New "fee" of $14/day on Perks Drink Package to be added?

[miched]

There is a little clause about paying extra if the price of fuel increases to over $XXX per barrel.   I don’t think it has ever been put into effect but is a “hidden” possible add on.

 

How long before they start charging a service fee for processing our tickets like many venues are doing?  

 

I think that the straw for many will be charging a resort fee.  

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

 

[wpgcycler]

3 minutes ago, miched said:

 

How long before they start charging a service fee for processing our tickets like many venues are doing?  

 

I think that the straw for many will be charging a resort fee.  

 

 

I wasn't aware these were under consideration. Is there some basis for believing either or both of these may be in the works?

[MEcruzr]

Once you accept that the perks you choose are not, and never have been, "free"... the added per day fare increase for an included beverage package is, in my opinion, acceptable. You can get a bev pkg by buying it outright (no added per day charge) or you can bundle it with 1 or 3 other add-ons and get it at a discount. With the new $14/pp/pd fare increase you're just paying extra for something that's of greater value than the other perks. Another option would have been to add $14/pp/pd to every "with perks" cruise fare. They did the fair thing and only added it to the bev pkg perk. The only people paying extra are those who choose the BP. And they are still getting it at a good discount over buying it.

[miched]

36 minutes ago, wpgcycler said:

 

I wasn't aware these were under consideration. Is there some basis for believing either or both of these may be in the works?

 

 

No not really but I am sure  that X might because others are doing it.

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

 

 

[wpgcycler]

You're "sure" that they "might". Well, can't really argue with that i guess. 🙄

[Georgia_Peaches]

On 10/8/2019 at 10:32 AM, Georgeny said:

I was aware of this but honestly how can you consider something that costs additional and is tied to rates FREE?

Maybe X should consider re-branding their "free perks" into something called "bonus options" or "discounted add-ons"  or something similar.  Kinda like this random example that shows the customer the hidden cost outright instead of bundling into a higher cruise fare and making people think they are getting something for free.  This model allows for people to pick and choose based on their needs/wants.

• Base fare:  $999.00 pp

       Add-ons: 

• Pre-paid gratuities:  $45 pp
• Wi-Fi:  $25 pp
• Beverage Package:  $105 pp

The word "free" plays with people's psyches.  I would rather know the cost break down of my cruise, if for nothing else, just to see if I'm getting a better deal by bundling ahead of time or by buying al la carte  once I board the ship.  

 

Note:  I just pulled numbers out of thin air to illustrate an example.  The only number that is accurate is the current up charge for the BP on a 7 night cruise.

[fstuff1]

1 hour ago, cruznthrulife71 said:

Here is the news posting on cruise critic.

https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/4540/

 

It does not mention if this is for the current promotion but my guess it is for the long haul.  Nor does it say anything about if it applies to future or standing reservations and if it will be added to your on board account or to the rate at time of booking.

 

I think my biggest qualm is calling the perks "free".  they should be labeled as "discounted" as there is a price jump from a base fare and the add 2 or 4 perk quote.  

 

We are sailing on the Edge in January and I'm watching this forum for more information. Any info is greatly appreciated.  thanks and happy sailing!

 

 

 

"The cost of purchasing a standalone beverage package has not changed; this $14 per person, per day, cost only applies to passengers who selected the beverage package as one of their free perks during a promotion."

 

how much is the beverage package for a 7day cruise if bought outright?

[fstuff1]

1 hour ago, cruznthrulife71 said:

Here is the news posting on cruise critic.

https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/4540/

 

It does not mention if this is for the current promotion but my guess it is for the long haul.  Nor does it say anything about if it applies to future or standing reservations and if it will be added to your on board account or to the rate at time of booking.

 

I think my biggest qualm is calling the perks "free".  they should be labeled as "discounted" as there is a price jump from a base fare and the add 2 or 4 perk quote.  

 

We are sailing on the Edge in January and I'm watching this forum for more information. Any info is greatly appreciated.  thanks and happy sailing!

 

 

 

"The cost of purchasing a standalone beverage package has not changed; this $14 per person, per day, cost only applies to passengers who selected the beverage package as one of their free perks during a promotion."

 

how much is the beverage package for a 7day cruise if bought outright?

[fstuff1]

1 hour ago, cruznthrulife71 said:

Here is the news posting on cruise critic.

https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/4540/

 

It does not mention if this is for the current promotion but my guess it is for the long haul.  Nor does it say anything about if it applies to future or standing reservations and if it will be added to your on board account or to the rate at time of booking.

 

I think my biggest qualm is calling the perks "free".  they should be labeled as "discounted" as there is a price jump from a base fare and the add 2 or 4 perk quote.  

 

We are sailing on the Edge in January and I'm watching this forum for more information. Any info is greatly appreciated.  thanks and happy sailing!

 

 

 

"The cost of purchasing a standalone beverage package has not changed; this $14 per person, per day, cost only applies to passengers who selected the beverage package as one of their free perks during a promotion."

 

how much is the beverage package for a 7day cruise if bought outright?

[Georgia_Peaches]

Premium Beverage package is currently $69 pp/pd  Classic is $59 pp/pd

 

Or, $966 total for 2 people with the Premium package.  Would much rather pay $210 for two people...but that works for us bc we use the package quite a bit when cruising.

Edited October 9, 2019 by Georgia_Peaches

[fstuff1]

1 minute ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Premium Beverage package is currently $69 pp/pd  Classic is $59 pp/pd

 

thx.

how much is the avg increase in cost between the no perk cabin and 2 perk cabin rates?

[Georgia_Peaches]

1 minute ago, fstuff1 said:

 

thx.

how much is the avg increase in cost between the no perk cabin and 2 perk cabin rates?

I've priced it a couple of time both ways but haven't done so lately so I don't have hard numbers, but I don't think the price increases by the whole cost of the package, ($966 for two for 7 nights).  The package is deeply discounted, which I think is the reason for the $14.99 up charge (if you take the package).

[Fouremco]

2 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Maybe X should consider re-branding their "free perks" into something called "bonus options" or "discounted add-ons"  or something similar...

I agree completely. I think that their current approach will do more to annoy and frustrate customers than it will do to attract new ones. We shouldn't need to create a spreadsheet (see parallel thread) to figure out what a cruise is going to really cost us.

 

Celebrity's approach is reminiscent of airline advertising in Canada until legislation was implemented to ensure that air price advertising directed at the public included the total price, inclusive of all taxes, fees and charges which a consumer must pay to obtain the air service and any optional services offered for a fee or charge.

 

[Expo67]

My thought is that a certain portion of the beverage package cost was built in to Celebrity’s slightly higher fares all along. Like most folks it was more about convenience for me as I rarely exceeded the daily cost with what I consumed. Now what they are saying is that they will also have a base fare offering with no perks and it will be interesting to see how that fare compares with other cruise lines I use. I find the holding of the price for 7 years statement a bit humorous as Celebrity’ price compares very favorably with most other lines except for the NCL price they use in their comparison. 😂

 

 What it will come down to for me is a price comparison between the 3 or 4 lines I book with. If after comparison Celebrity, Princess, Holland America, Royal Caribbean, or Cunard have a better pricing with the amenities I select then I will go with them. IMO Celebrity used to be a no brainer selection for many folks but now they have at least brought the other lines back into the mix for at least comparison purposes. 🤔 These perks were IMO always a slight of hand as some have stated. Wouldn’t it be great if we could roll back to the days of reasonably priced individual drinks and no need for drink packages? 🤐

Edited October 9, 2019 by Expo67

[houtxaj]

I called a Celebrity agent yesterday concerning the extra charge for the "free" drink package. She stated that on October 10, 2019 the $14/day per person would go into effect. If you booked before this date, you will not be charged any more for the "free" drink package. The new charge will show in the summary of charges. I am not sure why this is being done since the word "FREE" makes it so misleading. Other cruise lines are incorporating this in their agendas as well. Luckily we were already booked since last year. If any cruise line in the future does this deceptive practice, we will more than likely consider other fun ways to travel. However, we have been truly blessed with Celebrity in the past.

Edited October 9, 2019 by houtxaj

[PTC DAWG]

The bottom line has always been the key, doesn’t matter how they get there. 

[Jeremiah1212]

Since the Sail Plus/Sail All combinations were rolled out in the past month or so, I'm not seeing anywhere that refers to perks as 'free'. I think most people are well aware you are paying for each additional inclusion. On a seven night Caribbean cruise, the price for all 4 perks has consistently been at $315/pp the past several years. Now I'm seeing $455/pp + the additional charge of $196 for a grand total of $651. That puts Edge/Apex cruises in the $5,500 range for a low level balcony on a 7 night cruise. In 2015/2016/2017 we got pretty good deals through a TA, but I never paid for more $2800 for 7 nights with all 4 perks and additional OBC.  With a $400+pp/pd price increase, the issue for me is that we can choose to vacation in nicer/higher end resorts for roughly the same price. I'm hard pressed to book a Celebrity cruise in steerage at Four Seasons prices. It just doesn't make sense to us. 

[Georgia_Peaches]

23 minutes ago, Jeremiah1212 said:

we can choose to vacation in nicer/higher end resorts for roughly the same price

Exactly!  In fact, we did just that a few months ago in an all inclusive resort in Mexico.  We secured a suite in the resort (because that's what we would do on the ship) and spent 5 nights (instead of 7) but the daily rate was less than the going daily rate on a cruise that coincided with our timeline.  All things being equal in terms of food, beverage, resort amenities, the price was better for the land vacay.  But by day three we were bored with the same scene.  Evening entertainment was lacking:  no casino, no production show, none of the things we would normally have at our disposal if we were on a cruise.  We missed it!  I thought the price adjustment would be enough to offset what I love so much about cruising: different ports, variety of entertainment venues, casino, vacation vibe etc.   Maybe we picked the wrong resort but the lesson for us was it's not just about the money.  I just don't know how to put a price tag on the enjoyment factor.  We just love to cruise and will always default to that mode of vacationing even if it means looking beyond Celebrity.

Edited October 9, 2019 by Georgia_Peaches

[rimmit]

3 hours ago, miched said:

There is a little clause about paying extra if the price of fuel increases to over $XXX per barrel.   I don’t think it has ever been put into effect but is a “hidden” possible add on.

 

How long before they start charging a service fee for processing our tickets like many venues are doing?  

 

I think that the straw for many will be charging a resort fee.  

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

 

 

Oh it definitely was in effect for a while.  Might have been in 2008 or 2009.  Can’t quite remember but It was like 70 dollars extra a person if I remember right.  We didn’t have much money at the time and that extra $140 really hurt

[blueboro]

Unfortunately, as soon as we get "comfortable" with the $14 pp per day "free" beverage package the fee will steadily rise.  

Edited October 9, 2019 by blueboro

[davekathy]

1 minute ago, blueboro said:

Unfortunately, as soon as we get "comfortable" with the $14 pp per day "free" beverage package the price will steadily rise.  

At least will always have options. 

[chamima]

5 hours ago, miched said:

There is a little clause about paying extra if the price of fuel increases to over $XXX per barrel.   I don’t think it has ever been put into effect but is a “hidden” possible add on.

 

How long before they start charging a service fee for processing our tickets like many venues are doing?  

 

I think that the straw for many will be charging a resort fee.  

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

 

 

1 hour ago, rimmit said:

 

Oh it definitely was in effect for a while.  Might have been in 2008 or 2009.  Can’t quite remember but It was like 70 dollars extra a person if I remember right.  We didn’t have much money at the time and that extra $140 really hurt

 

 

We also paid it on one cruise.

Oil prices were unbelievably high and all of the cruise lines added that little caveat so as not to lose their shirts.

The difference was that we all knew the oil prices were sky high and so the fuel "penalty"  surcharge wasn't really a surprise.

I also remember having a Princess cruise booked a year or two later and expecting to pay the surcharge but oil prices had come down so Princess removed it from our invoice before sailing.

Just can't see Celebrity doing that.

[K.T.B.]

I haven't read through the entire thread to see if this was answered or not, but does anyone know, for those of us who booked BEFORE this charge was implemented, that we'll be charged this fee if we wanted to upgrade to the higher drink package?  So basically the $10 pp per day, plus the additional gratuities, PLUS this fee to upgrade?

 

If so, that will really and truly suck.  

[hiccups]

15 minutes ago, K.T.B. said:

I haven't read through the entire thread to see if this was answered or not, but does anyone know, for those of us who booked BEFORE this charge was implemented, that we'll be charged this fee if we wanted to upgrade to the higher drink package?  So basically the $10 pp per day, plus the additional gratuities, PLUS this fee to upgrade?

 

If so, that will really and truly suck.  

According the link provided earlier in the thread, bookings made before 10/10/19 are not impacted by this change.

[Oville]

52 minutes ago, K.T.B. said:

I haven't read through the entire thread to see if this was answered or not, but does anyone know, for those of us who booked BEFORE this charge was implemented, that we'll be charged this fee if we wanted to upgrade to the higher drink package?  So basically the $10 pp per day, plus the additional gratuities, PLUS this fee to upgrade?

 

If so, that will really and truly suck.  

If you want to be 100% sure, upgrade today.