phoenix_dream

4 hours ago, jwlane said:

The good thing then is one can use the local cellular service.

Yes, when in port that's true, although that service is also not very good in some of their ports.

Wow that sounds awful!  So sorry you have to go through this and unfortunate that the communication has been lacking.  If the Captain is super busy trying to take care of everything one of his officers could be charged with conveying info.  Fingers crossed for you and everyone onboard that things are on the upswing now.

One thing to be aware - I have found in my many Alaska cruises that it is often the case that the Wi-Fi reception is very poor, and at times non-existent.  You will be in some very remote locations without good satellite feed.   You would think docked in towns it would be better, and yet I have found it is sometimes worse.  Just want you to realize this in case you are counting on needing the Wi-Fi for work or other important calls or other uses.  It improved once they went to Starlink, but it can still be an issue.

All I can say is congratulations and enjoy it.  It definitely will never happen again unless for some reason they need your cabin at the last minute which is extremely rare.  That could have been the case here, or it might be because you are a first time cruiser and they are trying to entice you into better cabins.  They used to do that years ago to first timers.  But enough of the negative side - you will love Celebrity!

It is unlikely you would get the same cabin.  That said, once assigned you can change your cabin if the other one is available.  

I agree people need to read the rules and follow them (wish they would do that for other things like chair hogging and shorts in the dining room, but that's another thread).

At the same time, some of the weird items might be because people are on long vacations of which the cruise is just one part.  I've done that myself.  Again, I agree they need to check the rules but just suggesting a reason some things might be brought onboard that seem very strange. 

23 hours ago, tfred said:

I think the cruise rate, no matter what cabin level, is just a discount and is not a function of the actual retail prices. 
 

X isn’t going to start heavily discounting the Retreat no matter what your level. Why would they? It is their premium product that seems pretty popular at present prices. X appreciates Z business but that love only goes so far 

I agree - why would they.  But I resent them promoting it as a "cruise only" rate when it is definitely not.  The difference in pricing versus Aqua class upgrading to all included proves that without a doubt!  It is a discount.  So that is my issue.

20 hours ago, Liao said:

I'd say the majority of people in the U.S. DO live closer to Canaveral than to Fort Lauderdale or Miami,  This is really irrelevant when the majority are flying in for their cruise, and in fact most are.

As I mention above in reply, it is not about number of hours, or the number of miles to fly.  It is about convenience from the airports.  It is vastly easier to fly into FLL or MIA and get to port, compared to flying into Orlando and having to get an hour's transportation to Port Canaveral.  I know, I've done both when sailing on Royal.  

On 3/30/2024 at 11:02 AM, bessinfl said:

 

"The majority of us" don't live close to Port Canaveral? I'd say the majority of people in the U.S. DO live closer to Canaveral than to Fort Lauderdale or Miami, which are three or four hours farther south. And for those of us who live in Central Florida (myself included), a Celebrity ship going out of Canaveral would persuade me to cruise more often. Thanks, Celebrity! 

If you need to fly, which a high majority of cruisers do, it is much less convenient to fly into Orlando and have to find an hour's transportation, than to fly into FLL or MIA where it is quick and easy to get to the port.  It is not about number of hours per se, or the number of miles.  It is about convenience.  I'm glad it works for you - for very many of us it makes it more complicated and more expensive overall.

21 hours ago, tomcruiser1234 said:

Things can be a little on the negative side for Celebrity. However i think they are starting to make some changes for the good. I think some of our complaints have started to hit home. 

 

We got Decoy wine back

Dedicated Butlers for the suites

Zenith now can do a cruise only fare for suites in fact they are offering it on cruises already booked and paid for 

We now can book a cruise to Cococay   If you haven’t tried, you will love it   We took grand kids. And got are own Cabana WOW. Expensive but it was great 

Officer are all over the ship talking to everybody

 

i know prices seemed to have almost doubled but what hasn’t 

 

oh well, if you know others   Please report the good suff

 

 

For many of us (I realize not all) the change to CocoCay is the exact opposite of positive, especially as it takes ships away from 7 or 7+ days sailing and adds tons of short cruises to attract an entirely different type of crowd, a continuation of the Royalization of Celebrity.  Not to mention the moving to Port Canaveral which is much less convenient for the majority of us who don't live close to that port.  

Glad they brought back Decoy into premium.  Now I wish they would do the same for several other wines retailing for under $20 which remain an upcharge like Conundrum and Cherry Pie.

Also happy about the return of butlers to suites.  That is indeed a biggie for many.

I feel like they're listening.  But I also feel like they are "throwing us bones" so to speak to try to drive down all the (legitimate) complaints.  I'll give credit where it's warranted for the positive changes, but overall they still remain minor compared to what was taken away or changed, while prices doubled and remain so.

20 hours ago, jelayne said:

All good stuff but a minor correction.  The cruise only fare for Zenith booking suites  is not being allowed on cruises that are paid in full. So those of us with paid cruises for April, May and most of June do not get our price adjusted. 

And while I am happy for any discount, the price difference is very minor compared with what the benefits actually cost, as well as what they charge for an AQ all included, which doesn't even have the premium options.  A nice discount and positive change, but IMHO to call it a cruise only fare is misleading.

19 hours ago, lola2013 said:

Publix on Sunrise Blvd is close to our favorite pizza 🍕 spot so we can pick up anything else we need.  

What is the name of the pizza place?  We often stay near a Publix on Sunrise and inquiring minds want to know.

5 hours ago, tfred said:

well X is obviously "protecting the integrity" (using airline terms) of the Retreat. They aren't discounting that much for anyone. The Z discount seems to be about 5% for a Sky Suite.  Its something but it isnt 10% using the 90pp number.  

 

Cruise lines are there only hospitality area that doesn't weed out participants by making them re-up with dollars or nights every year or two.  They should start doing that   I dont know what the cutoffs should be but instant lifetime status doesnt help anyone. Sets expectations of pax that may become economically difficult in the future. 

Actually some other hospitality areas do in fact do that.  For example, my DH just became a lifetime Diamond member at Hilton.  But I do get what you are saying.  Not sure I agree, but I get your point.  My big issue is that they are marketing it as a cruise only rate when in fact it really is a discount.  To be clear, I am happy for any discount they want to give me!  But I don't like the disingenuous marketing and communication of calling it a cruise only rate, when it really is a Zenith discount rate.

15 hours ago, tfred said:

What were the actual numbers?

On a sailing later this year I was considering, the difference in cost from cruise only or all included on an Aqua Class cabin was around $90PP per day, and that was for classic beverage and basic Wi-Fi. The difference in suite pricing (with and without entering my CC number for Zenith benefits to be applied) was only around $44PP per day. So while we are able to book cruise only, we are not getting anywhere near the discount that we would get in Aqua. 

8 hours ago, RichYak said:

Isn't this true of any Celebrity cruise only rate? Why would it be different for the Retreat?

I actually was comparing the cruise only versus "all included" rates for another type of cabin, Aqua.  The difference on those was approximately double what the discount is for Zeniths.  So in fact it is different - it's considerably less of a discount for Zeniths!  (at least on the several cruises I was considering).  They must think we're stupid, which is not a very smart thing to do considering Zeniths are some of the most experienced cruisers.  I feel like I am being told, in not so many words, that I should be happy to be getting any discount at all.  And I am.  I just take offence as it being promoted as giving us a cruise only rate, when the difference is so much less than on Aqua cabins.  IMHO, at least based on the few sailings I've reviewed, is that we are getting a discounted rate (which is good) but not getting a "cruise only" rate, so please stop promoting it as such.  

14 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

Same here.... I'm envisioning some cruises that we booked with Gratuities and a OBC for booking on board being repriced and eliminate both. 

 

Iain just said.   That's the reason we decided to jump ship.    They admit they have been screwing us and even with the new policy will continue to screw us until we make a new booking.  

And even then, I have seen people reporting the cruise only rates on new cruises decreased by way less $$$ than the perks actually cost.  I can't personally vouch for this being true,  but if it is that will really cause a (justified) uproar.  I was really happy to see this change. But the more I hear about it now I'm not so sure.

On 3/23/2024 at 11:21 AM, d9704011 said:

I think you're exaggerating the problem.  I have been on Celebrity with basic wifi and had no problem sending a few photos.

I disagree.  On basic I could not send photos,  could not text, could not open comments on Facebook,  could not open links sent to me via email. 

Finally Finally Finally!!!  Suite prices are already so high and as a Zenith it was hard for me to justify paying for perks I already earned. It will definitely bring me back to considering suites, and for that matter booking Celebrity cruises. 

20 hours ago, Ipeeinthepools said:

I spent the day docked next to the Reflection in Saint Martin and I looked at their balconies.  I didn’t see footstools anywhere.  It also looked like the top two decks with cabins probably had been revolutionized. They were Aqua and Concierge cabins with the suites thrown in.  It appeared that all of the Aqua And Concierge class cabins had the new small tables but the remainder of the balcony cabins on the lower decks had the large table that is suitable for two people to enjoy a meal on the balcony.  I hope it lasts for awhile in those cabins.

Reflection has not been revolutionized at all.  They did replace the balcony furniture on upper level cabins and suites with the new white, much less comfortable furniture.  Not to complain about her condition - she was in fine shape a couple weeks ago when I sailed her.  I just find the older balcony furniture so much more comfortable.

As far as the argument that they are removed for safety reasons, note that I was just on Ascent docked in Cozumel right next to Icon of the Seas, the newest Royal ship.  Strangely enough, when I looked across from my footstool-less balcony, I saw footstools on their balconies!  If they are so dangerous, why are they putting them on their newest ship???  

I agree with the thought that since E class IV has no room for them, no one else can have them either.  Very, very frustrating and annoying for those of us like me who spend a lot of time on their REAL balconies and love to put my feet up and relax.

21 hours ago, NMTraveller said:

And why I don't have a TA at the big box store.

I use a bb store TA and I have to say the service has significantly improved.  And yes we are able to get a dedicated agent, at least for the booking part. With Celebrity dropping the significant obc for suites and next to nothing for anyone,  the extra obc we get from our TA makes a big difference. 

5 hours ago, NMTraveller said:

It is stories like this that make me wonder why I sail Celebrity?  Why?

 

At a whim they could move me to whatever cabin they want...

No different than any cruise line. I do think it's very wrong that they have that privilege. 

On 3/14/2024 at 10:11 AM, jelayne said:

The Retreat Concierges can book or change your shuttle, no need to visit Guest Services. 

Agree. To the OP, be advised that many airlines will not let you check in until 3 hours ahead of time, and they mean exactly to the minute!  In fact, last cruise I saw a sign that one airline wouldn't check you in until 2 hrs before. (Obviously no international flights on that one). They make you wait outside the check in area where there is very little seating. Just FYI. Personally I would cancel the shuttle,  grab a taxi which has never been an issue for us, and stay onboard until you have to leave. 

On 3/14/2024 at 12:18 PM, helen haywood said:

At Port Everglades (Ft. Lauderdale) no one has been paying attention to the scheduled boarding times since the post Covid sailings recommenced. 

Actually our first few sailings after Covid they stuck strictly to assigned times. But I agree that lately no one seems to check 

21 hours ago, hcat said:

interesting..I think we would have heard about that.

 

. We have been there so many times.. They are very big on the drug sniffing  dogs!

There was a lot on the news about it at the time