Algebralovr

The tea brand was changed on Equinox in February. It was pretty bad. The staff wasn't expecting the change, it had just shown up the cruise before ours.

I just stuck with the Café.

Does anyone have the current price if purchased on board the ship for a 7 night cruise? Is there a coupon on the Select page? We don't usually purchase the photos, but we'll have the kids, grandparent, and aunt with us this time.

I would not expect very many children that week. We've been on one week cruises that week a couple of times on Celebrity Reflection and Eclipse, and there were only ever a few children of school age that we ever saw. Last year, on Reflection, we toured the Fun Factory on embarkation day, as we were curious about offerings for a future cruise with friends. That week, they were only expecting a total of 5 children under the tween age, and just a couple in the tween age. There were a couple of high school students, and they seemed to be in the library doing homework a lot of the time. We did meet some families on the way to the airport in a shared shuttle, but none of them had sailed Celebrity.

If you do the earlybird...you still checkin online at the 24 hour mark..will it then tell you what number you are ??

Yes, if you do early bird then check in some time after that, it will tell you what number you are to line up.

There is a bit more to know. If you do a lot of traveling on Southwest, it will unofficially assign you a boarding number and then issue it to you once you check in. I know someone who always seems to have A 16 no matter when he checks in. But, he tends to fly on Southwest weekly. They reward him for that. The rest of us generally get a better boarding position if we pay for EB.

I agree with all the above. You are not being selfish, you are being realistic.

I would tell your mother that you are sorry, but you do not want to be responsible for him. You are looking forward to time with your husband and kids, and while you would be happy to see your nephew on occasion on the trip, you don't want to be responsible for him. There is nothing wrong with that.

As first time 'big ship' cruisers all this tipping stuff can be quite confusing, - especially when in the UK it's not as common as across the pond.

 

I know I might regret asking this but why can't the company just pay a decent wage to their staff and tips are for good service like they're supposed to be? .

Years and years ago, people started giving gratuities to those 'in service' and the concept stuck. It is a way to show a lower cost for the cruise to people price shopping. Many of us agree that we hate it.

Once you prepay your tips, there is no need to tip anyone more, unless you want to. Except for the auto tips on drinks or spa treatments, etc. Some tip additionally and others don't, it is a personal preference, but not expected.

 

The baggage handlers people speak about are those off the ship at the ports that people usually give $1 or $2 a bag. They will be there to get your bags when you arrive and place on a cart to get them to the ship. They will also be there at the end of your cruise if you need help getting your luggage to your car, bus or taxi.

This is true in the US, but I've heard it is not true in other locations. On our last cruise, I didn't give a dime to the baggage handlers on the shore. We took a shuttle from our hotel, got our bags from the shuttle, and were told by the baggage handlers to find where bags with tags like ours were grouped. Then he walked away. That was at Port Everglades. Definitely no tip earned there!

Noro86, if your steward delivers your room service order, you can wait to tip till the end. Most of the times when I order room service, they are in and out so fast it is clear they aren't expecting a tip. As for "everyone" tips extra and tips a lot, if you pay your recommended gratuities, you have met the expected amount. Above that is because you really want to. Our last cruise, we didn't give our room attendants anything extra. After 4 Celebrity cruises, we knew what to expect. There were a number of things we missed, such as notice that the clocks were changing, comment cards part of the way through, etc. everything just seemed 'off' with them. The rest of the staff was awesome. So we didn't leave extra. There is nothing wrong with that!

Easiest and least expensive option is to make sure the booking is in the name on the passport.

Best option is to get new passport, assuming you have your marriage license and it is registered, if she is choosing to change her last name to match yours. It is not legally required for her to actually change her last name, unless she chooses to book tickets and trips using the new last name.

She will need a photo ID in the name that is on the airline ticket to board the plane to get to and from San Juan. That is a separate issue from Customs at the cruise port.

Getting on and off the ship, she needs a photo ID that has the same name as she has used to book the cruise.

If her DL has her married last name on it, she can cruise with her state issued birth certificate, photo ID and marriage certificate (again state issued).

If no documents have yet been acquired with the married name, get the new passport. It may very well be the fastest to get with the new name, if the flight and room was booked with the married name. In my state, DLs now take more time than a passport.

If the flight arrives at 10am, by the time you get your bags and get through the airport, it will likely be 11am.

Normally, my plan would be to board and have lunch. Since that will not be an option, I would go to a downtown hotel and have a nice lunch, leaving the bags with the bellman. It will require two cab rides, but better than standing at the pier.

I suggest you post this on the Florida to find a good hotel to have lunch, but I would expect that any of the 4-star downtown hotels would be a decent choice.

Someone dropped the ball in the UK site. The US site only lists it on the two. http://www.celebritycruises.com/onboard/level3Type1.do?pagename=onboard_celebrity_restaurants_cafes_silk_harvest&parentpage=onboard_celebrity_restaurants_cafes

As we all know, the land side of the company is pitiful, but the on board product is great.

Silk Harvest is not an option on Sillhouette. Instead, it has Qzine.

It seems to depend on the server, but I've usually been able to order a bottle of water at the same time as another drink, with alcohol or not. Most of them have the attitude that if you order a water as well, you are likely to drink it and not become intoxicated and difficult while being served.

As for the OJ and coffee, I would walk in, order one, sit down, then order the other. Otherwise, order one then as they bring it, order the other. Once the wait staff know you are drinking all yourself, after a couple of days they may bring both at the same time.

We've been using the in board laundry service the last couple of cruises, and have been pleased by it.

Gratuities were increased in April 2013. I assume your online resource didn't update their site when that happened.

Back to the original topic, OP, if your brother cannot complete the cruise, he will need to mss the ship entirely.

For the rest of you, the PVSA also protects US airlines from being undercut by foreign firms that are supported by foreign governments.

I would NOT choose #3. I say this as the parent of two kids that I did I that to when they were in high school. Missing the last few days of a high school class just before break might be a really bad idea, particularly if the semester ends at the same time. My two told me that if I ever did that to them again they would choose to go to school and take their exams rather than go on vacation. Because we were gone the last 2 days before the end of the semester, they had to take semester exams before and after school in the couple of days before that. It was while they were still learning the last bit of material that was to the on those final exams, plus the teachers were not happy at having to stay after and come in before school to give the exams.

I will add that our school purposefully plans exams those last few days before break to prevent kids from skipping school those days. We always have two or three exams in the last day of a semester.

Also, as a former teacher, I always planned an exam the last day or two before a break of more than a three day weekend. Taking exams after a break of more than a couple of days meant grades plummeted.

Your school may be different, but that was how ours worked it.

Additionally, my children's school allows only a certain number of absences per semester before they take away the credits. I recommend double checking with administration before taking them out for quite that many days.

I would take option 3 without the kids!

Sorry, but your 19-year old will definitely not be allowed in the teen club. On the other hand,your 17's probably won't want to hang out there either. It isn't a 'nightclub' but rather an area for them to hang out.

They will find other places to hang out though, so they will be fine.

If you take a behind the scenes tour, they might show you the extra kitchen they use to make the food for special diets.

We were told they could prepare just about anything our Dd can eat. She is fine with gluten, but cannot eat soy (including veg oil that is soy based), rice, nuts (both peanuts and tree nuts), or melon (which includes eggplant). I've been assured by the manager at Bo5 that they can feed her but it will take a few minutes, and the restaurant manager that she will be well cared for.

I agree that it is highly likely that prices will go up, but watching prices has told me that they are unlikely to go up between now and June for winter 2016 cruises. I'm speaking for the 10-11 Equinox cruises and 14 night Eclipse cruises here. The 7 night ones will take even longer.

I'm interested in hearing from Host Andy and others sailing soon that the beverage package is offered for all book-on-board sailings, since if it is, then I will definitely wait to book!

While there are some rooms I would prefer, I'm not so set on a particular room that I must book now to get it. I like the rooms on the hump, but I'm fine with any balcony room if that is all I can get.

Thanks for the help all!

On my last cruise, one of the waiters saw that my DH and I left a few minutes after ordering every single evening. He asked about it, and I replied that we always went to wash out hands with soap and water after handling the menus. He smiled, said he wished more passengers were so diligent, and told us that he was supposed to wash his every five minutes or so when handling food items. I'm not quite sure how the waiters can do that, but it sounds good.

Now, if I could just figure out how to decline to shake hands gracefully when someone sticks out their hands at me.... It keeps happening, usually right after I've washed, and often just before I'm ready to eat!

Agree with ORV, that the lack of agents at the call center is it due to available workforce. Wichita, KS is not what I would consider a small rural town! It is actually the largest city in the state of KS! They do need to hire more people, have needed to do so for a while.

OP, glad you got started and hope they resolve your issue.

If you are on a tour purchased through the ship, it might be possible. Celebrity did it on our last cruise for a group that was not due back until after 8:30 pm. It was arranged n advance by the shore excursions team.

We had a handheld shower head when in CC on Reflection.

That might be just another Reflection quirk.

Since it is the old version, you should be able to purchase an off brand and use it with no problem. They should have them at your favorite discount store, as well as the CVS on every corner.

I would do that, rather than chance trying to find one on board.

Those of you who have been looking at the new sailings just being released may have an opinion. ID like to hear it.

I see the preview perk, but don't remember the on-board booking perk.

I have a cruise coming up in June. I want to book my winter 2016 cruise once I see pricing. I'm trying to decide between a 10 night on Equinox, a 14 night in Eclipse, and a B2B on Reflection or Sillouette where a friend might be able to join me for part of it. That is a different issue. I will probably book Concierge Class for the nicer towels and points, since the extra points will get us to Elite.

My question is, do you believe I'll get better OBC/perks by booking now (before April 30) or waiting to book Onboard in June? I don't expect prices to change much between now and June, since it will still be so far out.

Thanks!

On Reflection, there are plenty of WiFi APs (access points). There are fewer on other ships. On Equinox, I found that it was iffy in the room, but great at the Cafe al Bacio and in the buffet.

I can't say about the others, but they will likely tell you that you'll have best results in public areas.