SnowshoeCat

There is a little group of OV cabins on deck 3, port side, that look like they're just off the Centrum. Could someone tell me what they're like? It looks like they're in a convenient location, but not if it's noisy from the Centrum, or from the casino above. Thanks!

I see your list of past cruises does not include Celebrity. Was grill-to-order on Carnival, etc? I have never heard of that on X. If it does exist, it would be a great feature. In terms of the economics of the business, I don't know whether X wants to push people out of the buffet and into MDR or vice versa. But if it is the latter, they need to promote the evening buffet offerings better.

I was on the Connie last month and they had grill-to-order every night (I think), way in the back of the buffet.

I thought the buffet food was very good to excellent. I was actually pleasantly surprised, considering all I've read on this board. I didn't try everything, loading up my plate with all sorts of things that don't go together. I just decided on a "theme" and created my own little (or not so little) feasts. I probably could have lived on the flat bread pizza, but thought that would be kind of silly, with all the other options around ;)

true 45,

 

Nice to see some "happy" reviews. We're sailing on the April 5 and April 10 sailings. Quick question re self-disembarkation. What time did you leave the ship? We have an 11:40 am flight out of FLL and are sailing in the PH so I know we'll be one of the first groups off the ship and I'm sure we'll be off the ship by 8:30 am, but just wondering if we should do self-disembarkaton?

 

Thanks so much.

 

jcpc

I was on the same sailing as the OP. I did the self-disembark for my 11:20 flight and kept track of the times because I knew some people would want to know. I walked off the ship at 7:26, through customs, onto a shuttle, and was at the airport at 7:45. I would have paid the $75 fee for an earlier flight, but the connection time for my second flight was too short for my comfort. So I took out my iPad and went through my e-mails.

I got off the Connie last Thursday. Self disembarkation, I walked off the ship at 7:26 and was at the airport at 7:45. I had plenty of time to check/catch up on my e-mails ;)

Thanks Jim. I was on the starboard deck 4 (I think - we were parked nose first, right?) just before sailaway watching Carnival push off and our own pier runners. There was some yelling, you're right, from above me, maybe from the same group? I guess I was lucky that my encounters with that behavior was minimal.

Not to veer off-course, but I was on the 1/20 sailing, too. What did I miss? I didn't notice a big group, except on the last night there was a small, but very loud group at the aft deck bar outside of OceanView. I tend to keep to myself and now I'm really curious to know what happened.

Wow. I just got off the ship this morning (I'm at the FLL airport now) and knew nothing about this. And I enjoy walking around the deck at night. So sad for the man and his family.

Thank you. Now I realize my second question wasn't clear. I meant once you're seated, how long does the meal take?

I'm 41 (a baby here lol) and enjoy what I do in accounting/finance. I plan on working until 67th-68 at least. At which point I will play the piano/organ in a blues band either on land or on a ship.

Part of the tax savings I get from my 401k and company match I rationalize with an annual cruise and set of concerts.

Now granted, I know I might feel different in 15 years but have always been happier working vs not.

It's sounds as if you've got a great plan! And it's wonderful that you're happy in your line of work - that's so important. I feel so fortunate that I've had such a great job all these years, but I'm just tired now. I've had to work shifts (including overnights) and it's been difficult to have a social life. I just feel it's time for me to live a little ;) I plan to continue working part time, but not right away.

Is there a public sauna or steam room in the spa area, or is it only available in the Persian Gardens?

And about how long does dinner last in the MDR when using select/anytime/whatever-it's-called dining?

Okay, that's it, thanks. I'm excited for my first Celebrity sailing this week, especially with the temperatures dropping below zero again!

I can take early retirement from 55 , so just 2 years away and that was always my plan, but now that it's close, I've realised taking a reduced pension is just not doable if I want to still be able to travel, and my travel bug nature has not yet worn off as I thought it might have done by now. Actually I now think, I'll want to go on trips right up until I draw my last breath, so have to wait until my full retirement age to maximise my income. Didn't help that I lost a 6 figure sum (that was meant to be my mortgage repayment vehicle) in the banking crisis. No point crying over what might have been. I've still got my health and a good job, so carrying on for more years is not a hardship anyway. I don't think I'm actually ready anyway to not be working. I'd need to fill my days with activity of some sort.

 

Your. Jews on what is too old to be doing stuff changes as you get older!

I have a good job too...been working for the same company 23

years now.

 

What is your last sentence supposed to be saying?:eek::confused:

I think it was supposed to be "Your views..." I really wish people would fix/override autocorrect.

But anyway, I'll be 48 when I retire with a minimum pension. I won't be able to touch my retirement account for another 11 years. I'm also single, but that just means I've had no dependents to spend money on and I've been able to save a lot. I like to travel, but I've never been a shopper or had expensive hobbies/habits. I bought a house that fits my needs, and I guess I've just been really fortunate (financially). I plan to get a part time job to keep busy and meet people.

I'm nervous and very, very excited!

Well last night I was pretty sure I was going to cancel. And then today came...

Maybe I should stay off these boards for a little bit, because now I want to go again. After all, 1 1/2 days is better than none, and I could always go back. It would give me something to look forward to. I'll have a list of things I want to do, knowing I can't do everything, and then just let things unfurl as they may, and enjoy what I can.

As I mentioned, I got a good rate on this sailing. It is an interior cabin, though, so I guess I'll just have to spend more time in the Solarium (please, please, please let us have calm seas!) and wherever coffee is served.

Thanks for letting me think out loud :)

I really forgot about the Summit! Now the problem is time. The Summit's Bermuda season ends at the end of August, and until then, I don't have a full week off - just lots of short weeks/long weekends.

I'm getting close to canceling :( I'm going on a Caribbean cruise next week and that's more of a getaway to bop around some islands. For me, the point of a Bermuda cruise is to see Bermuda and I know I will want more time there.

My only cruise to Bermuda was a 5-nighter. I wish I had had more time there. But I'm still so very glad I got to go. Have you considered RCI's 7-nighters out of Baltimore?

I'm pretty sure RCI's sailing out of Baltimore is 6 nights and involves an extra day at sea, not on the island.

I'll try to be patient and find the right sailing for me. New York is the most convenient, followed by Boston. In the meantime, I'm waiting for RCI's 2015 Norwegian fjord schedule to get posted. Thanks for your input.

I'm booked on Royal's 5-night Bermuda cruise. For me, this cruise is about the destination, not necessarily the sailing. There are only 2 days in Bermuda (1 1/2, really) and I'm wondering if it's worth my effort. There is so much I'd like to see there and I'm afraid I will feel rushed. I'm sure I will have another opportunity to go back, but with Explorer leaving, it will probably be a 7-day sailing. Nice to have an extra day in Bermuda, but it also means another day at sea.

I'm tempted to just use my airline points and take a land vacation. Final payment is approaching!

I took Yankee Trails a couple of years ago when I cruised from the Manhattan port. (funny how two ports so close together geographically can be worlds apart logistically). They were great, no problems, and I have been considering them for this trip. Going down would be no problem, but once I'm off the ship, I'm anxious to get home. By the time we loaded the bus, then drove to Albany (when I would have another 2 hour's drive), I could conceivably be home.

I know other people from this area have detoured to Albany to take Yankee Trails, making me think there's nothing similar locally.

Maybe bring some photos from the ceremony? :D

Hi - thank you both for the information. I think I just might drive. By the time I get back to Manhattan after the cruise, I could be halfway home.

Carol, I hope you have all those directions typed out so you can somehow just paste it into a post. I know you've supplied that information many times (and thank you!). Have fun exploring the new options!

Okay, I just got a crazy idea. Leaving from Bayonne on a Saturday, I was going to drive down the day before, stay at a hotel along the way, then park at the pier. It turns out there's an overnight Greyhound bus that gets to Port Authority first thing in the morning (there's one that arrives at 11 am, but that's kind of late). So I thought I could save the hotel, gas, and parking and take the bus! But then what?

I pack light and can easily walk down to Penn Station, or there's a connecting bus from PA to Newark (I have no idea where the bus stop is), or... what else? NJ Transit to someplace, or Path/light rail/taxi?

Returning home I would go back to NY Penn and take Amtrak.

I hate to post and run, but I have to leave for work. I just wanted to throw this idea out there. Thanks!

3:45 is about right from Syracuse. We've done that drive down to the NYC area many times. Bottom line, is that you are stopping just short of the city and the insane traffic - where you lose all kinds of time. I also don't putter around - I keep it locked into 75 all the way thru.

Thanks for the info. I used to drive to Long Island all the time, so the trip to Bayonne, without the major bridge crossings, seems like a breeze ;)

I can retire in 10 months (well, 290 days according to the countdown clock a friend gave me :D). I'll still be under 55 and although I'm looking forward to traveling some more, it won't be all cruising. I used to take many land vacations, and I've been to Europe several times. Lately I've just been taking lots of long weekend trips. I'd like to get back to the longer vacations, without trying to cram them in between work days.

 

 

Our "home" port is Bayonne, NY - 3hrs 50mins from here. We'll be doing that drive 3x in 2014 all on the day of embarkation.

Does it really take just under 4 hours to get to Bayonne from Syracuse? I was planning on 4 1/2, so this is encouraging. I still may start down the evening before and stay overnight along the way.

To the OP: I'm sure you know to factor in the traffic around the metro areas, and any bridges you may need, depending on which side of the Hudson you're on. Personally, I'd add an hour onto the time and see if it's still worth it to you.

I'm sorry to read these posts. I'm going on the Connie in a few weeks - my first cruise with X. I don't choose my cruises for any one element, but I admit the Aqua Spa Cafe is something I was really looking forward to.

Prior to the implementation of the WHTI, it was acceptable to use an expired passport as proof of citizenship IF the passport had been expired less than 5 years. It was not, however, accepted as proof of ID, since it was expired.

Should that be the other way around? I can see where an expired passport could be used as ID (it's still you), but not for citizenship, since you could easily give that up and still have an old passport.