Shiba_Lover

Virgin Voyages is super solo traveler friendly. They have single cabins, and they often schedule events for solo travelers and for other non-solo cabins, they don't do the full 200% markup.

ouch! Time to look at the cruise lines that are more friendly to solo travelers.

So weird one - I was searching my email for for my dental confirmation - and for some reason - it found an old email for my 2022 Transatlantic. I opened it and was shocked at the price. So, just for fun - I decided to play now and then. Since there's been so much talk about price increases lately - I thought it would be interesting to see the difference. Here you go for those interested. No comments from me here - just showing the price difference in "then" and "now" Then - in December 2020 (yes, the pandemic), I booked the 14 day transatlantic on Apex for April 2022. I paid a whopping $5900 for a sunset sky suite. Now - just for fun, I priced a similar transatlantic. I found a 15 day TA on Ascent for April 2025. 14K in a sunset sky suite and a 12 day TA on Apex in Oct 2024 for 13.7K What a difference the "pandemic" "before" and "now" booking make. Then - 14 day TA on Apex in Sunset SS. Today - mock booking 15 night TA on Ascent in Sunset SS Tdday - mock booking 12 night TA on Apex in Sunset SS

They do have a kids club in terms of activities. However, they do not have amenities like Royal in terms of waterparks, amusement park, etc. If you are interested in the kids club for them to have some activities - that exists. If you are interested in participating with them in activities outside of the kids club onboard like you could on Royal - such as waterparks, amusement area, those are not on Celebrity. It is really all oriented to adults. As others have said, there will be other kids onboard at that time of year, so they will certainly be able to make other friends their ages. And there is a pool, but not a shallow / "kids" pool. I believe they may allow families in the Solarium pool during certain hours (normally no children), but if the weather is cool, I think it is allowed during certain hours.

Sign in to your Celebrity account, then beside your name, select Manage Reservation. Next to the cruise you are wondering about, select Plan My Cruise, and you will see the OBC amount on top.

Same!! Kindle + adult beverage....

We are on this sailing. We booked 6131 . Hoping that's a good balcony to watch for part of the day.

Yeah, similar happened to me a few years ago and I just had flights by celebrity cancel the air ( which they can do since the airline's changes were not ok with me ( ie it would have been impossible to get to the cruise with the new times) . I got a refund, ( it took a month or so) and I rebooked new tickets on my own. I did have to go an extra day earlier so I also had to get a hotel for an extra night

I would call and have air by celebrity book you on other flights.

They actually said NO cell phone conversations are permitted. I don't think that's realistic. I think it is much more realistic to require people to conduct conversations using headphones rather than speakerphone. (slight difference is they said no conversations and use headphones for watching videos)

I think you are suggesting the wrong solution. The solution should not be to ban phones, but to require people to use them on mute when playing games/watching videos or to use headphones when using them as a phone or placing video calls. This problem is not unique to cruise ships. It happens in doctor's offices, grocery stores, offices, restaurants, on and on and on.

Nice - look forward to your report!

If you just want wrinkled clothes refreshed, you can try having them steamed, or hang then in the bathroom, take a hot shower and let them steam. Often does the trick, depending on the fabric ( linen, may not work, but cotton or some silk blends it should work).

That's supposed to be questions not effective! My phone does some crazy autocorrects!!

I did not do a live report, but if anyone has effective about snorkeling and how the gear works for Flora, let me know. We just did the trip in October and did all the snorkeling excursions.

Your sailing might be different. You can check schedule at cruisemapper.com

Ok, this makes sense. So it's a degraded service in terms of expectation around experience. Like our butler would sometimes just randomly deliver a few beers in an ice bucket ( never asked, he just did ). A host would not think to do that.

Not picking on you here with the quote, CalTexCruiser - but agreeing with you and RichYak - it does seem the Head Butler is for upper suites. This then is I guess my question - it seems that many people are asking about the head butler and expecting actions of the head butler. If the new business model is that the head butler only serves upper suites, then the expectation for service from "head butler" from those of us not in upper suites is in error. I mean I sail in sky (or aqua sky) suite and occasionally in celebrity suite. I personally am not bothered by the title of the person who assists me. If their title is "retreat host" - if they get to know my preferences and can handle my very few requests, then I guess I don't understand why I would also need the "head butler" in addition to the "retreat host". What am I missing here? Is this not happening? And yes, I get that it used to be marketed as "dedicated butler" and now it is a "team" - but if the "team" member can deliver, is the experience vastly different (legitimate question - so be kind in answer please)? I'm legitimately asking please as I have not sailed yet (other than on the Flora which is totally different) under the new model but have 4 more booked in SS. So other than it was marketed as X and now we have Y, is service really that awful now? Or maybe we are just super low maintenance as we don't ask for too many things?

Can someone clarify for me... It sounds like... Retreat Concierge are in the retreat lounge. Retreat hosts are in the suites and are the name of the cabin attendants for (lower) suites. Retreat butlers still exist for upper suites. Head Butler oversees the retreat hosts and upper suite head butlers.

You can always ask them to send it to you in writing so you have it

I cannot comment specifically as to children - but if you had booked the adjoining room for adults - the adults would have to pay. maybe there is an exception for children? From experience booking a suite + the adjoining cabin (aft sky suite + adjoining cabin also in an alcove but not adjoining) - the adjoining room had to pay, and could not go into retreat areas, only dining in Luminae. This was with an adult. So again, not sure if there is a difference if it is children.

I think they see it on "you". So if you have a reservation at a specialty, they will know. If you check in at Blu, Luminae or MDR with your sea pass (or the specialty) - it pops up and they see it. They will know at check it, so no worries. And you can always call the restaurant once onboard and mention it too if you want it to be a surprise.

You can add a special occasion yourself in the cruise planner online (in your Celebrity account) if you've booked the cruise yourself. If you have used a travel agent, just inform them to add it. They will know about it in advance if you do this. You can also inform onboard, but they if you do it in advance, restaurant will know, stateroom attendant will know, etc.

Yes, it's really confusing.

That should be fun and always good if you can book early so you get to stay in the same cabin!