silviaeaston

I was just in 3 of the Celebrity Excursions and 2 of them left a lot to be desired.  The "Mountain Views and Villa Botanica" was laughable at best!  We went to the "Villa Botanica" which since the hurricane 5 years ago, (they admitedly) haven't replaced the signs describing the plants.  Also, no "tour guide" to tell us what we were seeing as we walked the grounds nor where to go, so I'm sure we missed some of the place.  The  offered "rum tasting" didn't happen.  Also there was a broken/rusted old truck at the very entrance that hasn't "run" in at least 10 years.  

The other awful "tour" was the "Carambola Beach Break"... it was simply a beach with about 150 umbrellas, completely devoid of any palm trees to give out shade.  BUT they charged $10 to open the available umbrellas, so at $1500 for the 2 tours that come to their place, it's a nice $3000 a day!  The public or other beach not owned by Carambola had nice palm trees that not only gave shade but beauty to their beach. 

On 10/29/2021 at 10:09 AM, nocl said:

All depends if Celebrity decides that they can make the jump to a single price structure with inclusions.  If they do then the choice is simple book the one offered fare or sail with another line. Celebrity has wanted to move from mass market to premium for a while, and the sale of Azmara opens up thst niche in the RCL cruise lines.

They tried this route before (6 years ago?) and now with Azamara gone (as you mentioned) and the supposed "post COVID" demands (which hasn't happened yet, actually the opposite has happened, and ships, ALL, are sailing to a very low % !)  Nevertheless, Celebrity has had to considerably scale back their tariffs....

20 hours ago, upwarduk said:

This is why gratuities have been added to the base price, they can’t then be removed.

This "gratuities added per day" came about 15 (or so) years ago!  I've been cruising since 1969 and NEVER had it been added!  One simply gave money to one's room attendant and dining steward.

On 10/28/2021 at 8:14 AM, 4774Papa said:

Thank you for posting this thread.   I have been complaining about AI and Celebrity's price bundling approach since it started.  

For a while transatlantic cruises were excluded from AI and still a good value, that changed and when I compare cruise prices with Royal and Princess, I find that Royal is my best choice.

AI has effectively gutted my Elite benefits and loyalty is pretty much out the window.

I will still check with Celebrity and compare with Royal, NCL and Princess, but won't spend a lot more just to cruise with X.

DITTO.... I'm Elite PLUS and travel SOLO, so I thought I would never go on a Celebrity again, until they have had to scale back and (also with the COVID crises) are now offering cruises for a fraction of what they intended to sell.

On 10/27/2021 at 7:39 PM, Spif Barwunkel said:

There have been several threads pertaining to Celebrity's  "Always Included" feature and for the most part negative comments abound. I have always been a proponent of AI, perhaps because it has not caused me consternation when booking cruises. However, there are lots of seasoned, intelligent cruisers who seem to think that AI is a form of misdirection, disabling an otherwise smooth booking process while enabling X to take away their choice. The more I read and participate in these threads, the more I have come to realize that this might be the case.

 

Whether intentional or not, X's presentation of the AI feature is at best, confusing. Beyond that, understanding where it relates and when it applies can cause frustration in that one does not feel in control of the booking process. Simply put, Celebrity is in control of what I want. I will settle for what X wants to give me. That kind of mindset among current passengers does not ensure loyalty. And, when Celebrity is looking to attract new cruisers, the easiest approach to book a cruise without doing research and reading between the lines is the one that works best.

 

I am to the point where I believe Celebrity needs to rethink this one. Fraud is a powerful descriptor and has been used by some posters in referencing Always Included. Personally, I would not want that word to integrate any part of my business. I have never had a problem with AI. However, because so many good folks find this feature to be off-putting, perhaps Celebrity should find a better way to entice it's customers while being totally transparent in that endeavor.

 

 

VERY well, stated!  And it's worse for ME! since I travel SOLO, and having to pay double for the "ghost partner"...2x makes it not doable.  PLUS... I'm Elite Plus, so the drinks are generally (and other perks, like wifi) already included, so I had cancelled my thoughts on Celebrity for the near future, when I saw that they have had to "cut back" the "all included" and I will indeed have 2 Celebrity cruises booked at a nominal rate! (Nov. 12 and Dec 4 2021)

On 11/2/2021 at 12:58 PM, Jockocruiser said:

2. Carnival conflicts - A friend asked me about concerns I may have about being in BA and Rio during Carnival.  I hadn't even considered it!  So now I wonder about safety...

3.  Weather - How to deal with changing weather conditions on a month-long 'round the Horn trip? 

Did a 42day Holland cruise out of BA ...down the Horn... up to Seattle (where my daughter lives)  Packed my carry-on (I don't own a regular big bag) Everything "mixed and matched"...and layers.  Undies I washed by hand in the sink with the shampoo supplied, etc.

As to "safety in Rio" during their Carnival.  I did not go to the evening productions, but during the day did the tours, which the only thing I didn't like was that any/all buildings were closed to public, incl. churches! Everything was boarded up, but otherwise ok.

On 7/31/2021 at 10:28 AM, phabric said:

I will be following along.

 

I am interested if anybody orders food from the MedallionClass App.  What the menu is?

Here is one menu.... I think formal night....

6 hours ago, nini said:

Seattle has a sound ordinance- no music for sailaway.

Here is your Love Boat jingle (hope it comes thru) Taken from my daughter's front porch in Queen Anne in Seattle (volume up... jingle starts on 20 sec mark)

On 3/10/2021 at 2:31 PM, davekathy said:

You (we/all) are too still getting perks/benefits from the CC. All the CC perks/benefits haven't been eliminated, especially for the top 3 tier levels with the AI program. Your complaint as a solo cruiser, I'll agree. 

I should have been more detailed.  If the perks that I used to get with the Elite Plus program (ie. all drinks at happy hour and morning breakfast... all internet for myself...) are now considered "included in the fare to all guests" then, what is/was called PERKS are no longer "perks" but "standard included to all" therefore the perks (that are still offered) no longer have value/relevance, since ALL will be getting it.  AND of course, there will be longer lines to get the drinks, since ALL will be waiting in line.  I have now booked with a competitor's line.... BYE Celebrity!

On 2/14/2021 at 2:58 PM, johnasmith99 said:

We are Elite with Celebrity based on our RCCL Diamond status.  Still, we have never cruised on Celebrity.  Now that Celebrity is including beverages, Wi-Fi and gratuities for everyone, what benefit is there to being Elite?  Adding to that question, do you expect there will be descent beverage service if there's no incentive for either Celebrity or the servers other than for premium beverages?  I guess the servers would likely get an extra tip.  

I'm Elite PLUS with Celebrity (Diamond PLUS with RC, 4 STAR with Holland) .... have done 85 cruises since 1970.  There is NO incentive, whatsoever to being an Elite member now.  Actually, the opposite, since those waiting for drinks (incl. morning coffees) will be a longer wait for all of us!  Furthermore, I strongly object to Celebrity calling it "FREE perks" since their prices are up considerably.  The cruiser will pay upfront whether he/she wants it or not!  AND there will be more drunk people since "must consume to make it worthwhile".... NIGHTMARE!

On 2/27/2021 at 9:24 PM, TeaBag said:

No, he hasn't been on Celebrity for years.

Saw him last on a Royal Princess cruise on a Jan. 2018.  In March 2019 he worked with Royal Caribbean (according to his entry on Facebk) He currently has moved from where he was living and going elsewhere.

On 3/5/2021 at 9:54 AM, lorimay said:

 just went into the cruise planner for my November cruise and noticed that they are offering "Perks Extra" and "Perks Ultra" packages I have not seen before. I'm not being sarcastic when I say that the math for these packages just doesn't add up for me. 

 

The Perks Extra package is $59.95 per person per day. For that you get a $225 excursion credit, one dinner in a specialty restaurant, upgraded internet for one device, and one bag of laundry. The Perks Ultra gives you a bigger excursion credit, three specialty dinners and unlimited digital photos, but it's $99.95 per person per day.

 

When I price out the Extra package I can't see where it gets me any advantage over paying things separately except they get my money in advance. You can't even book your specialty restaurant in advance. Am I missing something?

I'm an ELITE PLUS.... and not getting any perks now and WORST: since I cruise "SOLO",  would have to pay double for the "ghost partner" who is guaranteed not to use any of the 3 perks currently offered for "free"..... I'm looking into other travel options! BYE, Celebrity!

As you may want to research.... there has been now 4 deaths in the Holland Zaandam which was/is supposed to go from Argentina, then Chile, then crossing the Panama Canal etc..... lots of people SICK!

On ‎2‎/‎2‎/‎2020 at 2:30 PM, Crew News said:

The Orange Party on the Nieuw Statendam in December had a large contingent of ship's officers in attendance and the Shops personnel were dancing in the hallway across from the party.   The venue was packed with passengers singing to the music of the band and having a great experience. 

 

Another opportunity to sell drinks? Absolutely.  Another opportunity to create a party atmosphere for the passengers?  Absolutely.  A good time had by all?  Absolutely.

I was in a Holland ship last Oct 2019 and this is news to me (I'm a 4*....however I don't like the BB Kings, so maybe that's why I missed it.  I would love to know how much $ they made on the extra drinks sold for the night. I will be in the Nieuw Amsterdam this Spring, so I'll bring something Orange....why not.

Just read that a cruise ship was barred from entering "Saint Lucia turns away cruise ship due to multiple cases of “upper respiratory tract infections?

I did indeed used my not refundable Celebrity OBC for tips this past Nov.2019....on the Celebrity Reflection. (I do know that on NCL they do not let you use the OBC for tips.)

Celebrity (Royal Caribbean company) has changed it's policy of granting $200 for OBC for cruise of 10 to 13 days, as before)  Now it's half of that, to $100 (since June 2019).  I further read somewhere that one cannot use this OBC for gratuities?

On ‎3‎/‎3‎/‎2018 at 1:02 PM, familymum said:

Hi, Does anyone know if you must have owned the shares a minimum number of days in order to get the OBC? I understand that you must ask for the credit at least 3 weeks before sailing but can you have bought them the week or month before? It seems to me that I read somewhere that you need to own the shares a least 90 days prior, but I can't find it now. Final payment for my upcoming cruise is Monday and I was wondering if I could still benefit if I buy the shares after that. The share price has been dropping everyday this week so I wasn't too keen on buying it, but if it continues to drop I might decide to them pick up...

"Final Payment" date has NOTHING to do with Stock cruise credit.  They want the cruiser to request such credit 90 days before but this is not mandatory, and not tied to the 90 days that final payment is due.

I just signed up for this cruise and then when I get to Southampton, I will take the next day the Cunard Queen Mary II back to New York (I don't know how to find things in this new format....I hate it)

This entry has been rather quiet lately..... anyone with any "news"???? or questions? One of the ports we'll be doing is Vigo. I was just there for my second time, and I just walked it. Plenty of things to see in this town!

That’s incredible [emoji3]

After approximately 30 cruises so far I would love to go transatlantic myself (and I will do!), however, my dear wife is totally uninterested [emoji22] Myself, I love days at open sea [emoji106]

I have found that many people are traveling "solo" nowadays. For many reasons, incl. ill health of the spouse, and "time running out for themselves"...and simply doing their last "hurrah"! I see that you have done MANY MSC's which I have done NONE. (I have gone in about other 10 lines, but never MSC which I'm eagerly looking forward to) I see that you did the Oosterdam (Dec.2016) from Tampa just 3 weeks before I did the same....LOVED the Classical quintet! Since I'm a 4 star with Holland, MSC extends the amenities as if I had been a longtime cruiser with them....which is nice and reason I'm trying them now!

BTW... to "see" whatever ship I'm going to go on (incl. this one), go to youtube website and type away. I also do youtube for ports. You'll know more than the captain of the ship!

.....I have wanted to do a transatlantic for as long as I can remember being aware that such a thing existed......

VERY looking forward to this transatlantic!

As suggested, just started another (correct) Empress Sept.15 entry under the "Empress of the Seas" section. Hope to see you there!

Just signed up for this one.... hope to see more soon!:cool: