wrk2cruise

Leaving discounted group rates out of the picture and just looking at Celebrity Cruise Only Rate vs Always Included rates. I believe Celebrity is attempting to "hide" to cost of the gratuities from the AI rate like they do for Cruise Only. This reduces the significant delta in price between C/O and AI and these prices will be more competitive with their competition, some of which don't include gratuities in their bundles. I do believe them at their word that AI pricing will be adjusted down in early October to account for this. (Or maybe C/O will be adjusted up as another way to appear that the delta is reduced!) The gratuities are then shifted to an onboard expense where it's most likely an after thought by the customer.

There is also an automated phone system for requesting a copy of your invoice. Call the Existing Reservations number and follow the prompts Existing Reservations 1-888-751-7804 Answer with the following at the prompts 2 1 1

Even with a drink package they will gladly give you 2 unopened cans/bottles per person for non-alcoholic beverages at any bar.

I never hang up until I receive the email with the new invoice. They can send instantly. If you haven't received it you probably won't.

Seems they are just throwing "stuff" against the wall to see what sticks.

This typically happens for upper suites only. Lower suites may get escorted as a group onboard when boarding first starts. But that's generally just to Retreat Lounge/Michaels Club.

I have to say this is the way to make changes like this. Some advance notice so people can still book under the current conditions if they were planning on booking in the short term. They can change the future booking conditions any way they want.

It looks like they back peddled on the group rates. Now they are saying they will include Bev and Wifi packages (no tips). Yesterday info said no AI on unnamed groups. I guess the TA's revolted!

I think you may have this backwards. I'm booked on Windstar in January. They have an all included package Drinks/Wifi/Tips for $89 pp/pd. If you book cruise only tips are $16 pp/pd (can't use OBC) wifi $35 pp/pd (or you can buy by the GB). Windstar has non alcoholic drinks included (water/soda/coffees) in the cruise only fare. I'm real sure Regent everything in included in your cruise fare including basic shore excursion.

AI only has the 3 inclusions. Retreat bookings had OBC based on the length of the sailing. This is being removed as well. AI and Retreat bookings will only have bev package and wifi.

No since Azamara was sold off the loyalty program split off I think last Feb/Mar timeframe.

Just be careful though as the Celebrity Vintages crap is a French Sparkling wine. The first night in the dining room when asking for real French Champagne on the premium package they tried to serve that crap. I had to settle for Chandon the whole 38 days as there was no French Champagne available. Oh $22 by the glass was available.

Don't normally do ship shuttles but we did from Ravenna to Bologna train station which was about 4 blocks from our hotel. Worked out well and about 1/4 of what private transport would be.

I would ask you TA if they can transfer it. I've heard that some have success outside the 30 day limit. But technically you would have had to do it within 30 days of the original booking of the certificate.

I've found the pricing seems to vary by itinerary (and cruise price). Here is the offer we got on the 12 Night Valparaiso to Buenos Aries Infinity sailing in March of 2023. I would expect the Eclipse to be a bit higher.

I guess Celebrity can't afford those product focus groups to test these programs out.

I guess the market for day old cookies didn't cover the cost of the new oven.

Not all of the self serve fridges in Retreat lounges have had beer or other alcoholic beverages. You can certainly get what you want from the bartender in the lounge. We were on an Edge sailing right after the restart and they were having problems with teens helping themselves to beer in the self serve fridge. Yes teens were Retreat guests but parents weren't overseeing their actions.

In 60+ Celebrity sailings in all categories I have had towel animals on 2 of them. I wouldn't consider this a cut.

Isn't the pillow chocolate the first change LPP made and had to walk back due to the outrage? I guess it's the right of passage for the new head of Celebrity. Just distracted everyone with a vaping test so nobody noticed the pillow chocolates. Also with the weekly cuts being made by Celebrity, why does anyone think what they had a couple months ago, or even on the prior sailing, is relevant now.

I don't believe for a minute this was related to customer feedback. Just look at how the ships are selling. Suites and Aqua sell out quickly so they can demand the AI in those categories. Lower categories generally have lots of empty cabins until after final payment. They have to have the cruise only fares to sell these cabins. LIke everything else it's about $$$, nothing to do with listening to the customer.

Just out of curiosity how was the original reservation booked. Sail Now or Sail later where you select a sailing later? It also appears those who lost the OBC had NRD deposits originally. I had a refundable book now reservation that I moved to another sailing with a NRD, kept the OBC.

That penalty is $100 pp for changing ship/sail date of a NRD booking. They don't charge you when they make the change, they just add the "admin fee" to the new booking. Of course if you change it again the fees accumulate so it would be another $100 pp.

I've used this strategy for several years and was able to move a "place holder" sailing to a NRD just a couple of weeks ago without losing my onboard booking OBC. My TA did say that one agent he spoke with was claiming that was the case so he went back to his normal TA contacts and successfully did the move. It did get complicated at the first attempt at the move was to a price I didn't agree to (the promo changed overnight), so the TA had to contact resolutions to put the sailing back to the original placeholder. Then 2 days later the promo re-appeared and I agreed to move it (I think he wasn't too happy but I give him a bunch of business). Through all that my onboard booking bonus was retained. I know one of the posters who had the issue with it being lost due to a repricing so I believe it. They are now using my TA as I referred them but the booking they had issues with was with a different TA.

I don't think the small liquor bottles have ever been included. RS and above have the 2 large bottles of spirits included. When we were in a RS a couple years ago we were informed the minibar would be stocked with water/soda/beer, frankly don't remember wine as we don't drink it.