Freckles49

Hi Jen, thanks for that, lots of good tips re the ports. Can you tell me how dressed up some people got on the chic elegant nights? I don't mind how anyone is dressed but just wondering if I will feel out of place if I dress in a long dress and husband in a dinner jacket?

 

thanks

Jackie

Hi

I would say most people were dressed in what you would wear to dinner at a nice restaurant.

However, you will not feel out of place in evening wear as there were enough people so dressed not to 'stand out'.

On our 14 night cruise there were only 2 such nights, one on night 2 and one on the penultimate night.

Enjoy your cruise.

Jen

We are sailing the Eclipse on July 17 and are also Elite. What time did you embark? We prefer to be on early, but don't want to get there before they are prepared.

Hi

We got to the port just before 11.

Loads there before us.

We had our only relaxing meal that day in the buffet!!!

Enjoy your cruise.

Jen

Eclipse Baltic cruise June July 2016

Have just returned from our first sailing on the Eclipse, Southampton round trip,

to the Baltics, highlight St Petersburg.

Context: We are mid 60s, have done several Azamara cruises, 2 Oceania cruises and one on Celebrity Millenium.

I love Azamara and have sailed on both ships so I was expecting a very different experience. I LOVED this ship. The public areas were beautiful, the staff in all areas exceptional, our cabin, due to our wonderful attendant, Ronaldo, was kept spotless.

My aim, in this review, is to give tips to those people who are doing a similar cruise.

My views are mine alone, with sometimes my husbands, and I will also pepper in some of the views of our friends.

We were in Aqua class cabin 1559, wonderful, and we were Elite, due to the points accrued from Azamara.

Embarkation, a breeze.. We were on board very quickly,had lunch in a deserted Ocean view cafe, never to be seen deserted ever again, and had our cabin ready by 1pm.

We ate most of our breakfasts in Blu and most of our evening meals. Wonderful. However, we also ate with friends in Moonlight Sonata and we loved this too. Would we rush back to an Aqua class cabin for Blu, probably not. An ordinary balcony and a dining package would suit us fine.

We did not have a drinks package and, not realising the benefits of our Elite status,i.e.

6 drinks vouchers for the 2 of us for most nights of the cruise, I didnt need to buy the bar set up, Gin and tonics for the cabin, nor,did I need to buy the expensive wine package. They offered 25$ wines most days which you could transfer to your dining room.

We loved the live music all over the ship. We didnt go to any shows, my husband really doesnt like them, so we very much enjoyed taking our time over dinner and enjoying the company of the very many interesting people we met.

I really enjoyed the variety of activities offered on the sea days. I went to most of the i lounge lectures. Richard is very quirky but a fountain of knowledge.

There is something offered for everyones tastes.

We enjoyed the Persian garden, an Aqua benefit but wouldnt pay for Aqua to get this,

many other areas around the ship to relax....the library, a case in point.

Ports:

Zeebrugge

Was wet the day we arrived. We spent the day with Belgian friends. The ship provided a shuttle to the gates but then you had to pay for an extra shuttle to Blankenburg where you could catch the train to Bruges. Not sure of the cost but friend caught the service bus outside the gates.

The ship left at 3 pm so, as it was raining many people stayed onboard.

Wanermunde

Loved this spot. We didnt entertain going to Berlin as it took 3 hrs there and back and such a long day.

We walked the very pretty town, wished Id taken my swimwear, as you could hire a wooden beach style hut, and we had a drink overlooking the harbour, lovely.

St Petersburg

Had a private 2 day tour with SPB tours, fantastic. 16 of us and our guide was amazing.

Half the price of the ships tour.

Tallin

Unless you are mobility challenged do not take the shuttle bus. It is an easy walk into town. 15 mins max and obvious.

Stockholm

In a container port and unless you go for the hop on hop off option the shuttle bus is 20$ each. We are walkers and will always look to do our own thing but here it was impossible. Lovely city.

Copenhagen

Another container port with a hop on hop off option, sorry dont know the prices as we didnt do them. Shuttle bue 20$ but there is a service bus right next to the hop on off buses. We paid £4.50 each return. The no. 25 took you into the city centre, the 27 to the Little Mermaid statue, where you could then take a 26 or 27 to the city centre.

We would have easily walked from the 27 stop to the city centre.

Was everything wonderful, of course not! We didnt like the fact that we were in container ports in Stockholm and Copenhagen and free shuttle buses were not provided.

We also didnt like the fact that often the Ocean view cafe was so full at lunch that it was impossible to get a seat. The food was lovely there but the dining experience was not.

As stated earlier, this is my perception of my cruise. Im happy to answer any questions regarding our cruise.

Jen

We are sailing on Eclipse in 3 weeks.

We dont have a drinks package and Im now wondering if weve made

a big mistake booking this cruise.

Weve only sailed Celebrity once before and it was the chair hogs which were

the major irritation.

Ive bought a 7 bottle wine package, at vast expense, and will be very disappointed if we have poor service.

Oh dear, wish I hadnt opened this thread!

Jen

Is there one?

Thanks

Jen

We are new to Elite and have only done one Celebrity cruise. All of our points have come from Azamara.

We sail in a few weeks time and Ive just had an email detailing our Elite perks.

It states 10% off drinks packages.

Im wondering if Ive missed the boat here....sorry for pun... as Ive ordered a 7 bottle wine package. Should I have asked for this discount or does it only apply to the drinks packages?

Thanks

Jen

Well.....goodness Im impressed with all of your input!

I think Ive made up my mind just to go to the cocktail hour/s and buy a 6 bottle

wine package and see how we get on with that.

We didnt qualify for any OBC or drinks package included as we have our cruise at a very good price with an Aqua class cabin.

Im not too bothered about coffee but my husband is ..... We will breakfast in Blu but can you then pop down to the Elite breakfast for a coffee? Would that be considered a bit cheeky?

Also do you have to be dressed for dinner for the cocktail hour?

Thanks

Jen

We are sailing on the Eclipse in June. This will be our 2nd time with Celebrity, we have sailed previously with Azamara and our points now give us Elite benefits.

My question is..... Is it worth paying for a drinks package if you have the Elite happy hour, which seems to be 2 hours, if Ive read these boards correctly?

On our last Celebrity sailing, which was 14 days, we bought the bar set up and a wine package before sailing. We had onboard credit given to us during that trip and we bought a second wine package.

We are in an Aqua class cabin which gives us a bottle of fizz in the cabin and I think we can take 2 bottles of wine on board too.

We do like wine with dinner and also a glass of something pre dinner so I would be very interested in your comments.

Thanks

Jen

Thank you for taking the time to give us this very balanced review.

We are sailing on the Eclipse in June for the first time, in Aqua Class.

Most of our cruises have been on Azamara and I do hope you will consider this as an option for your next cruise.

Jen

Served 5-8 pm. Offerings vary nightly. 5 or 6 different items.

Hi just off Journey and the Tapas are delicious.

However, Im not sure they would replace a meal in the dining room.

I do have a small appetite!

Jen

Have heard from Celebrity and have both a name and phone number to ring once weve decided on a cruise.

I think the mistake I was making was putting my FCC number into the box next to the Captains Club no. on the website.

Celebrity explained that there is nowhere on the website booking page where you can enter a FCC and you have to ring them.

Which was the advice given here!

Thanks again.

Jen

We were on the same cruise as you. We had the same certificate. We used it last December on a Caribbean cruise with no problem.

Are you able to give me some details regarding how you came to use this so easily?

Thanks

Jen

My Travel Agent dealt with Celebrity after I decided what cruise I wanted it applied to. I was told if I cancel my cruise I will lose my FCC's. I had a price drop on the cruise fare after the FCC's were applied and FCC's disappeared off the new invoice with the lower price. More phone calls to TA & Celebrity to get it reinstated on invoice. This process for me was not a easy one :(

Thank you again everyone for posting advice. I really appreciate the time youve taken and I will keep you posted.

Jen

Celebrity UK reservations number is: 0844-493-2043. Our future cruise certificate listed the particular cruises and types of fares that were specifically excluded, so it is worth reading the small print and making sure you will be able to use the certificate for your selected cruise before calling them.

many thanks to everyone who has posted so far.

I will let you know how I get on.

We have sailed 8 times with Azamara and once with Celebrity but hope that our loyalty to the RCC brand may count for sonething.

Jen

I've never had a problem applying this kind of future cruise certificate to any cruise but it has had to be done over the phone and then the certificate has to be posted, they will then apply it to the booking, this can take several weeks. I would suggest you ring Celebrity direct.

Can you give me a number to ring the appropriate department please?

Thanks

Jen

We had two $100.00 FCC's given to us by Celebrity because we had air conditioning problems in our room for three days. When I tried to apply them to a future cruise I was told they were not valid for Transatlantics or certain Holiday cruises. I did have to jump through hoops to finally get the credits applied to a different cruise. Good luck, let us know what you finally get your FCC's applied to.

I did not book directly though Celebrity so it took more work than a simple call to the Captain's Club.

Thank you...so how did you get this applied?

I have contacted the Captains Club today and have been told I will get a reply in 7 days. Im starting to think that Celebrity have given us something with one hand but are taking it away with the other.

I hope Im wrong.

Thanks to all

jen

Blu is a big upgrade to the MDR - well worth it if you aren't impressed with the MDR. The Persian Gardens are great and the shower is a nice perk as well. I would do it in a heartbeat.

Yep! Couldnt agree more.

Jen

We booked the Gems of Indonesia cruise Singapore to Singapore Nov 2015.

On arrival at the port in Singapore were told that 'due to a dispute with the Indonesian authorities' we would not be going to any of the Indonesian ports.

We missed 3 days in Bali and Komodo Island.

We were sent a future cruise certificate for £375 each, which we were happy with but I am having trouble using it.

Each cruise Ive seen advertised by a travel agent Ive been told that I cant apply the certificates due to 'the excellent rate' advertised.

Ive also tried using it directly with Celebritys website but when I put in the certificate details the message is that Im unable to use it.

Any help would be very much appreciated.

Jen

I've had it confirmed that they are still doing the passes, certainly on Journey.

 

Just off Journey, we paid $160 for a couples pass for our 12 day cruise. We went straight up to the Spa as soon as we boarded as there is a limit on the number they will sell to non suite guests.

 

We love this area.

 

Jen

Johannes posted a video of stripping the flooring from the Sunset Veranda. Here's a link. I'm not sure if you have to be logged into Facebook to see it. If the video area looks blank just click on it:

 

 

Phil

Ive tried to find the decision on whether or not the Sunset Bar area will be open for breakfast and lunch after refurb. without luck. Please can you tell me?

Thanks

Jen

Have just booked our 7th Azamara cruise and checked earlier on in the year if we qualified for 2 free nights. Yes we did. Also saw in a mailing that if our cruise was booked before 31st Dec we would qualify for a10% discount.

I didnt expect to have both applied to the cost of our cruise but neither did I expect to be told we could use neither benefit.

This apparently, according to our TA was because the package was significantly less than the cost of holiday had we booked directly with Azamara.

Jen