. For a long time now I have thought (or it seems) anything goes. On our recent last cruise, the number of baseball caps in the MDR was laughable. We were always taught wearing any headgear was very bad manners at the table but as previously mentioned anything these days appears on the surface, to be acceptable.

Each to their own!

Hi,

The four of us need transfer from Southampton to London Heathrow Airport on April 30th after our ship Celebrity Eclipse arrives. Can you suggest a good way to do it?

 

Fat Lady

Hi, Take a taxi to the National Express Coach station (cost £6-7 for 4 passengers) and is only minutes away The Coach will have you at Heathrow in 1hr 45 mins cost £20.10 per person (this is the Senior fare) on the 8.05am and 9.45 am service. It is a direct service and a very pleasant ride. There are later services but as you did not give an indication of your return flight, I have rightly or wrongly assumed it would be after lunch.

The train is also a pleasant ride, but certainly isn't as straightforward and would involve the tube which from experience, Saturday is always mega busy in the City I have no idea how much a private car would be but if it is £100, you could arrive in style for not much more.

Thank you very much, will suit me down to the ground. Technology and me, sadly don't go hand in hand!!!

I have been following your blog as we are doing Australia/New Zealand on the Solstice in October 2016. Its been booked quite some time, so I have been really interested in your postings.

One thing is I'd like to comment on is your photos. They have been spectacular and whilst I may have missed any info on what camera you are using, I apologise in advance for asking perhaps again?

I will never ever receive a 'photographer of the year' award as I'm only a point n shoot type, but would be interested to know what camera has produced these fine shots.

It has indeed been a pleasure to 'join' you on your vacation and for that I thank you.

We too had $125 OBC from our American Travel Agent (BPC). We had frequently used them so we were aware of how things worked. It was on the invoice but wasn't showing up on the ship. Despite the evidence and 3 emails to the Travel Agent whilst on-board, we were then informed that any deal was only available to their USA clients. We are from the UK and were really quite angry at the time. I have to say, Celebrity were absolutely first class in assisting us although we still didn't get the OBC. But, you live and learn, hence our business goes elsewhere these days.

Some good news regarding Miami for a change. However, as Kiwi sparkles posts, last autumn we used the machines (fairly straightforward) but still had to join the HORRENDOUS queue and wait our turn, almost 2 hours in fact. All the luggage had been removed from the carousel, in effect anyone could have walked away with it. Then another wait just as you are going out of the airport when they need to look at something else.

As Gordencruikshanks reports good things, we will have our fingers well & truly crossed for our next visit. In fact any improvement can only be a good thing.

Was at McDonalds today and, no surprise, there was a person 2 tables over that had her "support" dog (a very, very small dog) sitting on the table while she hand fed it a hamburger. Letting everyone and their dogs into every venue is bad enough but I think it is a bit much that they are now sitting on dining tables where others have to put their food.

Please tell me, you are joking of course?

I too am very sorry for another tragic occurrance. For the life of me, I don't understand why all Celebrity cruises to Istanbul have been pulled other than Constellation. It makes no sense.

I experienced the same attempt at hard sell on Constellation in September. They didn't get far as I know the drill. I also heard an attempt at the table next to us at the Oceanview Bar to do the same. It was embarrassing to listen to the sales pitch. It turned the people right off anyway and they didn't book. I feel the Specialties are very expensive now too. This is obviously why they have to discount and tout for business and it is getting worse. I'm sure the servers are given tough targets to get guest in there and I feel sorry for them. The more I see of "Modern Luxury" the more I dislike it.

 

Phil

Couldn't have said it better myself! Just disembarked Equinox and had exactly the same experience including our first day embarking and the 'spa' girls. As you said, its embarrassing, not necessary, people are quite able to make up their own minds without this constant touting for business. I can confirm, we too were often targeted not only at the entrance to Oceanview, but whilst we were having breakfast and don't get me started on the constant wine selling at lunch time although I have never seen it on sale for $20 per bottle and in some locations (evening time) it was buy one get one free. Sounds pretty desperate to me.

Its very clear from my last Celebrity Cruise (disembarked Nov 9) that literally anything goes nowadays. Even on formal night in the MDR, I witnessed T. shirts, polo shirts, jeans and a huge per centage of gentleman wore neither ties, bow ties or indeed a jacket. No-one enforced anything. The formal evening as we know it is dead and buried and it will be interesting to see what and how 'evening chic' attire turns out.