griffy116

We sailed on both Celebrity and RC last summer. There were six of us and we had 3 balcony cabins and our ages ranged from early 20's to 60's...three generations.They really are very much alike but we returned to RC this summer. We found the food very similar in quality, although we thought there were more choices on RC menu. We're Diamond on RC, so Elite on Celebrity. Plus side for Celebrity was the fact that it was easy to get a canned drink on Celebrity which I preferred to the fountain drinks. LOVED al Baccio on Celebrity. The cloth towels on Celebrity were nice but I felt a bit wasteful. RC is head and shoulders above Celebrity on the entertainment. I'm not sure what the draw is for the grassy areas. Celebrity cabins are very nice and I love the storage in the bathrooms. We ran out of things to do before the end of the 7-night cruise on Celebrity. We didn't get around to everything on RC. We didn't find the passengers any different or the nights in the MDR being more formal. Celebrity doesn't even have a formal night any longer. They have "chic" night and that's open to interpretation which seemed to be as varied as on RC. I'm a smoker and was hesitant about going on Celebrity and finding myself behind a couple of trash cans trying to hide to grab a smoke. I was pleasantly surprised to find the smoking area on Celebrity was much nicer than RC. GREAT comfy area with much nicer furnishings so I'm always amused with the comments about smoking areas between the two. I probably spent more time in the smoking area on Celebrity than RC. The casino being non-smoking isn't a biggie for me and I can see why Celebrity has a non-smoking casino because it isn't really enclosed like it is on RC. The layout of the RC ships seemed better to me, including the shops. Celebrity is very "quiet." Perks on Celebrity were really nice for Elite because you are really getting a bump up from Diamond on RC. We missed the entertainment and activities on RC so that was the deciding factor for us in choosing to return to RC over Celebrity, but everyone is different.

I think you must have gotten skipped/forgotten or another cabin got your treats. We got ours in June.

Same for us. After approx 20 cruises with RC, we don't currently have a cruise booked. We went to look at booking while on our cruise in June and the pricing and the (lack of) perks were really disappointing.

We cruised on Celebrity and RC last year. Although we are Diamond on RC, we had never cruised on Celebrity before. You'll find everything from a tux to shorts, even on formal night. Since it's only a "suggested dress code" they don't do any enforcement. You're free to interpret it any way you choose. We usually hit somewhere in between. Men wear slacks and button down shirt and the women in nice slacks and top or summer dress.

Woman on another cruise page just posted that they got off Adventure where an emotional support CAT was being hauled around in a mesh carrier and was seated at the table next to them. Said her son was allergic to cats. Seriously...people have taken this emotional support thing too far.

I agree with RC on stopping this.

I have a small Bagellini crossbody and I also carry a silky shopping bag that folds into itself into a small square. I think this to the beach or shopping because the sand dusts right off it and it's big enough to put my beach towel, a book and my crossbody bag. It can also be carried cross body to keep it safely against me and leave me hands free.Takes no extra space up in my luggage. I took these all over Europe and the Caribbean.

How did you get to Aix?

There were five of us and we booked a private driver. Not only did he drive us but took us to all the places we wanted to see, especially for a really good French local spot to eat. We came back with wonderful local items. It was well worth the money. He picked us up right at the port and planned the day around what we wanted to do and see.

Color is not required. We have always printed ours in color but our printer was out of color ink and we didn't feel like having to go on and do it again so ours are in black and white. Just not a big deal. I've discovered I'm a much more laid back cruiser than I was a few years ago. This would have had me frantically heading to Staples in the past. Nah...black and white looks good.

I think you have a really healthy, decent attitude about it. We bought, packed and wore formal gowns for many years and this will be the first time after about 19 RC cruises that the suits and formal wear are staying home. Dress shirts and slacks for the guys and a dress or slacks for the women will be how we show up on formal night. We were on a Celebrity cruise and a RC cruise last year and able to dress more casually and we LOVED it, so we decided to do the same this time on our RC cruise. We've had so many formal photos taken that we didn't do that for the last few years that we brought the formal attire. We've never had a problem with how anyone else dresses...formal or casual. If it adds to the excitement of a cruise for you, that's the way to go. I do have a problem with people that say that unless you are dressed in formal wear, you look like you belong at McDonalds or that you should have to go to the Windjammer. I'm happy everyone now has a choice with the dress code being relaxed to "suggested."

A couple of years ago, the RC boarding staff forgot to give me my passport back after check in. I didn't notice it either. We boarded, I ate lunch, we went to our cabin and I unpacked and then started to put my passport, cc, cash into the safe when I discovered it wasn't there. Checked with Guest relations to see if it had been turned in and it had not. When it got down to when "when was the last time you remember seeing it," it was when I checked in. By this time, it was almost time for the ship to leave. Since I was afraid to leave the ship without my passport, even to go to check in, my daughter left, went to the desk and asked if they had my passport. Turned out, I wasn't the only one and a new agent had failed to give several passengers their passports back. This created a few nervous moments, but even THIS didn't cause me to post that my cruise had a negative start. Not getting to leave on the ship? Now THAT would be a negative start.

My Grandson has been Diamond on his own earned points since he was a pre-teen. We rarely, if ever, go to the Diamond lounge because we usually have someone with us that is not Diamond and we don't like to leave them behind. When we have gone to the Diamond lounge, my Grandson has always gone with us. It's really not the job of other passengers to police the Diamond lounge asking who is or isn't allowed. I've seen most of the bad behavior coming from adults in the Diamond lounge. The concierge on one of our cruises was telling us that his Granddaughter is Pinnacle on her own points. I'm sure he's aware of the rules, as are the other concierges. I'm not sure why people are so pre-occupied by everyone around them, especially families who are on a family oriented cruise ship. We no longer have children cruising as the Grandson is now an adult (who still cruises with us) but I still love seeing the young families, doesn't bother me at all. In fact, we've had some really nice conversations with them.

I can't believe there is a post 7 pages long because someone is annoyed that there are lifeguards at the pools, making sure that someone doesn't drown because it might delay his drink order. I didn't read beyond page one, but I know that children have drown on cruise ships. I know that on every cruise, I've seen parents that send their kids to be pool and never even bother to stay anywhere near the pool. I've seen parents who have kids in the pool that are drunk and couldn't jump in and save them, even if they were capable of seeing them in trouble.

Love the BBQ at the beach. I'm land-locked so eating lunch on a beach thrills me. There's a wide variety and I often go back to try something I didn't get the first time through. It's sometimes hard to find a seat and you will have to wave a few flies away that want you to share but it's a BEAUTIFUL beach and for me, nothing is better than looking at the beach while eating a burger or a hot dog with some watermelon salad and a sipping a Labadoozie. Spill something on yourself? No problem. Just step up to the outdoor shower (or a sneak into the kids area to get splashed) and you're cooled off and nothing sticky. After lunch, I get my exercise by walking to the Marketplace for a small purchase or two. Another short walk to the beach and it's time to head back to the ship.

My daughter got a Brazilian blowout one year before a cruise and was hooked. She now has it professionally straightened all year, and not just for a cruise. It's an unbelievable time saver and she loves it. We also set everything up the night before or the morning. Outfit on hanger with any camisole or whatever on same hanger. Undies in zip-lock on top ready to grab to head to shower. We also take a flat-folded cardboard type box (Dollar Tree) and put the hair dryer, hair accessories, make-up bag, mirror, jewelry roll, etc in it. It can be carried from bedroom to the desk and everything is in one spot ready to use without searching and laying everything out. It's in that one box ready. We can each be ready, from start to finish in 30 minutes. It's all in the planning ahead and organizing.;p

I've had the Deluxe drink package on the last two cruises and for the upcoming one, I'm not purchasing it. We're Diamond but I never used the lounge for coffee in the morning. I didn't have any problem with the coffee in the MDR. I need regular coffee in the mornings. Just lots of plain, black, coffee. I buy a drink or two in the ports. Sometimes it's a water or a soda and they're cheaper than I can buy one at a gas station at home, and the beer is cheaper than the bars at home so I don't need the Refreshment package. With the days in port, two bottles of wine I bring, 3 drinks a night on my Seapass or free drinks in the Diamond lounge, I do just fine with a frozen drink once or twice a day. I get the soda package because I do drink Diet Coke out by the pool, but I usually prefer to have tea or coffee with dinner. Everyone has different expectations on a cruise. That's why the choices work out well.

We absolutely insisted the parents of my Grandson's friend have a letter notarized. We used the example found on cruise critic so that any emergency was covered. We had friends of my Grandson traveling with us often on cruises and took a notarized letter on each cruise.

My son-in-law decided he absolutely wasn't going to fly anymore. He has suddenly developed an aversion to flying.We tried convincing him to no avail so we accommodated him on our last cruise with a MISERABLE 14 hour straight drive with a minimum of stops at fast food restaurant drive through windows. When we got home, the rest of the family planned the next cruise and let him know we were flying. He went into his "driving only" DEMAND....so instead of trying to convince him, we told him we have an aversion to road trips and we made the reservations without him.

Slacks and dress shirt for the men on our upcoming cruise. First time leaving the suit at home for a cruise. Our guys will not feel the least bit underdressed.

Because the rule is no one under 16 allowed, I'm not sure why your 15 year old would even want to be in the Solarium. I don't think he would enjoy the Solarium very much. I'm 66 and find it a bit stuffy. I prefer the activity and the music around the family pools.

We did this itinerary on Celebrity the other year and our passports stayed with us. The only time I've had my passports taken and retained were on long cruises, 65 nights and 105 nights.

Had to hand ours over on a Med cruise 2 years ago, on a 7-night cruise so it doesn't have anything to do with the length of your cruise. It's strictly to do with the countries you are visiting and their requirement at the time you enter their country. In order to expedite the entry, the cruise lines get them all cleared before entering them.

While we have been on many RC cruises, we went on our first with Celebrity last year. I went with great trepidation because I always hear on the boards that Celebrity is so much more strict about smoking. I have to say that while you can't smoke indoors, the area for smoking is the BEST! Nice comfy area, both covered and in the sun,with extremely nice outdoor furniture. Most comfortable area on the ship. I follow the rules and only smoke in the designated areas. I don't smuggle booze. I don't carry prohibited irons or steamers. I tip well above the guidelines. I don't share beverage packages, but I always see lectures from people who have other posts boasting and bragging about breaking the rules. There are even some who intentionally come to the smoking areas and then go to the crew to complain about the smoking...in the smoking areas.

We each carry a rolling carry-on. We actually had friends who checked in at the port and their luggage never found their way to them until the day before the last day of their 7-day cruise. We will also be bringing two bottles of wine. I'd rather roll it than tote it on my back. Whatever you feel more comfortable with is the way to go.

Agree. Asking them to waive one or two is one thing but asking them to board 10 people with you? The wait isn't long. We usually just board with our non-Diamond member, even though there are 5 of us who are Diamond and one that isn't. It's not a big deal to us.

Cozumel Amazing Race - Literally amazing

Did this on our last visit to Cozumel and absolutely LOVED IT! One of the best excursions EVER!