Toddcan

We did Adventure in August - just before the "refurb", and LOVED the ship. I would also be upset if these items didn't work - especially the hot tubs and the ice rink. Sounds like your sailing had bad luck, and hopefully there will be some compensation( have you asked at Guest Services?) But, I would book that ship again in a heartbeat.

I wish the thread title had "2024" in it to make it something we can look back on as we build examples and experiences on these Black Friday Sales. For me, I noticed the BF sales were weeks in advance. Same as 2023. However, in previous years, they were typically much closer to BF itself. Also, in my experience this year, the prices from today (the actual Black Friday Day), I see no lower pricing for any of the stuff since early November that I have been watching (unlimited dining package, drinks, cocco-cay cabanas, internet, and The Key).

Stating the obvious here - look at the total cost of the cruise. Repositioning are one-way, so you are booking flights to / from a more distant location - so check flight prices too. And... since you are likely going to be in a far away location - do you want to check out the sights for a few days there too, or just fly directly back home. Options, options, options.

You are going the steps to eventually get you to some real worthwhile perks - which start at Diamond. We all had the same questions along our journey. You'll get small stuff like the water bottles you mentioned, and a small discount on one item from the ship's shops (with some exceptions), and perhaps a bogo milkshake. Google for a perks/rewards list and you'll find a very helpful chart Keep cruising! Diamond's 4 free drinks per day(D+ = 5 drinks) is the one that most people look forward to.

Thanks everyone, especially the tip on Elite benefits. I like having a few extra cans of soda, so I will inquire during the 5-7 cocktail hour. So, a few more questions, about Elite. Cocktail hour - 5-7pm. Is this at any bar, or is there a lounge we need to go to? Elite wifi discount 30% -is this onboard only, or does this apply to pre-cruise purchases?

Sorry, yes, it's a Christmas Cruise this year. 23-27th

Booked a Christmas cruise on the Silhouette - first time trying Celebrity. We're diamond on Royal, so we got a status match to Elite. I've done a fair bit of reading and think I have a decent grasp of what to expect, including Elite perks, etc. But there are a handful of questions that I have Internet: If I book the 2 device package, can 2 people share it? If anyone is familiar with Royal, they multi-device packages only need a single log in- they don't care if it's used by the same person, or two different people. Dining packages. I think on this, our first Celebrity cruise, we will stick with MDR to give it a whirl, but I didn't see any "unlimited dining" type packages that I am used to seeing on Royal - does this exist on Celebrity? Drinks package - we don't drink alcohol, but sometimes get a soda package with Royal, usually $9.99 pppd. I didn't see anything close to this other than the "non-alcoholic" package which includes mocktails, etc, so it's understandable more expensive than $10 pppd. Is there a soda package? If not, can I get more than just a diet coke at the bars? Booking shows? Is this a thing on the Silhouette? I think that's it for now - I've figured out most everything else

I don't get heartburn very often, but when I do, Gaviscon is 100% effective and works immediately - like within 10 seconds. But, this might be more of an acid reflux thing - which I admit I do not know if this is the same as heartburn, technically.

First time managing a vacation over the internet?

We sailed this cabin in August this year. Loved it. Bonus - look on the bottom of the wall-mounted lights on each side of the bed - you will find a USB charging port. It's a little loud being so close to the elevator, but it never bothered us.

Bayonne NJ is a great port - nice and easy. We've sailed on that class of ship before out of Bayonne, and there are lots of indoor spaces. If you have no kids, than you can even go to the Solarium at the front of the ship - it's totally enclosed, heated, and has small pools and hot tubs. On day 2, you will start to get "Decent" weather (think South Carolina) - could be 40 or could be 70.

I have to admit- when I got the email yesterday informing me that the tips have increased again (twice in one year), AND coupled with the fact that cabin service is now reduced to once per day on most cabins... For the first time, I actually considered in my head, the option of removing tips, and then tipping with cash. But, I just can't bring myself to do it. Yes, it's only $0.50 - this time. On our last cruise, there were a ton of "casino-comped" cruisers - waaaay more than I remember ever meeting before. Adventure of the Seas (likely a more common class of ship for the "free" cruises"), and we chatted it up with several of them. Most of them lived in Florida, so had the flexibility to cruise on the available dates. But, almost like they had figured out something the rest of us hadn't, I was asked if I knew about the "tipping hack" - I was told you could go to CS and get the auto-gratuities removed from the bill. This one couple claimed that these "free" casino cruises cost them only a few hundred dollars, including drinks, etc. We only cruise 1-2 times per year, so I look at the total cost of the cruise differently than these folks, but if I lived within a half-day of Florida ports, and could cruise 5-6 times per year (or more), I could begin to understand their viewpoint. For these cruisers, $18.50 x 2 x 7 days ($259) is likely the largest chunk of their cruise cost - if they paid it.

Photos, or it didn't happen 😉

Fascinating question. You didn't pay for the extra day (but you bought more drinks, etc). I'm guessing they will give it to you out of good will. But, I'm very curious about their answer.

very good point - finding that sweet spot. After all, Cabanas need attendants. If they fill half the amount for double the price, but only need half the amount of attendants, then that's favourable for RCI

The empty cabanas seem to say the current model is not working. $900 is a fantastic price for those cabanas. - but the "list" on those are normally over $2k. I think we are saying he same thing (kinda), so I'm not arguing with you. I'm just observing more empty cabanas than I used to, and the only difference (in my limited experience) is the price has been getting higher and higher. shrug. I only cruise twice a year, so my exposure is limited, but the last 2 times at Coco cay I saw many more empty cabanas that previously, as I mentioned before.

I noticed the same thing on those cabanas - crazy pricing! But, we just turned diamond on our last cruise, so when I looked at the pricing of those hideaway cabanas (the ones with their own pool in front), I saw "Loyalty Pricing" or something like that and a $1,049 price - I snatched it up.

I agree with the idea of what you are saying, but I am suggesting the starting prices are simply far too high. I hope they are looking at the data to see what the sweet spot is for the "Standard" price (which always changes too).

Depends on where you see value. For us, we love the cabana for the constant shade, privacy, outstanding food and drink service, a lockable safe for when we go in the water, included floating mats, included cooler with ice and water bottles, unlimited supply of towels and a charging port for our electronics etc etc. It really is a spoiled experience.

For the life of me, I cannot figure out the cabana pricing strategy. Not so long ago, you could get a south beach, or chill island cabana for under $750 all day long, then they jumped to $1,300 with the occasional price drops to about $900-$950. Yet, on our last two cruises, there were more empty cabanas than occupied ones. On the most recent cruise last month, Icon was with us (Adventure) at Coco Cay, and only 4 Chill Island cabanas were rented out. Maybe they are testing their strategies, and gathering data on what people will pay, but I'll bet if they lowered the prices to $500-$750 range again, they would fill up - and is that not better than sitting empty? Side note: when you rent a cabana, they put your family name on a small chalk board attached to the cabana. When they are empty, they put first names of what I would guess are either random names, or people that work there. They don't want people to see an empty chalk board, even though the cabana is clearly empty.

$200 pp for domestic flights and $400 pp for international flights? Haven't seen those prices for a very, very long time.

Not true. There is another pool for the other cabanas - also at hideaway beach. It is also heated.

I've rented both, and depending on the month, I prefer each of them for different reasons. In the summer - prefer breezy bay (chill island) because of he refreshing ocean breezes. In the winter - prefer South Beach. Chill island can actually be a little too chilly with the breeze, but south beach is nice and sheltered.

Whoa, easy there.. make your own wish thread 😉

Whoa... ease up there man, are you trying to incite a riot? 😉 Hair Dryers, hair straighteners, curling irons, etc are allowed.