Mirage

Just off Apex a week ago. Was on Reflection in 2023. As others have stated there both great ships, certainly differences, yet do not see either one would hold a reason to not sail on her.

Enjoy Reflection.

Mirage

51 minutes ago, doghog said:

Wish you would have questioned the CC concierge about that. 

No idea who the CC hosts are, didn't care to search them out, I am on vacation. 

If they advertise they have an event and when we went and it wasn't there, well ok too bad. 

We always went on our over 30 Celebrity cruises to the CC Elite Plus and above cocktail events. Warm passed appetizers and more importantly usually spoke to other interesting guests. 

When they dropped and only partially maybe reinstated it, just one more reason to just ignore the Elite plus member invites. At least for us no longer much value in these.

Others may have a different view. 

Was on Apex last week. Captains Club notice said was to be held twice in Eden roped off area. We went at the listed time. No roped off area, no event. Did not go the second listed time. 

I guess it depends on ship and sailing. 

Just off the Apex FLL yesterday, upon embarkation a week ago, we had 12:00pm. Others with later time were waiting outside terminal. Entered terminal 25 at exactly 12:00pm was on board by 12:15 pm in cabin, Fastest ever, efficient easy.

You mileage may vary.

Mirage

I do not think the M or S Class are any "Less" than the E class.

All in my view have their own unique charm.

Last Year Apex TA and another Apex Cruise

This year it was Edge, then B2B Reflection - Edge.

Couple weeks it will be Apex for NYE.

None on Edge class were IV's as we have done that and not a fan of IV's.

Your mileage may vary.

Mirage

Dined at Fine cut last Thursday night on Edge. Wonderful meal. Our group had Filet Mignon and Ribeye's all were fantastic. Overall a great meal in all respects.

We have taken our kids when they were young on many cruises outside of Holiday time. Have had as few as 4 total kids on a cruise our 2 and 2 others. They happened to seat us at same table an 11 day Southern Caribbean. We typically take longer more than 7 day cruises and those seemingly have fewer children. 

I would not hesitate taking outside holiday cruises. The educational benefit to the children is priceless.

Our kids always hung around with us and have never been to the Kids Club,  were fortunate their very respectful, can sit for a long dinner and absorb the conversation and know just how to be proper. 

Our view is the cruise with well behaved children is an educational experience, not to be missed.  

We take our now grown children and two grandkids on Reflection next week. 

On Apex there is not a formal library. If you walk the back of the ship on the curved walkway in Eden, near the top there was a shelf with maybe 50 books, probably left by other passengers. 

Mirage 

Yes, the drinks you mentioned are included.

Mirage

We were recently on the Celebrity for the TA in May then went right after on Enchanted Princess.

We have cruised both lines many times. I have not been on the Regal so cannot comment specifically on that ship.

Apex was a Sunset Veranda, and the Enchanted Princess was a mini suite.

The food in my opinion is better on Celebrity. We ate in all the MDR’s and all the specialty restaurants.

Princess, we dined in the MDR’s and Sabatini’s, and the Steak house.  I would say disappointed with the Specialty on Princess and the MDR was just okay at best.

Cabin on Apex was great, we have been on Infinite Verandas on Edge class, and they do not appeal to me.

Princess mini-suite is fine and is somewhat similar although has a tub and the balcony is quite small.

The bar venues are certainly different between the two lines. Martini Bar on Celebrity gets the nod as a better venue.

I will say pizza on Princess slightly better only that is not a big draw for me.

Buffet on Princess is to me an awkward setup. Celebrity easy and better variety and quality.

To each there own.

My children have traveled extensively with me on many cruise lines, if you ask them, they vote for Celebrity every time.

Yes,  we were on the Apex TA in May. Flew out of AMS to SOU to get on a Princess cruise. Was at AMS 4 hours ahead of scheduled flight time. Bags would not go thru the automated KLM check in system. Worked with agent she worked for 5 minutes trying to get bags thru the system, eventually the machine accepted and bags never arrived in Southampton. We left on Princess cruise no bags, Bags did show up four days later in Rotterdam. Princess was great gave us toiletries and discount on some clothing in their shop. We quickly bought a few things in Southampton on way to ship. Still waiting for a claim for items we purchased with KLM. Your mileage may vary, although not a lot of fun in AMS long lines and bags not routed. Can happen to anyone normally would bring at least one carry on, although when gone for a month rolled the dice and checked the bags, this time, we lost. 

Have been thru AMS at least 25 times, first baggage issue there. 

Mirage

You can schedule with the App or go to the Restaurant and talk to the hostess. If in Concierge cabin you can have them schedule for you. Same with suites.

On the TA last month just walked up to and were seated in the 4 MDR's in no more than 2 minutes, anytime we walked up. Maybe 2/3 capacity cruise.

Mirage 

On Apex last month 2 USB type A on wall on one side of bed.

Several 110 and 220V outlets in a box on desk US style and several Euro style plugs.

One US style in Bathroom

Around 11pm ships time this evening Helo’s out of France made winch lifts off the Bow Helipad. 
 

Hoping those transported are going to be okay.

Ship slowed to 7 kts. While Helo prepared for approach. 

Mirage

Eden Cafe was open on Embarkation Day Dec 27 21 NYE Cruise, four of us dined there for lunch.

We are on the Apex TA on Saturday, it is our first choice on Embarkation day.

Your mileage may vary...

Mirage

Eden Cafe

Very simple to print the tags from your cruise planner. You can attach at the pier or get tags from the porters pier side.

If you don't like the idea of printer paper tags on your luggage you can go on amazon and order plastic holders for your printed papers. Celebrity one size other cruise lines different size detail on amazon.  

Mirage

With respect to St Petersburg, we have been there quite a few times.

We have both obtained Visa's and have used SPB tours.

Viktoria, the owner of SPB tours, has great staff, and they arrange the required Visa.

The expertise of the SPB tour guides we have had are all outstanding.

If its your first time to St Petersburg, then I would highly recommend SPB. There are numerous other tours companies in St Petersburg to investigate as well.

https://www.spb-tours.com/

We have been to all the cities on the Baltic cruises quite a few times, as my children lived in Sweden.

In addition we have taken SPB tours to other locations as we were friends and they just wanted a tour and not go on our own. We went along just to share their company. We chose SPB for Berlin, Viktoria's husband was on that tour managing it.

Mirage

Apex NYE cruise Dec 27- Jan 3

Eden Café was open on Embarkation, and we had lunch there. 

Mirage

We were on Apex for the New Years eve cruise. 

We boarded at 11:30AM.

Announcement was made at that time that cabins were ready.

We went to our cabin, keys were in the mail slot.

Dropped our things, steward stopped by, introduced himself.

So depends is the answer.

Mirage

Just off Apex this week.

Across from Apex Pizza are are indoor seating and outdoor seating within 15 feet.

All shows that were scheduled on Aoex are as planned.

Port  calls were changed months ago from Key West and Grand Cayman to Nassau and Costa Maya. 

Mirage 

There is not a way to determine next weeks passenger count. 

We are on Apex currently. 

This week was scheduled according to Guest relations for just over 2000.

When we boarded and sailed over an hour late there were many key cards without luggage on deck 11 that we walked by.

When asked yesterday, Guest relations said the passenger number was 1629.

There were a few people on boarding day taken off ship we saw, for unknown reasons.

Weather was not good in US on boarding day, which could account for the less the expected passenger count. 

On the assigned dining room question.

When booked we requested traditional one dining room dining with same table. 

When we boarded we had a card that said please join us at Cosmopolitan between 5:45pm and 9:30pm or with Celebrity Anytime Dining , any of our other main dining rooms.

We have walked in to any restaurant and been seated within 2 minutes,

Fine Cut, Eden, Garden rooftop, Cyprus, Normandie.

There are no crowds per se.

Enjoy - Your mileage may vary next week.

All the shows and scheduled events are taking place.

No lines anywhere, all the pool chairs you want take two, there's room.

Mirage  

On Apex December 27  2021

Key West Dropped and substituting Nassau. Dropped Grand Cayman and substituting Costa Maya.

On 10/4/2020 at 11:49 PM, fstuff1 said:

 

 

How do you feel about cruise line only excursions for the foreseeable future?

This is an interesting question. If you had asked this question in April of this year, I would have said I would not cruise under those circumstances.

In our first 15 or so cruises many years ago, we would take the ships excursions maybe half the time, after one has cruised so many times to the same ports, we pretty much just go off on our own as we are familiar with many of the ports and what they offer.

The cruise ship excursions take you to the “Popular” areas of each port or venues that most people would possibly like to see. As we have been to those places, we wish to explore other areas, or revisit what we find interesting.  Hence the structured 80 passenger bus tours hold little appeal.

My definition of what is the foreseeable future in cruising seems to shift the longer the discontinuance of cruising exists. My crystal ball in March would have said we would have taken at least one of our three scheduled cruises this year. With all those canceled, and what appears to be that cruising seems to be effectively canceled for 2020.

Now the foreseeable future in my view is that cruising for us maybe a possibility in 2021. Would I cruise if only ships excursions are the only choice? Not at this time. The question in my mind is – in the foreseeable future is there a reason to book cruises, while placing bets on significant deposits under controlled ships excursions only?

For us we will wait and see.