suec12

Well my opinion is in the minority. I was not impressed with the cuisine in Luminae - there were a few "home runs" but I felt the choices were limited and the portions, esp. of sides which I usually enjoy, were miniscule. Yes you can ask for more, or special requests, or MDR choices (altho we were not encouraged to do that) but I really didn't want to be making all those requests - I just expected a better menu / cuisine for the money. Now the service and ambiance are excellent - far above the MDR.

If it were me, and the choice of the suite was more about the food than the extra space or Michaels' club and such, I would use the money for the dining package. I do not think the food in Luminae is nearly as good as the specialty restaurants. Can you make the decision after your summer cruise, then you will have been to Luminae and will have seen see if it was worth it to you.

So am I understanding that everyone must purchase unlimited internet now - either per day or per entire cruise. So my elite free minutes are no longer an option? What I am seeing, the elite discount is not that great. Aren't people pretty aggravated with this or am I not understanding the current pricing (scheme)? Of the different changes introduced - this one IMO is the most impactful and irritating.

We are doing a Pacific Coastal cruise soon. Usually I get off the ship with "plan in hand" (we usually cruise in Europe) but for this trip I haven't done alot of planning. Will there be some port info available on board? by the front desk? I know they would not want to take up space in the dailies with info. like that - wouldn't want to neglect promoting SALES but it seems on other trips I have noticed small pamphlets that could be picked up with simple port info - basic map, things to see, where to shop - NOT! Can I hope to find those on our upcoming sail?

I was offered an upgrade to a suite, and thus Luminae, in May 2015 - our travel friends wanted to try it, so I agreed. But for future cruises, I am not booked in a suite and am overall pleased with the value of a regular stateroom and the MDR. I'll use some OBC for one or two special meals in a speciality restaurant.

I have cruised both AZ and O in the past and am now thinking about either choosing one of those (in a standard cabin) or going back to land trips. The pricing shenanigans of X and a general uptick in prices have put me off the choice that I have been fairly pleased with for quite awhile.

I don't think you would get a suite on Oceania or Azamara for the price of a suite on X. But for the price of a suite on X, you would get a more standard room on Az. or O. with better cuisine That would be my pick but if you want a suite, then X with Luminae. We all have different preferences for our vacation dollars. But I do think both Az. and O. have better food in their MDR's than X does in Luminae. Your money, your choice. But I don't want to pay a higher price and have limited choices, have to send items back, make special requests, or order off menu to get my "money's worth".

Well they way I read the contradictory posts is that the first one was not long after boarding and then this thread was after being on the ship for a period and becoming disappointed in the offerings in Luminae. That makes sense and reflects our experience.

It is true you can send things back (but that does disrupt the rhythm of the meal esp. for others eating with you) and yes, you can ask for MDR offerings but is that what the expectations should be?!

Yes the service is outstanding, some menu items very good (but about the same number almost mediocre) but mostly I can agree with the OP. For the money paid to get to a suite / Luminae, the money would be better spent in just upgrading to Oceania or Azamara.

I'm booked on a cruise on Infinity in a couple of weeks. Evidently now, there is some noro on board. I've read that when this is the case, there are no salt / pepper shakers on tables, in the buffet? dining room? so if you want some salt for you food - do they hand you packets?

Sorry Lastdance - I did not realize you had started the thread! I only noted the comment right above mine and obviously did not get your tone? sarcasm? from the post. I did not notice the thread earlier and the lack of response. I certainly do notice that many days the "whine glass" is more than half full around here. Much nicer to read the positive experiences so many of us have onboard. Again, sorry for the snark I aimed at you :)

I think it had something to do with healthy menu items - not my cup of tea!

Lastdance - dang, you must live a very magical life if you have nothing positive to say about being onboard an X ship - I am thankful as I think I have had many many great moments on Celebrity ships! But what popped into my mind first was sailing into Kotor, in heavy fog. Standing out on deck it seemed like we must be going to sail right up onto the shore - we were moving oh so slowly thru a very narrow channel - at one point the captain sounded the horn - I am surprised no one accidentally jumped overboard.

I'm still working - so often when my days get tedious I let my mind wander to our next sailing on one of the Celebrity ships. We started sailing when our girls were young and we all enjoyed many adventures together thru the years. Now we are empty nesters and have made wonderful friends that we sail with about once a year. So many good memories and two more booked itineraries to look forward to!

I just posted on the other Infinity thread. I must be the only X cruiser that actually prefers the more traditional layout on the M class ships. Yes, there is the "tub" cafeteria line but also at the end (pizza, pasta) and on the back, some stations. The S class ship design of scattered stations is actually less desirable to me. It is harder to see everything, then remember where I saw what, or mix and match, than going thru the line. Also fellow passengers are criss crossing the floor in every direction - or standing there trying to figure out where to go :)

Obviously some of us like to sit down and dine and not eat "tub" food - but me, I like a little of this and a little of that - at least at breakfast and noon. Sometimes I don't want to commit to a whole entree of Indian food but a few bites, along with some other options, yum!

I must be one of the few cruisers that actually prefers the old style buffet lines on the M class ships. Of course there still are some stations towards the end / back of ship that you can access without going thru the line but I think on the S class, with all stations spread out, it is more difficult to see everything (and then to remember where I saw what, or mix and match) than going thru a line. People are criss crossing the floor everywhere.

We are on the May 2016 cruise - we booked on board, over a year before the sail date. I watched prices because if there is a price drop before final payment you can get the reduced price. Prices went up - categories "sold out" months ahead of time. I make final payment - all of a sudden, many cabins for sale at reduced prices which of course now I can't get - but we did get a bit of an upgrade. Just an extra note - you do not have your location in your roll call name - if you are in the UK, the rules are different.

So......if the price and perks are acceptable now, book and watch. In the future, I am planning to book the lowest category I could be happy with and then try to upgrade after final payment. Good luck and wishing you a very happy honeymoon!

We will be visiting in May - we plan to do the "Red Tile Walking Tour" - this is DIY, I printed a map off the Santa Barbara website. There is also a podcast you can download with detailed narrative.

We have visited there once before (land trip) - there are plenty of shops, also one of the old missions at the northern edge. Not sure how walkable / accessible by public transportation it is but we will probably go there again if possible and work our way back to the ship. Also very nice beach.

"unasked for advice is criticism" - I think that prompts some of the responses. Plus IMO she is unrealistic in the modern world - even if 100% healthy upon leaving home, how many coughing people are you likely to encounter on your flight. Travel involves some risk - exposure to other people, some that have become ill along the way, is one of them. I sincerely wish the OP, and all of us, healthy travels but when we travel, we are not in hermetically sealed bubbles.

To the OP, with all due respect - I would suggest your future travel plans be limited to staying in your home, giant plastic bubble wrap optional. In the modern world, people are on the move - major travel adjustments can be difficult. If / when I become too immune compromised to risk being out in public, I will stay home.

thank you for the input - it was re-assurring to see good feedback on the food / MDR, esp. since there have been some recent, or not so recent, posts about quality decline. Food is pretty much my "trump card" - entertainment not so much as I bring my books and usually friends.

I do want to add for others reading these posts.....the evening buffet is actually quite good. In the past I did not like to do the buffet in the evening but I do think the choices have much improved so some evenings now I just "pace myself" - get a drink, find an appetizer, then another drink :) and work my way slowly thru a pleasant meal. Many of the MDR choices are on the buffet but I probably would NOT do this on formal night as I don't think lamb chops or lobster find their was upstairs.

We have cruised many times but never with Princess. We are considering a July 2017 Alaska cruise. On the brand we usually sail on, I am a pretty savvy consumer altho they keep making their pricing more and more convoluted (Celebrity :() So for Princess, if there is price drop before final payment, can we claim it? do they offer deals that include perks like drink packages, free grats. etc? better to book with a TA? any particular time of year that deals are offered or just keep watching? We do not want to book last minute as the reason we are considering the cruise is to go with friends and family. Thanks for any tips you are willing to give!

If your booking is with Celebrity, start with the call center. You don't give us any specifics but I have found that with a call, or sometimes two, usually there is a satisfactory resolution IF you have realistic expectations / request. If final payment has been made, you are just not going to get the "Tuesday special, new bookings price" but you may well get a bit of an upgrade for free, a discounted upsell and maybe even a bit more OBC. Good luck

I really like the Mayflower Park hotel in Seattle. If you call the hotel and book direct, you get a 5% discount. Very close to Pike's Market and also near the monorail. If you fly into SEA TAC, you can take the light rail to very close to the hotel.

Is that the same as ChoiceAir? or a different service?

Well I posted on the board recently and was told I could request (and receive?!) shrimp so I'm interested to hear recent experiences.

They are for international RT - and yes $450 less per person than on airline (Delta) website. Other years Choice Air prices have not been any deal over direct booking but for 2016, they are quite the deal.

My actual question is.....could I cancel (before final payment) the cruise and keep the seats?

Two queries.....I am wondering if ChoiceAir buys blocks of seats and passes them on to cruisers at a discount. I was amazed at the price I was able to buy tickets thru ChoiceAir for an Oct. sail. $450 less per person than on airline website. Such a deal.

But what if....I decide to cancel my cruise (before final payment). Does ChoiceAir cancel my flights? It seems as if the reservation is now directly with airline as I can go on the website, change seats and such. But if I decide to not go on the cruise, will my seats be cancelled and money gone since it is a non-refundable fare? Anyone with experience with this?

Well it wasn't easy (wait time, switching etc.) but in the end, yes! I was able to switch, keep the drink package and even got a bit more OBC without having to pay more. Pleasantly surprised.

And thanks to fellow posters, I'll be enjoying my shrimp cocktail out on my balcony.