CharlieCharlieCharlie

It's too bad about the train, the trip is beautiful. We have driven the route (both directions when staying in land based house rentals), and have taken the train (Anchorage to Seward) several times. The drive is beautiful, and if you take the bus, you will still have beautiful views and someone else will do the driving. dcyonce Don's post above shows a great itinerary to see a lot in one travel day. Even if you don't get to take the tram to see beautiful views at the top of the ski resort (which is well worth it, if you can) the area near Alyeska Resort (not very far from Anchorage) is gorgeous. If you drive or set up something with Private Journeys or on your own, check out Beluga Point Site is an archaeological location along Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet, near Seward Highway Milepost 110, south of Anchorage. If you are fortunate, you will see some Beluga whales as the tide is coming in. Anchorage is a nice town, as are the areas nearby, but the most majestic and amazing views will be on your way to Anchorage from Seward. Also, there are beautiful places in and around Seward. Get a map or check out maps on -ine and you will see that the area of Alaska you will travel, is a huge area, but easy to navigate. Also, there are many places here on Cruise Critic to do a little research. Lots of ways to rent a vehicle in Alaska - not just the main rental agencies at the airport. Either way you choose, you will find so much natural beauty in Alaska.

Sorry I didn’t read that carefully enough. I haven’t looked for, nor noticed that either. I was just excited that I knew an answer that might help. 🤪

The only thing that I can think of with anyone possibly being able to see your first and last name is that someone can google you on the internet and find quite a bit information. That could matter to some people.

You can always go to the Move Up section on the Celebrity Ap and put in your cruise number to see if your cabin will qualify to make a bid.

In the article above, it mentions that you can use them with or without bike shoes. Things change, but you'd probably still not necessarily need them.

When in Aqua class on Silhouette last year, my sister was offered bands as one of the choices for the cabin. I would bring my own, they are light and who knows what resistance they offer. We noted the Peloton bikes on the Silhouette last year were only for the classes, and available for use with reservations from our suite. This was on the Celebrity Edge page here on Cruise Critic: The bikes are popular, and you'll need to make a reservation to use them. We suggest going to the spa reservation desk on embarkation day and snagging some times then. There's no cost to using the bikes. Suite guests can reserve Pelotons either in advance or onboard. If you do it before you sail, you can speak to the Retreat concierge. Once onboard, you can request it through the Personal Retreat Host. Guests who book the line's top Iconic Suites can have Pelotons installed in their staterooms for the duration of the voyage. (These are taken from the fitness center, so you might notice bikes disappearing from the gym during your voyage; they're being redeployed to the suites.) Once you're on the bike, it's fairly easy to set up. The bikes in the fitness center have cages, but the fitness center personnel will help you remove them to clip in if you really need to have your bike shoes. You'll want to remember your personal log-in, so you can access your account (there is no generic one) and have Bluetooth-enabled headphones or ear buds.

Thank you

We are new to Edge class and will eat in Specialty restaurants on the first and last night. Which do you think would be best for those nights. We like all of the menus. Thank you.

Scaling back the dinner buffet seems like it could work for certain evenings, but maybe not all. Hopefully it is still fully available at lunchtime. It kind of sounds like Celebrity, like many cruise lines are aiming for more Eco-friendly, more "going green", cutting back on waste and cutting back on extra staff and supplies to save $, as well as to probably attract a younger, trendy cruise passenger. Change Happens. Maybe it is necessary, but so many little things are starting to take away from the "amazed and luxury awe" experience of cruising. So far, it doesn't cause issues for my style of cruises, but it definitely bothers and effects the vacation enjoyment of some people. After the dust settles with so many changes, then I'll see if future cruises beyond this season are good for me. I still don't find the land based experiences quite as exciting and adventurous as cruises, dinner buffet or not. It'll be a couple of months before I am on the Edge, it'll be interesting to see how it is going for the buffet. Lately we pay more to get less, and it seems like my options are to be happy about it, or just don't cruise.

Here we are three years later and I have a similar question to yours. If you are still around and would share your experiences with the aft corner suite on the Edge, I'd appreciate it. We will be in an aft corner sky suite on deck 9. We still have some choices and keep checking to see what becomes available before our cruise. Did you enjoy the corner aft suite on Edge? We have been in several on the S class ships, and despite the pole and narrow balconies in those suites, we still love the location. Hoping for great reviews of the Edge class, too.

My husband and I are considering booking a B2B on Edge, each leg in different suites. I know this is relative to each individual, but overall, does this ship have enough to do on 21 nights of Caribbean cruises? What are some things you think I should consider? (the price and cabins are fine) We have gone on B2B on one ship and B2B on two ships - Celebrity S Class. Just looking for thoughts or ideas or experiences people have had on Edge. This will be our first time on Edge class, but we have sailed on several main lines - most on Celebrity- 15 years.

Since I’ve only access them relaxation lounge when in an aqua class stateroom or before a spa treatment, i’ve never had to “Sneak” into the relaxation lounge.I think the first time using those doors was when one of the room stewards or maybe it was one of the therapists after a massage. I think it was on the reflection or silhouette when we first used those doors. Many things have changed over the years, so maybe they try to discourage the use of those hall doors. You cannot access the persian garden without your pass from the spa desk (trade your key card for the spa card.)

We were able to use the doors several years ago, we discovered suites and go that route. you come in to the area next to relaxation room. You do need to check in for spa treatments and every thing else upstairs, which can be accessed through the stairway in the spa area. This could have changed, I have not noticed the option for prime cabins. I always check what is located beside, above and below before I make my cabin choice. I always choose my own and haven’t had a guarantee.

We have had aqua class staterooms in the hallway you have highlighted on deck 11. There were doors that went into the spa check out desk and relaxation room entry. They were heavy fire doors that were closed, but operable. The stairway you see on deck 11 is inside the spa, not accessible through the hallway. I'm fairly certain the empty spaces are the massage/treatment rooms. Things change, but we never had an issue with using the doorway and the relaxation area without having to check in.

Yes, food is definitely subjective. I have always had a good time at Le Petit Chef, the show is very cute -- we have eaten there on four cruises. If we are with someone who hasn't eaten there, we would go back, so they can see the show and enjoy a meal.

I fully agree. Luminae is almost always the best choice. The show on Le Petit Chef is cute if you've never seen it, (maybe lunch) but the food is just ok - be sure it is at least the steak and lobster. Tuscan Grill view is nice if you dine before dark, but the food is just okay, usually no flavor, just tons of salt, unless you specifically mention zero or low salt. The porch is super good for lunches, especially if you enjoy seafood. Plus of course you can plan with your (butler) Retreat Host to dine in your cabin or on the balcony. Murano is elegant and delicious. Lawn Club Grill is very good, but it is not on Equinox they have the Hot Glass show in that area. We have not tried the Chef's Table, there is just so much delicious food that it is tough to choose. And in the Royal Suite, your "Host" or the Retreat Concierge will be sure you have everything you like. I hope you enjoy this cruise.

After your sailing I hope you'll post your comparison, we have considered Regent, but not followed through with a booking. It just seems like if the itinerary is similar, you get so much more with Celebrity for the prices. Equinox is wonderful, as are the other S Class Ships - especially Silhouette, we love the retreat deck there, and think Reflection will be even better than it already is when it is updated.

I should have responded to the OP's question. My husband and I have enjoyed both Princess and Celebrity, as well as a few other lines. We have not sailed on Apex, but really enjoy the S Class ships best. We have sailed on several Princess ships, including Regal's sister ship, Royal. It was a beautiful ship. It has been a number of years that we have primarily chosen Celebrity ships. (Nothing to do with the hitting of whales and dumping in protected waters, more to do with sailing a side by side set of cruises on Royal Princess and Celebrity Silhouette and noting the differences.) Although we don't gamble, we like that there is no smoking indoors and barely noticeable in any of the outdoor areas where it is allowed. There were many areas around the princess ships where the smoking was very annoying. We both agree that the look of the Celebrity ships is more modern and they seem more luxury in style. Even the balcony/veranda feels better. The food has usually been much better on Celebrity as compared to Princess, but I am sure it depends on the ship and the itinerary, tastes and expectations. The spa on the Royal Princess was fabulous, but the Apex is likely to be amazing too. Even though there was so much to do on large RCCL and NCL ships and they are very family oriented, we certainly have found most meals on Celebrity ships to be much better than the RCCL and NCL ships we have sailed. The cabins and verandas (we usually sail in a suite of some type, but have stayed in the Aqua and veranda cabins as well as princess regular balcony cabins) are larger and more comfortable on Celebrity. Some ships, some cruises and some lines have been better for us, but all of them have been great in some way. Bottom line, I would choose the Apex over Regal if the itinerary was similar.

...and killed several whales in Alaska, one recently.

Exactly! Most of the time, and the extra all-included food, alcohol and extra service items are a big part of selecting the upper suites.

In 2018 (could have been 2017, I forget which year) when sailing on the Millennium from Seward, Alaska, there was no Concierge lunch. We were practically laughed at when we asked about it, and after the main dining room, we were sent to two different venues (one was Luminae*, where we were looked at and treated with disdain) to check on where it might be held. One person finally told us that on that ship, it was just early access to the buffet (I dislike the buffet - any buffet.) It was not a big deal to not have the embarkation lunch, but a disappointing and somewhat embarrassing waste of time searching. It is certainly possible that the embarkation concierge lunch is available now. *The Luminae thing was weird, because we often sail in suites where we have been treated very well and enjoy the food in that restaurant.

I have seen and ordered from that menu so many times, and I am sorry I’ve never noticed or maybe just didn’t pay enough attention to the differences on the menu. I’ve always ordered the cooked table side, but next time I will try the Nova Scotia lobster. I’m an Alaskan king crab leg lover, and don’t know enough about lobster. thanks for including the copy of the menu.

In case it matters, I have also been able to order chateaubriand for one.

Click on the link from islandnj, https://www.celebritycruises.com/bid-on-cruise-room-upgrade then put on your cruise info and it will tell whether you are able to make an offer. I hope it works out for you. Remember when you bid, you can be placed in any cabin area in your category upgrades.

If you mean you’d like to smoke just about anywhere, including your balcony, without consequences. Royal is for you. They make smoking rules, that no one enforces. Those of us who are non-smokers should choose Celebrity. They at the very least least make every effort to keep the smoking section curtailed to a few small areas. Some opinions of mine from Elite Plus and Diamond perspective, primarily suites for the past 15 years: You can’t beat the entertainment on the Royal Oasis class ships! They have a great variety and it is really good. Entertainment on Celebrity is pretty minimal. The food is great on Royal, but even though there are fewer restaurants, it is amazing on celebrity ships, especially S-Class and Edge Class. I sort of feel like a lot of the food, even the top restaurants on the Royal ships is good, but very mediocre. We don’t drink a lot, but just about every mixed drink from a variety of bars and restaurants seems to be really strangely watered down. Staff on both lines are great and all go above and beyond! Children would have much more fun on Royal - a lot to do for everyone - kids of all ages. Overall both lines have opportunities for everyone to have a fabulous time! If Celebrity had a special island like Cococay they would be even better. First choice for us is still Celebrity, but Royal is great too!