ISABELLA

We are set to go on Equinox in November, and after reading about all changes ( and not positive ones), hard to be optimistic. But we will have an open mind and evaluate if the experience worth the price. Just because big cheeses visited the ship, X will not go back to the what they used to be - beloved CruiseLine by many.  As long they can sell cruises, they will continue to do it.

They already Not a line of luxury. Just another middle of the road line. Even Retreat is not more superior than NCL Haven or MSC YC. I think old X had sailed to no return.

The only way we can see positive change is when bookings start to drop. Not until then.

X don't really care if pax are complaining. There will be always somebody who doesn't compare.

There are other cruise lines that will be just as enjoyable as X once was.

So far over past 20 years, we had wonderful cruises on Celebrity - one more is coming up in November. This cruise will determine whether we will book another cruise or going to try another line. We have Princess cruise booked in Mediterranean and MSC YC for the Caribbean for next year.

Thank you all for sharing your knowledge. This is my first up grade bid. I did put a bid for a Sunset Sky suite. Keeping fingers crossed. 

7 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

 Incorrect.  The free speciality dining, premium WiFi, premium drink package, etc. only come with the higher suites.  This DOES NOT include any of the Sky Class suites, or Celebrity Suites. 
 

Now I am even more confused. I thought that any suites are part of Retreat.  All Retreat suites come with premium drinks WIFI and gratuity ( booked before10/4/23).

Also, we will be going on 10 days cruise this November ( booked 18 months ago with AL). I got an offer to upgrade to Sky suite for a good price. All Retreat is sold out. There are other suites included in upgrade offer. How Celebrity can offer something that is no longer available. And if I get an upgrade, will I lose my AL?

2 hours ago, ECCruise said:

Except that the depths of the cuts are not universal. They vary.  A lot.  Speaking of lots of days since restart on other lines also, Azamara, Princess and Holland America. 

We had fantastic food on NCL Haven. 9 days in Haven was cheaper than 8 days in AQ. We tried it and loved it.

1 hour ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Wow!  I'm really impressed with Celebrity.  They certainly didn't have to offer a full refund.  I was expecting a FCC, but certainly not a refund.  This is the third instance in that last several days where Celebrity didn't have to do anything for the given situation, but they did anyway. 

• Helping a couple reschedule a cruise at nearly the same price after their passports were stolen
• Switching a cruise to a different week for the same price after someone accidentally booked the wrong week
• And now this...

 

The good will such things should generate is priceless.  I hope you are able to find another cruise to enjoy.

Fantastic option. I know in the past they were not as accommodating. 

On 10/8/2023 at 5:55 PM, golferguy3 said:

I have no idea as I cannot reach my travel agent today.      Email notice does not mention any FCC or refunds.    Are you on Oct 16 voyage?

 

As per contract, cruise line has the right to change the itinerary without any compensation.

I wonder what they do, if they have to change the starting point. Will the travel insurance pay for the cost associated with changing flights?...

On 10/2/2023 at 6:52 PM, NoWhiners said:

 

I'm not the OP but I was hoping you could say more about this? We are staying at Hotel Navona, right down the street from Piazza Navona. I have been staring at maps, wondering if we could walk to the Vatican and how long that might take? Same question for the Colosseum. They look sort of close on maps but maybe not?

 

Thanks for any help.

Here is info about hotel in Rome

Residenza Zanardelli is situated in the heart of the historic city centre near Piazza Navona. All sites of tourist interest in Rome and the institutional buildings are within easy walking reach.
 

• 
  
• Palazzo Madama 290m - 3 minutes walk
• Piazza Navona 350m - 4 minutes walk
• Palazzo di Giustizia 400m - 5 minutes walk
• Pantheon 550m - 6 minutes walk
• Palazzo Montecitorio 700m - 9 minutes walk
• Castel Sant’Angelo 700m - 9 minutes walk
• Campo dei Fiori 700m - 9 minutes walk
• Via Del Corso 850m - 11 minutes walk
• Ara Pacis 850m - 11 minutes walk
• Via Condotti 900m - 11 minutes walk
• Trevi Fountain 1100m - 13 minutes walk
• Vatican city 1300m - 16 minutes walk
• Trastevere 1300m - 16 minutes walk
• Piazza del Popolo 1300m - 16 minutes walk
• Piazza Venezia 1400m - 17 minutes walk
• Piazza di Spagna 1700m - 23 minutes walk
• Vatican museums 2000m - 26 minutes walk
• Circus Maximus 2200m - 28 minutes walk
• Colosseum 2400m - 30 minutes walk

All are such great points. Definitely will need to evaluate all options. Cruise is in May, so there is time.

57 minutes ago, Fortunate 2 travel said:

We booked business class and didn’t have to pay until final.  We did however pay early.  Need to be careful. Our experience was that even when we paid we weren’t ticketed.  When I call and requested that they ticket our flights, they were going to change the flights we were holding to a much worse schedule .  After over an hour on the phone, I was finally able to get them to ticket us on the flights we originally scheduled.  It was a very frustrating experience.

I can see them possibly changing schedule if flights are not paid, but on what ground they will not ticket, if fare is paid for. That is disturbing. 

This is somewhat new experience for me with Princess. I never had any issues booking flights with Celebrity. 

Thank you all for your valuable information. I did pick PE fare in the search ( Canada/ Belgum air) and went to pick seats, it stated that I need to call airline to get that fare booked.

Also, when you book fare without paying for it, did that booking guarantee your price?

Does anyone have experience in booking flights without paying for them till final payment time?

We are planning to take a cruise on Sun Princess from Rome to Barcelona next year. According to Princess website, I can book flexible fare without actually paying for it, but if I want Premium Economy seats, I have to call airline and purchase tickets. Does this " no pay" option applies only to economy seats?

Looking for some with first hand knowledge to explain.

Thank you very much in advance.

On 9/21/2023 at 11:18 AM, brockmom said:

Appears that there are several that we could pre book for . Can anyone recall which buses are more frequent than others.

I want to make sure I purchase the preferred one.

I see one …Big red bus and there is another that sounds good but is not that company?

if anyone can share a recent experience I would appreciate it !

thanks

If you are staying in Rome, I will recommend to stay somewhere centered and you can walk to most all attractions. We stayed in very small hotel near Piazza Navona. We walked everywhere. 

I am sure more charges will come, as long people are paying and not avoiding it. It will take a bit of time, but people will get used it and will stop complaining. Just like it happens around in different aspects of life. First it was strange to accept, then it became - whatever, and them it will feel like norm.

Just an observation.

On 9/25/2023 at 8:06 PM, hcat said:

As I posted  elsewhere...GREED,

Hope this nice little cafe is not morphed into an extra cost venue..

And after that the Aquaspa cafe.....

On S class food in Aqua cafe is nothing to write home about. Not what it used to be when first was opened.

Maybe it was just my luck that day. I finally got to talk to someone, who fixed the problem I had.

I do have a TA, but this was an issue of adding military OBC to a reservation. 

Thank you all.

49 minutes ago, love to cruz said:

We have a son in law who is an FBI agent. He said always keep your passports locked in a safe. Passports are worth over $40,000 on the black market. He also advised to always keep a copy with you.

I always have several copies of passports and credit cards just for that reason.

I am trying to call Princess CS for few hours - there is only one phone # listed on their website and that number is not connecting, so is one more # I found. Does anyone else having issues calling Princess?

When you take a train to Venice from Rome (we did in 2018), keep an eye on schedule board to see what platform your train leave. It is posted about 15 min before train leaves. Ride was very nice and comfortable. 

At this point, after cruising for over 30 years, we don't particular about Caribbean itinerary, but enjoying the food, service and some evening Entertaiment is important to us. 

1 hour ago, Work2cruz! said:

I just canceled a Celebrity Cruise to try Virgin.  The last 2 Celebrity cruises the food and service was sub par and lots of changes in the menu.  Meatloaf was one of the mains  in Blu on the last night. 
 

Celebrity has increased prices, taken away amenities and is providing sub par service and food.   Now they have a major cruise line targeting their loyal customer base by offering the Match and Sea Program.

it will be interesting to see if they do any damage control or if the profits for all the changes compensate for any lost customers.   Only time will tell.   

We will be trying MSC YC. They also match X status. Elite + got Gold on MSC.

Time will tell if X learns their lesson.

22 minutes ago, stevenr597 said:

One could argue that it would make more sense to book on a “true” luxury liner such as Oceania, Regent Seven Sea, Crystal, or Seaborne, then to pay a lot more for the “Ship within a Ship” concept. 

I think for some, having a choice to book without Princess Plus is a benefit, where Oceania and others all included in the price. After brief comparison, price for just a balcony on O is the same as a suite on Princess. Time will tell, but I think this move by Princess will put other mid road cruise lines on notice. Retreat  prices on Celebrity became insane with a lot of cuts. 

12 minutes ago, Abercrombie2019 said:

I've never stayed in Club Class (or Reserve Collection), but from what I've read on Cruise Critic, the menu is the same with at least one additional item that may involve some table side preparation.  It is an area inside one of the dining rooms.  Sanctuary is a separate fee.

 

If you stay in a full Suite on Discovery or Enchanted, then you will also be invited to the 360 Dining Experience.  Suites have other amenities https://www.princess.com/learn/ships/staterooms/suites/

 

Mini Suites are not "Suites" and do not have the same amenities.

Much more clear now.

Thank you

1 hour ago, Abercrombie2019 said:

Only the Sun & Star Princess will have the Signature Suites.  You can go to Princess.com and 

• select "Onboard Our Ships"
• then select either "Sun Princess" or "Star Princess"
• then scroll down to "Accommodations" where it describes "Reserve Collection" and "Signature Collection".  They have an image of "Signature Sun Deck", "Signature Lounge", "Signature Restaurant", "Reserve Collection Restaurant" and "Cabana Deck".  Only Sun & Star have a separate Reserve Collection Restaurant.

 

The "Reserve Collection" replaces the old Club Class dining on all other Princess Ships.  There will be a dedicated area in one of the main dining rooms for the exclusive use of people staying in a Reserve Collection Mini Suite or Suite.  You can check the deck plans of individual ships to locate the Reserve Collection Mini Suites.

Thank you for your input. Does Reserve Collection Suite or mini suite offer different menu for dinner? Or, it just allocated area in the MDR with the same menu? Also do suite guests have free access to Sanctuary? Thank you very much for helping to sort all of this out.

8 hours ago, J13C85 said:

On Sun and Star, Princess introduced an "entry level" suite that is simply a Mini Suite (in design and sqf) with full suite benefits.

 

For us, this was a no go.  We have been sailing in the larger suites and feel these are a step backward. They are priced the same as the larger suites on other ships, and suites of a comparable size were appx 40% higher on Star and Sun. We wound up booking an Owner's Suite with a wraparound balcony on a Mex Riviera Cruise for appx $1K less than a Penthouse Suite on Star to Caribbean (both 7D cruises leaving the same day)

Where can I find descriptions of benefits associated with suits on other Princess ships like separate restaurants, pool area, lounge??