Can'tstopcruising

I have been on a few European cruises and this is the first I have heard of VAT charges on board.

I agree with the poster that said the vat is a joke.

We go to so much trouble to buy the minimum amount in one store, so that we could get receipts, which we save and rush to the VAT counter at the airport and somehow end up with so much less than anticipated!

This time I took the cash (which is less). Last time I had them refund my credit card and I really don't think I got all the refunds. Can't win!

I'm the same way; I live in Nova Scotia and book all my future cruises on board my current cruise. Then Celebrity automatically transfers it to my agent in Florida. As Christine Frances said:

 

~ I can book in CAD or USD (whichever has the better rate)

~ CruiseCare can be purchased

~ my agency offers me a 10% OBC based on the net cruise fare on top of what Celebrity has already given me.

~ never an issue to contact open weekends; every agent in the agency can access others files so if I want a quick change made if my agent isn't working a co-worker can handle it.

 

Kicking myself for not doing this years ago...

 

Jason

Do they charge a fee for cancellation? I know some US agencies do.

How did you find them?

Like most of North America, the cruiseship passengers are very middle class, be it Upper middle (Doctors, Lawyers, Accountants, large business owners)etc, Middle, middle (Teachers (That is what I was!) small business people, white collar workers, etc or Lower middle (blue collar workers). We have met many pax from each of these categories. That's what makes travelling on a ship interesting. (Can't you tell I studied sociology in University!!)

I have never, on a cruise, met the Upper class (aristocracy in Europe or Kennedy's in US) or the Lower class (Welfare recipients).

But this thread has morphed into a Suite discussion, which I find so amusing. So many in balcony cabins aspire to suites. We, however, remain faithful to our inside cabins and have no desire to spend more for a balcony!

Just FYI, I don't think we fall into the 1% (lol).

On the boardwalk in Halifax, there is a candy store.

They have something called maple pepper. It is wonderful. We found a different make in our city and replenished because it's lovely to sprinkle over salmon, squash (or soup) or whatever else you fancy.

If you will notice, there is now a HUGE discrepancy in price between the inside and outside cabins. That difference covers the perks!

Cruising has changed tremendously.

My parents cruised in the '60s and it was luxurious.

Today, it is a mass market vacation. Nothing more. Any extra niceties seem to be dwindling away.

That doesn't mean you can't have a wonderful vacation. It only means that the wow factor has just about disappeared.

Passengers on all cruise lines have demanded lower fares, typically by holding out for late price drops. When too many passengers do this the overall revenue per sailing decreases. When any business encounters a lower market price for the product or service they must to look for ways to decrease expenses. Meanwhile their costs for everything else from fuel to frozen lobster tails are increasing. Amenities have to be paid for some how.

 

It's not economically possible to have it both ways. "Awesome deal" prices and premium services do not co-exist for very long.

What about the cruises during peak season? They usually go up, not down.

Unfortunately, there comes a point where Bonine does not do it for me - even in prescription doses. Anything 20' or over qualifies:(

I feel for you.

Do you book midship cabins? On a lower floor?

Also, we start the Bonine the night before the cruise and we take one religiously before bedtime each night regardless how fantastic we feel. I am not an expert, but perhaps the build-up makes a difference?

Also, we take an inside cabin. I don't know if that makes a difference.

So my big concern also is what the seas may be like. We have experienced seas up to 30' in the Caribbean, and I was quite green that day. It was years ago on a Century class ship, so I presume an S class ship would handle the seas better, but I have this fear of being stuck on a crossing where for literally days in a row the seas are churning. I've heard the southern routes are statistically more likely to be smooth than a northern route. As a seasoned cruiser, I know each cruise can vary no matter where you are, but for those who have sailed a number of TA's - what has been your experience? Generally calm, generally a bit of rock and roll here and there, or??? When DH finally retires we would love to try a TA, but I need to be convinced:D He, on the other hand, did not even need a Dramamine in 30' seas so this worry is mine alone. Thoughts?

Bonine

We have done only one TA, eastbound. We really enjoyed it because in those days there was a bridge director, so there were lessons every sea morning and duplicate the same afternoon.

It was a 16 day cruise and once we hit land, we had many ports. So it was like two cruises in one!

I wouldn't take one now, because I don't care for too many of the onboard activities and don't want to read all day for 6 days.

This is one of the best topics I have read here!

I,too, have trouble and my hand aches.

What great suggestions.

I always take bandaids,so I will try that.

On one of our early cruises (about 13 years ago), we took our sons to Alaska. The whole ship experience blew them away.

In the main dining room, the food was presently artfully on the plate.

The china had the x loggo. The x had to be in a certain direction. Boys being boys, my sons kept turning them around. In no time, a waiter or asst came over and corrected the plate or cup. My sons couldn't get over how "perfect: everything had to be.

Do you notice, when asked how they are, no staff any longer answers "

excellent".

Also Missing: Showtime for desserts

Crepe suzettes and cherries jubilee made where we we can see

March of the baked alaska

Celebrity mints

Truffles with champagne first formal night..

No worries Dave, they are providing you with a chocolate covered Oreo on the formal night.:D

Now, THAT'S modern luxury!

i'd love to see the 10/11 night sailings out of San Juan that Millennium used to do, along with a 10 or 11 night partial transit of the Panama Canal out of FLL.

B2B for 21 days from San Juan. Perfect for us. I miss those itineraries, too.

Yes, the difference between elegance and commonplace is often the little things. When they stop handing out the cheap sparkling wine at boarding, we will see what is important and what is not. The howls will be heard from Ft. Lauderdale to Oshkosh:eek:

I never knew Oshkosh was a place! Live and learn....right here on Cruise Critic!

I'm still waiting to hear a response from my online comment card...a MAJOR cut that nobody has seemed to notice. I did, and am quite surprised Celebrity haven't responded. I would like to hear from them before I post what happened...

For some reason, those on line comment cards are valid for a very short time. Twice already, by the time we returned home from our vacation, it had expired. So I couldn't comment on anything.

In other threads I've noticed that some folks have mentioned they have sometimes been able to order things that are not on the menu; Steak Dianne in Murano is one I've seen mentioned. Sometimes this apparently involves ordering in advance.

 

I'd be interested to hear of anyone's experience getting access to the "secret menu," if it really exists. Is this rare or common? Does it vary with the restaurant (MDR, Blu, specialty restaurants), the ship, the voyage, the time of year? What sorts of dishes you been able to order this way? What can be done if you order in advance? Can you talk to the chef and come up with something?

 

I did something like this on Regent once. We were a group of six; the head chef was Indonesian and he did up a fabulous Indonesian dinner for us, but I hadn't really heard about it happening on X.[/quot

 

Wow! How a simple question can be twisted and turned and flamed away!

 

Back in the days when we did fixed seating, on a Celebrity cruise, somehow the conversation with our ass't Maitre d' got around to Indonesian food. He told our tablemates that he would have a special surprise for us one night. And he did! I can't remember the dish, but I did notice it was offered in the mdr for lunch one day.

 

We were all pleased and excited and nobody thought of "inconvenience" or "entitlement". It was simply a fun Celebrity experience.

 

As for more regular fare, if you ask in advance, they will usually prepare something not on that night's menu. We have had very good asst maitre d's who had no problem with this. However I can remember one who was not very accomodating. (Maybe it was that particular chef who was not willing and not the maitre d's fault)

 

Contary to the belief of one poster, there is usually one or two nights on a long cruise, when I can find no main dish to my liking. But I have solved that problem. The onion soup is delicious and I can't eat it if I have a full meal. So on those nights, I order onion soup and a big salad. Yummy!

I don't think there will be a change regarding the dress code, because Celebrity wants to please those who like to be formal and those who don't.

If you prefer formality, I suggest you take a cruise out of Southampton.

We were on the Baltic cruise this summer, and formal night, the mdr was a sea of tuxes, most of the wearers coming from the British Isles and Ireland. There were even women wearing cocktail dresses on smart casual nights.

How would you feel if you spent thousands on air, only to find that the cruise has been cancelled?

For my part, the cruiselines can charter all they want, But BEFORE regular pax booked and prepaid air (usually, non-refundable). I think air can be booked 330 days prior. After that, I don't think it is ethical for a cruiseline to change a cruise to a charter.

DH and I are in our 70's and we would have to be much younger to ever achieve this level.

At the time of conversion, we became elite+ and there we will stay forevermore! I love those cappuccinos in the Bacio!

On winter Caribbean cruises, we have met pax, mostly retired educators, who sail back to back to back and maybe one more back in the winter. I think these multiple back to backers are zenith or close to it.

At our age, we have our bucket list (or at least I have!!!!) and cruising is not on it. My list is very realistic and doable. We just have to stay healthy.

Next year, hopefully, we will park ourselves in Provence for 2-3 weeks and take day trips. I have been wanting to do this since the last time, which was probably 10 years ago or so, but each year, something else gets in the way! (This year it was the Baltic cruise)

When we cruise, we like to take a 14 day one if possible and usually opt for an inside cabin.

Lather face with soap. Cup your hands and fill them with water to rinse your face. This usually causes the counter top and or floor to become a hot mess due to splashing and water running down your arms and off of your elbows. I deal with this at home with my kids and I know what a pain it is to clean up. I'm not trying to give the room steward any extra work but if they don't provide facecloths I'm not about to clean the bathroom like I do at home either.

lol I have the same problem! I forgot about that.

I'd like to know Grace's technique!

All I can say is celebrity must be charging Canyon Ranch some serious rent!

 

Especially when after they mention in the menu of services the 18% surcharge they then go on to say.... "additional tipping for exceptional service is appreciated not expected"

 

In other words the means "tip me dag nab it or I'll put those bunions back on your feet!!!"

 

Wiscona

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Don't worry, Wiscona. They are very decent and they realize that most people do not tip extra.

First I want to thank those who wrote such supportive replies.

I must add about the cotton balls. In the ladies' dressing room in the spa, there was the usual jar of cotton balls. So much for the theory that Celebrity is trying to prevent illness!

As for the vanity packs. Luckily I had a good room steward. He supplied me twice a day (sounds like a fix, doesn't it!!!)

I imagine that the company hopes nobody will ask for extras, thus the saving.

About the facecloths... we did the South American cruise this winter on the Infinity. Not an inexpensive itinerary,but less than the Baltic. I was told by our room steward that there was a shortage of facecloths on the ship. I was franky very surprised to hear that.

If I may digress, following the Baltics we stayed at the W in London. I know it is a higher level than Celebrity, but I was wowed by the service and attitude of every staff member there. I have been to many deluxe hotels but have never had such service and hospitality anywhere.

I just returned from the Baltics and had two wonderful massages. I didn't pay any more than in in past.

I was badly in need of a manicure. So I told the manicurist that no way would I pay over $70 for one (I read that here on Cruise Critic). She asked who told me that! I was charged the same $42 as in the past.

Difference is now the tip is 18%.

As someone said, they are not allowed to push products.