Classynfun1

Ack...sorry, OP! Soon you will get to experience the suite life! :D

[quote name='parallax']If the cruise line enforced all of their rules/policies to a T, then it would be a different cruise experience for all. Examples abound, including:

1. The ship does not have an obligation to give an OBC if they miss a port due to weather or ship performance issues, but often do.

2. If the policy was strictly enforced, I couldn't go to bar and get my wife a glass of wine under her card while I got a beer on my card.

3. I couldn't order multiple drinks at one time (beer and water).

4. If you left you pool lounger for 20 minutes to run to your room or grab a drink, the chair should be up for grabs and all articles removed.

The great majority of people on a Celebrity cruise act in a kind a courteous manner and are not the me, me, me type of people that sometimes we witness on a ship. However, we all benefit from deviations from the rules and policies on a ship. Let's not delude ourselves.

As we prepare to take our 6 year old on a 11 day cruise of Italy, we, as parents, are well aware that she will not be a perfect little princess during the whole course of the trip. However, we have the expectation for her to say please and thank you and be mindful of her surroundings. The voice she uses in the MDR is not the same one she can use at the Kids' Club. She needs to adjust to her environment. We see this as an excellent way to strengthen skills.

Finally, in the 9 cruises I have been on, I have might have seen one case of kids acting in an unruly behavior. However, I have, on each cruise, seen on multiple occasions horrible conduct by adults.[/quote]


Oh I get it now! You are someone that does not cruise very often who happens to a) have a little darling that you believe it entitled to be and go everywhere with you and b) you have only seen 1 negative thing relating to children so you know better that the rest of us. Got it!

For the record, many of us here are quite experienced cruisers (me - 400+ days on various cruise lines) who have seen many, many instances of poor and negative behavior. We also have seen the rules posted time and time again and are simply asking that they be followed, as stated/written. No asking for special accomadation and not putting staff in the bad position of demanding the rules not apply. That is the point you are missing in all of this.

What ended up happening with this one, OP?

All - just a warning, but the Better Business Bureau means NOTHING in the US. It is actually a business in its own right that other business pay to get a positive BBB affiliation. It has no jurisdiction or regulatory authority at all. The worst it can do it post a bad review of a business (but that is very,very rare if the business is paying the BBB).

 

Your best bet, if booking throughout the US, is to purchase great insurance, period. Part of the reason cruises seem expensive in the UK is because of all the protections you all have that we don't. Here, in order to receive most of the protections, we have to buy insurance as well. Do that and you will be fine.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[quote name='ghstudio']I'm not sure if I agree with this or not. As long as the same "change" in the rules is applied to all, then that's fine. However, if the next night someone brings their child (or asks if they can bring their child and they are turned away while your child is allowed in, that's wrong (at least in my book). Of course you may not care about this happening because your child was allowed in.



I've said many times in this endless thread that as long as the same rules are applied to everyone, I don't care if this policy is followed or changed on board.

I just have an aversion to "special" people or those who don't care about others feelings...the "me" folks. Celebrity can make a decision to let all well behaved children in or none...don't give me/us any of this "they were cute" or "they were in a suite" suite stuff.[/QUOTE]


Perfectly said, as usual!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Just the good 'ol trusty X website remaining consistently broken!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[quote name='scifimonkey']So you would elite cruisers not go to a elite event just to share an evening with similar status similar interest cruisers? I had always assumed that it was the exclusivity that was the attraction and that was why it's rules were being so jealously guarded. If the elite/private nature of the party is not enough and it's all about the free drinks then I find it much more difficult to be sympathetic about it being interrupted by any X sanctioned infringement of the rules. Particularly given that the kids are not exactly going to move in on the free drink!

If that attitude prevails amongst the suite guests then it seems to put the kibosh on the celebrity concept of a suites only bar/lounge. I had not understood that suite guests would receive free food/drinks in the new lounge? May be I am wrong in this? But if not then working by the above criteria no one would turn up just to mingle with people of the same 'status' and it will be a bit of a flop. Or do ' high wealth' suite guests act differently from 'high mileage' elite guests? (Some of them must be the same people??):confused:[/quote]

For the Elite party, I think you will find that the reason for attendance is different depending on the person. Some want the free items, some like the ambiance of the space, others like meeting like people, etc. Of course, the Elite breakfasts and cocktail hours are also scheduled so that the only time Elites can take advantage of these perks are during regularly scheduled hours. For the suite lounges, the lounges are always available to suite guests (to come and go), include a suite guest only concierge/host (different from Captain's Club), and yes, food and drink are "free" (I argue that I already paid for them, but yes).

I would say that both spaces have a different 'feel" (one is a permanent space, one not after all). Yes, often people could have the option to use either lounge based on their stateroom and their status. Just remember, for suite guests, there is a dedicate lounge all the time and for some, that is reason enough to just go there.

Sometimes I think that we forget these rules are not statutes or laws. These are rules set by a corporation. Some are way more important than the other. Who gets access to an elite event has to be at the bottom of the importance scale. The corporation, in its discretion, has the right to make exception or interpret the rules as they see fit.

 

I also wonder that the proponents who see this issue as black and white follow "all" the rules/policies while on board the ship. The reality in life is that we are always breaking the rules (speeding, jaywalking etc.).

 

I'm not talking about the corporation making changes to stated policies. that would be within their right, and would give me and other cruisers ample time to review and decide for myself how to procede (live with it or go some place else). I'm talking about passengers who fail to adhere to said stated policies and do whatever they want. You know, the "me, me, me" crowd. :rolleyes:

 

As for following other rules on the ship, yes I do. I always follow the stated dress code, use services at the time they are provided (vs asking for special accomadation), etc. Also, I sail exculsively in suites (unless none are available for a last minute booking) and understand that children are allowed in that lounge provided they are suite guests. Fine with me, unless, like any other passenger of any age, they are being inapporpriate. I have no problems following all the rules and understanding exactly what is available to me and others in the same situation.

The card also gives 10% discounts on Premium Bev Packages ($41.30 p/p per cruise) and Speciality Restaurant reservations. If you cruise even once, that more than makes up for the annual fee (when the cruise without the package is cheaper that using that promo). I only use it to actually spend money with Celebrity and to get the discounts. Because, as noted above, I get better ROI on other cards for my other purchases.

All other categories except Aqua Class have to pay for access to the Persian Garden. I think suites might get access 1 one port day. Also, suites can use Blu on an as available basis and they pay a fee. W have seen suite guests turned away. Also I forgot to mention in my earlier post that the afternoon tea that includes amazing little sandwiches in addition to the sweets is great. It's located in the Oceanview Cafe so you can go in your bathing suit and coverup. We also love the sushi every day at 5:30 in the Oceanview Cafe. It's the perfect bite to take back to our room along with a glass of champagne on our veranda. We like the Summit so much that we are booked on the October repo cruise. It's our first repo and we cant wait.

 

I have never been charged to eat in Blu when in a suite. I have also never been turned away. That might vary ship to ship, though...

I don't know why, but I don't think I will ever get over the, "I DO WHAT I WANT!" crowd, who do not care what the rules are as they do not apply to them. It actually drives me nutes.

 

To those same people, who insist on bringing their little darlings into adult only labeled events/areas, I ask this. What do you say when there is an adult hanging out in the children or teens area on the ship (ie. Fun Factory). What if this adult said, "but I just love being around childen! I'm just hanging out here being well behaved. How am I impacting you?" It's literally the same thing. Personally, I would find this extremely creepy and wonder if there was something wrong with the person. Especially when adults are not meant to be there.

 

On the flip side, I wonder what is wrong with those that do not follow stated policies because they "DO WHAT I WANT!" Next time you want to bring kids into a stated adult only area, think about the adults hanging out in the children's only area. I would hope you would have an equal problem with both scenarios...

That is because white screen=Modern Luxury! :rolleyes:

And for me the extra cruise credit and cabin location are worth it for concierge but the spa and Blu are highly over rated and I have NO interest in paying more for Aqua class.

 

 

 

Whether it is "worth it" or not is entirely personally subjective and each person has to decide for themselves what is worth it or not.

 

 

Agreed. That is why I said, "in my opinion" which is exactly what the OP asked for...

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Yes...it's the package or the 331CAD price drop. You should be able to get the package and the 120CAD price drop.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

They really aren't, in my opinion, unless you are on a ship where the cabins are bigger and you want the extra points. Now Aqua Class, on the other hand, is worth paying more for because of the spa pass and Blu, which add value to those who will utilize both.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I loved the California Coast cruise I did last month on the Century. Left out of LA and sailed to Santa Barbara, Monterey, San Francisco (overnight in port), Catalina Island, and Ensenada. Would happily do it again next yet, but it is gone as the Century is leaving the fleet. I don't think this seasons cruises sold well.

 

Honestly, Celebrity leaving the West Coast is our own fault. The cruises, even to Hawaii, do not sell well consistently (unlike the East Coast cruises whose prices seem to steadily rise). Celebrity saw that and said, "they don't want us, so we will go somewhere else." Sad, but I completely understand.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Dining is a separate category on their website and everyone will see their dining assignment listed (early, late or Select) no matter how they are booked (through Celebrity or TA).

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Oh wait I see you posted the standard rate - yes, you should get that AND keep your package!! Hurry and call while it is still there. (And also ask about any upgrades if you are so inclined.)

 

Also - if you want our help, you can always tell us what sailing you are on and we can try and help that way too! :-)

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I can help...the Take 2 promo IS both the Sailing price discount or the Sailing OBC. Because it is another promo, they will tell you to pick one of the promos (either the Pick Your Perk drink package or the Take 2).

 

All that said, call anyway. You can get experience dealing with this and you can see what they say. When you call, also ask what the standard price for your cabin is (to see if there might be any applicable discount) and also ask about the cost of any upgrades you might be interested that "would allow me to keep the drink package."

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Good to hear that you could keep your OBC. I was told that if we tried to get the lowed advertised price for our stateroom, that we would lose our PYP and the OBC that we received for booking onboard.

 

BTW - Did your OBC amount increase since you upgraded to a Suite? Mine did when I went from a 2C to a SS. :)

 

 

Yes I did - from $250 to $350! :-) From what I have been told, the OBC and the "perk" are not related benefits and can be split. IE. change your rate and you have to give up the perk, but OBC remains until you cancel the reservation completely.

We booked a cruise to the Mediterranean while aboard the Constellation this past April. The booking agent assured us we would get the rate reductions as they happen. I guess time will tell but I would be more than disappointed if we were deceived.

 

 

You will only get rate reductions to the STANDARD RATE. No rate including discounts will apply.

 

Case in point. I booked a cruise onboard the Century last month. Booked knowing full well that I was probably going to upgrade my cabin when I got back, but I wanted to make sure as the BF was in OZ and I could not reach him. Booked AQ. Recieved OBC and Bev Packages. Was told I would get all prices drops "you qualify for" applied with no problem until final payment has been made. Get home and see that there is a military rate that is $800 less for the cabin I'm in and also $800 less for the suite I was looking at anyway. Call, excitedly! Was told that those are military rates and therefore I would lose my perk if I have the discount rate applied. Brought up what I was told onboard - doesn't matter! Only standard rates apply to any onboard booking to recieve perks. Called two other times, same answers.

 

Long story short, I am now in an RS at the current lowest rate and gave up my beverage package in order to get that rate. Still retained OBC - that does not go away. Being in a suite, even without the package, we are less likely to spend the cost of the beverage package anyway with Michael's club, in room bar set up, etc.

 

All in all pain in the hiney. Just know you can get price drops, but for only the standard price available to all people.

I'd be all over it too, but my guess is no.

 

Makes me think Celebrity is trying to pull those in that do not understand finance and the value of a dollar right now vs. in the future. "YAY - free money!" that, of course, the passengers actually paid for....

Have not done this with Celebrity recently, last cruised 2 years ago on X, next X cruise in October of this year.

 

But have requested price drops with many lines (Princess, Celebrity, HAL, Cunard and NCL) we cruise 2 times yearly. Find price drops work best when you are booked directly with the line vs a TA... then you manage your own booking. Request it, money in hand is generally better than perks, often they don't drop the perks even if they say they may.

 

Good luck.

 

 

This is not true with Celebrity. When price drops are part of a new promotion, you lose other promotion benefits to switch to the new price (ie. Lose perks). Also, booking directly with Celebrity is great, if you are fine with waiting on hold 40+ minutes (80 minutes last week for me) to talk to someone. After that happened to me for the third time, I transfered my booking to a TA and , "you deal with them" and he laughed.

 

OP - when you do a mock booking, does it say "Sailing Rate"? If so, that is the new Take 2 promotion. I've already been all over this one myself, hence my knowledge of what it says....

 

Call them and then let us know!

None of the additional things you add now (like pre-paid gratuities, speciality packages, etc) will show up on Celebritycruises.com now. Every time you add, just get your TA to send you an updated invoices showing these things. This is normal!

I can quickly see how this could become a new category on Jeopardy.

 

Contestant, “Alex, I’ll take Changes in AQ for 100.”

Alex, “It’s now 1/3 smaller.”

Contestant, “What are pillow chocolates? (ding). I’ll take Changes in AQ for 200.”

Alex, “It tastes like flavored water.”

Contestant, “What is tea? (ding). I’ll take Changes in AQ for 300.”

Alex, “You get three of these when all you really want is a banana.”

Contestant, “What are green apples? (ding). I’ll take Changes in AQ for 500.”

Alex, “It tastes like crap.”

Contestant, “What is the sparkling wine in AQ?” (ding)

 

 

HAHAHAHA....you are so right. Hilarious.