PinkSandGirl

The flights (if booked prior to the final Cruise Payment date) can get rolled into your cruise fare - so your flights don't have to be paid at the time of booking. You can use your airline frequent flyer # at the time of booking. You can pick your seats. I always have. Some people say they can't but it may be based on the airline. Celebrity states they will get you to the ship and home. They will help find you a seat on a new flight or meet the ship at the next available port. Thankfully I have never needed that 'service' but for the exact wording, you should read the terms under Flights by Celebrity. I find the prices are usually the same as if I booked direct with airline. Maybe a few dollars either way. I once saw a price drop with the airline right after I booked. Flights by Celebrity was impossible to deal with for that. When I book, I give frequent flyer information for everyone I'm traveling with, pick our seats and then go online to the airline and link the record locators to my airline account. One note. They won't show as Ticketed until about 21 days prior to the cruise. What I do, once I make the Final Cruise Payment I call Flights by Celebrity and explain I would like the flights to be ticketed. By the flights not being ticketed you are limited to what you can do on your own. For example, if you wanted seat changes you would have to deal with Flights by Celebrity and not the airline/online yourself. My most recent booking was the easiest yet. Very quick and the agent was extremely knowledgeable. I find it worthwhile. 🍹

We always had bread but usually only came by one time so we would have to ask for more. We compared Luminae to Blu (on a different ship) many times. 🍹

Haha. I do like the little baguettes in Luminae. I wish they would serve a basket along with the 3 butters/spreads like they do in Blu. I would ask for two baguettes at a time. Yes, I was given them but I felt I was being judged. 😆 I only eat the crust on bread (it's a texture thing) and those crusty little baguettes were pretty good. <Sorry to go off thread topic> I laughed at your rationing comment but it does seem like that's what they do. No bread for you! 😂

A la carte at Sushi on 5. Yes, you can dine in the Main Dining Room even if you are in Aqua with Blu. For lunch you just show up like everyone else. 🍹

If the Main Dining Room isn't open and you decide to go to Sushi on 5, you should be able to make a reservation on boarding day for lunch for the day you want later in the cruise. I know Celebrity changes things but on the Equinox (2021), I made a lunch reservation for my group of 4. I did make it onboard but definitely had a reservation. 🍹

Sushi on 5. I don't eat fish/seafood but I enjoyed it for lunch. I was on the Equinox when I ate there but it's the same menu on the Eclipse. Those in my party who do eat seafood enjoyed it as well. It's a la carte. You can make a reservation. If you look at the app you can see the menu. 🍣🍚 The other lunch options are the Spa Cafe, Oceanview Cafe (buffet), the Mast Grill (burgers and hotdogs) and Room Service - for port days. Perhaps the Main Dining Room will be open as well since lunch is served 12pm - 1:30pm and you don't dock until 1:30pm. 🍹

I commented above saying espresso and cappuccino is included but I just looked at the website and there is new wording. I don't know when this occurred and it is confusing because it makes it seem like Café al Bacio would not be included as part of the Classic Beverage Package - which makes absolutely no sense. ...but with other recent Celebrity changes, who knows?! This is on their website if you do some digging and lists everything out. Premium coffee and tea shows it's included in the Classic Beverage Package. However...when I go to my Cruise Planner under Drink Packages they list what's included. This is the Classic Beverage Package. Note that Premium coffee and teas are NOT listed. ??? This is what's listed under Premium. It has a specific notation saying the Zero Proof is included and in that it has Premium coffee and tea. I know many things in Zero proof aren't part of the Classic but premium coffee and tea was always part of the Classic Beverage Package. I was 100% sure when I first posted. Now, I'm not. Celebrity is infamous for problems with wording, websites, etc... so maybe it's just an omission online. Hopefully someone currently onboard that has the Classic Beverage Package can give you first hand knowledge in case there has been a change. You can also call Celebrity but that might not give you an accurate answer either. 😆 🍹

I was going to post this as well. Hmm...will they actually address some of the hot topic questions many people have been talking about? I doubt it but we'll see... 🍹

The Classic Beverage Package covers drinks up to $10 (different amount for sailings from the UK and some other countries) I have a picture below of the menu from Café al Bacio. Espresso and Cappuccino would be covered at Café al Bacio along with the dining rooms/restaurants. You can also look at the app for prices. As for San Pellegrino, that's considered premium. For alcoholic drinks over the price cap, you pay the difference. I don't know what they do about water. I've always had premium and drink evian so I can't give you an answer on how that's handled. I'm not a soda drinker but I don't think there are different levels of soda. They have coca cola products which are included in the Classic Beverage Package. 🍹

I just looked at current Sky Suites perks to see if anything has changed. <Butler is still there by the way> This is for a cruise I have booked on the Beyond. It states: Bottled water on embarkation day. My last cruise, on the Beyond in a Sky Suite, our butler asked what we would like. We were easy. I said evian, my boyfriend asked for water and pineapple juice. She brought a glass every night and placed it in the refrigerator for the next morning. We could have had whatever alcohol we wanted as well. I drink evian. It's what I drink in my every day life. Besides the Beyond not having evian in numerous locations during that cruise, it was always in the cabin. The large glass bottles. Much appreciated since I drink alot of it. The small bottles, I go through so quickly. I would still stock up on small glass bottles when in the Retreat or from a bar so I had them to take around the ship/excursions this way I always had it. Anyway...back to why I posted. The 'perk' of Bottled Water on Embarkation Day is just ridiculous. If it truly is only on embarkation day. If you look at Aqua Sky Suites they get 2 bottles daily (like regular AquaClass). Upper Suites get daily water. The Celebrity Suite doesn't mention anything about water which is probably an oversight. Yes, I can clearly stock up like a squirrel on my own but having the large bottles is convenient when in the cabin. For the cost of Sky Suites and for the Retreat touted as all inclusive, bottled water stocked in the room shouldn't even be questioned. Again, this may be determined by the Butler's discretion but it shouldn't have to be. If this is the case and the Butler/team/whoever it may be won't continually stock large evian bottles, I guess I will be asking for large bottles (unopened) in Luminae. 😅 I laugh but it really isn't funny when you think about it. Who knows, they may even charge me...by the way some things seem to be going. I will wait to see how it goes but it clearly states bottled water on embarkation day and I do not remember seeing that exact wording before. Maybe I was lucky with a nice Butler but I don't think bottled water being stocked in the cabin should be a question. It's the little things. 🍹 Sky Suites - some of the amenities

Here it is with the divider opened up Here's the solid wall aka white space 🍹

This is for the Beyond but the same concept applies to the Edge. The cabin #'s are different so don't go by that but I'll list them to explain. Cabin #9170 & 9168 can have the balcony divider opened up. 9170, 9168, 9166 and 9164 all can. Then 9174 & 9176 can along with cabins down the line. Do you see that white space between 9170 & 9174? That can not be opened. That is a solid metal wall floor to ceiling. A fire wall or support I would imagine. I can attach pictures since I was in 9170 and my mom and dad in 9168. When you look at the Edge deck plan, look for those white spaces. There are a few. Cabins sharing a white space wall can not have a divider opened up on that one side. 🍹

I have sent e-mails before. I actually sent one at the 1 hour mark yesterday but I continued to wait another 1 hr and 45 minutes. That's good you haven't had to wait and get what you need taken care of efficiently. 🍹

How frustrating! Usually we get a 4 hour window and they have always shown up. 🤞 It would be interesting to know the average # of calls Celebrity gets in a day. I think many calls could be avoided if their systems didn't change things, if we could apply Captain’s Club Discounts online when purchasing things and things like that. I don't mind calling and talking to people but I want it to be productive and efficient. 🍹

True. If they had a functioning IT department I wouldn't have had to call yesterday in the first place. 😆 🍹

That's so odd it isn't always. I've never had it as an option. 🍹

I repeated a line. I meant to delete it in one spot. The edit window is closed. Sorry about that. 🍹

Concierge and AquaClass both will have afternoon canapes delivered, a Welcome bottle of sparkling wine (by request now), upgraded toiletries, pillow menu and some other small things. Concierge gets you embarkation day lunch in a dining room. AquaClass gives you access to Blu for breakfast and dinner. You can still eat in any of the main dining rooms if you wanted to. An expanded room service menu. You also have access to the Sea Thermal Suites (spa areas) along with some other small things. As for the Sky Suites (and other Sky Suite comparable ones) - you will have a real, traditional balcony. You'll have Retreat access (lounge with nice seating, light snacks throughout the day, a bar, tea, coffee, drinks and the outdoor sun/pool deck area that has a pool, bar, nice seating and a small food menu) and Luminae as your restaurant for breakfast, lunch on embarkation day and sea days & dinner. You can also dine in Blu based on availability along with any of the other main dining rooms. You'll have priority boarding and things like that as well. You also have the upgraded toiletries, pillow menu, amenities in the cabin, a nicer tote bag, etc... The cabin and bathroom are larger. The Retreat Lounge and Sun/Pool deck are quite nice. Yes, there is a whole ship to enjoy but I really like the Retreat areas. You won't have to pay Room Service fees. Usually you would have a dedicated butler but there are changes coming with a team for that. For a complete list of what's included you can find the categories and amenities on Celebrity's website. What would I choose? Sky Suite because I've experienced the Retreat on the Beyond. The Retreat areas and the extras that come with it. I like the regular Sky Suites that have the bed facing the water. There are different cabin configurations depending on which Sky Suite. It's also convenient to get quick access up to the Retreat areas. I've sailed S-class ships and the Beyond was my first E-class so my perspective for E-class is coming from the Retreat. If you like the idea of the Sea Thermal Suite and Retreat then an AquaClass Sky Suite may interest you. I've been in Concierge, AquaClass and the Retreat. I would choose Aqua over Concierge because of Blu. I would then choose the Retreat over AquaClass when it comes to E-class. I've sailed multiple S-class and the Beyond was my first E-class so my perspective for E-class is coming from the Retreat. There are some differences between the cabin classes when you compare S-class to E-class etc...but since you're on the Apex I won't go into that. 😉 I would say to list what you like from each category and then see if the minimum bid / what you would bid is worth it to you. Keep in mind that you can't choose the cabin #/location, only category. I am too particular when it comes to that and also cruise with family so we have our cabins next to each other. If those things don't concern you, then a Move-up Bid may be beneficial. Have a great cruise. 🚢 🍹 P.S. I realize my post is longer than yours. I have a tendency to ramble. 😅

Really? That's promising. 🍹

I used to as well and then he was promoted to a position in Royal Caribbean. He gave me another rep who was just as great. That rep eventually...I don't know what happened to him. I was worried. I then attempted to get another dedicated one and couldn't. It was always someone different. I eventually used a travel agent due to some extra perks. It then evolved to Blue Chip. They used to be fairly easy to get and were available 24/7 which was amazing. Yes there were sometimes waits but nothing extreme and ended up with a dedicated rep. Now, no dedicated person, reduced hours and usually very long wait times. I don’t book those 'free cruises' but I feel like once they started being handed out like candy, the wait times have increased dramatically. The auto call back offered by some companies has been great the times I opted in. Today as I continued to wait I just thought please don't let one of the automated messages say 'we are now closed'. 😆 I do have to say I was then transferred to Flights by Celebrity and that wait time was about 5 minutes and very pleasant. They usually are with them, but it went quite smoothly tonight. That was my reward for waiting 2 hours and 45 minutes. 😂 🍹

I have had some long wait times but today I waited 2 hours and 45 minutes until I spoke with someone. This was at Blue Chip. 2 hours and 45 minutes to talk to someone for a mistake on Celebrity's end. Yes, who I talked to was nice and corrected the issue. It's just frustrating and I cringe when I have to call. 🤣 Celebrity should obviously have more people to talk to but also have the call back option where they call you back in the order you called in. I prefer a short, reasonable wait time but if that isn't achievable then I think the call back option would be a good feature. Haha. It might then say...you'll get a call back between 3 hours to 3 days. 😆 ☎️📱 🍹

Rosie, Hi! How are you? Hope all is well. I saw your name and wanted to say, 'Hi!'. Kelly 😃 PinkSandGirl from the Equinox in October 2021. 🍹 <Sorry to hijack the thread> 😉 As for the thread topic. I too am concerned by this change along with how Celebrity is keeping it under wraps so to speak. If it's such a great improvement, why not advertise it? I guess time will tell.

As many others, I am extremely bothered by this 'test'. I came across this in a FAQ section of a craft brewery and this thread came to mind. ‐-‐------------------------------ IS SMOKING PERMITTED? Dude, we’re living in the 2000’s. Of course it isn’t. Smoking (of anything) & Vaping (of anything) isn’t allowed on the deck, in the entryway, on the stairs, or in the bathrooms (yes, the fire alarm will go off. yes, it’s very loud. yes, everyone will be mad at you. yes, you’ll be asked to leave). ‐-‐------------------------------ Why in the world would Celebrity change their indoor smoking policy in this day in age? Why, oh why? Very disappointing for sure. 🤞The test fails and they revert back. Time to compose another letter to Celebrity. ✍️ 🍹

I just thought... How do you think we will meet our Retreat Team? The new way...A sheet of paper, a door hanger or the app to fill things out and whoever the Team Members will be, they'll just show up and we won't know who they are? Maybe they will have a meeting for all of us or before we board we'll be given the instructions on how this works. We'll all have a set boarding time, as a whole group. As we board, the Butlers will all be lined up (like they are on Chic Nights in the theatre) and we're introduced to the 'Team'. They may not do a thing. They could charge us (what we've already paid for) saying we're getting an enhanced experience, plus add gratuity on top of it. My new way scenarios are in jest but it is something to wonder about. This is all up in the air but that first day connection when you and the Butler meet, that won't be there. I can't see how it can be. Time will tell. 🍹

I am also bothered and displeased with this latest revelation. I booked the Retreat with a Butler as part of the experience. Celebrity loves to advertise the Retreat and how inclusive and pampering it will be. I wasn't demanding previously in a Sky Suite and for my next cruise, in a Sky Suite, I don't intend to be either. However, The Butler was (and currently still) is that personal connection you have. Just as I like to have the same waiters and assistant waiters each night, the Butler is the same in the sense you get to know each other. I can not see how a 'team' will have that same personalized service. My last cruise, my dad hurt his back while we were out on Aruba. We got back to the ship and he was in so much pain. We boarded and I saw they had wheelchairs so I got him one. We get to our deck and as I was pushing him, our Butler saw us. She was so concerned, came over and insisted she push him. We were like, 'No, you don't have to do that'. Thank You, but no.' She wouldn't take "No" for an answer. So, she pushed him to the cabin. She was so concerned and offered to help in any way and would check on him for the remainder of the cruise to make sure he was ok. Thankfully it got better and didn't last. Point being...it's things like that. We passed other crew members on our way to the cabin and noone offered to push him... I wouldn't expect that and it wasn't needed but she saw us and came right over. Months ago when the Room Service fees came and even though I'm booked in the 'Retreat' and the fees won't pertain to me I still don't think it's right. At the time I said...for now the 'Retreat' is excluded. AquaClass used to get daily iced tea. They took that away. Boarding day champagne went away because of covid. We are back to normal and the Welcome Aboard Champagne hasn't come back. Am I able to get any cocktail I wish once I board? Yes, but that isn't the point. There are/were little things that set Celebrity apart. When getting back on the ship from a day in port, the cold towels and fruit flavored waters are a nice 'Welcome Home' thing to see. Will this disappear in the future? I know these are 'little' things that may not mean anything to some people. There are more but this thread isn't about that. My point is, it's all of those little things that add up and made/make Celebrity...Celebrity. I used to sail Royal Caribbean. I never thought I would leave them. I did. Yes, Celebrity is part of the same parent company but there were differences we preferred and haven't gone back. Sure there were aspects of Royal Caribbean I liked and I wish Celebrity had some but Celebrity just had something that 'kept' me. Have I had wonderful vacations on Celebrity with my loved ones? Yes, I have. However if the product I came to love changes more than I'd like, I don't think the value is there, and/or I don't like how they continue treating their customers...then the day may come I move on from Celebrity. If they keep taking things away and continue raising prices and I keep booking then guess what?! Shame on me. It'll be my own fault. Why will they turn things back around if I keep booking? They won't. By me, I mean we. We shall all see how this pans out. My next cruise is April 2024. If they do unfortunately move forward with this plan we can only hope they ultimately revert back, like they have on some other things. ??? They say 'research' helped make these brilliant changes. Then we have to let our voices be heard. I will contact the Retreat as others have done. Will it make a difference? I don't know but not saying anything won't make a difference as far as keeping the Butlers. For those that will be cruising, let it be known how you feel. I too think it's very 'slimy' for how they are rolling this out. I also feel bad for the Butlers. What will be next? 🍹