Cruise only vs All Included - what's the deal

[Orator]

If I book Aqua Class or above I must purchase AI even thought I have the premium internet and beverage package as a  loyalty benefit. If a book a balcony I don't need to go AI. Celebrity should make an adjustment for peop[e who have benefits that cover all but gratuities. I enjoy. Aqua Class, but it makes no financial sense to book it.

[CrazyTrain2]

What people may not be factoring in is that ON AVERAGE ACROSS SEVERAL LINES people spend 70 cents onboard for every dollar spent pre-board.  The more the line can get you to pre-pay will free up resources to be spent onboard.  

 

It is a bit myopic to only look at pre-pay versus pay as you go.  Psychologically, if you pay as you go - you will SPEND LESS overall.

Edited February 22, 2023 by CrazyTrain2

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

1 hour ago, Orator said:

If I book Aqua Class or above I must purchase AI even thought I have the premium internet and beverage package as a  loyalty benefit. If a book a balcony I don't need to go AI. Celebrity should make an adjustment for peop[e who have benefits that cover all but gratuities. I enjoy. Aqua Class, but it makes no financial sense to book it.

 

I enjoy the suite life, but it no longer makes financial sense for me.  And, as someone who sails solo, it makes even less sense, as I will be charged for two sets of drink packages, two wi-fi packages if I go AI.  I really don't need to pay for that stuff twice since it's a loyalty benefit.  I don't mind paying two sets of gratuities.

Edited February 22, 2023 by Happy Cruiser 6143

[mac_tlc]

6 minutes ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

 

I enjoy the suite life, but it no longer makes financial sense for me.  And, as someone who sails solo, it makes even less sense, as I will be charged for two sets of drink packages, two wi-fi packages if I go AI.  I really don't need to pay for that stuff twice since it's a loyalty benefit.  I don't mind paying two sets of gratuities.

I just made  E+ and will never get to Z, but I think Celebrity really needs to address this. It devalues ( double devalues in your case) what some would consider to be the best perks of Z. 
 

mac_tlc

[Arizona Wildcat]

2 hours ago, DCPIV said:

 

I just wanted to point out that figure was for the one sailing I looked at.  

FWIW on our last 4 Celebrity Cruises we have booked into group block space with our TA. Verandas. Our cost within the group was exactly the same as the cruise only fare from the Celebrity website. . . but our booking included a refundable deposit AND AI.

The $80pp is often discounted. 

[Ripheus]

4 hours ago, dilbertsdaddy said:

I plan to drink heavily on my upcoming cruise.....however....

 

My wife barely drinks

 

4 days at port

 

$300 OBC

 

Bottle of champagne from AX

 

2-4 bottles of wine and six pack of diet coke taken onboard

 

I am a beer drinker but prefer draft, best I can tell there is only one location with draft on Mille (please correct me if I'm wrong).  Absent draft I'm happy with diet coke, water, or wine 

 

1-2 nights of free whiskey tastings and woodford night (my preferred drink outside of beer)....maybe this will not be great but we'll see!  

 

Bev package makes zero sense to me

DW and I were on the Millie in December. There was no draft beer at all. If you get to know Marren in Cellar Masters (and maybe give her a nice tip), she may share access to some bottled/canned beers/wines that aren't on the official lists. She also is, by far, the best bartender on the ship. The whiskey tastings that I think you're referring to are held in either the liquor shop or the watch shop. The liquor tasting is thimble sized. The tasting at the watch store is a little better, but they only serve you if you're legitimately interested in buying a rolex, breitling, or TAG. There are opportunities to get a free glass or two of bubbly around the ship, but the availability of other free options is very limited/non-existent. Also the Woodford night is a promotion in the casino; there is not free Woodford for everyone.  

[paulh84]

1 hour ago, Orator said:

If I book Aqua Class or above I must purchase AI even thought I have the premium internet and beverage package as a  loyalty benefit. If a book a balcony I don't need to go AI. Celebrity should make an adjustment for peop[e who have benefits that cover all but gratuities. I enjoy. Aqua Class, but it makes no financial sense to book it.

 

There is a workaround. The TA I use has double occupancy Aqua typically $500 less than Celebrity's price ($448 on my next booking), includes a refundable deposit and currently $740 in OBC. Celebrity would offer $200 OBC and would be an additional $552 for a refundable deposit.

 

 

Edited February 22, 2023 by paulh84

[Ex-Airbalancer]

24 minutes ago, Arizona Wildcat said:

FWIW on our last 4 Celebrity Cruises we have booked into group block space with our TA. Verandas. Our cost within the group was exactly the same as the cruise only fare from the Celebrity website. . . but our booking included a refundable deposit AND AI.

The $80pp is often discounted. 

Same with us 

[smtcan]

AI makes no sense to us.  In fact when it was the only option we stopped booking Celebrity, so we’re very happy when cruise only returned.

We are Elite+, so get 240 minutes of wifi each, which is more than enough for the few emails we send and receive.  We are very moderate drinkers, so the Elite HH, together with two bottles of wine each is plenty.  On our upcoming cruise we have $400 OBC which will cover extras, so all we need to pay is gratuities.

I am glad that we now have options to suit everyone.

 

[dilbertsdaddy]

On 2/22/2023 at 5:40 PM, Ripheus said:

DW and I were on the Millie in December. There was no draft beer at all. If you get to know Marren in Cellar Masters (and maybe give her a nice tip), she may share access to some bottled/canned beers/wines that aren't on the official lists. She also is, by far, the best bartender on the ship. The whiskey tastings that I think you're referring to are held in either the liquor shop or the watch shop. The liquor tasting is thimble sized. The tasting at the watch store is a little better, but they only serve you if you're legitimately interested in buying a rolex, breitling, or TAG. There are opportunities to get a free glass or two of bubbly around the ship, but the availability of other free options is very limited/non-existent. Also the Woodford night is a promotion in the casino; there is not free Woodford for everyone.  

Thank you!  You have confirmed my suspicions around the whiskey tastings, I'll skip all that.

 

Super disappointed that there is no draft onboard.  Guess I'll be a wino all week and maybe get a nice beer onshore to get me through. 

 

[JeanieC,Aston]

59 minutes ago, dilbertsdaddy said:

Thank you!  You have confirmed my suspicions around the whiskey tastings, I'll skip all that.

 

Super disappointed that there is no draft onboard.  Guess I'll be a wino all week and maybe get a nice beer onshore to get me through. 

 

In my considerable experience the cans of Boddingtons bitter and Guinness onboard is no different to that pulled as draft onshore,,,,unless it’s draft Guinness pulled in Ireland of course.

[rmalbers]

1 hour ago, dilbertsdaddy said:

Thank you!  You have confirmed my suspicions around the whiskey tastings, I'll skip all that.

 

Super disappointed that there is no draft onboard.  Guess I'll be a wino all week and maybe get a nice beer onshore to get me through. 

 

Don't give up completely on draft beer, it may be just a temporary stocking issue, good luck with it! 

[SRQbeachgirl]

We took our first Celebrity cruise in January and did the cruise only option. DH does not drink at all (also doesn't drink coffees) and I would only have 2 - 4 drinks per day, including specialty coffee. We did buy the basic WiFi package and the non-alcoholic drink package (because I NEED my diet sodas). 

 

Interestingly, I ended up not being charged for the majority of alcoholic drinks I got, especially when I ordered them in the theater or if the bar was crowded. They would take my card or write down my room number, but the charges never showed up. 

[mayleeman]

19 hours ago, dilbertsdaddy said:

 

Super disappointed that there is no draft onboard.  Guess I'll be a wino all week and maybe get a nice beer onshore to get me through. 

 

 

Just roll a keg on board. Glue some buckles on it and say it is an antique type of luggage.

[dilbertsdaddy]

6 hours ago, mayleeman said:

 

Just roll a keg on board. Glue some buckles on it and say it is an antique type of luggage.

wahahahahahahaha!

 

don't give me any ideas!

[davekathy]

2 minutes ago, dilbertsdaddy said:

wahahahahahahaha!

 

don't give me any ideas!

Checked or carry on? 

[markeb]

2 hours ago, davekathy said:

Checked or carry on? 

You might be able to slip a pony keg through the screener...  😄

[davekathy]

2 hours ago, markeb said:

You might be able to slip a pony keg through the screener...  😄

My man. 🍻👊

[mayleeman]

19 hours ago, markeb said:

You might be able to slip a pony keg through the screener...  😄

 

No animals allowed unless it is a certified support pony. 

[davekathy]

3 minutes ago, mayleeman said:

 

No animals allowed unless it is a certified support pony. 

No problem. Internet certified.