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

[TeeRick]

16 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

I'm always a little amazed and perplexed whenever someone mentions something being discussed on CC as a "first world problem".  We are first world travelers discussing first world issues associated with traveling on a first world traveling discussion board.  What would you expect?  I suppose if you are looking for a third world discussion, then this is the wrong board.

I understand first and third world.  But I have always been perplexed about whatever became of second world.

[richstowe]

48 minutes ago, TeeRick said:

I understand first and third world.  But I have always been perplexed about whatever became of second world.

Eastern Penn ? 🤣

[jrs101]

5 hours ago, Mynki said:

 

Check the footstool threads. You've seen nothing yet! 

I can only imagine.   Although, did they also suggest the attorney general intervene?  ;p

[ExArkie]

4 hours ago, TeeRick said:

I understand first and third world.  But I have always been perplexed about whatever became of second world.

It went away with the demise of the Soviet Union. "Second World" was a Cold-War era term that referred to industrial socialist states that were under the influence of the Soviet Union. Without the USSR, they would've been First World. When the USSR went under, the term disappeared.

[sunonfire]

Here are the details with dates.

 

https://cruisefever.net/celebrity-cruises-adds-charge-for-beverage-package-perk/

[miched]

On 10/11/2019 at 6:03 AM, 4774Papa said:

Exactly, I read many posts on these threads by people that say they love the beverage packages because they don't have to worry about what they are spending on alcohol.

 

I wonder how many people ever do a cruise without the packages and then do an accounting to see what they would normally spend for alcohol.    I do this on every cruise and have never purchased a beverage package.

 

The MOST we ever spent on alcohol for a 14 day cruise was about $550 total for both of us.  Why would we pay what amounts to 2/3 the cost of the cruise for beverage packages?

 

Your post is right on.

 

Reading many posts people always talk about how great it use to be when cruising

 

I will go back to when we took our first cruise in 2000.   There were no perks and no SBC.  We sailed on many cruises with pay as you go and then at the end of the cruise put money in a envelope for the gratuities.  We hated the latter.   

 

Then the cruise lines started prepaid gratuities.  Thank you for that and then some TA  paid them as a perk for booking with them.  Fantastic as that was a good savings.

 

We loved Carnival and Princess as that was what we started with and were happy with.  There were no drink packs but if you sailed with a large group you could arrange for a group drink pack if there were like 3O or more and every one had to sign up for about $39/day.   No way would I drink that much.   We had now been 35 cruises without a drink pack.and didn’t have much of a bar bill 

 

We then started sailing with X.  I don't t think that drink packs were offered.   We sailed enough to become Elite and were finally allowed to go behind the Green Door (Michael’s Club HH) .  The first cruise that we were Elite was the first one where we had a drink pack as a perk.   Had that package ever since and it actually cause me to start drinking every day.  

 

I now have 3 to 4 drinks every day.  

 

But the point of post is we cruised many times without a drink pack. Never spent much on drinks on board as we would have drinks in port if we wanted for a cheaper price and maybe took a few bottles on wine on board or bought a few during dinner.   Would also buy some buckets of beer and maybe  daily drinks specials that were two for one. 

.  

 Once that package became a perk the prices of the drinks also increased to make people think the drink pack a bargain especially  as a “free” perk. Now it is as if it is a requirement or right and people are getting upset because of the additional fee.

 

Celebrity got us hooked on it and is now pulling in the line.  Mission accomplished.

 

Is cruising like it use to be that much better?   If it is then the drink package shouldn’t be a issue.  Do with out it.  

 

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

 

 

 

 

[like2cruise]

On 10/9/2019 at 4:16 PM, chamima said:

 

 

 

But the notice also said that if you make any changes to your booking you would have to pay the $14. 

I think they meant things like price adjustments but many of us decided to play it safe and add the Premium now.  (And some of us discovered that OBC covered most or all of the upgrade)

Just a FYI that I missed the deadline of October 10th and was able to upgrade to the premium from the classic drink package perk for the normal $10.00 upgrade fee +$2.00 gratuity for $12.00 per day on our upcoming March cruise and the same for our cruise April 2021 on October 11th.  

[Mynki]

20 hours ago, TeeRick said:

I understand first and third world.  But I have always been perplexed about whatever became of second world.

 

Give the UK  a few years post Brexit and you'll see that term reappear. 😉 

[oneputt18]

10 hours ago, like2cruise said:

Just a FYI that I missed the deadline of October 10th and was able to upgrade to the premium from the classic drink package perk for the normal $10.00 upgrade fee +$2.00 gratuity for $12.00 per day on our upcoming March cruise and the same for our cruise April 2021 on October 11th.  

The cost to upgrade remains at $10 + 20% gratuities, it is not affected by the $14 charge.

[chamima]

10 hours ago, like2cruise said:

Just a FYI that I missed the deadline of October 10th and was able to upgrade to the premium from the classic drink package perk for the normal $10.00 upgrade fee +$2.00 gratuity for $12.00 per day on our upcoming March cruise and the same for our cruise April 2021 on October 11th.  

 

7 minutes ago, oneputt18 said:

The cost to upgrade remains at $10 + 20% gratuities, it is not affected by the $14 charge.

 

 

That's what they told those of us who called.

We upgraded now for future cruises because basically we don't trust them not to change the policy in the future.

The wording says

"This new charge will affect all new bookings on or after October 10, 2019. It will also include any bookings serviced/modified that involves selecting beverage as a perk on October 10 and onwards.",

which is vague enough to include upgrading .

[MarkWiltonM]

This is interesting.  We choose the beverage perk exclusively for premium coffee drinks (espresso and cappuccino) and occasionally a bottle of non-premium water.  We do not drink alcohol.  My spouse and I each have two to three coffee drinks a day, so I'll have to figure out if we are better off choosing a different perk now that it will cost us $28 per day total just for coffees.  It will probably not be worth it.  I'll have more of the free coffee/tea and splurge on a cappuccino once a day maybe.  But I can see how Celebrity must be losing money on this perk for people who are drinking wine, beer, and spirits every day.  We booked 2020 and 2021 cruises with the beverage perk before this change went into effect so we're in good shape.  But I'll be sure to bring a copy of that PDF detailing the effective date and copies of our booking dates just in case their computer system tries to apply the new charges retroactively, contrary to their statement.    

[miched]

On 10/13/2019 at 8:35 AM, chamima said:

 

 

 

That's what they told those of us who called.

We upgraded now for future cruises because basically we don't trust them not to change the policy in the future.

The wording says

"This new charge will affect all new bookings on or after October 10, 2019. It will also include any bookings serviced/modified that involves selecting beverage as a perk on October 10 and onwards.",

which is vague enough to include upgrading .

 

So they could stick you with  the service fee if you booked a cruise with the Classic as a perk and then canceled the cruise since that booking was serviced/modified.    😱

 

happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

[rakes5]

We just booked a cruise, and they didn't "add" the $14/day, $98 total for 7 nights. Instead, our cruise was offering a $400 savings offer, and when we chose the Classic Beverage Perk, the changed the savings "discount" to $302 per person.

 

I know same end result, but new creative way to invoice it.

[hcat]

7 hours ago, rakes5 said:

We just booked a cruise, and they didn't "add" the $14/day, $98 total for 7 nights. Instead, our cruise was offering a $400 savings offer, and when we chose the Classic Beverage Perk, the changed the savings "discount" to $302 per person.

 

I know same end result, but new creative way to invoice it.

So you did pay the upcharge...kind of crafty/ sneaky  of them doing it that way...! It  really should have been listed on your invoice as a perk upcharge!

[MEcruzr]

2 minutes ago, hcat said:

So you did pay the upcharge...kind of crafty/ sneaky  of them doing it that way...! It  really should have been listed on your invoice as a perk upcharge!

Except it's not... it's a fare increase. If you choose the BP you'll pay more for your cruise.  Semantics? Maybe. This is how X has presented the increase... as a fare increase. Just like your fare increases when you choose to add/buy 2 or 4 perks. Perks are not free. They are optional add-ons. This optional add-on now costs more. Bad for those of us who choose the BP, good for those who don't because... they could have spread it out over all of the perks and everyone would have paid more.

[hcat]

Yup...

We're just not going to deal with the extra charge..We'll pick perks incuded in the fare,  probably grats and OBC .

 

We'll pay as we go for drinks,  coffees, tea etc...and get what we can at Elite breakfast,  happy hour and parties.

[jagoffee]

3 hours ago, hcat said:

Yup...

We're just not going to deal with the extra charge..We'll pick perks incuded in the fare,  probably grats and OBC .

 

We'll pay as we go for drinks,  coffees, tea etc...and get what we can at Elite breakfast,  happy hour and parties.

That approach will be more profitable for Celebrity and it will help the bottom line.  Celebrity will appreciate your approach.

[Baron Barracuda]

44 minutes ago, jagoffee said:

That approach will be more profitable for Celebrity and it will help the bottom line.  Celebrity will appreciate your approach.

 

Not so sure about that.  On 7 night sailing taking obc instead of bev pkg you come out ahead by spending under $248 ($35.42/day).  Those with elite benefits can still get by pretty well.  A bit tougher on longer voyages.

[Iamthesea]

I received an email from my well known TA with the following new offer. 

I'm sure we would still be paying the fees somehow, but it looks better on paper.

 

Book virtually any NEW 4 nt. or longer Celebrity cruise
sailing January 2, 2020 through May 3, 2021
during our sale and receive:

A Classic Beverage Package for TWO
(A value of $70.80 per person/per day, includes all gratuities)
(Beverage package increase cost of $14 pp/day, will be reimbursed
in the form of shipboard credit)

PLUS,  Pre-Paid Gratuities for Two

PLUS,
Up to $300 Shipboard Credit per cabin
(Inside: $25; Oceanview: $75; Balcony: $100;
CC Balcony: $200; AQ Balcony: $300)

PLUS,
Select Sailings ALSO receive:
Up to $400 Shipboard Credit per cabin
($200 Inside/Oceanview/Balcony; $400 Suite)
(based on double occupancy )

PLUS,
Kids Sail Free
(select sailings - 17 yrs. and younger)
(not applicable to cruisetours)

NOTE: Some Rates feature a non-refundable deposit.

[CulverCityCruisers]

1 hour ago, Iamthesea said:

I received an email from my well known TA with the following new offer. 

I'm sure we would still be paying the fees somehow, but it looks better on paper.

 

Book virtually any NEW 4 nt. or longer Celebrity cruise
sailing January 2, 2020 through May 3, 2021
during our sale and receive:

A Classic Beverage Package for TWO
(A value of $70.80 per person/per day, includes all gratuities)
(Beverage package increase cost of $14 pp/day, will be reimbursed
in the form of shipboard credit)

PLUS,  Pre-Paid Gratuities for Two

PLUS,
Up to $300 Shipboard Credit per cabin
(Inside: $25; Oceanview: $75; Balcony: $100;
CC Balcony: $200; AQ Balcony: $300)

PLUS,
Select Sailings ALSO receive:
Up to $400 Shipboard Credit per cabin
($200 Inside/Oceanview/Balcony; $400 Suite)
(based on double occupancy )

PLUS,
Kids Sail Free
(select sailings - 17 yrs. and younger)
(not applicable to cruisetours)

NOTE: Some Rates feature a non-refundable deposit.

Received this too.  It was only a matter of time that the major travel agencies would start to cover the additional $14 pp add on for the beverage pkg.  Glad to see that it is starting to happen. 

[vtcruising]

1 hour ago, Iamthesea said:

I received an email from my well known TA with the following new offer. 

I'm sure we would still be paying the fees somehow, but it looks better on paper.

Many saw that coming and I wouldn't be surprised if X will have some "special deals" that waive that additional cost to the cruise.

[JaneStarr]

3 hours ago, vtcruising said:

Many saw that coming and I wouldn't be surprised if X will have some "special deals" that waive that additional cost to the cruise.

Celebrity is cleverly considering the surcharge as part of the commissionable cruise fare. That’s better for agents, at least.  

 

A consideration for me will be that the $14PP/day will probably need to be insured as part of  “Trip cost” for private trip cancelation insurance in order to maintain pre-existing conditions coverage. (Policies generally require insuring 100% of any non-refundable costs, in addition to buying the insurance policy in time.)

[mikkelhansen]

The fare increase no longer appears on neither Celebrity's nor my US TA's website, when choosing the beverage package as one of the two perks. The Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale is over (the increase was waived during that sale), so it would appear like this could be the plan onwards. The FAQ sheet about the fare increase on Celebrity's TA info site is also not showing up there anymore. Perhaps the fare increase led to so much complaining/questioning that it wasn't worth it for Celebrity?

Tested with five random 2021 cruises on Celebrity's and my TA's website, all show no fare increase when choosing drinks + OBC instead of eg. gratuities + OBC as the two perks.

[Mark_T]

...or they just forgot to turn it back on...

 

Anything is possible given the quality of the website 🙂

[mikkelhansen]

22 minutes ago, Mark_T said:

...or they just forgot to turn it back on...

 

Anything is possible given the quality of the website 🙂

Agreed, but I would believe they would honor any bookings made under the current booking options. And here's to hoping they have simply rolled back the heavily-criticized change. 🙂