Leviathan2772

Puerto Penasco - Rocky Point is a great sleepy beach town. I've been going down there since I was a child. Now I have home down there and love it. When I heard they had plans to build a cruiseport I was ecstatic. Next thing I heard this would be a home port. Then I was somewhat curious how they're going to pull that one off. Sounds like a great idea, but how? Getting there for AZ residents is an easy 4.5 hr drive from Phoenix or Tucson. You'd need a lot more than AZ residents to support a cruiseport. An international airport would be an answer.

So it looks like the cruise port is progressing again. Another good thing, flights from Phoenix and Tucson are eminent. My next door neighbor works for an aviation consulting group which is working on the new Mar de Cortes International Airport Terminal. They are preparing to build a terminal to handle international passengers. The airport has the ability to handle B737 aircraft. However, the new airport is located SE of town near the Palace Resorts - they're financially backing the expansion. This is about a 45 min drive to the new cruise port location on Sandy Beach near Cholla Bay.

I'm guessing a majority of the people whom will be driving down or busing it down to Rocky Point. Looking at cruiseline fleets of Carnival and Holland America, it's likely smaller cruise ships will be utilized - 2000 PAX. I still see a problem with getting people down to RP to fill up a cruise ship. I'll do it for sure, but convincing the masses of cruisers from the southwest will be a challenge. Personally I would not fly, too short of a flight from Phoenix. I'm sure there's a plan amongst the state & local govt, cruise lines, airlines, and the resorts. Rocky Point stands to do very well if all goes as planned. Only time will tell...

Best of Luck to those whom are involved in this project.

I know this will not sit well with the NON TIPPERS, but I also carry a stack of $5 as well as $1. Each night I give the hostess/host in BLU a 5 dollar bill and do the same if we happen to be eating in MDR. Husband always tips barteneder/waiter at Elite cocktail hour. I have worked as a cocktail waitress in a former life and I really know how much I appreciated the tips. I can't take the money with me to the grave so why not share. I like bringing joy to others and besides they may need the money for family back home.

I couldn't agree more. I pre tip as well. Most refer to it as a bribe. So be it. How one chooses to blow their cash is their own prerogative. Some do it in the casino and get a payback, most not. I blow my money in tipping. It pays off for me IMHO. If you disagree, that's fine. But the tipping must also include a sincere appreciation and thanks for the staff.

What the bartender did was uncalled for. I don't think this staff member realized the ramifications of their action. Likely not intention, but perceived is all that counts. Some people trend to talk out of their @$$ at times.

I've been approached by X for about 1/2 the cruises we've done for upgrading our room. But for me, I generally browse available cabins from two weeks to two days before departure. If the price is right, I upgrade. I've been offered many different types of deals. From full retail upgrade to a complementary upgrade - about 1 in 4. If you want a suites, just see what type of deal they'll offer? If you're upgrading two cabins, you may get a better deal possibly?

One issue with this gamble, no suites available to upgrade to. I've only had the happen twice in over twenty cruises with X. I guess it just depends on how much you want the suite cabin. For me, they're worth every nickel. My wife doesn't think so until the cruise has ended and then realizes the special service we received from our immediate staff. Now with new suite amenities, it's probably even more valuable to the cruisers that appreciate the suite experience and the perceived value it offers.

Good luck in your upgrading to the suite life...

Crew members appreciate cash tips. Does it get you better service? Most definitely! The server is going to take care of a cash tipping customer first. That money goes straight into their pocket. Some on this forum will argue this. It's your choice to tip extra. If you feel value in it, do it. Hey, an extra dollar tip goes a long way IMO.

Unfortunately prices aren't likely to go down in the long run. Some refer to this pricing as a game. No it's marketing. You may not like it, but it happens. They're called promos and they're temporary, not permanent incentives. If one didn't book a cruise in hopes of lower prices with no promos. A regrettable loss. As the say - if you snooze, you lose.

If you actually think the prices will go down in the long run, you're sorely wrong. Sure there will be promos in the future. As valuable as the 123 promo, probably very unlikely.

123 gave Celebrity an unusually high amount of future bookings for cruises thru 2017. This was a huge capital influx for Celebrity. This money in part is likely being used to service debt and future capital assets for the cruiseline.

For those Celebrity loyalist that are upset at the cruiseline and expected prices to drop when the promo stopped. Unfortunately the wait was not worth it...

Remember those people who find it difficult to say something good about their wedding day. They just seem to focus on those little things that made their day horrible. Small details and little things to you or I. It's amazing how a bouquet of flowers in a shade off can destroy that special day - huh?

And yes, I've sailed on Summit more than any other ship with Celebrity. I really enjoy the ship and its layout. Best of all is its staff, they're awesome.

Contact X. If the last name is different, issues can or will arise. I took my bothers three kids and three of their friends on a cruise last year. I got the letters notarized for each of my brother childern. No problem there - same last name, they assumed they were my kids. But with 3 other kids, all from different families and divorced as well. Not quite as simple. Lots of paperwork and confusion upon embarkation. All issues were solved, but all parents were available by phone and able to fax.

It's a supply and demand issue. X is able to charge more because that's what the market is willing to bear. Myself, I generally book at times of year the that are less $$$. I'm not going to do a New Years cruise due to the much higher cost.

For me, I have a bunch of cruises booked with X. We have other booked with Princess, they were actually a little more than X considering 123. Will I keep sailing X if the pricing keep going up? Yes, but I won't be in a suite any longer.

Piano Bar. Yes, a definite hit. Next a real sports bar. Many people like to watch their sports channel every day. They both seem to cover the interests of many age groups.

Food wise. I'd like to see a deck side waffle bar for breakfast which could serve as a panini bar for lunch. And with regards to a true sushi bar, maybe merge it with Bistro on 5?

Lastly, what really works on other cruise lines and is well attended?

I often wonder how many of those who remove all tips find that their luggage seems to disappear when they disembark?

 

That's a comforting thought to me. Some people get what they deserve. Life catches up with these characters sooner than later I hope.

We are very loyal to Celebrity, but they don't do a Mex Riv cruise. So we cruise once a year with Princess. The overall experience was different than Celebrity, but was still very nice. The rooms, dining, etc. We've only had their suite experience and it was similair to X. I give Princess a thumbs up.

That extra tip you put on ticket you sign, it's pooled.

Is that server recognized for it, who knows? Probably not.

If you enjoy tipping extra, bring some extra cash with you.

Those cash tips are not pooled, that's their personal reward.

I don't think my room butler throws his cash tips into a tip pool.

Probably what's most important is that you the like the style of food your favorite cruise line serves. I've cruise many lines over the past 20 years, from Carnival to Oceania and Celebrity to Crystal. For me, there are something's which all lines do right, while some things can be hit or miss. The food has always seemed to be good to me on all lines, one of my best was on Carnival. For me I have much higher expectations from Crystal than Celebrity. I paid twice as much for it, so the food should be much better. You truly get what you pay for IMO.

Yes, Oceania and Crystal have been the best for my wife and I. But I prefer cruising with Celebrity due to more luxury at a much lower cost. We generally dine at Specialty Dining nightly, sometimes dining the MDR or Blu.

If you spin often, bring your own tunes as well. The workout is rather low key.

We cruised last February with Celebrity on Reflection, not many kids at all. My wife and I took my brothers 3 kids - 18, 13 & 6 and 3 of their friends. The older girls did their own thing the entire cruise. The 13 and 6 yr/olds did the kid activities all day, every day. We only saw them twice a day, after breakfast and before dinner and that was it. The kids really enjoyed themselves. The kids staff was completely amazing. They didn't even want to leave the ship at port, and they didn't. It was great to have a babysitters for 4 boys for a week and still wonderful cruise. My brother nearly killed me when he learned I basically left his kids and their friends with the staff. Hey - they're still alive and it was the BEST vacation they have ever had - per kids.

I'll stay till the ask me to leave. 9:00 to 9:30. You paid for a relaxing cruise experience, stay as long as you can and enjoy it. Why be rushed to leave, their are generally later flights back home. Why make your last day rushed and hectic.

There always seems to be some kind of specialty restaurant deal nearly every night, just ask. The first night and formal always seem to have a great discount. Hopefully they keep the Ultimate Dining Pkg. It's great to do SR dining every night, no crowds, and always a top notch dinner.

Unfortunately some cruisers are like vultures waiting to scavenge what ever that can get their digits on. These people kipe what ever that they can get their hands on. For that the reason for things being placed in their proper location, locked, removed, etc.

Also, there are those who show up at the cruise terminal @ 10-11am wondering why they can't board the ship. If they don't get the ship in order on the previous day, you wouldn't be boarding till 3pm. What it boils down to - it's a necessary evil.

BTW - Someone mentioned about folding the tp. If someone worried about that, it's probably best the one never leaves their cabin, nor any one else enters it.

Probably because of use of a tablet not a computer possibly?

I always pre-tip our Butler once we meet in the cabin. However, I do use the Butler for all of their services and more. This has served me well on every cruise. Most disagree with pre-tip, some say it's too much, unnecessary, or bribery. I enjoy spoiling the cruise staff that makes my experience just a little more special.

My wife and I have always gone to Bistro on 5 for breakfast and lunch daily. The great thing is, you can customize any crepe to your taste.

All in all, X has offered me what I need from a cruise. However, if some things left, I'd be off to another cruise line.

1) Drink packages req'd for both people in the cabin - wife doesn't drink enough.

2) Too many children. No need for screaming kids everywhere.

3) No Mex Riv cruises - off to Princess for that already.

Bringing on a high wattage hairdryer is kinda like smoking a cigarette while pumping your gas. There's a reason why they put theses type of hair dryers in your room. A high wattage hair dryer puts an undue load on the electrical circuit within the cabin. It could cause the circuit to trip or a possible fire due to the heating of the wiring. Remember, they tell you they confiscate high dryers for this specific reason.

None of us hold Celebrity's Crystal Ball of Promotions. Who really knows? But one thing for sure, the 123go promotion has been a big success for Celebrity. Many of us never book more than one cruise at a time, 123go changed that for me. One big complaint about this promo seems to be that many of you that don't drink or very little. It seems that this should be recognized and some sort of substitute available such as specialty dining perhaps?