gymjudge55

Just returned from a 7 day to Alaska on the Millennium. We both purchased the premium drink package and loved it.

Sample day with prices:

American coffee in Cafe Bacio $4.00

Aspen coffee mid day $8.00

Pyrat Mai Tai x 2 mid afternoon $18.00

Pre dinner martini $10.00

Wine with dinner x 2 $18.00

Evian with dinner $4.00

Casino drinks x2 $14.00

This was about the same for us port days or not. On long port days we had martinis, coffees, wine and casino drinks. It was a great investment for us.

So glad to hear that opinion. I have been having a tinge of buyers remorse as we decided on Celebrity and Hubbard over Princess and Glacier Bay.

Don't forget Rum Runners with Captain Chris. We're booked with him in September and he has EXCELLENT reviews. He's also been super via phone and email.

We are also booked with rum runners. He offered us an excellent deal for a 6 hour combo fishing and whale watching tour. We have a private charter for the 4 of us and it was $240 per person for the 6 hours including all taxes. He is dropping us off at Mendenhall and we should have a good 2 hours there and still be able to catch the last shuttle at 6 p.m. He has been really great both with phone, email and a mailed packet that included all kinds of great information about Juneau.

Just wonder, what is the max weight of allowed luggage, travelling from the US, Canada or Australia to Europe?

 

Travelling from Europe to US we are (almost always) allowed one piece of 23 kg each and one piece handluggage each. For a 14 day vacation that's more than enough (yes, we take a jacket, a tux, 3 cocktaildresses).

 

So, I just wonder :confused:

From the US 50 lbs is the limit. My suitcase weighs around 17 lbs empty. Last week I was in the Dominican Republic, packed summer clothes for 7 days and toiletries and bag weighed 47 lbs. I am very nervous about 13 days in Alaska with fleece, coats, jeans, sweaters, two pairs of tennies for rain etc. I would much rather take this stuff than formal wear.

Why not, depends on the bartender , take a print out of the drink with so they can make it

It really would depend on whether they carry Clamato. Can't make one without it! :D

With regard to tipping bartenders if you have the Premium Package, you bring cash for that and tip as you would in a regular bar? Since you are not having to sign a slip, there is no mechanism to tip with each drink and add it to your onboard account, right? We are used to tipping $1 per drink on a cruise but don't usually carry around a lot of singles on a cruise, so that would be something to plan for if using the Premium package.

It was my understanding that you have already paid 15% gratuity with the package. I had not really planned on tipping every drink.

We have not quite firmed up all plans for the land portion.

Arrive 11:30 am July 29th in Anchorage, check into Anchorage Marriott. Not sure what to do yet there. We will have been flying for 8 hours, may nap then explore on foot.

July 30th domed train to Talkeetna, check in to Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge. Hike planned.

July 31 domed train to Denali, check into Grande Denali Lodge. Not sure of evening activity.

August 1 - TWT, second night at Grande Denali

August 2 - Coach to Alyeska. Explore town

August 3 - Mt. Alyesk Tram Ride and lunch at summit, then coach to Seward.

Depending on arrival time we will plan an excursion in Seward before boarding Celebrity Millennium for an 8 pm departure.

August 4 - Hubbard Glacier

August 5 - Combo whale watch/fishing with Rum Runners Charters (6 hours) then drop off at Mendenhall for Nugget Falls Hike

August 6 - Skagway, rent a car with Avis, drive to Emerald Lake. Explore/shop Skagway before heading back to ship.

August 7 - Bear watch with Trekk in Icy Point Straight

August 8 - Ketchikan - Flight seeing with Mountain Wings. Shopping

August 9 - Sea Day'

August 10 - Vancouver Marriott overnight. Still working on itinerary for Vancouver.

Could not get these cabins for our Alaska cruise....sold out....and took 1111 and 1113. I hope the overhang will at least keep out some of the rain.

With a classic package you can only go up to $8. So no, you would need the premium package to cover those martinis.

Sorry. Balcony partitions do not open up on M-Class ships - Aqua Class or otherwise......Only between Penthouse and Sky Suite next door.

There is another trip review with pictures of the deck 11 Aqua Class rooms 1118 and 1120 and they had the partition opened.

In fact, some have been saying precisely that.

I thought so too.

Maybe I just need to be done here. I don't take things that literally. I was

'amening' to the part about my husband being allowed to have a sip out of my drink. My goodness, I can't believe this sparked such a nasty response. I don't feel I brought your rudeness upon myself, there is never an excuse for bad behavior.

Having a taste of someone's drink is much different that sharing a drink so the 2nd person doesn't have to buy theirs, or ordering another drink, again to avoid paying for a drink for the 2nd person. No one is suggesting that a sip or a taste is breaking the rules. It's when you are avoiding buying that other drink that is the issue. No need to get sarcastic about this difference. We're not that stupid.

? I was NOT sarcastic, NEVER said anyone was stupid, and YES some of the comments in the 15 pages did sound like many felt that even that was morally wrong.

There is positively no need to be so incredibly rude. Some of us are first time cruisers and really trying to understand. :(

It makes me laugh how seriously some people take this - I'm going to get the drink package ... and I'm going to let my wife taste my drink if she wants ... and I'm not going to feel bad about it

 

Just like when I (and everyone else on this board) go over the posted 55mph speed limit on the highway ... although I'm officially breaking the law, nobody (not even the law-enforcers) care, as long as you don't go overboard ... at least with the drink package there is no safety issue

 

Maybe I'll go to hell for these "sins" ... but at least I will have enjoyed my cruises, not having worried about what others were doing

Amen. I have the package, DH doesn't. He drinks maybe one per day. We will buy his drinks a la carte. However, if he wants a sip or two of my drinks, he will have them and I won't feel guilty at all. I may be done with a drink and he may finish it, better than tossing it.

Something it seems some are missing while crucifying this poor poster is the fact that not everyone reads cruisecritic, not everyone visits Celebrity's website and reads the rules on drink packages. Until this board I did not know they existed and would not have found them on the website. If I walked onto the ship and someone sold me a soda package and told me at that point that it was sharable, why would I think it wasn't?

Now, knowing it's not and then sharing, that's a different case. But don't question the morals of someone who was told by an employee it was fine and had no prior knowledge it wasn't.

I would think if the wines were not that great you could have upgraded to the Premium Package for just $10 more a day. This would allow you better wines if that is what you drink. I am really fussy about good wine and about good vodka so I got the premium package. I looked at the wines under $8 and they just were not that great.

I've asked this before and not gotten an answer, I am worried about the posts that talk about how they track. I have a premium package, my husband does not. He drinks very little, not enough to warrant his own package. Now, I like to have two (or more) drinks in the afternoon while sitting on the balcony and getting dressed for dinner. If I get one on the way back to the room, then run down to get another so that I can sit in my robe and enjoy will that trip any flags?

I think a G&T with premium liquor is $8 or maybe even $9. It was one of the things I considered as I knew I would order all my vodka drinks with Grey Goose. I saw somewhere that cocktails made with premium liquors were this much.

Another thing to consider is the 15% added gratuity. When I pointed out to DH that my beloved cosmos would not be $10 but really $11.50, he was on board with buying me a package!

I prepaid for mine on Celebrity's website.

We have only purchased one drink package, however that is because although I enjoy wine with dinner and expensive martinis my husband will probably only drink one or two drinks per day. We plan on using the OBC for his consumption since even the classic package would be a waste for him. We are in Aqua Class so I will let him drink the cabin waters and I will order more from my package for myself. He is fine with dining room coffee and the fresh juices from Blu.

My only issue is I like drinks in my cabin and will try and stockpile a couple to have for afternoons on the balcony. I will be drinking all of them but don't want anyone to question the fact that only one of us purchased a package!

Agreed. I grew up in Boston and I avoid cruise ship lobster. I know some people love them, but if you are used to fresh cold water lobster properly prepared you will find cruise ship lobster mediocre at best.

Agree, born in Nova Scotia and grew up in Boston. Cold water lobster (and fresh!) is the only way to go. I would prefer the steak on that night and maybe some nice shrimp or scallops.

You can "stockpile" it. I like to have a drink or two in the afternoons in my cabin as well as Baileys in my coffee at night and in the morning. I plan on just getting one every time I am headed to the cabin so it's there when I want it. You can get several cans at different bars on your way to the cabin and keep it in your fridge.

All depends on what you drink. I bought the premium package for $391 including 15% service charge for 7 nights. Typical day would be coffee and baileys or mimosa or bloody mary in the morning, a cocktail while getting dressed for dinner (with Grey Goose vodka), a martini or two (at $11.50 each with service charge) wine pairings with dinner and a nightcap either on the balcony or at the casino. I figured my total for that to be $69 per day or $483 for the week, so I'll get my money's worth. And then there is soda, good coffee and bottled water every day.

Now my husband will drink one beer per day and maybe a glass of wine two or three times per week. No drink package for him.

We will have 1111 on the Millennium after the updating. This is also a side cabin on deck 11, I am really curious about smoke? Will we be bothered there? The couple we are traveling with are very sensitive to smoke, we are on the port side. And I would love to see some pictures, especially of the balconies on those side deck 11 cabins.

Also, am I correct that there is a bar just below those cabins? I would love to be able to carry drinks up to the room each afternoon while dressing for dinner.

I found the spreadsheet, but could not figure out how to save and use. I may/may not be computer stupid....

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