jody75

You are correct if we book in the UK and then cancel we lose the deposit but if we book via a US travel agent we get the same cancellation conditions as Americans. Since June last year following the decline in the exchange rate booking a Celebrity cruise has been significantly cheaper in the UK. Strange really as you would expect it to cost more with the exchange rate falling from 1.68 to 1.28 but it is the reverse. We are planning to book the 14 nt. Reflection in December 18 and comparing prices for a 1A Balcony Cabin both with the drink package costs $4557 in the US whilst in UK the same cost £2708 ( $3446), thats over $1100 cheaper in the UK.

We normally book on board so the loss of deposit doesn't come into play. At the moment we win both ways, for how long is anyones guess.

Yes they are always available on board, 4 dinner package is $125/pp and you are now able to choose all in one restaurant or spread as you choose not as Celebrity used to dictate.

See http://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/news/news.cfm?ID=7423

We boarded on the Saturday in Barbados, thats the 2nd day and we got in the queue prior to the 7pm opening for Retreat Reservations. The desk was fully manned and they watched the queue build, it was at least 50 people inline then one of the people at the desk said "there are only 4 spaces available". They treated the passengers like it was a game, if it was free I'd tell them to shove it.

So boarding in St Lucia its anyone guess but is it really worth it ? Too avoid the soot, maybe it is..........

No Murano on Summit - just Tuscan and Qsine.

Yes they call it by a different name - Normadie, french style restaurant with the same Murano menu !

Suggest you consider the price difference of choosing a normal balcony cabin together with a specialty dining package. To eat in Murano/Tuscan Grille every night on a 7 day cruise would cost just $217/pp. I know which I would choose.

Why do people upgrade their cabin? Because they believe it will enhance their holiday. Why upgrade to premium economy when flying, same reason. The same applies to choosing to dine in Murano or Tuscan. Glad we have the choice but it does not explain why Celebrity continue to downgrade the MDR, to me their have cut the standards to an unacceptable level.

I would avoid the steak and the lobster as the quality is very poor.

If you want any near decent you need to visit one of the specialty restaurants. MDR food quality is not the best so don't build your expectations too high because you will be disappointed.

Why worry, the baggage handlers attached them at drop-off, simple as that.

The thread prompted me to check my Eclipse March 2018 cruise - it has increased by £1026 for our 1A balcony and UK TA still offering 2 perks (Drinks +$300obc)

It could be as simple as Virgin Atlantic have given them a better deal to charter the plane than Thomson.

Better deal for P&O maybe but not for the passengers.

I would expect the Seat Reservation fee to be increased way above the £20/pp/each way.

Thompson/Thomas Cook PE is normally £299/pp for Caribbean return flight - on Virgin Atlantic from £349pp could be £500pp?

Hi does anyone know if Celebrity give you the option to remove the tips from your onboard account?

Yes you can adjust the auto-tips at Guest Relations either up or down to zero, its your decision. There are no questions asked or any forms to complete.

Can anyone recommend a scuba diving tour operator to go diving with inSt. Lucia off of a cruise ship?

 

I wanted to go with Scuba Steve but I am put off by the factthat they change 100% of the fee (NO refund) if your cruise ship arrives late(has happened to me) or misses the port of call (has happened to me). People write that Scuba Steve is "VERYSTRICT" on their no change policy.

 

Seems very unfair to charge all of the divers off of thesame cruise ship for something that is out of their control. I read that SCUBA Steve's will meet you onthe dock but that does absolutely no good if the ship is late or does notarrive.

 

So I want to book with someone else or VERY worst case scenario findanother activity for the three of us to do.

 

Thanks

 

Rayden

I nearly booked with these people, only at the last minute when I printed out the booking form did I read their NO REFUND policy. If the ship is late or fails to arrive they will charge your Credit Card the full amount.

Thanks for your help, it was trial and error but I succeeded in the end. I used photobucket but from a Mac which is always troublesome not like windows.

I believe anything is possible, if you don't ask you don't get.

I always booked via a US travel agency until recently when UK prices became more competitive. About 18 months ago I had a reservation which dropped just over $1000 three weeks after final payment so I asked my US T/A if it was possible to have a refund or something to off-set this reduction. I believe that it certainly helped that I had two future cruises booked with Celebrity. Within a week my T/A informed me that I would get a refund of $500 and an increase of $450 to my current obc. Lucky maybe, as I said if you don't ask........

Having insured my Mum in the UK for several cruises we now leave it until final payment to buy insurance.

You obviously aren't concerned about the Cancellation Cover element of the policy.

err

It would take more than one cruise several years ago to give you the knowledge to give a balanced view !

Probably been on Britannia more recently than you, less than 6 months ago (B635) never to be repeated again. Far better exerience to be had elsewhere, thankfully.

I also wonder why if you dislike PO so much you keep coming on the PO threads!

Too give possible future customer's a balanced view not one viewed thro' rose tinted specs expressed by the die hard Pando Lovers.

The perks are the same whether you do it at home, online or on the ship. So for us, it was $150 OBC for booking on board.

The OP lives in the UK.

The current UK or on-line offer is different to that offered in the United States, only the drinks package is available to us whilst on board we get 2 perks plus additional obc. The obc benefit given onboard varies from $100 to $500 dependant on number of cruise nights and class of cabin of the future cruise and the deposit paid is equal to the obc received or promised.

Another benefit we get is that Celebrity currently use an exchange rate of $1.68 =£ 1 when calcuating the deposit. We paid £148 deposit and received $250 obc which we spent on the cruise and we can cancel without any penalty.

Better than using an ATM !!!

Yip, agree but for its clientele - the worst CHAV experience ever.

Never on any other ship have I seen such loutish behaviour that we experienced. P&O must reduce their prices to such a level that it attracts the most undesirable and most objectionable people that we have ever met. Never again..... risks are too high.

Livorno - Celebrity charging $5 for a NO OPTION shuttle is a disgrace. It should be free as no other means to get ashore.

Great thread, enjoying your updates. Will be onboard the Reflection in July which includes Spanish ports. Can you tell me is the additional Vat applied in Spanish waters applying to drinks packages and specialty dining packages already purchased (prior to boarding for instance) or is it only applying to ad hoc purchases?

No VAT as long as you call at Gibraltar, that will make the whole cruise VAT free. (21st July cruise will have VAT added unfortunately since no EU port on the itinerary)

Eddy Jenkins was CD on Eclipse in March. The crew write-up onboard said he became a recent multi millionaire having recently sold his shares in Snap-Chat but was still honouring his contract with Celebrity. Many people were taken-in but it was one of his jokes!!!!!!