Jobeth66

We're on the Carnival Pride out of Tampa next Sunday - does anyone know if all 3 terminals at Tampa have CBP facial recognition technology for debarkation?  

Thanks!

12 hours ago, OysterD said:

Ahhh ok, thanks for clarifying. I'm not much of a breakfast person, a pastry/fruit and a cup of tea is normally fine for me but understand this could frustrate a number of people. Although in the overall scheme of things, after paying several thousand for the cruise a $12 room service fee isn't exactly deal breaking.

It's not that it's 'deal breaking', it's that it's a degradation of a product.  These changes were "announced" (and I used "announced in quotes because they HAVEN'T been 'announced', they've been discovered and disseminated by fellow passengers - I have yet to get anything from X about these changes) after I hit final payment for my April cruise.  I booked Concierge - and one of the reasons I did so was for the expanded RS menu, ,which was hyped as a perk.  Well, it's no longer a perk, so I'm not getting the product I paid for.  One of the main reasons I've booked X in the past IS the OVC, because their buffet cannot be beat, and we use it pretty frequently, including for dinner service.  That's also now a thing of the past, which is disappointing.

Is $12 gong to break me?  Nope.  But they whys and wherefores and how this was accomplished have left a bad impression on me, and that is what's going to affect my decision whether or not to continue to book Celebrity, and what cabin type I book if I do.  

Are you also among those that would have no problem if X starts charging a $20 cover for the entertainment, shows, piano bar, comedians, etc?  With the performers putting out tip jars at the various venues?  Charging $20 per child for the kids club?  How about $50/day for the pool?  If not, why not?  

I also wonder if this means tips are going to drop.  When we ordered room service in the past, the person delivering would generally get $5 from me, per day.  Now they'll get whatever Celebrity shares with them from the fee + gratuity.

23 minutes ago, bonagrad said:

And they could implement that within a couple weeks no problem!  Adjust the their weekly stock order, put a few more staff in the OVC and be done with it!  I think it's the happy medium everyone wants.

I like the way you think.  I think we're on the same Reflection cruise in April.  I'll probably still eat in the OVC more often than not.  You'll probably see me there (though you won't know it!  🙂 )  And my guy is from Utica/Syracuse, but we just moved down to Florida last year.  Sorry about the Bills.  🙂

special_needs@rccl.com

They're usually very responsive!

1 hour ago, zitsky said:

I don't get it.  Why would you want to spend your entire time in the buffet?  Why would you NOT want to try the specialties?  I'm on the Beyond in May.  I have a dinner booked at Fine Cut, Eden, Le Voyage 2X.  That's being in Aqua and eating at Blu.

Maybe because there's nothing on those menus that everyone likes?  Or can eat?  I have food allergies, and my husband will not eat mushrooms, seafood, or anything with a cream sauce.  And neither of us wants to get dressed up and spend hours eating dinner every night of vacation.  That's just not relaxing or enjoyable for us.

OVC is great for those of us with dietary restrictions.  I can't do a chef's tasting without messing up the intended experience, so I don't.  I can do the grill-to-order station in the OVC with zero problem, so I do (or did).  Same with the Asian station.  

Sometimes simple is best.  Heck, keep the Mast Grille open and let us get burgers and hot dogs for dinner if we want.

So, that's why.  Plus, I don't want to go on a cruise and spend $1000 on specialty restaurants for the week when my meals being included is part of my vacation planning.

17 minutes ago, bonagrad said:

Still available and sufficient are not the same thing and what' sufficient is subjective.  As someone that dines at OVC for dinner, not having made to order protein and a good selection of vegetables is not sufficient.  I'm not paying just for available.  If that we the case, I'd stay home. 

Exactly.  As someone with significant - and potentially fatal - food allergies, being able to get non-seafood choices and sometimes vegetarian choices (that aren't pasta or wilted lettuce) is important to me.  The stir-fry station was fantastic for that, as was the Indian station.  Carved meats are good because I don't have to worry about what might be in a sauce or gravy.  I let the special needs department know my concerns, and they've always been really great about making sure I knew what was safe for me to have.  But there are some things I never have to worry about, and having those as options really makes a huge difference in the quality of my vacation.  For my husband, who doesn't eat seafood at all and for whom a simple meal is best (and who doesn't WANT to be served every night or sit for 2 hours for his dinner more than maybe once on a cruise) it's absolutely an issue.

I mean, I suppose some people would be happy if the exact same menu was 'available' in the MDR every night with absolutely no variation because hey, it's 'available', and if you don't want to eat banquet grilled chicken and mac  & cheese every night, you can always go to a pay venue for an upcharge, right?  Oh, and as someone mentioned earlier, good luck getting a reservation. 

And the only specialty restaurant that really works for us is the Tuscan Grille.  And maybe the Lawn Club Grille on ships that have that.  So most of those other restaurants are simply out as options for us, pay or otherwise.

I'm guessing a lot of passengers would be upset if the only choice for breakfast & lunch was the OVC, no MDR,  no Blu, no Luminae, no room service - and only limited options for free for dinner in the evening, but lots that you can pay for!  After all, you're on a cruise!  So just enjoy.

6 hours ago, lexmiller said:

 

 4 and 5 star hotels charge for room service.

 

 I for one found the original video illustrating the Ocean View Cafe dinner reduction to be good news, a bit of fresh air, the look of reason and common sense - not awful or that we as passengers are somehow being ripped off or betrayed, ha, quite the opposite in fact.  There were ample choices in several category for those VERY FEW who eat dinner in the OVC.

 

 I have often walked through the OVC at dinner time and it’s basically dead up there, so to cut back on the offerings and focus on a few dishes makes sense.  Cruise lines, as part of their absolute need to save money in order to pay their crippling debt,  are analyzing where the people are at different times of day - lunch buffet still is huge as most people on sea days eat lunch in the buffet with small percentages eating in the Aqua Spa Cafe and the Eden Cafe (on Edge Class ships).  MDR at lunch - deadsville.  OVC at dinner - deadsville.  Resources are being shifted. All cruise lines are working hard to stay in business without spoiling their brand - and a fee for room service and a reduced dinner buffet does not spoil “X”’s brand.  Cruising on any line, still remains an incredible overall value.  At the end of the day, Celebrity still provides the best all around product in it’s category - food, entertainment, casino, staff, ambiance - deciding to cruise on a different line lower in this category will surely make one come running back to Celebrity as cuts are pervasive everywhere, and far deeper and more evident on lesser lines.  Move up to Oceania (though I’d choose Regent) - very different product and price point. And though I don’t know, I’d wager that people who regularly cruise Oceania and Regent are also complaining!  That’s my .02 cents.

The MDR is dead at lunch, but I don't see  you advocating for closing it at lunch and forcing people to pay venues or the OVC for that time, why is that?  In fact, all specialty restaurants including Blu and Luminae should be closed except for dinner, since so few people eat there except at dinner, and there should be no room service available - everyone should have to have breakfast and lunch in the OVC or at Mast Grill.  And maybe on port days, the OVC should be closed for lunch as well, since so few people are on the ship.  Just leave the grill and pizza open, with a salad bar maybe.  Plenty of options.

I'm not loyal to any one line, so no, if X cuts too much, I'll just move to a different line, and if that doesn't work, I'll move to a different line.  And if none of that works, I'll find another way to spend my vacation dollars.

But for you to look at what was available in that video and say 'looks good to me' while not being the target audience since you don't partake of that venue, is a little disingenuous.  We do, for various reasons.  Especially on port days.  So maybe X should do away with dress code as well, so that people who have been told 'Ewww, shorts - OVC ONLY!!' will not be turned away when the MDR is the only place to eat.

And it's not about waste - because a lot of what is available is likely going to waste.  It's about cheapening a product - and especially degrading it after some of us have already passed our final payment dates.  Our money is already spent on a product that isn't what was sold to us.

I'm sure you'd be ok if you ordered a $150k Mercedes from your dealership and when they called you and told you that your car was in, it was instead a $60k model.  It still drives, it's still a Mercedes, it's still comfortable, it gets you from place to place, and for a lot of people it would be more than adequate.  Who cares if you already spent $150k, they just changed the terms but what you got is still good enough, so you would accept it and be happy, right?

Ship: Reflection

Length of Cruise: 7 Nights

Cruise Sail Date: 04/02/23

Date email offer received: 01/17/23

Captain’s Club Tier: Elite

Booked through Celebrity Direct OR via TA: Celebrity

Current Cabin: Concierge Veranda 1132

Bid? Yes/No: No

General Comments (offer details, etc.)

Not bidding as ranges are crazy.

Min/max bids:

Royal Suite: $3,000-$15,000

Signature Suite: $2,500 - $12,500

Celebrity Suite $1,500 - $7.500

Sky Suite $800 - $4,000

Aqua Class $100-500 (Note that AQ is showing sold out on this sailing)

1 hour ago, terrydtx said:

This is very strange, just now the app for our June Equinox cruise shows the same as above. However last week when all these changes hit the fan, the same app showed the new change to $9.95 plus gratuities. I wonder if Celebrity is already back peddling on this? I wish I had screen shot the app last week. Just more of Celebrity being consistent about being inconsistent.

My April Reflection is showing the $9.95+ 18% charge for anything except Continental breakfast.

Just now, drowelf said:

First we don't do many 7 day cruises, 90% of ours are 10 days or more. But for us its totally variable, based on the following factors, in priority order. 

 

1. What is being served in the MDR that night 
2. Sea Day vs Port Day 
3. On Port Days, how we feel once we get back on the ship. Sometimes we are just not up for getting cleaned up and dressed. We just want some quick food and onto the evening activities. 

Agreed on all.  And cutting back choices in the MDR (like getting rid of the every day options) means I'd be /more/ likely to eat in the buffet for dinner, not less.

31 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

So before January, complimentary room service was in the fine print about the room?  I didn't know this and now better understand.  Thanks.

Yeah - it was always listed as a perk, and for Aqua/Concierge, not only a perk but an expanded room service menu and exhortations to tuck into eggs on your balcony, all included!

It's one of the things that we look forward to.  I have dietary restrictions due to allergies, and my husband prefers to eat simply.  No sauces, no rich gravies, no fancy preparations.  He's happy with a steak or a burger or a piece of grilled chicken every night.  There are things in the MDR that not only won't we eat, but I /can't/ eat, neither of us wants to take 2 hours for a meal,  and we much prefer to grab food in the buffet for a quick dinner and then go about our evening.  In shorts and flip flops.  That's how we cruise.  We don't want to get dressed up for dinner every night.

This impacts how we vacation, and takes away a large part of why we enjoy cruising.  Instead of doing pans full of cheaply prepared foods in the OVC, just have the grill station/Asian station/pasta stations open along with some pre-prepared items, then you actually DO minimize waste, if that's the true concern.  You'd only be cooking what was ordered, not throwing away food that was cooked and not eaten.  Leave the Mast Grill open until 10 for burgers/hot dogs.  

What they're doing is forcing many of us to consider other options for our vacation dollars.  And we're not alone.  I realize they couldn't care less about us, but it's a shame that they want to reduce the quality of their product and offerings.

and I realize that a lot of people don't care because they don't use those services - but I'd be just as upset if cruise lines got rid of the kids clubs and arcades and teen clubs and splash pads, etc.  Even though I don't use those.  would all of those who never eat at the buffet or use room service be just as blase if X started charging $9.95 to see the show?  $15 cover for the comedian?  $20/day for the kids club.  $5 per towel.  $5/hour for a lounger and umbrella by the pool.  $10/day for pool access.  $30 cover at a night club or piano bar.  Tip jars for the performers.  At some point, we'll hit on something that /they/ would be upset about losing as a 'freebie', and then, I'm sure, it'll be different.

12 minutes ago, NorthStarStateCruiser said:

I don't think there were any 6-9 day cruises out of Miami for Celebrity.  What does this have to do with these Beyond sailings out of Fort Lauderdale?

Oops, that's on me.  For some reason I was thinking Miami and not Fort Lauderdale - and I'm on the Reflection on 4/2.  You'd think I'd know better.

[Emily Latella] Nevermind [/Emily Latella]

I'm guessing it was an error and is going to be clawed back - there are currently no 6-9 day cruises searchable for Miami departures.

And I just received a call from the Executive Office in response to my email (and I did not put my booking number, Captain's Club number or phone number in my email,  which was sent from a different account than I use for my Celebrity bookings, so someone is taking the time to look customers up).

She was very cordial but also stressed that they are just following industry changes, wherein I explained that I understand, but they are making changes that are excessive compared with their competitors, and that the changes are not being communicated appropriately.  I found out about these changes on CC / social media - I never received any notification from X about these developments.  I also pointed out that the new fees are counter to what has been advertised, and amounts to a degrading of the product and the experience.  I also pointed out that the changes in Ocean View aren't going to prevent food waste, but that keeping the cook-to-order stations would do so.  I doubt that will go anywhere, but I made it a point.

I'm sure that customer feedback is being taken into consideration, we'll see if it makes any difference.

Keep making calls/sending emails.  They are listening.

24 minutes ago, Pinboy said:

 

Example--- Our local Deli increased the price of their hot smoked meat sandwich/fries/dill pickle/diet coke "Special " by $ 2.00. 

LOL--- forget that one---it's not a good example-- because nobody complained.

 

 

 

 

Ah, but did they do so after you had already ordered and paid for it, and then said 'hey, by the way, we raised the price after you paid for yours, so you owe us an extra $2 or else give us the sandwich back and we're going to keep the money you've already paid as well?'

What would your response be in that scenario?  After all, it's only $2, right?  

10 hours ago, omeinv said:

Well, for all the complaining, I've been on a lot of cruises, and have seen the number of people that eat in the Ocean View for Dinner.  It doesn't make sense to have a set-up similar to what they do at lunch for the number off people there for dinner.  If food is consumed - even gluttonously - I'm all for it.  But food prepared, and then discarded because it's not eaten doesn't enhance anyone's cruise experience.  So "right-sizing" the offering makes sense both from an economic stand point, and from a sustainability stand point. 
 

I would argue, then, that they are going about preventing waste in the wrong manner.  If the goal is TRULY to cut back on food waste, then making catering pans full of lasagne and chicken parm and other cheap foods is not going to do it, but having multiple cook-to-order stations /will/ in fact, prevent food waste.

If the grill station is open, and they are only grilling to order, then there isn't a pan of already prepared meat sitting there with no one eating it - anything that isn't ordered goes back to the main fridge.  Ditto for the Asian stir-fry and Italian Pasta stations.  

Having a few cheaply-prepared items available in bulk doesn't prevent food waste.  My guess is that any explanation from the line that argues 'food waste' is disingenuous.  It's cost-cutting, pure and simple.  They should just come out and say it - 'we don't think you deserve the quality and choice you've previously received when you spend thousands of dollars on a holiday with us'.

10 minutes ago, prmssk said:

On an order by order basis, no. But it discourages people from ordering room service in the first place. Less orders absolutely does mean less effort and less staff required. 

I get that for 20 hours a day.  But for the 4 hours of breakfast service, I don't - many people are going to order at least coffee even if they don't order food.  I guess there is a certain percentage who are going to say 'well,, if I have to go to the buffet or MDR for breakfast anyway, I might as well wait for coffee',, but my guess is that number is not going to be significant - many will get an initial pot of coffee while waking up and then just get more when they go for breakfast.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I know that's how it'll be for us - hubby will want coffee before he goes out into the world, and I like my tea in the morning - so we'll get that while we are getting ready to go to breakfast.  I can't imagine we'll be the exception.

Here's something I don't understand, if it's all about staffing for service (at least as far as breakfast goes).  It's free for me to get a bagel, some cereal & fruit, some yogurt and a pot of coffee and tea.  No charge.  But if I want two fried eggs and a piece of toast, suddenly there's a service component that doesn't exist /without/ the eggs being on the plate?  It still requires the kitchen staff to plate and cover.  It still requires someone to deliver.  It still requires someone to pick up the plates when I'm done.  The amount of effort is no different.

1 minute ago, Julma said:

However, the rooms that you see them outside of there will be a lot more of them with a lot more uneaten food.  I fear that if people are paying over $11 and feel it's an "extra" fee, they will order more and waste more.  

Or people who would have ordered room service will now just carry more stuff down from the buffet and leave dishes all over, instead of room service knowing they delivered to a cabin and therefore expecting to go back and pick them up.

Yep - charge is showing up for my April Reflection sailing - not happy about that.  Hubby only drinks coffee in the morning and that's still free, but I like to get my eggs & toast and eat on the balcony.  We're in Concierge (and we had RS breakfast every morning for my October cruise on the Summit in Concierge) it was something I looked forward to.  I'm not likely to pay $11/day just for 2 fried eggs and toast, I'll just go up to the buffet and get it myself.

But if I do, there won't be an extra tip - which was usually $3-5 for the person who delivered it.

Maybe the Concierge should deliver and cut the fee to Concierge class as well.  I wonder what's going to be next to go for-fee.  Very disappointing.

1 minute ago, 20165 said:

We never saw the option online to upgrade so im guessing you have to call?  If you figure out where to do it online, please let me know.  thx

Will do!!

42 minutes ago, jelayne said:

The beverage packages are frequently discounted slightly in the Cruise Planner.  The upgrade price is the difference between the price of the packages so  if you upgrade pre-cruise it is normally a little less expensive.  Then if you are Classic or above in the Captains Club there is additional 10-15% discount on the upgrade price pre cruise, but you must call to upgrade with the discount.  

good to know - I knew it was the difference between the 2 packages, but I want to upgrade pre-cruise rather than doing it once we board, I just don't want to even think about it.  I think I'm Elite in Captain's Club, but I honestly never pay attention to that stuff.  I didn't even think about the discount.  Thank you!

Whether you want to share or not, the tables are close enough together that you may as well be sharing.  🙂

4 hours ago, Jeremiah1212 said:

Your rate category or rate code is all you need. The second line item on your invoice under Cruise Rate should show this is you booked recently - however these do change. 

 

 

Thanks for this.  My emailed receipt has thec"LOCLXALLINC" code, just have to wait for it to show up on the site.

Is there a way to upgrade from Classic to Premium drinks prior to boarding?

Their booking system is definitely crazy.  I tried too book online this morning and couldn't get it to go through because they pre-filled my phone number in their form, and it didn't like the dashes that /their/ form added, so I couldn't proceed.  So I called and booked through Celebrity directly, and the person I spoke with got me a better deal than I found online, which was awesome.

However, I just went to my 'manage my cruise' section and the price of the cruise on the site is double what's on my invoice, and none of the package items are there (I chose AI).  

It's frustrating, but I'm not going to stress about it until final payment is due.  I'll keep an eye on it until then.