mac_tlc

I confess to having hit my head on the light on Beyond. We have not sailed M class in a suite, just S and E class. We prefer the entire E class Retreat experience better. Not really a fan of the windowless lounge on S class. It was on Equinox which had been revolutionized, so the furniture issue is a wash for our experiences.

We were looking at that sailing also in the Spring 2025, but, as of now, the PH suites are all waitlsted. We are interested in the same question you pose. Is a 1250 passenger ship for us or do we prefer 2900??? I guess the only way to find out is to do it, but I have this inherent hesitation to spend that much $$$ and not be sure. mac_tlc

On Beyond in February, it allowed the “old” way. In April, it was the “new” way where you had to wager 50% of the amount downloaded to the machine or you were locked out from downloading more for the remainder of cruise. The workaround is go big late in the cruise 😜. It would not surprise me to see that 50% go up ………… mac_tlc

Not showing on Royal/Celebrity TA site.

I have at times found it very difficult to get 1/2 & 1/2 on Royal. Asked at breakfast in CK post -restart and the waiter said they don’t have any. I said “you don’t have it anywhere on the ship?”, he went away for a while, came back and said he couldn’t find any. Not sure how far he wandered😏. Room service is usually deaf to the request. Cafe Promenade has the highest degree of success. I have mentioned it on almost every survey since the restart. BTW, not an issue on Celebrity—— yet. mac_tlc

I hope so too. Our next couple X sailings are in a suite but the drum beat of cutbacks can be heard, and eventually felt, everywhere on the ship. mac_tlc

Food waste is code for $$$$. Pure and simple.

Another sad change. Has anyone confirmed that this latest cut has not reached Luminae??? mac_tlc

Enjoying following along. Have a Bourbon & Peaches for me ! We will be in Amsterdam next month for a Jewel of the Seas sailing, so your experience is interesting. We were there 5 years ago, but this time our son and DIL will be there, as will the wheelchair my DW needs at times. Should be fun trying to maneuver around the city 😶 mac_tlc

Yikes, hope they fix it soon. We are there on Jewel next month. mac_tlc

Rooftop Garden, cabin TV’s, craft social on Beyond, possibly main theatre.

Wow. We purchased a certificate on board the Beyond in February. In March, we booked a SS on Beyond for Nov. 2024. Did not pay any additional deposit. We also have a Sailing in Feb. 2024 in a SS that was booked onboard in March 2022. Only paid a $100 pp deposit. Consistently inconsistent. mac_tlc

But for Sky Suites, the deposit using an onboard purchased next cruise certificate, until 5/31/23, is $100pp. For anything above an SS it is more. mac_tlc

Only if the comparison is to Wonder and Icon.😜.

Directionally, I agree and if this was the only recent change I would agree that may be the primary reason. But there have been 5 rather substantial changes recently that make me believe that it may be as much about cash flow as changing booking patterns. 1) Substantial differences between NRD and RD prices; 2) Change to NRD policy to make entire deposit at risk for a cancellation; 3) Dramatic increase in Suite prices for all forward-looking bookings; 4) Change in dollar level of deposit from $250pp ($100 pp if done on board) to 10% of cruise fare, and; 5) Shortened timeframe to choose ship/date for an open booking done on board. For us, here is a recent example. We did an open booking on board Beyond in February. In March, we booked the Beyond Nov 2024 TA in a Sky Suite. Deposit = $200. If the new rules had been in effect at that time, our deposit would have been around $1,200. Based on today's price for that cruise, the deposit is $1,540. Either item 1), 2), or 4) would have achieved the effect you stated. I think all five together point to multiple goals for X. I do know that the five changes together mean we will book fewer suites, not book as far in advance as we have, and will not book on board. I am sure other folks will gladly take our place in line. mac_tlc

And never be in the passing lane ……🏎️🏎️

Saw this posted on Royal board and was hoping it didn’t apply to Celebrity. Unfortunately it is fleetwide. I now have zero reason to book on board. The reduced SS deposit was the largest factor. This plus the change in NRD policy will certainly affect our booking pattern and volume. I find it comical that in the FAQ, #10, they use a $2000 Sky Suite for a 6-9 night cruise as an example. .😂😂😂😂. mac_tlc

That’s unfortunate, and quite a big $$ difference. We did an onboard booking in Feb, then booked a Sky Suite on Beyond on its Nov 2024 TA. Paid $100pp deposit. With new rules that deposit would be about $1,200 (for 2). We have every intention of doing the cruise but life sometimes happens. With the new rules we would not have booked it. At least we are grandfathered in. mac_tlc

They implemented the same NRD policy recently. Waiting for them to make more changes. Our last on board booking in February was still $100 deposit pp for a Sky Suite. mac_tlc

On 528, you can get both! 70+ mph and bumper-to-bumper!! 😜

Coupled with the change in NRD plus the exorbitant suite prices for GS and above, at least on Oasis class and newer, looks like I may have to book some on board Celebrity Sky Suites—- before they change their deposit amount too. Every incremental change pushes us farther away. They may not care, but it is the case. mac_tlc

I agree, which is why I made the point of “value” not “price”. When we are on an X ship, we look forward multiple trivia sessions, AM and afternoon, a production show in an amazing theatre ( E-class anyway), after dinner game shows and a casino donation. Those things have “value” to us. How much? Hard to pin down , but it’s not an infinite amount. Sorta like porn, can’t define it but I know it when I see it. At over $18K for the Ascent TA, for example, one can’t help but investigate alternatives. Everyone’s break point is different. For close to the same cost, we are staying on X, (even with the 10-12 kids 🙄). At historical X retreat prices, I would not be part of this discussion, but, given the forward-looking prices, here I am. mac_tlc

What a ridiculous statement. Cost is certainly a factor, regardless of ambiance, clientele, cabin size, ports, ship size, or any other factor. It’s all about value. If cost was irrelevant everyone would be on Seabourn. I don’t need to sail O to do a price comparison and then decide whether any cost difference, in either direction, provides value. Notice that I did not feel the need to capitalize any words… 🙄 mac_tlc

Yah, a staff meteorologist in a company that has billion dollar assets sailing around the world seems excessive 🙄🙄🙄. I enjoyed his sailing briefings on Twitter, before I dumped Twitter…… mac_tlc

I’ve done the Celebrity vs Oceania comparison a lot lately, given the current Retreat prices. All pricing was done within the last 30 minutes. I think this is a valid comparison: Celebrity Beyond TA 11/1/2024 14 N vs Oceania Vista TA 11/20/2024 15N S1 on Beyond is $15,615 for 2 with $1,200 OBC Vista A2 is $9,198 Vista PH3 is waitlisted but would be $11,598 Let’s do some adjustments: Celebrity Beyond adjusted for OBC = $15,615- $1,200 = $14,415 Grats on O are $19pppd = $570 for 2 Upgrade drink package on O = $30pppd = $900 for 2 So, Beyond at $14,415 vs Vista A2 at $10,668 vs Vista PH3 at $13,068 Only thing I did not do is add another internet account to O to make it even with X. One could say I shouldn’t have deducted the entire X OBC to account for any specialty restaurant charges since all are included n O. Vista = brand new, Beyond = almost brand new. If you price the Ascent’s 10/26/24 TA, which is only 13 days, an S1 is $18,225 ——YIKES So WWYD? I’m on the Beyond TA, but booked it about a month ago for $3200 less for an S1, At that time, I thought the prices between O and X were a push, and the Beyond dates were better for us. I think we will try the Vista sometime in the next 2 years—- maybe a Panama Canal transit. mac_tlc