kmtoner

As a cruise food lover, I'm greatly enjoying this thread. Could any of you WS veterans please comment specifically on the Wind Spirit dining room food in Tahiti? We are inches away from booking a 2023 voyage. I'm curious about any significant differences that may exist on Wind Spirit compare to the other five ships in the fleet. Thanks!

13 hours ago, Guppy99 said:

Windstar doesn't have 3,000+ passengers on each sailing. You can not compare the two. 

It's just ridiculous to complain abut less than $5 for very late night room service.

Very true. It is certainly more challenging to staff for what could be large demand each evening on a big ship. However, I wouldn't say that the size of a ship/hotel/resort will be a perfect predictor about these and some other fees. Travel businesses have different approaches. For example, there is no extra charge for room service or premium liquors at a big Sandals resort. But a little Four Seasons will inevitably charge and also tack on a daily resort fee. Mind you, I'm not trying to complain, only to understand. (I cannot imagine making a late night food or drink order.) But I do want to know what to expect in the way of potential extra charges on my first "Always Included"/"All Included"/"Take Care of Everything" Celebrity cruise. That is one of the beauties of Cruise Critic. All the answers are here.

11 hours ago, ChucktownSteve said:

 

All the cruise lines you mentioned are mass market. Celebrity marketing claims to be luxury.  Luxury lines don't charge for room service delivery.  Do they?

 

Non-luxury line Windstar does not charge for room service. 

I had a similar experience trying to book a late September 2022 pre-cruise night+transfer in Barcelona and a post-cruise night+transfer in Rome. "Nothing available" was X's response 12 months before sailing.  (I also had similar experiences for cruise reservations with Crystal and Windstar during the past 18 months.)

Our Celebrity iPhone app went "live" this week in connection with our September 2022 cruise on the Beyond. The app is dazzling and provides endless information for cruise junkies. But one thing that caught my eye was a $4.95 delivery charge for room service orders made after 11 p.m. Is this new?

This particular charge won't be an issue. (We've ever used room service for anything other than breakfast.) But this is the first time I've seen any cruise line tack on a delivery charge for cabin service. Are there other surprises lurking in the fine print? As an everything-included, suite-buying, top-shelf-drinking passenger, I'm extra curious.

On 6/7/2022 at 8:08 AM, TeeRick said:

It is frustrating nonsense that Celebrity does not list our FCC's in our online accounts.  

Windstar also does not report FCCs online. My digital FCC certificates arrived via email today. I guess I'll print and hold onto them like bearer bonds.

On 5/26/22, we canceled our 5/29 - 6/6 Star Legend Cruise to Norway because one of us received a positive PCR test result. (No symptoms and 4 negative rapid antigen test results, so the PCR result may have been a false positive.) We had no problems with Windstar customer service because we provided a little more than 48 hours notice. Today (6/9/22), the FCC certificates arrived via email.

The extra amounts we paid for all-inclusive upgrade and other items are being posted back to our credit card, according to Windstar. As soon as that happens, I'm ready to book another trip. But I confess I get nervous when I read CC posts about delays in paying passengers for entire cruises that were canceled due to Covid. We lost real money when Crystal Cruises went under. We would hate to live through sort of thing a second time.

Thursday night, we made the agonizing decision to cancel our May 29 cruise just hours before the 48-hour cancelation window was about to close. Despite zero symptoms and multiple negative rapid antigen tests, the one positive PCR test made the risk too high for us to fly. We decided we would feel awful if we tested positive at the pier or aboard the ship because it would mean we likely exposed many other travelers to the virus. It is sad to plan for so long and get so close to a vacation. But these are “first world” problems and we decided it was the right thing to do. Now we think about where we can put the cruise and airline credits to use for our first Windstar cruise. And we grumble about how much the prices have risen in recent weeks. We think about how we initially lost this vacation to the Crystal Cruise line insolvency. Now, it was to a single test result. But at least we don’t feel sick and can still count our blessings. 

Thanks. I suspected as much. I don’t see how any cruise line could administer PCR tests to all passengers in real time at the pier. We’re in a situation where one of us suddenly has a positive PCR result but lots of negative rapid antigen results and zero Covid symptoms. Plus, we’ve been quarantining ourselves for 9 days straight in preparation for travel. So stressful!

We sail from Amsterdam on Sunday, May 29. Does Windstar administer a PCR test at the pier or a rapid antigen test? What happens to passengers who test positive on PCR tests but negative on repeated rapid antigen tests as well as at-home rapid tests?

On 6/19/2021 at 8:06 AM, hcat said:

At Sandals all inclusive, the  Conciege asked dh what he likes to drink..Fridge was kept fully stocked..no extra charge. Water was also included.  Seems like X wants to sound all inclusive but really is not.

 

Do not keep meds in fridge..temp control is iffy,.Cool not cold..usually!

Crystal Cruises operated similarly to your Sandals description. Even in our cheap cabins on Symphony, we were fully stocked at no additional charge. But, then again, where is the Symphony now? Under "arrest" in the Bahamas. Stay solvent, Celebrity Beyond! I'm coming to see you in September.

Your comment about the fridge temp has me a little worried. I need to keep a couple of syringes of Trulicity cool during our trip. The manufacturer says that even 14 days at room temp will do no harm, but should I worry? Thanks.

Thanks, drakes2. I'm not a big wine drinker but my wife is. She'll be very interested to know that the ships can run low on those premium vineyard selections. When I've seen the bar lists posted here on CC, I have wondered whether there really are enough labels to keep both red wine and white wine lovers happy at a premium level. She's a white wine only gal. Do you happen to know whether the ship ran low on the whites during your sailing?

I just hope the inventory is better stocked regarding the bourbon, scotch, gin, and vodka brands that I enjoy. Since I like both brown and clear booze, I'm optimistic that I can get my money's worth. Cheers!

I feel like venting. (No offense intended, Windstar. This applies to every line.)

Our days of traveling with disposable batteries will soon be over. In this decade, cruise passengers are bringing digital cameras, digital video recorders, phones, e-books, nightlights, headphones, portable speakers,  smartwatches, tablets, laptops, backup batteries, medical devices, grooming equipment, etc. It is currently common for a traveler's bags to contain cords with two different types of connectors: USB-B or USB-C on one end and any of four different connectors on the other (USB-A, USB-B, USB-C, and Apple lightning.) Most USB slots on nightstands and on or near desks won't accommodate my devices that come with USB-C on both ends of their cords. 

The ships' electrical systems differ from hotel systems. The ships prohibit certain power strips with surge protectors. (For good reasons!) While it is pretty safe to assume what sort of wall outlets a hotel will provide, ships are another story.

On our first European river cruise, it took me three days to find a Euro-style plug adapter for the cabin. Everything was closed on Sunday.  Monday was a bank holiday. And I found open shops mid-morning on Tuesday in the third port city.  I've been trying to plan better ever since.  I sure wish every cruise line would state on their web sites how many wall outlets are available in a standard cabin and in their  suites and what sort of plugs are required to connect to them.

7 hours ago, Pudgesmom said:

We travel with a couple of converters so we can make use of all of the outlets. 

Thanks. For Windstar's ships, do you bring European 2-prong converters for those additional outlets? I bought two of those for a Rhine-river cruise through Switzerland, Germany, and the Netherlands. They worked well for our US three-prong and two-prong devices. Windstar's non-sailing ships visit many different countries, so I'm not sure what the standard outlet might be for most cabins. 

We are cruising on Star Legend at the end of May. We're in a classic Oceanview Suite on Deck 4. I'm struggling to find a definitive answer about the current state of electrical outlets in those cabins for our U.S. 110v devices. I found a post from several years ago suggesting only three outlets in these cabins. (Behind TV, by the desk, and a shaver/hairdryer plug in the bathroom.) Is that still the case? Would more plugs be available to us if we bring European to US converters?

In particular, I'd like to know what might be closest to the nightstands in the bedroom and what the voltage would be. I'm trying to make sure we have the right gear to connect two 110v Cpap machines. On some ships, there is an outlet tucked away behind the bed or one of the nightstands which allows me to solve this problem with a triple plug connector that uncurls, but that's not always the case.

Thanks in advance for answers and suggestions. Happy Cruising!

I wanted to book the hotel through WS. Cruise leaves in 40 days. 

2 hours ago, 3kidslater said:

FYI -  We booked a WS hotel on our own on a previous trip. We were not treated as WS clients at the hotel WS desk and were not eligible for transportation to the pier (not a big deal, we took a cab)

I have been trying to determine the WS hotel for Amsterdam without any success. I’ve found the web page describing such hotels in other ports, but so far, I haven’t seen an Amsterdam hotel  listed. The WS customer service rep was unable to help me with this. 

18 hours ago, D C said:

While this isn't a 'tipping thread', it's nice to know how appreciated those extra gratuities are.   We bring at least $200-300 in 1s,5s, and 10s for a 7n cruise and tip regularly but what we would consider 'modestly'.  Bring drinks for both of us and $3-5 is obligatory in my mind.  

I have done the same and don't mind doing so. Those types of tips tend to be very appreciated and they make me feel good, too. But, I'm from the U.S. I expect many from other countries don't feel the same way.

Which brings me back on topic to services from our Sky Suite "butler." Like the OP, I'm not sure what to ask for. And I'm even less sure about when or whether to tip for for any suite or Retreat pampering or concierge assistance. I have tipped the concierge in fancy hotels when a difficult restaurant reservation was obtained or a special delivery was arranged. Will it be similar in our Sky Suite or should I try to put tipping entirely out of my mind and just enjoy the all-included experience? Given my upbringing, it will be tough not to include a few bills with my hearty thank you's. 

I should have just asked my busy TA. I was hoping to get some more info from customer service about hotel availability. My TA reported at the time of booking that Windstar had zero rooms available. I found that tough to believe given how many affordable and very fancy hotel rooms were available when I used Expedia, Delta.com, and other sites. Alas, the operator said that she could only handle "cabin requests." Rather than wait in another queue, I booked my own room at a price lower than my TA could offer me.

I have no receipt for my all-inclusive payment and nothing appears on my reservation confirming this upgrade. So, I'm back to my TA to verify my purchase. 

Windstar customer service sent a polite reply to my email about this topic. They did not offer an online option to select the all-included package and instead asked me to call the general toll-free number. I've been on hold for 20 minutes so far. At the 30 minute mark, I'll turn this over to my TA. Seems silly to it this way. Do the shore excursion reservations require and process payments? If so, I don't see why the website couldn't handle drink packages or cabin gifts. 

We're booked on the Star Legend within 60 days of sailing. I would like to add the drinks/wifi/gratuities package for just my reservation. I can purchase shore excursions after I log into the Windstar web site, but I don't see a method to add drinks or other packages. The reservations number is unavailable on Sundays. Must I pay for it through the travel agent who handled the original booking and payment? Thanks in advance for advice. 

KKB, for us the ship size has been a big factor when shopping, and Celebrity’s newest ships are very big. (At least by our standards, perhaps not by RCCL and Carnival standards!)

We’ve sailed on Princess, Carnival, RCCL, and Crystal. At approx.1,000 passengers, we liked Crystal’s two ocean ships the best. 800-1200 passenger ships are big enough to have plenty to do and the all-included features helped us plan accurately for the cost of the vacations.

Alas, Crystal is no more, so we’re booked on our first X cruise in the Med at the end of September ’22. Our Sky Suite will cost more than double what we ever spent on our modest Crystal Promenade Deck cabins. I’m optimistic that food, drinks, entertainment, and service on the Beyond will compare well to Crystal. But I confess that I’m concerned about 3,000+ passengers on the Beyond. If our trip were during a school holiday, I doubt we would consider a ship so large. If our next trip is great, I’ll start looking at Celebrity’s smaller ships for future sailings. If not, I’ll look at SilverSeas.

95% of the comments on the Celebrity Cruise Critic Board have me feeling very, very confident about Celebrity generally. Our thanks to everyone here!

I have always been a big believer in anniversary celebrations, especially traditional themed gifts and milestone trips. For example, the traditional gift for a first anniversary is paper. So, I surprised my DW at her office with paper plane tickets, her packed bag, a card, and a whirlwind trip to NYC that began with cocktails atop the World Trade Center. <sigh> 

For milestone years, we've relaxed our rules to take our big trips anytime a year before, during, or following the big date. (If nothing else, the pandemic taught us to be flexible in our planning, eh?) For our 25th, we sailed about 9 months after the anniversary month from Iceland to the Faroes to Scotland, Ireland, and England. It was great.

We loved our 30th anniversary Alaska cruise in 2019, but we were not huge fans of the three ports we visited. They reminded us too much of Caribbean cruise ship stops. That said, the scenery in the Inland Passage was incredible and we love Vancouver. Plus, our sea day in and out of Glacier Bay was the highlight of the trip. Practically speaking, Glacier Bay can only be experienced from sea.

You might consider either (a) B2B sailings anywhere in the Mediterranean or (b) northern voyages to Norway and in the Baltic. Based on what CC is offering in 2023, I expect you'll have some great options in 2024. Those two beautiful areas will help keep your airfare costs down and allow you to spend more on the cabin, romantic excursions, and fun.  

We dream of celebrating our 40th milestone in Asia or Australia. It's such a far, time-consuming journey from the midwestern U.S., I expect we will keep putting off such a voyage until both of us retire.

Congratulations and happy planning!

With more than two years of attention devoted to the Covid-19 coronavirus, I’m curious about her almost forgotten cousin, the norovirus. Has anyone seen any signs of her on Celebrity ships since sailings resumed?

I scoured the CDC website and found nothing even slightly worrisome. Now I’m hopeful that CC Board members will confirm for me that sailings have been smooth and without much in the way of choppy intestinal seas to report.

BTW, our only direct experience with “noro” was years ago on an RC Western Caribbean cruise. One night at 2 a.m., our teenager suddenly redecorated the hallway before he could get inside his cabin. That was immediately followed by confinement to his quarters for 48 hours and bright yellow police caution tape across his cabin door. Not a happy camper, I assure you.

Here’s hoping that the extra sanitation measures spurred on by Covid precautions will also all but eliminate norovirus outbreaks on Celebrity.

As I understand it, it's a figure-8 design that runs up and down on two decks. I share your reaction to the deck plans. It's not easy to piece them together and understand how the track actually flows.