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poffles

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Everything posted by poffles

  1. I extremely dislike Celebrity's use of 'Have It All' in recent promotions and also totally viewed it as pulled from HAL's use of this same verbiage (that they've used for ages). Upon reading, it totally felt like bait and hook knowing that HAL uses it in the context of included packages and gratuities and such. To use 'Have It All' in reference to 'why pick one beach, city, restaurant or even one pool' .. really???? I feel this one to be very confusing and misleading. .
  2. For me it's been watching closely, seeing someone share here that there is a sale, logging in regularly online to look if prices have changed, take note if Celebrity is promoting a sale, anticipating milestone sales like Black Friday and watching closer at these times. I've never received an email specifically pointing out a drinks sale (that I recall) and if I have it's definitely not something I would rely on or you will surely miss one.
  3. Let me share my current ongoing experience with the Nexus renewal process to show how varied one's experience can be. Two people same household renewing ... I submitted online for both the same day literally one after the other. Neither had any changes (ie address) within the five years so I anticipated and hoped no interview required. Applicant 1 & 2 application date: Jan 4, 2024 Applicant 1: Still pending review (March 22 as I write this). Applicant 2: Approval notification March 1, 2024 (no interview required) Applicant 2: Card received in mail March 8, 2024 😲 Interesting that the one I submitted first is the one still pending; clearly it's so random you can't rely on any experiences reported by others. I have nothing booked so I'm not anxiously awaiting a new card so it's more interesting observation of processing times. I'm also good knowing the current card is good until the new one is processed. ..
  4. You've voiced what I felt (this one and prior) about the overall vibe of these 'presentation-Q&As'. Feels just too 'great' and the non answers just make that felt even more, all the talk of past and upcoming President's cruises .. going to wonderful ports 🙄 and such great things planned. Questions answered by rewording the question(s) and explaining what it would take to do something and we are talking and discussing and then .. next question. Wait, what was the answer ??? Even a timeline of when the 'assessing' will be done would be welcome. I don't like to hate on things and have been happy to watch these to get the PUPs but I have often liked watching even if off the side of my desk. This one and the prior few have been very disheartening. Upon reflection, talk of the wine additions seemed to be the closest to something specific of all the things she spoke of, but I'm a beer drinker so whatever (low class 🙂)
  5. Laughing at this. Did you respond to ask 'why do you make booking itineraries available so far in advance?' Yep all your fault 🙃
  6. It applies to Elite and up so + not necessary. I just reached Elite before my recent cruises late last year and this was a perk I was able to take advantage for the first time, was pretty nice to have clothing refresh. I wrote ELITE on the top of the laundry list form.
  7. As others have said, recent cruises the 'wine' was not waiting in my room and I just let the room steward know day/time I wanted it and it arrived sitting in an ice bucket. Opposite happened with canapes, they were horrible prior so I requested not to have them (ever) and still received them the first full day but then after that my 'request' must have reached someone as they stopped. There is something about unidentifiable cheese sitting on a plate for heaven knows how long that is off putting for me. Maybe this could be a waiving of room delivery fee for x number of times/days instead .. Celebrity are you there?
  8. This change kicked off Oct 2023. This is still *noted at the bottom of an FAQ page. As others have said, it was a go forward change to newly purchased (AI bookings) after this date. Celebrity's All Included FAQs .
  9. Similar to what others have said. If you are booking a new cruise on the Celebrity website, the prices presented on the front page are now (typically) Cruise-Only fares. As you proceed to 'book', after you select your room you will be presented with a screen much like the one below (just a random 3 night I selected) and it will give you All Included option which will indicate the added cost. This would of course vary based on cruise/length. If you book Cruise-Only fare then you purchase a drinks package later. Drink packages along with many other things are available for purchase when you log into your booking, much like buying excursions or specialty dining.
  10. I did a (pre) pay one on Apex Nov-23 and it was similar to the way others have mentioned but clearly there are variations. Consistence is the predetermined bank of machines setup with a specific 'tournament' type game and your name will appear on the machine assigned to you for your round. Rounds are based on the number that have registered to play so this of course would be unknown ahead of time. The difference for the one I played, scores were captured overall for all rounds and think it was top 8 (or 10) scores qualified for the final round with a single prize of $500 casino credit to the winner. I got in the final round and was doing so poorly almost the entire time with many behind me focused on someone next to me, but the tables turned right near the end and I was suddenly at the top and won. Not sure who was more shocked, me or them LOL. It was fun but it was the only one I played during the cruise, the 'fun money' was an awesome take away! They also had other 'free' tournaments during the sailing where I heard them announce $50 credit prize. One day it was for Concierge guests, another was for first time Celebrity cruisers, thinking there were others but can't recall.
  11. It would appear the 50% off is not exclusive to Diamond. First line item below.
  12. Just did B2B Apex to Reflection in FLL. Was terminal 25 to 28 (think it was) and guest services/concierge was able to accommodate this and it was complimentary. There were 3 other 'rooms' that were doing this as well. It wasn't the most seamless. We were told all arranged, get off (the Apex) with the last disembarking number which I believe was 48 or something and grab our luggage from this area upon leaving. Then to go to the transfer busses, the one identified as going to FLL Airport. This confused us but we were told it would be dropped off along it's route to the airport ... perfect. Where it was a little annoying was when we got to the bus area we are asked our names and the guy looks at his 'transfer list' and none of us are on it. Another guy came over (seemed to be more the organizer of all the bus transfers) and no matter how we all explained what we were told he was adamite that this was not how it worked. This went on for way longer than it should have but we finally got on a bus (which said to Miami LOL) and were taken on our way. So definitely go to guest services but if it were me doing this again I would ask for something in writing or something that can be proof of the arrangement.
  13. As others have said, Mast Grill on Apex definitely has self-serve soft ice, I think on Reflection too but can't swear to that as I didn't get one there. They rotate flavor (think just one flavor at a time) so it's luck of the draw it's one you'll like, I think sometimes it's a swirl of two flavors. Also, I know the Apex had a soft serve machine at the Gelato station, though availability was not the best when I went there as I was told couple times the machine was off for cleaning or ice cream was too soft. I got it there at least once.
  14. Wasting money is subjective, some might say that a balcony is a waste of money. I am not one of those people as I definitely like my balcony but equally for some of us the math can work to not make the drink package a 'waste'. I guess I do a lot of drinking, not to be assumed as primarily alcohol which is often the only thing people consider when valuing the package(s). I will agree prices are outrageous, but outrageous prices are not isolated to drink packages. Great to have choices!
  15. I just reached Elite before my recent two cruises in November. The first one did not include any package, the second 'included the Classic package. I was so excited AND adamant that we were not going to pay for a package on the first cruise and just do the hustle of coffee at Elite breakfast and drinks during HH. Well when a sale on the drinks package came out at 50% off I could not resist. I like my coffees and drinks when I want them so I was the hustle without a package had me consumed with the thought; buying the package just settled my mind. We even bought the Premium package AND upgraded the Classic package on the other cruise, we are weak LOL. So all this said, I go back to thinking next cruise .... just wait till next cruise I will do it different. I think for me it will depend on the itinerary. All of my cruises have been in the Caribbean so we are now often staying on board and for us drinks are part of that experience. An itinerary where it is new discovery and more time in ports would be a different story so we would rethink for sure, thinking if we do a Europe itinerary one day. Oh and we went to Elite breakfast for first hand knowledge of what it would be like (even to grab a coffee) and it was sit down and be served, taking a coffee out was not so much an option. They don't serve a 'full' breakfast which also doesn't work for us and we ended up mostly giving this a pass. Even without a package I'm not sure we would want to resort to this every morning for our coffee. All this to say I like my drink package but I will admit that the cost hits hard and with CAD exchange on top of that OUCH. I have no cruises booked right now so I can't say what I will do next time but the Elite hustle is always in my mind 🙂 I wish Celebrity offered drink coupons like Royal so at least a person wasn't trapped into a timeline/venue for usage but it is what it is.
  16. I know right! I think that stood out more given we literally had all just stepped off, but ya I guess here it is witnessed even in live reports. It just shows how things can all be so different which is proof we have to do a bit of shading on what we hear or read and then consider our own expectations along side it all. Easier said than done I guess the more we read and hear between time on board.
  17. I don't sail as much as some others do, but this past year I have been fortunate enough to sail three cruises with them and since my first sailing with them on the Summit (2014) I have not gone back to sail anything else. My cruises this year were all that I expected but I do find myself now thinking of looking around at other cruise lines but it's more to have something new to experience. Could even be a royal cruise to utilize status matching. For me personally, Celebrity service has been excellent and I personally have not experienced any change in that area. The food, well I am a buffet person for most meals and I cannot cheerlead that because it has definitely changed, especially for dinner/supper and the MDR is very limited in choices. I was on Apex/Reflection B2B in Nov/Dec 23 and I can't say I recall much difference in this area so don't think it's new vs old ship. Interestingly going from Apex to Reflection I found myself loving the Reflection more, especially for it's more comforting feeling in the public areas. When I think of other cruise lines I get reminded of why I have stuck with Celebrity and think of my comparable experiences prior. NCL last sailing (Epic) was terrible, the service just pushed me over the edge, Carnival was...well it was Carnival but it was a long time ago so to be fair maybe it's improved 🙂. I will agree with others though that the cost still has to align with product/services rendered and there is definitely a point where a person has to ponder value to them. I am not a suite passenger so I can only speak to my experiences sailing in a veranda or lower stateroom and clearly these are two different products and clearly two different costs 😉 Long story long ... on my first Celebrity sailing on the Summit we were at the airport at the end of the cruise waiting in long line to check in and we got talking to a couple behind us and it ended up they were on the same sailing as us. Well they definitely viewed/experienced things differently than us, the woman could not stop going on with complaints and I was dumbfounded. Apparently it was their first Celebrity too (not first cruise) and they sailed based on their sister hyping Celebrity but clearly it didn't live up for them! Again, dumbfounded and afterwards me and my travel partner kept saying to each other how we could not believe we were on the same cruise. It was a perfect display of how you can't paint a broad brush on what your experience might be as there are so many factors in play. For them it was never again, boy was she mad, for us it was OMG that was the best with thoughts of 'they even serve you coffee at your table at the buffet' LOL
  18. Having done the hump and now recently finally did SV on Reflection, I will be going back to a stateroom along the side. I realize, that while the wake was awesome, I really love to see more than just the rear view when sailing. I also prefer staterooms on the starboard (right) side of the ship because I love watching the motion when arriving and leaving a port dock. The people coming and going, mooring the ship, I find it all entertaining. I can now finally say I've sailed in an aft but I will take a hump veranda over the SV. Isn't it nice to have options, though sometimes choices can make one crazy 😉 .
  19. This may all be said but I just spoke to Blue Chip to ask about my current points thus far during the current 'earning period' that ends December 31, 2023. These points then determine my status during the next period which I asked and confirmed to be an 18 month period as it was pre-pandemic so it would be January 1, 2024 thru June 30, 2025. During that time you have to earn points again to retain that tier level for July 2025 forward (assuming to be July 1, 2025 thru Dec 31, 2026). Also, I have also asked in the past about dropping to bottom tier status if enough 'points' aren't earned to retain (ie Amethyst), they said you do not drop to the bottom, you only drop one level down. So if you are Amethyst you would drop to Onyx. Don't quote me on any of this 😉 but this is what I was directly told by Blue Chip (some verbally and some in email). I am anxious for January when they remove the blurb on the website about the extended earning period and update with regular detail.
  20. My bad .. thanks for calling it out so 'nicely'.
  21. Leave for someone to answer about the seminar. If you are referring to FLL departure the concierge sits among everyone else, no special room for this (been there done that) unless you are referring to a suite booking? Eclipse is Solstice class. Did this up for my own reference.
  22. I have sailed on a few Blue Chip offered cruises and much like the OP I've never received a Move-Up email. I realize you can call and request because I've read here of others doing so, but many would not know this. I have been content with my rooms so never pursued. Seems to be a bit all over the place in recent times with the Blue Chip experience. I have gone months and months with no offers but then I call in and they've listed some for me. Fast forward to last month and I got NINE Blue Chip email offering a list of cruises all within the next 6 month period. They mostly repeat the offers but it's blowing my mind a little. So far November I've received four email. Not complaining at all but one extreme to the other, I really like getting the offers emailed. Assume others would be seeing this same thing.
  23. Ditto Jim, though I still try just to be sure 🙂 I've also found that many tasted all the same no matter how different they looked. I really liked the Berliner donuts they used to have a (few years ago) but sadly have not seen them around anymore.
  24. No not for what I am seeing. The price is not presented as a popup so would not be in play. It's just Celebrity 'fun'.
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