Tog

Can you board the ship, spend a day or 2 evaluating drink costs/packages and then opt to buy for the remaining days of the cruise only? Confess to being a bit of a wine snob and would like to see which package, if any, would meet my standards. Also, do both people in cabin have to buy? DW is NOT a wine snob, so I'm sure the basic house wine will work for her:D

That is exactly what I did on Equinox last October....decided to upgrade after 2 days and just paid the balance for the remaining days. Well worth it. Mrs T was happy on the Classic package so we left hers as it was.

Next year on Reflection I will upgrade when I board.

SheriffJoe, I just love your explanation of the photographer situation on the ships. Do you know how long those people they hire and train to shoot portraits on the ships have to do that job before they can be considered professional? l was just thinking that they got trained and paid for doing it and that kind of elevated their work from amateur into professional.

 

We usually buy a few of the pictures taken by the ship photographers -professional or amateur it's worth dressing nicely on chic night and posing for a few. What I don't like is when they bring the camera to the tables in the dining room.

Well said, the photographers i've spoken to on ships and got to know quite well usually have a degree in Photography and have certainly a qualified background (not that that is any substitute for artistic talent in my view). If they are being paid to take photographs full time thus earn a living from it then they are professionals in my view, how can they not be?

Have sailed Celebrity twice (see below) ....outstanding ships....we always look at their cruises before any others! Eclipse in particular was great because it has a slightly British flavour, such as Tea and Coffee making facilities in the cabin like P&O and an outstanding English cruise Director (Sue) who gives the ship a dry British sense of humour to proceedings. Shows are more geared to British tastes too. Staff are outstanding.

Isn't there a ship somewhere (? RCL) that has real grass on it?

 

Maybe some real earth should be taken on board......no muck-spreading allowed though!:D

It's on pretty much the entire top deck of all of Celebrity's Solstise class ships ....it's amazing.

Thanks for posting all those photo's - it all seems very angular with too many straight lines and sharp corners everywhere (cabins, bars, pools etc. even the carpets have lines and zigzags)...hardly a curve in sight.....the interior doesn't look inviting and cozy and doesn't seem to flow.... the chairs and seating all look quite cheap and uncomfortable, especially in the Beer Bar (Branigans?). And so much dark brown everywhere...no warm colours just pale greens, blues and whites. I'm wondering if P&O haven't shot themselves in the foot by using one interior design company for the entire ship...they are clearly a fan of clean lines and while I agree that may be great in some areas it's nice to have other areas that are different and break it up a bit. It seems there is zero glamour and glitz on this ship to make it a special place to be that you couldn't find on dry land. I also agree with the earlier poster...the main Theatre looks tiny for such a huge ship (and again dark,dark brown with square seating)...mad rush for seats I imagine....plus if there are shows throughout the ship each evening as well as the main Theatre there are going to be arguments between couples as to which one they want to go to!

But hey, maybe you have to see it yourself so will be open minded and find out for ourselves soon I guess!

Are you serious? Can you imagine if they allowed that? The last thing anyone wants to see is people sleeping all over the ship like it's the airport or something....buy some ear plugs like anyone else.

No. You should be able to have as much wine as you can drink over dinner as long as you order them a glass at a time.

Agreed....my wine waiter on the Silhouette was topping me up at a real rate of knots!

Hi, does anyone know if the premium non alcoholic package includes slimline tonic water on it's own?

Does the package let you pay the difference on any drinks if they are above the "limit"?.....eg wine by the glass? I'm a bit of a wine fan so would like to treat myself every so often!