Always included question

[thethreeofus]

Is it possible to book a cruise without the Always Included? We don’t drink alcohol or soda so don’t need a drink package.  I have looked at the FAQ section and there is no mention of booking without it.  

[DCPIV]

The "Simply Sail" fare may or may not be offered. That's what you're looking for. 

[thethreeofus]

Yes, I believe it is. I can only find it on a handful of cruises. Do you know if it’s available on all?  I’ve been on hold to the Captains Club for over an hour.

[Ken the cruiser]

I just noticed if you do a search for cruises on the =X= website, there is a new option in the "Filter By" section to refine your search - "Cruise Only Rates"

 

Give it a try and see if it helps you narrow your search.

 

 

Edited October 11, 2021 by Ken the cruiser

[thethreeofus]

Oh my gosh. That is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you so much.

[cruisestitch]

Keep in mind that there is more to the drinks package than alcohol or soda.  Fancy teas, hot chocolate, cappuccino, minty lemonade, bottled water, and other beverages are there too.

[the penguins]

43 minutes ago, thethreeofus said:

Oh my gosh. That is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you so much.

Also these rates are on guarantee cabins only.

[wrk2cruise]

If you are a Captains Club member and you put in your # during booking on the Celebrity site you will be given Loyalty NRD pricing on Caribbean sailings until 4/30/2022.  The Loyalty rate doesn't include perks and is combinable with the 20% savings as well.   They are all NRD prices but remember if you cancel the full deposit is still returned as FCC good through the end of 2022

[NutsAboutGolf]

It appears the cruise only option opens up about six months prior to the sailing to room categories that have lower occupancy.  Unfortately, the price difference between AI rate and the cruise only rate is minimal

[HskrCrsr]

17 minutes ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

It appears the cruise only option opens up about six months prior to the sailing to room categories that have lower occupancy.  Unfortately, the price difference between AI rate and the cruise only rate is minimal

The six-month portion of your comment is off. There are sailings as far out as December 2022 (14 months) available for Simply Sail right now. Check the "Offers" menu at the top of the X web page. Currently showing 187 itineraries.

[81Zoomie]

If you book a “guarantee” room no perks are included.  It’s not advertised that way.  When you click on the guarantee rate a box pops up and explains nothing is included.

[the penguins]

6 hours ago, 81Zoomie said:

If you book a “guarantee” room no perks are included.  It’s not advertised that way.  When you click on the guarantee rate a box pops up and explains nothing is included.

.The basics are simple. Discounting tips  AI  pricing adds $100 per person per day to over drinks and Internet. If you opt for Simply Sail ( guarantee rooms only) it reduces the AI price by around a max of $30 per person per day. Unless you are Elite+ and above you would also have to pay for speciality teas, coffees and juices out of your $30 saving. Elite also get 90 minutes internet (240 mins for Elite+) per person.

If you would prefer the old system of a basic price plus options to buy drinks, internet etc tell Celebrity now.

Incidentally with AI solo passengers pay for 2 lots of tips, 2 internet packages and 2 drink packages and that cannot be right.

[jagoffee]

10 hours ago, wrk2cruise said:

If you are a Captains Club member and you put in your # during booking on the Celebrity site you will be given Loyalty NRD pricing on Caribbean sailings until 4/30/2022.  The Loyalty rate doesn't include perks and is combinable with the 20% savings as well.   They are all NRD prices but remember if you cancel the full deposit is still returned as FCC good through the end of 2022

Is this a change in NRD?  I thought the NRD FCC was minus a $100 per person charge.

[4774Papa]

4 hours ago, the penguins said:

.The basics are simple. Discounting tips  AI  pricing adds $100 per person per day to over drinks and Internet. If you opt for Simply Sail ( guarantee rooms only) it reduces the AI price by around a max of $30 per person per day. Unless you are Elite+ and above you would also have to pay for speciality teas, coffees and juices out of your $30 saving. Elite also get 90 minutes internet (240 mins for Elite+) per person.

If you would prefer the old system of a basic price plus options to buy drinks, internet etc tell Celebrity now.

Incidentally with AI solo passengers pay for 2 lots of tips, 2 internet packages and 2 drink packages and that cannot be right.

We are moderate drinkers and Elite.  AI gutted our loyalty benefits and dramatically increased cruise prices.  Compared to Princess and Royal, X is not competitive.  I have been telling X this for two years and they aren't doing much.   I never see simply sail for any cruise that I am interested in booking.  Also, don't want a guarantee cabin and simply sail rates are still too high compared to Royal and Princess.

[wrk2cruise]

4 hours ago, jagoffee said:

Is this a change in NRD?  I thought the NRD FCC was minus a $100 per person charge.

 

If your sailing is prior to 5/4/2022 it's still covered by Cruise With Confidence where you can cancel prior to 48 hrs  and receive all monies paid as FCC.   In the case of NRD prior to final payment that means there is no $100 pp penalty and you receive the entire deposit as FCC.  Any sailings after 5/4/2022 the standard rules apply and the $100 pp admin fee applies to any cancel/move of the reservation.

[deliver42]

We were booked on the Apex for December, 2022, and  changed to the  Beyond with a NRD. There was no fee charged. The swap was seamless, and the rep very accommodating.

[jagoffee]

7 hours ago, wrk2cruise said:

 

If your sailing is prior to 5/4/2022 it's still covered by Cruise With Confidence where you can cancel prior to 48 hrs  and receive all monies paid as FCC.   In the case of NRD prior to final payment that means there is no $100 pp penalty and you receive the entire deposit as FCC.  Any sailings after 5/4/2022 the standard rules apply and the $100 pp admin fee applies to any cancel/move of the reservation.

Thanks for the explanation as I was a little confused.  I was thinking about the NRD outside of the CWC dates and not what you were actually saying.  My bad.

[red919]

On 10/12/2021 at 3:01 AM, the penguins said:

.The basics are simple. Discounting tips  AI  pricing adds $100 per person per day to over drinks and Internet. If you opt for Simply Sail ( guarantee rooms only) it reduces the AI price by around a max of $30 per person per day. Unless you are Elite+ and above you would also have to pay for speciality teas, coffees and juices out of your $30 saving. Elite also get 90 minutes internet (240 mins for Elite+) per person.

If you would prefer the old system of a basic price plus options to buy drinks, internet etc tell Celebrity now.

Incidentally with AI solo passengers pay for 2 lots of tips, 2 internet packages and 2 drink packages and that cannot be right.

Wow...didn't know solo passengers paid double for AI.  Thanks for posting this. That's a game changer for sure!

 

 

[LGW59]

Just now, red919 said:

Wow...didn't know solo passengers paid double for AI.  Thanks for posting this. That's a game changer for sure!

 

 

They pay as if there are two in the room, other than tax or port charges, it is what it is and we know it before we book

[the penguins]

1 hour ago, LGW59 said:

They pay as if there are two in the room, other than tax or port charges, it is what it is and we know it before we book

Your right it's always been that way but AI pricing makes it far worse than before as previously you only had to buy 1 Internet and 1 drinks package. 

[jg51]

1 hour ago, the penguins said:

Your right it's always been that way but AI pricing makes it far worse than before as previously you only had to buy 1 Internet and 1 drinks package. 

.

As usual, "the penguins," you are correct. 

Celebrity is very unjust to singles, because they want to dissuade singles from being on their ships.

 

Why does "X" want to do that?
A single person buys only one meal in a specialty restaurant -- not two.

A single person buys fewer bottles of wine than two people do.

A single person buys only one service in a spa -- not two.

A single person buys only one excursion -- not two.

A single person buys only half as much in the shops.

A single person may drink more (than the average person not traveling alone), thus cutting into the huge profit that is built into his/her beverage package.

Etc., etc., etc..

.