Jim_Iain - First Non-Celebrity Cruise in 22 year - Ponant vs Celebrity Comparison

[Covepointcruiser]

You will get to use your new Tux at least twice on your crossing.   Most wore a jacket every evening.    Please remember that the Queens Grill Menu is only a suggestion as you can have whatever you fancy.   If your are lucky Osman will be your Mater D.    He made us special items every evening.   We especially enjoyed his Peking Duck but he has a special spicy pasta he enjoys making.    

[Jim_Iain]

2 hours ago, Mike981 said:

 

Do you happen to know the name of the new buds? My wife purchased Bose Sleep Buds (because I told her you liked them) and she loved them, but they stopped working. Seems to me the biggest issue is battery life. I would love to get in on the pre-order.

 

BTW, I was born in Milwaukee and raised in Madison. I also did radio in Oshkosh for a while. The Fox Valley is an interesting place. Since you love your long walks, you might have walked over a few man hole covers over the years, just up the road from Milwaukee are the cities of Neena/Menasha and MANY man hole covers are made there. And while we are at it, man hole covers are round because it is impossible for them to fall down the hole.

 

I will let myself out now. 

 

https://www.theverge.com/2023/8/22/23837206/ozlo-sleepbuds-bose-sleep-earbuds

 

Ozlo  - a play on Oslo

 

My batteries are still going strong after 4 years but my left is wonky.    I got a replacement on Ebay -   Someone had a listing for theirs for parts as their dog had chewed the right one up.      They were virtually new -   I sanitized it and purchased new rubber covers.   

 

I think I might also pre-order the new ones myself.   I can't imagine not having them. While helpful with a snoring partner -  they are really helpful in quieting down your mind.

[Covepointcruiser]

In Brooklyn, we stayed at the Marriott.    It is fine and is in walking distance of DUMBO with many excellent restaurants and wonderful walks with great views.

[dianedebuda]

2 hours ago, Mike981 said:

Since you love your long walks, you might have walked over a few man hole covers over the years, just up the road from Milwaukee are the cities of Neena/Menasha and MANY man hole covers are made there.

Reminds me that I was walking in Old San Juan right before Covid hit and saw a manhole cover from somewhere in the midwest - think it was Indiana. 😁

 

------------

 

As always, I'm normally a lurker on your threads but always waiting for that first someone to type Lain instead of Iain. Didn't take long for this time. 🤣

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

Just now, Covepointcruiser said:

In Brooklyn, we stayed at the Marriott.    It is fine and is in walking distance of DUMBO with many excellent restaurants and wonderful walks with great views.

Will take a look.  If we all complain about costs of cruises wait until we book a hotel in Manhattan. 

[Jim_Iain]

Sorry we have been wandering all over the place but really enjoy all the information.

 

I'll try to get back on track -

 

Next up will be our Room -   I will let you know once onboard if what I've been told is true.   Many have told me that on an all Suites Ponant Cruise the real only difference in cabins is Location Location Lotion --- and of course the size of the room.

 

 

Here are the stock photos and we will see how the actual room compares –  My immediate feeling is that it has the driftwood look of the ships that have gone through the Revolution without all of the impractical Kelly Hoppen furniture, kitch and design flaws.    Ponant to me has a nice understated elegance with clean lines and well thought out execution.

 

Youtube Video of Room

Edited September 4, 2023 by Jim_Iain

[Jim_Iain]

For the Comparison I will highlight differences in Red

 

Services provided

• 24-hour room service
• Inclusive Wifi internet access (availability dependent on navigation and latitude)
• Individually-controlled air conditioning
• Dressing room with shelves and closet
• Dressing table and hairdryer
• Dyptique Paris top-of-the-line bath products
• Minibar - * fully stocked serviced daily and included in cruise price
• Nespresso coffee maker and boiler
• Electronic safe
• Direct line telephone
• Bose Bluetooth speaker
• Flat screen TV, international channels (availability dependent on navigation) and videos on demand
• 110V American (two flat pins)/220V European (round sockets with two round pins

 

Included with all bookings -  Open Bar and free drinks in room refrigerator, Butler Service, 24 hour room service.

 

I've been told that Tips are included on all U.S. bookings but having trouble verifying this as it isn't listed on my invoice.

 

Edited September 4, 2023 by Jim_Iain

[Jim_Iain]

Just to get all of us in cruise mode -  here are some stock pictures of the room -

 

 

 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

Differences

 

Excursions -  Booking excursions are very different.   When you look at ones booking and the itineraries they show the excursions but until about 2-3 months prior to the cruise they don't include prices.    They eventually update the prices and times but you can not book them until about 30-45 days prior to the cruise.

 

All prices are in Euros and in order to book you have to call Ponant Reservations.   The book the excursion and you don't pay until you are aboard and it is charged to your room. 

 

Reservations -   Also unlike Celebrity when you call reservations you phone is answered at one to two rings -  No recording -  just a real person.   Their agents I believe are in NYC and are knowledgeable and efficient.

[Jim_Iain]

Out of the list of excursions I posted earlier, ended up only booking 2.

 

Day 4 - Little Currents   - Hiking the Cup & Saucer Trail    €200 - just me

Day 7 - Port Colborne -   Niagara Falls & Welland Canal Centre  €95

 

Iain decided not to do the Little Currents tour because of the early hour of the tour so decided I would do it Solo.

[duck65]

8 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

I'm learning all kinds of new things, I had never heard of Racine.     I'm guessing we won't make it to Racine as it is an 8 hour walk one way (24 miles).     

 

Almond would be on the top of my list.  

Hello again Jim,

 

 I live in Racine and if you would like a kringle I can deliver one up to you and Iain either the day before or the morning of your cruise. Did one sailing with you in Dec. 22 My wife and yourself did the slot pull and won about a buck each.

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

1 hour ago, Jim_Iain said:

Sorry we have been wandering all over the place but really enjoy all the information.

 

I'll try to get back on track -

 

Next up will be our Room -   I will let you know once onboard if what I've been told is true.   Many have told me that on an all Suites Ponant Cruise the real only difference in cabins is Location Location Lotion --- and of course the size of the room.

 

 

Here are the stock photos and we will see how the actual room compares –  My immediate feeling is that it has the driftwood look of the ships that have gone through the Revolution without all of the impractical Kelly Hoppen furniture, kitch and design flaws.    Ponant to me has a nice understated elegance with clean lines and well thought out execution.

 

Youtube Video of Room

 

I agree.  Much more sophisticated than Hoppen's "design."

[Mcgeneseo]

I'm so happy to see you're back! Neat itinerary, that looks like fun. And thank you for the Sleep Buds recommendation ways back...they are a marriage saver. And thank you for providing the info on the new company, my husband was in a panic when he saw they were discontinued.  As was I...

I can't wait to see what you think about the two different cruise lines. I just went through a nightmare with Celebrity trying to fire my useless travel agent and get a different one. Celebrity says the travel agent has to do the paperwork to release the reservations (2 of them!) but he's useless and wouldn't do it! It took me almost two months of headache.  So my warm and fuzzy feeling for Celebrity isn't around right now. I'm looking forward to following along. Safe travels!

[Jim_Iain]

56 minutes ago, duck65 said:

Hello again Jim,

 

 I live in Racine and if you would like a kringle I can deliver one up to you and Iain either the day before or the morning of your cruise. Did one sailing with you in Dec. 22 My wife and yourself did the slot pull and won about a buck each.

Really appreciate the offer but definitely wouldn't want to put you to the bother.   I'm sure we can find one that may not be as good but will definitely pick one up at Christmas time from our local store.

 

Thanks for the kind offer.

 

Even though we each only won $1 how else could you spend over an hour in the Casino and still come out ahead.

 

 

 

Edited September 5, 2023 by Jim_Iain

[Jim_Iain]

Difference -

 

Deposit  - Ponant requires a 25% deposit at time of booking.   Celebrity has recently increased their deposit from $900 pp in suites to 10%. 

[MamaFej]

I think Bose owes Jim a kickback for all the earbuds he's respsonsible for selling!

 

 

They do work nicely, but I find them extremely uncomfortable. Fortunately, PapaFej snores less than he used to, after some weight loss, and he doesn't mind me playing my Sleep Stories out loud. The man could drink a triple expresso, then fall asleep on a roller coaster during an earthquake.

 

I still use them on planes, despite the discomfort. I've thought about trimming down the silicone, but I'm afraid to make it worse. 

[the penguins]

11 hours ago, dcbiker97 said:

Thank you!  Taking all the hints I can find. 

Glad to help. We are away for a few days will be happy to send you more tips/info when we get back.

We sailed on the Fram, inside cabin, on an itinerary that included : the Peninsula, South Georgia, several smaller islands in the Falklands and Port Stanley. 17 days total.

Our email is: geoffanita at hotmail dot com.

Geoff and the boss (Anita)

[Moby Jones]

16 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

I was just sitting here chuckling -    I was thinking it feels like After I cheated on Celebrity after a long monogamous relation for 23 years I decided I LIKE IT. 

 

Will Couples Counseling work and a reconciliation or will we agree to an Open Marriage.   

 

I'm going to make a prediction here. 

I think the change of scenery, a different vibe and overall different experience will have you hooked. I think you'll thoroughly enjoy the Ponant cruise and will drastically reduce the number of sailings you undertake with Celebrity. 

We've sailed a lot with Celebrity but then took two cruises in quick succession on Azamara and Atlas Ocean Voyagers with just 698 and 198 passengers respectively and no longer have any plans to book any additional Celebrity cruises for now once we've completed those already booked. I won't be in the least bit surprised if you feel similar. 🙂 

[hcat]

12 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Sorry we have been wandering all over the place but really enjoy all the information.

 

I'll try to get back on track -

 

Next up will be our Room -   I will let you know once onboard if what I've been told is true.   Many have told me that on an all Suites Ponant Cruise the real only difference in cabins is Location Location Lotion --- and of course the size of the room.

 

 

Here are the stock photos and we will see how the actual room compares –  My immediate feeling is that it has the driftwood look of the ships that have gone through the Revolution without all of the impractical Kelly Hoppen furniture, kitch and design flaws.    Ponant to me has a nice understated elegance with clean lines and well thought out execution.

 

Youtube Video of Room

 nicer than Hoppen... much more high end... but a bit bland with colors..hope you can order some flowers ( if not supplied)  to liven it up a bit. 

 

very sensible layout nice chairs and table on the balc

 

I think you will be very comfy !

[MikeMary4449]

23 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

I like that.     I remember on our last cruise in Luminae's Huge dining room there was this one lady rather drunk with a REALLY LOUD Winy Voice and just very annoying even though we were 5 Plus tables away.   The next night I asked the Maitre'd to seat us as far away from her as possible.    At first he said which lady and then smirked and said .... Ahh.. I know who you are talking about. 

Our dear friend Yuksel took good care of you!

[Jim_Iain]

11 hours ago, MamaFej said:

I think Bose owes Jim a kickback for all the earbuds he's respsonsible for selling!

 

 

They do work nicely, but I find them extremely uncomfortable. Fortunately, PapaFej snores less than he used to, after some weight loss, and he doesn't mind me playing my Sleep Stories out loud. The man could drink a triple expresso, then fall asleep on a roller coaster during an earthquake.

 

I still use them on planes, despite the discomfort. I've thought about trimming down the silicone, but I'm afraid to make it worse. 

I find them very comfortable but it had to do with finding the correct size tip. 

 

On a plane I usually listen to E-Books and also have a pair of Bose Over the Ear that have incredible noise cancellation.

[Jim_Iain]

7 hours ago, Moby Jones said:

 

I'm going to make a prediction here. 

I think the change of scenery, a different vibe and overall different experience will have you hooked. I think you'll thoroughly enjoy the Ponant cruise and will drastically reduce the number of sailings you undertake with Celebrity. 

We've sailed a lot with Celebrity but then took two cruises in quick succession on Azamara and Atlas Ocean Voyagers with just 698 and 198 passengers respectively and no longer have any plans to book any additional Celebrity cruises for now once we've completed those already booked. I won't be in the least bit surprised if you feel similar. 🙂 

 

I predict you will be correct.    I find that one usually notice change when they first observe or experience something new but within a day it becomes the new norm.

 

While I love the E-Class I still enjoy the Millennium Class ships.

[Jim_Iain]

5 hours ago, hcat said:

 nicer than Hoppen... much more high end... but a bit bland with colors..hope you can order some flowers ( if not supplied)  to liven it up a bit. 

 

very sensible layout nice chairs and table on the balc

 

I think you will be very comfy !

 

I can't tell you how excited I'm starting to get.

[Jim_Iain]

42 minutes ago, MikeMary4449 said:

Our dear friend Yuksel took good care of you!

 

Yuksel sure did.    He is such a good Restaurant Manager.   As you know we are late diners and he would come over, pull up a chair and talk. 

[hcat]

Book early for Manhattan...hotels..even some nicer ones are being used to house homeless..maybe Cunard has a hotel package!

 

Also  very excited about your upcoming cruise..