General Questions for 1st time Celebrity cruiser

[chrisahx]

Hello, This will be my first time on a Celebrity cruise. The only other cruise I was on was the Crystal several years ago. I have some basic questions to ask and will be grateful for the answers.

 

1- Should I expect my Celebrity cruise to be similar in service to the Crystal cruise I took? (Sailing on Millenieum 12-7)

 

2- I've booked a Celebrity Suite because 3 of us are traveling (all adults), but am bummed it doesn't have a veranda/balcony. I could still get a Sky suite w/ balcony but its smaller. Do you think I should keep this suite due to size, or would it be better to take the Sky suite? Does anyone know what the Celebrity suites are like? In a Celebrity suite will you get all the same things as Concierge class? I checked and you "can" have your meals in your room. Any advise?

 

3- Whats the situation with non-alcoholic drinks? Do they nickle and dime you to death on sodas, water, coffee etc? Can you pre-purchase a plan in advance to cover your drinks? What should I expect to pay per person for non-alcoholic drinkis on an 11 night cruise? Under the FAQ section it says there are no laundry facilities, are the prices still the same as what's listed, which is from 2005?

 

4- I'm planing on bringing at least one tux. Do people generally dress formal for the formal nights or has this sort of died out? What about on non-formal nights? Do men still mostly at least wear suit and ties for dinner?

 

5- TIPS? I find the entire pre-paying of tips to be offensive. I mean how are you supposed to evaluate service (The reason for tips in the first place) if you pre-pay? What are peoples thoughts on this and also what do you feel is a good daily tip IF you get good service?

 

6- I've been to Puerto Rico many times but not on a cruise. where is a nice place to stay close to the terminal?

 

7- I recently stopped smoking and switched to Electronic Cigarettes (They produce ONLY an odorless vaopr, and Ive researched them EXTENSIVELY) While I doubt it would create any issue for Vaping in my cabin due to no oder, I do feel while outside on the ship it would be better to only vape (as its called) in the smoking area. Whats the smoking situation like on a Celebrity cruise since the new policy, what about Casinos, etc?

 

Thanks to those who help me out

 

Chris

[If only]

To try & answer your questions. I will put my answer beside each one.

 

Hello, This will be my first time on a Celebrity cruise. The only other cruise I was on was the Crystal several years ago. I have some basic questions to ask and will be grateful for the answers.

 

1- Should I expect my Celebrity cruise to be similar in service to the Crystal cruise I took? (Sailing on Millenieum 12-7) Not sure as I have not been on Crystal but have heard great things about it.

 

2- I've booked a Celebrity Suite because 3 of us are traveling (all adults), but am bummed it doesn't have a veranda/balcony. I could still get a Sky suite w/ balcony but its smaller. Do you think I should keep this suite due to size, or would it be better to take the Sky suite? Does anyone know what the Celebrity suites are like? In a Celebrity suite will you get all the same things as Concierge class? I checked and you "can" have your meals in your room. Any advise? You are in the middle of the ship & actually your room goes out past everything else on the ship with floor to ceiling windows it does look quite lovely, it is a fair size room. I believe it also comes with a Butler!

 

3- Whats the situation with non-alcoholic drinks? Do they nickle and dime you to death on sodas, water, coffee etc? Can you pre-purchase a plan in advance to cover your drinks? What should I expect to pay per person for non-alcoholic drinkis on an 11 night cruise? Under the FAQ section it says there are no laundry facilities, are the prices still the same as what's listed, which is from 2005?

 

Coffee, tea"s, juice & fruit punch are available 24 hrs.

 

4- I'm planing on bringing at least one tux. Do people generally dress formal for the formal nights or has this sort of died out? What about on non-formal nights? Do men still mostly at least wear suit and ties for dinner?

Yes, you will see 50/50 in tux or suit. on non formal nights some still wear jackets but not as many, usually in the specialty restaurant.

My DH always takes his tux.

 

5- TIPS? I find the entire pre-paying of tips to be offensive. I mean how are you supposed to evaluate service (The reason for tips in the first place) if you pre-pay? What are peoples thoughts on this and also what do you feel is a good daily tip IF you get good service? think you get good service anyway but we would have given more but we did not see our room steward on the last night, so I tend to agree with you.

 

6- I've been to Puerto Rico many times but not on a cruise. where is a nice place to stay close to the terminal?

 

Not sure about that one as we usually fly in same day.

 

7- I recently stopped smoking and switched to Electronic Cigarettes (They produce ONLY an odorless vaopr, and Ive researched them EXTENSIVELY) While I doubt it would create any issue for Vaping in my cabin due to no oder, I do feel while outside on the ship it would be better to only vape (as its called) in the smoking area. Whats the smoking situation like on a Celebrity cruise since the new policy, what about Casinos, etc?

 

There is now no smoking in the casino, balcony, room, they have specific places on the ship for smokers.

 

Thanks to those who help me out. Hope I helped you out a bit, enjoy your cruise.

 

Chris

[JanineM]

I can only answer a few of your questions, and will leave the others to those who have real info ... not my guesses ;)

 

3- Whats the situation with non-alcoholic drinks? Do they nickle and dime you to death on sodas, water, coffee etc? Can you pre-purchase a plan in advance to cover your drinks? What should I expect to pay per person for non-alcoholic drinkis on an 11 night cruise? Under the FAQ section it says there are no laundry facilities, are the prices still the same as what's listed, which is from 2005?

 

Coffee, hot chocolate, ice water, hot tea, iced tea, lemonade and some juices (fruit punch types) are free and available all the time. You can purchase a soda package which gives you unlimited fountain soft drinks. There will be a sticker placed on your card that you'll show to the barmen. Note that this does not include non-alcoholic cocktails, tomato juice, etc. at the bars.

From their website: Soda Fountain Package - 11 Night Cruise

One set price for a limitless number of fountain sodas ordered during your 11 night Celebrity Cruise (does not apply to room service or in-stateroom private soda bars). Includes a Coca-Cola souvenir mug. Not available in Michael's Club.

Price: $63.25 USD*

 

Laundry service includes laundry, dry cleaning and pressing only. We always use the service and have been very happy. I normally don't press anything fussy before packing and instead just send it out as soon as we get onboard. Here's a link to the current prices on Celebrity's website:

http://www.celebritycruises.com/beforeyourcruise/faq/home.do;jsessionid=00009nfg2V0Qw4M_q-Eeg4o2Lv7:12hdebcnj?faqSubjectName=Ship+and+Stateroom+Details&faqId=569&pagename=faq_answers

 

 

4- I'm planing on bringing at least one tux. Do people generally dress formal for the formal nights or has this sort of died out? What about on non-formal nights? Do men still mostly at least wear suit and ties for dinner?

 

Many men will be in tuxedos on formal nights especially on a longer cruise. Some will be in dark suits, and others will wear whatever. Celebrity passengers tend to dress more formally than on other lines.

 

On non-formal nights you'll see a few men in suits, a few more in jacket & button-down shirt, and many in dockers or trousers with everything from golf shirts to tropical shirts to sweaters (depending on the climate).

 

5- TIPS? I find the entire pre-paying of tips to be offensive. I mean how are you supposed to evaluate service (The reason for tips in the first place) if you pre-pay? What are peoples thoughts on this and also what do you feel is a good daily tip IF you get good service?

 

The automatic pre-payment of tips is new. However, the service level has always been simply excellent and we generally wind up leaving extra cash for our servers. I spent years in the service industry so I'm picky and I have yet to be even slightly disappointed in the service on Celebrity.

 

Hope this helps and enjoy your cruise!!

[jen&mike]

Chris, We cruised on the Constellation in a Celebrity suite twice and although it was a few years ago it still stands out as an amazing experience to us. You are correct that there is no veranda but the windows bow out from mid ship and you do have a semi-panoramic view. The suite was spacious with a small dining room table, a large plasma screen TV in both bedroom and living area, CD player for music and jacuzzi tub. For three adults, there is more space and privacy in the Celebrity suite. Our butler was superb. We have also sailed in a sky suite (on the Mercury) with the very large veranda on the Sky deck. That was awesome as well just different. I don't think you can go wrong either way. I would be thrilled to have an opportunity to return to a Celebrity suite someday but will be sailing instead in a S.S. through the Panama Canal later this month. Hope this helps. Have a great trip!:)

[Ms. J.]

Hi, Chrisahx.....

Just some thoughts about the tipping you mentioned. The prepaid tips added to your bill is shared among the staff - not just your servers. It also means those who don't normally wait on the same people - like at the buffet, and those we normally don't think to tip like the pool butlers. In my many cruises, I have talked with staff about this. I don't want to get flamed, but the prepaid tips seem hardly enough to be split among all those people. I think of it as a service charge to bridge the gap between servers all over the ship and the ones that I tip cash for personal service like the MDR waiters, room steward and his/her assistant, special bartenders A recent USA Today article sited that a lot of reason cruise lines have added the tips to your bill is that those people, other than Americans, and not tipping at all or very little, NO FLAMES, PLEASE. After each delivery, I also tip the room service waiters between $3-$4. (Those trays are heavy). There is an interesting roll call for my next cruise on 10-23-09, Mercury through the Panama Canal. The last page of the roll call talks about tipping. You can get an idea of some people who are pro-tipping. My sevice on Celebrity (especially the Mercury) has always been perfect and I like to reward that. Jini

[luvtocook]

We did a TA on the Connie in a Celebrity Suite. It was wonderful. The dining table will seat 4 comfortably for dinner. The butler will serve dinner by courses just like the MDR if you want to dine in your suite.

Yes, you get all the amenities that a CC stateroom has. PLUS the butler!

The 1 drawback that I see for 3 adults is the bathroom can only be accessed through the bedroom and is a relatively small walking space at the end of the bed.

The dressing room area /closet area was a very nice touch.

The one thing I would say about the balcony situation is it might depend on the itinerary whether you would miss it. If a cooler weather itin, probably not. We loved sitting there looking out those huge windows on the sea days of the crossing. I probably wouldn't book one for a warm weather itin as I would be out in the sun instead & enjoying the balcony.

[Duane T]

Hello, This will be my first time on a Celebrity cruise. The only other cruise I was on was the Crystal several years ago. I have some basic questions to ask and will be grateful for the answers.

 

1- Should I expect my Celebrity cruise to be similar in service to the Crystal cruise I took? (Sailing on Millenieum 12-7)

5- TIPS? I find the entire pre-paying of tips to be offensive. I mean how are you supposed to evaluate service (The reason for tips in the first place) if you pre-pay? What are peoples thoughts on this and also what do you feel is a good daily tip IF you get good service?

7- I recently stopped smoking and switched to Electronic Cigarettes (They produce ONLY an odorless vaopr, and Ive researched them EXTENSIVELY) While I doubt it would create any issue for Vaping in my cabin due to no oder, I do feel while outside on the ship it would be better to only vape (as its called) in the smoking area. Whats the smoking situation like on a Celebrity cruise since the new policy, what about Casinos, etc?

 

Thanks to those who help me out

 

Chris

Attached are two notices we received on our recent cruise. One is on smoking and one is on tipping.

Equinox Smoking Policy.pdf

Equinox Tipping.pdf

[lipping larry]

we always book a room on priceline. we bid around $90 for a resort and have always gotten a great place to stay. some of the hotels have a suttle service to the port but a taxi isn't that costly. Have a great cruise. Larry

[ellbon]

Hello, This will be my first time on a Celebrity cruise. The only other cruise I was on was the Crystal several years ago. I have some basic questions to ask and will be grateful for the answers.

 

1- Should I expect my Celebrity cruise to be similar in service to the Crystal cruise I took? (Sailing on Millenieum 12-7) bigger ship but good service doubt if it compares to Crystal.

 

2- I've booked a Celebrity Suite because 3 of us are traveling (all adults), but am bummed it doesn't have a veranda/balcony. I could still get a Sky suite w/ balcony but its smaller. Do you think I should keep this suite due to size, or would it be better to take the Sky suite? Does anyone know what the Celebrity suites are like? In a Celebrity suite will you get all the same things as Concierge class? I checked and you "can" have your meals in your room. Any advise? I have not been in an CS on the M class ship but i could not live without a balcony. I eat breakfast there daily. I have only been on the S class ships. 3 people could survive in a skysuite on that ship. Nit sure about the m class ship as i have not slept on one yet.

 

3- Whats the situation with non-alcoholic drinks? Do they nickle and dime you to death on sodas, water, coffee etc? Can you pre-purchase a plan in advance to cover your drinks? What should I expect to pay per person for non-alcoholic drinks on an 11 night cruise? Under the FAQ section it says there are no laundry facilities, are the prices still the same as what's listed, which is from 2005? never do laundry on a ship, i wash by hand and dry o nthe balcony. i do not think celebrity has a soda card.. they do not have a coffee card. the good coffee at the Cova cafe is around $4 per cup. lattes etc.

 

4- I'm planing on bringing at least one tux. Do people generally dress formal for the formal nights or has this sort of died out? What about on non-formal nights? Do men still mostly at least wear suit and ties for dinner? you will see tux's, and suits and some people who have no clue how to dress.

 

5- TIPS? I find the entire pre-paying of tips to be offensive. I mean how are you supposed to evaluate service (The reason for tips in the first place) if you pre-pay? What are peoples thoughts on this and also what do you feel is a good daily tip IF you get good service? i pay cash and base on service.

 

6- I've been to Puerto Rico many times but not on a cruise. where is a nice place to stay close to the terminal? i stayed at beach hotel but of i could i would go for the La Convento hotel in town and taxi to the ship. you need to be i town where all the action is.

 

7- I recently stopped smoking and switched to Electronic Cigarettes (They produce ONLY an odorless vaopr, and Ive researched them EXTENSIVELY) While I doubt it would create any issue for Vaping in my cabin due to no oder, I do feel while outside on the ship it would be better to only vape (as its called) in the smoking area. Whats the smoking situation like on a Celebrity cruise since the new policy, what about Casinos, etc? ????

 

Thanks to those who help me out

 

Chris

 

did the best I could. i wil lnot be on a M class ship until July. I love SJ but msot peopel do.

[dkjretired]

Chris:

 

For purposes of this thread, it should be pointed out that Pre-Paid tips and tips automatically placed on your account are two different things entirely. Pre-paid tips are paid prior to the cruise and cannot be changed or removed. The tips placed on your account can be changed upwards or removed.

 

Also, you are going on Millie in Dec and Select Dining will not be available on Mille until Jan. 2010 so this is really irrelevent to your current cruise but could affect future cruises on Celebrity. If you choose Select Dining over Traditional Dining you are required to pre-pay tips prior to the cruise.

 

Also, in room dining of MDR menu is available to all room categories, not just suites...

[Plumfy]

Hello. I understand what the pre-payed (steward/waiter etc) tips are, but what do you mean by the ' tips placed on your account'?

 

Thanks

 

P x

[Lsimon]

1. I have heard some wonderful things about Crystal. I've never been on that line but have the impression it is in a different league and that while I believe you'll love your Celebrity cruise and find some things you like more than Crystal, that you might be have too high an expectation and be disappointed if you expect everything about the cruise to be similar to Crystal.

 

2. I've not stayed in a Celebrity suite but have seen them. They are much larger than the Sky Suites - which are just a little larger than CC veranda rooms. Some of the comments above are pretty informative, especially the one pointing out the bathroom limitation among three adults. Have you considered adjoining balcony rooms? I wouldn't be surprised if two adjoining CC rooms are less expensive than one Celebrity suite and they would provide balcony space, more privacy, and two bathrooms -although you'd have to forgo the butler and some other minor luxury furnishings.

 

3. If you want soda, real good coffee (espresso based drinks at the Cova cafe bar) and bottled water (as opposed to the tap water) then you'll be disappointed if you go with the attitude that the cruise line is nickel and diming you for these items. I suggest an attitude acknowledging that on Celebrity, as well as all other cruise lines in it's class, these things cost extra and you should figure on spending an extra $10 or $20 per day for these (figure $2.50 to $5 per serving) - then it won't bother you and you'll enjoy your cruise more.

 

4. I'd say that on all the Celebrity cruises we've been on, regardless of location, the overwhelming majority of men follow the formal dress code of dark suit or tux, and that around 50%, more or less, wear tuxes. I never actually counted but that is my impression. However, there will be a couple people around that will not follow the dress code and they likely won't be thrown out, nor barred entry, by the staff. Enjoy yourself and don't let these people bother you.

 

5. Tips - not much you can do here. If you totally despise the system then choose another cruise line. There are worse things in life to be bothered by.

 

6. Celebrity's terminal is not walking distance nor real close to any hotels. It is not downtown. Count on a 10 to 20 minute cab ride from any San Juan hotel, beach area or downtown. If you've never been to San Juan I'd suggest a downtown hotel. The beaches in San Juan are nice but on your cruise you'll see some of the very top rated beaches in the world but you won't likely see a place like Old San Juan (the downtown area).

 

7. Smoking is limited to just a few outdoor areas, and part of one lounge on most Celebrity ships. No smoking in most indoor and outdoor areas - including your stateroom and it's balcony (if you have one). I don't know anything about electronic cigarettes but I'd recommend you follow the following guidelines with them if you're thinking the smoking rules wouldn't apply to them: a) ask Celebrity staff ON BOARD the ship - customer service is notorious about giving incorrect advice on items like this, and b) if there is even a remote chance that your use of them would be disruptive to other passengers then don't use them.

 

Hope this helps.

[Lsimon]

Hello. I understand what the pre-payed (steward/waiter etc) tips are, but what do you mean by the ' tips placed on your account'?

 

Thanks

 

P x

 

Last year Celebrity implemented a new policy that applies to those that have not prepaid their tips. The recommended tips are automatically added onto your shipboard account during the cruise. If you do not want these on your account, for example if you prefer to tip all in cash, then you must go to customer relations early in the cruise to have these removed from your account.

 

You can have the tips increased on a person by person basis, but not decreased (other than removing ALL tips for everyone). Of course if you want to tip some, or all, individuals additional then you have the option of doing so in cash at the end of the cruise.

[ellbon]

Larry

 

Loved your coments.. i tried but have never done m class.

[jackdiamond]

We love the M class; and, we always book CC (C-1), but there are only two of us. Of course, until recently, there were not different classes of CC: and, if you wanted a premier cabin you had to book early. Now, there is a price differential; hence, booking early is not as significant a factor as heretofore, but it still helps.

We have never cruised Crystal, but from discussions with those who have cruised this line, and my personal research, I would rate it as "luxury" and, the Celebrity M cLass, in CC or above, as "premium".

[emeraldcitycruiser]

Don't expect your Celebrity experience to compare to Crystal. Don't get me wrong -- I love Celebrity -- but the experience doesn't come close to the personalized attention, impeccable service, and great cuisine on Crystal. The Celebrity experience is definitely a more affordable yet slightly upscale mass-market experience...but not Crystal by any means.

[raudacruise]

With regard to coffee, you can order cauppicino/espresso (probably spelled both wrong) in your suite for free. And you can order anything for breakfast/lunch/dinner. Favorites here are eggs benedict or bagels/lox. Poached eggs with roast beef hash comes in second. Your in cabin table should seat 4.

 

Yes, having a CS means no balcony. Thats why we go for a RS. We tend to go on cruises that have at least an equal amount of sea days as port days and sitting out on the balcony and watching the sea go by is priceless.

 

With regard to soft drinks, take your own on. Unlike alcholic drinks soft drinks/water are not "embargoed".

 

WRT to your EC. Its probably OK since it doesn't give off second hand smoke but I'm guessing folks will be eyeing you. I've been watching the debate on these things and its not clear whether they are safe or not. FDA hasn't ruled yet and most of these things are manufactured in China. To soon to make a cal.