ChuckL

26 minutes ago, Pear33 said:

My Celebrity planner is fantastic . Ryan Wilkenson- 44148

 

Thanks so much. Will give him a call tomorrow!

30 minutes ago, leaveitallbehind said:

Not picking on just one thing from your entire post, but for clarity I assume you meant Captains Club, not Crown & Anchor as that would be RCCL.

 

I am also sorry to hear of your frustrations and wish I could offer support, but we have always used independent travel agents for our cruises, including Celebrity, with very good success, so I cannot offer any comparisons or suggestions of other VP's.

 

If you like cruising with Celebrity, I would hope that this experience would not take you away from them as there are very good and capable travel agents - perhaps among those you reference for your other cruises - that could provide the service and attention you want.

I certainly know better than to have referenced Crown & Anchor, but I must have Royal Caribbean on my mind. We are sailing on the Icon of the Seas in 46 days, which will be a shock to our system after Celebrity, but it was a prior favorite, it is all in the family, and I had to see it for myself. We strayed from our planner to a travel agent once because Celebrity couldn’t match his group prices, and he was awful in comparison to our planner. We do use a different travel agency when we stray.from Celebrity and would use them for Celebrity if we don’t leave. Honestly am probably too fond of the Celebrity cruise experience and just not customer service recently. 

28 minutes ago, leaveitallbehind said:

Not picking on just one thing from your entire post, but for clarity I assume you meant Captains Club, not Crown & Anchor as that would be RCCL.

 

I am also sorry to hear of your frustrations and wish I could offer support, but we have always used independent travel agents for our cruises, including Celebrity, with very good success, so I cannot offer any comparisons or suggestions of other VP's.

 

If you like cruising with Celebrity, I would hope that this experience would not take you away from them as there are very good and capable travel agents - perhaps among those you reference for your other cruises - that could provide the service and attention you want.

I am attempting to find out whether anyone still has an active dedicated Celebrity Cruise Vacation Planner. The reason why I am asking is because of the following experience.

I have been working with my dedicated Celebrity Vacation Planner since 2013. I have always received excellent service from her, so I have stayed with her Celebrity cruise bookings, and used a travel agent for other cruise lines. I booked an upcoming cruise with her this past August. I reached out to her with several questions by email on February 24, but didn’t receive any response. Her email sent out an auto-reply, and her voicemail remained active with a message that my call would be returned. After 3 weeks, I left a voicemail with the Vacation Planner department line a week ago, to see if my vacation planner was alright or if she left Celebrity, and to request a new Vacation Planner or temporary one if she was on an extended absence. That mailbox was actually set up for for new vacation planner requests. The recording on it said calls would be returned within 24 to 48 hours. That was seven days ago.

Today, I contacted the Crown & Anchor number, and my call was answered by a general customer service agent and not C&A. I requested to speak with a supervisor in the Vacation Planner department, but I had to explain the reasons why. I spent over 20 minutes on hold with the agent telling me she was still waiting for the supervisor. She finally told me I was being transferred. When the transfer was completed, I asked if the person was a supervisor from the Vacation Planner area. I was told no, but that she was a supervisor from the Resolutions Department, and that she could handle the concerns my vacation planner hadn’t responded to. My “concerns” to my vacation planner were questions, so the purpose of my call was not conveyed correctly by the agent. I told her I wanted a supervisor from Vacation Planners because they had not returned my call requesting a new planner in 7 days either. 

The disturbing answer I received was that they did not provide new vacation planners anymore, because they were able to give more prompt service by just having a (random) customer service agent handling the calls. I asked if my vacation planner still worked for Celebrity and was told she did. I asked in what capacity, and was told as a Celebrity Vacation Planner. Resolutions said they would ask her to contact me. The person in Resolutions then attempted to answer my three questions, told me an upgrade to my wifi and inclusion of their new Premium Access program (which she was clueless about) had been cancelled and that I received a refund, when it had not been cancelled nor had I received a refund, and after many more minutes on hold, being told that. She also seemed to have no knowledge about the Celebrity Price Match guarantee program either, and I had to forward all of the emails between my Vacation Planner and me to her attention. Lucky me! Another auto reply email from Resolutions stating my email would be answered in 72 hours. 

I suspect that vacation planners are a dying breed at Celebrity. If you still work with one, would you mind giving me their name and 5 digit phone extension. I would really like to find out what happened to my planner because I don’t believe Resolutions telling me she was still at Celebrity, because the lack of a response from her is so untypical of her. 

We have loved Celebrity for the past 11 years now, and convinced friends to join us on our next cruise. However, this experience has really soured them on Celebrity. They cannot understand why I was told we couldn’t have a new dedicated planner, and that our price match that was going to be placed on our accounts as OBC 2 weeks prior to sailing might not exist. If this is true, we may unfortunately have to find a favorite cruise line. 

On 11/11/2023 at 4:44 PM, mocruiseguy said:

If you’re on an Edge-class ship, check to see if Le Bistro is open for lunch. Things may have changed, but we had a quiet, wonderful lunch there on embarkation day last December. We’re planning on doing the same in a few weeks on the Apex, if it’s open. There is a fee, but we love the service and food there. 

We had our embarkation day lunch at Le Bistro on the Apex in April 2022.  Granted there was a charge, but we found it to be worth it’s weight in gold, to be able to board the ship and enjoy a delicious French lunch in a peaceful, non-hectic and uncrowded environment. This  allowed us to be relaxed during the first couple of hours onboard, which is usually stressful until the cabins are ready. We plan on doing it again when we board the Ascent in February 2025. 

On 1/28/2023 at 7:52 AM, Mcgeneseo said:

I forgot to mention we took a cab from the airport to the hotel. It cost about $36 with 20% tip included. I've scheduled an Uber for tomorrow's trip to the port.

How far and how much time did it take you to get to the port from Margaritaville? 

20 hours ago, carol louise said:

I do not suffer from neuropathy, but am responding with a suggestion regarding shoes. The Easy Spirit “AP1” line — a flexible, thin-soled shoe that won’t fall off — may suit your needs.

https://easyspirit.com/search?type=product&options[prefix]=last&q=AP1

I find sneakers, which I wear for exercise walking outdoors or working out in the gym, feel too stiff for indoors, so I like to wear AP1’s in my apartment. But they are still sturdy enough to wear outside for an errand, for example. 

I have purchased slip on sneakers from Skeechers. They appear like they are laced, but that is just part of the design. They are VERY lightweight with elastic sides to hold them on,, and have very thin soles as well.They are really comfortable and don’t push on the numb feet. 

I believe they came from this collection of shoes:

https://www.skechers.com/men/shoes/hands-free-slip-ins/

1 hour ago, Valen9 said:

 

If you rent from Special Needs at Sea, they can tell you which devices fit into regular cabin doors.  Try to book a cabin near the elevator lobby so you don't have as much time traveling down the narrow hallways.  (Or if you really, REALLY can't fit it into your tiny cabin, you can leave it in the hall and let them give you the dirty looks!)

 

Not humorous at all. Leaving a scooter or other device is more than dirty looks! It is a prohibited safety violation against cruise line rules and hazard that could block  other passengers from getting down those  "narrow hallways"

1 hour ago, Valen9 said:

 

If you rent from Special Needs at Sea, they can tell you which devices fit into regular cabin doors.  Try to book a cabin near the elevator lobby so you don't have as much time traveling down the narrow hallways.  (Or if you really, REALLY can't fit it into your tiny cabin, you can leave it in the hall and let them give you the dirty looks!)

 

in an emergency. It also blocks other wheelchairs, scooters and power chairs from using that corridor at any time. 

10 minutes ago, lenquixote66 said:

I too have spinal stenosis in addition to neuropathy.I have in home PT twice a week.I have not tried a power chair on a cruise.That is something to think about.

Just make sure that you get the dimensions, particularly the width, of whichever device you rent. Depending on the company you use and what you are renting, you may need to stay in sn  Accessible Cabin to be able to fget it through the doorway, because you are not allowed to leave it in the hall as it's  a safety hazard to the other passengers. lThe cruise line Specisl Needs department should be ablr to get you the door dimensions for your ship.  

On 9/10/2023 at 3:27 PM, shipgeeks said:

After 18 months (and six cruises) of "Why I am so clumsy?" and "I can't really feel my feet", I have a diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy.  Getting PT for balance and strength, as well as care of neurologist and rheumatologist.  Seeking to receive and share any tips, especially for on the ship.

At home, shopping, and PT, I can usually wear sneakers, although my PT nixed my newest pair, as the soles are thick and stiff, without much flex at the ball of the foot.  So they are on hold.  Yesterday I wore a pair of loafers I had planned to pack....but discovered that they can slip off without my knowing it.  Another on hold.

I will take a cane on the cruise.  I don't use it around the house, but take it for the entrance and lobby of PT facility, just for reassurance. I got some nice tips from my post here re novice cane user.

Balance is my biggest concern, though I have always dealt pretty well with rough seas. 

Not too concerned with going ashore, as our primary bliss is just being on a ship.

Anyone else dealing with this?

 

I also have peripheral neuropathy, along with spinal and cervical stenosis, and severe arthritis in the knee, which can cause it to give out. I am in physical therapy twice a week, and also have regular appointments with my physical medicine doctor and two other specialists at my physical rehab center. I regularly use a cane for both the balance issue and security for not falling if my knee gives out, or my back has excruciating pain.  On my past few cruises, I have rented a power chair for even more  added security when traversing longer distances on the ship and also having to potentially deal with rough seas.Having the added security from the chair has really made a huge difference in my being able to fully enjoy my cruise without the fear of falling and injuring myself.The cost has generally been around $400 for a seven day North American cruise. Scooters are a bit less expensive, but I prefer the power chair because it has a much tighter turning radius and makes maneuvering in and out of elevators much easier for me. Also, if you are in a port that doesn’t require tendering, and is accessibility friendly, you can also take your mobility assistance transport device off of the ship. 

On 10/4/2022 at 2:16 PM, ChuckL said:

I received my verification for a retired faculty/staff member at a University today. I originally booked my July, 2003 cruise with HAL, but had it transferred to a travel agent. I will contact them tomorrow to see if they can get it applied, since the verification seemed to indicate there was a one day waiting period before it could be used. My cruise is on the eligibility list, so I will let you know what happens for me. 

 

 

The $100 OBC for retired educators was applied to my existing cruise booking that was in the list of eligible cruises for the promotion.

I am a retired University staff member, and I was verified yesterday by sending a couple of dated screen shots that showed my name as well as other information about me (e.g. my University directory entry showing me as retired, as well as a Benefits page showing my retiree plans. In addition, we were able to keep our University email accounts after retiring, so the correspondence I had regarding getting verified was done using my xxx@university.edu account. 

15 minutes ago, dfish said:

That is the same issue I have.

 

On 10/3/2022 at 12:48 AM, laura1960 said:

Has anyone successfully applied a military/first responder/healthcare worker/educator OBC AFTER their cruise was booked? And does it matter if you didn't book directly through HAL? I just found out about this, and have already applied and been accepted as a healthcare worker.  Website says new bookings only,  but I've heard people say they received the $100 OBC post-booking.

I received my verification for a retired faculty/staff member at a University today. I originally booked my July, 2003 cruise with HAL, but had it transferred to a travel agent. I will contact them tomorrow to see if they can get it applied, since the verification seemed to indicate there was a one day waiting period before it could be used. My cruise is on the eligibility list, so I will let you know what happens for me. 

I thought that the non-alcoholic beverages were unlimited with the Elite Beverage package and not included in the 15 drink limit per day. This would be an added perk for those that consumed several specialty coffees, soft drinks, waters, etc.a day. Could somebody answer whether this is true? 

On 6/1/2022 at 5:35 PM, lynanken said:

Why can't you can take the test on Friday at the airport, it meets the requirements of 2 days.

Is the current protocol set by HAL 48 hours prior to embarkation, or 2 days prior to embarkation day. In other words, if I’m flying into Vancouver on a Thursday morning, is an airport test taken then good for a Saturday late afternoon sailing?

4 hours ago, baillie said:

Please can anyone tell me if Celebrity are able to lend or hire wheelchair on cruise 

Celebrity has very few to loan, except for embarkation or debarkation. I’m renting a power wheelchair from Scootaround, but they have all types of equipment for rent for the mobility challenged. 

www.scootaround.com

11 hours ago, PORT ROYAL said:

They will help

https://sanjuanpuertorico.com/visitors-information-tourism-offices/

for 

Thank you for this information! I will be contacting them for recommendations. 

I have knee problems and walk with a cane. Climbing many steps is a problem. Our ship won’t be arriving in San Juan until 3:30 pm in late April, and the cruise line is currently only offering an Old San Juan Walking Food Tour that has 3 miles of walking. I would like recommendations on what could be done in Old San Juan near the cruise ship pier. Can taxis be used to get around that area, and sre there any recommendations on where we could go for local food nearby?

I would like to have everything in order at the time that I begin the checkin process using the Celebrity App. What questions will be asked and what information will I need to have available when completing the online checkin?

28 minutes ago, MartinsCruise said:

We were on the 9/17 sailing of the Equinox and I was disappointed with the selection of wines if you weren't in a dining venue.  Since Cellar Masters is no longer there, I was told that there is no other place to get a premium wine during the day.

And we thought you only hung out at the Martini Bar!😉 How are you both doing? We certainly enjoyed sailing with you in 4/17 on the Reflection to the Southern Caribbean. 

Shirley and Chuck

We are planning on staying here pre-cruise in late April 2022 and would like to hear from anyone that has stayed here before. How were the accommodations and hotel amenities (pool, dining, lounge, beach, etc.)? Are there other places (not hotels) in the area that you would recommend going to? We were originally going to stay closer to the port, but our flight arrives early in the day and the hotel allows us to use their facilities if our room isn’t ready when we arrive. 

On 9/9/2021 at 4:44 PM, colesc15 said:

Anyone stayed here? Got a pretty good deal through priceline. Current rate is $402 a night and got it for like $200. It looks super nice. 

Looks like you got a great deal. Stayed here pre-cruise a few years ago and got bumped up to a one room oceanfront suite with two balconies. Great views! Also given passes for wine and cheeses at the hotel cafe until our room was ready. We loved the accommodations and also the street-side outdoor restaurant facing the ocean. 

15 hours ago, Jorg_ said:

I'm in Sweden and tried two times now to book a cruise on Equinox Nov 7, 2021. I start at the offer for Summer Double Savings and then go through the entire process. I can select a Sky Suite and I am given the correct summary and can enter passanger details, credit card no, etc. After the final step of booking I get a page saying that a confirmation has now been sent to my e-mail address. But I never get one. I see the correct summary for my booking on screen but also a red text: 'E-price/promotion not eligible'.

 

Anyone familiar with this? If the promotion is not eligible, then why do they let me go through the whole process for both reservation and payment before telling me? And why is the promotion not eligible? Do I have a booking or not? (Can''t call Celebrity until tomorrow, so trying here first...maybe someone have a clue to what is wrong?)

 

 

See posting #5

I ran into this same issue a couple of months ago with a new US booking. I took screen shots of the confirmation, pricing, etc. and sent them to Celebrity because they had no record of the booking being made. The price increased because the promotion I was using had ended. Because of the screenshots a supervisor  honored the promotion and booked me at the lower price. 

We’re booked on a 4 night Key West Bahamas (Nassau) cruise in Dec 2021 on Millennium as our first attempt.to sail on a cruise, hopefully post-Covid or with a vaccine. Any ideas what Celebrity might substitute instead of Key West if the referendums pass and the cruise still sails?