Champagne - NOT - your opinion?

[Bandas]

Hi Cruise Junky,

 

The way I read it, gifts delivered from authorized vendors will have a corkage fee. Perhaps meaning gifts delivered by florists or gift basket companies that Celebrity approves of.:confused: Not individuals bringing their wine on board. There's also a line about alcohol bought in the ship's stores will be delivered to the cabin on the last evening. I guess even the ship's store isn't an authorized vendor.

 

However, if the wine was bought through Celebrity as a bon voyage gift, they do not charge a corkage fee.

 

I don't think the $15.00 corkage fee is unrealist either. If I thought it was "really" okay for me to bring my wine onboard, I would gladly pay the corkage fee.:)

 

The OP was upset because, I think her bottle of bubbly was the one they put in the CC cabins, as part of the perk. And, when she went to drink it, the waiter tried or did charge her a corkage fee - which I agree should not have been charged. But, unless the bottle has Celebrity's private label, how would the waiter know to charge the fee or not?

 

I'll probably bring way to much luggage without trying to haul my wine with me, so, my DH will be much happier if I just buy it on the ship.:D

[2ladies]

I told the wine waiter that it was Celebrity's own label supplied to me as part of the Concierge Class package!! Then the maitre d' came up and I explained the same to him and apparently, this was then referred to a manager!! He said $15 corkage fee applied!!!

 

Did I drink it and pay? Are you crazy?!! No, but I have a photo of the six of us holding THE bottle - I didn't give up without a fight I can tell you!! I gave the bottle to one of the other couples and we toasted with Infinity Water!!!! With a big "boo" to Celebrity!!!!

 

As I said previously, this was probably the revenge of the wine waiter. We also had a small problem with the Concierge cabin service and I put this all down to the fact that this was the last cruise before dry dock and a lot of the staff were finishing their contracts!!!

 

No excuse of course. However, I wouldn't have started this thread at all if it hadn't been for the fact that when I returned home, I 'phoned Celebrity Customer Service to find out if this corkage should indeed have been applied, and the 'lady' at CS was 'cold' to the edge of being offensive and claimed that she agreed with the corkage charge!!! So, I wanted the opinion of other CCers!!!

[cdbaum]

I have never been charged a corkage fee for any bottle of wine or champagne (sparkling wine etc.) on Celebrity that was provided by Celebrity. This would include those won in contests, provided in CC cabins or suites. Additionally we have never seen anyone at our table be changed in those circumstances either.

 

The wait staff, MD, asst MD, wine god and hotel and restaurant management have all stated that the fee does not apply in those cases.

 

This has been OUR experience on OUR cruises on Celebrity, I cannot speak for anyone else.

 

No the "champagne" was not anything fancy, but it was not undrinkable either, and it was free. I don't think that the method used to create the product, where it was made or how much it cost has any bearing on the final result. Either YOU like it or you don't.

 

I'm not real happy when I get a $200 bottle of french vinegar in a restaurant when a nice white from Washington would have worked out fine.

[2ladies]

That's why I was, without exaggeration, thunderstruck!!! But since I was also asked for my room card for a cappucino whilst at the Captains Table, I have to assume that the dining room training on this ship is not quite what it should be!!! (The host was not amused!).

 

Re the Chateau de Plonkeau, had it just been the wine waiter, well OK. But it went from him to the maitre d' and then to a "manager"!!!

 

Also, when I rang Celebrity the lady insisted they were correct to charge!! A week later I spoke to someone else at Celebrity and she was horrified!! Asked what she could do to make me feel not so badly treated and I said "nothing"!! What's she gonna do - give us a lifetime of free cruises?

 

Its free if you win it!! But not free as part of a package - of course, had I paid the $15 I would probably have gone into the Guinness Book of Records for having paid the most for Chateau de Plonkeau!!

 

Micheal Roux - where art thou???!!! And don't any of you dare to take the name of Michel and reply on this thread!!!!

[nick0danger]

we went on a cruise last august, we where given a bottle of wine by the travel agent in our room. I gathered them all up, got the room steward to arrange to have them brought to the dinning room (gave him a 10 spot for this). Was not the best wine but we drank it. no corkage (i think they knew our tastes and we would of not bought this bottle) and when we went to late seating cause we wanted another meal (we ate off the ship and arrange this at the begining of the cruise), they where waiting at the other table setting as well.

[2ladies]

Hey - I am beginning to think this was personal - they just didn't like me!! Yet the maitre d' was very nice and reserved our fave table for us each evening!! We have cruised on the Connie rather frequently of late - never had a moments problem!!! Maybe I am being paranoid - but this doesn't mean they're not out to get me!!

 

Well, our next Celebrity ship will be the Millie - and next month we will be on the Jewel of the Seas -because the Connie is doing a stupid (IMHO) itinerary!! But we still won't be drinking - our donations go to the Casino - slots of course!!!

 

Anyone care to venture a guess as to the cost to Celebrity of this so-called Champagne?