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dani negreanu

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    Just got a "resident rate" & I'm an....Israeli citizen

    in Celebrity Cruises

    Posted

    [SIZE="3"][COLOR="Purple"]The X online booking never ceases to amaze!!
    I'm "monitoring" an European cruise for the next year, checking the same cabin # (1C, 4125$ + 118.95 taxes pp.) The rate is identical in several online TA, as in X site - the "perks" differ...
    Just got a mail from X with Captain's Club "savings certificate". Went to check, though I knew the "perks"and CC r not combinable... Put in my CC #, checked the +55 box and got - "you're eligible to 'resident' rate - 375$ pp"!!
    Nice, isn't it?
    BUT, the taxes somehow were 216$ pp, and how I'm going to prove my non-existing "residency" ???
    I red in this forum about being "on hold" with X for hours, and since I can't phone toll free from Israel, I'm not going to spend a fortune to solve the resident/taxes conundrum by phone...
    Do X have also representatives who answer e-mails ???[/COLOR][/SIZE]

    Xpedition Gty?

    in Celebrity Cruises

    Posted

    Did any of you arrive in Baltra on your own? I know it is uncommon but it's what we are going to do. Curious about the time we need to arrive (we are flying in the day before) and the time of disembarkation.

     

    You'll find very useful info in those sites [and also on TripAdvisor "Galapagos Islands" forum, there is a trip report of someone who arrived independently to Baltra]. "Sealord", who is the unofficial host, has made the math for all of us, and, in the end, u r not saving much by arriving independently to Baltra, but u r saving lots of hassle and stress. Don't forget that the flight from Quito to Baltra is included in the 10-day package. Believe me, arriving from Israel, I made my "PhD" on how to save every penny. I even booked a cheaper hotel for the Thursday night, not staying at the Marriott because it was not included in the package. Another advice: arrive at least 2 days early prior to the cruise, u'll need to be fit and rested for such a "summer adult camp".

     

    http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=43353240#post43353240

     

    http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=32175863#post32175863

    Lane swimming in the Solarium - Solstice

    in Celebrity Cruises

    Posted

    I'd like to "repeat" myself: at 7AM sharp I was at the Solarium and had the pool to myself (5 days out of 7) until 45 min later. I swam "diagonally" to "prolong" the "lap".

    2 days a man appeared after a couple of min and I stopped and asked him if he doesn't mind swimming only on one side. He was thrilled with the "arrangement", but got out way before me. One day, when both were swimming, another lady appeared and took the middle "lane" and kept to it. She also swam only 10-15 min.

    3 people doing "laps" at the same time was the max, and at this early hour it happened only once.

    Of course I wouldn't dream of doing "laps" when other people wanted to use to pool to relax and chat.

    The first day I've tried the openning hour (7AM) and it worked for me.:)

    Has anyone else never done this?

    in Celebrity Cruises

    Posted

    YES, after spending 2 hr the first day of the cruise for a mediocre dinner. We tried the buffet for 2 consecutive evenings, found sushi and pasta, and would have continued to do so (even if we found the "ambiance" a bit dark/canteen like in the evening). On the 4th day I met by chance the MDR hostess who gave us the first table. She remembered me (I spoke Rumanian with her :)), and asked why we stopped arriving. Told her the food and the service were not up to par. She said "today is lobster day and I'll sit u at another table". The lobster was so-so, but the service was way better, and we didn't go back to the buffet for the rest of the cruise.

    Curious - how do you decide where you go next?

    in Celebrity Cruises

    Posted

    I was always self-employed and DH had 5-6 weeks of paid vacation per year, so we took long land vacations, and we have Europe more or less covered, including St. Petersburg Hermitage :)

    But, even if DH likes to drive, I tired of packing and unpacking everyday, and, since we didn't like to plan ahead and "played by the ear", to start looking for a suitable accomodation in the early afternoon.

    5 years ago I found the "solution" - cruising. Flying out of Israel is expensive and loooong, so I choose very carefully the itinerary (and THEN the ship - if the itineraries are similar, I choose the ship with the highest level of satisfaction from CC).

    I wanted to "sample" the Caribbean and DH the Panama Canal - check.

    I wanted Galapagos - DH said "no way I'll travel half a world to see some turtles..." My dear cousin went with me...

    Norwegian Fjords (amazing) - check.

    Alaska - check.

    Some Greek islands - check, with Equinox to booth.

    Next ? Thinking of the Canarian Islands with Lisbon included.

    I'd like very much to see Hawai, S. Africa, Australia and N.Z. - only by cruising, but thinking of the looong flights to just get there, don't know if it's going to happen :mad:

    Lane swimming in the Solarium - Solstice

    in Celebrity Cruises

    Posted

    I'm swimming daily in the Olympic heated pool in my neighbourhood, and I managed to do quite good laps on the Equinox, every morning around 7 before b'fast. There were days when another person joined me, and I asked them to "split" the pool, I on the left/right side and they on another. 2 days I had a 3rd person joining us, who went in the "middle", but I was always the one who swam 40 min. If it's your daily routine, it could be done :)

    How to do Santorini

    in Greece Ports

    Posted

    Thank-you Dani. I just read a terrible review of that trip on Trip Advisor. I hope that was a one shot deal, because it would REALLY be nice to avoid the large crowds in Fira in the morning. -Mary

     

    You can't reserve ahead anyway... When u dock after the tender, check out the itinerary offered by the nameless company carrying out the "transfer":D . If it's not "boat to Oia - bus up - then bus to Fira" - don't take it.

    Problem is, not many possibilities there, unless u want to take a trip with the cruise line. As I understand, taxis are a rarity in Fira, and I didn't fancy taking the local bus either.

    How to do Santorini

    in Greece Ports

    Posted

    Best way to Oia

     

    I didn't realize that there are many boat transfers standing by. You're going very late in the season :( On the "Celebrity" main board, people travelling in Oct. reported the transfer being first to a vinery which they didn't particularly care about and only then to Oia. So, before committing, check their itinerary !!!! Oh, by the way, I'll be in Israel for a week before I head to Venice [in Venice we stayed pre-cruise on hotel Fontana, very handy from Marco Polo via Alilaguna and from there right (via Alilaguna) to the pier - 10% off the price when paying cash - highly recommended]. Israel - Pls. let me know if you have any questions - places, restaurants. Starting to plan that itinerary now.

    How to do Santorini

    in Greece Ports

    Posted

    Not a coincidence.

     

    When I joined CC many years ago I was publishing a small community paper.

     

    Thanks, I just won my bet with DH.... I owe u an hamburger whenever u come to Israel, fries 2 :D Dani[ela]

    My family name in Hebrew is "vinemaker", spelled with K.

    How to do Santorini

    in Greece Ports

    Posted

    Paul,

    Do you have a website or contact for this Union Boatmen? Mary

     

    The company offering the transfer by "speedboat" to Oia, then up by bus and then by bus from Oia to Fira is waiting for you at the dock. Plenty of "transfers to Oia by boat" signs everywhere.

    IMHO, it was the best way to see Oia.

    Farewell my CC friends, from chesterh

    in Celebrity Cruises

    Posted · Edited by dani negreanu

    I too went to Amazon in order to buy Chester's book, but I found 2 titles:

    What Time Is the Midnight Buffet?: Tales from the Cruise Adventure of a Lifetime

    What Time Is the Midnight Buffet?: How We Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Our Cruise

    Which one is the book everyone is ordering? Thanks, Dani[ela]

    Celebrity Flex Dining - Equinox - request window, etc upon arrival?

    in Celebrity Cruises

    Posted

    I prefer "people watching" to "sea watching". Besides, getting a table for 2 by the window is more difficult. DH's "conversional" English isn't too great, so we prefer to sit by ourselves.

    I found out on those boards that tables #409 & 501 are best for "people watching" - by the rail, near the stairs - u get to c all the activities below.

    After embarkation (Equinox), I saw a lady by the MDR entrance. I asked her if I could get one of the above tables. She said: "Sorry, M'am, u can't reserve a table by #, blah, blah...".

    I went again after the muster drill. Sure enough, a very pretty lady named Louisa, said: "If u get here at 20.45, and are prepared to wait a few minutes, I'll keep one of those tables for u".

    The first 2 evenings we had 409, but there was no "chemistry" between us and the waiters.

    For the remaining, we switched to 501 and were very pleased.

    Galapagos Info please

    in Celebrity Cruises

    Posted

    but right now I was just curious as to what draw people to the particular month that they booked.

     

    My personal reasons for picking May:

    1. I, like BrusselsGirl, wanted to see the waved albatross. "He" is not "in residence" between December and March. Me thinks the "outer loop", which includes Espanola, is the best in terms of wildlife. I only went for direct contact with wildlife, not for beautiful views, like Kicker and Pinacle Rock.... I have the Amalfi Coast and the Norwegian Fjords much closer and cheaper than Galapagos :D .

    2. I have enough "hot" and "humid" in more ways than one here in Israel, didn't want to go January-March.

    3. April - various holidays, flights expensive, more than usual.

    4. July-August - kids out of school.

    5. September-November - rough seas. Xpedition is one of the biggest ships plying the seas of Galapagos, but still - it's not S- or M- class.

    Xpedition--Galapagoes

    in Celebrity Cruises

    Posted

    GOOD GRIEF!! Don't want that one!!

     

    Sort by:PriceDeparture DateLength

    7 Days Galapagos Cruises

     

    Celebrity Cruises • Celebrity Xpedition

    Galapagos/Baltra, Daphne Islands, Gardner Bay, Punta Suarez, Punta Cormorant, Post Office Bay, Punta Moreno, Urvina Bay, Punta Espinoza, Punta Vicente Roca, South Plaza, Cerro Dragon, Puerto Ayora, Galapagos/Baltra

    2 departure dates: Nov 13, 27 2016

    OceanView from $3539

     

    Suite from $5794 EXCLUSIVE Free Prepaid Gratuities

     

     

     

     

     

     

    7 Days Galapagos Cruises

     

    Celebrity Cruises • Celebrity Xpedition

    Galapagos/Baltra, Daphne Islands, Puerto Egas, Rabida/Jervis Island, Elizabeth Bay, Tagus Cove, Sullivan Bay, Bartolome, Las Bachas, North Seymour Island, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Cerro Brujo, Leon Dormido/Kicker Rock, Puerto Ayora, Galapagos/Baltra

    2 departure dates: Nov 6, 20 2016

    OceanView from $3589

     

    Suite from $5694

     

     

     

     

    10 Days Galapagos Cruises

     

    Celebrity Cruises • Celebrity Xpedition

    Land Tour, Galapagos/Baltra, Daphne Islands, Gardner Bay, Punta Suarez, Punta Cormorant, Post Office Bay, Punta Moreno, Urvina Bay, Punta Vicente Roca, Punta Espinoza, South Plaza, Cerro Dragon, Puerto Ayora, Galapagos/Baltra, Land Tour (B17)

    2 departure dates: Nov 11, 25 2016

    OceanView from $4714

     

    Suite from $6969

     

     

     

     

     

    Compare

     

    10 Days Galapagos Cruises

     

    Celebrity Cruises • Celebrity Xpedition

    Land Tour, Galapagos/Baltra, Daphne Islands, Puerto Egas, Rabida/Jervis Island, Elizabeth Bay, Tagus Cove, Sullivan Bay, Bartolome, Las Bachas, North Seymour Island, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Cerro Brujo, Leon Dormido/Kicker Rock, Puerto Ayora, Galapagos/Baltra, Land Tour (B18)

    2 departure dates: Nov 4, 18 2016

    OceanView from $4764

     

    Suite from $6874

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Compare

    11 Days Galapagos Cruises

     

    Celebrity Cruises • Celebrity Xpedition

    Land Tour, Galapagos/Baltra, Daphne Islands, Gardner Bay, Punta Suarez, Punta Cormorant, Post Office Bay, Punta Moreno, Urvina Bay, Punta Vicente Roca, Punta Espinoza, South Plaza, Cerro Dragon, Puerto Ayora, Galapagos/Baltra, Land Tour (B17)

    2 departure dates: Nov 11, 25 2016

    OceanView from $4814

     

    Suite from $7069

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Compare

    11 Days Galapagos Cruises

     

    Celebrity Cruises • Celebrity Xpedition

    Land Tour, Galapagos/Baltra, Daphne Islands, Puerto Egas, Rabida/Jervis Island, Elizabeth Bay, Tagus Cove, Sullivan Bay, Bartolome, Las Bachas, North Seymour Island, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Cerro Brujo, Leon Dormido/Kicker Rock, Puerto Ayora, Galapagos/Baltra, Land Tour (B18)

    2 departure dates: Nov 4, 18 2016

    OceanView from $4864

     

    Suite from $6969

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Compare

    15 Days Galapagos Cruises

     

    Celebrity Cruises • Celebrity Xpedition

    Land Tour, Galapagos/Baltra, Daphne Islands, Gardner Bay, Punta Suarez, Punta Cormorant, Post Office Bay, Punta Moreno, Urvina Bay, Punta Vicente Roca, Punta Espinoza, South Plaza, Cerro Dragon, Puerto Ayora, Galapagos/Baltra, Land Tour (B17)

    2 departure dates: Nov 11, 25 2016

    OceanView from $9909

     

    Suite from $12164

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Compare

    15 Days Galapagos Cruises

     

    Celebrity Cruises • Celebrity Xpedition

    Land Tour, Galapagos/Baltra, Daphne Islands, Puerto Egas, Rabida/Jervis Island, Elizabeth Bay, Tagus Cove, Sullivan Bay, Bartolome, Las Bachas, North Seymour Island, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Cerro Brujo, Leon Dormido/Kicker Rock, Puerto Ayora, Galapagos/Baltra, Land Tour (B18)

    2 departure dates: Nov 4, 18 2016

    OceanView from $9959

     

    Suite from $12064

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