terrydtx

That is correct, not the cruise line. Richard Branson’s Virgin Orbit files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy | PBS NewsHour

https://youtu.be/Zk0esR2s_P8

Houston or Port Canaveral.

Probably will not be any balcony cabins, all portholes.

How about the first moon cruise in the Sea of Tranquility?

Unless you are booked in either Aqua Class or the Retreat with Celebrity, there is nothing "premium" about Celebrity anymore. On the new E class ships only Suites and aft facing verandah cabins get a real open traditional balcony, everyone else gets a window that opens, IV cabins, which cost more than a real balcony on HAL newer ships.

I am sorry but I have to chuckle at people here complaining about HAL prices. We recently booked 2 HAL cruises for Nov this year and August next year because of the great deals they offered compared to Celebrity. No casino deals for us either. Since 2019, we have been booking with Celebrity almost exclusively, except for one Oosterdam cruise last year. Celebrity has been raising prices by 30-40% and loyal Celebrity customers are jumping ship as fast as they can. We are now, for the future, booking with HAL and Oceania as Celebrity's suite and higher-end verandah pricing has gone to the ridiculous. In some cases for similar cruises, a Celebrity Sky Suite cost is much higher than a HAL Neptune suite. Celebrity Aqua class verandah cabins cost more than a Vista or Signature suite with HAL on most similar itineraries. Celebrity's specialty restaurants cost 30-40% more than on HAL, and room service is still free on HAL. I believe if you think HAL prices are high, every other cruise line is also much higher than pre Covid and all lines are reporting big increased booking numbers

This is really a great itinerary and we compared it with Celebrity, Viking Ocean and Oceania. Celebrity only offers round trip from Boston in same 11 days and has 4 less port stops. Oceania had similar itineraries but at double the cost of the HAL cruise. I am with you we are done with the Caribbean for cruising, after our Equinox cruise in June with our granddaughter. Every cruise after is for places we have not been, and we hope will be interesting. We are retired and spending our kid's inheritance on travel.

HAL doesn't have anything close to the amenities of the Retreat even in their highest suite levels. Size wise, close to a Sky Suite is a Signature Suite or Vista Suite. They do have booking options for "Have it All" (HIA) which includes, a drinks and Wi-Fi package, plus a shore excursion and specialty dining package. If you book early, within 90 days of release of sailings, you can get HIA with premium drinks and Wi-Fi package, tips and a OBC. We booked the Volendam for an 11-day Boston to Montreal Cruise for August 2024 in a Vista Suite with the Premium HIA for $4300pp. That includes the Premium drinks, Premium Wi-Fi, gratuities, $400 in shore excursions, 2 specialty restaurants each and $200 OBC. The Vista Suite is 297sq ft in size and the Volendam is an older small ship with 1400 passenger capacity. HAL charges a lot less for specialty restaurants, drink packages and so far, no charge for full room service, including ordering from the MDR menu.

Have you been on any HAL cruise?

I have an answer to the IV cabin. If I do not want to pay the newer Celebrity outrageous suites pricing and want to be on a newer ship with traditional open balconies, I will book one of the 3 newer HAL Pinaccle class ships. They are modern and overall gorgeous in all their open balconies glory. I have one on the HAL Koningsdam in November.

I had no idea that the food served at the island was provisioned from the visiting ships.

I do not think the terminal will begin processing boarding passengers before 10 or 10:30am. The longer lines are after 1pm as most people flying in day of cruise arrive in Vancouver around 11am to noon.

This is not the first thread on this subject, there has been at least one or two others in the past few weeks. I cannot believe how upset some are over having to pay $2.95 or more for a gallon of distilled water, do you get it free at home? You may need it for a medical device but why expect that HAL should supply it for free? On past HAL cruises I had to pay for premium bottled water which I need to live and relieve my thirst, but I never complained that HAL charged me for them.

The bulk of the shore excursions for our Nov 4 K'Dam cruise was released yesterday and I was able to use our HIA credit to book one today. Still too far out I guess to book the specialty restaurants with the HIA credit.

When you book your shore excursions, book all you want and put them in your cart.(do not check out until this is done) Then go to check out the cart, if all of the excursions total $450 and you have 3 $100 credits, the $300 credit will be deducted from the $450 leaving you a balance of $150 to pay with a credit card. The wrong way to do this from my own experience is to put in the cart a $70 excursion and then check out, the $100 credit will pay the $70 but you will not get the $30 to use elsewhere on another tour. Note the language on the promo, one shore excursion credit up to $100 in value.

Don't forget the never ending dress code threads!!🤢

We boarded there in 2019 and the lines were very long if not in priority boarding and there is a lot of walking as you wind through the terminal. if you have any mobility issues you can request a wheelchair.

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.😁