FKGirl

The new brand sailing to Cuba (and Dominican Republic) is called fathom, and yes, it is a Carnival brand.

Thanks, Roxburgh, for the review. The only thing I hate hearing (aside from the smoking issue) is that they're doing those block parties. It could be just me but I find them to be reminiscent of summer camp.

Agree they sound odd, but as FKGuy and I met at summer camp, I'm ok with all things campy! :)

I'm also not too excited about this...

"Passengers can dine at The Grill once per voyage, and they can pre-reserve online"

I agree about the $350 a day and I'm hoping that's incorrect, but it came from a TA .

 

eta - I've just been told that prices will START at $350 a day. Surely that can't be right?

This is, in fact, what was announced today at the Seatrade conference today. It seems absurd.

the SB commission is very generous compared to the likes of Royal Caribbean

 

Henry :)

That is, quite often, incorrect.

We will happily start this arduous task/responsibility starting in Manaus, making sure there's nothing left when we arrive in Monaco!

I love a good challenge. (We've just finished the key west food and wine festival -I was working and attending - so we are ready!)

:D

 

I'd like to believe we are merely preparing it for dry dock!

I'm fairly certain we will deplete the Champagne supply, so it will be dry, indeed! :)

Yes. That is correct.

So if you want a steak medium rare, or (gasp) medium well, it just won't happen? That seems absurd to me.

I have seen references to people simply paying the difference for drinks not covered by their package; does that only apply if you do the upgrade? I have seen other people say that on the "classic" package, anything over the limits costs full list price.

Also, is it true that one person in the stateroom can get the upgrade without the second person being required to?

If you upgrade to premium, you only pay the difference between the $13 price limit and whatever you order above that. If you have classic, you pay the whole thing, plus tip.

It is true that only 1 person in a room can upgrade. Both do not have to.

what makes you think they have any interest in keeping seniors sailing with them? They do offer 55+ discounts sometimes but they're ususally not combinable with any other 'perks'.

This is true, and no perks because they are usually at substantial discount s(much like the resident rates, exciting deals, etc...)

We were on the Reflection over Thanksigiving. Fabulous time all around. We were friends and family - first time cruisers to those with 30+ cruises in the past... Everyone enjoyed immensely. Was everything perfect? No. Was it awesome? Absolutely.

I've posted the first installment of the review in my blog here. http://floridakeysgirl.com/2015/12/04/celebrity-reflection-thanksgiving-cruise-review-part-1-luminae/

I have a friend, and common poster here chatting with me elsewhere currently on Eclipse. The ship was unaware of free dining for lunch in B5 and she was told in an RS that lunch was not included in the unliminted dining. She spoke to the MC Concierge, GRM and HD and all agreed, not included, so she asked them to contact Miami. Miami confirms, lunch is included in B5 for RS/PH and on port days for CS/SS.

 

How can they not communicate THEIR OWN POLICIES better? Why are WE (the passengers) training the staff onboard.

 

Shame on Celebrity. They say they want to be the Ritz but behave like the Radison (at best). They want to know how they can do better, but we shouldn't have to constantly tell them, they should be PROACTIVE and EMPOWERED and have to do less recovery than they do.

 

Sigh, if only.

 

Happy sailing,

Jenna

I should also mention that most other people I have spoken with on board that were in suites went to B5 for lunch and were surprised by the no charge bill. Policy has not been effectively communicated, to say the least.

Just off the Reflection Thanksgiving week cruise. Overall, fantastic. Luminae was also fantastic. Closed on port days for lunch, but Bistro on 5 was NO CHARGE. We were in a sky suite.

(FWIW, we had my parents and some friends with us, also in sky suites, also no charge at bistro for port day lunch.)

And, I am happy to report that Bistro on 5 was quite good.

A travel agent can provide you with amenities that you can't obtain with a cruise line but most importantly if something goes wrong with the cruise line a good TA will be your advocate with the cruise line.

 

Keith

I was not going to weigh in here, but... As a TA, I book tons of cruises. A lot. On mainstream lines, luxury lines and River cruises. All. Day. Long. However, I also book air, hotels, sightseeing excursions and insurance for my clients.

Can they do this on their own? Usually. But why would they? Booking with me costs the same or less, and if something goes wrong they have an advocate. I answer my clients all the time. I am available via phone, text and email. The only time I am not able to answer right away is if I am on vacation, and then my clients know that in advance.

In terms of price drops, 95% of the time my clients call and ask about it, it is not applicable for one reason or another (sold out, not available on their sailing or category, etc.) HOWEVER, more often than them calling me, I am the one calling them to tell them of a price drop, upgrade, or some other perk.

Not good enough reason? How about this: imagine you are on your honeymoon and your connecting flight at the start of the trip is cancelled. What do you do? I got my clients rerouted, a hotel at the new destination, changed their rental car so it was available where and when they needed it, etc. They did nothing except enjoy their trip.

Or when my clients got stuck en route to a cruise when their connection was cancelled and they were already in a foreign country? I was able to make sure their pre-cruise hotel was held for them, even though they were not arriving until about 36 hours after the hotel's policy to release the room, get them new flight options, help with insurance, and look after them the whole time.

Of course, if nothing ever goes wrong for you, sure, book directly with the cruise line, or other supplier. My clients prefer to have an advocate (that also gets them the best possible price, and perks). Book with a trusted travel agent and make your life easier.

Also check with your insurance company. Some look back periods are only 3-6 months so that may affect if something is really considered pre existing or not.

It is actually 2 bottles per room, and you are charged corkage if you bring to a dining venue. Not for room consumption.

Another poster said Luggage valet was free, I wonder if that applied to a Sky Suite? I can say last time I sailed in a PH and could use Luggage Valet, I still had to pay. Same in a RS. So if this is the case, it's new, or allowed sporadically.

 

http://www.creative.rccl.com/Sales/Celebrity/General_Info/Flyers/14037410_CEL_Suites_FAQs.pdf

We were in a sky suite on Solstice the beginning of May, and luggage valet was indeed free. Of course, only my suitcase made it home on time, as my husband's was left at the port of Seattle. (Celebrity actually worked with me and it was not too painful to get it back.)

I've just booked a Sky Suite for a March, 2016 Spring Break cruise.

 

I've mainly sailed with RC. Not looking to compare, but have questions.

 

Is it necessary to make dinner reservations for Luminae? Can this be handled once on board or by booking online? Breakfast and lunch, just show up? Are breakfast hours different on sea/port days?

No need for reservations. On some sailings they may ask for an approximate dinner time. On our May Alaska sailing we just showed up. Am interested to see if it is the same on Reflection over Thanksgiving.

Do sky suite passengers also have access to Blu? Is Blu only open for dinner?

Is there a concierge lounge or something similar? (Is that Michael's Club? I know sky suites don't have access.)

There is a ship concierge. on our last cruise we never needed to even call her.

Does the butler serve the role of what a concierge does on RC?

 

Are there any other suite perks? (Luggage Valet?)

Butler will bring room service, take care of reservations and anything else you need. In May, Luggage valet was included at no charge as a suite perk.

What a wonderful gift! Ask your travel agent... They should have, or at least be able to get you something suitable. If not, call celebrity directly. At the very least they can send you a brochure....

I just booked my first transatlantic (Quest from Fort Lauderdale to Monte Carlo in the spring... can't wait!

 

How many formal nights are there? I'm traveling with my mother and I know we'll want to prepare for any/all fun occasions. I've never had more than two formal nights on a Seabourn cruise before but my longest has only been 12 nights.

According to Seabourn it is only 2 formal nights.

Would appreciate clarification on one beverage package issue. In reading other threads I seem to recall that if you have the classic package and order something more costly than the package's limit, then you pay the full amount, but same scenario with the premium package you only pay the difference. Is that how it works, and is it the same both with wine-by-the-glass and with drinks?

 

I just looked at the package descriptions on the X site and couldn't find the answer.

Yes. This is correct.

Has it been established that the new specialty restaurant on the new ships will require advance reservations? I sure hope not as that is one of the things that sets Seabourn apart from the other lines. Luxury means not having to decide months in advance where you're going to eat on any given night.

Agree entirely.

I really enjoy perusing the menus of each dining venue in the Herald and then making a decision (and sometimes changing my mind - THAT is luxury!)

In the US penalties now start at 120 days - before final payment, in most cases.

Fares also reflect demand and Seabourn ships have been sailing pretty full recently. We just managed to squeeze on to our last cruise having been waitlisted and relying on cancellations and our next cruise, which is March/April of 2016 is already looking full.

Agree... we are on the Quest Transatlantic in March 2016 and I was surprised to see how many suites had already been booked seven months out...