canderson

4 minutes ago, IggleDoer said:

Does the staff know if we have pre-paid tips?

They have no visibility to this.  For all they know, you booked prior to Oct 2023 and tips are covered in an AI package.  Or you could have included them as pre-paid with the booking after Oct 2023.  Or you could be having them added as daily debits to your folio.

23 minutes ago, emdmistycc said:

Canderson,

 

Thank you quick response.  I just got off the phone with a Captains Club rep

regarding a few questions which this was one of them and he emphatically said “No”!

I do realize when you call CC it’s a gamble sometimes!  So I decided to post here to see what other responses I would get.  I am sure someone else at some time has received a move up to an Aqua Sky Suite.  I am fully aware that I don’t get premium beverage package unless I had previously purchased it.

 

Thanks again for you help.

 

elaine

 

To clarify, occupying any suite automatically provides for dining in Luminae.  Doesn't matter how the suite was booked.  Sailing in any Aqua automatically provides for dining in Blu, and this is available no matter how the Aqua was booked. 

An Aqua Suite is quite unique in that it covers both. 

28 minutes ago, markeb said:

They’re giving up their “near premium” niche for near term revenue. Maybe the niche we all loved wasn’t as profitable as we thought…

Or just discovered that, at least for now, they can have their cake and eat it, too.  Prices up.  Bookings up.  Niches smiches. 

But some day they may wish they had continued to better differentiate the line.  We've already strayed, and it looks like we'll be doing so again for 2025.

You're good to go either way you choose.

See here:

https://www.celebritycruises.com/things-to-do-onboard/staterooms/suite-class/aqua-sky-suite

"Updated Luminae menu with new Daniel Boulud signature dishes"

"Option to dine in Blu restaurant*"

"*Included in Aqua Sky Suites."

23 hours ago, Godblessourhome said:

... the reason why I received such a "check in" notice by X in the email?

The reason you received a notice is because you are taking two cruises.  While we all talk about B2B, the only thing that distinguishes your 2nd cruise from your 1st is how you get off and back on the ship, and perhaps a B2B luncheon.  The folks on the ship know what's happening, which is why you needn't check in for #2, but the system doesn't.

As far as the system goes, you don't have a B2B.  You have two cruises that just happen to end and start on the same day.  Even your accounting for your first cruise is reckoned separately at the end of the first cruise.  You'll start a brand new folio for charges for your 2nd cruise.

Try this for Jim's menus if on a phone where things may appear blue-ish.  Tap the bold black part right at the top.

And thanks for snagging these, Jim.

Sure it isn't $57 without lunch, $68 with lunch? 

1 hour ago, desertlily7 said:

We were on Summit for the August 16 sailing. I can confirm there were zip ties on the chairs on both balconies.

 

...

 

The zip ties were so tight around the chair frame that the small clippers I had with me were of no use. 

Balconies associated with which class cabin?  Looking to see if there's a trend developing related to the amount of space on a veranda.

Next time, grab a big steak knife from Tuscan. 😉

"Braised Lamb in Phyllo" if it's done properly to the recipe is outstanding.

I've not run into it, but have heard that occasionally it gets a bit too much salt in the galley.

Was curious to see what the numbers really meant.

Quickly divvying up the 'daily' in exceptionally round numbers just to see what we're all actually discussing here. Will use our upcoming M Class TA as an example.  These ships have a higher number of crew per passenger, so for the crew side of the calculation, this is worst case for a full ship:

Let's use a small bit over the lower number to account for concierge/aqua/suite, so using $18.50 per person per day.

Anticipate a full ship of 2170 pax (sold out, double occupancy) and full complement of 1000 crew (not all of whom are participants).

2170 x $18.50 = $40,145/day, or an average of about $1,200 per month per crew member, though not distributed equally.

I'll leave it to someone else to run the numbers for S and E class, but as S and E have a lesser number of crew per pax, the crew will make out a little better on those ships.

1 minute ago, Cruisegirl6 said:

Aruba is the first port, I know there are pharmacies there plus I go there twice a year on a land based trip and have friends who live there that I am sure can guide me where to go.  Just was wondering if ships doctor can suspend meds.  

You can't even be sure that your local pharmacies will have this 'mystery medication' in stock for a same day fill, especially if it has to be compounded.  Even if the ship was willing to play pharmacy, how could anyone here know if it's even available either aboard or en route?

You need to plan on filling before you board or potentially do without for the duration of your cruise.

53 minutes ago, Julma said:

So, you don't think the chat on the Celebrity website is Celebrity?

 

That's not what I said. 

Yes, it's "Celebrity".  That said, there are no assurances you're not getting connected to recent hire working at home from some other continent who has to make inquiries about anything not already prepared and answered on a script.

1 hour ago, Julma said:

It was through their chat.

No telling where the response came from, then.  The only contact point I'd trust to even be likely to garner an actual 'Miami' response would be email direct to corporate.

4 minutes ago, Julma said:

Thank you for waiting. As per checking with our onboard team, on your cruise will not be any private event for park West on the Sky Lounge venue. They have it schedule only for Sep 19. 

Strange response from Miami. 

First, a definite ESL thing going on there.  We don't often see that from a real Miami response.

Second, although they'll certainly know aboard since they have to set up for these events, why was it necessary to contact the ship to get this information?  Miami knows what ships and itineraries are included in their contracts with PW for these events.

Yes, strange.

29 minutes ago, PTC DAWG said:

I have had crew tell me that they swap currencies with one another if it works for both..

I've also heard it said that for ships with itineraries that will be based out of the U.S. (typically Florida, somewhere) for a considerable length of time, Amazon gift cards are much appreciated for individual, un-pooled tips, and don't ever have to be 'shared'.  Crew can sort what they need online at their leisure, and a pallet of Amazon packages are delivered to the ship each time it makes a turn in Florida. 

14 minutes ago, the penguins said:

Sorry if I misinterpreted the post. Surely all tips above and beyond are in cash.

Not necessarily.  Cruise line OBC is another option, especially if it's in gross surplus for a particular cruise.  That's not as common as it was for a year or two where repricing was possible up to a couple of days before the cruise (came as OBC after final), but it's still possible.

One can also dip into any refundable OBC (perhaps provided by a TA) for this purpose if caught short on cash.

The forms for additional tipping using ones onboard account are available at Guest Services, and like all onboard charges in a guest folio, are first paid with non-refundable OBC, then refundable OBC, and last, whatever settlement method was arranged before the cruise - typically a credit card. 

It is possible to use the generic categories provided on the form to direct your extra tips, but it is also allowed to add by name specific beneficiaries.  The default options were Dining Services, Stateroom Attendant, Other Housekeeping Services, and Butler.

So if caught short for cash, or with a glut of OBC, the Guest Services form can be used in a pinch.

I always let any individual beneficiaries know if I've done this (phone photo of form) to be sure they know to be looking for this and that it doesn't get diverted/lost somewhere.

8 hours ago, Hilaurennn said:

I did look at silversea and was shocked by the pricing! It may be an option someday but not for now 🙂

One reason for the price difference is that their smallest cabins are quite large by comparison.  It's an 'all suite' ship with a lot of inclusions in the price vs. a lot of add-ons. Pricing can at times be comparable to smaller Celebrity suites.

1 hour ago, RichYak said:

COVID is a coincidental timing of getting one’s seapass card at one’s stateroom. This was already the process on revolutionized ships pre-COVID. Source: Personal experience on Summit December 2019. 
 

The rest of the fleet went to this shortly before or perhaps immediately after the shutdown. 

All true.

Didn't, or at least didn't mean to suggest otherwise.  I was in the first paragraph responding to the earlier use of COVID as a time marker.  Agree we were dropping hand luggage long before that, or before the Revolution, for that matter. 

As for the second paragraph, COVID  was very much the primary factor there.  Again, it was the initial restart cruise of a ship, so no need to wait at all to occupy after boarding.

2 hours ago, the penguins said:

pre covid you collected your sea passes at the check in shore side. Once on the ship the decks with cabins were sealed off until the general announcement that the cabins were ready (Princess still operates this system).

Post covid whatever time you board you go direct to your cabin where your sea passes are on the bed. 

As you mention a Butler perhaps suites were different.

Pre-COVID, they usually didn't lock down 'all watertight doors'.😄   We could almost always drop hand luggage in a closet at our cabin and then move on to public space.  Many people used to join us in doing this so as to avoid a total crunch of rolly cases in places like the Ocean View cafe, Luminae, etc.  We were always in and out quickly, and didn't interfere with the process of turning the cabin.  Was pleased to see this codified since it works out better for everyone.  Didn't really matter if it was a suite or not.

As for the specific event I mentioned, I guess I didn't describe it well enough?  This was right after a dry dock and a COVID restart.   Everyone was welcome to go directly to their cabin and occupy it that day.   The last passengers aboard had left many months prior, so no need to wait for housekeeping to do anything.  That's what was 'glorious' about it (among many other things). 

43 minutes ago, sasset said:

What’s the line for upper suites?

Royal and above.

57 minutes ago, canderson said:

To the extent of unilaterally abrogating a contact with a paid client of RCG? 

 

I think the Board of Directors at RCG might differ with you on that, but it is possible to take it up with them.  You'll get more attention if you hold a fair number of RCL shares, however.  Right now, I believe there's a few over 250 million shares outstanding, so it may take a bit of an investment.

 

 

Just re-read that.  Should have said "contract", not "contact".

2 minutes ago, the penguins said:

no waiting for your cabin any more - you go straight there (average time from arrival at terminal to being in your cabin under 20 minutes) and your sea pass is waiting for you. Leave your bags, go to your muster station to sign on and you are free to explore.

Poster had said "That's the reason you have to wait until 1-1:30 to occupy your room..."

Emphasis on "occupy".  We've dropped our bags upon boarding for so long I can't even remember when we didn't.  But it still takes a while before the 'turn' work is complete. 

The only glorious exception we've had to this was when we were the first aboard after a big dry dock refresh of Constellation November 2021.  All of the cabins had been ready for pax for quite some days.  Butler dropped us off at our cabin at around 11:30, and we didn't budge until lunch at 1pm!  We spent our time on our veranda railing watching the last minute provisioning.  We enjoy that.  Weird, but we enjoy it every cruise.  No .. weird is when seeing a new industrial washing machine gets loaded is an 'event'.  What can I say?  We're fascinated by the logistics.

14 minutes ago, Travel-and-See said:

Not only do I suggest I 100% think the Hotel Director and the Captain should have the power to make decisions to remedy a guest service issue.  

To the extent of unilaterally abrogating a contact with a paid client of RCG? 

I think the Board of Directors at RCG might differ with you on that, but it is possible to take it up with them.  You'll get more attention if you hold a fair number of RCL shares, however.  Right now, I believe there's a few over 250 million shares outstanding, so it may take a bit of an investment.

1 minute ago, zitsky said:

So we should just all throw our hands in the air and say “nothing can be done”?

Well now there's one of the silliest posts I've run across today.  I see nothing in my posts that recommends this.  There must be some invisible ASCII coming from my keyboard today. 

I think there have been plenty of posts above explaining the best course of action, which is direct communication with corporate.  All my posts did is describe why a solution couldn't be had 'locally'.

But don't suggest as was done earlier that the Hotel Director has or should have the power alone to make the requested change.  Nor that a Captain wouldn't be subject to the corporate equivalent of a General Court-Martial soon after for actually doing it.

12 minutes ago, Travel-and-See said:

You are suggesting that Celebrity would fire a captain for making a decision on how to handle a situation on the ship they are assigned to? That's a very bold claim.

If a captain were to unilaterally decide to kick Park West out of their 'rented' space to make passengers happy, yes.  While the captain is the master of the ship, he/she still works at the pleasure of RCG.

Heaven knows what it would cost the company just for the broken contract and passenger fares, much less what Park West's famous lawyers would undoubtedly claim for compensatory damages due to lost sales.

Employees in any business that blow up large business deals made by corporate aren't going to go without consequences.