All inclusive

[The_Big_M]

2 hours ago, dkjretired said:

With free wi-fi, some of the Elite and E plus benefits now become irrelevant 

 

Not necessarily. They still apply if on a cruise only fare under 90 days out.

[dandee2]

Question about the excursion: if I understand correctly, excursion will only be available thru Celebrity at this point. You are not allowed to go ashore on your own. Is Celebrty going to move the excursion price up so people will not have choice but to upgrade?

[WonderMan3]

This is a good step forward but to me not really "all-inclusive" unless all specialty dining was included at no fee.

[LGW59]

4 minutes ago, dandee2 said:

Question about the excursion: if I understand correctly, excursion will only be available thru Celebrity at this point. You are not allowed to go ashore on your own. Is Celebrty going to move the excursion price up so people will not have choice but to upgrade?

Excellent point!  I've not thought of that, I much prefer to do my own (most times) port excursions.  As much as I do like AI, this makes it interesting.  Oh well, decisions, decisions...

[jelayne]

1 hour ago, dandee2 said:

Question about the excursion: if I understand correctly, excursion will only be available thru Celebrity at this point. You are not allowed to go ashore on your own. Is Celebrty going to move the excursion price up so people will not have choice but to upgrade?

I think for those of us who normally upgrade the beverage package and as long as ship excursions are the only way to go ashore upgrading  might be a  better deal than just upgrading the beverage package and then purchasing excursions. 

[Germancruiser]

I always take " All inclusive" with a grain of salt. On my two TUI cruises- where All inclusive is implement since the beginning- in some bars- usualy my favorite bars- drinks were not included- the waiters always told me so when ordering.

Also the Speciality Restaurants were not included- WIFI was free up to a certain point- after the given amount of bytes was used up  you could buy packages.

Excursion - if allowed  - have to be payed. If X goes that way- it might be similar to the All inclusive rules of TUI.

[cantstopingcruising]

We still have  some future cruises booked. They are with gratuities. 

As elite plus, we get our cappuccinos, enough wifi, happy hour drink and laundry. That suits us fine. .If, further ahead into the future, we are forced to book AI at a much higher rate, it will be time to move on. I have been wanting to try Oceania and if Celebrity catches up to them in price, that's what I will do!

[Oville]

3 hours ago, LGW59 said:

Under the current program, are Zenith members given access to The Retreat even if not in a retreat level cabin?

Yes they have access to the Retreat Lounge but I don’t think the Retreat Pool Deck.  That is true on E Class ships for sure.

[jryansales]

2 hours ago, WonderMan3 said:

This is a good step forward but to me not really "all-inclusive" unless all specialty dining was included at no fee.

Wait...then, why have specialty restaurants at all? I disagree here - there have to be a few upcharges here and there

[LGW59]

Just now, jryansales said:

Wait...then, why have specialty restaurants at all? I disagree here - there have to be a few upcharges here and there

Not if it is truly AI, why would there be up charges?  AI, ALL inclusive, WonderMan3 is spot on here.

[AtlantaCruiser72]

20 minutes ago, LGW59 said:

Not if it is truly AI, why would there be up charges?  AI, ALL inclusive, WonderMan3 is spot on here.

 

22 minutes ago, jryansales said:

Wait...then, why have specialty restaurants at all? I disagree here - there have to be a few upcharges here and there

Look at Crystal - all inclusive except you only get 1nt specialty dining per venue, additional reservations are $30pp.  Vintage room not included and always has an extra cost.  Azamara charges for all specialty dining. Viking and Oceania have venues that are not included or caps on the # of reservations.  Same for Seabourn, Silversea and Regent.  These ships are all MUCH smaller than Celebrity.  Each line has some venues included, some not - even those billed as all-inclusive.

 

Many all-inclusive land resorts have dining venues that are an extra fee.  The term is meant to mean that an assortment of dining, drinks and tips are included, but there are almost ALWAYS exceptions and up charges.

[Host Jazzbeau]

I've never seen the Spa included in 'all inclusive.'

[Barry ATL]

Maybe I am confused (happens frequently), but in the description I thought the Elevate included money towards excursions.  If I read the FAQ correctly, it is a normal OBC for Elevate and Indulge.  Am I correct?

 

Q. #12: Is the Onboard Credit (OBC) a set amount or does it vary by sailing?

A: The OBC will be issued per person to all guests in the stateroom and is tiered by length of sailing.

• Elevate - $100 1-5nights; $150 6-9 nights; $200 10 nights or more
• Indulge- $200 1-5nights; $300 6-9 nights; $400 10 nights or more

http://creative.rccl.com/Sales/Celebrity/General_Info/CEL_Always_Inlcuded_FAQs.pdf

[mikkelhansen]

The much-discussed webinar can be viewed by anyone here (37 minutes): https://www.gotostage.com/channel/69b0d74ffeb14d6f8fa69d0d13b87437/recording/90541c7e90ba463585d4e8f6ab239c0d/watch?source=CHANNEL

Just enter any random first and last name, and a random e-mail (or use your actual e-mail address). It doesn't matter. After that, enjoy the show.

PS: MUCH better sound this time, compared to the Captain's Club webinar last month!

 

25 minutes ago, Barry ATL said:

Maybe I am confused (happens frequently), but in the description I thought the Elevate included money towards excursions.  If I read the FAQ correctly, it is a normal OBC for Elevate and Indulge.  Am I correct?

 

Q. #12: Is the Onboard Credit (OBC) a set amount or does it vary by sailing?

A: The OBC will be issued per person to all guests in the stateroom and is tiered by length of sailing.

• Elevate - $100 1-5nights; $150 6-9 nights; $200 10 nights or more
• Indulge- $200 1-5nights; $300 6-9 nights; $400 10 nights or more

http://creative.rccl.com/Sales/Celebrity/General_Info/CEL_Always_Inlcuded_FAQs.pdf

I wouldn't think that they actually have two new types of OBC; "Shorex OBC" and "General OBC". However, we won't know for sure until next Tuesday. At no place, other than the upgrade package scheme itself, is the OBC mentioned as "separated".

Even the terms state: "The Elevate package includes; Premium Beverage Package, Gratuities Included and an Onboard Credit (“OBC”) for all guests in the stateroom plus an Unlimited Surf Internet Package for the first and second guest. OBC amount varies by length of sailing: $100 per person for 1-5 night sailings, $150 per person for 6-9 night sailings, and a value of $200 per person for 10 night or longer sailings. The Indulge Package includes; Premium Beverage Package, Gratuities Included and an OBC for all guests in the stateroom plus an Unlimited Stream Internet Package for the first and second guest. OBC amount varies by length of sailing: $200 per person for 1-5 night sailings, $300 per person for 6-9 night sailings and a value of $400 per person for 10 night or longer sailings.

 

Guests’ onboard account will be credited with an OBC based on the rate chosen and length of sailing. OBC has no cash value, cannot be used in an onboard casino, is applicable to cruise only, non-transferable, is not redeemable for cash, and will expire if not used by 10:00 PM on the final night of the cruise.

I believe the casino non-usability is new?

[barbette165]

From analysing the FAQs on a 7 night cruise the advantage of upgrading the Elevate is minimal for double occupancy and stupid for solo passengers.

The cost is per cabin is $60 per night ($30pp, but double for solo passengers) - so $420 in total.

The benefits received are $300 in OBC ($150 pp, but again double for solo passengers) plus the classic to premium beverage upgrade, which the FAQ says is now $11 per night including the gratuity (a price reduction from $10+20% !).

So for spending $420, a couple will get $454 in benefit and a solo passenger $377. 

The benefit also assumes that the OBC is spent on things that are really wanted, and not spent on the final day buying over-priced t-shirts because of the 'use it or lose it' rule. - an option that may not be valid if the OBC is for excursions only.  And what will happen if ports get missed or excursions get cancelled, particularly at the end of the cruise? Is the money just forfeited with no chance to spend it elsewhere?

[mikkelhansen]

54 minutes ago, Barry ATL said:

Maybe I am confused (happens frequently), but in the description I thought the Elevate included money towards excursions.  If I read the FAQ correctly, it is a normal OBC for Elevate and Indulge.  Am I correct?

Well, to correct my previous reply: From around 25:45 and about 2 minutes on in the webinar I linked, it is described that there WILL indeed be two separate OBC categories; Shorex and General OBC.

So it appears they will indeed be restricted for shore excursions on the Elevate level, so they must have created a way to restrict the use of this OBC to just shore excursions in the Cruise Planner.

[ChucktownSteve]

6 hours ago, cantstopingcruising said:

We still have  some future cruises booked. They are with gratuities. 

As elite plus, we get our cappuccinos, enough wifi, happy hour drink and laundry. That suits us fine. .If, further ahead into the future, we are forced to book AI at a much higher rate, it will be time to move on. I have been wanting to try Oceania and if Celebrity catches up to them in price, that's what I will do!

 

You might consider looking at Azamara as well.  They have been including basic alcoholic drinks and all soft drinks as well as gratuities in their fare.  Plus Celebrity's Captains Club and Azamara's Le Club Voyage share the same number so they co-earn on both lines simultaneously.

 

Thus you can maintain your Celebrity status/points on Azamara.

 

Oceania includes specialty restaurant reservations. The number is determined by the length of cruise and cabin category. The higher the cat, the more reservations you can make included in the fare.

Edited November 11, 2020 by ChucktownSteve

[Iamcruzin]

18 hours ago, TeeRick said:

So there are multiple categories of Always Included.  It seems just like a renamed version of "free perks".  And probably more expensive.

I got the impression that they are just reinventing the wheel again.  This has been an ongoing marketing tactic since 2013.

[TommyD3]

8 hours ago, WonderMan3 said:

This is a good step forward but to me not really "all-inclusive" unless all specialty dining was included at no fee.

That would be AMAZING !!!

[Oceangoer2]

Hopefully X will send emails to those of us currently booked and simply explain the effect changes will have on our cruise experience.  Right now, we have gratuities paid, bev. pkg., and wifi included in our booking.  I understand from this thread all will still be available to us and anyone booking after 11.17.20 will pay a higher cruise fare for these inclusions?  Also, re loyalty...we're E+ and can receive one category higher cabin booking (in some categories).  Also, laundry benefits.  Does anyone know if these perks are still available within the loyalty program? ❓

[wrk2cruise]

4 minutes ago, Oceangoer2 said:

Hopefully X will send emails to those of us currently booked and simply explain the effect changes will have on our cruise experience.  Right now, we have gratuities paid, bev. pkg., and wifi included in our booking.  I understand from this thread all will still be available to us and anyone booking after 11.17.20 will pay a higher cruise fare for these inclusions?  Also, re loyalty...we're E+ and can receive one category higher cabin booking (in some categories).  Also, laundry benefits.  Does anyone know if these perks are still available within the loyalty program? ❓

 

From the FAQ's unless you refare to the new AI pricing you will receive what you booked as far as perks, nothing more nothing less.   As far as what you will receive as Captains Club perks that has yet to be announced.   You would have thought they would have announced them together.  Not a good sign.

[suenneil]

20 hours ago, ORV said:

Judging from past discussions here if there's any area that needs the grats rolled in to the price upfront and non removable it would be the UK. I'm sure it'll be that way there also. 

I agree with you regarding adding grats to bills and making them non removable.  I have had many an argument with fellow countrymen and their stingyness "I have stopped my gratuities and seen them right", which translates to them leaving whatever loose change they have left.   The crew work extremely hard and we always tip and usually extra too.

 

[jelayne]

11 hours ago, WonderMan3 said:

This is a good step forward but to me not really "all-inclusive" unless all specialty dining was included at no fee.

That would be a challenge.  There isn't enough speciality restaurant seating capacity to allow for each passenger to dine 1 night in a specialty restaurant.  
 

[TeeRick]

The Program is called "Always Included" not "All-Inclusive".  The "Always Included" top level is more like "All-Inclusive" but for high end suites.

[dkjretired]

1 hour ago, jelayne said:

That would be a challenge.  There isn't enough speciality restaurant seating capacity to allow for each passenger to dine 1 night in a specialty restaurant.  
 

 

Yup, that was the original purpose years ago when Specialties started of charging a fee.   Seating capacity.