Pinboy

Exactly correct-- So, let me think---- Why are sooooo many CCers with only negative comments about Celebrity still reading/posting on Celebrity ? What's the purpose ? FYI--- We don't cruise on Carnival ( as an example ) ----- soooo , I don't read any Carnival's threads. Let's hope you never need help with Customer Service or Tech Support from the 1000's of Companies employing off-shore services.

Here's what we have done for several years without any problems. Why ?? Because our Personal Celebrity Cruise Planner never returned calls after he said " I'll look into it and get back to you " or never returned phone messages. So, we book a future cruise while on board and receive a few extra perks ( 1 category cabin upgrade + a bit of extra OBC ( $ depends on cabin category and length of cruise ). Immediately transfer the booking to Big Box Travel and at the end of the cruise receive a Gift Card based on 8-9% of what we paid. Never had a problem, and it's like " found money ". Also, there is someone available all the time-- ( English and/or French speaking ). I don't have to wait for the TA to finish his/her 36 holes of golf, or his/her 3 hr lunch or, or---to get a call back. Again, we always had a very good Agent. Perhaps we were just lucky ? I'm on your side--- Sounds too good to be true , but, I have no reason to believe otherwise. Some folks receive $$$$ thousand(s) ?? of OBC for booking suites and being a loyal customer. I wouldn't know what to spend it on---- Holy cow, there have been threads on CC where someone had a few $ OBC left and asked " What would you do with it " ?? Now, you got me thinking of that old fart with the 32 yr old--- Again !!! I'll bet she still has the Rolex and he has only the memories. The easiest ( IMO) is to book/pay in $US -- The TAs in the US would have to search the current exchange rate and add a " service fee " etc. etc.

You still get a schedule every night on your bed with the chocolate bar ( ?? ). On the last night you might have a towel wrapped as a bunny as a surprise---- if you didn't remove the gratuities. The menu for each day is posted outside the MDR. " the inconvenience of having to haul your phone around with you "? Not necessary--- unless you forget what time " Zumba at the pool at 2 pm with Officers is " or " Cigar tasting at 4 in the MDR is " etc. Is this another " Celebrity Downfall " thread ???? What next ?

22 pages and I'm still confused as it appears others are as well. We are not suite passengers--- ( non-drinkers, don't require much internet, had a Butler " years "ago but didn't use his services, don't entertain ( no upside-down pineapples here) , or dine in our room ). I keep asking myself : Suite passengers pay high prices for their accommodations and service, and expect ( deserve ) to receive what they have paid for-----( within reason ). How can one person, call him/her " whatever ", service and satisfy 12-14 rooms, cabins, suites , etc everyday ?

I hear ya and totally understand your thinking. What you might not be aware of is that they hold back the " prime times " apparently for suite guests, which makes it impossible to book on line in advance. We don't want to have dinner at 5 or 9 pm, thus, we are stuck to " play the game "-- Everyone has different priorities--- and for us to tip a few $$ ( once in a while ) and have a very nice dinner in a Specialty restaurant when , as you say, our dinner is already paid for, means nothing. To quote---"you simply must eat in it that night " LOL--- That sure isn't us !! --- LOL Again to quote---" strikes some of us as preposterous ". The same can be said about cabin accommodations, expensive purchases on board, etc. We all have choices. Who knows, maybe we will meet in person one day and share a good laugh.

Sorta makes sense --- You win !! From now on : LOL----" We ain't going to that Specialty Moriano Restaurant for a nice dinner that we been talkin bout since we booked the cruise 4 yrs ago--- you know, the one everyone posts excellent comments about on CC in addition to "who the Captain will be on their cruise in 3 years " and that " there were no round tomatoes no where" .Ya, that's the one. They ain't gonna get me to pay no extra for food I already paid for , and then they esspect me to leave a extra tip ?? They must think Pinboy is a sucker-- nice try !! No, I didn't dream that up !! Someone on CC told me that people share jokes and stories, yes, jokes and stories about people who go to Specialty restaurants--- you know, the ones that are always busy".--- LOL Perhaps it's time to put this " baby " to bed ???

" self respect " ? Perhaps you meant " principle " ? How about this: If we want to dine in Murano ( as an example ) a few times during the cruise and there are no reservations available at the time(s) we want, so, I play the " game " and hand over a few $$ to the Maitre'd. IMO it has nothing to do with " self respect ". LOL, it does have something to do with enjoying a dinner or two in an excellent restaurant , with very good service, on a nice clean ship, during a very enjoyable cruise.

It probably was a Professor at the Maitre'd Business School that taught the concept. Talk about " poor ethical concepts "--- Ever hear the expression " Buyer Beware " ? Ever go into some of the jeweler shops on the Islands ? Ever hear " Have I got a deal for YOU " ? Ever notice how fast a calculator appears on the counter ? ( LOL-- Years ago a salesman, oops, sales person ( gotta be politically correct ) showed me a Rolex for $125 and " swore " it was real. He forgot the word " junk" )! So, is it really that bad handing a few $$ to get a reservation to a Specialty restaurant ?

I never once mentioned " table ", as in " can't you find us a better table than this "? I mentioned reservation at a time when they say, right on the first day, even before sailing " Sorry, we are booked up all week for the times you want ". You smile and shake his/her hand with a few $$ and " Please notify me if anything becomes available ",then all of a sudden reservation(s) become open. LOL--- it's all part of the " game "--- So, what's the big deal ? The Maitre'd gets a few $$ and you get the reservation(s) -- it's all good. ( Never had a Maitre'd refuse--- only smile " I'll see what I can do "). Bye the way, haven't we all seen on Cruise Planner where Specialty Restaurants were all booked and no advance reservations could be booked. Perhaps they hold back a few for suite passengers, but , the entire restaurant all week ???

Ooowwww -- I have a " feeling " who you are referring to. So, let me ask you--- Someone in the Service Industry who relies on tips as part of their salary does you a favor and you give him/her a few $$ to say " Thanks, I appreciate what you did for me ". You call that a bribe ???

How it works: You get on board and head straight for the Specialty restaurant(s) of your choice and all the times you want are booked-- The Maitre'd will ask for ( or you tell him/her ) your cabin # and tell you he/she will let you know if " something " comes available-- Then, you say " Gee, I really appreciate your help and look forward to your call ( and smile )--- It's pretty sure your " message " ( $$ ) was received. Poof--- the call comes, you say Thank You ( $$ ) when you arrive for dinner -- everybody is happy. C'est la vie --- That's life.

"I am opposed to the present culture". Totally agree, however in the " real world " it's been a part of doing business for " years ". An example, I have noted several times on CC --- no reservation available in a restaurant ( on board or on land ) --- a few $$ makes it happen. I heard of a restaurant in Florida specializing in stone crabs ( not to be confused with " stoned " crabs on a cruise ship or some of the posts on CC ) where you better shake the Maitre'd's hand ( $$ ) or no seating for you --- The guy has blisters from all the hand shakes and never got Covid !!

Seats for shows in the theater Early entrance to the OVC ( slugfest on 14 ) 4th shrimp cocktail Photo with the Captain email address of an Executive who " cares and will do something about it " In addition : ANYONE posting a 2 positive comments on the same day receives a Complimentary cruise for 10 on the ship of their choice. ANYONE posting 5 complaints on the same day receives a Complimentary cruise for 1 on the ship of their choice---- Food not included to ensure enjoyment.

Correct---Ummm---Ya gotta win a lottery to afford the prices. M&Ms in any store on land -- $4.99--- on the ship---$14.99 Come to think of it, if Celebrity had their logo on it--- $24.99

That's toooo many chocolates to " stash away " to bring home for your grandchildren, your barber or your golf buddies. For those that are upset with Celebrity reducing the number of "chocolates on my pillow" nights, why not just buy a bag of M&Ms prior to the cruise ? It will save time standing in line behind people removing their gratuities for the same reason.

Appreciate it, especially since you have been a member in " Good Standing " ( probably sitting ?? ) and enjoying CC since 2006. As you know, we have to take some of the comments from the trolls on CC with a " grain of salt " . Oops, that reminds me---- salt and pepper shakers with a Canadian flag logo---- would that be a nice memento( tip ) with $20 for our Cabin Attendant instead of $100 ?

We have been on all Classes ( M-S-E ) of Celebrity ships-- never had a bad cruise. " Loved the most " : Our preference is an S class -- with a large balcony on the " hump" ( as they are referred to) in the center of the ship , the outdoor Lawn Club Grill Specialty restaurant on the top deck, Murano, and Tuscan Grill for a second breakfast, and the Solarium Pool ( Adults only , except for the time a CCer " spotted " a child in there and ran back to their cabin to post it on CC for people like me to laugh at )!! However, ( and, I'm not intending to start another debate ) on a recent cruise on the Edge we enjoyed everything -- except the Infinite Verandah -- which is only a 3ft addition to the cabin with a window that opens 1/2 way down. " Why " : Service--- Food-- Lots of very nice people -- there was nothing to complain about. ( And, FYI -- I never even once noticed that there were no round tomatoes in the buffet which " prompted " a CCer to start a thread about a few days ago ( LOL ).

LOL-- If ya got seasickness and piles, what the hell kinda break ya lookin for ? A break in the " action " ??? Ya can't do nothin anyway !!!

It's kind of hard to believe all the negative reviews and comments about Celebrity in general. Food ( quality, selection, portions , cold soup ) , no "this", no "that " , a child in the Solarium, no towel animal on my bed, no response from the Executive Office. We were on 2 cruises this winter-- both were excellent -- no complaints. We know two couples that were on two separate ships in the last month --- loved their cruise. If people are so upset with Celebrity, why are they interested in looking at Celebrity's CC site ? For example-- We have no interest in Carnival , so I don't look at their CC site. Make sense ??

There is someone in the iLounge on deck 6 ( ? ) from time to time every day. FYI--When I forget to log off and use up all our internet time ( 90 free minutes for Elite ), they always add back the time. Celebrity does do some things right even though it's not very evident on CC lately. ( Why are so many people now posting about friggin mashed potatoes , no round tomatoes, cold soup , instead of " I'm removing my gratuities because ", " Is Julio still on the xyz ", " I seen a kid in the Solarium " , and of course , " What would you do with the $29 of OBC left etc ,etc " ).

How about a personal letter instead of the standard " form " letter( I'll use myself as an example ) " Pinboy, NOW what ? I told you 4 times -- YOU are not entitled to receive a free cruise because your Waiter forgot to bring your 3 shrimp cocktails at the same time. Also, You claim you heard that a guy overheard another man who knew someone who's friend received a free cruise because there were no round tomatoes in the buffet and his wife was served cold French onion soup. That is not true-- All they received was a plate of chocolate covered strawberries --- which you refused because you break out in hives when you eat strawberries. About your recent request for 2 free room service deliveries in lieu of the complimentary cruise you were refused -- We have forwarded your request to Head Office for consideration and hopefully receive a reply prior to the end of the cruise ".

Too much mashed potatoes, no round tomatoes, cold onion soup, small lobster tails, ---- That's it !!! J'ai fini-----(I'm done ) ------- reading nonsense.

LOL--- I guess ( ?? ) you missed post #13. Your " tactic " might not work--- Sharing a flat bread ( pizza ) isn't going to help Hubby "manage" ( enjoy ) two desserts ( warm chocolate cookie with vanilla ice cream ) -- not even one.

Absolutely -- great food, great service. Your 2nd warm chocolate chip cookie dessert will taste as good as the 1st !!! Forget the flatbread (pizza) , forget the salad, go straight to the " good stuff " . Suggestion: Go early in the cruise and who knows , they might offer you a discount to come another time. Remember--- there is competition between restaurants and sales targets to meet on every cruise.

A youth