JFontaine

Very protected from wind. Sun only for a part of the day, probably the same as any side balcony. Pool was great. Loved the balcony but it is small and only comfortable for a small group.

On the Edge Villa suite i couldn't adjust the temperature. It was filled very hot, took a couple of hours to cool down to comfortably get in, and in the shade the temperature dropped fairly quickly. I've had several experiences in different Villas and it was the same.

Yes, I am typically contacted a few weeks in advance. I'm asked about in room bar set up, specialty restaurant reservations, pajama size, etc. and I'm given embarkation instructions (depends on port). I'm typically low maintenance, but as an example I ask that the Villa pool be filled every day at a certain time, because the ship doesn't want us doing it ourselves.

If you play at a decent level (hard to know what that means) the last day of the cruise you can go to the casino host and ask for your play to be reviewed; if high enough, they should knock off some/all of your bar bill.

Have we heard of Celebrity passengers being isolated or disembarked based on false positives?

How so? If people test negative they have nothing to worry about. If they test positive they should either be put off the ship or isolated.

I'd escalate this. A letter to the CEO from you, copy your travel agent. You don't have anything to lose. If you can piece together anything that confirms you requested a real balcony (confirmation from your canceled cruise of a real balcony), I'd include it. This is not a new issue to them. Good luck.

A few months ago a Celebrity passenger tested positive and was told to move to a window cabin. She refused. I don't remember if they moved her to another balcony cabin, or allowed her to stay in her cabin. She said her mental health couldn't tolerate the move. And I will do the same. What this thread has taught me is that there is no policy, there's the discretion of individuals. They will have to drag me out of the cabin, literally kicking and screaming. Maybe that's how humane policies get put in effect.