leaveitallbehind

I am not aware of any such on board provided service - just bring your own small kit. Very inexpensive and easy to source.

No. But Elite+ gets 15% off the specialty restaurant's fee.

Deleted - repetitive comment.

This has been correctly pointed out to me, and I have acknowledged pre and post pandemic cruise experiences and that I could have been incorrect on the sailing date. I appreciate your comments.

What I think @cruiseboy89130 meant was the RCCL to Celebrity status match is at Diamond for Elite, Elite Plus, and Zenith, and Celebrity's status match to RCCL is Elite for Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle. Neither line offers a status match higher than Diamond and Elite. I think saying the same thing regarding the matching tiers. I think he is suggesting that to gain status higher than that with the opposite line you need to earn those full points on that line. And the example provided was the next level past Diamond is Diamond Plus at 175 points - all of which have to be earned sailing on RCCL to attain. The same would be true with Celebrity to be recognized past Elite all points would have be earned on Celebrity. For example, we have 50+ cruises combined on RCCL and Celebrity. We are D+ on RCCL through earned points with RCCL. Our reciprocal status on Celebrity is, as discussed, Elite. But after our upcoming cruise in June on Eclipse, we will attain that Elite status by points on Celebrity as well and will now be building points towards Elite Plus independently. Not that it matters - LOL.

All so very confusing since they are only now in the process of changing over the Diamond Clubs to Crown Lounges, and slowly converting the remaining Concierge Lounges to Suite Lounges - LOL.

I thought it was our first post pandemic Summit to Bermuda. But it could have been previous to that and pre pandemic, but not as long back as you suggest. We have done that itinerary many times and they all tend to run together so I will yield in my senior moment to your judgement that it was more than 2 years ago, but I can assure you less than ten. Either way, unlimited is good and I certainly take you at your word. Thanks for the input.

Agree. While the OP does list some non-alcoholic drinks that they would include, they did not break down the 7-9 total by type. If you flip your model the opposite may be true. That is why I suggest doing the mock bookings to determine the AI cost v STD and then compare to a daily mix cost times the sailing days to compare value, keeping in mind the wifi component for both of them. That would give them the best guess by which to decide. My only real point is that the AI package pricing is usually favorable compared to STD pricing with wifi and beverage packages bought separately. The a la carte comparison, as we are discussing, is harder to make, which is also why I suggest that 6 or so (alcohol) drinks per day is about a typical breakeven to the beverage package costs.

Interesting. @cruisestitch the reason I mentioned that is on Summit a couple of years ago they definitely were taking our cards and limiting our drinks to 3 during the HH. I challenged that as it had not happened in prior cruises but was told that is now "the policy". Don't recall that on an Equinox cruise since then, but we spent little time at the HH on that cruise, preferring the other bars instead. Wil be on Eclipse this June - I will see what happens then in the hope that you are correct and it was just a misinformed bar crew on Summit. Editing to add: From all I have been reading here and on the Celebrity website and remembering of previous Celebrity cruises, I have to think you are correct and this was a singular incorrect experience with Summit. But as it did occur as I described, it left a rather strong impression that it was now the way of things.

The biggest difference - and IMO advantage to us - is that instead of the feeding frenzy that you accurately describe in the DL in the days past during the few hours of the free cocktails, you now have 24 hours to have your drinks anywhere, anytime, on board. We are D+ and I have to say that the 10 combined complimentary drinks my wife and I have through the vouchers all day more than make up for the loss of the freebees at the DC during happy hour. Just my opinion. And as you mention, left over vouchers can be converted to unopened cans of beer, truly seltzers, water, or sodas, which we take back to the room for another time. And, in case someone should ask, yes, she can use hers on me and visa versa during the day or when we cash out the extras - we do it every cruise.

By comparison, that seems somewhat long. Our typical gangway opening at OSJ has been about 30 minutes after docking. Different experiences, I guess.

Great minds think alike and frequently share good timing!

You don't transfer anything to RCCL. You just are made available to the Diamond benefits when on board. You should join the RCCL Crown and Anchor Society so that your cruise points earned on your RCCL cruise get credited to your account. You can ask to see the Loyalty Ambassador on board and they can assist. Or you can call the RCCL Crown and Anchor Society at 800.526.9723 and they can assist pre cruise. The cruise points earned while on board RCCL remain with RCCL, and are not counted as part of your Celebrity CC points. But you will partake in the Diamond level benefits as mentioned. Here is a link to the Crown and Anchor tier benefits for your review: https://www.royalcaribbean.com/content/dam/royal/resources/pdf/crown-and-anchor-society-benefit-grid.pdf I think you will see that they exceed the benefits that we enjoy on Celebrity as Diamond Plus - LOL. By the way, once you join C&A, your benefits will be automatically loaded on your RCCL SeaPass card on board.

Gratuities was removed from the AI fares last fall. It now only includes basic wifi and the classic beverage package. That significantly reduces its value, but also should be a reduction in total AI package price. But I agree that should still be of good value v a la carte purchasing at the OP's reported daily beverage levels. And to my understanding the Elite Happy Hour, which is from day 2 on, less the Captains night (to which elites are included) only allows 3 drinks maximum during the scheduled hours from a somewhat limited menu. We usually just go to any bar on board as they tend to be less restrictive on the ordered beverages. But you are correct that those beverages being at no charge would benefit the OP.

If you normally have 7-9 beverages per day each, including port days, then typically the AI beverage package would be of good value. The rough overall breakeven typically is around 6 -7 or so beverages per day. The way to find out the cost for sure is to do a mock booking on your desired cruise, first with standard no perk pricing, then with AI to see what the total difference is. In your comparison, remember that basic wifi will be included. Usually the AI "package price" is lower than purchasing both separately, either through the planner or on board. As I'm sure you are aware, depending on CC tier level, the included wifi is not 24/7 as it would be with AI, but some level of total time usage. For overall a la carte planning, the information presented by @cruisestitch will provide a good guideline. But, based on your described 7-9 beverages per day, my guess is if you construct a mock daily beverage total from that times your cruise length, it will compare similarly to the AI pricing. If not, then you have your decision.

They also typically have published daytime hours as well. Of this information I am certain....LOL

Well from all of the contradictory posts I guess my information regarding the restrictions to Diamonds with the Crown Lounge access is incorrect. I apologize for what now appears to be inaccurate information. However this is how it was explained to us on our NYE cruise when Diamond level friends of ours who were sailing with us were denied access during the cocktail hour. And what seemed unusual about that was the lounge was never more than half full, but perhaps that was the reason. But it didn't seem to be because of an excess of D+ and PInnacle. Again, I don't like conveying inaccurate information and appreciate the experiences provided by those who challenged it. Live and learn.

...which is true of virtually any cruise line - even those where families with kids are their primary demographics.

Well there's your answer....LOL

The vouchers are pre-loaded daily on your SeaPass card but are recorded by the bartenders in the Crown lounge as well as any bar on the ship. No more unlimited Crown Lounge drinks. (Hasn't officially been for some time with the vouchers). Diamonds are no longer permitted in the Crown Lounge during the cocktail hour. They can (and must) however use their vouchers at any other bar on the ship (other than the Bionic Bar) during those hours. It is now a lounge reserved during those hours for D+ and Pinnacle - regardless of numbers on board. D's still have access to the Crown Lounge and the Concierge at any other normal lounge and Concierge hours during the day. And this is on all sailings, not some, and was being enforced on our recent NYE Oasis cruise.

Nope I take you at your word and stand corrected. My TA does not charge a change fee and that was not what motivated my comment. I was just unsure of the impact, if any, (by Celebrity) on a category change with an on board booking booked with a NRD. You enlightened me.

I am sure that your sailing is still selling, but you may not hear on your assignment until close to the sailing date. We have booked a number of GYT's and the process is as I described it. And if they accepted a deposit from you and issued a reservation number to you, then you will get a stateroom. When GTY's are offered they allocate a certain number of staterooms to that GTY and will only accept deposits when there are still staterooms available in that allocation. Once closed, assignments will be issued. BTW - nobody was sailing during covid as the cruise lines were shut down - LOL. Congrats on your sailing career! Keep cruising.

Not challenging you, but in our experience with both lines as indicated in my first post I have to say we have seen that exact issue on a number of RCCL ships as well. Target demographics are one thing, and they do accurately describe the tone with each cruise line. But extended families and older couples traveling by themselves also are present on the RCCL itineraries - in particular the longer 9+ day ones. Every line - the two in this thread included - will have a range of demographics. But I have also seen younger couples (in particular with the EDGE class ships) on Celebrity and typically not an over abundance of elderly. That would more likely fit HAL. Just another observation.

What @Jim_Iain is on track, but I will try to further clarify the comparisons. We have 50+ combined cruises on RCCL and Celebrity. As mentioned, they are not sister ships. They are two separate cruise lines owned by the same parent company - Royal Caribbean International. As such they operate independently and are very different from each other. RCCL (Royal Caribbean) has a primary demographic focus with families (with children). As such, their main focus is now with their mega ships (Oasis, Quantum, and Icon classes) that are heavily oriented in venues for that demographic. (Aqua theater, Ice Show, rock climbing walls, water and dry slides, zip line, bumper cars, IFly, flowriders, etc. - sometimes referred to as a floating amusement park). They also have very good entertainment to include Broadway based shows and high tech performances (Quantum class - Two70 theater), as well as a very well managed kids club. Passenger load on board these vessels ranges from 4,900 (Quantum class) to 7,600 maximum capacities. (Icon class) In short, Celebrity has none of that. Their primary demographics is adults 50+. Polar opposite of RCCL. The ships are smaller with their larger Solstice and Apex class ships at 2,850 to 3,400 maximum capacity. The on board atmosphere is more serene with a more "pure" cruising atmosphere and none of the amusement park venues. Dining is very good, entertainment not on the same level as RCCL but good with headliners and special acts. They also offer a kids program, but as there are far less children (very few on most cruises we've been on) than RCCL, their program is not as robust. Both lines offer very good European itineraries, with Celebrity offering similar 7- day itineraries as with RCCL, but Celebrity seems to offer more in the 7+ day range for longer cruises. Consider the differences between the two and go with the one that fits your preferences the best.

I thought the RCCL / Celebrity policies were the same and RCCL has always been 2 per stateroom, not per person. Which I thought would also apply to Celebrity. (We are not wine drinkers so we don't bring any on board, hence my uncertainty). So your information would seem right, although the information was stated - whether one or two - as per person. Confusing. But whether it is one per person or two per stateroom the net is the same (with double occupancy).