HubbieO

Last cruise I was on about a year ago, buy in was $60, but they only run 1 table.  2-3 times a sea day.

Celebrity has always turned over names of people who go over the US Customs limits. We've purchased jewelry from their C jewelry store a few times and we always had to report to a certain room on board before we were allowed to disembark. At that time, we saw that most who were there were turned in because they went over the limit on booze purchases on board.

Maybe Celebrity has changed the process. Or, maybe it depends on the itinerary and port. On previous cruises, I've also bought jewelry onboard for my wife that was well above the customs limit and was never asked to report to some room. I was not asked to report on this cruise either. Just stopped at the gangway, ship officer called, given the customs form, escorted off ship and turned over to immigration and then customs. So, my advice is to fill out the form accurately and declare what needs to be declared. Otherwise, you're looking at the duty, fines, and a significant delay in leaving the port. Like I said, another couple had all their luggage and hand carry torn apart and spread out. They were even searching the luggage liners. I watched it all from the waiting room. And, they would bring in the occasional person that may have been selected at random, or verbally declared some purchases not made onboard.

I disembarked Reflection at Ft Lauderdale November 3. I was flagged leaving the ship and held for an escort to Immigration and Customs. Had to fill out the form at the gangway. Security said it was random, but it's not. Celebrity now turns over a list of passengers who made large onboard purchases. The waiting lounge at Customs had several couples who also made large onboard purchases. Don't know what the threshold is. The couple they processed before me apparently decided not to declare, even after being given several chances to revise the form. Customs tore their luggage apart. Found lots of stuff. I declared the Omega watch I purchased on the form. They didn't even open my luggage. Paid 3.4% and was on my way.

Ship: Equinox

cabin #: 1610

deck #: 11

class: Aqua

area: Hump near forward elevator

bed near: Bath

quiet?: Yes

balcony view: Angled forward

balcony size: Large

wind a problem?:no

soot a problem?:no

problems/comments:

Room is quiet but there is a large air vent or intake over the balcony that is fairly loud.

I've booked cruises through Celebrity and several TAs. I think that if you know what you want, have done the research, and are capable of making trip related arrangements on your own, then you're probably looking for the best deal in OBCs. Without question, a certain big box warehouse chain gives you the most. For my upcoming Med cruise, I booked onboard last year and got the $300 OBC. After I got back home, I called the travel department at the big box warehouse and got an additional $570 OBC. A few months later, I called and took advantage of the 123go offer, got an additional $400 off the cruise along with the Classic Beverage package and gratuities and only gave up $50 in OBC. You can't beat that.

I haven't been able to find any information on this. Booked on the Equinox Aug 24, 2015 sailing from Istanbul. The ship doesn't actually sail until 1pm on the 25th. Does anybody know how Celebrity handles check in? Can you check in and board anytime between noon-ish on the 24th and late morning the 24th? Do they stop handling check in sometime during the night on the 24th? Do they deliver luggage to the cabin continuously or deliver when they've collected a certain amount?

That is a concern of mine...I know people that have cruised to New England and loved it but I was a little nervous about it not being what we expected. I was also trying to find something in California wine country and see what was offered.

I've read about the wonderful, fresh seafood and I'm am a lobsteraholic....;)

Here is the itinerary that I copied from the website.

Keep the ideas coming...this one has not been ruled out yet. We would definitely spend a few days prior to the cruise. I'm thinking a trip to Ellis Island would also be in order to see what else we can find out about DH's ancestors.

 

Date Port/City Activity Arrival Departure

Day 1 Cape Liberty, New Jersey 4:00PM

Day 2 At Sea

Day 3 Boston, Massachusetts Docked 8:00AM 6:00PM

Day 4 Portland, Maine Docked 8:00AM 5:00PM

Day 5 Bar Harbor, Maine Tendered 7:00AM 5:00PM

Day 6 At Sea

Day 7 At Sea

Day 8 Quebec City, Quebec Docked 10:00AM

Day 9 Quebec City, Quebec Docked 5:00PM

Day 10 At Sea

Day 11 Charlottetown, Pr. Edward Isl. Docked 8:00AM 5:00PM

Day 12 Sydney, Nova Scotia Docked 8:00AM 4:00PM

Day 13 Halifax, Nova Scotia Docked 8:30AM 6:30PM

Day 14 At Sea

Day 15 Cape Liberty, New Jersey 7:00AM

Your itinerary is a bit different from my cruise. We had:

Bayonne, NJ

At Sea -- --

Portland, ME

Bar Harbor, ME

Halifax

Sydney

Charlottetown

At Sea -- --

Quebec City

Quebec City

At Sea -- --

Gaspe

At Sea -- --

At Sea -- --

Bayonne, NJ

You have a good itinerary. Boston is a great port and fabulous city. Lots to see and do there. Quebec is nice. I found the ship shore excursions to be mostly forgettable. Maybe I just picked the wrong ones. Anyway, in case you didn't know, there can be a world of difference between live lobster and FRESH live lobster. Enjoy! In Charlottetown, try the clams.

We took this cruise in September 2013. It's a nice cruise, but not spectacular. I don't know exactly what the itinerary is for your cruise, but I was disappointed that I couldn't see the tidal bore on the Bay of Fundy. But, I knew that when I booked. It was too early for the leaves to turn color, so we missed that as well. The best part for me was all the FRESH seafood and lobster. Also had the best blueberry pie ever in Bar Harbor. Took a boat tour that went by the Bush estate in Kennebunkport and saw President George H.W. Bush being wheeled along the coast in a wheelchair. Secret Service came out to shoo us away. We spent 4 days in New York pre-cruise, and had a great time. Stayed about a block off Times Square. Lots to see and do, and great places to eat, e.g. NY style pizza, real Kosher deli's, great Chinese food, etc etc. Yankee Stadium. Have fun!

I wonder if a lot of what some people notice is inconsistent service rather than a change in policy. So far, Celebrity has only confirmed the No Nightly Chocolate on Pillow - Replaced by the formal night chocolate Oreo policy. I just got off a Iceland Norwegian Fjords cruise on Eclipse in July. We are Elite, but sailed in a regular Veranda cabin that cruise. We had Q-tips and cotton balls. Wife doesn't use them and brings her own. We did have chocolates on the pillow, but it was always just plain milk chocolate. The wife used to like the dark chocolate and flavored varieties. Oh well. That's the past. We got flowers a few days into the cruise. Not sure if that's tied to CC status or cabin class. We're in Aqua next year, so we'll see. The wife likes the flowers. I want them to bring foie gras back to the specialty restaurants

While there may be several reasons, the principal reason is because there is a Federal law which prohibits foreign flagged ships from coastwise trade between U.S. ports. Only a U.S. flagged ship can do that. The thought at one time was that such a law would promote U.S. shipping by providing preferential treatment of US vessels over "foreign" vessels.

The law in question is the Merchant Marine Act of 1920. This is a U.S. Federal statute which regulates maritime commerce in U.S. waters and between U.S. ports. Section 27, known as the Jones Act, deals with the concept of "cabotage" (coastal shipping). The law requires that all goods transported by water between U.S. ports be carried in U.S.-flag ships, constructed in the United States, owned by U.S. citizens, and crewed by U.S. citizens.

This is why you don't see a cruise ship sailing from San Diego to San Francisco and letting off passengers (for example). I believe they have to go to a foreign port en route. So, in this example, the ship would have to go some port in Mexico first. The reality today of course is that virtually all cruise ships are foreign flagged in order to avoid US taxes and occupational laws.

Anyone recently been on the SPB evening Fun Vodka Tour in St. Petersburg? Good experience? Bad? Would you recommend? My wife and I are tempted, especially since it's now a cruise and apparently takes in the Eliseevsky Food Hall. Thanks!

We took this tour two years ago. I would recommend just because it offers a view of St Petersburg that is quite different than that from a bus or car. According to the tour guide, the Czar intended St Petersburg to be like Venice and viewed from the canals. The vodka was not particularly to my liking, but actually not too bad when chased with apple juice which they also provided. There was also some live Russian music and dancing.

Deck - 8

Cabin # - 8254

Class – 1A

Starboard or Port Side - Starboard

Bed near?(balcony or bath) – Bath

Quiet Cabin (With comments on problems. Note if connecting. ) – Yes

Balcony View - Give comments on view, noting if location of any obstructions was an issue. – On the rear of hump, so view forard slightly limited

Balcony Size? Normal or oversized for class? - Oversized

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?

Some have commented on the closet doors being an issue with the bed near the bath. On Eclipse, the closets have sliding doors, so this is not an issue.

The bathroom sink has a faucet that extends to the middle of the sink. I don't think this is unique to this cabin though. This is pretty annoying when washing your face.