elizabet

The tax applied to your booking is listed under Taxes, fees and port costs. I have had it go down if there was a change in a port but have never had it go up.

 

If you prebook a specialty restaurant, excursion, beverage package or upgrade, etc. there are no taxes on these items, and there are no taxes if you purchase on board. No tax on purchases in the ships either, such as alcohol, watches, sundries, etc.

 

Some ports, such as Ft. Lauderdale, might require Celebrity to charge tax until the ship is in open water. Often Celebrity will wait to put the charge onto your account until after you have sailed. They've done this for us when we ordered expensive champagnes for New Years.

 

If you purchase beverages outside of a package, or spa treatments, there is an 18% gratuity added to the purchase. This is above the daily gratuity.

Awesome! I appreciate the info! :)

Not exactly. Your ship cannot be in port. For example in Florida you pay sales tax on meals and beverages until the ship is 3 miles out! Spain has a similar tax scheme. Others probably do as well.

Huh! Is it local tax rates? That is fascinating. Kinda makes me wish I worked in a cruise line payables dept., cause that is really complicated and exciting (I am a bookkeeper). Just imagine, tax accounts in a variety of jurisdictions, managing the remittances must be a nightmare! I am totally geeking out on this.

Hello All,

I am trying to put together the final cost of a cruise and am wondering if anyone knows what tax rate celebrity applies to purchases (onboard and fares)? I suspect that I am not paying GST/PST on this.

I called the cruise line and the fellow I spoke with could give me the total of the taxes and fees (less helpful as we will likely be adding a number of packages to our fare price - dinners, internet, drinks - plus spa treatments and fitness classes), but he could not break this down for me.

Thank you in advance,

Elizabet

Whew! If figured as much, but still a little worried.

I suggest that whoever Celebrity hired to do the design of the 11th deck passenger cabins that were added to the M-class ships apparently had never actuallly been on a ship...you see ships rock from side to side. There are no stops on the drawers to hold them closed...and there is no way to secure the balcony door in any position other than closed and locked and that, only from the inside.

 

Translated, that means that if you hit rougher seas, your drawers open and slam closed all night....and if there is any rocking side to side but it's nice out and you decide to sit on your balcony, the balcony door will slide open and closed.

 

So the duct tape is to tape your drawers shut...and the bungee cord to hold the balcony door fully open (I haven't found any way to hold the balcony door closed if you are outside unless someone on the inside locks you out.

Does this actually happen??? I'm expecting rough seas when we travel.

Hello,

We did a 11 night cruise Eastern Med. last year on the Reflection and Michael's Club was one of the ship highlights for us. I've just booked a 2016 cruise on the Millennium (16 days Bering Sea crossing, woot!), and was sad to sea (hardy, har, har!) that this venue is now available to suite guests only (we typically sail Aqua Class). Has Celebrity replaced the niche beer lounge with a similar venue? My husband very much enjoyed the selection and variety of beers and I was pleasantly surprised to find that they served lambic ales and decent selection of scotches. Does the Millennium even have a Michael's club or similar venue (hopefully available to all guests)? I've gone over the deck plans and have yet to see anything of the sort.

Thanks in advance,

Eliz.

Formal heels, flats (gold, they go with pretty much everything and can be dressed up or down), Merrel barefoot runners (wonder glove, not the ones that look like feet). Debating on flip flops for the spa. I could prolly do away with the black heels, but the makes me feel special to wear them.

Yes you can rent formalwear by going to the gifts by celebrity on the website

Thanks!!!

Is renting a tux an option on Celebrity? This is the plan that the men in my party have decided on for formal nights.

I'm excited to see a selection (ever so small though) of Lambics and fruit beers! The Lindeman's is really good, a bit sweet, but my favourite. Otherwise I'll be sticking to the Peroni and scotch/cognac selection.

Flying Pig is good - we've been eating there since before it officially opened. Although I have yet to try their Gastown branch to see if it's consistent with the original.

I've been to both, my preference for Gastown location. It's pretty much the same as far as food quality (super yum), I just find the staff at the Gastown location to be a little more friendly (no disrespect to Yaletown, it's my "hood", I just find the staff the Yaletown loc. to occasionally be snarky, not enough that I would never return, but I have knocked 2-3% off their tip once in awhile). Plus, if I time it correctly I can stop in at Revolver. ;)

Also, cruisers coming to Vancouver:

Go to Revolver for coffee. You may not be able to get a seat in the cafe but it will make you want to move to our little city by the sea. And make whatever coffee you drink at home taste utterly disappointing in comparison.

http://revolvercoffee.ca/

Out on Commercial Drive - easy on transit, but about an hour on foot from downtown - there's Belgian Fries who still advertise that CBC Montreal (the TV broadcaster) think they have the most authentic poutine in BC.

Seconded. Belgian Fries is great.

There is apparently a place on Main Street (name alludes me at the moment) as well that does good poutine, I just have yet to make the trek to try it.

Also, just tried the poutine at the Flying Pig. Was really good. Gluttonous. Also great at the Flying Pig is the brussel sprouts and the arugula and beet salad.

http://theflyingpigvan.com/

Three places I go to for cheese curds and gravy on fries in my city:

Fritz. Disclaimer: I've only ever been after a late night out at the clubs, so I've never had their poutine sober.

La Belle Patate. I lived in Quebec for 6 years and this is a real French poutine. Plus they do a hotdog poutine, which in my opinion is the best street food ever (when I was a student, this was the thing you ate after a night of barhopping, to gather your strength for the long stumble up Rue Lafountaine).

http://labellepatate.com/

La Brasserie does a good poutine, and is somewhat fancier. http://www.labrasserievancouver.com/contact.html

Oh! I hope he wore a kilt! When done properly, these are the most attractive formal wear. *le sigh* My husband wore one to our wedding. On that day, he looked especially sexy, dapper, gallant, and extra gentlemanly. All the best bits of mens formal wear! ;)

A tip (not meant to be an overtly inappropriate advert):

If you are cruising out of Vancouver, House of McLaren offers really good quality rentals and are right by the port (purchasing a proper, includes everything, formal kilt can be a little pricey). It's wear my husband goes for all his kilty needs. Plus the proprietor is a really nice scottish lady (I adore her, she is very sweet). Google and you will find their website.

Hi Kat228,

Congrats on your wedding!

Thank you for posting all of your photos! I'm sailing around that same time (AquaClass on the Reflection, Eastern Med.) and so these have given me some idea of what to expect weather wise. Also, I really appreciate getting a look at the bathrooms and the food! :)

Cheers!

Exactly what I was thinking! :P

They did a nigri style tempura prawn sushi thing as one of the "did ya?" courses on our last trip. Also, I remember a cold avocado soup. Both were good.