Thank You, Upgrade Fairy

[Hisairworthiness]

We were upgraded from a CS to a RS on an upcoming Summit cruise. When I called to a) confirm and b) effusively thank Celebrity. I inquired about having my already purchased Premium Beverage package refunded as it's an included perk with the RS. I was informed that this could only be done once aboard. Not a big deal but does seem a bit odd to me. What think you, O Wise Ones? Am I missing some subtle accounting nuance here?

[kenevenpar]

Great upgrade! I don't think I would push that one; just me.

[Keith1010]

Very nice.

 

Keith

[cruisingsince94]

I would not expect a refund on the premium package. If you get it count your blessings. You were upgraded to the RS, you didn't pay for an RS. Therefore, they are not required to give you anything.

Congratulations on the upgrade and good luck trying to convince them on the beverage package.

[tgg]

mistake

Edited September 8, 2015 by tgg

[rnrcruzin]

At one time before he died Malcolm Forbes was considered one of the most wealthy persons in the world. A reported once asked him how much (money) was enough? Forbes responded, “Just a little more.”

[Pris13]

You got a nice bonus you weren't expecting. I would not be greedy.

[Project_gal]

I tend to agree with those who say "just count your blessings and be grateful" however, if you do want a refund, why not just go onto My Celebrity and cancel the purchased beverage package yourself?

[cruisingsince94]

I tend to agree with those who say "just count your blessings and be grateful" however, if you do want a refund, why not just go onto My Celebrity and cancel the purchased beverage package yourself?

 

The OP wants to have their cake and eat it too! In other words, they stir want the premium beverage package, just want it for free.

[gail8]

Wow nice....we r on the Summit again in a few months. I love that ship.

Gail

[QuitMyDayJob]

OP: Can I ask how far out you were notified? And how many Celebrity cruises you've been on?

[HooKares]

I don’t comment/post much on CC but…Wow, some people must of got out of bed the wrong way today…

The OP was only asking about getting a refund on an beverage package that they pre-paid for and due to an unexpected upgrade this beverage package now becomes “free” with their upgrade…. Why wouldn’t he/she expect a refund? They paid for it? Again…Wow with some of the snarky responses… :(

 

Cheers!

[cruisingsince94]

I don’t comment/post much on CC but…Wow, some people must of got out of bed the wrong way today…

The OP was only asking about getting a refund on an beverage package that they pre-paid for and due to an unexpected upgrade this beverage package now becomes “free” with their upgrade…. Why wouldn’t he/she expect a refund? They paid for it? Again…Wow with some of the snarky responses… :(

 

Cheers!

 

The upgrade was FREE! They did not pay for a RS, so they are not entitled to a FREE premium beverage package. If they had paid for an upgrade then yes they would be entitled to it as they would have paid for it based on whatever Celebrity would have charged for the upgrade.

Maybe you should know the facts before you comment.

[CathyCruises]

Totally disagree. The RS comes with a premium bev package, and if they were upgraded to it, they will get it. No need to also pay for it. Luck of the draw, and good on the OP for the great upgrade. Nevermind the snarky comments

 

If they had been upgraded to AQ from an inside cabin, wouldn't they still be eating in Blu, getting waters delivered to their SR every day, have access to the Persian Gardens? You betcha. That's the way it goes. May we all be so lucky.

Edited September 8, 2015 by CathyCruises

[biker1972]

And what happens if for some weird reason, X puts the OP back in the CS? Hmmm could it happen? OP gets what he paid for. The upgrade fairy made a horrible mistake because X thought someone had failed to pay for their RS and they are just righting their ship. The bonus was the upgrade, and the OP most likely won't get the refund, but he can ask.

[JFontaine]

Since you already paid separately for the beverage package, you should definitely be able to cancel it and get your money back. I wouldn't be as sure if the beverage package was part of a cruise package and not billed separately. You say it is an "upcoming" cruise. If it is this weekend, it might be too late to make shoreside refunds now. I would call and hopefully get a different agent; if that didn't work I'd ask for a supervisor. They should explain why you will need to deal with this on your vacation. If that doesn't work, take the name of the supervisor who said you will get a refund, and ask the Michael's Club concierge to handle this. Issues like this should be easily handled by them. Have a great cruise.

[JFontaine]

The upgrade was FREE! They did not pay for a RS, so they are not entitled to a FREE premium beverage package. If they had paid for an upgrade then yes they would be entitled to it as they would have paid for it based on whatever Celebrity would have charged for the upgrade.

Maybe you should know the facts before you comment.

 

This is incorrect. A passenger in a Royal Suite gets all the benefits of that cabin: premium beverage package, mini bar, unlimited specialty dining, etc. The price of the RS became whatever they paid for the Celebrity Suite (which, frankly, could have been more than the current RS pricing). As far as the ship is concerned, this isn't a free upgrade - this is a passenger in a cabin.

[Hisairworthiness]

Thanks to all for taking the time to reply. To QuitMyDayJob, I'm about a month away and have been on more than 5 but less than 10 X cruises. Perhaps the reason I got the upgrade was the fact I was in the CS and had purchased the Premium Beverage Package. Who knows? I am counting my lucky stars. I hear my Mother's voice (as well as some of yours) - "Don't look a gift horse..."

JFontaine, excellent suggestions. Thank you. I suppose it's the very definition of a First World problem.

[cruisingsince94]

This is incorrect. A passenger in a Royal Suite gets all the benefits of that cabin: premium beverage package, mini bar, unlimited specialty dining, etc. The price of the RS became whatever they paid for the Celebrity Suite (which, frankly, could have been more than the current RS pricing). As far as the ship is concerned, this isn't a free upgrade - this is a passenger in a cabin.

 

If that's the case then somebody owes me an explanation as to why we didn't receive the same benefits when we were upgraded to a RS.

[JFontaine]

If that's the case then somebody owes me an explanation as to why we didn't receive the same benefits when we were upgraded to a RS.

 

Were you originally on a full paid fare? If so, you should have received all of the benefits of the cabin category. If you were on a free or greatly reduced trip (casino, interline, relative works on board) - those trips have different rules.

[JFontaine]

Also, the upgraded suite benefits started in April 2015. Perhaps your cruise was before then?

[DrivesLikeMario]

OP - Just go into your booking and cancel the upgraded drink package. Worst case scenario, they move you back to the lower cabin and you pay for the upgraded drink package again. No big deal.

 

If you're in the RS, then you get all the benefits. No reason to have to pay for one of the ones you're getting as part of the cabin benefits.

[jagoffee]

If that's the case then somebody owes me an explanation as to why we didn't receive the same benefits when we were upgraded to a RS.

 

 

Perhaps you cruised before they improved the suite benefits? When was your cruise?

[Project_gal]

As far as the ship is concerned, this isn't a free upgrade - this is a passenger in a cabin.

 

I would not be so sure.

 

OK, all I have to base this on is a couple who upgraded at embarkation to a PH suite at a very low rate and it may be different if the upgrade is in advance. However, the crew all knew that the couple, who had upgraded from a RS, got the PH on the cheap.

 

Another example is from Azamara [but in the days it was still part of Celebrity]: a couple won the PH upgrade at bingo. They were not invited to events for which PH and RS guests were invited.

 

As I say, neither of these examples were upgrades in advance of the cruise but the crew were very aware of these "freebees".

[cruisingsince94]

Were you originally on a full paid fare? If so, you should have received all of the benefits of the cabin category. If you were on a free or greatly reduced trip (casino, interline, relative works on board) - those trips have different rules.

 

Yes, we were indeed on a full paid fare. I still have all the records so I am going to follow up and see what they have to say. Just saw your next post. The cruise was in March. Guess I don't need to call after all.

Edited September 9, 2015 by cruisingsince94