Celebrity Cruises FAQ: Created by our Members for our Members

[woody14h]

We used the laundry/dry cleaning facilities on the Mercury last month. Prices were comparable to back home. Easy way to not have to pack addtl tux shirts etc.

[tbelian]

You CAN have tips charged to your shipboard account.

[meyer4two]

You can have shrimp cocktail, salmon and baked potato any night in the dining room even though it is not on the menu.

 

Marilyn

 

 

You can also have a caeser salad any night in the main dining room.

[flagger]

Special requests at dinner are best made to your assistant maitre'd having first told your waiter you will be making such a request or requests. It will go to the AMD from the waiter anyway, so it is best to ask him or her directly.

[PVogel]

Celebrity does not allow duty free alcohol to be brought on board. Wine or liquor that is purchased ashore and has duty paid on it can be consumed in your cabin and the wine can be brought to the dining room, for a $15 corkage fee. This was the policy on our most recent cruise (01/02/06)

[LauraS]

Folks: Please, no discussion and or questions regarding what is posted in this "in progress" Celebrity FAQ created by members.

 

If you have a question about something in the FAQ, start a NEW THREAD and ask it there.

 

Laura

 

This post will be removed when the FAQ is done.

[canderson]

Many people have had problems booking shore excursions on the Celebrity web site. This is often caused by one of several problems:

 

1) Shorex bookings typically start around 90 days before sailing, sometimes more, sometimes less. If you are 90 or more days out, there's a fair chance that Celebrity hasn't released your shorex list yet, so you won't be able to book online. Even if you can, please be aware that this far out, available shorex can and will change, with some being added and some subtracted. Book your favorites when you can, but be sure to check up on them again before you cruise.

 

2) In their wisdom, if you actually get to the appropriate page close enough to your sail date, the shorex menu will come up as a "POPUP". Many toolbars and browsers have a setting to block popups since they are usually related to annoying advertising on web sites. One wonders why a web designer would use that technique these days.:mad: That said, be sure you have turned off any popup blocker from Explorer, Ad-Watch, Google, or other application or you won't see the shorex page.

 

3) If you are trying to access shorex bookings from "My Celebrity", forget it. This has been broken since the revamping of the web site in December of '04, and as of the date of the message, is still broken.:mad: If you have tried to access shorex from "My Celebrity", you must log out of the "My Celebrity" area of the site and then wait about 20 minutes to assure that your login has timed out. Otherwise, when you go to book your shorex in a way that will actually work (described below), the system will think you're logged in twice and prohibit you from booking! After you've waited, follow these steps:

 

a) Start on the Celebrity home page

b) Select "Plan Your Cruise" / "Shore Excursions"

c) Pick a destination that suits you from the pull down and click GO

d) Pick a port

NOTE: Selections up to this point are abitrary, and were done only to get you to the next steps!

 

e) In the upper left of the new window, look for "PURCHASE your shore excursions"

f) Click on GO

g) Enter your booking#, ship's name, date, and language info

 

Now the ports for your particular cruise will be displayed. Work your way through them and see what is offered. Note that if you go far enough into the booking process, the system will also show you the available time(s), and there sometimes more than one, for the excursions you view, giving you further information with which to make your decisions. You'll need to work through each excursion right up to the point of selecting the excursion, and then back out once you have the times.

 

 

NOTE: If none of the above situations apply to you, and the solution in "3" doesn't work for you, you'll need to call Celebrity and find out what's going on. Sometimes, shorex lists are released very late, or there may be a problem of some other sort.

 

NOTE: Online booking and changes of shore excursions are allowed from the time they are released for booking UNTIL 10 days prior to sail date. Beyond that, for whatever reason, online bookings and changes to bookings are closed, and you'll need to make your shorex reservations aboard ship. Be advised that one of the easiest ways to do this is the interactive system on the TV in your cabin. You won't have to wait around in lines at the Shorex desk aboard ship. Tickets will be delivered to your cabin.

[tprime76]

While the Celebrity Dress codes say that informal attire includes a jacket and tie, the ship's dailies will most likely not mention a tie in the stated dress code on informal days. I take this as good news as I would not normally want to wear a tie four nights of a week-long holiday. Links to the Celebrity and a sample of the Celebrity daily are attached as reference.

 

 

http://www.celebrity.com/beforeyourcruise/heroSingleTxtSub.do;jsessionid=0000u-aldwzjCzWLHSSBBtlPihA:1028etq20?pagename=packing&cS=NAVBAR

 

http://tomandemily.com/CruisePics/CelebrityConstellation2005/Day%204%20St.%20Lucia%20Docs/Celebrity%20Today%20-%20St.%20Lucia%20-%20AE1%20-%2011-29-05.jpg

 

Just noticed (through the site logs) a lot of people were using the 2nd link above (thanks Schplinky) and getting stuck without anywhere else go to to see the remaining docs. The following link gives you the option of looking at all of the Celebrity Dailies for the Nov4,2006 Constellation cruise.

 

http://www.tomandemily.com/index_files/11262005ConstellationCruiseDocs.htm

 

And for the Jan18,2004 Millennium cruise

http://www.tomandemily.com/index_files/01182004MillenniumCruiseDocs.htm

[spearmint]

With our air, hotel and cruise package, our Ta asked for an airport close to home (3 hour drive to there). It was not on Celebrity's list of airports and the Ta had to book from an airport 900 miles away. We would need to fly with a connector flight to get there; probably another $1000 or so when all was said and done. We would have no idea which airline or departure time would be used, so there was the possibility of a hotel involved.:mad:

 

From my Captain's Club brochure, and from replies to questions about Custom Air Arrangements on this board, I called Captain's Club and was told there would be no problem and for my TA to simply call Celebrity-booking with the request. This resulted in his speaking to a completely new person and to a different phone number from the one he had dealt with originally, with the result that the TA was able to get the original request honored.:)

 

My point in this long tale is that Celebrity did not suggest to my TA that Custom Air Arrangements could be made even for an extra cost (which is waived for Captain's Club members). So you or your Travel Agent need to know that you can/should ASK for Custom Air Arrangements to get you to the departure point, the airline and the flight that you want, if what Celebrity offers is not satisfactory.

[Cabb]

A further note on booking shore excusions on-line- I went in circles for weeks before learning you have to disarm Norton Internet Security before the Celebrity system works. I chose my excursions, then rearmed before adding a credit card number and hitting send. If you use Norton and keep getting a note about not changing URLs, try that.

[lionheart]

Aboard the four M-class ships are Specialty Dining options. Below are some links to explore.

 

http://www.celebritycruises.com/whyceleb/heroSingleTxtSub.do;jsessionid=0000zCRWS5RSfwYkIiA4PlsERyH:1028etmk3?pagename=specialty_dining&cS=SIDENAV

 

http://www.celebritycruises.com/whyceleb/SingleInclude.do;jsessionid=0000zCRWS5RSfwYkIiA4PlsERyH:1028etmk3?pagename=specialty_dining_menu

 

http://www.celebritycruises.com/beforeyourcruise/faq/home.do;jsessionid=0000zCRWS5RSfwYkIiA4PlsERyH:1028etmk3?faqSubjectName=Dining+Information&faqId=423&pagename=faq_answers

 

 

Presailing Specialty Restaurant Reservations

If you're booking a cruise on one of the Millennium-class ships-Constellation, Infinity, Millennium and Summit, you can make dinner reservations 60 days prior to sailing and up to 4 days prior to sailing for one of the Specialty Restaurants. These unique dining venues are recreations of the very restaurants on board famous ocean liners of the past. To make arrangements, please call the Captain's Club. The per guest cover charge (which includes gratuities) will be automatically added to your onboard account. Guests must be 12-years of age or older. Proper attire is required.

[cruisintwinsmom]

There is a $75 charge for custom air if you have not sailed with Celebrity in the past. Although this charge is waived for previous sailors there may be an additional charge for the cost of the ticket. For example, when a non-stop flight was requested to Europe, there was a $44 upcharge/ticket, eventhough it was out of the same city.

[itsanita]

Should you like to have a little something to drink in your stateroom or on your balcony, (without ordering each drink thru the bar) you may order wine, champagne, or liquor packages directly thru Celebrity. See below:

 

 

Bon Voyage gifts are available for in-stateroom delivery on sailing day

 

Champagne and Caviar*

 

Champagne & Sparkling Wines

 

White, Blush and Red Wines

 

Liquor Package

Perfect for entertaining or enjoying with your significant other, three different liquor packages each includes one bottle of liquor, six cans of soda and Natural Source Nuts Ivory Grab Box. Packages are for consumption in staterooms only. We offer scotch, gin, bourbon, rum, vodka, or cognac in three categories.

 

http://www.celebrity.com/shopceleb/s...n_voyage_gifts

[Host Anne]

You can usually board your ship well before the published time in your cruise documents. Boarding usually commences somewhere between 11:30 AM -- Noon.

 

Upon boarding, start at the top of the ship and work your way down each deck to get a feel for the ship and where everything is located.

 

Smile and be friendly to the crew and they will go above and beyond to make your cruise enjoyable!

[Yoopergirl]

You can (somewhat) beat the high cost of wine by the glass in the dining room by ordering Bon Voyage wine before the cruise. The bottles will be delivered to your stateroom and you can take them to the dining room. There will be no corkage fee.

 

We did tip the wine steward at the end of the trip ($5).

 

Kay

[Host Anne]

Continuing on the wine cost saving subject....you can purchase a bottle of wine at any bar (we usually do it at the bar we frequent before dinner) and they will "keep" the bottle for you to drink whenever you want it. We'll usually have a glass before dinner and then maybe stop back later that night or the next night before dinner to finish the bottle off. Again, it saves over buying it buy the glass. They'll cork it, put your name on it and keep it stored for you! :)

[BurBunny]

There is a $75 charge for custom air if you have not sailed with Celebrity in the past. Although this charge is waived for previous sailors there may be an additional charge for the cost of the ticket. For example, when a non-stop flight was requested to Europe, there was a $44 upcharge/ticket, eventhough it was out of the same city.

 

The custom air (deviation) charge is different based on where you're sailing. Domestic air deviations are $50/person, International are $75/person. Both are waived for past passengers who are members of Captain's Club.

 

Membership in Captain's Club is complimentary, but not automatic. You or your agent need to sign you up after your first cruise, or you can fill out the forms onboard. The most efficient way is to call Captain's Club at 800-760-0654.

 

If you are Select or Elite member of Captain's Club, or Diamond or Platinum member of Royal Caribbean, you are eligible to receive reciprocal benefits in the other line's programs. That means you are entitled to the benefits of that reciprocal level when you sail on the other line. However, cruises earned on each line are counted separately. So you cannot have 3 cruises on Celebrity and 3 on Royal Caribbean and combine them to achieve a higher level.

[metaphase]

Vegetarian and Low Fat/Light

 

Seperate Vegetarian, Lean-and-Light, and children's menus are available in the dining room. No special prearrangement is necessary.

 

 

Diabetic, Low-Sodium, Low-Fat, Low Cholesterol, Lactose-Free and Kosher

 

Diabetic, Low-Sodium, Low-Fat, Low Cholesterol, Lactose-Free and Kosher meals can be provided but must be requested in advance. Requests must be made at least 3-4 weeks before departure.

 

 

 

http://www.celebritycruises.com/beforeyourcruise/faq/home.do;jsessionid=0000vbELHrJLfp-aB0Pafvzlj4U:1028etmk3?faqSubjectName=Food+and+Beverage&faqId=499&pagename=faq_answers

http://www.celebritycruises.com/beforeyourcruise/faq/home.do;jsessionid=0000vbELHrJLfp-aB0Pafvzlj4U:1028etmk3?faqSubjectName=Food+and+Beverage&faqId=506&pagename=faq_answers

[alfiemom]

On the M-class in the Lido:

 

Great waffles are made every morning at the very back (stern) of the stations. (Same place where sushi is served each evening.) Took us several days to learn this.

[cruzin4us]

Check Celebrity's website often (daily if possible), occassionally they reduce the price of your cruise and you can take advantage of the price reduction if you see it....if you snooze, you lose. They won't refund you automatically, you have to ask for it.

[fllady]

Cova Cafe has wonderful asst. danishes, croissants, muffins in the mornings 8:30am - 10:30am and lovely little finger sandwiches and tarts, cookies,etc during afternoon hours 3:30pm-5:30pm.

[RodPat]

If you are in a CC room and you want breakfast. The menu cards are in the blue leather book that is on the table in your room. We don't usually eat on our balcony but last time had an aft balcony. It was days before I realized the menu cards were there. The breakfast is great. Tablecloths and flowers, the works. Never ate breakfast anywhere else after I found the menu. Pat

[DKB1670]

The crusie Line can change the itinerary without giving you any refund or any compensation

[Drew B]

The crusie Line can change the itinerary without giving you any refund or any compensation

 

However, they generally make an effort to give some kind of compensation that they feel is equitable. This effort does not always satisfy disappointed passengers.

[GORDONCHICK]

Cova Cafe has wonderful asst. danishes, croissants, muffins in the mornings 8:30am - 10:30am and lovely little finger sandwiches and tarts, cookies,etc during afternoon hours 3:30pm-5:30pm.

 

They also serve almond croissants that kick butt!!