terrydtx

It will be interesting to see what concept Celebrity will go with after the fifth E class ship is launched in 2025. They committed to the IV cabins for 5 E Class ship builds back in 2016 without ever considering if the concept would be loved or hated. Judging from comments on CC it seems that about 40% hate them, 40% love them and 20% have no opinion either way. My best guess and opinion is that they would be wise and financially ahead to abandon the concept. Of the 40% that love them, most would and do still book open traditional balconies when available, of the 40% who hate them, like me, most will never book a non-suite on any E Class ship. Abandon the concept and Celebrity opens up for more booking possibilities from more potential customers.

This is why we do not book anything but sky suites on the E Class ships. We spend a lot of our sea days sitting in our OPEN balcony, which is why after doing it once on the Edge never again for an IV cabin. My wife likes to sleep in and I am an early riser, so when I wake up I go out on our traditional balcony and watch the sea go by and do not disturb her. We both enjoy sitting on our OPEN balcony in the evenings before we turn in for the night.

What when did this start? You mean I can no longer get a preferred check in? If I can't be the first to board, it's back to CCL for me!!!!

Do not be surprised if the OP reports back that they forced him to eat a 12oz lobster tail with a side of King Crab Leggs.

We love doing a lunch or two at Sushi on 5.

Unless you have kids with you, IMO do not waste time or money in Le Petite. Also if this is your first time in a Suite, you should try Luminae before you hit all the Specialty Restaurants. Other than Eden on E Class ships, we find the Luminae to be equal or better than any of the Specialty restaurants in food and service. Murano is hit or miss, and Tuscan Grill has really gone downhill post Covid. The current pricing for specialty restaurants on Celebrity have just gotten ridiculously high for what the serve. We sail only in suites and no longer waste our money on the Specialty dinning venues.

I will be fine as long as they still have Mccallan 12 year old Scotch in the Retreat Lounge like we had on the Reflection last year.😁

We are on the Equinox in a Sky Suite for the June 4 sailing, this will be our second Equinox SS. We already received earlier this month our email from shore services about any special requests. Our 2021 Equinox Retreat cruise sold us on only booking suites with Celebrity. The food, drinks and service was so much better than our pre Covid Aqua Class cruises. The only disappointment was the Retreat sun deck with little to no shade and it was so hot up there in August.

This is who we used last year and he was awesome. He also can do a private tour in Venice area if you want. Venice Private Cars, Van & Transfers | GoWithGuide

And I will buy the first round, as long as it is in my PDP price.😇

Naw, we go to the Luminae early and do not have to worry about any non suite pax beating us there,😁🍷😁

Suites can board anytime, but it upsets me that a non-suite pax can board before I can get to the terminal to enjoy and eat up the fun early. Now I want more OBC!!!

We did the Greek cruise last year from Trieste on the Oosterdam and we used a private transfer for our group of 4. No way we wanted to spend 2 hours in a crowded bus with 30 or more strangers.

Not sure, I do not gamble on the ship.

We are doing an Edge B2B in January in Sydney, we have the same SS cabin so I hope this is the same procedure in Sydney. We are thinking about not getting off the ship as we will be spending 3 days in Sydney prior to our first cruise.

I got hooked on them during our many trips to Italy and when it's hot outside they are a very refreshing drink.

And Suites passengers pay a small fortune for the suites only dining options.

Plus HAL unlike other lines will not let you use the OBC before you embark for things like shore excursions, spa treatments and Specialty restaurants.

Your invoice from HAL under Guest Information should have something that looks like this:

We buy our travel insurance through my TA's parent company and in most cases it is less than what the cruise lines charge. Plus, if we have to make a claim my TA handles the claim and does all of the filing. Last year we had a sizable claim because of Covid interrupted travel and my TA took care of all the paperwork and got our claim paid is a reasonable time. It is also my understanding that Celebrity insurance will not cover independent 3rd party shore excursions if you cancel for a covered reason.

That is why we only buy insurance from 3rd party providers and the air is covered if we buy from FBC or direct with the airlines.

Exactly why I would never book direct with any cruise line. The cruise lines salespeople work for the cruise line and they have no incentive to advocate for the customers when there is a problem like the OP has. My TA works for ME and she knows if she doesn't deal with problems she will lose my business.

Absolutely, we walked all over Venice, Rome. Florence and other Italian cities and never once feel unsafe. I feel much safer in Italy than walking around most US cities.

Many airlines like Delta and United will let you go to their online sites to pick and or change seats once you book and have a record locator number. Some like AA, British Air and Air New Zealand require that FBC assign the seats. In these cases I called FBC and told them what seats I wanted and they booked them for me.

Celebrity has raised their entry level sky suites 30-40% in the last year and it makes a Concierge Level verandah on O very competitive. We booked an A3 Concierge cabin for 18 days on the Marina in March 2025 for $200pp less than a Sky Suite on the Equinox for only 14 days. This itinerary is from Santiago to Buenso Aires. Our Edge Sky Suite next January to cruise New Zealand has gone up $2200pp in cost since we booked it in January 2022.