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Future cruise deposits offer a minimal credit. If you know the cruise you want there is often much more obc offered depending on the length of the sailing and the cabin type. Pricing is usually the same though if I remember correctly I have once or twice saved a tiny bit booking onboard. If you know what you want to do there is no downside to booking onboard provided you book with a refundable deposit). And it does transfer to your travel agent if you use one (provided you transfer within 30 days and before final payment). Personally I do like to keep a few FCDs in my account to place things on hold. They are a lot easier to track than credit card deposits and refunds.

What a cluster - another totally failed experiment by X management. Glad to see they are finally backtracking on this cut disguised as an “enhancement.” Fingers crossed that they backtrack on the solo pricing next. I wonder how much of a decline in sky suite bookings and service scores it took for them to change course on this. Of course it will take a long time for them to get all the butlers back in place even if no one left - lots of jobs to back fill. I totally understand that the pandemic was financially devastating to the travel industry, and costs increase over time, and the need to improve shareholder value, etc. X needs to figure out how to do this without alienating their customers. It’s just not sustainable to charge luxury prices far higher than any of the other premium cruise lines while cutting service levels back. There are way too many options out there (granted others made cuts too but at a fraction of the impact and price).

It is and it isn't. I can totally understand charging 200%. Cruise lines have given prices as per person for a long time to make people think it is less ($1,500 per person sounds better than $3,000 for a cabin). Essentially I think of it like a hotel room. Hilton or Mariott don't care if I am one or two people, they charge $300 for a room for one night. Unless I add extra guests and now they have to service the sofa bed or provide an extra free breakfast. The incremental cost to the cruise line of 1 vs 2 people is miniscule. I have never complained about 200%, though I am grateful when there is the occasional sale offering a discount on the supplement. Where I take offense is paying more on top of that. If it is all about onboard spending then go back to including the onboard credit - as a solo I had to use $800 of OBC by myself vs 2 people using $400 each. If I didn't spend it, then they got to keep the difference.

Totally agree. They say it is about onboard spending. I really doubt most guests are spending the amount they are charging solos extra. For retreat cabins/Royal Suite it is as much as $3K or $6K more on a 7-10 day sailing. It comes out to anywhere from $300-800 per day. As much as some retreat folks might spend I highly doubt that is actually the average OBS of guests in suites. If they really want everyone to spend, why would they get rid of the retreat always included promotion that had $800 or so of OBC. That literally forced you to pre-pay for onboard spending and include it in the price. And if you don't they keep whatever they baked into the price for it (just like they keep whatever you don't spend on your drink package). Just took a look at a last minute cruise 1 month out (10 day on Silhouette). One would think they would be happy to sell a cabin this close in, even if it is to a single traveler - currently 8 retreat cabins and 1 guarantee verandah left. Their pricing suggests they still wouldn't want a solo. Horizon Suite $17,207 for 2 $24,528 for 1 Celebrity Suite $16,090 for 2 $22,919 for 1 Sunset Sky Suite $11,856 for 2 $17,207 for 1 Verandah Guarantee $3,815 for 2 Not permitted for 1 I also notice that even though this is all about onboard spending not taking place, we don't get a penny of onboard credit for our extra $5-7 thousand dollars. IMO it is a money grab pure and simple. And they are counting on enough people not paying attention or knowing enough to ask what the price for 2 is. I know some people say book for 2 and have the other no show...I would not want to take that risk. Who knows what sort of policies they may enforce around this. They certainly have the right to charge whatever they want, and we have right to take take it or not. I am of the mind that if my $17K for a Horizon suite isn't good enough for them, then I wish them luck with getting the equivalent off of a move up bid or couple looking for a last minute 10 night cruise...given they still have 3 horizon suites, 2 celebrity suites and 3 sunset sky suites I doubt they will fill all with couples paying rack rate. But of course what do I know? Ok, rant over.

I think the odds of anything other than a sky suite are very close to zero. I believe any cabin can bid on a higher suite also so most likely someone will pay for it. Celebrity is quite good at maximizing their revenue.

Yes, I would agree with this.

If they booked a new reservation with a refundable deposit it should be OK, the only thing is if you cancel I would suspect you may lose the $700 so I would probably just change to another refundable deposit sailing if you need to make any changes.

You can transfer as long as it is within 30 days of making the book later deposit (not when you book the reservation). I believe you should keep the benefits, but they keep changing the rules so rapidly it’s hard to say what they will do or if there is some other exclusion.

The only option to save some of your funds is to pay the 200 change fee and rebook a new cruise at the time of cancellation. Otherwise you lose everything. Note that the new booking is also non-refundable and any further changes in sailing date or ship will result in additional $100 pp change fee. sounds like the future cruise consultants got it sorted for you which is great. Glad to see they have some power to fix things. Fun story. You can technically change to the refundable price but the reservation will remain non-refundable and subject to change fees. Once had a TA mess this up before I became a TA myself and it was a royal mess.

Basically everything on X has doubled. The biggest sticker shock for me was seeing the price of X excursions compared to the exact same one on other brands. I guess good for them if they can get it.

Well, after being unsure if I would ever sail with Celebrity again I am glad to say I snagged one of their discounted solo pricing on a November 24 & February 25 sailing. Glad to see they are changing course. The 75% or sailings is dubious to me. Sounds like it will be hit or miss - guess it is definitely buyer be ware when booking!

I have split the bed on Solstice in the last year! The individual beds are small but comfortable!

It will show on your booking confirmation.

I posted on the other thread but for those that aren't on that one: Maybe positive sign - I did a few test bookings for Winter 2024 and it looks like solos are actually discounted slightly (looked at Eclipse and apex in November) and substantially discounted in retreat cabins with a 2K-3K savings. I thought maybe they backtracked but over the summer of 2024 and everything I found still has the extra surcharge for solos. Looking into 2025 summer months still have the surcharge, but winter 2025 looks to have the Also, when booking thorough the consumer website I waws not able to add a refundable deposit option to solo retreat bookings but could still do it on the TA side. Not sure if this is a glitch or an intentional change on their part, but any solos looking at winter sailings I would suggest trying to nab one ASAP. The winter sailings that have discounted solo pricing have a promo code "SINGLES" attached to it. Summer sailings have the "RET 2PK SGL" or "NOPERK SGL" promo.

Maybe positive sign - I did a few test bookings for Winter 2024 and it looks like solos are actually discounted slightly (looked at Eclipse and apex in November) and substantially discounted in retreat cabins with a 2K-3K savings. I thought maybe they backtracked but over the summer of 2024 and everything I found still has the extra surcharge for solos. Looking into 2025 summer months still have the surcharge, but winter 2025 looks to have the Also, when booking thorough the consumer website I waws not able to add a refundable deposit option to solo retreat bookings but could still do it on the TA side. Not sure if this is a glitch or an intentional change on their part, but any solos looking at winter sailings I would suggest trying to nab one ASAP. The winter sailings that have discounted solo pricing have a promo code "SINGLES" attached to it. Summer sailings have the "RET 2PK SGL" or "NOPERK SGL" promo.

100% Agree with you. It was not long ago that they were not charging solos a supplement at all due to desperation to fill cabins. I doubt that they will go back to that, but going back to standard solos pay 200% may be in the cards. I guess time will tell.

Totally agree with you. I am sure their employees know it is a ridiculous ask - especially when absolutely no other cruise line tries to do this. I can understand paying the double occupancy price, as much as it hurts every time I do it. But paying more (and substantially more at that) is just totally illogical. I am sure the future cruise people hate this, it must be killing their solo sales. I totally agree, if 2x is not good enough, then they can just sell to someone else. Hopefully when enough of us vote with our wallets they will change their minds.

Who do you typically make the request to? Is it the main reservations dept? Ironically we have been assigned the worst possible table location on every single cruise we we selected fixed dining. It is always either on side of the upper dining room, between a pole, waiter's station and solid wall with no way to see windows, or in the former orchestra pit where tables are 1/4 inch apart and you look at everyone's feet around you. This has happened on every single cruise we have ever booked and after the first night the Neptune concierge usually requests the Maitre'D move us and we have always been accommodated. The only cruise we couldn't get fixed dining was a 2 week Panama canal (even though we booked a suite over a year out). As I recall they wouldn't take reservations for more than the same day (and this was pre-app) so you had to call daily to make reservations or show up and wait. Our waiter the first night was wonderful so when we called the next morning we requested his section. Turns out it was him who answered the phone - after that he made reservations for us in his section for the next day every single night & took absolutely amazing care of us the entire cruise. Best dining service we ever had on a HAL ship.

I don't think that I could take the stress of maybe going, maybe not going and not knowing the room type until so late. Glad you got a great room!

I will definitely not consider booking Celebrity as a solo or double as long as they keep this up. It is really just one thing too many. If I have learned anything in post-pandemic cruising, it is loyalty to no brand. In the past I have always had a favorite cruise line and tended to stick with that - now I consider everyone and choose based on itinerary, price, amenities & other inclusions or perks. To be honest I was very impressed with NCL. Had written them off years ago. They have certainly made some cutbacks from what they used to do, particularly in the entertainment department, but what cruise line has not changed. I cancelled 4 Celebrity retreat bookings and moved them to the Haven.

This is a great point. I actually spend way more on specialty, etc. when I am on my own then I do when travelling with family. I also do way more in the spa. Perhaps they have data to back up that solos spend less, but I totally agree. This is really disappointing. I have actually cancelled 4 retreat bookings in upper suites with X and have nothing booked with them. As much as I like the onboard experience, I will absolutely not support a company that penalizes solos in this way. Additionally their pricing is just so out of line with comparable or better products. I guess they have enough demand that they just don't care how many people leave for other cruise lines.

This has always been my experience with one notable exception. If you book a shorter portion of a longer cruise I have found it doesn't post until the whole cruise ends. I did a 1 night Seattle - Vancouver which continued on to San Diego, then Fort Lauderdale. As I recall it posted about a week after the ship completed the cruise in Fort Lauderdale.

You definitely can buy onboard but should book sooner rather than later - they usually stop selling 3 or 4 days before the end of the cruise. You most likely can just buy it in your navigator app under shore excursions.

Usually I get an email back 1-2 business days later. Please note they will assist only for the initial embarkation and final disembarkation. Wheelchairs are not provided for use onboard or at various ports of call (though there is usually someone at the gangway who will help push you the length of the gangway if you are in a wheelchair). You are totally on your own as soon as you get to the end of the gangway or back on the ship. If you need to rent a wheelchair for use onboard, the two main companies are Special Needs at Sea (HAL preferred vendor) and Scootaround. I strongly recommend Special Needs at Sea - if you have an issue with the chair, HAL can work with them to offer a replacement. If you use another vendor all they can do is rent you one if available. In my experience, for embarkation they will unceremoniously dump you in the lobby, though sometimes they will take you to your cabin or a lounge but it varies from ship to ship. For disembarkation there is usually a lounge near the gangway they will have you go to and then pushers will come with wheelchairs periodically to take you off the ship and back to the port.

I don't think gift cards have ever been able to apply to pre-cruise website purchases. You could try calling ship services (800-541-1576) and see if they can do it over the phone. You should have no trouble using it onboard though.