Chicago Boy

Booked on the 2/2/14 Silhouette. It's been gone from the X site for over 2 weeks. I called a few times & was told each time they're doing inventory maintenance. The last time I called I expressed serious concern about whether the ship is being chartered because I'm about to book air. I was put on hold & the rep came back and said that the ship is not being chartered...they're just doing inventory maintenance. Anyone have experience with something like this??

I would suggest that you book your air through Celebrity's Choice Air program. If then cancel your cruise you get your money back. If you book your own and they cancel the cruise you get nothing. We have always found that we have gotten the best air fares through the Choice Air program. For example, we are doing a Trans Atlantic from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale in Nov of this year and our air fare was under $550.00 p.p. If we had bought that same ticket through the air line it would have been approximately $2,500.00 p.p. Just a suggestion. Enjoy your cruise!

Given that a Veranda and Concierge Stateroom are identical in size and layout on S-class ships, is the additional fare charged for a Concierge cabin worth it?

 

Before you answer, assume that the two cabins that I am being offered are almost identical in location, halfway between the two sets of elevator banks, with the C2 Concierge cabin on deck 10 and the 1B Veranda on deck 9.

 

So the question is are the additional amenities/services worth the extra cost for the cabin. For me the extra cost would be about $275 for a 7 day cruise. On the one hand that is not a lot of money unless the "extra's" are of little value. For me, please assume the following have no value:

 

• The upgraded toiletries; I always bring my own preferred brands
  
• Extra hair dryer; I don't even use the one provided
  
• All dining room arrangements and specialty reservations have already been completed and I got all my first choices
  
• Shore excursions are all arranged
  
• I don't drink blanc du blanc wine--it give me a headache
  
• I pack my own satin robe; I find ship provided robes too warm in the tropics
  
• Express Luggage delivery and priority disembarkation have no value as I carry my own luggage on and I use early self disembarkation
  
• I will embark around 2pm so there will be no wait and I will not use a special port lounge for concierge class passengers
  

So beyond what I won't need or use, is the "Personalized Concierge service", some fruit and canape in the room, more breakfast choices on sea days when I order room service, a free shoe shine, a massaging showerhead (don't all staterooms have handheld showerheads, perhaps sans massage?) 2 footstools on the veranda and perhaps services and amenities that I don't know about (and would love to hear about) really worth the extra cost of $40/day. BTW I am not mocking what is provided, I am just making clear what will be of little or no value for me.

 

Really interested to hear from Celebrity Cruise loyalists who have experienced both.

I think it all depends on if you can get a deal. Sometimes when there is a price drop Concierge cabins will go for less. If that's the case then it can be worth the up charge. Being able to board earlier and having priority luggage delivery are nice perks but I wouldn't pay a great deal more for it.

Many people scoff at inside cabins' date=' but we take them all the time and we are very happy in them.

 

What if you booked 2 inside cabins? The cost may not be that different from 1 balcony plus a third person.

 

I think your husband is a gem! Your mom must be one too!

 

Enjoy, whatever you decide![/quote']

 

 

I would not be sleeping with my husband in the state room and having my mother in the same state room. Talk about a mood kill.:D

We have just returned from almost 3 weeks on Millennium (our honeymoon). We sailed from Hawaii to Sydney and loved it so much we are thinking of doing something similar next November (same start/end… different ports in between).

 

My Mum turns 70 in April so my new husband thought it would be nice to take her with us next time! Yes he’s an exceptional husband and she’s not your average mother-in-law!

 

So my question is… has anyone slept on the sofa beds on Millennium?

 

We were in cabin 7049 – with a larger triangular balcony – and we’d happily share the same cabin with my Mum, but I won’t do it unless I know she will be comfortable.

 

I’m thinking we might be better off with a bigger cabin… so she can have a normal bed… but I’m sure that will put it out of our price range.

 

Has anyone done 3 in a cabin? If so, do you mind sharing your experience?

 

Thanks!!! :)

We have thought about sharing a state room with a friend but decided against it for reasons of privacy and comfort. Our friend opted for an inside state room which was fine since he spent most of his time with us. Just a thought. Enjoy your cruise and happy holidays. :)

I am taking a Med cruise with Celebrity. The ship arrives at 5am at Port CIVITAVECCHIA, and our flight leaves at 10:10am. Do you think this is ample time to catch the 10:10am flight? We plan to arrage Rome Cabs for the transfer.

I think you are cutting it too close. The ships arrival time is not the same as the time you disembark the ship. That could a couple of hours later more or less. I would book a flght home after noon if it were me. :)

They offer you a glass when you board. It's made in the Engine Room shortly before you board. At least, that's what it tastes like.

We have sailed on several of Celebrity's ships and have always been offered a glass of champagne or a Mimosa. I assume that tradition is still in effect. It as last October. By the way it tasted just fine. We appreciate the gesture. :)

Best post on the thread, deserves repeating.

 

 

 

Actually they are not charged to your Sea Pass account at all when you choose Select Dining. They are due with final payment, long before you have a Sea Pass account. The rest I'm in complete agreement with.

Thank you for the correction. You are correct. Gratuities are due with the final payment. My mistake. This is the first time we have done Select Dining so in the past everything was charged to our Sea Pass Account. We really do prefer late dining so we will see what this is like. :)

I wasn't disagreeing with you, just adding that some people have no clue what is allowed because they can't be bothered to read any of the information provided to them. I have a co-worker who is just that way - they'd book a cruise, pay the price, then wonder why they are singled out upon embarkation to remove banned items from their suitcase, or didn't bother to bring anything other than jeans, shorts, T-shirts and sneakers and wonder why they aren't allowed in the MDR on formal nights. Of course, it's always the cruise line who was to blame.

You are right on the money! People either don't read the information provide them or don't like what they read and decided to chance it. Just some people being people I suppose.

I understand that Celebrity has a policy that you cannot bring steamers on board, but I do not get this policy. How is a steamer any different than a curling iron, a flat iron, a hairdryer or any other electronic appliance? I am fine giving the revenue to Celebrity to have my husband's shirts pressed, or using the shower (a big waste of water) for a few items, but my next cruise is in Europe in November and I will be bringing sweatshirts, sweaters, etc. that will take a very long time to steam out in the shower, and are not pratical to send out to be pressed. I have always brought a steamer without issues, but I am second thinking this for our up coming trip.

Obviously Celebrity has had issues with clothes steamers in the past and has decided to ban them. That is good enough for me. Whatever gets wrinkled we send off to the laundry to be pressed and or cleaned. It's no big deal. If you read your information you will find a list of things that you cannot bring on board. Enjoy your cruise.:)

Hi,

 

I am new to the forum. I am about to book Silhouette and the agent sent me the note below: "The only available dining time is the open dining. Celebrity requires anyone on open dining to pre pay their gratuities. I have waitlisted your party for Late dining."

 

I have cruised a lot and have never encountered "prepaying" for services not yet received. Has anyone else encountered this? How does this work? If I book and then don't travel, wouldn't I lose the gratuities???

 

I would appreciate some assistance since I have to make up my mind by later tonight (Sept 29, 2011).

 

Thanks.

 

sparot5

Tips are charged upfront to your Sea Pass account when you choose Select Dining because most likely you will not be getting the same wait staff each evening. This ensures that everyone gets a gratuity. I think the reason for all tips being charged upfront is to stream line the bookkeeping process. Being charged everyday or upfront doesn't make any difference. It is the same amount of money.

Hi, this is my first cruise and I was looking on the Celebrity website at the dress code and noted that t-shirts are not allowed in the main restaurant at any time. How strict do they enforce this rule? Obviously a t-shirt wouldn't be worn when having dinner, but for breakfast and lunch times either on sail days or having breakfast just before going to shore, it seems a little extreme to me?

I have worn a nice T-shirt in the dining room at breakfast or lunch but never dinner. Lots of times guests will have the Express breakfast in the dining room before going on an excersion and they wear T-shirts. Enjoy your cruise.:)

Exactly why our next cruise is a 14 night on Celebrity.

We are retired so we can cruise when we want. That being said, we do not cruise when schools are out,we look for 14 plus nights and we cruise on Celebrity. This way we pretty much avoid the kids. :)

We have been cruising since 2003 and have been on 8 cruises, mostly with Celebrity but a few with RCCL. I remember on our early cruises being impressed with the food in the MDR and being 'wowed' by the service. I also remember complimenting Hotel Managers on their operation and mentioning specific staff by name to be recognised for their service standards.

 

Now I realise that both food and service standards are subjective, and a cruise can still be a good experience, but our recent cruises have had both food and service issues and my conversations with Hotel Managers have concerned dealing with issues as opposed to complimented them on their operation. I used to rave about cruising to friends and family and would readily recommend it; now I am more measured in my comments.

 

Thinking about this I believe this is due to cost-cutting and there are many examples where this is evident. Cruising has also become much more popular over the last few years and (most) new cruisers think cruising is great so there is no incentive for the cruise lines to improve; however the new cruisers don't realise how much better it was in the past.

 

I still think cruising offers a good holiday/vacation experience, it's just not the great one it once was...

Times have changed and cruising is becoming more accessible to people. I for one do not believe in looking back and comparing what the world of cruising was like 10, 15 or 20 years ago to what it is today. In some ways it may have been better then and in other ways not as good as today. While we are not fans of the largest ships we do enjoy cruising on the Solstice and Millennium class ships. We have always been very well treated by Celebrity and consider it to be a great value. They are our cruise line of choice

If you are going in the day of the cruise you are going to have to pick up your bags and take them through customs. I would put the Celebrity tags on just before I went through customs. If you are going in a day or two before the cruise I would put the tags on just before I headed to the ship. Just a thought.:)