markeb

I could be dead wrong, and I don’t care for the changes either, but my first thought when I saw the changes was they don’t have and can’t keep enough actual cooks. Eggs for RS, cooked to order meats in the OVC, stir fry stations, etc. require actual cooks. Continental breakfast, prepared dishes on the buffet, etc. can all be prepared ahead of time and devote more skilled labor to the MDR. If that’s the case, it’s not the amount of labor, but the skill set that’s the issue. No, that doesn’t explain decreased quality of ingredients.

So maybe, this is the first sailing since the start of 2023 and it's a new law or regulation from the Cayman Islands? Which would mean experiences before January 1st wouldn't really matter?

Last time I looked, the correct answer was “and you clothed me”.

It really depends on the bar and bartender. I love a good Manhattan, but only a couple of bars have real Luxardo cherries (if that) or a decent sweet vermouth. Craft Social had rye, for instance, but I think still crappy vermouth. Beam and a candied cherry isn’t a Manhattan! I think they’re generally better stocked for tropical drinks than classic cocktails. Kind of is what it is. But, if they’ve got the ingredients, they should make it.

I'm trying to understand why it's somehow the fault of women who were from the description fully compliant with the dress requirements that someone's husband was distracted? It's 2023, not 1845, isn't it? I don't believe we're living in Victorian England! I don't know what rule was being broken in the example...

Several parts to this. Yes, you can upgrade on board. The math isn't that simple, of course. You should be able to upgrade in your cruise planner. You can also wait until you're on the ship and see whether you think the upgrade is worth it. MOST of the time, you only pay the difference between the max price of the classic package the price of the drink, plus 20% gratuity. Some items (premium waters, I believe) cost full price. Each passenger over 21 can bring 2 bottles of wine at embarkation. There is no corkage with a drink package (which you have). No beer or liquor.

Sorry for your loss.

Corkage isn’t a fee for opening the bottle. It theoretically partially replaces lost revenue since you didn’t purchase the bottle and covers ancillary expenses like glasses. Something of an archaic term.

Who knows. Could be the location of IVs alters air flow around the suites. I'm not an expert in fluid dynamics... I doubt that, BTW, but I don't know it's not true.

There is no corkage charged anywhere on the ship if you have a beverage package. The current FAQs are silent, but Celebrity has never charged a corkage fee to bring wine onboard, or if consumed in your cabin. That used to be spelled out, but the old language is gone. Screening occurs before you check in, so there's no way for security to know if you have a package, and there have been no reports of corkage charged for simply bringing a bottle onboard. If you don't have a package, there is a corkage fee if you bring a bottle to a public venue. Pouring a glass in your cabin and carrying it into the dining room doesn't create a corkage fee.

I'm making a wild assumption that as a service company, the bulk of corporate expenses are personnel. So executive and management pay cuts would have a large impact on the bottom line. If you look at RCG's income statements in their 10-K and 10-Q, food and fuel are their largest expense. Followed I think by interest on their debt (been a few days and their online filings were wrecking havoc with my web browser). Their admin and selling costs are actually not that high. Cutting executive compensation really wouldn't do much for them...

Near Field Communication. The protocol phones use for contactless payments, event tickets, etc.

Yes. If you can at all. At least one day!

Find a way to add a day on the front. 3-5 is better, but at least add a day or two. You're already taking the time and flying over there... Harrods is more than a huge department store. It is that, and it is huge. It is a temple to consumerism. You can spend an afternoon in the food hall alone. Fortunately for me, everything is outrageously expensive and the cute Harrods bears in duty free at Heathrow fill any purchase needs. But pretty much everything is over the top, and with VAT, over the top expensive. There are other places I consider more "British" in London, but not even Selfridges has as much high end product under one roof!

What time is the transfer? What do you plan to do with your bags? What are you wanting to see? It's a huge department store... It "probably" can be done. The maps show about 45 minutes each way on the Piccadilly line to Knightsbridge. Heathrow Express to Paddington is 15 minutes (once you get to the HEX station, which sometimes feels like a different time zone...) and currently showing around 20 minutes or so by cab from Paddington. A little faster but quite a bit more expensive. And the same for reverse. There is luggage storage at the airport; I'll defer to a recent traveler as to ease of use. If this is something you want to do, it's probably at least worth exploring the train from London to Southampton and not have to double back to Heathrow. Might create more rather than less luggage issues, but I'd at least look into it. Where's JB when I need him to bail me out?!

Honestly, the butler can do almost anything that guest services would do, as well as the things already mentioned. Ours would see us in the hall, like LGW59, and ask if we needed anything. They offered to bring snacks, a glass of wine, etc. We had cans of water and diet coke in the cabin. "Most" things you do, from laundry to room service to help with an excursion, they can handle. I don't feel we've ever stressed one (we've only had two so far...), but their role is to make things easy. And they seem to have the tools and connections to do that! And yeah, they'll remind you of suite seating in the theater, which we've done more by accident than intent.

That’s really the question, isn’t it? Forget the gnashing of teeth here, but if you can offer a premium product, charge appropriately, and make a profit, then from the business standpoint, do it. And, bluntly, fire the customers that won’t go with you. I don’t think they believe they can get there, so they’re stuck in no man’s land. Which is likely to eventually alienate everyone. Enjoy the cruise, sell the stock…

Have to agree here. I'd spend at least one, ideally 2-3 nights on Oahu and enjoy Hawaii a bit before flying back. No issues storing bags that way!

Agree. The Australian ETA has a processing fee of AUD 20. There theoretically is no fee for the ETA, but you pay a processing fee. A difference without a difference. You have plenty of time. In most cases you'll be approved immediately. 30-60 days out should be fine.

Bo, my memory, is that X, like RCI, once had an official policy prohibiting alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. As bad as both lines have been at contradictory information, I don't believe they ever had a policy on how to do something they told you not to do. The non-alcoholic piece was clearly never (maybe rarely?) enforced... The FAQs are silent on anything but alcohol today.

This looks like another one of those things that depends on the ship and port... In August on Equinox, we were offered early off for two ports. We met in the Retreat Lounge and were escorted off "first in line" in San Juan. I believe we had the same opportunity in Tortola, but had an early excursion so it didn't make a difference. It was not something offered at every port. And I didn't see a priority line to reboard, but there wasn't a line anyway.

There were advantages to the visitor card at one time. Discounts on Thames cruises, for instance. And I believe you have to buy the visitor card overseas. TFL generally does a great job of laying those out. Yes, I remember the Rosetta Stone. But I really remember Rachel Tucker in Come From Away. And wandering aimlessly through Fortnum & Mason. Or the amazing meal at Benares. I have a vague mental image of glass cases full of swords and pikes at the White Tower. But I can vividly recall a cask conditioned ale at the Burlington Arms. None of which are in that list of “must sees” in London!

I read this much earlier today, and didn't catch all of it. My original thought was that they'd learned from the mandatory AI and were only charging people who wanted room service a room service fee. But the more the day has gone on, I've read comments, and I've thought a bit, I view this as a symptom of a company that can't make up it's mind. Nickle and diming is a symptom. We can argue that Celebrity is really NOT a premium cruise line, but it's tried to position itself there. In business terms, its strategy was to differentiate itself from others on quality and service, and have a value proposition really aimed at customer service/customer intimacy. Provide everything, do it well, charge accordingly. Do AI and proudly charge for it. Be Nordstrom. With this, we're back to concentrating on costs. I'm stuck thinking that Celebrity has got itself stuck in no man's land. Premium products can charge premium prices and basically to heck with those who don't want to play; their niche is those who will pay. But trying to have it both ways is historically impossible. $11.74 * 6 (no room service last day, presumably) is $70.45/cabin. If you go half as many people doing room service lunch or dinner in a non-suite (which I suspect is high), that's $105.67 for six days! Just raise the cruise fare $110/person/cruise and bury the cost. Or honestly go up more to fund the product that matches the price. For close end cruises, I'm pretty sure the cost of fuel allows them to trigger the surcharge, which they've avoided. But that's what this is. Trying to be Walmart and Nordstrom at the same time never works. I don't independently own RCG stock outside of mutual funds (if there). X isn't an independent corporate entity, but if it was, and I owned their stock, this and similar recent actions would have me questioning why (I'm talking beyond shareholder benefits for cruising). Do what you do well. Those who want it will pay for it. You just need to have the analysis that enough customers will pay for it to come out ahead...

Start here https://tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/visiting-london/ That's the visitor information site for Transport for London. It will give you a great overview of public transportation in London, and will greatly simplify your questions. An Oyster Card is London's version of a contactless transit card. You can buy them in London, or order a visitor version for delivery to the US (all explained on the web page). There are some advantages to the visitor card that could change but are on TFL's really excellent web page! You can also load a pass on the card, although there's a daily cap on the Tube. More later... London Pass is a commercial tourist pass that includes admission to various attractions. More info here https://londonpass.com/en-us You really have to look at the attractions and their prices and any additional benefits, such as preregistering for attractions to determine if the pass is worth it. Honestly, it rarely is because you would never stop in order to maximize value. But look at the web page. Before you over plan, 4 days is great, but you'll scratch the surface at best. Really look at what you want to see and do, and where those attractions are. Allow for a nice meal, a pub break, a West End show, etc. Those aren't going to be on the pass. You CANNOT see London in 4 days, including presumably your first jet lagged day! Please don't try. It's a great city to experience. You may not remember the Rosetta Stone, but you'll probably talk forever about seeing Hamilton in the West End, or the amazing Indian meal you had in Mayfair. Back to the Oyster card and the Tube. For Americans, I'd probably still recommend pre-ordering a Visitor Oyster Card. You can ride the Tube with a contactless credit card or Apple/Google Pay. We are technologically stupid in the US when it comes to credit cards, and I really worry about any specific contactless card working like it's supposed to. I haven't tried Apple Pay on the Tube. It was workable but clunky in Singapore. The Oyster Card "always" works. Where are you staying? That really impacts your first day transportation. Lots of options, depending on location of hotel and amount of luggage. With a hotel selection, there are London based posters who can recommend travel via Tube, Heathrow Express, Elizabeth Line, or the National Express Bus. But it boils down to location, location, location... And under no circumstances do you want a rental car in London!!!! Between the congestion zone charges and parking, it would just be a money sink! Edit: If you ride the bus and Tube with a contactless card, each traveler needs their own card! Ditto for Oyster Cards, but if you both have the "same" credit card, same number, etc., it will likely read as the same person entering twice. Again, a reason to look seriously at a Visitor Oyster Card as a first timer. It just works...

I would call. The OP has a different code for Retreat than I've seen before. RETREATBO75. Is that a new master code for Retreat? I don't know what's included under that code. But they normally list the components separately. OP, you understandably cut off the pricing information, but is there a separate charge to the left of the Gratuities? If so, I'm reasonably confident you don't have the standard Retreat package with drinks, Wi-Fi, and gratuities in the price. If you just booked that, it's a good time to get on the phone and get what you want. But odds are the fare will go up...