ScottC4746

Not even the casino. I was surprised. Again, I did not visit every bar, perhaps the casino bar might have one.

There are no sports bars, nor did I see any bars with television sets. On the cabin TV's there were no sports channels that I recall.

They do carry BBC News on the TV so it might air on there.

Just back from this wonderful cruise. Any questions about the ship?

Just back and my feeling on the cruise was: I just returned from my first Celebrity Cruise and it was amazing from the service to the crew and everything in between. Boarding Process: Super easy and fast. While others hate this new system of boarding, it made it so easy. I do hope it stays. Dress Code: I was saddened to see traditional formal night has gone away, but I was an officer in a fraternal organization where I had to wear a tux once a month and a suit three times a month. It was nice to not to have to do either on a vacation. It could have been enforced a little more in the main dining room. Once or twice, we saw t-shirts on men and the first night shorts. In the evening hours on board, we noticed guests had changed after dinner and were back in shorts again. Elevators: They appear to be out of sync. Example, if I am on deck 9 in a four-elevator bank going down, I will see two sitting on deck 10 just sitting. Part of the problem is the computers of the elevators trying to keep up with demand, and I think the elevators are getting lost, if you will. Celebrity is no stranger on this. Every line has this issue. Celebrity has the reputation of being an innovator in the industry. Perhaps Celebrity could look at being the first in the industry to install smart elevators. What that is, is there is a panel that the guest presses what floor they desire. The system announces which elevator car to use and sends it to the floor. The creates the best use of the elevator and prevents leaners from accidently leaning on the buttons in the car, which I think is part of the problem. Dining: We only used the buffet for breakfast and lunch and main dining room for dinner. We noticed a lot of “table hogs”. People would camp out there and not eat. They would have a cup of coffee with them and that was it. I even saw a family take up a large table while they were playing cards. I often had seen people circling looking for a seat as their food got cold. Please enforce the dine and move on. With only two of us at the buffet, we learned that we look for a table first and then one of us holds the table while the other gets their plate. They return and start eating while the second person gets their plate. By the time they return, the first person has finished meaning a couple cannot dine together. Half way through the cruise we began taking our meals in the main dining room for all three and it was much better. We appreciated the fact that you seat people with their traveling party only in the main dining room. As we travel as a couple, it is always stressful if we are going to get a two top of not. It was nice to always have a two top. We hope post-Covid, this policy remains. We did select dining and arrived around 7 PM. It was nice to get the same wait staff each evening. Other lines with select, you are all over the place. The food was amazing with amazing service. The buffet would be nice to see a variety, but it seemed to be the same offerings every day. Stateroom: What a beautiful stateroom with lots of storage, even in the bathroom. The canapes that come with the concierge class was a subject of conversation. We love receiving them, but please research what a canape is. I shouldn’t need a fork to eat them as they are supposed to be finger foods. Potato salad does not fit in this category. Entertainment: Top notch. The comedian not so much. Loved the 80’s night and the Abba Sing a Long. Don’t lose the live music. So many lines of ditched theirs, it is nice to hear real live music. Some of the seats in the theater need to be inspected. I felt like I was being tipped out of them. Public Space: Beautiful. I love the themed seating but they are low and hard to get out of. Public lavatories were very well maintained although few, if any had hot water in the sinks. The only one that came out hot was by the Ensemble bar, of the lavatories I used. Ports: It was a very nice touch to return from Alaskan ports and find that chicken bouillon was being offered when we got back on board. Very nice during the cold visits. Photo Service: We checked after getting several photo shots done and had 45 images, all were terrible. The backgrounds were very busy and for “professional photographers”, the results were awful. Professionals know how to angle things to draw attention from certain things. Unfortunately, all of the photos we saw accentuated our stomachs. They looked bigger than they were and looked like they droop over our belts, which they do not. Gift Shop: The variety of logoed merchandise was thin, but I understand it is the end of the season with one more week, but a nice quality polo shirt with the standard Celebrity X logo was non-existent.

No such arrow.

I cannot figure out how to fix it without starting all over again. Fingers crossed all will be well at the port on Friday.

On the Solstice Friday for Alaska from Seattle. We stop in Victoria and when I did my Arrivcan I selected Victoria Operations. Is that correct? If not how do I go in and fix it?

Sounds like the X is a very welcoming and inclusive line. I have even seen same sex couples in promotional videos showing them on the deck by the rail with a drink, a scene usually reserved for traditional couples. Very nice to see.

Juneau

Our first Celebrity cruise is Friday. How is the tolerance for an Alaskan cruise for same sex slow dancing in the bars?

I always enjoy feeling the ship, not to the point I feel like I am in a cocktail shaker. I see one of our ports in Alaksa next week winds are up to 15 mph or about 13 knots. Is that enough to "feel" the cruise?

We leave for Alaska on Friday on the Solstice and we always debate for breakfast. This is our first Celebrity cruise so this is why the question. I like the service of being able to have breakfast in the main dining room while DH does not. He sometimes feels there is more offering in the buffet. Lunch I know is buffet unless it is a sea day. What is your feelings on main dining for lunches? At least you don't have the table hogs to deal with.

Yes and no. My Alaska cruise goes to Canada and they require it. If we didn't have to stop in Canada, I probably would not have had to test.

I am sure it has been answered somewhere on this thread or board, but... We sail on the Solstice Friday from Seattle to Alaska round trip. We are booked for the Select Dining, freedom dining, anytime dining, my choice dining, whatever they and you want to call it where we do not have a early or late seating. Is it possible to make a standing reservation for 7:15 PM for two people? On the app the "reserve now" is greyed out but has a number to call for reservations in blue, like it is a click and dial.

Why I won't do anything less than 7 nights. Welcome to the booze cruise. Sorry you had to experience this and hope it didn't taint you to cruising or with Celebrity. This is typical of the shorter cruises, just surprised to hear it from Southampton. Typically you see the booze cruise from the States to the Caribbean, to Mexico, and to Bermuda on these short cruises. Bermuda as I have heard even on longer 7 night cruises has a lot of problems.

It's getting real now. Just did my Arrive Can form and the excitement is building. I think we will all be like this.

You do need to fill out an ArriveCan form prior to visiting or landing in Canada. Doesn't matter if it is a port stop, or final destination. Here is information directly from X's website regarding your situation: Vancouver to Seward and Seward to Vancouver Sailings Health Protocols and Requirements Sailing Testing Requirements: Pre-Arrival/Embarkation Covid-19 Test Fully Vaccinated* or Up to Date** Guests: Must present an expert-administered negative Antigen test taken within 2 days prior to the tour. Please see recommendation to travel with eMED self-test kits below. Unvaccinated Guests: Must present a negative RT-PCR Covid-19 Test taken within 3 days prior to the tour and take an antigen test at the Terminal prior to boarding. The PCR and antigen test may not be taken on the same day. If you are booked on a cruisetour, please click here to see your land tour testing requirements. Mid-Cruise/Port of Call No test required. Debark No Debark testing required. *Definition of Fully Vaccinated: vaccinated with a full dose of a primary series vaccine over 6 months (180 days) prior to sailing and NOT boosted. The last primary dose must have been administered at least 14 days prior to embarkation. **Definition of Up to Date: vaccinated within 6 months (180 days) of final dose in a primary series OR boosted. The 180 days must extend to the end of the sailing. The last primary dose must have been administered at least 14 days prior to embarkation. Testing Costs Testing varies depending on vaccination status and itinerary. Unvaccinated guests will need to cover any cost for embarkation, mid-cruise/port of call or debark required testing. Testing costs and vendors vary by port and country. Celebrity will cover the costs for children who are not eligible to be vaccinated.

Current cruise I am on I booked direct with X.

That price sounds about what we were quoted. We bought the airport transfer ship to airport on our return.

I have heard it called boil and fold because everything usually is done on hot water.

You have up to 30 days from booking date to transfer to a TA.

As stated in the OP, Equinox.

And NEVER use a friend as a TA as I did.

Is sky suite worth the price with the perks? At least this is true Retreat experience. How is the route? Is there an embarkation lunch for Retreat guests? After dealing with my Solstice cruise booking on my own, it is TA from here on out.