Algebralovr

Been in 6208 on Eclipse on 6240 on Equinox. They were fine to me. In fact, I booked the family into 6244, 6246, and 6248 on Equinox for this summer. All are 2C or 2D cabins. The obstruction doesn't bother me at all. Particularly after experiencing a cave, err inside.

Will I happily sail an inside again? Absolutely! A day on a cruise is better than a day at home! But I would take an obstructed balcony in a heartbeat.

My gut feeling is that the new concept will be on the Summit in late July. A couple of the people we know are going to Summit then, and are part of a 'New Project' that they had to keep a secret when we sailed on Equinox in February.

I'm looking forward to seeing if Equinox gets it after her dry-dock. June should be an interesting time to sail!

If you are disembarking on a Saturday or Sunday, you want to allow extra time at FLL since Oasis and Allure also disembark those days. FLL becomes a total ZOO once the passengers from the Oasis class ships get there.

I've seen prices drop as the cruise line discounts in order to fill those last few cabins, particularly once shoulder-season hits. I've also seen prices go way up.

One example is my 7 night Adriatic to Aegean Cruise on the Celebrity Equinox this June. At one point in time, an inside was $1159. Now, an inside is $2049.

By watching, we were able to move last summer to balcony cabins for the same as an inside. Now, that balcony cabin goes for $2799!

This is after final payment!

My February cruise also doubled in price. By booking over a year out, I've gotten the room I wanted and been able to watch for price drops and specials. Once final payment comes, I stop checking as much. I generally have a room I like, so there is no point in watching. If someone on my roll call announces upgrades, I might see about one, but knowing Celebrity's policies, I generally don't since I don't want to risk my room, price and perks.

We enjoyed Hollywood Beach, but you'll likely need to rent a car to get there.

For after the cruise, ID say the same, but next time I plan to use Luggage Valet for my bags.

There are bunches of suggestions on the family cruise boards.

There were a number of little ones on our last couple of cruises. One of the things we noticed were blow-up baby pools since the little ones are not allowed in the regular pools. That let the little one splash around safely.

Bring more diapers than anyone thinks the little one will need. Friends brought theirs along last May and had to make a run for more. Luckily, we were on a sailing up the coast of California, and they were familiar with San Francisco and planned ahead where to get what he needed.

Back to the other question, why the numbers jump for Feb 15, I believe it is likely because mid-February is when many of us get very tired of winter, and book in mid-February! I know that is certainly true for me!

If you check the roll-call for the Equinox Feb 10 2014 cruise, you'll see that a bunch of them decided to book the Eclipse for 15Feb 2015 that you are looking at.

Knowing that we are making our own break from winter is certainly what keeps me going through January and the start of classes.

We are taking one of the 7 night cruises in June on Equinox. It gives us the best of both worlds, since we are spending a couple of days in Venice at the start and a couple of days in Istanbul at the end.

We managed to get a great price last June when they offered a 2D for the cost of an inside. For the last few months, the balcony prices have gone up and up.

Anything under $1300 for a balcony is probably good.

Some of the car rental places at the FLL airport offer shuttles from the port to the airport. I'm not certain which ones, though.

If you can't find one, a cab to FLL will run you less than $20.

You might also take a cab to one of the airport hotels and take a shuttle from there to POM.

Yes to photos. No to wheelchairs. You go up and down a lot if stairs in the back.

Sure! Hope I didn't come across as snarky!

If the OP was an AT&T or T-Mobile user, removing the SIM card would be a great solution. Verizon and Sprint use CDMA.

OP, if you have an iPhone, and it is unlocked or you can get them to unlock it, you might be able to put a SIM card in it that you purchase on shore. There might be a SIM card slot on the side. This might be the best way to call home from where you are going.

Yes, or remove the SIM card. I use my smart phone for all kinds of non-phone, non-text things (music and audiobooks most importantly), so leaving my phone in the safe would be a horrible solution for me. But I agree you can't rely on them to just leave them in airplane mode, either.

Just FYI that Verizon uses The CDMA protocol and does not have SIM cards. The okay way to completely block international calling, texting and data might be to call the company and have them lock it.

Some ships have towers that allow CDMA and some do not. Many non-US countries don't have CDMA cell towers either, but if your phones use LTE they might still work.

I would go with Navigator.

I absolutely would NOT do Carnival Elation. Mine at 14 and 16 were bored out of their skulls on Elation and told me at that time they never wanted to take a cruise vacation again.

Read a bunch of reviews and see what they say before you book.

Teenagers, cell phones (even smart phones), and cruises do not mix. If you allow your teens to use their data and texting from the ship, they will provide you a huge bill.

If your teens do believe they require their phones for some reason, perhaps they use their phone as an eReader, listen to music through their iPhone and no longer have an iPod, etc, I advise you to contact your phone provider and put an international block on the phones carried by your teens. The teens will be able to use their phones in airplane mode to read, listen to music they already have downloaded, watch a video they already have downloaded, etc.

Yes, but not from the airport; just a clarification. :)

That might be a good thing. The OP is coming from MIA to Port Everglades. Taking a car from a rental agency with a shuttle that is not at the airport might save an airport fee.

Note that some of the rental car agencies do charge a Port Recovery fee for their shuttles.

Regarding the price you paid, I've seen it to both ways. In winter of 2012, the prices dropped like a rock after final payment, and people on my roll call were upgrading to CC or AQ for what an interior had previously gone for. Interiors went below $500 for a 7 night on Eclipse. Last year, prices held firm. This year, people who booked later paid double what I did. My summer med cruise is now going for nearly three times what I paid. It is all a matter of supply and demand.

As for the empty cabins, there is no way to know what the people on your roll call actually did with regards to canceling or not. My insurance requires that I try to catch the ship to make a claim. Many of those who didn't make it might have told Celebrity they would try to catch up.

They have no obligation to offer you a new room, even when there are empty rooms, if the room you booked is in working order.

Budget has a shuttle as well.

I would not bother with a room, just a car and walk on Hollywood Beach. You'll b off the ship around 7-8 am, which means you really only have 4 -5 hours, tops.

Eat a good breakfast on the ship, disembark and deal with customs, etc, get a car, drive to beach, stroll and our or two, have lunch, leave for the airport. Depending on the terminal, I've seen it take a good hour or more to clear security.

My DD is doing a great job working with her puppy, Xena. Keep in mind the pup is only 16 weeks. They are now going out for 2 hour long walks every day to wear off the puppy energy. Good exercise for both of them! Of course, Xena gets home, drops, then 30 minutes later is ready for more - all rested up!

Anyway, she is struggling to trim the back nails. She has been able to get the front ones, but Xena will not let her work on the back ones. She tried while Xena slept, but all that puppy energy shows even in sleep. That puppy even gets up and walks in circles, shepherding something, while sleeping!

Any suggestions from all you experienced dog folks?

We'll be in with Prish. They are doing something's but I don't know for certain what. We were told by a three-stripe officer that Cellarmasters was supposed to be changed, but he wasn't certain how, since they need to keep available the area they use for docking when they use that floor. He liked that it would have the craft beers and a 'Pub Style".

The amount of time in dry dock was reduced, as Allure needed it more due to the ongoing engine issues was what I was told.

4-year old girls will have a blast at the Fun Factory. We toured on boarding day last year in Reflection. Lots of building toys, craft supplies, pretend toys. I would say they are likely the perfect age.

There is, but for those of us who have to drive 2 hours to get anywhere, it might be less of an issue.

I know people who drive 2 hours to get to work one way, every single day and have for years. That is sometimes 200 miles each day. To them, the 18 hour drive will be much less that to the person who rarely drives, or. You small amounts.

She can also deposit them at Guest Services right at the start to pre-pay her on board account fees just as if they were cash.

Since on board accounts are in USD, they will be an easy way to pay the on board account.

The Solstice Deck is the topmost deck in the forward part of the ship. It all depends on the sailing how busy it is - and how windy. I've been on some cruises where I had no problem getting a chair up there, others where no chair anywhere to be had.

You can also out out a towel on the lawn sometimes.