Scottygirl1

My reason for cancelling our two upcoming cruises (and UK/Europe holiday) is more to protect a financial loss.  We can't insure for either a pandemic or epidemic (check small print on travel insurance) and specifically we can't now insure for Corona Virus.  We'd be mad to outlay thousands of dollars at the risk of being held up in some country due to the virus.  Forget the fear of actually getting the virus, what about the cost of being stuck somewhere and no insurance to cover that?  It's a no brainer for us.  

Our travel policy, with a major international brand, specifically excludes epidemics and pandemics.  I think we won't be taking the risk to travel.

From what I can tell he actually held the girl out of the window - I would never ever do that with a child, let alone even hold them high near a balcony!  Yes, he has to live with this forever but I'm glad it wasn't the cruise's fault.  I noticed a lot of these sliding windows recently on Reflection and I'd hate to see a law suit make them all become barred up or something.

Did you see this?  People removed from your ship in Picton!  

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/118468149/cruise-passengers-removed-as-ship-docks-in-picton

38 minutes ago, lovedecruise said:

Hi, just looking at your balcony furniture, do these chairs lie back at all?  Could you please find out if they still provide footstools for Concierge and Aqua Staterooms.  Many thanks.

 

The Tasman looks pretty calm today.

We just got off Reflection the other week and yes, Concierge class up had footstools.  Those chairs do recline too.

18 minutes ago, bikerunner said:

I usually went to the bar in the casino before going into the theater.  Much easier.  I know the pool deck when ordering from the different waiters I got well instead of premium, not like it matters in frozen drinks cannot tell the difference.  Dinner I never had the issue and often talked to the sommelier on pairings.  I also was frequent in Cellar masters.  I also tended to stay at the Martini Bar or World Class Bar for drinks so I really wouldn't run into that issue since they only serve premium mainly at those bars.  I rarely drink champagne that often and if I do get it I prefer Prosecco or Cava. 

We went to the World Class bar one night but they couldn't make up the drink I wanted! They said they could only make what was on the list so we left.  Our dinner sommelier didn't listen to us until we got more forceful about what we wanted.   Things got better all over the ship once we got more assertive about what we wanted 🙂

1 hour ago, 39august said:

Did Reflection not have a bar set up inside the theater? That was the case on both Equinox and more recently Silhoutte. I do remember the bar outside the theater entrance on RF. But surely that is not the only bar to serve drinks for the theater!

Yes, there was a bar set up there but they had the most dreadful wine!  There were servers coming around later in the cruise if you got to the theatre early enough.  The bar inside the theatre had only one barman who was constantly off getting something so the queues were crazy.  

I enquired about booking another cruise onboard.  I was given a really expensive price plus no gratuity included (like I do when booking from New Zealand).  I came home from holiday and booked the exact same cruise, same cabin but with more perks for around $2,000 less, including gratuities.  I think the onboard selling is not a great deal!

Interesting.  On our recent Reflection cruise we upgraded but were rarely offered the premium drinks!  When we ordered the more expensive wine at dinner we were offered a lesser wine on more than one occasion.  This also happened around the ship - at the Theatre bar they only had the cheaper (classic package) wine!  Often when we asked for champagne (the one covered under the premium package) we kept getting the cheapest bubbly from the Classic package.  I actually complained to the hotel director on the ship and to be fair they looked into it and miraculously we were offered better wine at dinner.  

I also found that other than the Martini Bar, most bars offered drinks within the classic package.  Other than the availability of the sparkling water and better quality still water we felt a little cheated by the premium package.  We certainly never had any bartenders remember us as others have said.  Getting a drink was always such a long wait too.  I found the bars to be extremely understaffed - the bar outside the Theatre only had one bartender and the wait there was ridiculously long.  

Another thing that we noticed was that they were selling drink packages onboard for half price!  Too bad for those who had paid more.  Overall we were very unimpressed with the wine offered, availability of wines at different bars and service level.  I'm really not sure if we'll bother with upgrading our drink package for our next cruise - we might just pay the additional dollar or two when we want a better wine with dinner.  

We didn't get the afternoon snacks after day two - they really were not good.  We did enjoy the embarkation lunch and the priority boarding.  One thing though with Concierge this time though was a free galley tour plus a sail away with officers on the helipad.  We only upgraded for a larger balcony and are not going with concierge next time.

We didn't mind the burgers on the Reflection the other week but the big problem was the pool activities with loud music and loud speakers.  We couldn't communicate at all with the burger servers and everyone was pointing and yelling trying to let them know what we wanted! Not ideal and I didn't get what I wanted because of this.

I wouldn't say they dress up more on European cruises.  We just returned from a Caribbean cruise and I was very surprised at the gorgeous dresses  and outfits generally across all nights, not just Chic.  We were on a long trip so I packed the bare minimum (just 3/4 black pants and dressy tops for me and long black pants and collared shirt for my husband) but we fitted in just fine anyway.  Our next cruise will be European again and I can tell you we will again not be getting too dressed up!

4 minutes ago, BigAl94 said:

I struggle to comprehend how any responsible cruise line would facilitate an excursion of this nature assuming that they did as opposed to passengers directly purchasing this trip from a third party agency. Can't Imagine it would be covered by travel insurance. A dreadful state of affairs the outcome of which sadly will inevitably get worse.

This trip to White Island has been popular for many years without incident.  I know many people who have done this but I too struggle with it being an excursion.  I seriously don't think people realised the potential danger.  It's a dreadful tragedy.

There are now reports of bodies being brought back (heard on a radio interview).

Hi, I'm pretty sure there was - if not, I know they will make you something.  We did the galley tour today and they emphasised that any food can be adapted or made for special requests. 

I suppose we should have tried again with breakfast?  We got the bacon and hash browns about ten minutes before the awful omelettes.  My partner is not fussy but even he couldn't eat his.  Other than that the cruise has been great - all of the food has been amazing.

I'm sure you can - we were able to the other day on Reflection but it was awful.  Hard and dry - we also ordered bacon and hash brown which arrived at a different time!  Clearly a one off mix up but we've since not ordered room service breakfast.  

We are now considering just self disembarkation.  We don't have large bags and don't mind being at the airport earlier.  I also hate the whole night before leaving bags out - too hard to figure out what to pack or leave for the night!  Thanks for the help.

We have had a notice in our cabin (Concierge) to say that for a fee of $25 per person we can have our luggage valeted to the airport on departure day.  This is for flights from 11.30am onwards.  I'm not sure if we will do this.  There is also a transfer service offered by Celebrity for $15.95 per person to Fort Lauderdale (also for flights after 11.30am).  I don't know the cost of taxi - is this an OK deal?  I presume by doing this they will ensure you are off in plenty of time to get the flight.

4 hours ago, spiritkat090909 said:

I have had this flight from FLL, Terminal 25 and it is very do-able.  I wouldn't lollygag around... or be first in self disembark line (6:45am, not SEVEN...wont make that for certain and definitely not MIA!)... Just be ready to go when the first offs are off.  Admittedly, we did have a suite and exited through the lounge. First off with our luggage, did luggage valet, cab, and were waiting for about 2 hours in airport before boarding at 10:45.  If we had waited with the normal cabis, no status, last off the ship people, find your luggage, wait for cab, wait at airport to get to the luggage check... I don't know if we could have made it.  The key is you have to beat the lineup.  And MIA departure adds an hour to all times over FLL.

HI, sorry I don't think I understood your comment.  Should we do self disembarkment?  We have an 11.43 flight.

I have been following this topic - I am currently on Reflection and disembarking at Fort Lauderdale with a 11.37am flight from Fort Lauderdale.  Is this cutting it fine?  I thought we'd have loads of time.

I have a similar thing happening.  My partner is getting all the emails for upgrades and excursions etc but nowhere have I put his email address on any part of the booking!  Everything has my email address.  We have sailed on RCI before and on Celebrity ten years ago but I always use my email for bookings.  Very strange.

I just saw this message too - very strange wording indeed.  I mean, on another part they say you must board no later than 90 minutes prior to sailing.  I read 'please arrive no less than two hours before your scheduled boarding' to be two hours before the boarding time I am given!  Who on earth OK'd that silly wording?

3 minutes ago, jelayne said:

Currently on the Eclipse with a surf package.  A bit slow but my biggest frustration is unless I close email, IG or any other site I viewed after 2 it will tell

 me I’m  not connected to Internet.  Haven’t tried to post or email  photos but at this point not optimistic.  

Thanks - I've upgraded to the full internet.  I decided life's too short to let it stress me!  

Thanks for that - thankfully we can use the US plugs (with adapter) for all of our Apple devices as they run on either voltage.  The European plug (with adapter) will be used to charge our electric toothbrush as that needs 220v.  I'm hoping the hairdryer onboard will be OK because for the first time I'm travelling without one!