Lastdance

For me, it was the complete opposite of this; never will my DH and I cruise the Caribbean again. We want the total E-class experience overseas, full of culture, history, different nationalities and a variety of experiences. Both of us are in our 70’s, so not spring chickens by any means. No float the boat for us at this point of our lives, just keep on moving and enjoying life to the fullest! Seize the day your way!

Well, for me Celebrity’s customer service on land is what I just detest, as I am still trying to recover an extra 200. So, it’s the new-hires that have given me the red flag, making me absolutely unsure of my future bookings. Of course, two are on the books now with NRF deposits, along with insurance just for the deposits for now. I love the E- ship experience, not to mention how hard the crew work onboard to make the experience so enjoyable! Furthermore, the continuous sales upon sales has much to be desired, but totally lost in translation as the same ole thing, yet higher, except for once in a while. I chose another line for its itinerary, but have no idea if the total experience will impress me at all, yet that's the choice I made. Furthermore, I understand that "C" is recruiting newbies(new customers) who don't have the experiences of more seasoned cruisers. Yes, "seasoned," but not old! Stock price today in after hours trading: 136.02. ~Happy Easter~

We were on the same cruises, but unfortunately, life happens. Though we haven’t been to Australia, we have had the experience of New Zealand’s hiking, along with driving all around South Island. The air is so clean that breathing is a unique and wonderful experience! What a wonderful trip of a lifetime to make such awesome memories. I hope your weather stays fair and sunny, at least for the majority of your cruise. We were on the first TA with Edge; except for our precious dog being ill at home, the cruise was very enjoyable. We were also in a suite, so it was easy to call and receive updates about her health, but we did have a lot of agony and mixed feeling due to being in the middle of the Atlantic. ~Safe Travels

I would expect nothing less from a brand new ship by Celebrity. How wonderful that you were able to spend 7 weeks onboard. Also, I would definitely agree with AQ not being priced out of the realm of reasonable for prices today either, along with cruising, in the Caribbean, and not Europe. Makes perfect sense to me! New ship + AQ + Caribbean + cabin and not suite + Blu- dedicated restaurant + 30 years of experience.🌎

This particular font was not planned, but of course I won’t use it again; however, it is nice to know that people are reading! I have also requested that it be changed. Too much multi-tasking, I guess!

I love getting 15% off of the MDR’s. Just did the new simple math🥰 Yes, I know Celebrity is practicing, but it looks good. Anyway, nowadays getting anything off is a huge deal even when it really isn’t! 🤑

How nice to be on your way again, leaving the white stuff behind and taking another journey to a far away land for the sunshine and warmer temps. I hope you have another lovely trip, along with sharing your travel with the rest of us. Make those memories!

I have been there, but it was about ten years ago. Did you research Corsica and boat excursions? Viator seems to have quite a few, but so do other companies. Also, did you join your roll call, as sometimes there are tours/excursions you can join that are small group.

🤗. Looking forward to hearing all the butler stuff! Am I allowed to say this? Well, I just did!

Join the club of ... I feel your pain, but just hold your ground and transfer to a great TA; realize that TA’s are also having many of the same issues. Many newbies on the ground crew/new hires need training, but there is life after being on hold, it just depends when your hold time equals the amount specified for you. My TA says she has never encountered so much ....!

Thanks for sharing; glad that everything was easy for you. We also went to our Credit Card company because not all was returned. You can see where some people are refunded very quickly too. I was told 21 days by TA/Celebrity. I have also had to cancel and received my funds quickly, just not this time. It was a little more complicated due to the original individual working on it making a mistake and then another etc. Just a huge conundrum of errors where no one was checking the policy/rules. Also, FBC made an error. The funny thing was that everything was in writing by Celebrity and their rules, not mine. Customer Service basically failed and no one cared enough to make things right.

No, it is not. I agree that Princess is a better value, but Celebrity has a lot that I enjoy from cabins/suites to being onboard. Canceling before the 90 days and not getting the correct refund has made me truly worn out from the new-hires; my TA is experiencing the same through-out the cruise industry and spends so much more time on the phone nowadays. I have encountered issues before, but not returning funds that are owed can be a nightmare!

I have really been enjoying your review, especially all the details and photos. I don’t do the Caribbean, so Europe is totally me! I have never cruised with Princess, but feel it has a lot to offer families on this new ship, Sun Princess. I usually cruise Celebrity, but am trying Oceania because of its itinerary and being a small ship. Celebrity, after all these years, has taken a turn for very high pricing, along with shoreside issues that have left me disappointed. IMHO, a little too much of a money-grab and not following its own rules due to so many changes and new-hires. However, Princess is a little too closed-in for me, but I see many reasons why it would be a great fit for others. Every line has its pros and cons, but I do like your itinerary, even though I have been to all these place several times; Europe just has so much to offer. The food photos look wonderful and you are in Europe, so what’s not to like!!!!! This review was exactly what I was looking for, as I have a friend who only does Princess. Her nickname is also...you guessed it! Thank You!😀

Firewall...makes it quieter on that side. I have stayed in an SV wnext to one of those.

Life is difficult, but it is also fun, educational, exciting...Celebrity finally returned almost all the money I was owed from canceling a Hawaii cruise(Edge) before the 90 days! I was charged $200 for canceling on top of the NRD deposit, not to mention Celebrity said my airfare had been refunded when it wasn’t. I call that adding insult to injury, but honestly, customer service is awful all over, not just the cruise industry. My cruise price also went way down(thousands) from what I paid too, but since I can’t go, it just doesn’t matter. I totally understand your frustration, but even trying to get money that was owed to me took 8 phone calls from my TA and myself, not to mention getting my credit card company involved. Anyway, just be prepared that anything can happen and work through your frustrations. I still have two cruises booked in the future with Celebrity, but my DH needs to stop having accidents, so I do not have to go through all this frustration, especially teaching new-hires to read their own cruise contracts.

Unfortunately, I keep receiving wrong pricing, not to mention being sent other cabin/suite prices. Like everything these days, customer service is different from its name. anyway, glad it is working for you.

Yes, we had 2,200 on a cruise(suite) I had to cancel!🥶 For 2025, we have 700 total for a TA in a suite, along with another 525 for the cruise prior which is 11 days, in an SV. I just won’t be using the spa, as prices are way more and not always as good as home. No big deal, but when looked at holistically, not a good deal either!

I totally agree...that price is outrageous; prices from Celebrity in many cased are just huge red lights and a money-grab, IMHO! I guess if one has lots of OBC to burn...?

We always stay at Albergo Del Senato; been there four times now and have two favorite suites. Walking into the Pantheon at the beginning of the morning before the crowds is absolutely heavenly. It is not worth it any other time of the day! Plus, you are so close and can see it from many different rooms/suites. Places in Italy are so crowded nowadays. I stayed in an airbnb last year in Sorrento and it was a mad house, in early May. Make sure you start your days very early in the mornings! For me, Split/Croatia, Zakynthos/Greece, and Algarve area in Portugal are excellent and not quite as crowded. Enjoy, as travel is the continuing education of a lifetime! Excursions by ship are never as good as those private ones that you research and book yourself, but having OBC is a little different, especially if you have nothing better to do with it and you are not that picky!

I really enjoy TA’s, it gives my DH and I plenty of time to use the gym and just relax. We drink very little and are independent about excursions, booking our own. Also, this itinerary takes us exactly when and where we want to go. We got a great deal and are both open to something new and different. We have done Celebrity for years, but too many changes, lack of continuity and dealing with their staff working in different departments shoreside made my TA and I crazy...still waiting on money from a canceled cruise due to a ski accident with every excuse given one could imagine. Not to mention being charged an additional $500 for no reason. I just have to do a cruise with a different company to get a break from the total stupidity and inability to follow their own rules that are in writing. There is just too much of a disconnect with Celebrity. We won’t know enough on O to be concerned, as just a completely different experience is welcoming. We will miss our status, but that’s okay. Too bad that O doesn’t have a choice to use their money except for their own personal excursions...we do not do busses, but have been to all the ports except one. Our land stay in Algarve will be the highlight of this trip, along with only flying one-way, except getting to Miami. Thanks for your information!

Retreat Host/stateroom attendant…the one who wore two hats. So, Retreat Host that basically did everything! I guess I should not have said stateroom attendant, as the name changed. I met the head butler on the first day, only because I wanted my suite cleaned as early as possible, so I gave him a call! Sorry about the confusion, but hopefully things will go back to the way they were…

My Retreat Host/Butler had 15 suites on Beyond in December and was always on the move; we were already in our suite after dinner without our room being cleaned the first evening, but everything worked out for the next 9 days. He was always so busy…hopefully, things will improve for everyone, as we move forward without even more increases in pricing.

Oh my...what about the other experiences like the gym, areas of the ship, crew etc. I have yet to do my first cruise on Vista, a TA from Miami. Sounds like I should cancel, but maybe not just yet? However, if O listens to its patrons, hopefully things will improve! Thankfully, I am allergic to lobster, but do enjoy my desserts. I do want to “try" a smaller and more intimate ship experience; will a TA be a decent first experience? I am also staying in Portugal for an extended amount of time.

I guess butlers are returning, but if they have that many suites, they will be very overworked. So, if this is the new butler situation, the change may not even be noticed, except maybe for the card. Time will certainly tell, along with it being different on various ships!