ATG

For the 6 day Mariner we’re on now,  I used DH’s 2 free days. Then on 4th day I purchased “remainder of cruise” and applied,y 2 free days.  Since I used cell for first evening until we were too far out, I only paid $21.99 for the cruise.  We’re diamond plus and he doesn’t use it when we’re on vacation.

It was easy to do using the app.

2 minutes ago, ShillyShally said:

We're vegan so I don't expect we'd get our mileage out of the fancy lunch though some have reported they have had good success (I'd be thrilled if I could get fresh veggies and hummus which I did see someone report in a picture).  The description says towels are included but I don't trust what they say either lol!

Lol, well the lunch would be a loss for you.  If I remember from the time we did it there was hummus and babba ganoush (I know that’s not spelled right but I’m too lazy to look it up).  But that definitely isn’t worth the cost.

25 minutes ago, ShillyShally said:

Am I looking at them right?  Each bed also includes 2 loungers with an umbrella?  I'm debating beach club right now which is $160.99 per person, but South Beach has the $199 beach bed rental available which looks even better if you also have your own loungers.  They provide towels too?  Would love to not worry about bringing any off the ship!

I don’t believe that the towels are provided, but if I’m wrong someone will chime in.  It also includes floating mats.  The beach club has a “fancy” lunch that is very good.  But the difference in price just doesn’t seem worth it.

4 minutes ago, simon.hed said:

I can't tell you how much I searched for EXACTLY the information you have posted here.  Many, many thanks for this.

Me too.  We had a Breezy Bay booked, but changed it to South Beach.  After reading your comments I’m really glad we did.

2 hours ago, bobmacliberty said:

 

We'd do a Retreat Suite as well.  One of the reasons that we'd pick Edge class.

 

 

The Sky suites look very tempting.  It's not clear but appears that the Sky suites themselves are not in the Retreat area, although you get Retreat access.  Is this correct?

 

 

Anything that you post, whenever you want to post it, would be greatly appreciated.  I've done a LIVE and it indeed is a lot of work.  

 

 

I'd love to hear your thoughts also Dani!

 

 

This is very, VERY tempting.  Off to do some research...

 

 

The Penthouse is out of my price range.  I'm trying to convince myself to pay for an Edge Villa, which seems sorta like a Royal CLS.

 

 

ABCs are a great cruise!  I'll need to check that out as well.

 

 

I've read that Eden is a must do.  Have you eaten there?

 

Our sky suite was not up in the retreat, but it was easy to get up there.  We were on Reflection in a celebrity suite.  We both decided that the sky suite was the right size for us.  We used to book grand suites on RC but have begun going with a junior suite.  In fact, I’m sitting in our js on Mariner right now.  

22 minutes ago, George C said:

We have done both Edge and Beyond but both in suites, outside suite retreat area is fantastic , with pool , hot tub , bar . We enjoyed entertainment , loved that they had some live music early in the afternoon. Celebrity suite perks are way better than rccl. I am looking forward to hear from my sister who took her entire family on a Northern European cruise on the new apex .

We did a sky suite on Edge.  I loved that sky suites (basically a junior suite) got full suite benefits.  The Retreat was great!  They had a small breakfast buffet and you could eat outside.  The staff remembered you after the first day and brought coffee or tea out frequently.  They really bent over backwards to make sure you were happy.  The pool had a bar that served lunch.  If we sailed Celebrity again I would look at another sky suite.

20 hours ago, Jimbo said:

Find a house/pet sitter?  We have a young lady we use when we go away. She is a friend of one of our neighbors ( he knows her from the same church they go to.)

We have a wonderful dog sitter.  She shocked us yesterday when we dropped our dog off.  She explained she had a cardiac event last Friday and had 2 stents put in.  She canceled all of the dogs except ours, because she adores her.  She said that they would spend the week on the couch watching movies.  Luckily her husband is retired and will be around to help.  She called some of her clients from the ambulance!  The doctor told her she was in great shape and very little damage had been done.  

So we have a b2b with the 10/27/2024 and 11/3/2024.  Looks like the first one is definitely okay since it’s one of the replacement cruises.  But do you think the 6 night on 11/3 will be okay?

Another question is whether we want to be on the last cruise before a dry dock.

40 minutes ago, cruise_co said:

 

 

Oh well, times change. You either embrace it or you make yourself miserable wishing for things to go back to the "good old days." 

 

I am glad we just started sailing during the more casual days.  

Our first cruise was in 1980.  Boy was it different!  Formal dress every night and assigned tables for breakfast and lunch, just like dinner.  I don’t remember there being a buffet, but there must have been.  And that was on NCL.

I may be old (almost 70), but I am VERY happy times have changed.  Shorts, jeans or khaki pants are enough.  

15 minutes ago, Norwich Cruiser said:

With the transfer to Heathrow I’d go with the 2.00pm flight.

That’s what I was thinking.  But I appreciate the advice!

Next summer we’re sailing from Southampton.  I’ve been looking at flights (using May as a proxy) and it’s MUCH cheaper for us to fly from Atlanta to Heathrow.  What time is reasonable to fly out?  Looks like the nonstop flights are early morning or noonish or 2:00 in the afternoon.  Just beginning to think about it, lots of time to book something.

I use my credit card for everything.  But I was wondering about tips for tour guides in Europe.  Get local currency?  Tip in US dollars?  Or is tipping not necessary?  

2 hours ago, jean87510 said:

I see no difference between a MB tourist and a RCCL cruiser.  

I don’t either, since I do both!  And I’ve been known to wear shorts to dinner both places.

17 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

I'm the opposite. I dont want allure amped. Not all amps are good for everyone. I like being able to see out the aft and dont use the purple slide. 

 

I would like a playmakers added though. 

I’m the same.  I’ll never use the slides and would prefer that they not block the view.  But, I really enjoy Playmakers.  So, could I request a half amp?

Prices are really weird for our Mariner stop at Labadee.

Beach bed on Adrenaline Beach.     $889

OTW Nellies beach.                          $649

OTW barefoot beach.                        $1699

hilltop cabana.                                    $499

The prices are not logical.

50 minutes ago, Keksie said:

Put the crackers in a zip lock bag and roll with a rolling pin.  Don't over fill the bag.  Better to do a few times rather then all at once.

My Publix sells graham cracker crumbs in a bag.  I’ve used the bag and rolling pin method many times.  It’s a great way to take out frustration!

We live in South Carolina.  PC is an easy 7-8 hour drive.  When we sail out of PE or Miami we consider flying, but the nearest big airport is Atlanta- over two hours away. We end up driving.  When we pass the Cocoa Beach exit it’s depressing to know we have hours to go before we sleep.

25 minutes ago, celly said:

Loved the poblano pepper soup and carne asada on Symphony, it was delicious!

I’m really glad to hear that.  I hope it was just an anomaly that night.  The rest of the meals we had ranged from quite good to excellent.  That’s why the carne asada stood out.  I’m not a Texan so it wasn’t due to usually eating “authentic”.  In fact, I think that’s the first time I ever tried it.  Mine was bland and tough, DH’s had a metallic taste.  We’ll give it another try sometime.

We had the carne asada on odyssey and it was not very good, definitely the worst thing we had on the ship.

20 minutes ago, Mum2Mercury said:

 

As for the islands, I bring my own towels off the ship, then I swap them for fresh ones before I return, which means I'm not carrying heavy, wet towels.  And I'm ready to return to my room and store my fresh towels.  

That’s a great idea!

1 hour ago, akcruz said:

I am right with those of you are not fans of snakes.  We saw them very infrequently back in NJ, more often found the skin, even though we were in the woods with over 2 acres and down the street from a state park.  Since we moved to SC have seen many, all but 1 the black "harmless" ones.  My 2 distressing encounters were when I opened the front door to see one coiled up napping on the doormat, fortunately saw it and quickly closed the door, look each time I open that now.  Second was soon after we bought the house I was cleaning the sliding door to the back yard, saw what looked like a shoelace in-between the door part of which was inside.  When I sprayed with window cleaner it moved, this time I opened the slider a little bit and fortunately the little baby went out not in.  Haven't had any in the house but see way too many outside.  My previous picture was zoomed in and that was too close for me.

That’s one of the few things I don’t like about where we live.  We have Pygmy rattlesnakes.  They are small (relatively) and not poisonous to humans but can impact a dog.  I have seen several on our front porch.  One was curled up and my first thought was it was a Little Debbie cinnamon roll.  Then I realized what it was and screeched for Dave to get rid of it.  He scoops them up on a shovel and tosses them into the lake.  I don’t know if they can swim and I honestly don’t care.

28 minutes ago, aussielozzie18 said:

I remember my daughter going off to a 10 day  Scout camp.  She wore brand new white sneakers.  One of the Scout leaders from another group  told me after camp that she took one look at the sneakers and thought to herself, oh no, we have a little Princess here…

 

She soon discovered that my daughter would participate in absolutely everything and deliberately wore those sneakers for a  before and after photo.

 

Hope your grandson had a great time at camp and I feel for the camp moms unpacking the bags after camp.

 

My younger son went to a week long soccer camp each summer.  That was over 20 years ago and I still remember the smell when I pulled his socks out of his bag!!!  They went into a separate wash load.  The shirts and shorts were bad enough, but the socks….

17 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

I really liked Playmakers on it.  I thought the location over the Seaplex was the best location on any ship.  

I really like Oasis where it’s located on the Boardwalk.

We were looking at a cruise next spring for 3 adults.  We like sailing out of Canaveral since it’s a shorter drive.  So we were considering Wonder.  I happened to look at a 5 day on Mariner instead.  I got the 2 bedroom grand suite for thousands less than a junior suite and an inside on Wonder.  I know it’s shorter, but we really like Mariner and with the amp changes it’s a great option.  

20 minutes ago, BonTexasNY said:

How does someone who might have a broken ankle physically leave the ER to get home?  I sure couldn't when I broke my ankle.  It wasn't long after my xray in the ER that a surgeon was called and I was notified that I would need surgery.  There is no way I could have made it home and then back to the ER.  Pain was major even after they gave me pain meds since it was dislocated as well as broken.

 

 

I guess it depends on the break.  Almost 50 years ago my mother broke her foot.  She was under 5 foot, it was raining and she needed to pick something up at the store.  She had on one of those folding rain bonnets and was hurrying between cars.  She ran into the mirror of a truck and fell.  Her foot hurt but she went on into the store.  Later it got worse and Dad took her to the ER.  They did an x-ray and the tech told her there was a break.  He then handed her the x-ray and told her to take it back to the ER, no offer of a wheelchair.  She walked back and the nurse was livid they hadn’t helped her.  
 We had been married about a year and she asked Dad to call me.  Since phones back then didn’t store numbers, he looked it up in the phone book.  He told Mom we weren’t in the book.  Turns out he didn’t know how to spell my married name.