merlin5353

You did a nice job setting this up. I actually 'enjoy' creating spreadsheets to answer questions. I will try it out and see if I can 'break' it. :rolleyes: Thanks.

I'm just wondering what is the reason for the C2 staterooms on deck 11 aft. on Eclipse? I can book a C3 on deck 10 if I like that location so far aft. Is deck 11 a superior deck to 10? Not in my opinion but maybe I'm missing something, should I feel better being among the people in aqua class?

The higher the deck, the higher the "value". Notice how the categories get more expensive as you rise through the decks. I don't completely agree, but that's the way cabins are priced. We get a C2 hump.

As far as AQ people, there is no added value being closer to a higher cost cabin.

On Celebrity, can you purchase and get a bottle of wine or any beverages waiting to the cabin on first day?

Yes

Hello All:

 

Can you use your OBC in the Casino on the Celebrity Summit.

Thank you in advance for your help

Yes

Thanks for the chart, Arno. John

My husband and I are going on a 14 night eastern Mediterranean cruise with Celebrity Silhouette in Sept. 2016. We've already booked for early dining at 6:15 but now are rethinking of switching to Flex dining to give us more leeway given that we have tours booked. Can we expect to have to line up for seating if we switch to Flex dining? Is it worth doing?

Generally, at 7pm there may be a 5 minute wait, but usually no wait. We've used Select dining on the last 6 cruises and will have it set for the next 5. Yes, call immediately to switch to Select. There will probably be a wait list.

Occasionally, in the center, you may get soot blown onto your balcony. We had a center SV cabin last year and we had enough soot that we kept a towel by the outside door. Just so you are prepared.

Yes.

Check post 4353.

Thanks Arno.

Here is a copy of Arno's great spreadsheet, that he posted earlier this month.

 

This shows the last update to the chart. Thanks, Arno! John

We're planning on going full comfort/casual for the doldrums of check in and boarding. However we'd like to go to lunch and wouldn't want to get kicked out of lunch for wearing a t-shirt in the MDR.

 

Anyone have a definitive fact on if there will be a dress code enforced for Concierge departure lunch?

During embarkation day, the rules regarding dress code are not enforced. Always been like that. MDR, specialty, etc. Everyone is aware how things happen. You'll be fine. Enjoy.

2 4 the Road appears to be 1 and Done. They've had a little time and some feedback and I wonder what they are thinking.

Not thinking, just whining.

No smoking is permitted in any cabin, nor any balconies. If you see anyone light up, call Guest Relations.

If it's a good deal, book it. We've switched from fixed dining to Select a few times immediately after boarding. It may take a day to be active, but it's not a problem.

Is the time 90 days before sail date to be able to access specialty dining for the Infinity?

 

Thanks

I've made them recently. Anytime after you book the cruise. You pay in advance. I've also cancelled a previously booked (and paid for) dinner while on board the cruise.

Yes, that outfit will be good. This subject has been discussed, at length, for quite some time. If you need any more details (and opinions :eek:), just use the "search" button. John

Join the rollcall for your cruise. Post a question, but be gracious (not suggesting you wouldn't), and offer you names and where you're from. Private tours are smaller, cheaper and more comfortable, in general. We've done over 25 private tours and they've been great. You can get to know more people. Good luck.

Here is a copy of Arno's great spreadsheet, that he posted earlier this month.

 

Thank you. It's certainly best to keep this thread focused on the cruise staff and officers. A lot of effort (thanks Arno) has gone into this. John

So glad to see Captain Manteca will be on the Equinox. We'll be with him for 23 days this fall.

Any staff changes, current or upcoming? Rossy, the CC host aboard the Silhouette, was great last month during our Baltic cruise.

If I call them I won't be able to resist telling them that their site is screwy (and explaining it... wasting more time).. though not as much as I'm wasting here while I stand atop my soapbox ! :D Tom

Tom, step down and call them. It is a Jedi thing; just take a breath and keep the discussion focused on the problem. Breath. :rolleyes: John

Sorry to hear about your bad luck. While aboard the Silhouette last month, we missed almost an entire day in Stockholm (should have arrived at 9am, got in at 7pm). John

A person on our roll call for our upcoming British Isles cruise asked me two questions about OBC that I had never thought of before but would love to know the answer to and I know that somewhere out in Cruise Critic land someone will know.

 

Question 2: (I wish I was asking this for me). If you have OBC and you are doing a back to back cruise, will the OBC from the first cruise carry over to the second cruise or do you have to use all the OBC from the first cruise on the first cruise?

 

Any help would be appreciated.

 

Jim

Check while aboard how your OBC is coded. Usually, OBC from your travel agent is refundable, while the OBC from Celebrity is not. I've been on many cruises and it is a nice bonus if you have a bit (of refundable) OBC remaining at disembarkation. You will get a credit on your credit card. John

Hi.

Just wondering can I tip my tour guides in USD, or do I need to exchange $ for the currency of those ports? Thanks

Just off the Silhouette after our Baltic cruise. In SPB, our guides like US dollars, but will happily accept Euros. Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Tallinn and Stockholm tips were in Euros.

As far as exchanging for Rubles or Kronors: only if you want a souvenir.

We recently completed a President's Cruise aboard the Silhouette doing the Baltic area. There were several shipboard cocktail parties, unique shore excursions, a free Ballet Theatre trip (for 1500 passengers) and optional dinner events. We received several pieces of swag and enjoyed the extra offerings.

Is there a real benefit to booking directly through the cruise line as opposed to a third party site? Hubby and I are looking at the ultimate Caribbean on the Equinox in January. The price at the 2 third party sites I've looked at so far are about $700 cheaper compared to what the Celebrity page is offering.

 

This would be our first Celebrity cruise and we have done 5 on Norwegian, 1 Carnival, and 1 on Royal. We've enjoyed them all, they've all had their pluses and minuses. Our first cruise we booked through a travel agent in town, all of the others have been directly through the companies.

 

I plan fake vacations everyday just for fun so I really enjoy all of the research that goes into it. I also don't remember ever seeing this big of a price difference in pages either.

 

I'm a realist and understand that it is and isn't a huge amount of money at the same time. Sometimes the headaches aren't worth the money saved.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

Side note that doesn't matter in the least, this will be our first cruise were we would stop at a port we've been to before.

We've booked our last 15 cruises while aboard ship, then transfered them ro our travel agent for more OBC and freebies. Personal preference.