cle-guy

Has anyone done the Champagne and Chocolate tasting?

I did this years ago - like maybe 2015 - and was hoping to find the pairing menu for reference.

Long shot, I know.  I've found similar menus for Disney and Princess cruises, but have not found one yet for X 😞 

19 hours ago, omeinv said:

What your TA is telling you almost sounds like they somehow have a "block" of GTY rooms.  I've never heard of this where they have them as GTY from Celebrity. 

Actually it's the most common practice.  TA's basically select an allowed number of cabins in categories (1a 1b etc, not generally "Veranda GTY" though at times, some agencies do get access to GTY's) and they hold them then assign an actual cabin number when they "berth" the staterooms.  There are a number of rules and requirements and algorithms as to the number of staterooms in any particular category an agent can hold.
 

So the agent would determine stateroom number for this client at time of berthing (not necessarily "booking") the client, which would be done according to the business rules of the particular agency.  Some berth immediately, others may wait until their group firms up to try and assign cabins together once all expected reservations are in hand.

Works like Airlines and seat assignments,  A seat map isn't an accurate indicator of availability any more than deck plans are.  In the above scenario even though the deckplans may show 40 open cabins, once they sell 30 of them the other 10 won't show as available anymore even thought stay don't yet have a name or reservation number assigned to them if a group has held space of 10 unberthed staterooms, until the group releases them.

TA's CAN elect to select specific cabins at the time they arrange a group, but they have to pay the deposits at (or very near) the time of selecting cabin numbers rather than wait on cabin assignments and deposits at actual time of berthing the staterooms.  This may be done for a corporate group that pays all the bills eat once or families that require sidebar side rooms or connectors as examples.  Often paying this top front leads to a better group fare than an undeposited group fare.

Close to sailing, unsold group cabins are released  most prior to final pay, but many hold right to sailing, depending not eh groups contract specifics.  Sometimes Celebrity Corporate may force the release of unsold group reserved staterooms sooner if they aren't meeting sales goals and the general sailing is filling up.

One thing to note, group fares aren't always cheaper than prevailing fares.  But they are at least a fixed fare, that doesn't move over time which can be useful.

On 1/14/2023 at 5:36 PM, miched said:

If I am reading it correctly Celebrity should dock a little further out than 1/2 mile and not have that issue.  

Grand Cayman is quite limited in places a ship is allowed to anchor due to the local corals.  it's the reason there are no major cruise ship asking options and all tender.  

Looking at the 21 night Encore Panama canal sailing.
 

What is the benefit of a "mini suite" versus a standard veranda?  Seem to be same size and layout? I assume does not include Haven.

Also how can I tell "bed by veranda" - is it cabin for 3 versus cabin for 4? Pullman versus sofa bed? which is which?
 

Thanks for the help!

17 hours ago, Guppy99 said:

ditto this...also last several cruises I took on any Celebrity ship, there were no longer any Apple stores. Not sure about Constellation though. 

 I think they got rid of the "stores" and now sell products within the new redesigned limited computer lounge spaces.

I'm just off Edge and used extra OBC to get an iPad Pro there (located next to Al Baccio).  They had laptops, speakers, accessories and older iPad models as well on sale.

Selections, however were limited as to color, choice and memory.  And just because it is "on display" doesn't mean there's one for sale I found out. 😞  

1 hour ago, chemmo said:

Strongly  recommend you look at any YouTube videos...All RS have a small balcony (compared to S class) and a significant overhang. Some friends of ours booked one and thoroughly enjoyed the full ship/Retreat experience but found the room disappointing in terms of suite space, lack of sun and sky view from the balcony and the actual balcony size itself...

I took a detailed tour of one onboard Edge in anticipation of actually occupying one on Apex....Your recap is a great description.  Small balcony, no whirlpool on veranda, balcony only accessible from bedroom.

But access to retreat, and proximity to Luminae and the retreat deck were also noted.

The tub in the bathroom is only a tub, no whirlpool.

I think it boils down only to avoiding the connector to the Iconic Suite and how close do you want to be to Luminae.

21 hours ago, Yorkshire-Pudding said:

It only takes 25 nights in a CS, RS or Signature Suite 18 in a  Penthouse to reach Elite.

and half that sailing solo.

On 9/18/2021 at 9:32 PM, TommyD3 said:

Now that you are Zenith you get the steam internet and premium beverage package as Zenith perks. 

I hope to see this be true.

I've read this is the case with the the Always Included and Indulge Fares (fares that come with perks) when reading the details on the website - they carefully used this language when describing the perks.

But I know in one of my recent mailings, they restricted perks on the "simply sail" fares that come with no perks to classic drinks and surf wifi.  I'll know for sure in November when  I sail on a simply sail fare.  They even pull some perks on suites with simply sail fares.

I just made Zenith after last cruise points posted.  My first actual Zenith cruise is coming up.

The way benefits are listed now, Michaels/Retreat access is gone, not "on hold"  even though  a lot of places mentions "capacity controI"  I don't see that perk coming back TBH.  I talked to retreat concierge a lot about this on my last round of cruises last month.

If I book the lower no perks "Simply Sail" fares, I get only the surf wifi and classic drinks package - no longer the upgraded "Stream" and "premium" versions, which I can pay to upgrade to.

There are a lot of other odd things that have changed too.  But those are the seemingly random money grabs i have noticed that were most important to me.

So this leads me to believe yes things are eroding.  This now at least gives a chance to go to other lines and ask for reciprocal "top-tier" status ....





 

My experience is spirits, no.  Wine - limited bottles.

Wine, they have limited supply of the standard stuff in their pantries they can pretty much give out as needed and probably drop a bottle of wine for you from that with no problem.  The "pre board" bottles that are in cabin on arrival options.

You could also buy a bottle from any restaurant and take back to the cabin to use over a few days.  

And they now seem to be referred to as "retreat Hosts" not butlers.  Just spent 4 weeks on Edge in a sky suite.

15 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Just read on the FB Royal Caribbean blog that the Virgin Islands (St Thomas) just told RCCL that their ships would not be allowed to enter if there were any unvaccinated passengers over 12 years old on the ship. Any word yet if the Edge is going to be allowed to stop there on your cruise? That is unless there are no unvaccinated folks on your cruise over 12, then all is well.

 

The government of the U.S. Virgin Islands has informed Royal Caribbean of a new policy that requires all cruise passengers ages 12 and older to be fully vaccinated in order for the ship to be allowed entry into the port. This latest requirement applies to all cruise ships scheduled to enter U.S. Virgin Island ports.

I'm on Edge starting next week, and got emails the last 2 days that all PAX now need to be tested pre-cruise and vaccinated, exception being kids.  

What was the B2B process?  I board the 7th for 3 weeks, luckily got the same sky suite for all 3 sailings, so no need to pack. 🙂

19 hours ago, stevenwball said:

Hi Cle-guy,

We just rebooked our cruise that got cancelled due to Covid-19 to a Med cruise on the Edge ship next fall and we booked a Sky Suite Room 11174.  When I did a search on that room number I see that you have stayed in that same cabin.  Can you provide any feedback on the location of the cabin and if the orange rail for the Magic Carpet bothered you at all on the balcony?  I think having an extra window facing aft that you can see the whole starboard side of the ship would be a bonus, but I know a few people said they didn’t like the large orange MC rail on their balcony.  Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

We really liked the large veranda.  It just made the room feel larger even though it was not an "infinite veranda" type wall.

The forward facing window (did you say aft? I swore forward, but either works) (that does not open) was quite nice as well, made it feel like a penthouse aft corner - almost LOL.  

But it was nice to stare ahead with no wind while at sail.  No sun but I'm not a "sunner".

you could hear the thing creaking and grinding when it moved, but it was so rare and during the day for such a short time, it wasn't bothersome, and was also something unique to occupy 30 minutes of the day!

I do wish the bed faced the windows was my only disappointment.

1 minute ago, davekathy said:

At least the CC and C&A programs are reciprocal up to elite and diamond.  

I guess to a point.  No discounted or free Internet on RCL, no diamond lounges on Celebrity, Cabnin mates allowed to participate in CC events on Celebrity, only C&A eligible members can participate in events and Diamond club.

1 hour ago, LorraineP said:

Wonder why Celebrity gives B2B discounts & RCL doesn’t. 

2 different companies, policies and rules.

Just like Captain's Club and C&A are separate and have different tiers and perks but cant collect the same points.

I was just about to ask this, glad to move it up the thread. 

• 6402
• 6403
• 6404
• 6405

Still no reports in the S Class spreadsheet, nor do they appear on the X website maps (though the cabin numbers show in list view), I found them on that other website we all like to check out from time to time.

I''m looking at a long string of B2B's Jan-June Antarctica to Iceland when I stumbled on them.

Thought I'd update this thread.  My TA just confirmed the discount scheme:

I have 6 cancellations I'm chasing up.  1 is a charter.  As of today:

1. Mar 14 Sailing: (CXL Mar 13) received FCC a week ago, taxes & MoveUp refunded yesterday.   Also had taxes refund in April.  So I'm ahead on this one
2. Mar 21 Sailing: (CXL Mar 13) Charter - Charter Company got word from Celebrity how to handle on Mar 27.  Awaiting refunds from Charter Company.
3. Mar 28 Sailing: (CXL Mar 13) Received FCC a week ago, no taxes yet
4. Apr 12 Sailing: (CXL Mar 24 ) Received FCC 5/2 (it is for $63 more than expected oddly), no taxes yet
5. Apr 20 Sailing: (CXL Mar 24 ) Nothing
6. May 3 Sailing: (CXL Mar 24 ) Nothing 

3 hours ago, paulh84 said:

I think this answers your question...

Ok, so the only additional "profit" would come thru on the on the overage paid in new money if I get this, which seems fair.

I'm looking at a string of B2B's on Sillie January 2021 - June  from South America to Med, Europe and Iceland, no duplicate itineraries, and very few duplicate ports along the way.

So I have a bunch of FCC's, at 125% of the fares from a string of cancellations this spring.

I feel like I hit the jackpot, stock market crashed, but I made 25% that day on my "Cruise Investment Account"  LOL. 

I have been looking at the Summit East Coast sailings June/July with Charleston  and Boston on the call list.

If I use these FCC's on them and they cancel, will I get new 125% FCCs based on the new fare I booked?

With Carnival canceling till August, I'm thinking of doubling down.....

 

Why do some ships just run circles, rather than anchor and sit still?  Seems sitting still would save fuel?

FCC should be only on the cruise fare.  Taxes and tips should refund.

ships sitting empty for 2 months.  The virus will be dead in 2 weeks sitting on surfaces.  self-sanitized.

2 minutes ago, B113 said:

Wondering what they will do about the Alaskan cruises since they can't stop in Canada until July.

 

 I hear you can see Russia from Wassila Alaska, maybe go to Russia.

2 minutes ago, Beachin2 said:

Carnival, except their Princess brand, has not pulled the plug either.

They also pulled Costa.

I just got this from Interliner about an hour ago.

• AMA Waterways, Suspended Europe river cruises thru April 25, 2020
• Avalon River Cruises and Globus Tours, Suspended operations thru April 30, 2020
• Celestyal Cruises, Suspended operations thru May 1, 2020
• Disney Cruise Line, Suspended all operations thru March 30, 2020
• Walt Disney World and Disneyland closed thru end March, 2020
• Gate1Travel, suspended all operations thru April 30, 2020
• MSC Cruises, various worldwide cancellations and itinerary changes.
• Oceania, various cancels in French Polynesia and Europe itinerary changes
• Paul Gauguin Cruises, Suspended all operations thru April 11, 2020
• Princess Cruises Suspended all operations through May 11, 2020
• Uniworld River Cruises, Suspended Europe river cruises thru April 23, 2020
• Viking River and Viking Ocean Cruises, Suspended operations thru April 30, 2020
• Windstar Cruises, Suspended all operations thru April 30, 2020
• Costa Cruises, Suspended all operations thru April 3, 2020