LIVE! Celebration 11/26-12/3 Holidays & Casino Ultra—Let’s Cruise!

[lazydayz]

How was the cocktail party?  Did they give away free play?  If so, hope you won. And good luck with your draw.  On mine, I won the big screen tv, which is currently showing football in our living room.  

[pinto18]

Yes I am curious too..how many people were at the Ultra party? ( Hopefully not as packed as the Sailaway party!) 

[TravelBluebird]

15 hours ago, princess76021 said:

Can't wait to get this cruise on the water!!!

Beautiful hotel btw!!

Hugs from Texas!

 

@princess76021 We have been on the water since our on-time departure, and the seas have been beautifully calm!

 

We liked the hotel and would definitely stay there again!

[TravelBluebird]

8 hours ago, Knights on the Beach said:

Ugh, I'm used to Port Canaveral since we live right down the street. We haven't cruised out of Miami in years and it was a mess then too. I was hoping it was better now!

 

The nice thing about Port Canaveral is that the traffic MOVES. I’ve never seen a standstill like the one in Miami this morning!

[TravelBluebird]

7 hours ago, pajazz28 said:

Looking forward to Live review. DW and I sailing on Celebration in  January for our 25th wedding anniversary. Please picture of daily activities, day of lobster night and best places to eat. Thank you once agian. 

 How lovely for your anniversary!

 

When you are on Celebration in January, I”ll be freezing my buns off in Antarctica!

 

I will post as much of that for you as I can!  

[TravelBluebird]

5 hours ago, Knights on the Beach said:

 

Whoa that's a lot of people! Lee is the best!

It was a TON of people, but since then, no crowds anywhere (well, except the casino…finding an open machine is not so easy!).

 

MDR dinner wait was only 10 minutes.  There were seats available at both the Welcome Aboard Show at Main Stage, and Color My World at the “broadway” theater.

 

Casino is packed. Over 100 on board for the Ultra!  

 

And Lee was fantastic; just a FUN sail away!

 

He was also really great with some Down Syndromes young people that were traveling together for a Birthday Party! He came down and sat with them, then danced with them and let them hit the “ACTIVATE FUN” button at the Welcome Aboard show!

Edited November 27, 2023 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

3 hours ago, lazydayz said:

How was the cocktail party?  Did they give away free play?  If so, hope you won. And good luck with your draw.  On mine, I won the big screen tv, which is currently showing football in our living room.  

 

It was nice but not spectacular. They DID have LOTS of tasty,, free h’orderves (fried shrimp with sweet & sour sauce, sushi, little fried chicken wings, pigs in a blanket and more). Free drinks were flowing HOWEVER we tried to get something non-alcholic, just two sodas and that was a comedy of errors—FINALLY got them when I told a casino host we had not received them after 1/2 hour and 2 waiters. She got them for us in like 2 minutes.

 

They gave away a $200 spa visit, a steakhouse dinner for 2, and excursions for 2.  With well over 100 people, I sort of wish they’d given out a few more goodies at the party. NO free play.

 

Best part of the event was meeting Lia, a fellow gambler, we had a blast.

 

Thanks re the prize drawing! No bit TVs this time, but some very nice gifts!   I’d be over the moon to win the Mac Pro as I really need one for my vlogging, and would not sneer at the GoPro bundle//Apple Watch or iPhone 15 either!

 

 

Edited November 27, 2023 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

We overall enjoyed our first MDR dinner with the new menu!

 

We each had the Papardelle with lamb as an appetizer (its offered as either an appetizer or an entree).  I had the cornish game hen, and Russ just the Cobb Salad. I finished my dinner off with, naturally the chocolate melting cake, and Russ with coffee.

 

Service was very fast and excellent—we had Muhammad and Michael. I even got fresh pepper on my cornish game hen.

 

I LOVED the cornish game hen, they hit it out of the park with that one. Served piping hot, nice skin and seasoning. Came with roasted root vegetebles and a yummy croquette.

 

the Papardelle overall I can recommend,. We prefer ours prepared with a brown, less red sauce, BUt that is a quibble and not what was on the menu. It was tasty and al dente, if I found the red sauce a tad sweet.

 

Russ’ Ultimate Cobb Salad was anything but Ultimate because it lacked the blue cheese that they said was in the salad (and should have been). 

Wait was not even 10 minutes at about 6pm.  We thought the decor of the dining room was quite nice.

 

I’ll tell you about the shows tomorrow, as its getting late!

 

 

Edited November 27, 2023 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

We gambled before dinner briefly after the party, and then after the shows until Midnight.

 

Casino was NOT great for me…people all around me were winning jackpots and bonus games right and left. Had some fun on a couple of machines (bubble mania and wheel of fortune) that didn’t make me lose my $$ right away. Best jackpot of the night for me was only $100 which is WAY under what I usually get in an evening of gambling.

 

The person called for the $1,000 giveaway at midnight was NOT there. So they called someone else; neither was us. 

 

My gift ULTRA pick is at 3:20 tomorrow!

 

 

 

 

[TravelBluebird]

3 hours ago, pinto18 said:

Yes I am curious too..how many people were at the Ultra party? ( Hopefully not as packed as the Sailaway party!) 

😂

 

We tried to count at the party—over 100 but less than 150.

[Frank12]

17 hours ago, Knights on the Beach said:

Ugh, I'm used to Port Canaveral since we live right down the street. We haven't cruised out of Miami in years and it was a mess then too. I was hoping it was better now!

Can't beat Port Canaveral!

[TravelBluebird]

We woke up to outle room steward banging on our door at 9am.

 

I was semi awake so cracked the door open, and instead of apologizing, he introduced himself (which he tried to do yesterday) and wanted to shake my hand. 
 

😡

 

The knocking is on me cause I didn’t have the SNOOZIN sign out, but introducing yourself when the room is dark and my husband is loudly snoring in the background?  
 

 

[TravelBluebird]

Sea Day Brunch was a 60-70 minute wait, so we checked in on the App and came down to Emeril’s for our favorite cappuccinos and vegan juices while we wait.

 

No line!  Much prompter  service than the Mardi Gras Emeril’s .

 

And the restaurant design is great on Celebration—separate seating area with booths and ocean views.

 

Great Cappuccinos and juices.  Happy.

 

 

 

 

Edited November 27, 2023 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

@pinto18 Didn’t know if you saw this in another post, but about 100-150 in the Ultra group

[TravelBluebird]

Last night my phone battery gave up after the Sail Away so trying to keep charged up!

 

We’ve been waiting 30 minutes so far for brunch—has said 10 minute wait now for 20 though—never accurate

[Frank12]

I agree that Emeril's on Mardi Gras had slow service!

 

[pajazz28]

On 11/21/2023 at 2:00 AM, mistycruiser said:

On the Celebration you can go to the MDR free of course but also one visit to each of Cucina and ChiBang.  Not just the first night but one visit per cruise free.  If you decide to go to Cucina or ChiBang a 2nd or additional time then it's $8 pp.  We really enjoy Bonsai Teppanyaki for the food and the show so we always book it in advance because it does sell out. 

 

55 minutes ago, TravelBluebird said:

Sea Day Brunch was a 60-70 minute wait, so we checked in on the App and came down to Emeril’s for our favorite cappuccinos and vegan juices while we wait.

 

No line!  Much prompter  service than the Mardi Gras Emeril’s .

 

And the restaurant design is great on Celebration—separate seating area with booths and ocean views.

 

Great Cappuccinos and juices.  Happy.

 

 

 

 

I have never had to wait more than a few minutes for Sea Day Brunch. What time did it start and what time did you check in? 

[TravelBluebird]

37 minutes ago, pajazz28 said:

I have never had to wait more than a few minutes for Sea Day Brunch. What time did it start and what time did you check in? 

 

Checked in at 9:41 and was seated at 10:30.

 

 

[TravelBluebird]

Off to Salsa Dance Class! 

[princess76021]

4 hours ago, TravelBluebird said:

We woke up to outle room steward banging on our door at 9am.

 

I was semi awake so cracked the door open, and instead of apologizing, he introduced himself (which he tried to do yesterday) and wanted to shake my hand. 
 

😡

 

The knocking is on me cause I didn’t have the SNOOZIN sign out, but introducing yourself when the room is dark and my husband is loudly snoring in the background?  
 

 

Insert the oh crap button here!!

hugs fro.texas

[SenatorsFan]

I'm enjoying your review so far. It's especially appropriate since I'm sailing a B2B on Celebration in January. This is a great preview. 😊

[mkcurran]

6 hours ago, TravelBluebird said:

We woke up to outle room steward banging on our door at 9am.

 

I was semi awake so cracked the door open, and instead of apologizing, he introduced himself (which he tried to do yesterday) and wanted to shake my hand. 
 

😡

 

The knocking is on me cause I didn’t have the SNOOZIN sign out, but introducing yourself when the room is dark and my husband is loudly snoring in the background?  
 

 

Hey @Jamman54 this makes Edy look better. 😆😆

[momof3cruisers]

What lovely timing. Sailing next week out of Miami but on little Conquest. However, this week, I am sick in bed. So instead of getting ready for my cruise, I’ll read about yours. 

[lazydayz]

29 minutes ago, momof3cruisers said:

What lovely timing. Sailing next week out of Miami but on little Conquest. However, this week, I am sick in bed. So instead of getting ready for my cruise, I’ll read about yours. 

 

Hope you feel better soon.  I think the OP's live will help all of us feel a little bit better! 

[lazydayz]

18 hours ago, TravelBluebird said:

My gift ULTRA pick is at 3:20 tomorrow!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can't wait to hear what you won!  Hopefully the Mac Pro.