TowandaUK

This was posted elsewhere from someone on Sky this week.

Some years ago we were on a celebrity excursion in Athens. We stopped at a park under the acropolis for a period of time. One person (lone traveller) did not return at the appropriate time. Our guide made a thorough search of the area to no avail. Despite waiting some time she did not return. Our guide put an alert out to all the other tour operators along with a description. We continued on the tour. The lady was eventually located by another group and rejoined us later at the Plaka before returning to the ship. I was always wary of making sure I returned as required, but made doubly sure after this.

We did Taste of Taj on Silhouette last summer. We enjoyed it and felt it was a fairly authentic Indian experience. It was really good as a one off experience but may not do it again on our next cruise.

Our bid last year showed pending right up until 48 hours before sailing - when it was rejected.

Prices do change. If you see something you like reserve it then. If prices go down you can always cancel and rebook. On our last cruise there was a big price hike close to sailing so we were glad we booked early. Independent non celebrity excursions are much cheaper but on the rare occasion you are late back the ship will not wait unless you are on a trip bought through them.

Don’t panic if it doesn’t happen immediately. It took 2 weeks for the refund to hit our card when we cancelled.

You’re right it was in the cruise planner not the app. I’ve edited to show the correction

Just browsing my cruise planner and noticed that the option to upgrade drinks packages is available in the app. There are three choices. One shows no cc status discount, and the other 2 show the discount for different levels. Never seen this before, saves having to phone up if you want to upgrade.

If you contact captains club you can link your accounts. You should both receive points that either of you earn.

Thank you. It is something we did a couple of times on our last cruise and were hoping to do again this year. Seems like we may have to rethink.

Sunset veranda

Can you still order from the MDR menu for dinner through room service, and pay the $9.99 + grat charge. Or can you only order from the room service menu?

Found it interesting that much of the webinar was given over to food. Most of the food they mentioned is only available onshore and not offered on the ship. I would love to have more local dishes offered onboard.

I think on the latest webinar they said Genoa was new to Celebrity. Could be that they are still arranging excursions there.

Most of the speciality restaurants don’t routinely open for lunch - there are exceptions such Sushi on Five on Silhouette. Last time we were onboard there were occasional lunches in Tuscan grill and Murano. However it was a special menu and cost less than the dinner prices so would probably not be cost effective to use a dining package.

This was summer 22 in an aft concierge room on Silhouette.

My email to the executive office majored on the fact that there were major changes brought in but no communication to passengers about this. To say I was underwhelmed by what happened next was an understatement. First of all my daughter received a phone message from X regarding it. My daughter does not live with us and has a different name and phone number. Her only contact with celebrity was as an emergency contact number on our last cruise. I emailed them asking them not to contact her again. I then received a missed call and message at 10pm when I was getting ready for bed! They clearly had not taken onboard that I am in the UK and there is a time difference. The message asked me to ring them back. No way was I making an international call when I had already set out my concerns in an email. I emailed this to them. I then received a call the next day. The lady I spoke to apologised that we had not been informed of the changes and assured me that the correct info was on the app. It wasn’t and the app still states that room service is complimentary some 26 days after the changes were made. The lady told me that the changes were made to bring X into line with other lines. I made the point that X charges extra as a modern luxury line and we were being brought into line with inferior lines but at a higher price. She did say that X wanted feedback so they could gauge opinions of the changes. I did then receive another call the next day from the UK office who apparently had no idea that the exec office had been in touch although clearly it was the exec office that asked her to call. I can’t honestly say that I am impressed or reassured by this. We shall go on our cruise in June and will report back to X the good and the not so good aspects of the cruise.

Refundable deposits are not offered in the UK.

As stated in my post - my exchange with the executive office was regarding the way that changes had been implemented without guests being informed. I do not disagree that some things have to change but at the very least we should be told if there are changes that for some people will affect the way they cruise. At no point have I been told of changes. In fact my app still states that room service is complimentary. The representative I spoke to said that the app has been changed. However 11 days after the changes were made ( and I suspect some while after the decision was made) the app is still showing room service as complimentary.

I would encourage anyone who has concerns about the changes to contact the CEOs office on lLutoff-Perlo@celebritycruises.com I have just got off the phone with one of their representatives regarding an email I sent voicing my concerns. My main points were that guests have not been informed of major changes to service, and particularly to OV. That changes to OV could adversely affect the cruising experience. I understand cuts have to be made but am most unhappy with how this has been done, and am concerned that this may be the thin edge of the wedge. The lady I spoke to emphasised that they wish to have as much feedback as possible and would welcome hearing from guests so they may gauge how the changes affect guests.

Not so easy to cancel if from the uk. We do not have the option of refundable deposits and lose money if we cancel.

I’m curious to know if you purchase the package onboard might they just charge for the one person, or would your seapass card flag up that you are a solo traveller and still charge double?

Yes - they did in July. You can ask for a kettle on any cruise and will most likely get one.

We are sailing from Southampton next summer. The app currently gives directions to Fort Lauderdale. Same happened last year. It’ll be right nearer to sailing.

We cruised in July this year shortly after the policy changed. The sommelier in Tuscan was not aware of the change re corkage fee. I showed him a screenshot of the new policy and he did not charge the corkage fee.