Xport

The app should also be available on Silhouette once she comes out of her "Revolution" dry dock later this month...

In a sense, the Infinity Transatlantics are repositioning cruises in that the trips to Europe depart from Cape Liberty/Bayonne and the returns from Europe end in Boston [which has become the new departure point for the revised/shorter New England/Canada itineraries that follow]...

The two trips between the US and Ireland/Iceland/Greenland in August of this year are not exactly new and have been wildly popular...  They were first offered for booking on the same day--11 December 2018--that I was able to reserve the first New England/Canada cruise of the season on 30 August 2020... 

Short ribs were still available on Reflection just after Thanksgiving...  Very tasty!

As far as I know, Edge does--and I assume Apex will--feature King Size beds in all cabin categories other than those staterooms for solo travelers...

27 minutes ago, ghstudio said:

The priority embarkation lounge just happens to be one of them.

The Celebrity website doesn't claim that there is a priority embarkation lounge for AquaClass guests...  It does list priority check-in as an AquaClass perk [and the line, mixed with other "priority" groups, does exist] but, as you note, it may be of questionable value relative to alternatives...

14 hours ago, RNCheryl said:

Have been on Reflection and liked it.  However, recent reviews show long waits for dining due to new cabin creation.

 

While you are correct that Reflection is Celebrity's largest ship in terms of number of staterooms [and related guest capacity], no staterooms/no additional guest capacity has been added since Reflection first went into service in October 2012...  Compared to the other Solstice-Class ships, Reflection was built with additional cabins [Aqua Class and Aqua Suites (both with dining in Blu) with the latter long ago reclassified as Sky Suites (with dining in the newly created Luminae)] on Deck 12 [the pool was relocated from Deck 12 to  Deck 14] and five suites were added to Deck 14 [forward/port] as a carve out to the Sky Lounge...  The ship has no more cabins and no more guest capacity now than it did when you were last aboard...

I've cruised on Reflection four times since her inaugural Transatlantic in November 2012 and was most recently aboard for ten nights last month...  In 37 nights, I've only encountered a significant dining wait time once [it was in Luminae [no fixed dining times/no reservations; same is true in Blu] some years ago on the first night of the cruise; seemingly everyone showed up to be seated at the same time; by the second night, it leveled out] but have had no waits otherwise...  Each trip--regardless of cruise line--has a different dynamic for guest dining time preference [which can also vary day-to-day depending upon port schedule, specialty dining reservations, and on Evening Chic nights]…  Though understandably not perfect, my impression is that Celebrity does a particularly good job in doing their best to predict and adapt their daily dining operations to meet guest demand/minimize waits...   

Only the Millennium Class ships—Constellation, Infinity, Millennium, and Summit—feature the Rendezvous Lounge that you remember...

2 hours ago, HALrunner said:

Did you need to make reservations for Blu and/or the MDR? Any other surprising differences that caught you off guard? 

Reservations are nor accepted in Blu; though your Cruise Planner may show a set dining time on a placeholder basis, you may dine when you wish with waits--and then, short--very rare...  Upon boarding, you will likely have a letter from the Blu Maitre 'D suggesting a dining time for the first evening--they try to get a sense of guest preferences--but know that the suggested time for first night is not binding...  Show up when you wish...

If you wish to try one or more of the four Main Dining Rooms, it is probably advisable--though surely not necessary; one can just show up--to have the Blu Maitre 'D [or the Maitre 'D in any of the Main Dining Rooms (Cosmopolitan, Cyprus, Normandie and Tuscan)] make a Select [anytime] Dining reservation so as to minimize demand-based wait times should they occur...

If you choose to use the Celebrity smart phone app [an internet package is not required once aboard], you will find that the night-by-night menus for Blu and each of the other dining venues will be available for advance review [on a preliminary basis prior to your cruise; on a "final" basis once aboard]...

Based upon what I've read or experienced relative to anytime dining on other cruise lines, it is my impression that Celebrity [I've sailed with them about 500 nights (top-most loyalty status in Captain's Club)] handles the process very well...  Enjoy Apex!  I've done 2 cruises/22 nights on Edge and thoroughly enjoyed the experiences...   

I boarded Reflection on Friday, 25 November and disembarked on Monday, 9 December...  It was a ten night itinerary; two sea days followed by five consecutive port days followed by two sea days before returning to Port Everglades...

Just looked at the dailies...

Lunch was served in Murano [Noon to 1:30 PM]--sorry, I can't readily find the cost--on Saturday, 7 December [the first of the two sea days in route back to Fort Lauderdale]…  For us, 7 December also happened to be the second of two "Evening Chic" nights...  

8 minutes ago, micheleata said:

 

I believe it is $7.95 a minute.

Thank you...  I knew the price was steep by my standards [which is understandable given the technology in play and fine in a true emergency] but didn't have the cost at hand...  Just didn't want anyone to think that use would be a great idea just to say "hello"!

23 hours ago, Xport said:

While timing is everything--traffic related to embarking/disembarking cruise passengers at Port Everglades should subside before game traffic really builds--delays in the Fort Lauderdale port/airport/hotel areas are still a distinct possibility...

19 minutes ago, oneputt18 said:

 

They are driving to the port ,wanting to arrive around 11 AM. They should not be affected by anything Super Bowl related.

I believe I said the same thing...

I live less than a mile north of the Miami-Dade County/Broward County line and have been in residence during several Super Bowl games at what is now known as Hard Rock Stadium [I watch half-time fireworks from my terrace]…  All football games--whether a Super Bowl, the Orange Bowl or a Dolphins home game--increase traffic in the area south of downtown Fort Lauderdale and some of it will start far earlier than the few hours prior to game time as those staffing the stadium [security, catering, ushers]--especially true and larger in number for a sold-out/high security/high profile/"best foot forward" event--report to work...  For a Super Bowl, sports commentators with related equipment descend upon the area to set up and test international TV coverage [which starts hours before the game] and sportswriters set up/take over the press boxes...

At the same time those driving in for the game begin to arrive and, like some who have overnighted in the area, are in search of a place to spend a few hours--most often at a restaurant [the better ones will be mobbed beyond the usual seasonal crowds]--before heading to the stadium...  "Big Game" attendees are much like cruise ship passengers in that most are eager to get an early start on/maximize the day... By mid-afternoon local roads [no picnic day-to-day] will be heavily trafficked by limos, charter buses, and everything in between...

While the distance between our homes can't be all that great on a north/south basis [east/west could matter; I'm on the beach], our experiences have been very different...

It's 1-877-266-1020; you'll find it in your e-docs...

The number is common across the Celebrity fleet...  Please be sure that your family knows which ship you are sailing, your stateroom number, and that toll charges apply...

29 minutes ago, oneputt18 said:

I can't imagine traffic delays going to Port Everglades on Super Bowl Sunday. You are in the opposite direction of the stadium! 

The Super Bowl is being played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens; the northernmost community in Miami-Dade County...  It's actually much closer to Fort Lauderdale than it is--for instance--to downtown Miami and South Beach...

While timing is everything--traffic related to embarking/disembarking cruise passengers at Port Everglades should subside before game traffic really builds--delays in the Fort Lauderdale port/airport/hotel areas are still a distinct possibility...  You should also expect that major hotels/restaurants will be extremely busy that weekend...

As a local, I'm planning to stay at home!

It's been about a year since I last saw Cranston; at that time he was in Michael's Club on Silhouette...

5 minutes ago, Xport said:

 

Edge publishes the daily...  It's still provided nightly at turn-down...

Sorry for the error!

2 hours ago, Germancruiser said:

Ah- i take it on board Edge they are no longer providing the daily paper with all the going ons?

Edge publishes the daily...  It's still provided nightly at turn-down...

On 10/7/2019 at 8:50 PM, garyl62 said:

If it causes our rate to change, it will be cheaper to book her an inside cabin and add the perks ala cart for just one.  If our rate stays the same we're better off sharing our cabin with her.  Anyone have experience making a change like this?  

While I don't know the answer to your specific question, I will add this for your potential consideration...

If I understand correctly, you are booked in a Celebrity Suite...  If your daughter were to share that room with you, she would be eligible to enjoy the suite amenities offered on your unspecified ship [most notable are dining in Luminae, access to Michael's Club/The Retreat, and--depending upon ship/sailing date--access to the new Retreat Sundeck]…

If your daughter were to stay in an inside cabin instead [likely at a 100% solo supplement], those suite amenities would not generally be available to her...  It is my understanding that your daughter could--by arrangement with the Luminae Maitre 'D--join you as your guest for dining in Luminae [as opposed to the Main Dining Room] at an upcharge [last I read, the surcharge is $10 per breakfast, $20 per lunch, $30 per dinner]...  But one can't "buy in" to access Michael's Club/The Retreat and--if available on your ship on your sailing date--the Retreat Sundeck...

Perks--whether included in the cruise fare or available for a la carte purchase in either case--are not the same as suite amenities...

1 hour ago, Jim_Iain said:

Maybe you have better luck than I do but currently can't see any schedules beyond 2/22/20.

 

 

I live nine miles from the port in Broward County and cruise in/out of there frequently...

The Port Everglades cruise ship terminal assignments have never--best I can recall--been published more than a few weeks in advance to assure relative reliability of posted information...  And even then, terminal assignments can change on a relatively last minute basis should unplanned maintenance be required of direct--or perhaps adjacent--waterways, docks or terminals...

It's only happened once but I've done a cruise that left from one terminal and, until announced aboard during the trip, unexpectedly returned to another...  Yes, shuttles were provided to return guests/their luggage to the parking deck used prior to embarkation.  

47 minutes ago, candydane said:

Where is the scheduled posted?

Port Everglades website

Likely, Terminal 25 at Port Everglades...
 

4 minutes ago, mahdnc said:

 

I didn't understand what the phrase "expanding on all three ships" meant in their Instagram post.

Can only guess but the Hot Glass facility [as successor to the former Corning Hot Glass Show] is only available on Solstice, Equinox, and Eclipse,

With respect, I'm not sure anyone here can accurately answer your question...  Are you playing tables or slots?  If slots, are you playing traditional "reel-type" machines [video or mechanical] or video poker [it matters]…  What is your average bet?  How fast do you play?  Fully or partially comped?

Suggest that you contact Celebrity's Blue Chip Club to discuss your play habits and get a sense of what they may offer under the scenario you describe... 

4 hours ago, TommyD3 said:

They try. We get multiple Oceania brochures every week !!!!

They do try...

Week after week I get a deluge of Oceania and Regent--sister companies; I haven't cruised with either-- brochures too...  And no matter how many calls I have made to both in an attempt to stop the insanity, my repeated requests have not been honored...

Since neither seems to respect the wishes of a highly-traveled prospective guest, neither seems to care about maximizing the potential of their advertising spend, and neither has displayed an ounce of ability to manage something so simple as a mailing list--I've tried all angles--I long ago decided that they'll never get my business...  Their mail goes straight to the trash...  

Or look at Cruise Critic's parent company, TripAdvisor...  Abundant reviews/ratings and a link to each tour operator's website...

Somewhat different concept but you might also consider looking at the Tours By Locals website....

1 hour ago, beverland said:

Thanks for the info.  I did search the threads, but they were REALLY old, and you know how things change.

Following is a link to a thread that addresses the Concierge Class lunch on embarkation day...  Yes, it was started quite some time ago but it resurfaces periodically--in this case, as recently as this past Saturday--and the related logistics [11:30 AM until 1:00 PM in a section of the Main Dining Room] and fixed menu are the same across the fleet/really haven't changed...

Most recently, I did the Concierge Class lunch--for the fifth or sixth time--when I boarded Reflection on 29 November...  It's a very nice--no hassles, comparatively quiet, uncrowded--way to start a cruise...