meengla

No extra charge on a per drink basis unless you order something that costs more than $13 then you will pay the difference plus an 18% of the difference.

Enjoy.

Here is how it worked for us for the Classic Package: Paid upfront the whole $1300 for 10 days for two people. Of these, about $1100 went for the base package price ($55/person/day) and $200 went for the gratuities at 18%.

The numbers are rounded. But, as you can see, no more calculations were required for us except in the scenario where we would want to drink something costing more than the Package would allow.

Hopefully, this info will be helpful, even if not all new.

We just came back from a 13 day Transatlantic cruise on Celebrity Constellation. Here are some observations:

1) The drinks prices are too high on Celebrity! So, for a long cruise like ours, either one has to be an almost teetotaler or smuggle something in or get some kind of a drinks package.

2) We are drinkers (though not total drunkards!) and made do with the allowed two wine bottles (one per person) and a bottle of complimentary champagne for the first day or two.

3) We also had a Stateroom Bar Setup for $80. That had a liter bottle of Absolut vodka and 6 soda cans--we didn't finish it all--see below.

4) After 3 days on the cruise, we got their Classic Beverage Package at $55/person/day. And it was well worth it!

5) Unlike other cruise companies, Celebrity does allow one to purchase Packages well into a cruise--reportedly, up to the last 2 days of a cruise. That is flexible for the passengers and smart business for Celebrity. Kudos!

6) While Classic Package was good enough I didn't like that the beer selection was so below par! I mean, they give you expensive liquors like Drambui, Kaluah, Absolut etc but don't include freaking Sam Adams and Blue Moon beers, unless one gets the Premium package?!

7) One more great thing about the Classic package is that it included fresh juices (OJ and grape fruit) AND bottled water. In case of Carnival they didn't include bottled water and we paid upwards of $50-60 on water on some of those cruises. Needless to say, in this cruise we drank plenty of water and took big water bottles (1 liter) to our room. Water is of course critical and so we had almost no hangovers!

8) Yet one more great thing about the Beverage Package was that we never had to sign any slips/receipts! Give the server/bartender your Card and they return it with your drinks--no pressure for any extra tips.

9) While 18% tips were added to every drink automatically we were never self-pressured into giving any extra--no receipts to sign. Consequently, there was not a SINGLE surprise charge despite lots of booze over so many days.

10) We still gave about 5 servers/bartenders some extra cash end of the cruise for putting up with us for so long.

11) It was strange that the Martini Bar had no martinis in Classic Package. Come on guys: You dont have to use the best liquor available to fix a "martini"; a simple dirty martini would do. They take the word 'martini' too seriously!

12) The Classic package did include Cafe El Bacio. Some great items from that place!

We had quite a nightmarish experience in Washington, DC barely three weeks ago: Coming from relatively empty rural South Carolina we landed in DC around 530 pm--rush hours! There was a roundabout for which we took a wrong turn.

Boy, we paid a price! The trusted GPS device could only help so much with quick decision, bumper to bumper traffic, some aggressive city drivers! We were no match for them.

About 50 minutes of desperate circling around in maddening traffic; we were down to only two bars in fuel--and it was getting darker. We were so desperate to be off the roads that we considered looking for pizza men or cab drivers to escort us to our hotel; we considered giving up our hotel reservation (losing money) and find whatever nearest. We even called our hotel asking them to send us to guide us but they had no one spare.

These things are quite possible after 540 miles of driving especially for us rural folks we hardly ever see much traffic--so any city, let alone a foreign country, can be too much. Yes, we have been made chicken by decades of easy driving! :)

Having said that: Considering that we will pick up our car at the Hertz rental in Civit, go to a B&B just before Seggiano, and check out rural places nearby, and then be back to Hertz in Civit--what should we be aware of? I dont see any major cities.

Thanks in advance!

Well, maybe.

 

My experiences with a friend driving on the Sorrentine peninsula and around the narrow streets of Pozzuoli and vicinity were somewhat hair-raising and not for the faint of heart. Italians do not treat you kindly if you have to slow in order to read a sign or switch lanes in fast moving traffic to make a quickly approaching exit. And Italians will let you know of their displeasure with your driving by honking repeatedly, passing you with millimeters to spare and yelling at you, etc..... which, if you are not comfortable to start with, will make you distinctly UNcomfortable.

 

Now you are making me even more nervous! ;)

Joking aside, we are going to not drive in crowded places; I think the most traffic we are probably likely to face will be from the Hertz car rental in Civit getting in and out of Civit. We will go to a farm house close to Seggiano as our base and check out places close to that location.

Anyway, some interesting feedback and info above about driving etc. Thanks.

Yes, sometimes but not always. Again, check the consolidators. I just did a dummy reservation with Auto Europe, once with round trip Civitavecchia and the other with the return in Rome and the price was the same.

Indeed, Auto Europe should be checked out first before going through the agencies! I am finding that a five day manual transmission rental at Auto Europe starting 15 April from Civitachevia (same place return) is only around $100 while at Hertz it was around $123 yesterday.

Too bad, I have already booked an automatic at Hertz for $183. I kinda need automatic--wife cant drive manual and I just won't risk me being the only driver and my nervousness of Italian roads (even if country roads mostly).

Thanks for the info! Hopefully, this will help others.

Question: What can we realistically expect to get from the Standard Package ($45/ppd)? Celebrity saying that drinks up to $6. I am assuming that would barely cover beers? Wine/cocktails not possible with this?

Anyone has ever bought this package?

Thanks.

Thank you. That does help.

 

Since we are getting off a ship and going straight to Tuscany (doing Rome pre-cruise) I like the idea of renting a car from Civit. However, we will be flying to Barcelona after our 5 nights in Tuscany for a TA back to the states. Do you know if you can return the car back to the Rome airport?

I envy your trip!

I am almost certain Hertz would allow me to return to Rome airport instead of to Civit. Except I dont have the stomach to drive to urban areas... Try hertz.com !

Ps. I am almost regretting not doing TA after the land part in Europe... Ending a trip by taking a cruise must be relaxing ... Oh well.. next time

Thank you for the short review! We are excited about our Tuscany adventure and your insight provides a nice starting point for our research.

 

We are hoping to stay in a vacation rental villa while there as a base and taking day trips to see other areas in Tuscany. Any suggestions as to a good location for home base?

Because we have yet to take our cruise and have, so far, never been to Italy, we can't be sure about where to stay! But have we booked a farm house/B&B through airbnb.com in a very small village between Seggiano and Castel del Piano in southern Italy. The reviews for the place are great and it is close to the hot springs of Bagni San Filippo. We love hot springs! The price/day was reasonable for around $50, which includes our private room and bathroom, and the farm-origin breakfast! We will have to rent a car from Civit to get there but the place is only 2 hours from Civit and just about most of Tuscany is within 2-3 hours drive.

On the other hand, several people from our 2 April cruise are going to Montepulciano and staying in town for a place which charges around $100/day--not bad.

Hope this helps!

I see this thread keeps going! Good. We can learn from each other.

While we are yet to board for our cruise, one quick suggestion: If you are renting then get an International Driver Permit from some place like AAA. It costs $15 plus, if you don't have a AAA membership or have two passport photos, then probably $15 more for the photos; with AAA membership I think they give you the two photos free.

The Permit maybe required to rent a car in Italy!

I would have, except we got 2 perks. I chose OBC and drinks package. For the drinks I just want to be able to get cappuccino, lattes, hot chocolate etc from cafe el bacio as well as smoothies from the aqua spa cafe. I don't mind that I wouldn't get any refund down grading to the premium non alcoholic package. I am just not sure if celebrity would let me

But doesn't Premium alcoholic package include 'nearly' all the non alcoholic included mineral water, specialty coffee etc? So you are covered under Premium anyway?

Unfortunately, there is no way to update the original post in this thread after a certain time period (something like 30 minutes) has passed. Therefore, you need to look at the most updated version of the document that is available in comments to get the most accurate information available. I try to make the most updated comment available on every other page of the thread to keep it as easy as possible to find. There is nothing that I can do to change this, as much as I wish that I could :(

 

Awe snap! That is indeed an annoying limitation of this board!

You are doing a fabulous job despite the limitation and all of us appreciate it.

Here is one drinks package I wish could make it to the very first post: The Standard Package. http://www.celebritycruises.com/onboard-celebrity/onboard-beverage-packages?pagename=onboard_beverage_packages_overview#onboard_beverage_packages_premium_classic_tab/onboard/asrPanel%3Fpagename=onboard_beverage_packages_premium_classic

"Choose select beers and wines, spirits, cocktails, liquors and frozen drinks up to $6 per serving. Brand availability varies by bar location, but includes a variety of well branded spirits, popular wines and beers, fountain sodas, and bottled water. Plus, with purchase of this Standard Package, you can enjoy a 10% discount on all wines by the bottle purchased on board, even our prized Reserve Wine list and Rare Wine list.*Starting from: 45.00 USD Per NIGHT "

@Ailetoile,

Unless I am missing something I still say that the OP post (as in the very first post on http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2167294 ) have the obsolete pricing. Look at the Premium alcohol Package: In OP it is at $59 while the PDF link I posted as the official one has that Package at $65.

?

We have traveled in Italy by train and it was convient and enjoyable.

We went from Rome to Florence and Pisa, to Milan, and then to Lake Como. Another time we went from Venice to Padua to Rome.

The trains are on time and clean

Thanks!

I am following my Italy trip on this cruise's Roll Call now...

Driving in Tuscany is quite easy, as always avoid the center of any town of size or city because of ZTLs and do a little up front research about street parking requirements. Other than that it's a piece of cake.

 

I would suggest going further north into Tuscany, maybe as far as Pienza or Montalcino.

Thanks!

I am getting some good info from the Roll Call section for this cruise.

So never mind.

Thanks

Hi,

My wife and I are planning to spend about 6 days post cruise in Italy. Our cruise arrives early morning 15 April at Civitavecchia and we come back to America from Rome's FCO airport on morning of 21 April.

What we are really interested in small towns, farms, scenic views and wineries. Not particular interested in ruins in this trip except maybe a day trip to Rome and/or day trip to Florence or Pisa.

So Tuscany seems like a good match. My thoughts are to rent a car from the port on 15 April and go to Saturnia and stay near the hot springs area and then take day tours from there.

Could anyone please guide if it is not too bad for an American to drive in Italy, especially for our suggested routes? Or are there tours available or customizable tours for our needs? Note, we are going to be in the 'budget' category but would at least prefer our own bedroom for stays.

Thanks!

I've always understood you can purchase up until the final 4 days of a cruise. 4 days into a 13 day cruise should not be a problem - but you do have to purchase it for the full remaining duration of the cruise.

Kind of a reassuring response from you! The Celebrity guy left a bad taste in my mouth--even my wife two yards from me heard the conversation. I merely (and very politely, I think) tried to say that I heard that we could buy beyond a couple of days but he said: "Sir!! You are not listening to me. It depends...".

Because cruises are such a fun environment--even in the anonymous online spaces--I decided to just agree with the guy. This is not a Fox News or Yahoo forum!

The first post has some very useful information but that info is dated! At least for the alcoholic drinks, please see this:

https://secure.celebritycruises.com/celebrity/media/celebrity/shared_assets/pdf/Classic-Premium-Bev-Pckgs.pdf

which is an official document.

Compared with the OP, the prices are higher.

The OP did direct me to ask Celebrity (by a phone call about half hour ago) as to how late they would allow one to book any of the alcoholic packages. The guy on the phone gave a vague (?) answer: It depends on how many beverage packages are already booked etc etc. I was hoping we would be allowed the beverage package after 3 or 4 nights. Now not sure.

BTW, we are going on a 13 day cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to Rome on 2nd April.

We usually book inside the final payment window. Prices have dropped but we do not have as good a selection of cabins. Often just a gty. And more often than not we are looking at three cruises and select the one that has been discounted. Sometimes they drop even further after we have bought.

Perhaps that's what we too should have done.

Anyway, appreciate all the feedback above.

The 40,000 you see indicates that poster has more than 40,000 CC posts. The exact number is indicated on the right side of the top of the post. Gives date one joined CC and number of posts. Some include where they are from.

Wow! And you are in the 70,000 Club!

My respect and appreciation for the jobs people like you here.

Hi Neighbor,

Most cruise lines put a "For New Bookings Only" on most price drops/added perks after final is due.

Hi neighbor! I am seeing that now.

But what is this 40,000 in your profile? Can't be 40,000 cruises?! :)

PS. I have done only 6 cruises.

PPS: Our home port Charleston sucks.

If you like HAL so much better, next time book with them. :)

 

Nah, my first time with Celebrity but won't hold this against them. I am looking forward to my first cruise with them.

This thread has been educational. That's what this board is about, right?

They might be called un-generous, but hardly "unfair". To put the shoe on the other foot, how much of an additional fare would OP have been willing to pay if Celebrity called to advise that fares had gone up - instead of him calling to see about getting a break because fares had gone down?

As mentioned by me above: I had a much better experience booking through Holland America barely 6 months ago. I am almost certain I was given the discounts quite close to the departure date. So I have reasons to expect Celebrity to be generous--especially if they sort of guarantee best prices.

Also, I don't think, other than some huge fuel price hike, Celebrity or any other cruise ship is going to ask for increased fare after the customers have already booked; I don't think the customers and the vendors work like that in travel industry.

But I recognize the useful feedback in replies above. Thanks.

Hi,

I thought my question is general enough to be posted here? I think it would be interesting to see what other fellow cruisers are saying about different cruise lines. Frankly, I had booked directly through Celebrity despite the fact that some 3rd party/travel agency was providing at least a small OBC.

If the moderator thinks the question is not general enough then they could move the thread?

Thanks for the suggestion.

Hi,

We have booked the 2 April Transatlantic cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to Italy. Yay for that!

However, now that we have fully paid we see that the price for our Balcony room is cheaper by about $250. Same deck, same category! So I called Celebrity yesterday (we had booked through them directly) and they almost gave me the new price with the $250 discount but, upon learning that we had already fully paid, took back the discount and offered a Concierge upgrade.

We would have rather taken the $250 discount as OBC than the Concierge upgrade--the upgrade is peanuts in perks! But the Celebrity rep didn't budge: Take it or leave it. If we cancel the cruise then a hefty fine. So reluctantly we took the upgrade.

I think this is not fair for Celebrity to penalize customers who have paid fully. I had a wonderful experience with Holland America in August 2015 for an Alaska cruise--every time I sawa price drop, I called, they happily gave the discounts, even though, I think, we had fully paid. They even gave $400 OBC and $70 dining card--and get this: They applied the $70 to OBC because we chose to skip the special dining.

I brought the Holland America experience to the Celebrity rep but she kept repeating Celebrity policy: Fully paid means no discount.

What do you guys think about it?