Deja Vu all over again....EDGE sailing Eastern Caribbean in S2-8/17-8/24

[graphicguy]

Who'd have thunk it.  A little more than a month after my last EDGE cruise-Western Caribbean-  I'm sticking my toes back in the water.  Got 3 weeks, and I'm hoping to again do a ski-live report with pictures.  But, from what I'm reading, the Eastern Caribbean leg has much worse internet speeds than my previous Western Leg.  So, we'll see.

 

Details....details...details....

 

Wasn't expecting to do this, but really wanted to do a B2B the last time, but for a variety of reasons, I couldn't.  I'm solo (again).  Want to find out why?  Check out the link below.  

 

Kind of kicking tires on new cruises. And, given I've (we've) been dormant for the last couple of years when it comes to leisure time, I'm jonesing and trying to get my "fix".  

 

Being an NCL refugee (again, reasons are buried in the thread below), I was looking for different cruise hosts.  Carnival?  Maybe. That was actually the last cruise I took before the shutdown.  WAY different vibe.  And, not sure it was one I wanted to do that again, just yet.  NCL?  Nope...fool me once (or 3-4 times) shame on me again, and again, and again and again.  It takes a while, but I learn....eventually.  Royal?  Nothing against those folks, but dang...reading their posts over in the RCCL threads, probably best for me to let that whole brigade settle in a bit before throwing myself into that mosh pit.

 

So, why not Celebrity?  Again?  Alaska?  Alaska is something I want to do with my SO,  not SOLO.  Aruba?  St Kitts?  How about Eastern Caribbean.  It's different enough from the Western side to keep my interest.  I've been through the Eastern Route before, but it's been a good long while (say about a decade).  

 

Let's stick with Celebrity.  It's new enough to keep me interested, and it was so good, I was probably going to sail them again, at some point.  Why not now?

 

OK...Celebrity, again.  Caribbean, again.  Which ship?  Summit (Babados, St Kitts-Barbados, Curacao)?  Equinox (East/West Caribbean)?  Both look like interesting.  The EDGE?  Seriously?  Well, I liked the ship....A LOT.  I wouldn't spend the first 2 days wandering around aimlessly trying to find a bathroom or my cabin or a pool......

 

EDGE it is.  Not thinking of another Sky Suite.  Let's price outa Concierge Cabin and see where we're at.

 

Here's the breakdown...and oh, by the way, pricing among all of these are within $150 of each other regardless of ship or itinerary, in the same categories....

 

Concierge Cabin-$2300

Aqua Cabin-$2,900

Sky Suite-$3,700

 

Let me dissect this, 'cause I like me some Retreat.....

 

S2 includes Premium Bev package, Streaming WiFi, Tips, $600 OBC (refundable), my TA kicks in $225 as refundable OBC.  Taking the OBC into consideration, I can get a Sky Suite in the retreat for about the same price as an Aqua Cabin and about $600 more than a Concierge cabin?  Sky Suite it is.  I'm on it like flies on sugar.

 

That's where I'm at.  Taking the exact same flights on the exact same days as before.  I can see the furrowed brows and cringes from some of you.  But, I go by my own rules.....I'm a rebel like that.

 

Got a few weeks here to go.  So, the good stuff is coming.

 

 

[wrk2cruise]

3 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

$600 OBC (refundable)

 

Unfortunately OBC provided by Celebrity is non refundable (use it or lose it).

 

[GeorgiaPeach51]

Mosh pit!  😜😄. Love it!  Gave me a great laugh.  Looking forward to your next review!

[Mystictraveler]

@graphicguy you probably know this, but instead of additional OBC from your TA, they might offer you cash back at the end of the cruise in the event you don't want to buy any more jewelry. Our TA offers us that option.

[Mystictraveler]

Also, you might check the dates in your heading. It departs on 8/14 as we are on that cruise as well.

 

[wrk2cruise]

Generally OBC from a TA is refundable (OBR code).   If OBR is not used on the cruise it will automatically be refunded to the credit card on file for your seapass account.   You can also go to guest relations on the last night to get it refunded in cash.

[graphicguy]

15 minutes ago, Mystictraveler said:

Also, you might check the dates in your heading. It departs on 8/14 as we are on that cruise as well.

 

Did I say “details”?  Thanks for letting me know.  Oh @Host Anne??????   Can I bother you to change the dates in my title to 8/14-8/21.

 

Thanks for cleaning up my mess!!!!!!!!

[graphicguy]

18 minutes ago, wrk2cruise said:

Generally OBC from a TA is refundable (OBR code).   If OBR is not used on the cruise it will automatically be refunded to the credit card on file for your seapass account.   You can also go to guest relations on the last night to get it refunded in cash.

Hmmmmm…..here’s what my reservations states.  Am I misunderstanding?

 

The Retreat - Refundable

 

Streaming Wi-Fi

$600 per person in shore excursion and onboard credits

Premium drinks

Tips

[wrk2cruise]

Your booking is refundable deposit, not the OBC.   Since you booked inside of final payment it really doesn't make any difference.   It would have been nice if you could have taken a lower non refundable deposit rate but doesn't look like that is available.

 

All OBC directly from Celebrity is non-refundable.  The $600 will need to be used onboard and won't be refunded.

 

 

[graphicguy]

2 minutes ago, wrk2cruise said:

Your booking is refundable deposit, not the OBC.   Since you booked inside of final payment it really doesn't make any difference.   It would have been nice if you could have taken a lower non refundable deposit rate but doesn't look like that is available.

 

All OBC directly from Celebrity is non-refundable.  The $600 will need to be used onboard and won't be refunded.

 

 

OK….thanks.  I’m betting I can do it!

[wrk2cruise]

There is another thread on here about giving extra gratuities using some of it by filling out a form at guest relations.   If you use the casino you can use it there, even buy chips or slot credit in advance on the cruise planner and get a 5% bonus.  You can buy Apple products (but most are at least a generation behind).    Lots of things to do with it.    You can even transfer to another passenger (your gf would probably object!).

[MamaFej]

20 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

OK….thanks.  I’m betting I can do it!

We believe in you, @graphicguy! You've got this!

[Jane2357]

Can I ask what the main difference is between a S1 and S2 are?  All I can guess is location.  The S3's are obstructed view?   I just booked a S1 on Apex despite M class being my favorite but my daughter was really wanting to give Apex a try.  

[Irene225]

@graphicguylooking forward to your posts! Is this for the 8/14 or 8/21sai!ing? Your subject line says 8/17 - 8/24 but that's a Tues to Tues? 

[Shadow9612]

Congratulations!  Can't wait for another amazing thread!  Wishing you another fantastic cruise.

[jcpc]

Looking forward to another spectacular sailing and review.  You're hooked on Celebrity now!!!!

[graphicguy]

1 hour ago, Jane2357 said:

Can I ask what the main difference is between a S1 and S2 are?  All I can guess is location.  The S3's are obstructed view?   I just booked a S1 on Apex despite M class being my favorite but my daughter was really wanting to give Apex a try.  

Good question.  I don’t know.  Maybe, it’s strictly location.  My S1 was mid ship….more centrally located.  Most of the things I liked to do on my last cruise was Forward.  So, my current S2 is actually pretty far Forward.  So, I just need to go up or down, instead of going up and down, and then Forward.  Not a big deal, though.

 

I’m just guessing, though.

[graphicguy]

1 hour ago, Irene225 said:

@graphicguylooking forward to your posts! Is this for the 8/14 or 8/21sai!ing? Your subject line says 8/17 - 8/24 but that's a Tues to Tues? 

Yeah…I messed up the tittle.  I’ve requested for it to be corrected.  The sailing is INDEED 8/14-8/21.  Sorry for the confusion.

[GeorgiaPeach51]

1 hour ago, Jane2357 said:

Can I ask what the main difference is between a S1 and S2 are?  All I can guess is location.  The S3's are obstructed view?   I just booked a S1 on Apex despite M class being my favorite but my daughter was really wanting to give Apex a try.  

I’m pretty sure it is primarily location.  We were just in an S1 on Edge, a corner aft suite, which is apparently a sought after location for many.  I don’t think u can go wrong with an S1.

[Oville]

Glad to see you sailing again.  Loved your first report, looking forward to the second.

[Oville]

47 minutes ago, GeorgiaPeach51 said:

I’m pretty sure it is primarily location.  We were just in an S1 on Edge, a corner aft suite, which is apparently a sought after location for many.  I don’t think u can go wrong with an S1.

Agree Joanie, we sailed in an aft S1 and a mid-ship S1.  Unfortunately we had some rocky seas in the aft but much better seas in the mid-ship.  I don’t think you can go wrong in either.

[parrothead33]

Can’t wait for your new adventure to begin. Travel safe.

Cheers!

[TraderSam]

I’m very jealous! 😉Looking forward to reading all the details of your new adventure. Enjoy planning.

[graphicguy]

The last cruise, there was a lot of me thinking “I don’t know what to do or expect.  I haven’t sailed in 2 years, and I haven’t sailed Celebrity in a decade”.

 

So much had changed…..COVID….New (to me) ship.  New procedures.  New protocols.  A port I hadn’t sailed out of in many years.

 

This time, it’s like riding a bike.  Once you know………..you know.

 

This time, I’ll know which door to go to upon arrival to the pier (thanks to @GeorgiaPeach51 for pointing that out with pictures).  Last time, I kind of wandered into the terminal (think Tom Hanks), with no idea what to do or where to go.  Got lucky and ended up in the right place.

 

While it doesn’t really matter, I got a little bit later of a boarding time, this go round.

 

 

YOUR SCHEDULED ARRIVAL TIME AT THE TERMINAL IS 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Arrive only during your scheduled arrival time to avoid long wait times outside the terminal and boarding delays. All guests in your reservation must check in together.

 

 

No matter.  I’m on the same flight schedule as before, too.

 

Delta….

 

8/14-DL 1401 departing CVG at 7:10 a.m., arriving FLL at 9:34 a.m.

8/21-DL 2164 departing FLL at 11:56 a.m., arriving CVG at 2:29 p.m.

 

Both flights are direct.  Flight from CVG to FLL is consistent in its on-time arrivals (very good) and no time/flight changes of any consequence over the last several months.  All that’s a good thing.

 

I have 3 back up flights leaving later to FLL on 8/14 which would get me to the pier within 2 hours of sailing, even with another bomb scare (which happened last time).  Feeling good about this one, though.  Little trepidation as I know where to go in the airport, and where to get a ride.

 

The down side, I’ll be hanging out in the Delta Sky Club Lounge at FLL for a few hours before heading to the port.

 

Flame away on my flight plans.  

 

[helen haywood]

I was hoping your typo meant you are sailing on August 14…because we are too!!!  It will be our first cruise since February 2020.  We are regulars on Celebrity…and the Solstice Class was always our favorite.  When we read about Edge we thought in disgust…what a monstrosity!  That awkward prow!!  That jarring blue!!  That tacky orange appendage!!  All the Hoppen hype!!  Too gimmicky and flashy by half.  No beloved Sky Lounge!  No shade at our beloved Sunset Bar!!!

 

Well, then some friends got a great Interline rate on Edge that was available to friends.  We met these friends on an X cruise and really enjoy sailing with them. So, OK, we’d grudgingly sail on Edge.

 

Well.  We LOVED Edge!!  Absolutely LOVED her.  Stunningly beautiful ship.  Everywhere you looked was something different, new, quirky in the best sense.  Edge blew us away.  We’re in the minority of loving the infinite verandas.  A king size bed!!  Those bathrooms!!  The 4 MDR concept!!  The food!!!  Mr. Edge!!!  And she sails out of Ft. Lauderdale instead of Miami!

 

So we’re really excited not only to finally set foot on a ship again, but to set foot on our favorite.  And now you’ll do a wonderful review and I’ll have that to enjoy as well!!!

 

(Just let’s not do the bomb scare at the airport again, please.)