Mike981

@tigervixxxen I hear you on the short window to edit a post. It would be nice (if possible with the forum software) if they would double the edit time. Your post is a perfect example of why. Have a great trip and I'm glad you are saving some money.

@Heidi13 That is a great story, thank you for sharing.

FWIW, when I was a radio announcer in certain situations I got the VIP treatment. They wanted me to talk about their business. I had friends who got week long stays at Sandals resorts where they did their show from there, I turned it down because I wanted to have a week of vacation, not work. At one point before the holidays, companies were sending me all kinds of electronic toys to giveaway to listeners so they would be mentioned on the radio. We're talking NICE stuff, like gaming consoles. Sorry OP, it's just the way the world is. Now I need to go buy some beer that an actor drinking in a movie I saw last night. They sure seemed to like it, so it must be good.

I have let my family know that when I pass on, they are to donate my body to science fiction.

It would be our first cruise (7 nights) on Celebrity Mercury. I had never traveled and my wife only did some car trips growing up but nothing big, AND, this was our honeymoon 10 years late. The only thing I knew about cruising was the TV show Love Boat and thought I would never experience a cruise like that. Well my first cruise was light years better than the TV show. Hook-line-&-sinker, they got me. *side bar* We were so broke when we got married that my sister who was a business traveler had a lot of hotel points and gave us enough to book a hotel in Milwaukee for two nights. That was very nice, but what to do? At the time we both liked to have a beer and I found out that the Pabst brewery had free historic tours and free samples 365 days a year, perfect! We finally find the brewery (this is way before GPS), walk to the front door and there is a sign that says "closed for remodeling for the near future." WAWAWaaaaaaa.

Since we fly the cost of Uber/taxi negates any savings of booking a hotel away from the port. Just a tad jealous. 😃 Color me paranoid, the way the world of travel has been so unstable lately I just won't book third party. I have heard to many stories where things go sideways and it is a nightmare to 'try' get things resolved. In the past I loved the savings, but at the moment I will be booking direct or using a site like Value Trips. As I understand it, they act like a coupon site and you still work directly with the hotel.

Only thing that comes to mind are hostels. I have been reading some nasty stories about AirBnB and VRBO, on how they treat their clients. As you are finding out, most travel has gone crazy $$$$. Good luck in your search.

I just checked for a Caribbean cruise for January 2025 and rooms are already selling out and the rooms available that I would book (lowest category) I don't like the locations. I understand it is the only Caribbean cruise they are offering at that time, but dang that is early. Maybe some TA's have put a bunch on hold?

Wishing you a great trip! We were giving Viking a serious look but the itineraries didn't work for us this year. Hopefully in the future.

100%

Per the flour issue (not saying you are wrong): I find it hard to believe that a political issue that came out this week is now effecting ships that put in purchase orders months in advance. Seems like there is more going on than the war.

Thank you for such a great comparison. We were toying with the idea of going with Princess for our January trip, but found a good deal on Celebrity. My DW and I cruised princess a decade ago and found it to be, just 'okay' in many areas and since then never seriously considered them again. I do keep tabs on them, just in case.

We were thinking with prices on ALL travel being so high, we were most likely not going to be traveling again this year. I kept watching prices on a few lines along with air costs, then came across a decent deal on an Aqua room on Silhouette (along with good air prices). Since it includes what we like; WiFi, tips and beverage package I took it. Also in all of our cruises we have never eaten in a specialty restaurant, so we are looking forward to eating in Blue.

Not sure of your exact situation (are you the point person?), but if it was me I would use a travel agent 100%.

Thank you again, much appreciated.

I've never thought about it this way. I am also looking for that unicorn. For me; in today's world when things can go sideways in an hour, I need more help than I did in the past. For my next trip I am doing it solo, but I plan to connect with someone at Celebrity to at least have a contact person. My how travel has changed over a few short years.

LOL! I'm going to leave it here...with a little room deodorizer.

Well now you are putting me in a sticky situation.

Our family of four have taken several summer cruise vacations and they all worked out fine. We came close one year when we landed in Orlando and you could see the wall cloud and it looked extremely menacing (I can't remember the name of the hurricane). As the ship left Port Canaveral it stated to rain hard, but an hour later it cleared up and we had perfect weather the whole seven day trip. At one port I charted a sail boat for our family and the captain told me that the hurricane will suck all of the energy out of the atmosphere, including sand from Africa and that is why it was so crazy clear and calm. After our cruise I remember walking around the airport listening to people who went to see Mickey and saying it was horrible. Some said that the water in the park was knee deep. All in all, weather is just that, weather. For example my wife and daughter did a southern Caribbean cruise in the winter and it was not warm at all. There was a major cold front that came down the east coast that effected the whole Caribbean. They wore multiple layers when outside, not what one would expect.

Thank you all ❤️. Wishful thinking by me after looking at what is included with the room. Not a huge deal, but it would be nice. We have a little bit of OBC, so maybe we will do try it a couple of times. Hey @Jim_Iain, isn't it time for you two kids to go on a cruise? I miss you guys.

Just spent way to much time trying to search this on CC. Does anyone know if this is still offered in Aqua, or did it go away recently like other room categories?

Thank you @PROCRUISE. In the past I have gone with a decent TA from a major east coast travel agency. He was more of an order taker and not much else, and I never had to test him with anything wrong. I did get good rates and OBC. This time (with things still in a bit of a flux) I decided to go the direct non-TA route because I felt if anything went wrong I didn't want to have to wait for my TA to 'try' to fix it and I could do it direct with Celebrity. Especially during off hours. In the near future I will connect with a PCP as I have a few questions, plan to upgrade our drink package and also need to make a correction on my wife's information.

I booked directly online three months ago, is it possible to still get a PCP? Or is it even worth the effort? Thank you~

I forgot all about that, it was such a nice treat.

Mine only has one forward facing camera, when this one dies I plan to get one that covers both ends. With so many people looking at their phone and not the road, I need to get one for the back.