late2cruisin

And I'm assuming this Auslese wasn't on the included list!

Yes, I was hoping they would change the dress code on our Dawn cruise before June. I'm assuming formal nights will mostly be on sea days...

It sounds like you are thinking of Norwegian, which calls its bundle "free at sea" but charges extra for gratuities on the beverage and dining packages that are "included". Celebrity doesn't do that.

You are sailing out of Southampton, yes? The sailings out of the UK include gratuities in the menu prices. Therefore, your Classic package will cover the $11 wines and cocktails.

OK, you win. I shouldn't have quoted you before making my comment.

What?? I didn't say that. I merely said that if you are going to compare, you have to compare cabins that are comparable and amenities/perks that are comparable. I agree that pricing comparisons should be from the same time frame. I also agree that Oceania is considered to be slightly higher than Celebrity- comparable to Azamara or perhaps Viking, but not to the true luxury lines like Regent, Seabourn, Silversea, Crystal...

Comparing Oceania to Celebrity Retreat is not apples to apples, unless you compare an Oceania suite and add in the other things that are not included in Oceania pricing (gratuities, alcohol, etc.)

Complimentary specialty coffee perk doesn't start until you reach Elite Plus. The highest level you can get by matching RC status is Elite. But as Elite, they will get free bag of laundry, 5-7 happy hour, Elite breakfast (where you can get your free latte/cappuccino) and a few other things.

Yes, they are. Same deal- included if up to $10, if over $10 you pay the difference plus 20% of that.

I have seen it on the lunch menu several times, on various ships, in the MDR. I'm pretty sure I ordered it at least once, but I can't remember what was in it.

You can also get your cafe mocha at the Elite breakfast, every morning from 8-10. Outside of those hours, you'll have to go to Al Bacio. Elite breakfast also serves mimosas, bellinis, and bloody Marys. And smoothies. Enjoy!

Sorry we won't get to see you on Deck 18 aft. We'll be on Deck 10 at the Sunset Bar!😀

Yes, but not the "fancy" martinis at the Martini bar.

It's my understanding that, if you move up from a successful bid, you don't get the extra perks (wifi, bev.pkg.) only the amenities that come with the cabin (so Blu and Persian Gardens for Aqua.)

There are other drink packages that include the ship's equivalent of Al Bacio. Princess, for example. And I believe Royal Caribbean, though I've never had that one. There was one package that we had some years ago that didn't include coffee drinks- I think it might have been NCL but not sure. As another poster said, it doesn't seem like you really need the alcohol package with your drinking habits. And remember, it's only "included" when you pay a higher fare...

No, Elite gets a discount and so does Select (but less, supposedly)

I upgraded a couple of weeks ago and that's what I paid too.

That service charge is only if you're paying individually for the drink, not if you have any beverage package. If you have a beverage package, you won't get a "check" when you order a drink.

Yes, I used to enjoy this too. They discontinued it when they turned "Bistro on Five" into "Sushi on Five". Why give free sushi when you can charge for it?😁

Yes, the difference plus the 20% gratuity on the difference. So a $12 drink would cost you $3.60. This applies to beer, wine, cocktails and other alcoholic drinks. It doesn't work for premium bottled waters (Evian, Pellegrino), smoothies, flavored waters/energy drinks, etc.

That used to be the case years ago. They changed it so that the Classic works like the Premium. For many people, less incentive to upgrade...

Yes, all of the wines you see for $11 on your sailing are covered by the Classic package, as are cocktails in that price range. I think I got confused too when I sailed on an Australia cruise years ago.

I think the OP was talking about not having ANY drink package (as opposed to not wanting to upgrade your classic package to premium.) Also, I'm not sure where you're getting your $7.38 figure from...

We are in exactly the same situation- just recovered from Covid and sailing on a transatlantic on Oct. 22. If you haven't done so already, get a proctored (preferably PCR) test and print out the results. Assuming the results are positive, go to your doctor or other healthcare professional and get a Certificate of Recovery (the Celebrity website specifies what has to be included in the letter). With those 2 documents you will be able to board and be exempt from testing.

What nobody has mentioned is that they ALWAYS equated satisfaction with food in the MDR with service in the MDR. I have been told by many waiters, on many cruises, that even if I say the service was a 10, if I give the food quality any less than a 10, it will be considered a bad mark on their record. I guess the idea is that they are somehow responsible for making sure that you enjoy your dinner, even if it means taking back food you don't like and replacing it with food that you may or may not like any better. I really resent Celebrity for doing this (if indeed they do) and I refuse to give high marks to the food if it isn't that great. I usually rate our servers a 10, but the food rarely gets more than a 7 or 8, even on a good cruise.