dblane

I reviewed the videos once again and they were wonderful to watch and listen once again. I want to be cruising now, have to wait till February, darn!!

Thanks again Jo, Rob, Emily, and Oliver!

Hoping we hear back from our cruisers. Great thread!! I and my sister will be there in February and had no idea what to do.

I have so enjoyed sharing your travels with you. I loved the videos and the music, this last one on the ship made me cry. Nessum Dorma, great choice.

I will miss spending time with my new friends from England.:)

Jo & Rob, loving your videos and narrative each day. Sailed Eclipse last February with my sister and your pixs and stories bring back wonderful memories. Thanks so much for sharing.

We had the premium alcohol pkg last February. Like our martinis. Talked with a couple on that cruise who said they could have smaller martinis on the classic pkg. Some others on the boards have said that also. I never saw it written anywhere and didn't ask any of the bartenders. To be on the safe side the premium pkg is best.

Don't forget to add the 15% gratuity to the package.

All the Martinis are available in the small glass, but you have to tell the barman you have the classic package and want small Martinis, or he will make the large ones automatically.

Thanks slipslopslap-- We had the premium package last Feb on Eclipse because we wanted martini's. We will try the classic package on our transatlantic in October.

We loved the premium alcohol pkg on our last 7 day cruise. I have a question about the extra tipping. Since we are not signing anything when we get our drinks, do you tip extra with cash? Have not noticed anyone doing that.

Room service is free, they will bring you a pot of coffee. We just tip the server who brings it a dollar or so depending on how much we order.

What I liked about the drink packages was that I could get what I wanted, when I wanted it, and as many times as I wanted it. Before I was always adding the dollar signs up in my head. Now I just hand my card to the bar attendant, no receipts to sign or keep track of, and he brings my drink and my card back to me. I love it!:D

We canceled our Beverage Package before sailing and never regretted the decision. We decided to just order whatever we wanted and see if we spent more or less than the package. We spent LOTS less.

What we observed.

You could get a good Merlot or Pino Noir in the dining room for 8.50 a glass.

We got a glass of wine at the Cova Cafe before dinner and took it with us into the dining room to finish with dinner. Then maybe ordered another glass in the dining room. We did buy 3 Captain Choice Wine Bottles for 130.00 or so. They would save the remaining wine if you didn't finish the bottle to be used at a later date. Didn't see much advantage to buying bottles. Not being a wine expert, we were satisfied with the wines offered.

 

The fresh orange juice was easily obtained the first several days in the Buffet area when you walked in.....then that display disappeared after several days and I don't knw how folks got their fresh juice..maybe it was available where the coffee etc. was but I didn't see it. Maybe you had to go down to the Aqua area and get it???????

 

Not many bars opened during the day. Cova Cafe, the Pool Bar. We didn't drink during the port intensified cruise days during the daytime. I saw the menu of drinks somewhere here on Cruise Critic and several of my chosen drinks were not available. The 11.50 Pino Noir wasn't available on the main dining room menu.

 

I'm sure the younger crowd stayed up much later than we did and had more drinking opportunities and then the card might be a good deal. I would have been very disappointed if we had the card and think we made a very profitable decision not to have it and just drink what we wanted....not that we had to drink to "get our money's worth".

On the Solstice Class ships there is bar in the buffet area where we could get the fresh squeezed OJ. There is a charge for it. We also enjoyed the specialty coffees each morning and on sea days in the after noon in the cafe while reading. I am not a great water drinker but found the Pelligrino fuzzy water to my liking and had a lg bottle each day. A cold coke zero often hit the spot. It isn't just alcohol that is included in the classic or premium packages, when you add all the other things to a couple of martinis a day, a glass of wine with dinner, a martini or foofoo drink at the show, and a beer or two or foofoo drink outside on the pooldeck, it starts to add up. It was so relaxing to not worry about how high the account would be, because it was already paid for. Sure Celebrity made some money on us, but we loved the freedom.

We used the premium drink pkg on our last cruise of 7 days, loved it. Our next cruise is 13 days long. Talked with a couple on our last cruise at the Martini Bar on Eclipse and they had the Classic alcohol pkg and said their martinis were covered. All the martinis on the bar list said $10. I enjoy Cosmos and creamy chocolate martinis. Some one mentioned that grey goose vodka martinis were cheaper. Anyone throw some light on this for me?

My sister and I had the premium alcohol pkg on our cruise two weeks ago. Loved it!! Just bring both cards when ordering. Celebrity made a little money on us but not much.:D

Hi Steve! Finally finished your fantastic review. We will be cruising the Canal on Infinity in 2012 with friends from Canada, Albert & Jane, who already posted here ahead of me. Infinity will be solstized by then. Your photos are wonderful, and the history, what did you read ahead of time? We are Michiganders and enjoyed seeing your t-shirt ,GO BLUE!!

Joanne--Loved your pics and your stories. I keep scrapbooks going with all our life experiences. We live in Michigan and take summer trips to Lake Michigan (my summer ocean). Really enjoyed your pics of Glen Arbor.

Amy --All I can say is WOW!!!:eek:

Garry -- Missing you on our Eclipse TA roll call.

Joanne-- We love sunset picks also. Hubby was late to dinner that evening so he could take that pic.

Joanne, what a wonderful pic for your wedding vow renewal.

Sunset leaving Seattle this past September on the Millie.

I'm updating this site, lets share more pics!!!

This one was from our Milly Wine Cruise this past September in Monterey.

Great whale pic! Hope to see them myself someday.

Thanks for all the info. We wanted to go to Stone Island on our own time, so thanks for all the info will print and take this with us. Thanks again.

Taken on the Connie, the fun holes in the floor in the buffet area. My sister and I were both afraid to stand on them.

Morning coffee and sweet rolls on our balcony on Equinox TA.

On the Equinox on our Nov TA, everytime I see it I can sigh and be there!

Great info, thanks!! Will use it this March.

Pitons in St Lucia Feb08.