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Make the most of your experiences, Mark! You will never regret it! Whilst many older couples look back in sadness at the ‘places they were going to visit’ or ‘the things they were going to do’ but never actually did we reflect on the happiness we have enjoyed over many years of worldwide cruising and touring. We can accept limitations to our experiences now because we have enjoyed so much… Using Murano as your MDR is an excellent choice…Most cruises we flit between Tuscan (when there are views to enjoy) and Murano when there aren’t. What many people don’t realise is when you are a ‘regular’ in a speciality they do treat you as such…They remember your preferred table, look for nice wines within your package and in our experience even offered meals not on any menu.

Who was the person you talked to? A celebrity agent or a TA?

All about personal choices. When we first cruised we were happy with a balcony room…We spent lots of money on excursions and cruised twice a year plus other holidays. Move on and now the cruise ship itself is our destination. Many excursions are beyond our mobility level, we find queuing difficult and really appreciate the extra service that comes with a suite. Our holiday budget remains the same but we cruise less often but either in a RS or PH. We spend time in our suite and on our balcony, enjoy having additional facilities in our room and being able to call on the butler if we want something. Re ‘less of the ship is available to us’…One lounge, one dining venue and on some ships a deck area…Not a lot. A bit like when booking a hotel you either book a standard room or a concierge level that gives you lounge access or when booking a flight business class gives you a lounge and bigger seat. All about offering customers choices. Re ‘more and more people are spending the larger amounts for suites’. I think you are partially correct. With many people having missed out on two years of holidays and having significant amounts of cruise credit they are choosing to treat themselves and give the suite life a try. I do also think that many people (ourselves included) have decided following the pandemic not to put off until tomorrow what they could enjoy today. Whilst many do say that once they have cruised suites they would not go back to standard rooms others will. They will do exactly the same calculations as you have and decide they would prefer two holidays a year in a balcony… There is no right and wrong room choice on a cruise ship…just the right category for you at that moment in time…

Yes, the Solarium. However, if the weather is cold they often post a ‘family time’. If I remember correctly this is usually something like 4 - 6pm. This is unlikely in the Caribbean but more likely when Silhouette does her Summer cruises to Norway and the Baltic ports.

You are very welcome. It was my first cruise in a wheelchair following surgery. I could hop around short distances on crutches so I didn’t need an accessible cabin but found it an eye opener! So many little things you normally take for granted become so hard! All staff were fantastic. Our room attendant rounded up a stool for me to use in the bathroom. Tuscan Grill staff fussed around me every visit as they were aware I needed a back cushion. The lovely young lady in the ladies WC by Michael’s helped with doors etc…. If you need any additional equipment etc remember to complete the special needs form…

Fairly sure about the Solarium…I think it is standard on all S class ships. I am back on board in October and it will be hit and miss if I need the ‘ducking stool’ as my better half insisted on calling it or if I can I can manage the steps down with care… I wouldn’t recommend the outdoor pool for anyone with mobility issues…Just too busy.

I can not remember on Solstice as I didn’t have mobility issues when I was on her but I did have on Eclipse. There was a chair that lowered in the solarium. it felt very safe. First day I went in the Solarium my husband approached one of the pool attendants who immediately rounded up a colleague. They were wonderful. Once I was in the pool one or the other of them always seemed to be in hailing distance for when I wanted to get out. Next visit they were straight over! I had spoken to my physio prior to my cruise about what to do/not to do in the pool. Most days I either went early or later afternoon to have lots of space. The only day I didn’t go straight in was a sea day at about 11am. The pool was very busy and I simply didn’t feel safe even with my better half hovering next to me. Needless to say the pool attendants approached and understanding my reluctance instead did some sun bed reorganisation (impossible for me to access one in the middle of a row). As the pool quietened (about 12.30ish) the pool attendants were over and got me in but one stayed close by tidying towels etc so if the pool filled again they would be on hand to get me out.

Aqua is worth paying for if… You enjoy a quieter sit down serviced breakfast and want to avoid the buffet. You would enjoy a smaller evening dining venue and it’s menu appeals to you. You are likely to use Persian Gardens. You are better booking a balcony room if… You are happy with MDR, buffet or room service breakfast. You would enjoy a mix of MDR and speciality restaurants. You may be happy just looking at the Persian Gardens on boarding and possibly booking a day pass.

Cruising, to us, has been the ultimate family holiday. Like yourselves we also enjoy other holiday types but somehow cruising is the holiday style that always brings us together. We cruised first when our son was a small child. As he hit his teens we expected him to get bored but every time we suggested a cruise he was still happy to come. Then he hit young adulthood and he began to go on holiday with friends but still came on cruises with us! On a few more years and steady girlfriend…We thought now our family cruises will come to an end but no…Now we travel on cruises as a foursome! Long may you continue to enjoy your family cruises!

I hope you bought a lottery ticket that week…

In our experience on the S class ships, Murano is the one that tends to book up very quickly. Lawn Grill is also popular. When we cruised on Reflection (pre covid) the other restaurants did have discounts but not these two. I think the reason why the speciality restaurants are filling up quickly at present is the amount of OBC many guests have…Many are using this cash to pre purchase dining packages. Suggest you do go for that first night discount….Personally, first night, although Murano is definitely our favourite restaurant, I would opt for the more casual Lawn Grill after a tiring boarding day…

Sincere best wishes for a wonderful cruise, Dianne…

The S class PH suites are wonderful, simply a decadence of light and space, enjoy!

Before contacting anyone else at this stage this is exactly what we would do… If United can’t sort you then find 2/3 flights that would be acceptable to you then contact FBC, copy in the CEO with a brief summary of your experience (bullet point). Request a response within 2 days. Asking you to turn up at the airport with no flight!?!?!? Words fail me…One of the ‘selling’ points of FBC is the additional ‘security’ of having your flights and cruise linked…

That is a significant cut to the cost of a meal for two…Any discount is worth having!

Jim, just had some surgery and I am fairly fixed to a chair for a few weeks, so looking forward to vicariously enjoying your cruise! Sincere best wishes for a fantastic adventure!

The only place you need closed toed shoes is if you are invited to a helipad sail away.

In the UK you can make a change (any change) at £75 each for guests one and two. This change is free if you are Elite or above. In your case you are changing the full cruise, it should not be a problem. You pay £150 and your deposit will be transferred. The only other thing you need to do (if you booked through a TA) is if they have an additional admin charge. If you did book through a TA you will need to make the change through them, not directly with Celebrity.

Where are you from? T &Cs are different in different countries…

If you can make your product appeal to the widest market possible then you should ensure more full ships… By having some facilities for children families are welcomed. By not having the bells and whistles children facilities those who do not want lots of kids on board are not put off. Marketing to the younger affluent but then excluding them once they had children would not make sense. Multigenerational holidays are gaining in popularity, excluding children does not make sense. Children who cruise young on Celebrity are the next generation of cruisers. Our son was E+ at 21… Having recently seen the TV program on Virgin cruises I am quite shocked as to what they ‘think’ adults want from an adults only cruise…Loud, brash a focus on drinking….put us right off. Give us the quiet sophistication of Celebrity any day.

The day I am tempted to book a cruise based on the luxury level of their self service laundry is the day I will decide I need to cruise no more and spend my leisure time in my utility area…

I had the most wonder cocktail in Sushi on 5 last cruise…Mango based. I am not usually a lover of mango but it was really refreshing and complemented my meal selection (lots of bits) perfectly! There are usually two different LPC menus. When we last cruised it swapped mid cruise so worth finding out which menu is on which half of the cruise as you board…

This is exactly why choice is important! We find Celebrity suits us perfectly because we enjoy the ‘club’ atmosphere in the Retreat areas but then enjoy also having a big ship to explore. Re tenders and anything else that usually involves queuing on a big ship the concierge can usually make much easier. Much as I don’t particularly like the pretentious red carpet on returning to the ship in a hot Med or Caribbean port I will enjoy my queue jumping perk! Totally agree, it is the little things that add up to make an experience special…

In our experience most X class have a couple of chess sets a couple of scrabble sets and a couple of mahjong sets. There are some great games compendium sets available on line and in many stores…If we are on a cruise with more sea days we will take our own chess set with us.

Yes it is a must not miss port but you can enjoy it without a tour… Suggested itinerary… Eat breakfast outside the buffet, whilst the tenders are busy and enjoy the view. As the mass exodus finishes take the tender to the gondola and buy a return ticket. Head up and bear right keeping to the cliff side. Take your time, browse some of the craft shops, enjoy the stunning views. Continue right looking for signs of the archaeological museum. It contains many of the objects dug up from Akrotiri. Big enough to be fascinating but not so big it is overwhelming. Remember all the stories linking Santorini to Atlantis… Now this is where you need the input of someone else…You could do with being recommended the bar with the best views…I remember us finding one some distance the other side of the gondola which had fantastic views, ice cold beer, great service and we enjoyed pizza and Greek salad…(typical blue and white). Unfortunately I can’t remember the name or directions. To be honest, though as long as you stay near cliff side you should find it or similar… When you are ready to return to the ship if you feel brave you could go the donkey route, personally I would take the gondola… On arriving back at the ship head for the mast bar. The ship gently moves so the view does change. Enjoy looking at Nea Kameni (New Burnt Island) the new volcano and remember you are sitting inside an enormous caldera…