EDF

I consider this a "looking down your nose with an air of superiority post." It postulates that internet access somehow makes a cruise not enjoyable. Some of us enjoy keeping in touch with family and friends while we are away. Some need to keep in touch for business reasons. I also enjoy tormenting those in frozen climes with Caribbean pictures. :D One size does not fit all so don't even try. If you are happy without connectivity, more power to you! :cool:

 

As far as adding to the profits of the cruise lines, all the better. The more profits they make on things like internet, alcohol, et al, the less likely they are to raise cruise fares.

hI,

The point I was making was that a holiday is that, away from home for a period of time. On a recent cruise I noticed a couple and overtime I saw them in the cafeteria, coffee shop or wherever they were glued to their screens, maybe they were communicating with each other!.

As far as profit is concerned you have definitely lost the plot. The cruise line will make as much as they can and raise fares to.

All I can say is get a life when on holiday.

D

Tony - it's got nothing to do with money. I get a lot of free minutes. If I can reduce my "footprint" it will make the internet "faster" for me and everyone else, including you. We can all help each other by not doing things that bog down the internet.

Hi,

Why not just leave the computer at home and enjoy the holiday. Remember all of you who buy packages are just adding to the cruise line profits. Whether 1 or 1000 buy the cruise line is paying the same.

David

Not everyone obviously, but some of us here would prefer to see an honest day's work repaid with an honest day's pay - be it the server at my favourite diner in DTLA, the carer who pops in on my mum back home who's on a disgraceful zero-hour contract or the hotel staff on my cruise.

 

So yes, I tip...

Hi,

Have you ever asked what the crew consider a fair day's pay. From where they originate from they are getting a fortune on the cruise lines. I feel that the US has a lot to say remembering when i was last in the states and the guy who opened the door to the cab expected a tip or the bus driver taking me to the port saying i will be standing at the door as you get off!. It his job and as another post said to be offered a tip can be an insult. As I said earlier its is the cruise lines responsibility to pay their staff not the customer, in this I am including all cruise lines.

David

Great way to punish the crew.

Don't think is punishing the crew they choose to do the job and should accept the salary that is offered. How much do you get tipped for your job? I guess nothing. Do the crew receive all that the cruise lines get in gratuities I would probably say no. Get rid of gratuities altogether.

I don't thinks its excessive either. I always keep the on board gratuities and then tip even more to bartenders,waiters,housekeeping etc.

Hi,

Do you receive a gratuity for your employment maybe not. Simply answer is to remove all gratuities after all Princess or any other cruise line should not be relying on their customers to reduce their liability of paying staff. Gratuity should not be added without the consent of the customer the amount should be down to the individual to give what they feel appropriate and not be told what should be given.

Each member of the crew is paid a salary the customer should not be expected to add to this.

David

Just a quick question, are their plenty of plug sockets in the cabins for usual charging items, hair dryers ect, as it says extension leads are not allowed.

Hi,

The one in the bathroom need a US adaptor for uk items. The one on the desk are close together and again need a US adaptor and the hair dryer has a European style plug. You need to plan carefully what and when you charge things and make sure the charger is a 110 - 240 volt one.

David

As others have said many local (and not so local) hotels offer parking packages costing little more than parking. Most of them include pre and post cruise transfers back to your hotel.

 

We are booked in the Holiday Inn for convenience next cruise but the one after when we may have a little more flexible time pre cruise we may look at one of the less local country house hotels that offer packages including dinner, bed, breakfast and parking.

 

Technically we have loads of time to drive down cruise day but why get stressed? As another post said, the difference between parking and hotel and parking is really minimal - we have found pretty much the same when flying from LHR too.

 

X has offered some free parking as a booking perk before now, no use to us as we want to stay over the night before, but worth looking out for if you do live quite close to the port...

Hi,

We did Eclipse last October and got part parking as part of the deal. We booked a hotel near the university with breakfast for £80 for 2. Took about 15 mins to drive to the port on the morning of the cruise.

David

Tried that but they are not showing in My Celebrity.

Hi,

If you have printed your Xpress pass then you may be able to print your guest ticket booklet. I printed Xpress pass when it said I could do that but had no guest ticket booklet showing on my celebrity. I called Captains Club who e mailed me another copy, they are not automatically sent at least in UK.

David

We recently were on the Reflection and booked the 5 dinner package. All gratuities were included on our cruise but I felt guilty and left an additional tip when dining in the specialty restaurants. Was I being generous? What is the proper gratuity?

Hi,

Have you thought that you are actually paying the gratuity twice, once for the normal MDR which you have not used and once for the speciality so if you tip gain that would total 3 tips, these peoples are doing their jobs. Do you get a gratuity for doing your job?

It's a couple of years since we last sailed Celebrity so things might have changed, hence the question.

 

In the past, we've received a pre-cruise summary brochure with luggage tags. Not sure if it was electronic last time or not. This time we sail in 5 weeks and haven't had anything. Maybe I can download it but I've checked on line and it isn't visible to my feeble, old eyes and fat internet fingers.

 

What am I missing?

 

 

cheers.

 

 

.

Hi,

If you have already printed your X press pass before e doc were available then you can't see them on My Celebrity. This happened to me I called Celebrity and they e mailed me another set.

Hope you get sorted,

David

I have not cruised Celebrity so not familiar with their availability of gluten free items in areas other than the main restaurant. For example, when on some other lines I have had no issue obtaining gluten free breads, pasta etc at the lido/buffet style venues. I have also had no problem on Holland America obtaining gluten free bread sandwiches via room service. Appreciate any help with this. Thank you.

Hi,

My partner is gluten free and had no problem in the main restaurant, but it was mentioned to our waiter of the fact on the first night. Regards the buffet it was a bit more problematic, she was able to get gluten free pizza, and noodles along with toast but had to wait for these to be prepared for her. There were usually 2 varieties of cakes per day but these tended to be repetitive, hope you like coconut. Tuscan grill were quite helpful when we ate there. Didn't use room service apart for breakfast which consisted of cereal (Rice Krispies) and juice.

David

:o Does anyone know if any one side of the ship is better for sun on a balcony when sailing from Istanbul to Barcelona in September.

 

Thanks if you can help :o

Hi,

In morning starboard would be best but afternoon then it will be port, that is if you are travelling due west and deviation form this 270 degree course will alter where the sun hits the ship.

David

DH asked if there is an accounting on your bill of drinks ordered if you have a package? We normally pay as we go which shows up obviously on our bill. He is curious to what we drink when on a package in comparison. Just curious.

Hi

I queried mine on last cruise contacted X and was told there was no way the could tell me what I had had, which amazed me as I would have thought for their stock control they would want to know. Why my card was swiped each time remains a mystery!

Are dark blue dress jeans allowed in the dining room?

 

Is shampoo provided ?

 

How is the onboard coffee ? It can't be worse than Carnival and Royal Caribbean !!!

 

Thanks

Hi,

Dress jeans, contradiction in my opinion. Jeans should be for doing the garden in not going to dinner.

Guest relations can downgrade a drink package and if only in place for a day or two have seen them refund the entire cost of the upgrade.

 

I too am confused regarding the OPs problem. Seems some is related to gratuities and others what was included. On drink packages it always seems to be needed to check and ask lots of question BEFORE changing. Looking at the drink menus is certainly necessary and upgrading before one is onboard is really wrong.

HI ,

Many questions were asked and were answered with well the premium is the best package. Visiting guest rations was a waste of time as the person there aid that he could nothing about it. At no time was it explained that prices onboard Eclipse on my cruise included gratuities as past to the price structure, was also told that the displayed prices had been that for at least 2 years here again no mention of inc grants. It seems to me that most of the crew have no idea what includes what and don't care about it either.

Hello.

Having just recently returned from my first Celebrity cruise aboard Eclipse I had an issue. I had a classic drinks package, so I check on their UK website as to the price restrictions that went with it. Once on board looking at a price list I saw that as far as I could understand my Classic package would cover very little so reluctantly I upgraded to premium. Later in the cruise I saw a flyer with package prices on which were different fro the website. I went to guest relations to voice my concern and on my return e mailed customer relations. The reply I received was strange ion the least, the said that at the time I e mailed all prices were show as being correct which I disputed and also that they had no way of checking that I had used the package to get drinks etc. I replied to this email and eventually received another answer which basically said they would not take any responsibility for the errors I have made them aware of. I was also informed that the prices that Eclipse show included gratuities and it's the only ship in the fleet which does this and that any drinks received show as a zero amount which I understand but surely they must have a more accurate record for accounting and stock taking purposes. Therefore I would warn any future Eclipse passengers to be aware of this as Celebrity are unwilling to accept any responsibility. Also they told me that my complaint at guest relations had not been logged even though the crew member said he would see to this, they was offer of them contacting the crew member as I had given them his name. I therefore conclude that customer relations is a waste of time and they are not interested in rectifying any passenger issues.

David

Hi Cardcrafter,

Have you tried Avamine for seasickness. My partner felt unwell on a joiurney to Iceland wind was force 9 she got some and within minutes was wanting to eat. As for time changes you dont seem to notice them.

David