coaster

Our price has increased by only $17 total. Not getting the $225 in extra OBC as Celebrity won't allow us to switch to the new promo without cancelling and rebooking. Booking early is not always the best strategy in our case.

Called again. They say that the higher OBC credit promotion are only for new bookings within a certain window. So much for booking in advance and expecting the best price and promotions to be honored before final payment.

Ok, thanks! Not familiar with the classes on Celebrity.

Our cruise on Constellation in December, pricing is over $500 pp cheaper for Concierge class over Veranda. Are Veranda cabins in better locations? Thinking of upgrading our outside cabin.

Wonder if they charge $200 and force you to cancel and rebook if just upgrading your cabin now?

The $200 penalty to rebook would negate most of the extra OBC. Really thought we could keep the same reservation and have the extra OBC since we are not changing ships or sailing date, Thought we might lose our $175 OBC credit from booking onboard, but the $400 OBC credit offer would of been better. Adding the $200 penalty to cancel and rebook would only save us a few dollars. The wording above does not mention having to cancel and rebook. That is where it seems strange to me as they keep saying we need to cancel and rebook to get the better OBC promo which leads to a $200 penalty.

Called twice. First rep did not check and automatically said a $200 penalty would apply and second rep put me on hold for awhile to check. Thought same sailing would not be an issue. Second rep said after a long hold that since I didn't book within the current promo booking window, that they could not reprice with extra OBC. Cancel and rebook with a $200 penalty.

Our sailing went up a little, but more OBC being offered now to more than offset the higher price. Thought you could always reprice for newer promotions before final payment. Called and was denied since I booked NRD. Cancelling and rebooking with a $200 hit was the option given. Thought I was pretty savvy, but I guess I don't know it all.

Only sailed once in the summer in 30 cruises and that was due to the Empress taking longer in drydock before her return to Royal and had to rebook for July. Pricing is always high in the summer which keeps us from booking. Discovered some Celebrity cruises priced lower per day than Royal at the start of this year and towards the end. Going to take a break from Royal for awhile at the price levels they are at now.

All older ships seem to show some wear as I mostly sail on them having been on Grandeur 14 nights late last year and Serenade 13 nights in late 2021. Rhapsody from Tampa also on 3 cruises and Empress on 3 cruises from Miami before Covid. Nothing to mention here as being worn and torn at any alarming degree as I am used to older ships and not picky. Maybe installing washer and dryers as I heard these would be added before Serenade's world cruise. Maybe something else in addition or none of these things. Only seen the Norwegian Sea and Carnival Tropicale in wet dock here in Tampa in the late 90's to early 2000's for refurbishments. This 3 day pause in Tampa for Serenade is pretty unique. Work is getting done somewhere.

Went on older Grandeur late last year for 14 nights and Serenade late in 2021 for 13 nights. Both were fine. Both ships priced much lower per night than newer Royal ships and fine for us. No sprucing needed. They age well unlike some Carnival ships where they were tacky from the beginning.

Not a charter. She has been docked in Tampa since yesterday. Some work being done before her world cruises seems likely. https://www.porttampawebcam.com/

Saw this video circulating a few days ago. Did not know it got over 7 million views until now. Have seen lots of blogger videos lately and they seem to all mention that the ship was basically just 'painted over' and little was spent to refurbish the ship. Shame as I usually only go on older ships at least 20 years old as they are smaller than the 'floating hotel' ships of today. Makes you wonder if Jimmy just will just license the Margaritaville brand to anyone who offers him cash. https://www.insider.com/margaritaville-cruise-tiktok-the-spirit-airlines-of-the-sea-2023-4?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=business-sf&fbclid=IwAR2udaUEWctblwq0MaDarrpRApoZcTN5ADuaj7Q8-dggZTEeR67FA0qOvnI

The above link is a web page explaining it. Never seen it available to book with Celebrity though. Why it surprises me that Royal references Celebrity as this package basically does not currently exist. Pass was discontinued in 2021 on Celebrity according to this.

The package is equally mysterious for those with bookings on Royal and/or Celebrity.

I personally have never seen it or read online anyone actually seeing this package available on Celebrity besides reports it showed up a few years ago and the orders were cancelled.

Problem with that is when folks called Royal's customer service to confirm, the too good to be true message was not conveyed. Royal's own staff thought package was legit at the price advertised. Why would the callers be wrong to not question it as being truthful?

I will be gullible for the moment and believe the Celebrity spin for the error. It was loaded on the wrong portal. Price of $89.99 came out of thin air? Why would the price be incorrect if the details just were loaded into the wrong portal? The Celebrity connection is very suspect.

You would think after the $18 drink package thing that some more checks and balances would of been implemented. At least a procedure to take down erroneous information from the website in a timely manner. This situation lasted into two different days.

We are going on Celebrity in two weeks and this package is not showing either for us. The excuse of it being related to Celebrity is a weak spin on Royal's part to put it nicely...

Only so many bottles of Veuve Clicquot in the world also....😏

Big waste of space and alcohol. Just have to look at the tables around the robots that have many unfinished drink cups on them. Hope Allure never loses the Champagne bar.

I wish they would move some of the Centrum events to the lounge aft of the Schooner bar on Vision and Radiance class ships. Larger seating area and the space goes unused most of the day. Centrum does not have the proper capacity when ships are sailing near full these days.

It used to be easier as you used to be able to select between refundable and non at the beginning of the booking process. Now you have to get to the last part of the process to find out the price difference.