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Both cruise lines now require all adults to have the same alcohol package (or none). I understand both will make exceptions if you call and explain the other doesn’t drink although I believe they will expect the other to get the zero proof package. This is a pretty recent change for Celebrity (and results may vary based on how well the agent has been trained when you call). Royal has been that way for a while.

There aren't always lines at Guest Services so we just pay attention as we walk by the last few days and stop in when no one is there. If we are in the Retreat, the concierge is also always happy to give us envelopes.

Prevailing rate means the current rate. Maybe in your specific case the prevailing rate is the same as what you booked at. Or maybe they are inaccurately using that phrase. It wouldn't be the first time Celebrity wasn't clear in communication. That is why I suggested that poster contact their travel agent who forwarded them that e-mail.

Any alcohol drink $10 or under is covered (not just the brands on the list). It is only the non-alcohol drink exclusions where you pay full price.

You pay full price plus gratuities.

Prevailing rate means whatever the cruise is selling for now. So if the price of your cruise has gone up, then yes, that would be an additional charge. Assuming you booked through a travel agent, I would contact them about what this means specifically for you.

It was slow and they just weren't very attentive even though it wasn't that busy. Nothing really bad. But we had far better service in Luminae.

We were in a penthouse a couple months ago and did not have great service in the specialty dining restaurants we dined in so left nothing extra assuming our included meals covered standard gratuities. We have gotten to the point over the last couple cruises where we don't automatically tip extra and instead look to reward those who truly make our trip special.

The Eclipse which as I think about it is currently in Australia/New Zealand with a lot of covid protocols. Could this be a covid protocol? Although that wouldn't explain the Edge.

Interesting. It lists it in my app too for my upcoming cruise. Maybe that refers to classes or sessions with a personal trainer?

Covid is still everywhere. It isn't magically staying off cruise ships. My parents just got off a cruise (on a different line) and both tested positive for COVID when they got home. I expect the same is happening on every ship across all cruise lines. What is different is that unless ports are requiring it, cruise lines aren't testing (unless necessary), tracing, and really just don't want to know about it.

Generally no although you might find a bartender willing to make a smaller one or one with classic package alcohols.

Yes, the classic beverage package covers a cappuccino and you should be able to get one in Blu (or by going to Cafe al Bacio).

Yes, you are right. I read it too quickly.

True (for me), food is pretty far down on the list of what I personally look for in cruising.

If I can see the port, I don't worry about it and have never come back with big bills. We have T-Mobile and regularly connect to shoreside cell towers while the ship is docked/docking. I think they turn off the ship's satellite tower at 12 miles out. If you ever see "Cellular at Sea", switch back to airplane mode right away. Edited to add: You will get a text message each time you connect to cell service in Mexico. So look for that text message before doing much on your phone.

What you describe I have only seen with NCL’s Free at Sea which doesn’t apply to Celebrity. Celebrity’s AI package is all or nothing. Either you get the beverage package, Wi-Fi, and included gratuities or you book cruise only and don’t get any of that included. The price difference between the two fares can be significant.

If you book an AI fare, this is Celebrity's wording about tips: "We’ve got you covered." (Aqua Class is usually an AI fare.). I would argue the same is true once someone pays the auto-gratuities without an AI fare. IMHO any tipping beyond that should be completely a personal decision. Also, we have commonly added additional tips by using a form at Guest Services to have them added to our account and in those cases we don't hand an envelope or cash to crew. So you really can't know whether or how much someone else may be tipping.

We stayed in the second cabin from the elevator on the Constellation in November of 2021. You definitely can't see in from the elevators to the second accessible room. Here is the view from the balcony of 8127 looking towards the elevators. I'm not sure how much you would truly be able to see in the balcony next to us.

The “nickel and diming” is happening because of the amount of choices consumers have and the fact that the average consumer compares the advertised (usually base) price when considering different companies, instead of looking at the all-in price. Cruise lines are just reacting to consumer choices to stay competitive. In my opinion (at least for what I’m looking for), cruising is still a good value for a vacation. When I get to the point where I no longer see that value, then it will be time to explore new vacation options.

What you describe can be done. Personally, I leave auto gratuities on because those gratuities go to a lot of behind the scenes people that I will never have the opportunity to tip in cash. I see these auto gratuities as just a cost of cruising.

No, obviously I wasn’t there. But this comment of yours is the first (at least that I have seen) that actually described an issue someone saw. Most of the posts have all been about speculation. And what you describe sounds like a rare everything went wrong kind of situation. It’s not normal for so many excursions to get cancelled. And I have stayed on the ship while at Grand Cayman so I do have some experience with what the crowds are like on that port day. What you describe is not a normal Grand Cayman port day.

Aren’t lines part of cruising on a ship with 2-3K passengers? Based on what I have seen on port days, I’m just having a hard time imagining that long of a line building up at the bar that is open. A lot of people get off and those that stay on don’t all want a drink at the same time. Plus, from the reports I’ve read, they seem to be sending more staff to the bar that is open to help meet the demand. With the current cruise only rate option, there are quite a few people without drink packages. If lines deter those paying a la carte for drinks, it actually hurts Celebrity. I suspect this was a matter of Celebrity doing the math to decide what fees to pay to meet the actual demand they see on port days.

Perks (drink package, wifi, OBC, gratuities paid) depend on the booking. I have sometimes seen cruise only suite guarantees, although not lately. Amenities like Luminae, Retreat Lounge/Michael's Club/etc. come with the suite no matter how you get the suite.

When we did a suite guarantee on the Constellation for our late 2021 sailing it was a general suite guarantee, not a specific subcategory. We got our assignment a week or two before sailing if I recall correctly. We were assigned to an accessible Sky Suite and although we didn't need an accessible room, we were happy with the room we got.