wadewood

Most influencers, Youtubers, vloggers or whatever else you want to call them are talk too much blowhards that take 15 minutes to answer a question that could answered in 2 written sentences.  That's my opinion.  

If you have sailed before on Celebrity, there is a Captain's party with free drinks once every cruise.  

Also, Celebrity allows 2 bottles of wine per person so take advantage of that.

On 3/25/2023 at 11:16 PM, kwokpot said:

Juice blends aren't available at dinnertime in the MDR. Last month on the Solstice the Iced Tea at the buffet was sweet tea and it was disgusting. I don't know when Celebrity changed to sweet tea or if it's fleetwide but it was never sweet tea before this year. 

I complained to the Food and Beverage Manager about that sweet tea on the Solstice.  They had switched vendors and he described it as lightly sweetened.  Hopefully they change back.  I ended up mostly making my own ice tea starting with a tea bag in hot water.

On our last cruise after a couple of nights of walking in with a glass of wine, the wine steward said it was fine for us to bring a full bottle of wine and she would open we no fee. We didn't have a drink package but did tip her well.  Now that's a YMMV but I thought I'd share.  And this was in Blue.

On the Solstice, it took 6 weeks to get the 11th floor by mid elevators filled.  

If you have a Pixel phone, you can connect it to the ship's wifi.  Then turn on Wifi hotspot under the phone's tethering settings.  Now you can connect your laptop or other device to your phone and share the ship's internet connection.  Apple and most other Android phones prohibit this feature so they are out of luck.  

 

On 3/4/2023 at 1:07 PM, DaKahuna said:

 

 I did this onboard the Silhouette last April.  We had shots of four different Macallan's provided to us, iirc there were four of us, not counting the Macallan expert who was our host (a senior bar tender).

Of the four bottles, only two were served on board but one of the others was being sold in the Ports Merchandise (liquor) store. 

 

All I can say is the experience reaffirmed for me that I prefer rum and bourbon over scotch. 

 

OBTW, here is a photo of what we were served. 

 

If you are doing shots, stick with Fireball

The official answer is you get free drinks from 5 to 7 and other person has to pay.  But if you visit same bar and tip well enough, a few dollars each drink, odds are good your cabin mate would be served some free drinks.

Viking Ocean cruise line lobster vs Celebrity. Hey I love Celebrity on B2B right now, but this is the truth.

1 hour ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

 

Just to share the datapoint, when was the earliest you COULD leave the ship, 7am or 745am?

It wasn't 7am.  We were wrapping in breakfast in Blue when they made announcement, maybe around 7.30am.

We self-embarked about 7.45 am on Feb 4th.  Took about 15 minutes to get an Uber to pick us up, but standard pricing not surge.

46 minutes ago, Purplsmurf said:

Why do you think that brands such as Tito’s label theirs as gluten free? 

marketing.  Grey Goose is made from wheat yet on their website it says it's gluten free.  

4 minutes ago, DCPIV said:

If you are going to buy a drink package and wi-fi (and I assume you would pay the recommended gratuities), then the AI rate almost certainly is a much better deal. 

 

I just did a mock booking for a veranda on our upcoming cruise, and the AI rate was $80pp/night.  The classic drink package by itself for the same cruise is $81pp/nt (on "sale" from $89pp/nt).

Really depends on how much you drink.  If it's 10+ drinks a day, then yes.  If it's 2-3 drinks a day, then no.  Also depends on your level; if you are elite or higher and just drink mostly at the daily 5-7, you can save big $ by doing the non inclusive.

Wifi, at least on our upcoming cruises when purchased before you board, is $29.99 for premium and $16.99 for for basic.

16 minutes ago, smtcan said:

Has anyone experienced what happens on B2B?  Can we bring 4 bottles each and have 2 held for the second cruise?

I emailed Celebrity about that a few months back and was told yes, copy of response in photo. That said we didn't chance it.  Took 4 bottles on 1st week.  On second week of B2B we walked to local wine store and bought 4 more.

The cruise terminals are run by outside staff.  We visited San Diego for 3 days prior to cruise last year.  I purchased a 375ml bottle of whiskey by a local distillery.  I told security and they said no way allowed on board.  I wound up having to go outside and dump it out; wasn't going to give them free whiskey.  

But on other side on recent Solstice trip out of San Pedro, CA, the 4 bottles of wine in backpack (2 per person is allowed) was never even looked at.  It could have been 4 bottles of whiskey.

6 hours ago, Purplsmurf said:

Sorry, but this isn’t true. There are many vodkas that aren’t gf. This post is very old and I have found that I would be able to have Smirnoff or Tito’s, but we did purchase the premium drink package so all good 

Vodka is Gluten free - you could do some research on subject and find out the real answer.  I happen to be a Certified Spirits Specialist through the Society of Wine Educators.

On 2/9/2023 at 6:10 PM, bpick518 said:

I can verify that this is correct as I was on that cruise - CD said 768 passengers. He called it "your own private yacht"! Not great for Celebrity, but very enjoyable as a passenger:)

And the following week the Solstice was under 900 passengers, but the next week it was up to 1900.

On 6/17/2022 at 11:49 AM, Purplsmurf said:

We have never taken advantage of the Elite happy hour because we have always had a drink package. We will be doing a comped cruise and we did buy the premium package last time, but going to try to go without it this time. My question is…..I’m a vodka drinker and also gluten free. They vodka they offer on the HH is Absolut and I can’t drink that. Smirnoff and Tito’s are also classic options. Has anyone been in the same boat and able to substitute the vodka? I have asked others and told no. I would think that Celebrity would make exceptions for allergies. I haven’t asked on the ship yet, so might just have to wait,  but wondered if anyone had experience with it.

All distilled spirits are gluten free.  Gluten cannot pass through distillation.  Now some spirits have stuff added post distillation that might contain gluten, but as long as it's not a flavored vodka it's gluten free.

26 minutes ago, alfred said:

My husband received 2 email offers, both for the West coast embarkation..which would cost us too much in airfare to go.  So we wait—-will they keep sending offers?  New to this Blue Chip Offers!

6 months ago they were handing them out like candy at Halloween to about everyone who ever put $1 in a slot machine.  As we approach Spring Break and summer peak cruising time, I think the Blue Chip offers are going to be scarce unless you were a truly a high roller.

5 hours ago, Accessor said:

Wow, no tequila or bourbon? when did that change?  How low can they go....

 

There is a Manhattan cocktail option, which requires a bourbon (or a rye whiskey).  I've ordered bourbon on the rocks and they poured Jim Beam.  

On recent B2B on Solstice.  A magician that performs 1 show at night and one in the afternoon.  A comedian that performs 1 show and then another late-night show.  A featured singer that performs twice.  These changed each cruise.  
 

Both cruises had a singing group called Barricade Boys. Other nights it's the Celebrity singers/dancers performing variety shows - Broken Strings, Rock City and one other I can't recall name.

17 minutes ago, sixpackeddie said:

Has anyone received a Blue Chip complimentary cruise with the drink package included? I have only received offers for cruise only for aqua class or 60% off a Sky Suite.

Some have.  It all depends on your level of gambling in the casino.  Just because some got it does not mean you will.

I could see them cutting the live band and using studio music as other cruise lines have.  Also replacing the hand towels in bathroom with paper towels.  I hope not.

On 2/10/2023 at 1:07 PM, cgolf1 said:

bring back the prime rib and the minute steaks in the lunch buffet. IMO the lobster would not be missed.

The minute steaks I always looked forward to.  We recently did B2B on Solstice.  1st week after 5 days never saw them and asked each day.  On day 6 I escalated that up the ladder and after I told them I would be on ship next week, they promised me they would be served.  Sure enough at least 4 times the next week they had them on lunch buffet.