lisalovlee33

Entertainment on Celebrity and Crystal are comparable. Crystal shows are located in a smaller venue than Celebrity. It's a personal taste but comparing the grand production shows, I prefer Crystal even though it doesn't have all the lights and glitz like Celebrity does. It felt a bit better in terms of quality. Other shows, are pretty similar really. But I can't write how good the food on Crystal is. If you like to eat and drink on the ship, then go for Crystal. If the size of the cabin and balony is your priority then I'd go for Celebrity. But I still think you should do a Crystal on Transatlantics or a cruise with many sea days.

We've been on the Crystal. Oceanviews and Balconies. Food (buffet, breakfast, lunch or dinner) and service are light years above Celebrity. Of course you also pay through your ears. Service is excellent. We would only sail Crystal for transatlantic cruises where you get to truly enjoy the ship. In the case of a port intensive cruise, we would not pick an expensive ship like Crystal. I think you should take that into consideration as well.

But....you *do* get free drinks in Michael's Club.

 

We typically sail in sky suites and once Blu was introduced we quit eating in the MDR altogether. We love Blu and we were very careful to not take an Aqua Class person's place. There were always quite a few tables empty when we went in.

 

Having eaten in Luminae now, and enjoying Michael's Club, we will definitely always sail sky suites. Luminae is, in my opinion, one of the best things X has done in a long time. It's wonderful.

 

We were in a Celebrity Suite once but the perks are the same and the only difference is a bigger couch in the separate room. But it wasn't worth the difference in $$ and honestly we prefer the corner aft view better. I can't imagine we'll ever sail higher than sky suite. We use the room but we just don't need THAT much room. We don't like to eat in our cabin - we like to get out and about the ship, and we always sail with just us two.

 

The wait staff and the sommelier in Luminae PLUS the Michael's Club concierge truly made our cruise special. We wanted an engine room control room tour. Got it. The concierge had private concerts and teas and got us tours of anything we wanted for just a handful of people. It was wonderful. A few of us thought eating at one of the captain's tables would be fun. No problem.

We were in a Royal once and requested for a Engine room tour but was turned down because they say once the ship sails they can't let anyone in. Can you let me know how you pull that off?

OK thanks. I appreciate it.

It was blocked. Also, I was a little suspicious after the fact, only because the last 2 times they called me, it was one number after the other, just like this instance. Also, the number was visible then. But I've never really experienced an upsell, just thought it could've been. Also, the cabin I was watching has since disappeared a few minutes after the call. And it was there when I check during lunch.

OCD LISA

Thanks for the advice. Must've been a combination of obsessing over the cruise, and also the fact that they're the very few people have my 2 private numbers. But then, I guess it could've been anyone.

When they call you, does it come from an anonymous or private caller number? I just recieved 2 calls on both my number and I have a feeling I missed out of the golden goose opportunity. Anyone?

Celebrity Russian tour - big bus with A LOT more people, long lines for everything (museums, sites, etc), more $$$

Private Russian tour - small personable group, often cut the lines, and cheaper!

And of course, its not true. There are some agencies you can use. RedOctober is a good one that we took a few years ago.

We've taken the train there 3 times at least from the port, Livorno. It's easy. My suggestion. Take the earliest out, and take the one return that gives you at least 2 hours before the ship leaves. Trains are generally on time but we don't like to take that risk just in case. We've taken many trains in Italy, and have never really encountered a delay or cancellation. But you never can be too safe.

If memory serves me right there was about 2 trains or so per hour. From the port, you will need to take the port shuttle to some piazza bus station. Then you catch another bus to the train station. Its very doable. From train station you catch the train to Florence station (which is close to the sights). IF you don't plan to spend hours in line to get into a museum, then a good full day is enough Imho to see all the major sites and then throw in some shopping time around the big cathedral. Every where is walkable. One tip is take the bus up to Piazza Michaelangelo. From there the whole of Florence is visible and is spectacular. When you come back next time (Livorno being such a popular spot) you can concentrate on a particular museum, or climb up the duomo which is also quite awesome. But for the first visit, I suggest do a walking sightseeing and take the bus up to the piazza. I suggest you do this as soon as you get off the train station in Florence. I remember the bus going up there is near the train station. From the piazza M, easily walk down back, and cross the arno river onto that bridge with shop, don't remember the names, but popular with goldsmith, then you're back to the main square and from there all the major sites are nearby. Have fun. Yes, Siena is sooo beautiful, but you cannot do both on the same day. Trains to Siena (instead of Florence) is also lengthy, and I certainly do not recommend DIY there because of the lack of time. But if you haven't been to either, stick to Florence.

Some likes to do a detour in Pisa which is on the same line going to FLorence. I think it's still doable, but that is very rushed.

thanks all for responding. I guess I wasn't thinking when I said b2b on the same ship with a day in between. LOL.

Thanks for the reply. Need to clarify something if possible. The mini bar set up of beer, soda and water is free. So basically the other stuff aren't free but in the same mini bar?

Will try some MDR order next time. Is this for both lunch and dinner? And everything from the menu??? :D Having a lightbulb moment!

find a different TA. Plenty out there. IMHO prices are better, more perks. When you need anything changed, it really doesnt matter who you booked with. TA will call Celebrity and relay your changes. They're just a middle man but you will get better deals (perks and or price)

be very careful. Last time we sailed out of Istanbul we booked a transfer from one of those online transfers. He dropped us off at the wrong port. (I even asked the guard at the port if Celebrity is docked there, and he said yes). There are 2 ports. One you can actually see the ship from the roads, another one is hidden behind a building, which was the one we were dropped off. Ended up walking 20 mins to the other port. 3 times we sailed out of Istanbul and we always have docked by the one where you can see the ship from the road.

A few questions has been on my mind after reading the posts here. Hopefully someone can clarify:

1) Is it really true that you can order from the MDR no matter what class of room you're in? How do you go about doing it since we never see the MDR menu on the TV room service? IS there a cost involved?

2) For a b2b cruise, if there's one day in between the 2 b2b cruise, the cruiseline pays for your hotel? How does that work? Is it only for a 1 day elapse? Does it have to be the same ship?

3) Royal Suites - I thought minibar is free but upon reading the fine print in my reservations it says, mini bar - water soda beer complimentary. Then on the right hand side it says mini bar setup* (* charges applied) So there's more than 1 mini bar? Or are liquor and wine charged and beer not? Don't get it.

4) Royal Suites - Can you order any other meals from specialty restaurant complimentary?

say you bet 10 dollars promo chip. You win, you get $10 real chip. The $10 promo you bet is still yours to continue betting? So it's different than the elite coupons match play where if you win, they'll give you the extra match play but they'll take your match play coupon right?

I experienced this for the first time this week too. Balance was over 1000 more than when we booked it due July. In the past I don't even see the $$ in celebrity.com - manage reservations. We saw the breakdown of the price, everything, and finally we decided to call the TA. As it turns out Celebrity "accidently" neglected a discount we had. And Celebrity changed it back. Had we not caught the mistake they would've taken the addition 1000 during final payment. I rather not have to deal with getting a refund! My advise is to call your TA asap and get it adjusted immediately. So, reading your post, it's not just a one of for us. I advise everyone to take a look at their reservations in celebrity website to make sure everything is as it should be,

Be the first ones to get off the ship. Walk quickly and catch the cable car. Get to Oia and go straight in (you walk through a smallish lane very easy) and take your photos, enjoy the sites because very soon, you'll be crowded by people. If you rent a car, get there early. There's a parking there where all the buses comes in. I can't stress how important to get there early. Be sure to walk down and about, less people. Fira is a similar to Oia but less in terms of wow factor.

Driving is easy, can drive around the island, but really, not great. If this is your first time, I would just hire a cab to get there so you get to Oia first. Sharing a cab may lessen the cost so feel free to ask another couple. Not expensive. Enjoy.

Have the shares since 4 or 5 years ago. Never had a problem (we sail about 3 times a year) until recently. Out of 3 cruises, 1 RCL and 2 Celebrity, only managed to get 1 from the Celebrity. The reasons they gave is a generic one. When ask for more information, it becomes even more confusing. Every little factor. For example, that one free upgrade (even though we never see it, but they claimed it's there, so no credit). Or special rate.. and from Special Rate, there's a host of special rates given that you will not know which one is yours. I mean I think nowadays, you have to book at book price to get any credit, but then, what idiot would book at that price? So as long as the shares are doing well, consider that the credit!

Item Unlimited: $199 for a 6-9 day voyage; $299 for a 10-14 day voyage

 

I suspect that I know the answer but can anyone confirm - if I am on a 12 day trip but only need Wifi for 9 days, can I get it for $199.

 

We gave the first couple of days in Guernsey and Cork, and the last in Belfast so I can manage without on those days, but I suspect it's the "voyage" word that is decisive.

You can do that on the royal carib. Each day of the cruise, the unlimited internet prices becomes less (lsser number of days lefT)

My husband and I are currently on the Summit. We went to Bistro for lunch today (day 2 of cruise), sat down, ordered drinks, then looked at the menu. To our shock and surprise it's different than the last few sailings we've been on. No more French Onion Soup, hamburger or lamb chops. Instead it had sandwiches and crepes similar to the original menu that everyone complained about. To boot, we had poor service and my entree was terrible.

 

I have been a huge fan of Bistro on Five, and very vocal that I don't want it switched to sushi....but after today's experience I've given up fighting the cause.

I love the crepes..

I was told by my TA that sometimes Celebrity just block it off, and will be available later. Check with your TA in a few weeks or months. Anytime is great. Longest we ever had to wait was about 20 mins at peak times, you get a beeper, so it doesn't really matter. And if you're looking for early dinner, if you show up early for anytime, you're almost garanteed a seat. Also you can make reservation early dining at anytime dining for the rest of the cruise if that's what you prefer.

Open dining is wonderful. If you go early, when they open, obviously you're almost garanteed a seat. If you like eating at different hours, which is the whole point of open dining, you'll not have much of a problem either. The longest we wait is about 20 mins, usually 10 or less even when we picked 7 - 730 ish. You'll get a beeper. What we do if 10 mins before we want to eat we go get the beeper and will the table will be ready in no time.

Royal suite this past February sailing specialty restaurants included. We ate lunch ( some days late lunch as they opened at 3PM) at The Porch. It was wonderful. Shrimp and lobster every day. Bristo on 5 had just changed to Sushi on 5 and we did not eat there so cannot report on it.

would you have been able to eat at the sushi place (lunch or dinner) for free?

Can't seem to post a link. Just go to Celebrity web site , to onboard experience. Click on stateroom...then suite...then find royal suite and click details. It's in there.

Yes, I found it. Thanks

The answer about lunch in Specialty restaurant bothers me. I'm in RS for my Alaska cruise and was looking forward to lunch in speciality.

Here is what I copied off the Celebrity website just now.

 

Unlimited dining in all specialty restaurants including lunch, dinner, and one Champagne High.

 

So as per Celebrity we should receive free lunch in Speciality.

Can you post the link. All I see is

Complimentary unlimited Specialty Dining