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This is my first Ultra offer. I used to play Blackjack or Fun 21. But when I switched to slots with my Platinum $25 of Freeplay, I started getting Casino offers. I'm just curious about the dates and timing of the possible cruises. Hoping for some post tax season possibilities next spring at good prices. I have no idea what the offers will be or if they'll be reasonable. Hoping some more experienced than I can shed some light. My opening date is August 18th

I have the same dilemma LAX to MSY. Try for an early flight or get in close to midnight. I opted to plan for a leisurely tour of LA post-cruise and overnight at an LAX Marriott. Get home in the daylight and stress free.

You don't actually have to be a "member" to see pics. Some are restricted to members, but most are available to be viewed. Click on the website and select your cruise line. Then choose your ship. The deck numbers and names will show in blue boxes on the left near the top of the page. Click on the box to choose the deck you want to view. When you scroll down the resulting page, on the right, half way down the page are 3 blue boxes. The first is "Cabin Pictures". You'll find a loonnnggg list of cabin numbers in numerical order with pictures of cabins from the ships in your ship's Class. The website is a bit clunky and makes it slightly difficult to get back to view another cabin. But with some practice it gets easier to navigate. The Deck Plan on the left shows which cabins have pictures and you-tube videos of your specific ship. You can click on the deck plan and see the videos. But if you click on the picture symbol, it will say you need to be a member. Have Fun. Great resource!

Thank you both for your quick replies. Much appreciated. Though she's never cruised Celebrity, she has done several RC cruises and I don't know her C&A status. I need to investigate further. She did assure me we will not be putting the imaginary/do-not-cross-into-my-side-of-the-room line down the middle of the cabin like we did as kids. So if my CC status can extend her some perks, that will be a plus 😉

So a related question -- (or maybe I should ask this on the Celebrity forum) -- I understand that my (upcoming) Diamond status will be "awarded" to my husband when we cruise together on Radiance OTS. Will it also be conferred on my sister (traveling in the same cabin) when we do a Celebrity cruise? Appreciate any insight. Thanks

The "gifts" had to be picked up at the Photo desk. I think I got the pin there, too... Or possibly the Customer Service desk. You have to call room service for the strawberries. There was a printed invitation in the cabin for the Welcome Reception. There was a sheet with QR codes in the cabin that provided most of the above info. BTW - printed "Fun Times" were available (in my experience) from the room steward if you ask.

I'm Emerald with 73 points. With solo cruises that were cancelled during Covid I would have been Diamond ages ago. But a 4 night solo out of NOLA 11/3 with double points will get me to Diamond in time for a 7 night pre-Christmas cruise with DH. And he'll be considered Diamond as well. And it will also bump me to Elite on Celebrity for my 8 night out of LA with my sister 12/3. All in all, worth the "Sacrifice"!! (I still regret not getting to take that cruise from Montreal to Miami in Oct.2020 on Empress 😞 )

Koozies twice, luggage tags once and photo album since restart. Should have left the photo album behind... or not taken it. Too big and awkward to pack and fairly useless. Donated it to the local thrift store. The Tervis tumblers were the best I received... several years ago.

I just booked the Crowne Plaza for the 12/3 Solstice cruise. It says there's a cruise port shuttle from the hotel. Can't wait. I've never done a west coast cruise.

Just to clarify --- (first time receiving a Blue Chip Club offer) --- If drinks, etc are not listed in the email then drinks, etc are definitely Not included in the offer? Appreciate the info. Trying to avoid long hold time with BCC. Thanks for your insight.

ALL??!!?

Cost is $252/pp on our 7 night Radiance cruise out of NOLA in December. And there's only 4 specialty restaurants (Chops, Izumi, Samba Grill and Giovanni's) onboard. Plus a $49.99 surcharge for Chef's Table. Think we'll pass. Considering the 3 Night Dining package for $110/pp. Same surcharges apply

Totally agree these have to be Casino rates. We cruised August & November '21 and January & March '22 and the best deals we've been offered have come in emails very shortly after returning from each of those cruises. Our next cruise is scheduled for September '22 booked after returning from the January '22 cruise. Got a deal for a Suite that was only $100 more than an OV - about $750 all in. Got my upcoming Solo cruise in November '22 for $225 all in for an Interior after the March '22 sailing. Might be worth it to wait and see what offers you get when you return from your next cruise. BTW - I've never gotten the drinks package or dined in a specialty restaurant. I haven't taken a cruise ship excursion in years and only play the slot machines occasionally. I did win $139 once!

IMHO... You're being Very optimistic on your drive time Tampa to Miami. In my experience Tampa traffic is horrendous on I-75 during rush hour (and most other times) and Miami traffic has never been easy. It once took us over an hour to get from the Miami cruise port just up I-95 to Fort Lauderdale. Tampa traffic always added a good half hour to our drives down to Naples. I don't mean to be a Debbie Downer, but I'd hate for you to miscalculate.

Thank you for mentioning this. I checked for my non-stop flight in July from New Orleans to PHL and the Big Front Seat was only $35. Score!!

They used to make a baked tomato (yes, tomato) stuffed with butternut squash, dried cranberries and other "stuff". Haven't seen it since post-Covid, but it was Very tasty and I hope they bring it back.

Isn't that what CruiseCritic is for? --- Ask random questions of experienced cruisers for their input and opinion. Why would I spend an hour and a half on hold to ask a question of a phone bank person who would have no clue and would not be able to give any opinion? BTW - Hi! fellow Philadelphian. Pretty proud of our man Ryan on Jeopardy!

Thank you for your quick replies. I did have some hesitation about posing the question... that it might generate some corporate interest in revisiting the current program. But... I'm sure I have no such influence so I went ahead with the post. It's a legitimate question if you've been caught (or almost caught) on the wrong side of the adjustments. I might have taken my solo TA in 2013 instead of 2012. I did get my 10th Carnival cruise in sooner rather than later when the rumors of the program change started. I might schedule another solo Royal cruise before November, if there's a chance they'll switch up C & A. But my biggest disappointment continues to be the cruises that didn't happen. Particularly the Montreal to Miami cruise in October 2020. A cruise that will probably never be repeated... at least on Royal.

Periodically some cruise lines make changes to their Loyalty levels. Prior to Covid, I was scheduled on 3 Solo cruises which would have easily gotten me to Diamond in 2020. Now I'm 7 points short of Diamond and have a 4 day Solo cruise scheduled for November. This will give me 8 points and put me over the edge. UNLESS they make a change to C & A before November. I'm hoping to reach Diamond before my cruise with DH on Radiance in December. I reached Platinum on Carnival with 10 cruises right before they switched their program to days sailed. I didn't get double points when I sailed solo on a 16 night TA on Voyager in 2012. They changed the program to double points for solos post-2012. So I'm concerned there might be changes coming up. I'm wondering if anyone has heard any rumors about potential changes to the C & A program. Appreciate any insight/info

Great review. Thank you! But I had to laugh at the above comment. I have to admit I had to look up "cossies" 🤣 🤣

Oops.... Sorry. I've been looking for info on Chef's Table as I have cruises coming up in November on both Carnival (Valor) and RCCL (Radiance). Got my pages mixed up. However --- the Chef's Table reservation option is showing on my Cruise Manager for both our September cruise on Valor and our November cruise. $80 + 18% gratuity ($94.40)

It's showing for my November 2022 cruise on Radiance OTS. No Memorial Day Sale though - $94.99 pp

SO fun to read about your last minute adventure. Hoping you'll share more details. LOVE Fantasy class ships. We'll be sorry to see them go, too.

IMHO - Port Canaveral is the easier port to get to and to park and sail. Love St. Thomas, never been to St. Kitts, Nassau is under construction.

If you love sea days, you'll Love a TA. Be sure to find the Roll Call for your cruise. The TA Roll Calls tend to be Much more active than short cruises. Look for groups with similar interests - Mah Jong, stitchers, Card players, slot pull, Meet and Mingle. We found people planning independent tours in some of our ports that were the Best we've been a part of. Bring your Kindle. Get involved, Have Fun!