MIA, SEA, SEA, CARTAGENA COLUMBIA, COLON PANAMA, TRANSIT PANAMA CANAL, SEA, PUNTARENAS COSTA RICA, SEA, SEA, SEA, PUERTA VALLARTA MEXICO, SEA, SEA, LOS ANGELES.
14 Nt. Sky Suite 6124, cruise 100-101-102
captain's club points 3836
where we saw Addie. She is traveling with us. It was so nice to see her. We had a welcome aboard drink, then proceeded to Luminae for lunch.
We met Silva, our Matre'd. Silva mentioned that Lobo, our former Maitre'd was promoted to restaurant manager. Good for him! He 
After lunch, we went to the Sunset bar to meet people from the roll call. Not too many show-ups but we did meet David and Marcia and Julia and Terrell from Utah. After showering, we headed to retreat for a cocktail and a nice dinner in Luminae. Randi slinked to the casino. I watched the comedian. It was a very long day.
I was up about an hour and a half last night. While Randi was in the shower, I brought coffee back from Café al Bacio to the room then we went for breakfast in Luminae.
At 1130 in the sky lounge, Addie was honored as a baby Zenith member along with 10 other Zenith members, including ourselves.
The Cruise Director was there along with the captain, and others. The top cruisers had over 5000 points. Later, Candy from the Captains Club was able to configure
Randi’s two devices to be working on Wi-Fi. She also fixed some accounting errors that we had. Raj is to Candy's right. After lunch we sat in the Retreat lounge. We met Addie for cocktails in the retreat about 630 and then went to dinner in Luminae around 730. We had a wonderful dinner! I had the Cod and Randi had the chicken. Since we finished up around Showtime, we went to see Michelle Doughty, who was in hairspray and Les Miserables. She celebrated some of the ladies with powerful voices in song. I rated her slightly above average where she had some shining moments and others didn’t seem to cut it. Before calling it an early night, we moved the clocks back and had a very good sleep until 730, new time.
Totally rested, Lorenzo the butler brought us coffee then we went to Luminae for breakfast. We decided to do some walking for some exercise but didn’t get too far. We saw that the future cruise office was completely empty of customers, so we went in and created a new booking. Only halfway through, the computer went down so we decided to keep our 5 PM appointment that we scheduled earlier. Next on the schedule was 
Addie’s, Zenith honor. It was served up in Blu with many officers attending and a beautiful and tasty 
lemon ZENITH cake. Addie was very touched. Randi started a conversation with Anthony, the revenue and marketing manager. (tall officer behind Randi and Addie.) He’s a very 
nice chap from Australia. Another person that we met there was Hoda, (flush left) who is responsible for all the ship's customer service, including the Retreat. Addie asked her to join us for lunch, which she graciously accepted. Conversation flowed and we got to know another nice Celebrity manager. She is from France.
I rested after lunch. Randi went to the casino for a little while. We were invited to a Zenith get together outside the Cellar Masters. It was very nice, well attended and some champagne and cocktails and canopies were served. I texted Addie because she was running slightly late. Alexandria 
found her waiting for us in the retreat and brought her right over. Randi continued her conversation with Anthony, After that, we decided to stay in Cellar Masters which is a nice and quiet venue, we chatted a bit, and had a cocktail. We went to future cruises in the Retreat and finished our 
booking and then we went to Tuscan Grill for our specialty dinner. I believe everybody enjoyed their steaks and sides but once again, the quality wasn’t as good as I remember. I was a little sleepy so we decided to call it a night.
Summit arrived at Cartagena Colombia about 8 AM this morning. I phoned Lorenzo to bring some morning coffee. And after having breakfast in Luminae, we went to future cruises to make an adjustment on our cruise that we booked yesterday. Next, we went back to the cabin, grabbed a few things and walked along the pier to 
the zoo, which had parrots, flamingos monkeys, peacocks, anteaters, and many other colorful and exotic animals. 
It was a nice, no cost, morning getaway. Randi had an iced Columbian coffee. Heading back, we relaxed in the Retreat
and then went to the Retreat sundeck for lunch. Randi got a wrap, and I got a burger. Both were good but I wished there was some shade available there.
In the solarium, we relaxed along the city of Cartagena Colombia, and dozed off. 
There was a full moon tonight romanticizing dinner in Luminae. Charles, the sommelier signed us up for the premium wine tasting experience. After a nice dinner, the girls 
went to the casino and I saw Mike Mentz, a singer and guitar player who performed fun rock songs. He had a great voice, and the arrangements were tight. I picked up Randi at the casino. She finally won! We both went back to the room for a good night's sleep. I slept through the entire night. Fantastic!
After a whole night’s sleep, we woke up around 630 and got set for the day. We decided to have a cappuccino and a latte in Café al Bacio before going to Luminae for breakfast sometime 
around 830. The ship was cleared, and we stepped off the Summit. When you walk off in Colon, you walk into a giant duty-free store, but the prices weren’t that great. So, we walked outside where there were some table side vendors. We picked up a few keychains, one for Cynthia, 
one for us. We continued to the new 2000 duty-free mall which was only about 20% open. We saw some Panamanian dancers dressed up in costume and dancing for tips. On the way back Randi bought me some slip-on sandals. We were back on board early and relaxed in the sky lounge.
We wanted to go to Sushi On Five but they were closed until 230. That’s not good, so we went to the Oceanview Café. Randi had a pasta dish and I had Indian food then headed to the pool deck in the shade and relaxed on lounges and finally took a nap. In the evening, we stopped by the Rendezvous Lounge and listened to an acoustic guitar player, Sean Roach, who was quite good, however getting our drinks served was rather slow. After his set we moved into the Retreat where service was immediate. Soon after Addie showed up and we talked about our day and a future reservation at La Petit chef for Sunday. Dinner tonight in Luminae 
was excellent. Then we split up. I went to the show and saw Charl Brown, who performed Smokey Robinson and many other Motown songs. Randi and Addie went to the casino and made their deposits. I picked Randi up and headed back to the cabin.
Today was the reason for sailing this cruise. I awoke to some announcements in the hallway but couldn’t make them out. When I turned on the TV, we were approaching the 
first bridge. That was a little after 7 AM. Soon after, we advanced to
the first set of locks. We saw this from the Retreat Sundeck which made for a nice view. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate, and the rain began. The rain was scheduled for 
the rest of the day, so we took a nice seat in Luminae for breakfast and watched us move forward in the locks. After breakfast we 
moved to the Rendezvous Lounge, and we were able to look out the window. Randi read in between peaks out the window. 
Today I was also at the helipad, and the lifeboat deck and many of the other vantage points in & outside the ship. 
Look here! I am shooting down the side of the ship from deck 4 to show you how close the ship is to the wall of the canal. There's the blue of the ship, a sliver of water, then the canal wall on top of the frame! 
Later, Addie joined us for lunch at Sushi On Five and Randi finally 
We continued to peek out various vantage points as the canal passed by. Here is a locomotive, aka the mule, that actually pulls the ship through the canal. 
By about 5:30 we officially exited our canal transit when we passed by the bridges of America. In the retreat, we listened to the duo sing and play music while we had a cocktail. We moved onto Luminae for a nice dinner and then saw the 9 o’clock show with Mike and Charl. 
Mike had asked the audience who has the most cruises and Randi put her hand up since we hit 100 on this cruise. He said that’s great for you, how about buying me a drink? At that point I knew Randi was going to get him a drink after the show. We brought him some top shelf rum which he enjoyed, He also mentioned whenever he joked about that, nobody usually follows up, but she did! We stopped back at the retreat for a nightcap and called it an evening.
I wanted to show you our stateroom. It was a Sky Suite S1 with all the amenities. It had a nice comfortable bed, enough storage, a 
couch and a makeup area. It however seemed smaller then the sky suites on the solstice class ships which we preferred. 
Today was overcast most of the day. After breakfast, we lounged on the lifeboat deck. Since I was up for a while last night, it wasn’t long, with the sound of the waves and cool breeze, I nodded off. We then strolled around the deck a bit. After lunch, Randi enjoyed the casino, and I enjoyed the Retreat where they were playing Pictionary. It was quite funny watching people who could not draw, try to draw. We went back to the stateroom and got a call from Candy regarding an 
Officers get together for the Captain’s Club, up in the Sky Lounge. We got dressed and headed off. The room was full of Captains Club members and many officers. Drinks and hors d’oeuvres were served.
Next, we headed down to the Retreat and met up with Addie there. We’re really enjoying her company during this cruise. After spending an hour there, we walked to 
dinner. I had high expectations for my mushroom pot pie entre, but it was too rich to finish. Randi was tired since she didn’t nap, so we said good night to Addie and went to the stateroom.
Addie joined us for breakfast in Luminae. She was not getting off the ship today. Owenn our waiter is in the background. We had a tour called, Destination Highlight: Forest Skywalk, and Tarcoles River Eco Cruise. We met the group on the pier at 10:15, boarded a bus and drove for about an hour to the first stop in the rain forest. 
We took a nature walk in the forest, on trails and two suspended bridges. It was nice and comfortable along the trail since we were not in direct sun however, we didn’t see 
much in the way of birds or animals. The suspension bridges had metal floors and there was some swinging as you walked. 
By hours end, we were sweaty but boarded the bus for the river cruise segment of the trip. Minutes away, we disembarked again, and we meandered down to the river. 
The boat was fully open air with a covered roof. It was pleasant and cool. We saw many types of birds and crocodiles. 
The biggest crock was about 15 feet long. The guide confessed after this shot that this crock is blind on this side and very slow moving due to his age. 
We also saw a flock of pelicans which soared through the sky and looked very beautiful.
There were many different species of birds seen along the boat ride.
There were even some local horses from a nearby farm. They were not wild, but they came down to the water to drink and bathe. When we got off the boat, local bananas and 
watermelon were offered to us. Our third and last stop was a souvenir shop, overpriced, but leave it to Randi to find a pair of socks for me. On the way back, it began to rain, and then it cleared, and then it rained again, and so on. Welcome to the tropics! There were many buses waiting to enter the port which caused more than the normal backlog. When they let us off the bus, the skies once again opened. What could you do? The line was long to get back on board, but we waited it out, and in Celebrity style, courtesy of the Chief housekeeper, Challs, umbrellas were passed out for everyone. Nice effort but we were already wet. I believe this is how I got a cold later during the cruise. What was scheduled to be a 4 1/2 tour, turned out to be 6 1/2 hours in total.
We woke up this morning a little early and had a nice breakfast in Luminae. I knew Randi wanted to head back to the casino. While she was there, I met up with Mudit, the Retreat Concierge, and he escorted me down to the area, right outside the engine control 
room. Captain Kate had mentioned that there were historic pictures of the fleet and once we got there, I saw various photos, of various ships. It started with Chandris ships and eventually 
morphed to Celebrity Cruises. There were many ships we cruised on and many we didn’t, but they all provided great memories. 
I texted Addie about our meeting time but again the text did not go through, so I called her and we planned to meet in the Retreat. Our dinner, at Qsine, was just an elevator ride away. When we 
reached deck 11, the Matre'd was outside the restaurant and escorted us to our table. Randi and I opted for the alternate menu which included Bronzino. Addie ordered from the main menu which included the short ribs. It was a lovely evening and although we’d seen the dinner show before, the food was again outstanding, and I would rate the quality of food higher than Tuscan Grill. They took care of Randi‘s allergies completely. I found out at the end of the meal that we two were also comped for dinner, so we just paid for our gratuities and exited. 
We headed back down to the Retreat where there was a silent disco in session. We’ve always looked, but this time it was a personal and private event. We took part in it. 
Randi was dancing, singing and laughing and so was I. Even the Retreat Staff got into it and boogied down, Afterwards Addie decided to go to the casino and we stayed for a last drink and met a nice couple from Denmark. Their names were Soren and Edna.
When we woke up, I heard Lorenzo in the hall and asked him for a carafe of coffee then headed to Luminae for breakfast. Afterwards Randi played while I watched a future cruise presentation in the Retreat. She was winning, I think, but it was suggested to eat something before 
wine tasting at one o’clock. The wine tasting was very nice with our wine steward Charles presenting. We tasted five wines that were premium end wines. The varieties were champagne, 
Sauvignon, Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Shiraz, although they were all good, Randi liked the
Chardonnay and Pinot noir. I thought that they weren’t worth the money and we have had better wines for less money at home. After that she went back to the casino. I 
went to the comedy-magic show in the afternoon, then on the open deck under the lifeboats, where it was cool and comfortable. After resting, I went back to get ready for cocktail hour.
The Retreat was fun as always, and then we went to Luminae for dinner. We noticed a solo man right in front of us on-line so we asked him if he wanted to sit with us. He accepted and it was fun. His name was Joe. He was from Chicago, and he sailed on many cruise 
lines other than Celebrity. We had a nice dinner with him. He was good company. Lastly, we went to the Liars’ Club in the theater. The Cruise Director, the Hotel Director, the Captain and the comedian – magician took part. Some very funny laughs, but we were exhausted so off to bed.
Today is another bright and sunny day. We went for a light breakfast in Luminae since we have the Zenith lunch scheduled in Blu at noon. The rest of the morning was easy-going. We saw the Captain as we strolled the ship. Randi went into the casino. I went into the lecture in the theater about the planet Pluto. Randi took a 
picture of me in the Cosmopolitan Restaurant before settling down and waiting for Addie to arrive in the wine cellar. Before you knew it more folks arrived. We were escorted with champagne to the Blu restaurant where we took a 
picture with all the Zeniths and the Officers.
We had a wonderful lunch with salad, a Greek salad, a cutting board full of hams, and salami and cheeses, burrata and for our main dish, lobster with fried rice. 
Oh, I forgot, there was a side of delicious risotto. The officers in attendance were Kavalaris Nektarios, chief electrical engineer; 
Alejandra Madrazo, chief concierge, who is the wine Steward Charles' fiancé; Asanica, the environmental officer. Afterward, we are just chilling on the deck watching the ocean go by. After changing for dinner, Randi and I went to the Retreat for cocktails and to listen to Sean, the guitar player. He was hard to hear since we were far away from him, and he was playing softly. We met up with Cathy (Azcruisegirl) and Dick from Tucson. Addie arrived about an hour later at 6:30 tonight. We decided to go to the early show, featuring Cheaza, singing Whitney Houston songs. While she sang in her own style, we expected it to be more like Whitney Houston, so it was a little disappointing. Dinner was great. Randi was tired after dinner, so we went back to the cabin while Addie went to the casino.
I woke up this morning shortly after five and it was still dark, so I decided to sit on the deck and watch the sunrise. I wasn’t disappointed. 
Soon the pilot came on and helped guide the Captain into the harbor. 
The colors and hues of the early morning were outstanding. 
I was amazed with the beauty of the sky. Randi woke up just as the ship was being turned around. It was a very beautiful sunrise. We had coffee in the room and then breakfast at Luminae and checked in with Addie. We scheduled to 
meet around the elevators around 930 and strolled off the ship across the street into the nice warm weather and did some local shopping. We walked into Sams and I bought a liter of
Casadores tequila for $25 USD. Right next-door was Walmart where we bought toothpaste and Addie got some bath products. Last was a stroll through the beautifully modern 
mall just to get some exercise. We got back around lunchtime and decided to have lunch on the Retreat Sundeck. It was warm up there and before Addie joined us, Randi and I planned to run off the ship after lunch to get Addie a bag she 
was admiring on land. Using the ruse that we were going back to nap in the cabin, we split up and we ran down to the store to get it and another type of handbag for Randi. 
We met in the Retreat and presented Addie with a shopping bag. When she opened it, she couldn’t believe it and loved it very much. She said it would be very special for her. We had the Butler bring it back to her room and then proceeded to the show, 
You’ve Got a Friend in Me which were three guys, singing Carole King songs. The piano player was from Marlboro, New Jersey. When it was announced, Randi almost fell out of the presidential box to scream yay! The show was good but slightly odd with three guys singing girl songs, but for the most part, it was enjoyable. After that, we had another excellent dinner in Luminae. After dinner we walked back to the Retreat, had a nightcap then headed home.
The sun was shining this morning, but it is cool. We woke about seven and Lorenzo brought us coffee and we went for breakfast in Luminae. Randi said then let’s go to the Retreat. However, 
there were some sound and light distractions in the casino which made her change her path. I went and had espresso, then went to hear the talk about the solar system during the daytime. Later, we found a warm spot in the solarium to figure out additional tipping. We strolled through the shops to kill time for our 1230 reservation in Sushi On Five and had a nice lunch. Elvira stopped by and we chatted a bit. She’s going home to Russia after this cruise. We took a walk down to Shore Excursions and confirmed our ride to LAX. We have to meet in the retreat at 7:30 AM. I was feeling a little chilly, so we went back to the room and took a little snooze under the covers. I woke up with a cough and some congestion, but we went to 
the Retreat where the Captain stopped by to wish this gentleman a happy 85th. I had a cocktail then Luminae for dinner. I didn’t have much of an appetite, so we went back to the room after dinner for an early night.
Another unusually smooth day at sea! We went to guest relations to cash out our remaining on-board credit and enjoyed breakfast with Addie. The casino was next for the girls, and I went to the space-race lecture. Next, I went to the Sky Lounge to hear the Cruise Director, Hotel Director and two ladies from the theater talk about their on-board cruise experiences. There was a full house. Following that, we had lunch in Luminae before Pictionary in the Retreat. There, Randi ordered three 
rum punches in George’s memory. It was one of his favorite drinks. Meanwhile, Pictionary was fun, and our team named, ‘The Winners’ actually won the contest.
Later at Cocktail Time in the Retreat we toasted George’s memory. It was the anniversary of his death. He was a great person in so many ways and is sorely missed by all who knew him. We were privileged to know him and enjoyed his endless stories. Tonight was our last dinner in Luminae so we also passed out our additional tips and said our goodbyes. We rode the elevator with Addie up to deck 6 and exchanged hugs and goodbyes.
Positive
Captain, Evengelos Saitis; Staff Captain, Iraklis Noikoyris; Chief Engineer, Dimitrios Koukis; Hotel Director, Paul Cernat; F&B, Marian Duncan; Cruise Director Rich Clesen; Chief Housekeeper, Challs Fernandes; X-chef Shyam Jeetun; Retreat concierge, Madit; Retreat Mgr, Claire Outing; Butler, Lorenzo; stateroom attendant; Melvino; Captain club, Candy; Matre’D, Silva; Restaurant Manager, Lobo; Waiter, Owen; Asst Waiter, Anna, Emi; Chief Concierge, Alejandria; Wine Sommelier, Charles; (Charles and Alex are a couple.) Retreat server, Drumal; Revenue Marketing, Anthony De Zoete-Baker.
Sailing with us was Addie O’Connell,
Day 1, MIA
We thought today would never come, but it’s finally here. I convinced Randi to get up at 1:30 AM rather than 1 AM for 3 o’clock car pick up. Things went smoothly in the morning and the car was even 15 minutes early. So, we packed up, locked up and were on our way to Newark airport for our 6AM United Airlines flight. That’s when the comedy of errors began. The driver let us off at the terminal and we brought our bags inside. The terminal was still empty, but we went to the quick drop kiosks as instructed to drop our bags. But first, we had to print luggage tags. We tried a couple times, but the machines weren’t working. We also noticed the bag belt was not working either. Finally, somebody from United happened to be passing by and said this area is not open until 4:40 AM. There was no signage regarding the area being closed and there were other people who were also confused. She directed us to go down one level. We tried going directly below, but the same thing happened, the computers were not working or open. We were directed once more to proceed down the terminal corridor to where the open area was. Walla, there were agents there. So, I brought my bags up to the agent and asked that she tag them. Apparently, they don’t do that even for first class and I was directed to the working kiosk, to print my own tags. After that we went back to the lovely lady who was now ready to take my bags. This was the most difficult time we’ve ever had with bags. Next, we proceeded to TSA pre-check which was a breeze and onward toward the gate.
We grabbed a cup of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee. Randi didn’t like it. It was just average, nothing special. When we finally sat down at the gate, we noticed that our 6 AM flight was now delayed until 7 AM due to the first officer calling out sick. Oh well! Later, we began boarding first, since we were in first class with points. Then, the rest of the plane boarded. Once completed, the captain announced there was now a mechanical issue. The next announcement was that the issue was fixed but they needed completed paperwork to proceed. Once that was completed, Air traffic control was holding the plane due to high air traffic volume. Finally, our 6 AM flight took off at 7:45 AM.
The flight was smooth. Landed about 1015 in the morning. I switched to my shorts, got our bags and SAS picked us up to take us to Miami. In a few minutes, our driver found us. We were the first of three pickups, then headed to Port of Miami, where we would be the last be dropped off at the ship. We asked the porter where to drop our bags and he took them from us. We decided to walk on the ship without retreat personnel since nobody was there. Embarkation went rather smoothly from station to station and through security. We were on board in less than 10 minutes. We dropped our carry-ons in the room and headed to the Retreat
Day 2, Sea
Day 3, Sea
nice chap from Australia. Another person that we met there was Hoda, (flush left) who is responsible for all the ship's customer service, including the Retreat. Addie asked her to join us for lunch, which she graciously accepted. Conversation flowed and we got to know another nice Celebrity manager. She is from France.
Day 4, Cartagena Colombia
It was a nice, no cost, morning getaway. Randi had an iced Columbian coffee. Heading back, we relaxed in the Retreat
That afternoon we went to play music trivia and general knowledge trivia and performed terribly in each. We went back to the room to clean up for the evening. We walked down to look for some shirts at the clearance sale but saw nothing we liked, so we moved on to a cocktail at the Retreat. Addie joined us shortly thereafter.
Day 5, Colon Panama
Day 6, Panama Canal, Full Transit
first bridge. That was a little after 7 AM. Soon after, we advanced to
got all her dumplings (double order) she was dreaming about for so long.
Day 7, Sea
Officers get together for the Captain’s Club, up in the Sky Lounge. We got dressed and headed off. The room was full of Captains Club members and many officers. Drinks and hors d’oeuvres were served.
Day 8 Puntarenas, Costa Rica
We also saw a flock of pelicans which soared through the sky and looked very beautiful.
There were many different species of birds seen along the boat ride.
Back on board, Randi texted Addie that we were back. Meanwhile, we were aware that one of our 
assistant waiters in Luminae got married today. Anna married an engineer while we were on an excursion. The Captain performed the ceremony in the Blu restaurant and the restaurant manager, Lobo gave the bride away. They make a very beautiful couple. We showered and dressed for the retreat’s happy hour. Dinner was Luminae. 
Then Addie went to the casino while we went to Showtime to see Bob Brizendine who was a comedic magician. Not a bad show, but we were exhausted, so we headed for bed.
Day 9, Sea
I went back to the Retreat afterwards to work on the blog and sip on pineapple juice. Randi came in shortly with a smiling face and a winning voucher in her hand! We decided to go on the lounge chairs on deck 4 under the lifeboats to relax and read. 
Soon it was time for Sushi On Five and Elvira, the Matre'd of Casual Dining sat us down after a big hello. Lunch was good. Randi got her dumplings, I got a hot dish, Shrimp Dynamite. We went back to the cabin to chill because we knew we had an early 6pm dinner with Addie at La petite Chef.
Day 10, Sea
Sauvignon, Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Shiraz, although they were all good, Randi liked the
Day 11, Sea
picture with all the Zeniths and the Officers.
Day 12, Puerta Vallarta
Day 13, Sea
Day 14, Sea
Later at Cocktail Time in the Retreat we toasted George’s memory. It was the anniversary of his death. He was a great person in so many ways and is sorely missed by all who knew him. We were privileged to know him and enjoyed his endless stories. Tonight was our last dinner in Luminae so we also passed out our additional tips and said our goodbyes. We rode the elevator with Addie up to deck 6 and exchanged hugs and goodbyes.
Day 15, Los Angeles
We were both up early. By 6:20 we were waiting outside Luminae for breakfast. After saying goodbye to all in Luminae and passing out the remaining tips, we grabbed our carry-ons and proceeded to the Retreat for our 730-meeting time. We had a private journey shore excursion ride from the Port to the airport, scheduled at 8 AM. Around 8:10 we were told our car was ready. We were instructed to gather our bags on the pier, go through customs, walk to the outside of the terminal and look for a shore excursion lady with a blue top. We said our goodbyes in the Retreat, left the ship, and took an extremely long walk to through the terminal. It seemed like the walk wouldn’t end. Finally, we saw the luggage. We quickly hired a porter, found the luggage and proceeded through customs which was a breeze. As we exited the terminal, we had the first stressful situation, which we hadn’t experienced in two weeks, There were no celebrity personnel at the exit at all so we began to walk down the length of the long terminal asking anybody along the way who might be able to help us find our private journey vehicle. When we got to the end, I figured we may have missed it so I doubled back asking again along the way. No luck. Finally, after ten minutes I called Randi who said, "come back. The car is here!" Randi saw the SUV with a Celebrity/Degennaro sign in the window. So, I headed back the length of the terminal for a third time to meet up with them. By the time I got there, the luggage was loaded, and we quickly motored to the LAX airport. The ride was relatively quick at about 30 minutes but once inside the birdcage loop, traffic was bumper to bumper. That portion took another good 15 minutes to reach the terminal.
It was a good feeling knowing that we still had plenty of time, so we headed to TSA PRE and went right through. Noting our flight was still on time at 1140 AM. we proceeded to the gate. Randi bought lunch in case there was no non-onion entrée. First class service was impressive on Delta with hot towels and tablecloths and a choice menu. Randi was able to find something that worked for her. Then she took a nap. The flight was about 5 1/2 hours with no incidents. We got to JFK about eight 8 PM New York time. Now, for the rest of the story.
We always schedule the driver of our car to meet us at the luggage carousel. This time we were not able to find him, so Randi phoned him. Apparently, he misread the order, so he was waiting outside in the parking lot. He instructed us to walk outside and he would find us. Not knowing LAX airport at all, we walked out and called him back and told him where we were, but there was a line of cars there. After about 15 minutes, we decided on an alternate spot and moved to it. He came in about five minutes, apologized and packed the car. We relaxed in the car from JFK to home.
Even with all the ground transportation errors, the cruise itself was tremendous; great food, great service, another great cruise!
SURVEY THOUGHTS
Positive
🚢It was nice to receive an official Panama Canal Transit certificate
🚢Great Staff! All were friendly, helpful and pleasant.
🚢Mudit, in the Retreat was outstanding. He rose to greet us every time we walked in and always had all our needs answered. He is also a good Pictionary player.
🚢Owenn, in Luminae was outstanding. He was attentive and helpful to us and especially to my wife who has a severe onion allergy.
🚢Emi, Anna, Charles, and Silva in Luminae should also bear positive mentioning.
🚢Candy, of Captain club helped Randi with an additional Wi-Fi device for her medical device
Umbrellas were given out by staff as customers endured long lines and pouring rain upon returning from excursions.
🚢We enjoyed Bob Brizendsine, who was a comedic magician.
🚢You’ve got a friend in me, three guys, singing Carole King songs were also entertaining.
Negatives
🚢Ship railing rusty outside cabins 6124-6132. We noted 6124 was fixed next day
🚢Outdoor Furniture on our deck 6124 needs refurbishment
🚢Some days Sushi on 5 opened at 230. It is much better when it opens at noontime. It should be open every day at that time.
🚢Tuscan Grill- Although everybody enjoyed their steaks and sides, food quality wasn’t as good as I remember in the past. Tuscan used to be one of my favorite restaurants. It no longer is.
🚢There has to be a better way to coordinate customers with their private journeys shore excursion vehicle at the end of the trip. We were told by Retreat personnel that there would be somebody outside the terminal in a blue shirt from Shore Excursions who would escort us to the vehicle. We saw no lady in a blue shirt from Shore Excursions anywhere. We walked the terminal outside one way, and asked port personnel along the way how to find our vehicle but nobody was helpful. I doubled back thinking that we missed the person but could not find any Celebrity personnel. My wife called me to say that she spotted the car with the sign in the window, so I tripled back the length of the terminal once again to meet up with them. I’m not sure exactly how this could’ve been done better other than signage and personnel, but I’m sure it obviously could.
General
🚢I know it’s called the retreat sundeck, but we were wondering if some shade could be installed for those who prefer to be outside in the shade.
🚢It would be nice to be able to see Retreat events on the app for all suite and Zenith members. Should be an easy way to filter for I.T. to program
🚢Still some bugs on app. It was especially noticeable in the account tab. Balances were split between each of our sign-ins which led to confusion and a few corrective trips to the front desk.
