MandL

Also, Aqua isn’t just about dining in Blu. You have a nicer shower head configuration, some extra amenities in your stateroom such a daily bottles of water, lip gloss, slippers, robes, exercise classes included at no cost if you so choose to go to the gym, a complimentary welcome bottle of sparking wine or regular wine (this you must request, as it is no longer automatically delivered to your stateroom). There are a few nice extra touches in addition to Blu. But it is subjective. Some love it, some don’t. We happen to love it.

I’m in agreement with Monica. Mark and I prefer dining in Blu, even when we have a Suite. We’ve always enjoyed Blu’s menu, over the main dining room especially the breakfast menu. It’s brighter, and it’s easy to strike up conversations with others if you wish to with the table configurations. And on a side note, if you wish to, you can still order something off of the main dining room menu. They are very accommodating. We feel it’s worth the extra money we pay. The spa access is also a nice perk.

Have you ever used a travel agent in the U.S.? We had some friends from Belgium back in the day, who did all their bookings with a travel agent in the U.S. I have to wonder if this was why.

Yes, I can read the chart very well. Al Bacio includes much more than Lattes and Tea. They also serve Kahlua, Bailey's, etc, and premium water. So, to state Elite Plus now includes Al Bacio is misleading and incorrect. Line 3 does not say Al Bacio.

That will be the day Celebrity gives away Al Bacio for free to Elite Plus. You must be talking making Zenith after your next cruise? https://www.celebritycruises.com/content/dam/celebrity/new-images/Captain-Clubs-Benefits-Brochure_3.24.23_V7.pdf

Our experience on the Infinity was in a suite. For the record, I don’t like to complain, but for those of you that think things are fine I will point out a few things that we noticed to better explain why I think they better step up their game. And yes, I realize they are not their own entity. I own some stock. In our cabin the closet doors no longer opened and closed properly, the refrigerator shelf was broken, the spot where a glass would hang next to the sink was broken, so they placed a soap dish on it trying to disguise it. Luminae had a real problem with their wait staff, and apparently the chef did not have things under control. Eggs Benedict English muffin was rock hard on bottom two mornings, and cold the other two mornings we tried for it. The Avocado they served in the beginning was brown, until we had a discussion with the hotel director. The Solstice we had suite stays and Aqua class stays. We’ll take dining in Blu any time over dining in Luminae. The theatre seats need replacing. The seats lean forward when you sit down. The women’s showers are falling apart in the spa. Half of the locks don’t work on the lockers. The placemats are frayed in Sushi on Five. The outside pool bottom has some staining on it that looks like exposed rebar. The soap dispensers in the Women’s public restrooms do not work properly if they even do. There is more, but I’ll stop. I’m a true fan of Celebrity. This is super disappointing to me. We are Elite plus with Celebrity, and Diamond Plus with Royal. We’ll continue to sail with Celebrity, but definitely spreading our wings. One mor comment…….the ship was never at full capacity while we were sailing, and we did a back to back last two weeks of March. Maybe things have changed.

Celebrity needs to step up their game. The last five cruises (two of which were tired ships, Infinity and Solstice) weren't what they used to be pre pandemic. The food, amenities, entertainment, and activities are lacking. The ships need to be revolutionized, and NOW. Stop with the spending and building more Edge class ships (trying to find your place between the millennial passenger and boomer passenger). If you want to keep the boomer generation cruising and spending money, step up your game and modernize your ships. We aren't dead yet. It's no wonder Lisa passed the torch. The Board probably tied her hands.

Four weeks.

We did the expedited passport renewal, and only had eight weeks to our sailing date. Not a problem. We received our passports in plenty of time. As back up though we had our birth certificates and driver's license as it was a closed loop Los Angeles Pacific Coastal down to Cabo San Lucas. Celebrity said not a problem. Relax. All good.

Bingo! This is exactly why I do not use travel agents. I do all my own bookings directly. But, I do understand that not all people have the time to do this.

I'm curious micruiser2002 (without reading through 33 pages, although I have followed this thread through the start). You must refresh my memory.....have you been cancelled?

All, I reached out to my contact at Celebrity last night by email to find out what she knew. I also wanted to clarify what the OP was told. I just received her answer. I’ve put it in quotes, but omitted my name and hers. “Good afternoon Ms. xxxxx, the entire season of Asia is not cancelled, there are only select sailings and select cabins that were oversold if you have not been contacted then your sailing and reservation is not affected. I would be the one or the team handling that would have called, today is the final day for choosing what to do with those bookings, yours is not affected.” Hope this helps and explains to some of you. I suggest if you are using a TA you make sure they aren’t sitting on a notification.

Very true!!

Same here with United. We were not charged. They gave us a credit for the amount we paid for the ticket. We had one year to use it.

Thank you !!

Thank you for that. I will look for an email that includes it, so I can send it to my Celebrity contact as a follow up to my other email.

Do you have any idea where they got this list? Or did someone simply type up this list on an assumption? We are sailing 3/28/2024 (original booking from way back November 2019, lifted and shifted over and over again). We always book now with Celebrity directly, and stay with them so I don't have to go through a third party to make adjustments. One mishap a few years back was enough for me. I just sent off an email to our contact at Celebrity to see what she knows. Should be interesting to get her take.

So there you have it. Straight from someone who was affected by a Fall 2023 cruise. Thank you for settling this back and forth discussion.

We’ve cruised the Solstice four times over the last five months, and eaten in Tuscan each cruise. We’ve always preferred Tuscan over Murano on the Solstice class ships for its menu and location. Love to start with their charcuterie board. We typically have the swordfish, or a steak with pasta. The side pasta with lobster is very good. Last time we asked for just the filleted lobster without the pasta. No complaints here with Tuscan on the Solstice.

I think it might drive home the point if everyone who received a cancellation email posted a photo of themselves holding the email on Celebrity’s Instagram account.

A couple of the items we ordered off the Tuscan menu while dining in Luminae were the Bruschetta, and the Filet Mignon. Not sure if I mentioned this earlier though, but the Eggs Benedict is better in Blu (so is the entire breakfast menu). We would just dine there for breakfast when we could.

Here’s a couple interesting ones for you…...a glass of Castle Rock Pinot Noir was priced at $11 on the menus in Blu & Tuscan, but when we had lunch at Sushi on Five it was priced at $9. Tuscan always charged us the extra $1 plus gratuity, Blu it depended on which Sommelier was waiting on us. When we were in a bar and would order a margarita we’d ask for Don Julio. If they didn’t have it they would give us Patron Silver at no extra charge. That’s what I meant by it’s hit and miss. Plus I really think if you take the time to be friendly to the staff they appreciate it. Smiles go a long way. These people work hard.

you are paying the difference above $10.

Yes. We’re Elite Plus, cruised five times in the last six months (two times with the premium package, 4 times with the classic package). It is not worth upgrading to the premium package unless you are hanging out at the bars all day drinking premium beers and wines. And really, the Premium package has a cap on it also which doesn’t cover some of the really good beer and wine. We opted to pay the difference as needed. It can be a nuisance though to sign a slip every time you go over. He can always see how it goes the first couple of days. They will prorate the upgrade if he decides he wants to upgrade later in the cruise. Another consideration is your itinerary. Are you at sea a bunch of days? If so, you are more likely to use your drink package and may want the upgraded package.