goofysmom99

Maybe they'll just rename the categories.  Then folks coming from RCI will think they're really getting something special (Luminae).  What a clever plan. 😉

38 minutes ago, Stem to Stern said:

Thank you Ruth.  I have a longer, better video I will share after the holidays either here or directly to you via email if that is okay with you.  

Excellent, thank you!  goofysmom99@yahoo.com  

Do you use a tripod or just hold steady?  So many videos make me seasick because they pan too fast and don't hold the camera in one place to pan.

6 hours ago, Stem to Stern said:

Well good morning!!

Seascape was in the turning basin shortly after 4:00am. Either not too bumpy of a ride or I slept well until 3:30am.😳

Let’s see if this video uploads…

See you on Summit.😎

IMG_0715.mov  

 

 

IMG_0715.mov

Great video.  Thanks for getting up soooo early!!  This is the only way I'll ever see that! 😅

Edit: Worked on my phone.

I don't own or bring a machine to mask noise.  But I do have a phone with the White Noise app on it.  I have a Bose Micro speaker I use for cabin music.  At night it plays the music of the white noise app = no "machine" needed.  It's especially useful for me in hotels to mask sounds of elevators and idiots in the hallways.  Necessary for most sky suites on S-class ships, too. 

1 hour ago, Ashland said:

I am in a (true) aft balcony right now so I know I only have a shower.

 

My options to bid up include an Aqua Class Sky Suite and Sky Suite...my question is, these will  both have a tub right?

 

What's the difference between these two particular categories? They seem the same except for a few Aqua amenities that I don't interest me.

 

 Thanks so much.

The Aqua Sky Suite will have a tub.  Sky Suite could be an accessible suite, so no guarantee.  Bid on only the Aqua Sky Suite and you'd be fine.  They have larger balconies, too.  

Penthouse and Royal suites and Aqua suites #6145/6146 have separate showers and tubs.  All other suites, except accessible Sky suites, have bathtub/shower combos.  Any other categories (veranda, oceanview, inside) are shower only.  

It's even more insulting to me than I thought.  Same cabin for two.  ($5456 solo penalty)  So, OP, Celebrity definitely thinks I'm stupid.

23 hours ago, RichYak said:

The price I see is $10,500 for either Sunset Sky Suite or Aqua Sky Suite.

Oops, my bad.  X is doing that silliness about higher rate solo for this one.  I need to always compare with 2 people in the cabin.  BTW, if I were booking this myself thru their website, I'd just list a 2nd person who wouldn't show.  FWIW, my TA just told me she sees the $10.5K rate 

1 hour ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

On this Ship they have expanded News Channels and in addition to BBC international they have two Australian Stations.  

 

BTW -  In order for your FireStick to allow access to YouTubeTV you need to subscribe to one of the NordVPN or ExpressVPN.    There are apps on Firestick -  once installed choose your home server.   You may wish to play with at home first so you are comfortable with it.    If you choose NordVPN -  use my e-mail in signature as as referral and I get a couple months free.

 

Playing at home try another country and you will see the error message you will get from YouTubeTV.     They don't allow access out of your country.  The VPN fakes it.

Jim, I'm going to try both wireless and HDMI connections to see if streaming directly from my phone will work as seamlessly as my Roku.  I use Nord to watch local Orlando news on their apps.  I have all the apps I watch on Roku on my phone, too.  It'd be nice to carry fewer electronics.  On Summit, my Samsung tablet (micro SD card w/100+ movies) connected wirelessly, thank goodness, due to zero wifi coverage in Deck 9 CS (the IT guys did try valiantly).    

14 minutes ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

The Sky Suite are still selling 

For the Equinox Nov 2024 TA , there are 3 Sky Suites available and the are HC and only 7 Sunset  Sky Suite available, 5 are under the OVC 

So Celebrity marketing must be working 

Those are what remain Now.  They were much, much ($4K+) cheaper just a few months ago when I was considering one.  Price ($16K) today for a 12-night sky suite is hilarious.

So OP, I guess Celebrity thinks of us along the same lines as P.T. Barnum....

1 hour ago, Stem to Stern said:

But I love the large, oversized chairs and loveseats that fit three people.

I look forward to your comparison of the Retreat seating on Summit.  

15 minutes ago, raudacruise said:

Well, I know the very best cabin, but it’s not gonna happen for me…

 

Our first Celebrity cruise in 2002 was in a Summit Penthouse suite—a special one-time treat.  If I had the choice of any cabin in the entire Celebrity fleet (including the fancy-pants Iconic suite) I’d choose  a Millenium class PH because of the fabulous balcony.  What can I say, I’m a balcony gal.

 

I know I can place a Move-Up bid, but considering my perfect record of never ever winning a bid, not holding my breath.

 

 

You are so right about the M-class penthouse!  I have a couple of upcoming cruises on Summit, traveling with dear friends and family who will be in the PH (it's a repeat of our cruises together last year).  We're in three adjacent cabins and will again have cabin attendant open all the balcony dividers.  It's a hoot to skip using the hallway and just knock on each other's "back doors."  That is such an awesome suite - we all make use of every inch of it. 😍

I was just now checking Eclipse Oct 2025 TA cabin availability on a European website many of us use to quickly see what's open.  It refers to to SS and AS categories as Junior Suites (ala RCI), although the X website does not.  I wonder which company decided on that.

1 hour ago, Hawkstar33 said:

Unlimited.  10nt. $536pp plus gratuity added......$1200 or so.....Not so special

You know, I just looked at all my other cruises and I have a sneaking suspicion that they've pulled the larger packages in lieu of unlimited.  On my 13-night cruise in Nov 2024, the 10-night package (25% off) was $356 total ($297+$59 [20% tip]).  Now the 5-night is $251+$50=$301.  And unlimited is a whopping $676+$135=$811!!  Whoa, those are some pricey lunches!  

So I'm curious, does anyone who has a longer cruise booked still show an option for a dining package greater than 5 nights in your cruise planner on the website?  Or is unlimited the only option above 5?

BTW, I just recently discovered the gluten-free pizza in OVC is outstanding!!  It was soooo good, I plan to have dinner there at least once or twice....with a GF beer.  Something I haven't done in years.  And reason enough for me to give Celebrity another chance. 😉

This past August, I was able use OBC to book a 10-night package for a cruise in November 2024 during a short-lived 25% off flash sale.  Afterwards, I noticed it a few times at the regular price.  Tonight it's gone (my guess would be sold out).  Only options now are single nights, 5-night package, or unlimited.  I repriced the cruise recently and was sweating bullets over whether I'd lose the package price because I lost much of the OBC.  Happily, I got an email telling me to pay the difference with a credit card.  Whew!   

Just now, hasentreelake said:

Thank You for your advice.
Been a while since we booked M class.  We changed our cabin to 8185!
 

👍👍

5 hours ago, hasentreelake said:

After considering everyone's comments, feedback, suggestions, and cost, we booked Summit for April 2025 Panama Canal transit after comparing with Coral Princess.

We selected a SV (9201).  The SV may not be the best location for the transit, but we will likely be moving about the ship during transit and we may find it a good viewing location.  And we'll be aft for all other ports just like we prefer 🙂

The cost of the Summit SV was comparable to the CP Premium Balcony.  We know what the X experience is and are happy with it even knowing of all the cuts.  We can make do with fewer wine options for 2 weeks.  
I know others are looking at options other than X for future cruises but at this time we are sticking with X for Spring and Fall of '24 and Spring of '25.  

M-class aft cabins are always the best (I booked one, too). 😉 FYI, the aft cabin immediately below yours (8185, longer balcony also) is still open.  It might be quieter - it won't have the occasion chair scraping from above that I've heard when I book Deck 9.  But then I use a white noise app for sleeping, so it never bothers me.

Even though I usually have an aft cabin, I normally head to the shady side of Deck 4 when going through the locks.  It's so blazing hot, being in the sun just cooks me.  I lasted less than 5 minutes on the helipad. 🥵

6 minutes ago, doghog said:

We were surprised the Rendezvous Lounge wasn't part of the Summit revolution.

 

 

 

At least they left comfortable chairs In Rendezvous.  Comfort wasn't a consideration in the Retreat makeover so we gather for predinner drinks in Rendezvous instead.  

The difference between a regular verandah and Aqua on a 13 night Silhouette cruise that I priced today was $2923, making the price of Blu about $225/night/cabin.  I'm not sure what would pay for Blu but it definitely wouldn't be $225/day.  BTW, I booked the cruise and purchased a 10-night specialty package.

I priced a range cabins at base fare for two on the 2024 Silhouette 13-night TA out of Barcelona:  

Veranda  $1610

Concierge  $1908

Aqua  $4533

S1  $11007

That's a whopping ↑$2923 difference between a veranda (V2) and aqua (A2), especially since the cabins are the same size!  You gotta really like Blu for close to $3K.  From my own experience, the larger S1 cabin, the Retreat, and Luminae aren't worth ↑$9397.  Heck for the V2 price, booking two adjoining cabins (2-room suite with 2 bathrooms and double balcony) and dining every night in a specialty (Murano, Tuscan, Lawn Club, The Porch, Sushi on 5, Le Petit Chef) would still leave plenty on the table for airfare.  BTW, those fares would be $200 less for vets.  So yes, if I were still traveling with DH, we'd downgrade from a suite to two adjoining verandas.  Doesn't work on E-class, and not as well on M-class, but it'd definitely be my sweet 'suite' spot on S-class.

9 minutes ago, Redking said:

Had to read this a couple of times Jim to work out what you were saying. Having two ships with Eclipse in the name is confusing.

 

We're sailing on the SCENIC Eclipse II ( https://www.scenicnz.com/tours/journey-across-the-pacific-easter-island--french-polynesia/13777)  not the Celebrity Eclipse in March, hence being unfaithful to X  🤣. Still a darn that we won't get to meet up though! Loved the Samoas. 

That's one beautiful ship!

OP, I'm genuinely looking forward to your take on what has been my favorite ship in the Celebrity fleet (although it almost seems some folks don't want you to enjoy your cruise),  Bon voyage!

This has happened to me several times when making a dummy booking on X site to check prices.  However, once I've chosen something and contact my TA to book it, the bookings have always been the usual 200%.  Maybe try a dummy booking on the big box website that begins with a C for comparison.

8 minutes ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

 

so you not really giving a fair observation if you had to isolate and comparing to the rest of the ship 

My wife was in Covid prison on the Apex , for 10 days  talk about a complete shitshow 

She was fortunate to have me bring her food 

if you were in Suite , they would have treated you like a queen , 

They do treat people differently if you are in a suite 

 

As a zenith, I can guarantee I received an entirely different level of service than most experience.  Regardless, what I did receive was unacceptable.  Everyone did their best but best wasn't all that good.  F&B Director was well aware and I received so very many special deliveries it was comical (brought home four bottles of wine).  Luckily, my cabin had a doorbell.  My two experiences in MDR were dismal and didn't warrant a third visit.  Tuscan was excellent as was OVC, especially the gluten-free pizza.  Will I sail an M-class again?  Unlikely.  And unless it's on Silhouette/Reflection, it's unlikely it'll be on Celebrity.