canderson

1 hour ago, RichYak said:

Are they? Or are they just filling them via move-ups?

Find a suite on next year's WB Fall TA on Constellation.  Has been sold out for ages.  Bit early for MoveUps.

4 minutes ago, Oceangoer2 said:

Um...yes....because if my bread is going well for $12...then a reduction in price may bring in the customers from the bakery down the block.

Yeah, but if your ovens are already at capacity (ships full), you don't want or need to spend any additional money to add demand you can't fulfill.  All that's needed is to keep the demand on an even keel (-1 for pun, yes).  To steal those customers, you'd need more ovens (more new builds) in the pipeline, and Celebrity has only one in the works - Xcel.

17 minutes ago, sanger727 said:

A celebrity sailing will be a totally different experience than a smaller ship.  If you want the VIP treatment and are willing to accept the downsides of a smaller ship - fewer dining options, less entertainment - then that is probably the way to go.

Entertainment, true.  Dining?  We had more dining options (no extra charge) on Dawn than on any M class ship.

15 minutes ago, leaveitallbehind said:

IMO the "strategy" is based on supply and demand.

We helped ease the demand side last year by moving our TA to Silversea.  When we booked, a Silver Suite on Dawn was actually cheaper than a Royal on Celebrity (equivalent sizes in and out), an additional port, an extra sea day longer, and with a lot more inclusions, on a 'fresher' looking ship.  Made that decision pretty easy, even before the recent loyalty match changes.  RCG should consider themselves lucky we didn't stray from their brands entirely.  Moreover, Silversea are still not allowing baseball caps in their dining rooms after 6.  It was an altogether enjoyable experience. 

2 hours ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

Which cruise ?

as our TA in November is twice what we paid for a balcony 

And our 7 November TA dropped right after final, yet there's nearly nothing left in the way of inventory.

1 minute ago, thebutlerdidit said:

It’s a valid question. I’m surprised at the harsh and mocking tone of some of the responses. It costs nothing to be kind.

This ain't nuthin.  See the linked thread.  Even the ever gracious Jim suggested an alternative approach.

6 minutes ago, catspaw1 said:

here's the coverage for an upcoming trip we booked with the big box store insurance. trip cancellation 100% of cost, Trip interruption 150% of costs, trip delay 2G, missed connection $1500, bag delay $200, ER medical exp $200,000, ER dental exp $1,000, ER evacuation & repatriation $200,000 & common carrier AD & D $50,000.

 

Premium for 23 days, covering cruise cost only, was $222.

 

So how does that compare with GeoBlue everyone? One of us- me -under 70 & my DH 72.

As some have noted, you really want to look carefully at the Ts and Cs of evacuation.  Some policies will only do so if there's no way you can get what they deem to be adequate treatment where you are.  Others will send you home (or wherever) for treatment as requested.

11 minutes ago, Edsny said:

I cant believe how low the prices are.Too bad they wont compromise on old bookings.Its a crap shoot.

Up or down closer to sail date is very cruise specific.

Yeah, it was nice during the restart when, if the price dropped after final, you could at least pick up the difference as OBC, but those days are long gone.  One alternative is to use a price drop to book a higher cabin class inexpensively.  However, AI perks for the new cabin will be what's currently in place, so an old enough (pre-Oct 23) booking would lose included tips.

2 minutes ago, bandp407 said:

Also given our “young” ages, it also much more affordable. 

Definitely a factor when buying trip insurance.  As the birthdays roll on, the actuarial tables really don't work in our favor!  Besides inflation inflation, we've got to deal with the age inflation part of the equation as well, and it's really starting to show up in premiums for these policies as we get older.

40 minutes ago, NMTraveller said:

Does Celebrity do the big cubes?  Either spheres or cubes?

Those with World Class Bar make the big spherical ice using the Macallan gadget while you watch.  Apparently Summit has one, too - or did have, anyway.

2 minutes ago, NMTraveller said:

Hmmm.  Interesting.  I think that all of mine have sold out.  Good to know.

This one might as well have been sold out.  13 left out of 1,092.  Surprised to see so many suites pop back into inventory right after final.  They usually get snapped up on TAs:

Inside: 1

Ocean View: 0

Veranda: 0

Concierge: 0

Aqua: 1

Sky Suite: 5

Aqua Sky Suite: 4

Celebrity Suite: 2

7 minutes ago, DennysDad said:

I have to reread this thread. I thought someone said Allianz and GeoBlue paid directly to hospitals quickly? Anyone say that?

Yes to the former.  See post #19.

https://www.allianztravelinsurance.com/travel/medical/emergency-medical-insurance.htm

Found this thread here in the Celebrity forum.  Who'd have guessed?  It even explains how to access the benefit, with links to

www.rclinvestor.com

and

https://rcg.questionpro.com/shareholderbenefit

and everything!

11 minutes ago, MechE31 said:

We didn't have a drink package to start with and went from an aqua verandah to celebrity suite. We fully expected to be charged. A $0 charge did show on the account for each drink.

That's great.  Hope you left 'em a nice tip!

19 minutes ago, NMTraveller said:

I would book early.  Every cruise I have booked on Celebrity has gone up in price after I have booked.  I normally book right as the cruise becomes available.

My mileage varies.  Have found this to be pretty typical for the cruises we book for some reason.  And this one has had tight-ish inventory for quite a while now.

41 minutes ago, wrk2cruise said:

 

Lucky you.  You should be charged.

Depends upon what the MoveUp was from.  @MechE31 isn't a regular Celebrity cruiser, and may not know how the perks/packages work.

1 hour ago, MechE31 said:

We're a move up on the reflection currently. We've been getting wine in Luminae and not being charged. 

What cabin class did you start in?  If you moved up within suites, you'd have already had the beverage and WiFi included.

If not moving up from a suite, was AI already part of the package for the cabin you had originally booked?  If so, you keep that with the MoveUp.

22 minutes ago, ItalLine2Cunard said:

Same question for a Celebrity repositioning.  This would be for crossing solo.  The biggest pro seems to be flexibility and meeting new people.  The biggest con might be that you wouldn't have the same folks at the table if you've formed somewhat of a bond.  The tables were for 8 people.  On 2 crossings, the bonds were very strong and, on 1 crossing, the bond was fairly strong.

Doesn't really matter if you're on a repo cruise or any other apart from the lack of shorex on many at-sea days where dining time isn't hostage to returning and cleaning up from the shorex.

You don't say which ship (dining room configuration is rather different on E class) or which cabin class (potentially different 'default' dining venue), so that would help. Though in general, I'd say ...

As for the 'bond', if it's that good for everyone, just agree to meet together at a particular time and let the M'd know you'd like a table together each night and see how that goes.

1 hour ago, NMTraveller said:

Any idea which travel insurances will do this?

The particular Allianz policy that we usually prefer does.  Those from some of the companies we had used some years back did not.

Here's a little blurb from their web site. You definitely want to avoid Scenario #1, and be sure you'll get Scenario #2 from your insurer, so picking the right company is important.

https://www.allianztravelinsurance.com/travel/medical/emergency-medical-insurance.htm

While we have other means for dealing with things like this, it's really nice to know that we don't have to fret about it.

6 minutes ago, Tigermad said:

I certainly could not afford to pay for the treatment up front. Not everyone that cruises is well off..

Then be sure your insurance, should you choose to purchase, will manage a timely direct payment to a hospital, not just "reimbursement".

21 minutes ago, NMTraveller said:

So how much credit is enough?  100k on cards?  200k on cards?

A longer stay, something that would run to six figures, would also provide more time to organize the necessary finances. 

For more normal 'events', I'd say it'd be best to have an ordinary card good for $30K, and an Amex with some good history that could make up any differences.

People who are accustomed to being billed after the hospital submits the bill to their insurance company, or who rely on 'national health', are often rudely surprised when they discover that when they travel in much of the world, while there's no 'cover charge' to get in, you gots to pay to get out.

Perhaps more to the point, or at least equally important -- Be sure you have a way to pay silly sums of money prior to the reimbursement if you ever want to check out of the hospital!

All of the insurance you had wouldn't have done you much good if you hadn't had a large open amount of credit available to you, or a quick way to move liquid assets around via wire transfer, etc. 

29 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

@jayoldschool @canderson  Keep in mind that if you booked through a TA or a big box store, not all of them participate in the move up program.  Not sure if you booked direct with Celebrity or a third party but may want to check and see. 

 

Not the case.  Booked with a normal TA, and have had MoveUp opportunities before - just not this time.

54 minutes ago, gold1953 said:

too soon . Mine activated 3 days after I booked this week for a Nov cruise. 

And yet - while we're on the same cruise, I get the same results noted in post #1.  Just a swing back to "Find Your Reservation" after entering last name and reservation #.  That's always been the case for us for this particular cruise.  Same for both of the cabins we've booked.

Wondering if in some (but not all) cases, it may have to do with the fact that there's nothing left in inventory to move up to.  You'd think they'd still take 'what if' bids in case of any remaining future cancellations, though.

FWIW:  Mandatory loops are probably a function of BMI/ASCAP.  Miami would determine the playlist and pay license fees accordingly.  They'd want it all nice and predictable aboard.

That's not to say that the playlist couldn't do with some improvement, but explains why it seems to be a fleetwide thing, and doesn't vary.