richczarnecki

On 1/22/2024 at 3:48 PM, phoenix_dream said:

I understand you could not get it in Luminae?

I had Decoy in Luminae on Ascent last week.  But I prefer the Grenache Blend.

1 hour ago, KatherinePaynter said:

well darn! It’s listed as 4 hrs so I assume we would have time. 

 

what original time slot were you on? Our port time is 645am - 230pm so a little worried we won’t be back. 

915

37 minutes ago, KatherinePaynter said:

what original time slot were you on? Our port time is 645am - 230pm so a little worried we won’t be back. 

Supposed to leave 915. That could be tight.

56 minutes ago, KatherinePaynter said:

Hey Rich! 
 

How was shore excursion group to JVD? Would love details before I book! From the chosen start time to back to port what did the total time end up being? Thanks in advance! 

Book it. Sea Excursions. We left the dock about an hour late and were back to ship around 4. Such a beautiful beach! Drinks and good not overpriced like some other excursions 

On 1/20/2024 at 9:50 AM, zitsky said:

I’m curious if they have a pre boarding embarkation line for the Retreat.  I didn’t see one recently.  Just for excursions.

It's a whole separate checkin setup including a lounge, snacks, drinks. We were there at 1030 and the lounge had almost all the seats taken so arrive early!

Onboard Ascent now. Retreat lounge menu has changed and now includes Decoy. 

9 hours ago, 81Zoomie said:

@ito717, could you tell us what they offered you instead of the Decoy?

We leave on ascend tomorrow and decoy is $15 on the room service menu

2 minutes ago, tnm6217 said:

I have also moved on to other lines, and after my Summit sailing this weekend, I only have cruises booked with Silversea, Regent, and Windstar. 

 

My 5 night Summit sailing in a Sky Suite for two was about $4500 ($900/day), booked last summer. Thankfully it includes PDP, wifi, and gratuities.

 

For comparison, last fall, I booked a 7 night Alaska cruise in mid-June on Silver Muse for two for $11,000 ($1,375/day including the pre-cruise stay) in a Verandah stateroom. That fare includes:

- a private sedan from my home to the airport (and the same for my friend traveling with me from her home in another state) and a private sedan from the airport back home post-cruise

- economy flights to Vancouver and back from Anchorage for two (during the summer when those airfare prices are outrageous)

- a pre-cruise hotel stay at the Fairmont in Vancouver

- transfer to the ship

- 7 nights onboard with butler, gratuities, wifi, and true premium beverages (actual Champagne from Reims/Epernay)

- one excursion on each day in port

- railway transfer from Seward to Anchorage

 

For me, there's just so much more value in going with a truly all-included luxury line. I cancelled a November Summit sailing to try out Crystal last November, and it definitely convinced me Celebrity would be a thing of the past for me. The minibar was stocked with a beautiful bottle of red, white, and Champagne. My stateroom attendant was not overworked and came to my room at the same time each day, also getting ice for me twice a day (which is certainly impossible in a Sky Suite these days). Service was quicker all around due to no one having to charge anything. I used my room key only to get into my room...and that made my mind up. I was already fully paid for my sailing this weekend, but I chose to loose my $400 NRD and cancel my February Summit cruise because I couldn't justify the cost.

 

Duc du Valmer is trash. Period. The fact that they can't even put the decent Haslinger champagne in the room is sad. 

 

I'm very much looking forward to taking my carry on suitcase down to the Lounge to load up on water for the week when I board on Saturday (said with serious sarcasm).

 

Thanks!  Like I said, research may lead folks to move from an upgraded mass market line to a true luxury line.  If you calculated the value of all those add-ons, it further justifies the $/day calculation.

1 hour ago, RichYak said:

Well, the notion that a luxury line will be elevated in luxury relative to a mass market cruise line doesn’t take much research, does it?

Huh? We are talking about comparing a luxury level (Retreat) mass market cruise vs a full luxury line. Price, perks, etc. Sounds like some research could be very useful to me

5 hours ago, jmdlv1 said:

Currently looking at Regent ,Silver Seas ,Oceania and Seabourn.

I know very little about these except Seabourn .

It just seems like Celebrity is chasing away loyal customers.

Thanks. Your earlier comment sounded like you had done some research and concluded that another luxury line was similar in price but elevated in luxury.  Good luck researching!

18 minutes ago, jmdlv1 said:

I can sail a full luxury line for what Celebrity is charging for the Retreat with better service and no nickel and diming.

Very disappointed.

Just curious what luxury line you might be referring to . . . would like to know for future reference.

OK, so here is my latest conversation with Laura.  Seems like something is changing for the better, with Sunday's Ascent departure being the first to add more wine ("variety") choices under PBP (the date I sail).  But she still does not confirm that a Retreat menu item over the PBP limit will not be charged (as others have experienced).  So hopefully more (better?) choices within PBP in Retreat, but still an upcharge for Retreat menu items over $17.  BUT then she says this, which would seem to state that nothing on Pool Deck and Lounge menus is either (a) over $17 or (b) will not be upcharged.  Confused?  I shall see and report back . . .

Hi Richard—

All of the wines on the Retreat Pool Deck and in the Retreat Lounge are within the Premium Package, and those same wines are available in Luminae (given Luminae is a restaurant that list is more extensive). And, starting this weekend on Ascent we are adding more variety to that list of wines included in the premium packages– so that our Retreat guests have plenty to choose from. (It will be fleetwide by the end of the month).

There are additional wines available for an upcharge – that has not changed. Did we make some changes to inclusions in the classic and premium package, we did, and that will always continue to evolve and change based on guest preferences and inventory availability.

As I also mentioned, we are in the midst of reviewing, updating and adding breadth and depth to our wine menu. As you can imagine, these things do not happen instantaneously. We are excited to bring these new offerings to our guests in the next few months.

My very best, Laura

Laura Hodges Bethge

President, Celebrity Cruises

lhodgesbethge@celebrity.com

10 minutes ago, Baynanno1 said:

 

Probably the fact that people who are now, or have recently sailed in suites, with Premium drinks packages are being charged the difference plus 20% gratuity on any drink priced above the limit of the drink package.

There are numerous reports both on CC and other social media platforms.

I have continued my e mail with Laura Bethge and will see what she says.  Clearly, what she has documented to me is not being followed.  

2 hours ago, RichYak said:

Regardless of what she wrote, it's simply not true in Luminae. 

What do you base that on?

Are Retreat passengers able to access Blu for breakfast instead of Luminae?  Any opinions on if one is better than the other for breakfast?  Might be nice to have breakfast outside one day.

5 hours ago, Harborgirl246 said:

 

Just got off Beyond. We were charged the $2.40 for CherryPie and Decoy even 

with the PDP. No chit to sign. The sommelier just politely informed us each time: all bars including Luminae.

Were those wines ordered in a Retreat venue and listed on the menu?  I expect not.

6 hours ago, Julma said:

The wines listed in Luminae, by the glass for my Ascent cruise, show 9 within PBP and 9 that will be an upcharge.  Based on her email, is she is stating all wines listed will be included if you have a suite and the PBP or am I misreading?

Based on the e mail she sent me, anyone ordering off a menu in the Retreat venues (Lounge, Luminae, Deck) will not be charged if they have PBP.

Is Chic night fixed for a 7 day cruise?  What two days?  I leave Sunday on Ascent.

5 hours ago, cruisestitch said:

No, not so.  Move up bidders may not, among others

Yes, of course, I meant folks who directly booked their voyage in Retreat.

1 hour ago, 39august said:

 Thanks. Not that I think this will do any good, but I am going to print it out and show it to the Hotel Director and Beverage Director when I board EQ in a couple of weeks. Clearly shows she is talking about the "three venues"   in the Retreat.  I hope others will do the same. Someone needs to hold her to her printed word. 

I leave on Ascent Jan 14 and will report back 

5 hours ago, 39august said:

Re: Several responses referring to post #300. I don't see how post #300 does anyone any good. It is not signed by Laura so I see no value in quoting it. Now if the poster has a copy of her exact e-mail response, showing that it is from her,, that would be worth something to us all. I'm afraid we are simply stuck with inferior wines on the PDP. 

Here you go:

7 hours ago, RichYak said:

Technically, you quoted her as saying anything on a Retreat menu is "included in the premium package". I take that to mean that if you have no beverage package, you will be charged the price that is on the menu. Or if you have the classic beverage package, you will be upcharged accordingly.

I believe that all Retreat guests get the Premium package as part of the booking

8 hours ago, 81Zoomie said:

Thanks so much @Diav  Below is the Costco pricing for Conundrum .  Looks like a 5 times markup at least if you consider the volume discounts X must get.  Actually closer to 6 times when you add 20% grats to the cost of each glass.  A six oz pour is $10.49 at Carabbas and the bottle goes for $41.  
 

We have never been charged an overage in the Retreat lounge.  I concur with @CruiseRQA that charging the extra $2 for a mediocre wine being masqueraded as “premium” in the Retreat is tacky.  When we booked our upcoming cruise over two years ago the Celebrity attitude in the Retreat was pretty much, you ask, and we deliver.  Service with a smile.  Now it appears that the “Retreat” is appropriately named.  Celebrity will “Retreat” from providing elevated levels of service whenever and wherever it chooses to do so.  Here today, gone tomorrow.

Read Post 300 -  you should not be charged for menu items in Retreat per Laura.

9 hours ago, CruiseRQA said:

It's not really the comparative costs it's the fact that you are paying $10k or so for a suite and they won't comp you a glass of Decoy cab.

 

I have sailed suites twice on Celebrity and have never been charged extra or asked for my sea pass when being poured a glass of wine in the Luminae.   I generally don't even order anything specific but have asked the wine steward to bring me something appropriate.  Always seemed so  ...   luxurious!   We'll see in two weeks, if they ask for 2 bucks it will be so ... tacky

Read my Post 300.  You should not be charged for anything on a Retreat menu. Full stop.

12 hours ago, High on the Seas said:

So much for coverage with the premium drink package. 

According to Laura, anything on the Luminae menu is complimentary.  So ignore the Premium limit.