CruisingYiayia

Does anyone have current drink menus and pricing for Anthem? We are trying to decide if any of the drink packages are worth it for us. Thank you.

what difference does it make? why would you take the time to post "zero" information and back handedly insult the OP.

 

OP, not sure if the info will be there but go to the search feature and search for GAMBEE. I know he posts all menus for the ships that he has sailed on and his reviews are some of the most entertaining I've read.

 

safe travels!

Thank you! We want to book Tuscan Grille and Oceanliners and wanted to look at the Blu menus to decide which nights we should book (not that I need to explain why).:D

Does anyone have the menus for the 5-day Constellation itinerary? Or know where I can find them? Thanks.

In order to take advantage of the new promo, you will probably have to pay whatever the current price is for the Sky Suite.

Does anyone have an email address for Captain's Club?

Cruising Yiayia where did you board? The embarkation issues are always interesting because when coming back from overseas the USCG has the first priority and until they say so nothing moves. Celebrity has no control. I also note that while Celebrity does have people at the checkin areas, the actual checkin procedures are almost always contracted out to a local company. Their efficiency - or lack thereof - has varied not only by staffing but according to whether the computer systems were working correctly. Remember the same staff that checked in HAL passengers yesterday and you today will do someone else tomorrow on another cruiseline.

We boarded in Miami.

I was replying to the prior poster surmising that Michael's Club guests are exempt from the fee.

 

For a data point, were you in a CS RS or PH?

Concierge

My OBC from my 123 perk was refundable actually, in PH on Summit last month but I didn't know it till I got home.

 

I went to casino to get some out and to be sneaky said I needed money for black jack so took an even $200 out (I had $207.11 on account) in case that made any difference - I have never gambled in casino to took money out so wasn't sure how it worked. They did not charge the fee, although there was a placard on the counter indicating a 5% fee applied.

 

Then I got home, and I noticed a few days a later a $7.11 credit to my credit card, so they even refunded the unspent amount.

Maybe because you were in PH your OBC was refundable and you didn't get charged the 5%? We were on the Reflection for the November 7th sailing and had quite a bit of OBC from the 123Go promo and ours was not refundable. The last night we went to the casino and withdrew $225 and we were charged the 5%.

Claudia, do you have a new Cruise Critic name? We missed you on the Summit repo cruise this year!

Hi Jean...yes, it's me!! We were on the Reflection November 7th..missed sailing with you all again, too!!

I have read on several postings here that footstools are in shortage so even though you are in CC and technically "paid" for them you still may not receive it. As for the canapés, you have to be in your cabin when they are delivered, once the guests next door to us were not there and our cabin steward asked us if we wanted them. They were not very good, we did not even finish them.

We were in Concierge last week on the Reflection, and we had 2 foot stools on our balcony.

Last year Celebrity was running a special promo where if you booked Concierge or higher, you got all 3 of the 123Go perks. For the Reflection, we were already booked in a veranda and had the beverage package as our perk, so it cost us more to upgrade to Concierge, but we gained prepaid gratuities and $300 OBC. It was a no-brainer for us to upgrade, otherwise we wouldn't have bothered. You need to look at the bottom line to see if it's worth it or not.

We are currently booked in Concierge for the Constellation in March, and it was $20 more pp to upgrade to Concierge. Aqua is the same price as Concierge, so we're thinking of changing to Aqua.

Deck - 10

Cabin # - 1229

Class – C2

Starboard or Port Side - Port

Bed near?(balcony or bath) – near the bathroom

Quiet Cabin (With comments on problems. Note if connecting. ) – Very quiet, near the library

Balcony View - Give comments on view, noting if location of any obstructions was an issue. – lifeboats below, but did not obstruct view

Balcony Size? Normal or oversized for class? - It was just on the angle, so slightly larger

Was wind a problem? No

If an aft cabin, was soot a problem? N/A

Any specific problems with this cabin? No

Any other comments? This was a great location and would definitely book this cabin again.

__________________

We were on the Reflection for the November 7th sailing, and there were no priority tender tickets for Elite. You showed up at the gangway when you were ready to go ashore and waited in line for the next tender. I don't know if this is fleet wide or every cruise.

We were also on the November 7th sailing, and I agree with everything the OP has mentioned, and will add my 2 cents.

EMBARKATION: We were advised by Celebrity, via text, email, and phone call, to arrive to the port between 12:00 and 3:00, so we followed their instructions and arrived at 1:00 to find a VERY long line. After standing in line for nearly 1 hour, we were offered a bottle of warm water. Once we went through security, we were directed to the priority check-in line because we were Concierge/Elite. We stepped on to the ship at 3:00. Those who were behind us in line and didn't go through the priority check-in, were in line an additional 1 hour. We had heard that the people who arrived to the port prior to 12:00, were allowed to board the ship very quickly. The muster drill was scheduled for 3:15, but was delayed until 4:15. Our departure, originally scheduled for 4:00, was delayed until about 5:30. I have been on 25+ cruises, and this was the worst embarkation we have ever experienced.

FOOD (MDR): The food ranged from mediocre to inedible. The last night my dinner was overcooked, tasteless and fatty/grizzly. It should not have left the kitchen and served to a passenger. The food was certainly not what we have experienced in the past on Celebrity and what we expected on this cruise. We only ate in the MDR 4 of the 7 nights. Service, however, was excellent. We did have a problem with our table assignment. Our reservation was linked to another reservation, and we were assigned to different tables, but it was quickly resolved by the maitre d'.

OCEANVIEW: Food was good and a good selection. Made to order eggs and omelets were very good and the waffles (my favorite) were great!!

SPECIALTY RESTAURANTS: Food and service were excellent!! We ate at Tuscan Grill, Qsine, and The Lawn Club. We would highly recommend all three. Our only regret is that we did not purchase the Ultimate Dining so we could dine in the specialty restaurants every night.

BAR SERIVCE: Very slow, especially at the Martini Bar and the Sunset Bar. There were fewer bartenders, and they seemed very overworked. Maybe because most people have a drink package, Celebrity has decided the bartenders no longer have to "sell" drinks, just serve them.

TENDER: We did not experience any problems. We, too, were surprised there was no priority tender for Elite.

We enjoyed AQ on Connie in January and thought BLU was excellent, and a lovely space

 

The smaller M class size to us would be an advantage in the ports. Yes, it remains dated in some places, but our AQ stateroom was great...and there were some nice cozy spaces on the ship.

 

We usually prefer S class, but Ref was our least fav of all due to # of passengers, some layout and design issues and the Miami DJ vibe...

We booked the Constellation for March and wanted to book AQ, but it looked like all the AQ cabins were below public areas. We have had bad experiences in the past with noise from the upper deck. What deck was your AQ cabin and did you experience any noise?

We were also on Reflection November 7th, and I agree, embarkation was horrendous...the worst we have experienced in 25+ cruises. We received an email from Celebrity asking us to arrive at the port between 12:00 P.M. and 3:00 P.M. We were in line at 1:00 P.M. and got on the ship at 3:00 P.M., and that was only because we are Elite and they sent us through priority check-in. People standing in line behind us were in line for an additional hour. We heard those that arrived at the port earlier than 12:00 P.M. boarded immediately!!! The muster drill was delayed 1 hour, and our departure was delayed about 1 1/2 hours. The ship appeared very crowded and service at many of the bars was extremely slow due to lack of bartenders.

This was a very different experience than our cruise on Reflection in 2013, which was also the first cruise after the TA. We were very disappointed with Celebrity and the Reflection.

Last week on the Reflection, they didn't use tender tickets. When you were ready to go ashore, you went to the gangway and waited for the next tender.

It's awesome!! Mac & Cheese to die for!

 

Carolyn may also frequent it. I hope she sees this.

Thank you!! Looks like this is where we'll be having dinner!!! :D

There's a restaurant near the hotel called Batch Gastropub. My husband is anxious to try it. Anyone know how it is???

We are on this Relection sailing as well, with the same issue. I booked the Hampton Inn-Brickell and then we found a better rate on LMT.com at the JW Marriott Marquis. I have a reservation at both right now and am trying to decide which one to keep. Meanwhile, my husband booked a Groupon Getaway for the YVE, which is the cheapest of all, but I am quite certain I am going to cancel that one based on their reviews. We've never been to Miami and we arrive at 8AM, so the hotel decision has been very frustrating!

I just checked JW Marriott Marquis, and the price was significantly more than the Cruise Critic price for the Hampton Inn-Brickell. I think we're going to stay with the Hampton, which also includes breakfast and transportation to POM.

I was on the Hampton Inn website and the Brickell location quote was $132.00 night and transportation ONE WAY to the cruise terminal with 50% off parking( would then be $11 per day). I called hotel direct to confirm everything and she quoted me $309.00 per night! What is up with these motels only offering one way transportation to the cruise terminal

I found this link for Hampton Inn & Suites Brickell, special pricing for Cruise Critic. http://www.hamptoninnmiamibrickell.com/landing/landing/lp4.php

We are sailing on the Reflection out of Miami in November and will be to staying the night prior to the cruise in Miami. We are currently booked at the Hampton Inn & Suites Miami/Brickell-Downtown, but I have seen some very good pricing on Last Minute Travel for JW Marriott Miami Downtown, Holiday Inn Port of Miami-Downtown, Courtyard By Marriott Downtown Miami/Brickell and Aloft Miami Brickell.

I don't know if we should stay with the the Hampton Inn & Suites, or switch to one of the other hotels. Are any of the others nicer than the Hampton Inn & Suites? I am not familiar with the area and not sure what we should do and would appreciate any suggestions.

Just talked to SAS for shuttle from Fort Lauderdale to Miami & they only go to the port now. WE are flying in a day early to Fort Lauderdale & have a hotel reservation in Miami. Any other suggestions for a different shuttle? Thanks for any help. Beth

I just received a quote today from SAS to go from FLL to Hampton Inn-Brickell on November 6th for $15.00/person.

We'll be going to Montego Bay in November on Celebrity Reflection. We're thinking we might book the excursion through Celebrity to use some of our OBC. Has anyone done this excursion and what is included for $29 per person? Does it cover admission and chair? Thanks!

Morning!

Sure hope you and Greg can fit another cruise in later in 2015 so we can go with ya'll again!

We're doing the Summit Feb 21, 2015 and looking to book the Summit repo for April, 2015. Also, looking at the Reflection, Western, for November, 2015. Maybe you can join us for one of them???!!!! We have a group of 8 for February…and the more, the merrier!!! :):):):)

In 2012 we were talking to the owner of Jacks Shack in Grand Turks. Her husband was one of the contractors that built the pier and shopping area. She said if that had not happened Grand Turk was going to become a deserted island, they could not live on what was spent by the few visitors that came. She did not want to move, and is very happy Carnival saw fit to build the pier.

Here we are having a cold one after some beach time.

 

Our first trip into St Thomas was in 1992, we have friends that live there and say the same things.

Hi EW…we spent our afternoon in Grand Turk at Jack's Shack, also. It was very interesting talking to the owner and his wife. He was telling us how he was there building the pier, and decided to stay.