DCPIV

2 hours ago, Tolkmit said:

The official CDC requirements are worded that it has to be 14 days since your last shot. When they wrote their requirements, boosters were not yet a thing, and they have not yet changed any verbiage to adapt.

That's not true. This is straight from the CDC website. 

The cruise planner shouldn't let you book an excursion for someone who doesn't meet the restrictions, if any. Many have reduced prices for children. I don't know about any being free (it's been a good 16 years since we cruised with anyone that young), but I'd expect that to show up when you're either adding the excursion to your cart or checking out. 

Yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes. 

We have six cruises scheduled over the next twelve months. Honestly, I'll be a little upset if the Bordeaux-to-Reykjavik one gets big changes to it, but we certainly know it can happen. For the rest, we'll take what comes! 

2 hours ago, artvlay said:

So, if the black Friday sale is lower that the price I already paid what is the best procedure to get the lower price?  Cancel online and the repurchase? 

Yep. 

51 minutes ago, canderson said:

Often, at the start, only the last time slot is shown as available.

Just to be precise here, often only the 3-3:30 PM slot is shown as available.  That's what's been the case on at least 2 of my recent 3 check-ins (I don't remember how the first one went), and that's what's been reported by many others.  Both those sailings have had later check-in times once everything opened up.

15 minutes ago, zitsky said:

So is all of this confusion avoided if you do NOT enter your Captain's Club number?

Quite simply, yes.  Unfortunately, you won't know that until you've done so or read about it here or somewhere else.

@misterkevin I just might!  Thanks for the heads-up!  I fear that I should have handled it all when I was on the phone before, but it might be worth a shot.

25 minutes ago, JoeFan said:

But now they are calling out 18% gratuity and adding it to the BILL. So I won't not tip, I was just curious if I tip at speciality, plus the 18%, plus the automatic gratuity. I like to be generous but my wallet has a limit.

I hear you, and you make a good point.  Also, I apologize for implying that you (or anyone else who might do what you do) are being stingy or anything like that.  I did not intend to do so.

I know this isn't what you were asking, but I always add some manner of tip when we have UDP (along the lines of the aforementioned $10 or something like that).  If nothing else, it helps me sleep at night.  

39 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

I can’t do a cut and paste right now, but just looked at a random 12/4 APEX cruise just putting in my CC#.  I see something similar, but there is a panel underneath the one you show that has the “Simply Sail” fare that states the perks are optional.

I just went through a mock booking for a CS on 12/4 Apex, and I didn't see that panel.  I do (and did) note the "terms and conditions" link down in the paragraph discussing AI, but clicking on that link only brings up a blank screen.

ETA: When I went through the booking after entering my CC number, the result was a cruise only fare but (again) without any affirmative notice of that fact.

24 minutes ago, the penguins said:

Celebrity make it very clear that AI applies to most itineraries. Even on the promotion you booked the saving, once you have added back the tips, will be probably have been around $30 per person per day. Did you choose your cabin or was it a "guarantee"?

I was able to choose my cabin.  The amount of the promotional discount was more like $150/pp/day.  I'm not going to back out the gratuities (or the OBC) because I was under the impression that those still were included at the promotional price.

In the end, I was able to restore the Retreat perks for about $1,000.  That was essentially buying back the gratuities and OBC for par value and then paying about $135 for drinks and wifi.  In a sense, that's a pretty good deal except for the fact that I was under the impression all that already was included in the original price because nothing affirmatively indicated otherwise.

The bottom line is that, had X affirmatively noted that this was a cruise only fare, there would have been no issue.  I might have gone back and redone the booking without the loyalty promotion, or I might not have.  The point is that I would have understood what was going on and had a chance to make the choice prior to paying the deposit.

To be completely honest, I actually LIKE this loyalty fare option.  It's a great way to address the complaints and concerns of the customers that are quite happy with the CC benefits they have and do not care to pay more for AI benefits that they find overly redundant and expensive.  The problem is the way Celebrity has implemented it and marketed it. 

Just plainly say that it is a cruise only fare.

Just now, the penguins said:

See post 24. Try it yourself not only on TA's but all the European, Far East and Asia Pacific cruises we have tried

I suppose those cruises aren't eligible for this promotion?

I really didn't look into it.  I wasn't even aware of the promotion when I booked.  I just went to the website and did it.

15 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

RCCL changed their policy at a point where it would be impossible for 12 year olds to be vaccinated in time for the first cruises requiring it.

Keep in mind that RCCL and other lines pretty much responded to what the ports required.

A bunch of itineraries that were scheduled to go to ports that are not currently available (Grand Cayman, for example) have been reworked to go to Cozumel.  I never thought about it, but I suppose that some ships had to move around to make room.

Yes, just check it every now and then for pricing.

You always can just buy it to make sure you get it and then cancel/rebuy later if you find a better price.

I wouldn't expect to see that on the QE2, but it's pretty much becoming de rigueur with Royal Caribbean.  There's cruising for everyone, these days.

Check out the New Orleans port forum.  Someone might have some ideas there.

Buy, yeah, you're going to pay handsomely for parking in New Orleans.  You might do better to fly.

2 minutes ago, Jeremiah1212 said:

Because entering your CC# is triggering the Loyalty rate, not the Simply Sale rate. Two totally different fare structures.

Yes, and nothing says that the "Loyalty rate" booking is cruise only.

9 minutes ago, Bo1953 said:

d - Did you receive a particularly good price vs published on your sailing?

The only published prices I saw were during the booking.  Until you get into the booking and select a broad room category (e.g., oceanview or Retreat), pretty much the only pricing you can get is the "from +" price broken down by by those broad room catgories.

Just now, Jeremiah1212 said:

 

Simply Sail fares do not include a drinks package, gratuities or WiFi in any level cabin. 

 

You should see this when selecting a Suite Guarantee: 

 

 

I completely agree that you SHOULD see that.  But here's what you currently see if you do nothing more than enter your CC number during booking:

Even if you choose something other than the guarantee, you wind up with a "cruise only" booking.

9 hours ago, the penguins said:

According to Royal at various press conferences they break even at 35% capacity. Silhouette's summmer UK sailings varied from 300 to over 1500 (50%).

I've seen that same number kicked around, too.  I don't know how they got to that number, but I'm willing to bet that it takes less than 35% when the load is weighted heavily toward the suites (like what is happening now).

17 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

But, I've found if there's an error, they'll fix it.  At least, that's true with me.

Unfortunately, they've known about this particular issue for more than two weeks and have not fixed it on their website.  As far as fixing it in my case, the only solution I was presented with was to add back in the "Retreat" aspect of the booking at a substantial cost.

14 minutes ago, BoundForSea said:

If they are offering a Retreat Guarantee “Cruise Only” fare, they pick the cabin etc, wouldn’t this still include the Premium Drink Package and the Wifi as part of what’s included the Retreat experience itself

No, it does not.  You would still have access to the Retreat Lounge and free drinks in there.  You would still have access to the Retreat Sundeck.  If you booked a Royal Suite or higher, I assume you still would have the amenities included there (liquor in the room and unlimited specialty dining), but I don't know that and would want to confirm that prior to completing the booking.

I'm one of those cruisers OP mentioned.  Frankly, I don't have a huge problem with the concept of AI, but I completely agree that the way it's been implemented and marketed can rather easily result in confusion and frustration.  This has come to light particularly with the current "loyalty" promotion that results in a booking without perks even though the marketing present throughout the booking process leads one to believe otherwise.  In the case of this promotion, the customer is not presented with a choice between "sail only" or "always included" fares.

15 hours ago, Catclaws said:

In my opinion, when it started it was fine.   But now they are either having problems with their website or they are trying to move away from the always included.  Whene I pull up fares for a number of cruises, a 20% savings fare shows but not the always included.  In some of the web pages the "drinks, wifi and tips" shows up on the pick your fare page but doesn't show up as you move further through the process.  Of course you can call and get the always included rate but it isn't available on the web page.  They have created confusion for many and this will result in disappointed, frustrated travelers.  It is especially a problem since I clicked through the "always included" add on the front web page.

13 hours ago, mfs2k said:

I interpret “Always Included” as a booking category. 
You can book that or you can book “not always included” 

It's not always that straightforward.

8 hours ago, the penguins said:

You can't, as "without AI" is only on a limited number of itineraries and only by choosing a guaranteed cabin. 

That's not true.  Simply entering your CC number in the booking results in a "without AI" booking at the moment but without some affirmative indication that it does.

2 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Still, I am just at a loss to how anyone things "Simply Sail" or "Guarantee" cabins include anything extra? To me, it's clear, like all other nomenclatures on other cruise lines, you either book a cheap, no frills fare, or you take all the goodies.

I agree with you when you choose a "Simply Sail" or "Guarantee" cabin.  However, with this promotion, nothing says that simply adding in your CC number results in a "Simply Sail" cabin.  Nothing says "Simply Sail" until after you've paid your deposit.  There is no point where choose between "Always Included" and "Simply Sail."  It just happens silently.

1 hour ago, Morecruises1 said:

I still can't get the gratuities to show as paid on my account where this happened to.  Under "Already Booked"--->"View Vacation"--->Manage your vacation tab----->reservation details it still shows "Add Gratuities" and has a place for me to pay even when I paid extra for the "Retreat NRD" upgrade.  A call to Celebrity still can't get it fixed.  This is the worst service I have ever had with a cruise company EVER!!!!!!!!!!!

Give it a couple of days and check back.  It sometimes takes a day or two for everything to properly update.  The OBC is there, so everything should line up with a little time.

1 hour ago, zitsky said:

 

So if you pay attention when booking, isn't it obvious when you have AI perks and when you don't???

It is obvious when you do, as they are listed on the last "lock it in" page.  However, it is not obvious when you don't have those perks unless you've affirmatively chosen a "cruise only" or "simply sail" fare.

Again, the marketing throughout the booking process, including the page where the fare is quoted, shows over and over that suites have always have all these perks.  Frankly, even if you're paying attention, why wouldn't one then believe that they would be there unless one had affirmatively chosen a "cruise only" or "simply sail" fare?  Everything says it is.

If you look at a menu that says "all hamburgers come with fries," would you think you need to ask your server if the hamburger you just ordered came with fries?  If you presented a coupon for $2 off your hamburger and that coupon said nothing more than "$2 off," would you be unpleasantly surprised when your burger showed up without fries?  Would you be a bit ticked off when your server told you that the coupon price didn't include fries but that you could add them back for a buck?