maxsales

7 hours ago, the penguins said:

In the case of the original poster there was no extra fee. The price paid was the price quoted it's just that the total was split into 2 parts. I don't see the issue.

Yes someone that actually reads and understands the post prior to responding

17 hours ago, Cruise Gopher said:

You need a new TA. 
 

This should never happen. 

wrong this happens frequently especially if the travel agents group has added extras like transportation, shore excursion or an on board gathering.  

1 hour ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

Just curious why you picked Grandeur when there are literally close to two dozen RCI ships that are much nicer. 

date and price with more emphasis on price.  Just curious as to why you think the GOST isn't nice?

24 minutes ago, jean87510 said:

What I have done which is helpful is look at YouTube videos of the ship in question.  

Great idea!

We haven't sailed RCCL in a long time and have never sailed the Grandeur.  All you Grandeur experts out there fill me in.

Best things to do, best places to eat and drink, how's the entertainment?  Just like to know the lay of the land before we board.

Thanks. 

12 minutes ago, crzndeb said:

They will cover drinks up to $14.

Well I like the sound of that!!

I admit too being pretty much a Royal rookie, as my Diamond status comes by way of celebrity.  So that being said I am not in the know about how the current voucher system works.  What I do know is that we receive four vouchers per day (24 hours).  Now for the questions

1. Do we receive vouchers on the fist day?
2. With the current drink prices being $14.00 and the voucher being for $13.00 do we pay the deference ($1.00) or pay the entire price?
3. Can be vouchers be used in main dining or specialty restaurants for a drink or glass of wine?

Appreciate the responses and clarification.

22 hours ago, JeriGail said:

I've seen reports that the Edge class ships no longer have early or late seating, only select.  was that true for you?

it's true

1 hour ago, 5waldos said:

I don't see that- SOME itineraries might (although I didn't see any that did). The US does not require boosters to return to the US. Could you give me a link to any that do? 

this is a direct copy from the celebrity website for our upcoming sailing.  You can interrupt it as you wish

All guests 12 and older must be fully vaccinated with their final dose give at least 14 days before (not including) their sail day. Children under 12 who provide proof of full vaccination may follow protocols for vaccinated guests. To be considered up-to-date, guests must have received all doses in their vaccine series and their booster if the second vaccine dose was administered over 270 days (9 months) ago. Booster shots are recommended for eligible guests to avoid additional testing onboard at their own expense. Please bring the original documentation for all vaccines and boosters. Vaccines approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) or the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) will be considered valid except for cruises that visit Bermuda where the local government does not recognize Novovax or Covaxin as approved vaccines. Guests whose vaccination series consists of either will not be permitted to go ashore, and if you are booked on a cruise that exclusively visits Bermuda, you will be denied boarding.

20 minutes ago, 5waldos said:

I don't think that anyone is REQUIRING booster shots at the moment. Advisable, I would think, but I haven't seen anyone saying you have to have them. Which is understandable since there are age requirements for the booster shots.

most cruises now require a booster if your last dose of the original vaccination occured more than 270 prior to sailing.

11 hours ago, Dancing Shoes said:

Yes.

No, they also offer simply sail pricing that includes no extras.

Other than the Zenith category is there really any value in the Captain's club?  With most cruises now being AI the free drinks are valueless and if you are Elite+ the Al Bacchio benefit is gone.  The wireless benefit is no longer needed so I guess the only thing remaining is laundry.

Anyone else think Celebrity should revise their loyalty program?

12 minutes ago, canderson said:

No Murano on Constellation.  Only wish that were true.  We'd be all over it!

 

Constellation_Fact_Sheet.pdf 2.22 MB · 1 download

 

 

 

Really not a fan of quisine, and Tuscan grill is only some times good for a veal chop.  Really sad there isn't a true speciality restaurant on board.

21 minutes ago, Crown Vic said:

Murano has replaced Ocean Liners. Having sailed on the SS United States, our favourite was the SS United States Ocean Liners restaurant on the Infinity.

Gotta say that Murano is extremely good as well. 

Enjoy...

sorry that's not correct either no Murano on the Connie.  I don't believe there is a Murano's on any M class ship.

50 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

Been replaced with Tuscan Grill

sorry that's not true both were on the Connie last time we sailed on her ocean liners on deck 3 and Tuscan on deck 11

I have been away from Celebrity and my favorite ship for a couple years.  Reaching out to all the Celebrity experts to see what happened to ocean liners.  That was our favorite restaurant on the Connie.

On 6/10/2020 at 6:09 PM, Bruin Steve said:

I am STILL a long way from Zenith...and it doesn't really matter that much to me...

I actually view this as a BAD thing for many of us...

Just like I didn't like the deal where RCCL Diamonds automatically got Elite perks.  This is really not going to do much for Elite Pluses trying to make Zenith...but it WILL allow a lot of people not yet Elite to have an easier road to Elite level...which will, in turn, overcrowd the Elite drinking lounge even more...resulting in them abandoning it more often for three drink coupons and the like.

I believe the lounge concept has been done away with.  You now have access to the captain's club menu at most bars between 5-7 PM

Sad but true when, if, the cruise lines restart there may we’ll be too many ships chasing too few passengers. Cruise lines will start reducing their fleets removing the least efficient ( I.e. profitable ) ships. 
 

unfortunately Connie will most likely fall into that category. Pity as she is easily our favorite celebrity ship. Seems fitting that maybe we ( over 70) and Connie have both done our last Celebrity sail. 

21 hours ago, harz99 said:

Just remember that some of us do not have the choice in our markets of booking with a refundable deposit, so no it's not always greed!

Well, this being a USA website the assumption is the booking was made under USA rules. If that isn’t the case it would be helpful if the post stated that. My comment was meant as a reflection on the choice people make when booking in a NRD vs RD environment. If you want the lower fare then you assume the risks attached to it. 

21 hours ago, Wine-O said:

My understanding if they cancelled under the "Cruise with Confidence" policy anytime up to 48 hours before the cruise, the TA's still get their commission.  At least that's how I've been reading it.   If I'm reading that wrong, at least a reputable TA shouldn't charge a cancellation fee based on the current environment, the over 70 Dr. note thingy, etc.  I would certainly get a new TA.   🍷

Commission protection occurs when the cruise  is canceled by the cruise-line and the reservation has been paid in full. If a reservation is canceled with the cruise with with confidence program, but has not been paid in full there is no commission protection. 
 

most travel agents don’t have a cancellation fee, more my rethink that after this crisis, but those that do clearly state it upfront so clients know what to expect. That now becomes a moral issue to waive or not waive the fee. Remember this currently travel agents are working twice as hard for in many cases no commission. Those two to three hour hold times are real,, and many many cruises that don’t have commission protection are being canceled or rebooked.   

15 hours ago, richard1s said:

Thank you for your comment; I am in complete agreement. Just up until a few days ago, Celebrity was still promoting and selling May 2020 cruises. To me, this redefines bad business practices; it is incredibly deceptive and approaches criminal conduct; it might well deserve a future segment on "American Greed", but there isn't too much "American" about the industry. 

 

P.T.Barnum supposedly said "there is a sucker born every minute". We have witnessed many things in the past few years to give that expression an incredible resurgence; now this from a cruise line and brand that many of us loved gives that expression new meaning. So sad. 

Well I would say greed cuts both ways. Wasn’t it greed ( reduced fare) that started this process?  The customer had the choice at time of booking to take a NRD or a RD and chose the NRD.

28 minutes ago, Wine-O said:

 

TA's who charge for a cancellation in these times are just plain wrong and unethical.  Think about it.  They are still getting their commission on cancelled cruises, they don't have to give you any OBC out of that commission (which enticed you to book with them), and then they charge you $50 on top of that?   Time to find another TA.  🍷

Sorry but you need to look at that post a little closer. Poster stated they were not charged a fee for the May canceled cruise which the TA would have received commission for as the cruise-line canceled.  They were charged a fee for the  September cancellation which they chose to cancel as the cruise line had not at that point. so the TA receives no commission on that cruise thus per their terms and conditions whicH the poster accepted when he chose to book through them. 

7 minutes ago, lovemylab said:

When cruising does resume I suspect it will be a very different experience than what we're used to.  I plan to wait and see what that experience looks like and then decide when we'll be cruising again. 

I think that’s a good point.  Cruising may well be very different when cruise ships start sailing again. 
 

what will the experience be like?  If the changes are drastic many avid cruisers may decide the new reality of cruising is not for them. Right now it would be difficult to say when anyone would cruise again not knowing what the cruise would be like. 

For me it's pretty simple until the doctors note situation goes away we are done cruising, period.

1 hour ago, S.A.M.J.R. said:

That's not what chengkp75 was talking about anyway.  He was refuting PP's claim that the government could keep a US citizen from boarding a cruise ship in Spain, Australia, Japan, or any other foreign port.

That's not what I said.  I stated that the US government could issue a no travel order which makes current protections for americans abroad not available and most likely means US travels could not obtain travel insurance (therefore no excess medical coverage).  The US government most likely can't stop US citizens from boarding a cruise ship in a foreign port but can impose conditions making it unlikely that a person would actually chance it.