Radiance Of The Seas First Impressions
I had never sailed on a Radiance Class cruise ship before, so I wasnt sure what to expect. Royal Caribbean has 6 classes of cruise ships, and each has a different layout and size as well as varied onboard dining, activities, and amenities.
One of the first things I noticed was the large Centrum in the middle of Radiance of the Seas. Royal Caribbean is known for their sprawling Royal Promenades inside the ship, but the cruise lines older cruise ships do not have this feature.
Instead, Radiance of the Seas has a large, 6-story elevator lobby connecting shops, lounges, a coffee shop, and other onboard amenities. I dont mind the Centrum and feel that it connects the ships decks together nicely, although it seemed a bit cramped, even when compared to the more open Centrum area on my recent cruise on Royal Caribbeans Rhapsody of the Seas.
Radiance Class ships are known for the amount of windows found throughout the ship, and this is one of the features I ended up loving most about Radiance of the Seas throughout my cruise. No matter where I was onboard, I could relax with a view and enjoy Alaskas scenery.
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The outdoor decks on Radiance of the Seas were really nice as well, although I didnt expect to spend much time there during an Alaska cruise. Having access to the helicopter pad is always a plus, and the indoor pool area in the Solarium was a beautiful space.
Member Perks & Benefits
Spa discounts will be available of up to 20% off for Select members and above.
Previously, Captains Club members could enjoy a one-time 10%-15% discount based on tier levels while in port. Now, Select and Elite members can enjoy multi-use discounts of 10%, while Elite Plus and Zenith members can enjoy multi-use discounts of 15% and 20%, respectively .
Complimentary access to Persian Garden on one port day of your choice will still be available on Solstice and Millennium Series Ships for Elite members and above.
Celebrity Cruises Customer Contact Information
Celebrity Cruises is a cruise line founded in 1988 by the Greece-based Chandris Group. In 1997, Celebrity Cruises Ltd. merged with Royal Caribbean International to become Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., which operates Celebrity, Royal Caribbean International, Azamara Club Cruises, Pullmantur Cruises and CDF Croisières de France. The signature displayed on the funnel of Celebrity ships is the Greek letter chi, for Chandris. The company has its headquarters in Miami. In addition to offering vacations visiting all continents, Celebrity also provides immersive Cruisetour experiences in Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, Canada, Europe and South America totaling 11 ships.
1050 Caribbean Way
Celebrity Website Assistance: 800 722 5941 Group Bookings: 888 727 4907 Corporate Group Quotes: 800 722 5934 Charter Quotes: 800 722 5934 Cruise Gift Certificates: 888 837 5676 Online Check-in: 877 200 2897 Reservations and pre-cruise questions: 800 647 2251 Guests with Disabilities/Special Needs: 866 592 7225 Lost luggage and Lost & Found: 800 256 6649 Custom Air requests or inquiries: 800 636 2440
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Crossover Benefits On Royal Caribbean Sailings
Club members qualify for reciprocity with Celebritys Sister brand, Royal Caribbean International. The shared status allows club members to have access to comparable benefits when they sail on either Royal Caribbean or Celebrity Cruises.
Captains Club Members qualify for crossover benefits with Royal Caribbean Crown and Anchor Society through a reciprocity arrangement.
Celebrity Cruises Select Tier guests can receive Platinum level when they sail on Royal Caribbean. And, Elite Level guests receive Diamond status on Royal Caribbean cruises.
Its important to note that the top tiers on each loyalty program are not eligible for matching.
Although you will receive crossover membership benefits when you sail with Royal Caribbean, you will only accumulate points when sailing with Celebrity Cruises.
Therefore, to receive Diamond Plus or Pinnacle on Royal Caribbean, you must accumulate the appropriate Crown and Anchor Society points. Youll need to do the same if you want to earn Elite Plus or Zenith status through Celebrity Cruises Captains Club.
Finally, the lowest tiers, Gold on Royal Caribbean and Classic on Celebrity Cruises, do not receive any shared benefits.
Flights & Shuttle Transfers
Because the cruise started in Vancouver and ended in Seward, I needed to purchase two one-way flights. Flying to Vancouver was $189 and flying from Anchorage was $347, bringing the total flight cost to $536.
Flying roundtrip from my house to either Seattle or Vancouver usually costs between $200 and $300 total, so the one-way flights were definitely more expensive, especially the one from Anchorage, adding a significant amount to the total cost of the cruise.
Additionally, because the cruise ended in Seward, I needed to purchase a shuttle bus to Anchorage for $78.95. This was the cheaper option the train transfer was $124.95!
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Last Sea Day & Disembarkation
The last full day of our Alaska cruise was supposed to include a visit to Hubbard Glacier, but unfortunately we were unable to approach the glacier due to low visibility.
Bad weather was the theme of the day, and we encountered the roughest waters Ive experienced yet on a cruise. I spent most of the day feeling seasick and laying in bed, which was definitely not fun!
As evening approached, however, Reeham and I began to feel better and were able to enjoy our last night onboard before disembarking the next morning in Seward.
We arrived in Seward early on disembarkation day and took a 3 hour shuttle bus to downtown Anchorage. We still had ten hours before our flight once we arrived in Anchorage, so I was pleased to discover that the city has a complimentary building with luggage storage, tables and chairs, and a free airport shuttle available.
Soon enough, it was time to say goodbye to Alaskas beauty and return home.
Celebrity Cruises’s Best Toll
This is Celebrity Cruises’s best phone number, the real-time current wait on hold and tools for skipping right through those phone lines to get right to a Celebrity Cruises agent. This phone number is Celebrity Cruises’s Best Phone Number because 1,548 customers like you used this contact information over the last 18 months and gave us feedback. Common problems addressed by the customer care unit that answers calls to 800-647-2251 include Make a booking, Change booking, Cancel booking, Overcharge/Strange charge, Loyalty program and other customer service issues. Rather than trying to call Celebrity Cruises first, consider describing your issue first from that we may be able to recommend an optimal way to contact them via phone. In total, Celebrity Cruises has 1 phone number. It’s not always clear what is the best way to talk to Celebrity Cruises representatives, so we started compiling this information built from suggestions from the customer community. Please keep sharing your experiences so we can continue to improve this free resource.
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Cruise Fare Flights And Hotel
When I booked my cruise on Radiance of the Seas, it was the cheapest Alaska cruise on Royal Caribbeans website. The total cruise fare with taxes & fees for 2 guests in an interior room was $1,118, or $559 per guest.
Gratuities for each guest were $101.50, bringing the total cruise fare to $660.50 per person. At around $94 per day, I felt it was a fantastic deal!
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Alaska Cruise Costs :
- Pre-cruise purchases : $1442.95
- Purchases in port: $153
- Onboard purchases: $19
Total cost of my Alaska cruise: $1614.95
Looking back, I probably could have booked a more expensive cruise fare on a newer ship from Seattle and still saved money due to cheaper flights and other transportation expenses.
If youre truly looking to save the most amount of money possible, definitely research flight costs and shuttles before booking an Alaska cruise!
I had no idea a shuttle would cost $80 one-way to reach Anchorage from Seward, for example, and this could easily get way more expensive when cruising with a large family.
That being said, I definitely saved hundreds of dollars by not booking excursions and instead choosing to explore ports freely on my own. I didnt feel we missed out on anything by not booking excursions.
However, Ive already been to Alaska and will cruise to Alaska again in the future. If youre only going to visit Alaska once, Id book at least 1-2 excursions, such as whale watching and the White Pass & Yukon Railroad train, in order to make the most out of Alaskas attractions.
I was happy to end the cruise in southcentral Alaska as it allowed me to explore Anchorage .
In the end, I made some amazing memories with my friend Reeham and we were able to explore four unique Alaska cruise ports and discover more of Alaskas culture, cuisine, and nature.
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Celebrity Cruises Captains Club Basics
As a Captains Club member, youll receive exclusive perks and benefits when you sail with Celebrity Cruises.
Like many loyalty programs, the perks at the lowest tiers arent all that valuable. But, as you climb the ranks, youll receive all kinds of incredible benefits.
At the very top, Zenith members receive one of the best rewards every avid cruiser dreams about a free cruise for two.
Its important to note that some of the Captains Club benefits have lost their appeal now that the cruise line has switched to an always included fare. The new pricing strategy consists of the Celebrity Cruises drink package and onboard internet with your base fare.
The discounts you receive as a Captains Club member still come in handy when upgrading to the premium drink package or wifi.
With the change to Always Included pricing, Celebrity elevated their member perks by offering better spa and photo benefits and adding even more onboard events for members.
Additionally, the cruise line is known for running some great promotions for club members. Recent Captains Club promotions include double points when booking a balcony cabin or higher. Members also receive exclusive sales not available to regular guests.
What Is Gethuman’s Relationship To Celebrity Cruises
In short, the two companies are not related. GetHuman builds free tools and shares information amongst customers of companies like Celebrity Cruises. For large companies that includes tools such as our GetHuman Phone, which allows you to call a company but skip the part where you wait on the line listening to their call technology music. We’ve created these shortcuts and apps to try to help customers like you navigate the messy phone menus, hold times, and confusion with customer service, especially with larger companies. And as long as you keep sharing it with your friends and loved ones, we’ll keep doing it.
Celebrity Cruises Contact Info
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Additional Perks Of Celebrity Cruises Captains Club
All Celebrity Cruises Captains Club members receive additional perks on partner brands.
Courtesy of a partnership with Hertz Rental Car, Celebrity Cruises Captains Club members automatically receive 275 Hertz points after the first rental. Additionally, members receive weekly rental discounts, free upgrades, and other special offers.
Elite, Elite Plus, and Zenith members enjoy Hertz Gold Plus Rewards membership with 550 points.
Club members can take advantage of exclusive perks thanks to Celebritys partnership with MGM Resorts. Members are guaranteed the lowest room rates when booking direct when booking a stay at MGM Rewards Destinations.
Other MGM benefits include presale access to events and discounts on select shows. High-tier members may receive additional perks such as a priority check-in line, complimentary Self-Parking, etc.
Additionally, Captains Club members receive discounts through Celebrity Cruises Night Out. The program provides discounts for tickets to a wide variety of entertainment options in over 60 cities across the US.
Finally, Club Members can get up to 20% off any purchase from 1-800-FLOWERS and its family of brands, including Harry & David, Cheryls Cookies, Personalization Universe, and The Popcorn Factory.
How It Works
Join Captains Club and earn points with every cruise based on your stateroom category and number of nights you sail. There are six levels to membership — from the first tier to the top tier . The more points you have, the higher your tier status, the greater your benefits* and the greater your cruise rewards. With every tier youll get closer to achieving the ultimate in exclusive cruise rewards and special privileges.
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