workingboy

Hi all:

I recently upgraded our balcony cabin to a sky suite guarantee.  By the time you add in the premium drinks and WIFI, the additional fare was not that bad.

While I do not currently have any move up bids entered, my question is will the minimum bid levels get adjusted.  Given I just paid Celebrity a bunch of extra money, it would make sense that the minimums to jump to a Sunset Sky or Celebrity suite would decrease, over what I was seeing when I was just paying for a regular balcony.

Anybody have any experience with this?

Thanks in advance for your input.

Does anybody know, if you purchase a bottle of wine under gifts and gear and take it to the dining room whether you will get charged the corking fee?

13 hours ago, schmidlapp said:

Boarded Reflection today,

Sky suite, Celebrity is at the top of their game so far from butler to bartenders in Micaels club.

Very nice lunch in Luminae.

Headed there for dinner shortly.

More to come...

We are on the Reflection next week in a Sky Suite.  By chance did you get a call from the Shoreside Concierge before you sailed?  I have yet to hear anything.  Not a big deal either way, I just have a couple of small requests.  Thanks!!! 

I've got a move up bid in from a concerige class to a sky suite sailing in three weeks.  When I log into the  bid it says "pending" and I can't change or cancel it.  Is this a good sign?

Yes.  If you watch the blog, he clearly says all departments are being impacted.    They would not be doing this, if they did not expect a longer shutdown.  Getting replacement staff back will simply be too much of a challenge, given the boarder and airline shutdowns / curtailments around the world.

Here is a link to the vlog in case anybody is interested in watching.
 

The CBC is reporting this morning that Canada and the USA are finalizing a deal to close their shared boarder and that the details could be worked out as early as today (Wednesday).  This is historic.   Tourists and shoppers from either side will be stopped.

No smoking in the inside of the ship including the casino.  A big plus in my books.

I emailed Celebrity One Touch last night.  I suggest everybody else do the same and anybody on ship make sure it is noted in the comment cards.  It probably won't do any good, but surely this can't be a big cost item for Celebrity.  If enough of us voice our concerns that may take a second look at the cut.  I know I am just dreaming - LOL

Hi Cruisestitch:

Can you ask Giuseppe if he will be on the Hawaii runs in April?

Thanks in advance.

Wishing you smooth seas!!!!

If you are on the April 17th cruise, if you look at the itinerary, the volcano sail by is listed from 11:59 pm on the 25th to 7:00 am on the 26th (ie on the way from Hilo to Kona).   I've done that cruise three times now.  The actually sail by is more like an hour.

You will be in port in Hilo on the night of the 24th.  You normally dock in Hilo.

Lahaina is definitely a tender port.

Hope that helps.

Hi Vulcan:

I live in Toronto and on top of flying out of YYZ for cruises, I fly quite regularly for business, I use a limo service called AirFlight services and they have been dependable in the past.

As others have mentioned, make sure your friends allow plenty of time coming out of downtown, especially if they are travelling during the work week in the day.

Safe travels.

Hi all:

Any recommendations for Waikiki hotels that are right on the beach?

Another vote for Woodwind in Bonaire. Best snorkeling tour I have ever been on!!!!

Thanks for the updates. Can you please post the current officers? Thanks in advance.

If you are interested in swimming with the Stingrays in Grand Cayman, I highly recommend "Stingray Sailing"

Captain Chip runs a first class operation.

https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attraction_Review-g147365-d1420499-Reviews-Stingray_Sailing-Grand_Cayman_Cayman_Islands.html

Thanks for the updates Paul - Liquid looks like it was fun!!! Hope its smooth seas for the rest of the trip.

Hi Paul and Edward:

Great videos!!!!

Have you had a chance to visit the "Next Cruise" office yet?

I'm wondering if they have any information on the 2018 fall transatlantics. Last year when we were on the Silhouette fall transatlantic, they didn't have pricing, and therefore your couldn't book, but they did have previews of the next years itineraries available.

Any information you can share would be appreciated. Looking forward to more of your review.

Wishing you smooth seas.

Tom

Anybody have any experience on the tax being charged or not being charged when sailing out of the Port of Vancouver, if you upgrade the package on the first day?

Thanks

A while back, I remember reading posts about a TV series "Mighty Cruise Ships." Unfortunately, it was only aired in the UK and Australia.

Surprise! I found it on the Smithsonian channel on cable. If you google the series,it will give you the schedule.

We watched the Azamara Journey (Vietnam, Thailand etc) this morning. It is being repeated on Aug 18 and 19.

The Solstice (Australia) is being shown on Aug 23. We also dvr'd the Oasis of the Seas (RCCL) and Le Soleal (Ponant.)

There were many behind the scene stories that were fascinating. If you love cruising, I think this series will give you quite a few hours of enjoyment.

Mighty Ships and Mighty Cruise ships are actually produced by a Canadian Company, Discovery Productions and are aired in Canada on the Discovery Network. There was a new season of Mighty Ships this year, (Season 9) however no cruise ships were featured. The spin off series, "Mighty Cruise ships" has only been produced for one season to the best of my knowledge.

Either USD or Cdn. If you want to do it in Cdn however make sure you emphasize that to them. Their default is usually to do it in USD.

Hi:

Thanks for doing this. Can you tell us who the senior officers/ cruise director currently are?

Thanks!!!!

While I know they are run as two separate companies. Royal are currently offering shipboard credit for sale at the rate of $1.10. Celebrity is much higher at about $1.224.

Come on Celebrity match your sister line and give us Canadians a little bit of a break. Its not our fault that oil has plummeted and our dollar with it.

Their misinforrmed customer service people strike again.

This is wrong - you will earn Captains Club points on your Celebrity cruise and of course C+A points on any RCL cruise.

The points from both programs are not combinable, although there is reciprocial benefits at certain levels.

Hope this helps.

I thought Celebrity allows smoking on the balconies - I'm new to all of this, so I very well could be wrong about that!

No quite the opposite. Celebrity does not allow smoking on balconies or anywhere inside the ship. There are certain outdoor smoking areas on each ship that like Royal, can be avoided. It might be a good alternative to look at.

As an allergy sufferer, although not even close to what your husband goes through, I can sympathize. Have you thought of trying Celebrity instead? Their ships are 100% smoke free indoors. Brilliance is a great ship ( I have been on her 10 times), but you can not guarantee to be free from the smell of smoke.