Latest sale may confuse those who have become comfortable with Always Included or even newer All Included

[kearney]

I decided to do a mock booking under the latest sale..the one that gives you 75% off the second passenger..and 4th. I expected to see an option to select cruise only or All Included.. which has been a new feature over the past few months. But there was not option like that... when I got to the booking screen.. the only clue I had that it was cruise only was that you could pre pay gratuities... then when looking at the summary... no mention of any add ons.  I mention this for those who want to check prices.. be careful not to give up your AI thinking there has been a major sale.  The way the screens have been set up will likely not be an issue for new cruisers... but if you have AI... be careful.

[vjmatty]

19 minutes ago, kearney said:

I decided to do a mock booking under the latest sale..the one that gives you 75% off the second passenger..and 4th. I expected to see an option to select cruise only or All Included.. which has been a new feature over the past few months. But there was not option like that... when I got to the booking screen.. the only clue I had that it was cruise only was that you could pre pay gratuities... then when looking at the summary... no mention of any add ons.  I mention this for those who want to check prices.. be careful not to give up your AI thinking there has been a major sale.  The way the screens have been set up will likely not be an issue for new cruisers... but if you have AI... be careful.

 

Your TA can make sure you book with AI, or keep your AI on previous bookings.  If you're on your own you may have to call Celebrity.  Also if you have AQ or higher, AI is automatically added, in fact I don't think even a TA can remove it.

[wrk2cruise]

Their website seems to get messed up with every "sale".  It can be confusing for even the most experienced Celebrity customers here.   Imagine what happens to the new customer who thinks they can just go to the website and book.   We will be reading about their woes in the coming months.

 

I always tell people NEVER book and pay on the website.  Either use the website and put the booking on hold, get the invoice to review, then call to review/deposit or  call to book but get the invoice and review before hanging up the phone.    Or use a TA you trust.

[jelayne]

 

All Included is just a new name for Always Included.  

Unless booking a Suite or Aqua which only have AI pricing;  after selecting a cabin the next screen shows me the the Cruise only price in a box  and next to that the AI price, explaining what AI includes.

I think it is quite clear what one is booking.  

[39august]

So, suites still get the All Included with the new sale?  I just looked at one of my cruises and a penthouse is available for less than what we have paid for SS, of which none are now available. 

[bama4cruisin]

3 minutes ago, jelayne said:

 

All Included is just a new name for Always Included.  

Unless booking a Suite or Aqua which only have AI pricing;  after selecting a cabin the next screen shows me the the Cruise only price in a box  and next to that the AI price, explaining what AI includes.

I think it is quite clear what one is booking.  

Exactly what I saw when checking one we’re considering.

[wrk2cruise]

6 minutes ago, 39august said:

So, suites still get the All Included with the new sale?  I just looked at one of my cruises and a penthouse is available for less than what we have paid for SS, of which none are now available. 

 

Yes suites are always always included.   You can't book cruise only fare for Aqua or Suites.   My advice put the PH on hold, get a copy of the invoice to verify and go from there!

 

On the invoice you should see mention of Retreat either as a line item or in the Promotions section.  That means the perk line item charge/credit will be added.  Also can check the OBC section, that generally has the $300/$400 pp listed immediately verifying perks are included.   With the sail you would get an additional $400 OBC for the cabin as well.

Edited August 11, 2022 by wrk2cruise

[kearney]

21 minutes ago, jelayne said:

 

All Included is just a new name for Always Included.  

Unless booking a Suite or Aqua which only have AI pricing;  after selecting a cabin the next screen shows me the the Cruise only price in a box  and next to that the AI price, explaining what AI includes.

I think it is quite clear what one is booking.  

When I did it on my iphone I did see the box for a choice..but when I tried on my computer.. it went straight from the cabin selection... to the page for dining time, insurance and gratuities.. seeing gratuities told me that this was cruise only... bu there was no option of cruise only vs AI...  

 

You are correct..if you get a screen showing the choice..it is clear...not so much if they ship that screen.

 

I tired another category ..inside...and this time the choice pops up... so for the cruise I was looking at the hangup was with veranda cabins... all the other higher levels were sold out... so checked inside to see if there was a change

Edited August 11, 2022 by kearney

[Stockjock]

I've griped before that I thought "Always Included" was misleading because, in fact, those perks were not "always included".  There have been times where I thought their site was misleading, for example awhile back where there was no specific mention that a deposit was non-refundable, only a very small 
"nrd" in the fine print.  But that said, I didn't find this sale to be confusing.  The options seemed rather clear to me.

[Denny01]

I agree, the sale options are clear….to me. When an entity changes some sales program, Ive not seen them saying “this is no longer available, but now this is” or some such wording. 

 

Each SR provides what is provided. It doesn’t list what isn’t provided, which wouldn’t make much sense. 

 

Den

[Gia2cats]

Our TA booked a cruise for us yesterday with the 60% off second person. She did choose the AI but when we wanted to upgrade from Classic to Premium drinks, there was no option for that. She called Celebrity and was told that the booking had to be made and the deposit paid. Only then would they give her the price to upgrade to Premium. It was $218 for both of us and they wanted that paid immediately. We did and have confirmation of that. It was kind of confusing.

[jelayne]

35 minutes ago, 39august said:

So, suites still get the All Included with the new sale?  I just looked at one of my cruises and a penthouse is available for less than what we have paid for SS, of which none are now available. 

Nothing related to the current sale.  About the time they renamed AI from Always Included to All Included and eliminated the Elevate and Indulge upgrade options they began pricing Suites and AQ with AI and no Cruise Only fare.  Now every cruise I have looked at has Cruise Only as the price on the initial booking screen for Concierge cabins and below.  Once you select a cabin you have the option of a Cruise only or AI price.

[cruiserchuck]

So is Aqua always having AI new?  I was checking pricing about two weeks ago, and Aqua still offered cruise only rates.  I checked today, and it was AI only.

[Michidoeme]

1 hour ago, kearney said:

I decided to do a mock booking under the latest sale..the one that gives you 75% off the second passenger..and 4th. I expected to see an option to select cruise only or All Included.. which has been a new feature over the past few months. But there was not option like that... when I got to the booking screen.. the only clue I had that it was cruise only was that you could pre pay gratuities... then when looking at the summary... no mention of any add ons.  I mention this for those who want to check prices.. be careful not to give up your AI thinking there has been a major sale.  The way the screens have been set up will likely not be an issue for new cruisers... but if you have AI... be careful.

I noticed same thing when mock booking for a single room.  However when I tried same room for two persons, there was choice for cruise only and for all included.  Strange enough for exactly same price.  When I went to summary page it indeed mentioned beverage package, gratuities, internet all included.

[wrk2cruise]

When the website is working it is pretty clear.   I like others have seen the issue where the website doesn't give you and option for Always Included on a veranda cabin.   Celebrity IT.   I think it usually takes them a couple days to straighten out issues after loading new sales into the system.  I can and does vary sailing by sailing.

[PTC DAWG]

Seems clear to me…

[kearney]

2 hours ago, Michidoeme said:

I noticed same thing when mock booking for a single room.  However when I tried same room for two persons, there was choice for cruise only and for all included.  Strange enough for exactly same price.  When I went to summary page it indeed mentioned beverage package, gratuities, internet all included.

It was odd... on my iphone the two choices appeared..but not on my computer..until I changed category to inside cabin..then the choices were there... must be a glitz in the programming.

[kearney]

2 hours ago, wrk2cruise said:

When the website is working it is pretty clear.   I like others have seen the issue where the website doesn't give you and option for Always Included on a veranda cabin.   Celebrity IT.   I think it usually takes them a couple days to straighten out issues after loading new sales into the system.  I can and does vary sailing by sailing.

I think you are correct... I tried this multiple times with the same result..until just now... now the option pops up for veranda cabin.

Edited August 11, 2022 by kearney

[the penguins]

On 8/11/2022 at 9:01 PM, cruiserchuck said:

So is Aqua always having AI new?  I was checking pricing about two weeks ago, and Aqua still offered cruise only rates.  I checked today, and it was AI only.

Yes Aqua and Suites. Any other cabin you have the choice.

[Arizona Wildcat]

On 8/11/2022 at 6:17 PM, kearney said:

I decided to do a mock booking under the latest sale..the one that gives you 75% off the second passenger..and 4th. I expected to see an option to select cruise only or All Included.. which has been a new feature over the past few months. But there was not option like that... when I got to the booking screen.. the only clue I had that it was cruise only was that you could pre pay gratuities... then when looking at the summary... no mention of any add ons.  I mention this for those who want to check prices.. be careful not to give up your AI thinking there has been a major sale.  The way the screens have been set up will likely not be an issue for new cruisers... but if you have AI... be careful.

I always use my TA and book into a group.  Refundable until.final.payment and perks included.  Lots better.   Always look at X website but would never book there.  Again we have a great TA.

[gold1953]

All was good until I switch to Canadian $. It says cruise only rate and is double the price of the US $ and actually includes the perks! Still not fixed

[dlh015]

You can never be sure with a website...lol. 

 

Like right now...when I click on Manage Reservation, it says I have $300 OBC.  Then I scroll down and click on Book Excursions. Its says $900 OBC in upper right corner of that page.

 

What to do, what to do...🤔

 

 

[wikoffclan]

On 8/14/2022 at 1:53 AM, the penguins said:

Yes Aqua and Suites. Any other cabin you have the choice.

Booked a casino rate for 8 night Veranda on Radiance OTS for 2 Dec.3. Was offered an upgrade to Aqua for $140 (total) but Did Not include AI. Oh well. 

[Mississippian]

Do a search for "always included." One of the links will take you to a cruise search page that brings up all-inclusive prices.

[KellyCz]

On 8/11/2022 at 1:43 PM, wrk2cruise said:

I always tell people NEVER book and pay on the website.  Either use the website and put the booking on hold, get the invoice to review, then call to review/deposit or  call to book but get the invoice and review before hanging up the phone.    Or use a TA you trust.

As someone who's new to Celebrity, I appreciate this advice.