DCPIV

I've been on Summit twice in the last three months. One sailing was with about 450. The more recent (a few weeks ago) was at about 270. It was wonderful. 

The Captain on the earlier sailing told us that it wasn't as much about making money as it was about showing everyone they could sail safely. 

6 hours ago, Spif Barwunkel said:

Your example is "You Choose", "We Choose", that is NOT Guarantee. You cannot choose a Guarantee cabin, X does it for you.

That's what I said. I could choose the cabin. It was not a guarantee fare. That screenshot was after I entered my CC number and, as such, would not receive the very perks clearly advertised at the top of the very same page. 

4 minutes ago, Spif Barwunkel said:

As previously mentioned, a Cruise Only cabin is a Guarantee cabin. When you reach the final page in the booking process you are able to see exactly what you are getting for your hard-earned dollars, including the perks. Is that not so? If you wish that to be different, adjust accordingly.  

It's not a guarantee fare.  You can choose your stateroom.

As far as the final page, it's also not straightforward.  While it's true that the perks are not listed on the final page, that is something you wouldn't notice unless you already knew what to look for.  At the same time, there is nothing on that page that indicates a cruise only fare in a straightforward fashion, especially when every other page leads one to believe that the perks are included, such as this one:

Sure, the labyrinth is easy to get out of once you know the secret.

I didn't make specific notes on the timing, but the whole process took about 25 minutes (and 15 of that is just waiting for the results to develop).  That included creating my eMed account (although I already had created a Navica one on my phone).  I think they were having some long waits in the very early days, but that's been sorted out.

5 minutes ago, Seville2Cabo said:

Do you have to make an appointment? Or do you just call when you want to do the test.  

Just log in when you are ready.  

I don't know what ship you will be on, but I doubt you will prefer the Diamond Lounge over the Suite Lounge.

If you happen to be at the restaurant or mere steps away, then see if you can get the reservations you would like.  Otherwise, make your reservations through the Concierge.  Those folks can do some real magic, let me tell you.

48 minutes ago, Spif Barwunkel said:

It's easy, Always Included applies to all bookings except Guarantee or Cruise Only cabins. Book one of those if AI confuses or offends you. 

Well, it's only "easy" if one can easily determine what a "Cruise Only cabin" is.  It's not that straightforward at the moment.  As a number of us have expressed in this and other threads, the current loyalty promotion results in a "cruise only" fare without indicating so.  In fact, if you are booking suite, a great deal of the marketing that is quite prominent throughout the booking leads one to believe that the perks are included.

14 minutes ago, zitsky said:

I like clams, not sure about clamato.  Anyone try it?  I can't tell if it would be delicious or disgusting, especially first thing in the morning?

I actually enjoy a Bloody Caesar, but I'm also somewhat known (or notorious) for liking things that others find odd.  I'm actually a little excited about trying the Celebrity version. The fun thing about a cruise is that you probably can try it and just put it aside

Keep in mind that many countries have different rules for cruise visitors.  Barbados may be one.

2 hours ago, Froufie said:

I assume if there is a price drop before final payment that the invoice would be adjusted accordingly.

 

If there is a price drop after final payment would that result in OBC?  Please confirm if you know!  thanks 🙂

You are correct.

As far as calling, I do advise doing just that.  I tried to figure out what sort of price drop there was on my bookings when they first started doing the 20% off promotions.  I never could seem to compare apples to apples.  I called up X and talked to someone.  She gave me certain numbers for each booking (all of which were more in my favor than what I was thinking).  For the booking that was outside final payment, she adjusted the balance due accordingly.  For the bookings that already were past final payment, she filled out and submitted the price guarantee form for me while I was on the phone.  The OBC for each booking showed up the next morning.

1 hour ago, DCPIV said:

 

It isn't an alert.  You see that selection on that page no matter what you do, and the "maybe later" box is automatically checked in any case.  That checked box is something I look for to let me know gratuities are included.  Enter your CC number and get the "Loyalty NRD," and it's there with the box checked.  Don't enter your CC number, and it's there with the box checked.  There's no difference.

You know what?  What I just said isn't true.  At least, it no longer is.  I would swear that it has been there when I was booking suites in the past (without entering a CC number).  If that was the case, I'm glad they got that much fixed, but they still have some fixing to do.

I'll confirm that being Diamond (or higher) with RCCL will get you Elite with Celebrity.  You will start with 0 points, but you'll get all benefits.

I know there is (or has been) a way to handle getting a Captain's Club number and entering everything on the website.  However, I just went over there and went round and round trying to find it with no luck. The only "join the club" link I could find only came up with an error.  I was hoping you could avoid a phone wait, but you might be better off just calling them up and getting it done that way.

I had been told they weren't mailing them out any longer, but then I received some in the mail a couple weeks ago (the day after I got home from that particular sailing 🤣).

Yesterday, I discovered that you can go to the "Manage My Reservation" on the website and then click on "Before you Board."  If you are close enough to your sailing (i.e., documents are available) there may very well be a button near the bottom of the page for "Mail Me Luggage Tags."  If you are sailing in December, it still might be too early.

I went ahead and filled it out for my November sailing.  We'll see what happens.

It's always been the case. 

I did receive an email this morning with a new change, though.  Children under 12 now must also have a second COVID test conducted at the pier.  The email is clear that it is an additional test.

15 hours ago, JamieLogical said:

 

Good tip about boarding at 11:00! My arrival time from when I first checked in online was 12:00, but that was when I was in a normal balcony.

Suite guests may board as soon as the ship is ready to receive (which likely won't be much earlier than 11 but shouldn't be later than 11:30 unless something weird happens).  Even if you get there before they are ready for you, there is a very nice Retreat waiting lounge in the terminal.

I never really intended to get to the terminal that early (I was thinking more like 11:15 or so), but everything that morning went much more smoothly and quickly that I expected it would.  However, if I'm totally honest, I also was getting pretty antsy. 🤣

14 hours ago, crusinthrough said:

The page before the trip summary page has a selection to pre-pay gratuities.  This is an alert that everything is not included. The trip summary page will confirm. 

It isn't an alert.  You see that selection on that page no matter what you do, and the "maybe later" box is automatically checked in any case.  That checked box is something I look for to let me know gratuities are included.  Enter your CC number and get the "Loyalty NRD," and it's there with the box checked.  Don't enter your CC number, and it's there with the box checked.  There's no difference.

3 hours ago, jg51 said:

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Hello, "DCPIV."

 

It's very unfortunate that you -- and some others who have posted on this thread after booking cruises, over the last two weeks -- did not see that we (and "wrk2cruise") exposed this catastrophe on October 10 -- after an experience similar to yours.  We were very fortunate not to have actually proceeded to book a would-be disaster on October 8.  We were lucky to realize what had happened.

 

At this point, we must fully accuse Celebrity of a blatant and deliberate deception, because we reported the problem SEVENTEEN DAYS AGO, but they have done NOTHING to fix the Internet site.  As we explained to more than one person at "X", the page on which we enter our Captain's Club number MUST BE CHANGED to state -- in big, red letters -- that the entry of that number will cause the "Always Included" items to be detached from the reservation.  [Entry of a home state does not cause the same problem.]

 

Celebrity has FAILED to fix that page for more than two weeks now, resulting in the loss of vast amounts of time (spent by guests and CVPs on the phone), worry, and loss of money to those who "gave in" and paid more.  Celebrity should have been restoring the three AI features at NO EXTRA CHARGE to those who were "violated" by the error (failure of notification, up front).

 

Here is our October 10 post, exposing the flaw:

.

Thanks for that link. Unfortunately, I had stopped following that thread long before you posted it. 

Yes, it is a frustrating shame that this has been going on for this long. I don't know about big, red letters or all that, but there needs to be something that indicates prior to paying your deposit that the perks aren't there. 

Dress around the ship during the day is whatever you're comfortable in (but no bathing suits in the MDR). What you mentioned for dinner dress is just fine, and I'll note that Alaskan cruises tend to be more casual.

Chic nights tend to be more suggestion than anything else. You might see tuxedos and lots of bling. You might just see a few folks in a blazer. You might see me dressed pretty much like I am every other evening. 🤣

There was Coke on Summit. I suppose there will be on the other ships. 

It'll have a lot to do with what the ports require. That's what's driving the current requirements as much as anything else. 

The Hubbard glacier is one of the most amazing things I've ever seen and will ever see. If you're lucky enough to get close, you will feel a level of awe you likely never have. 

I also recommend getting up to Denali and doing a land tour before the cruise. It's amazing. 

1 hour ago, Morecruises1 said:

My Xpress boarding pass says "SUITE CLASS" on the app under our name?  Is that correct for retreat priority boarding?

Yes. You're all set. 

27 minutes ago, Morecruises1 said:

my Xpress pass on the app says "Suite Class".  I booked a retreat room.    Is that going to be a problem with check in to the retreat lounge?

You're good to go. I'm not sure why they haven't shifted to "Retreat" on the Xpress passes, but it's the same thing. 

21 minutes ago, GenerationX said:

amuse bouche of a deep fried potato, ham and cheese ball, that I’d love to eat like 20 of after a night in the martini bar

Oh, my gosh.  Wasn't that just amazing!  I wish I had asked for 20 of them to go because you're right about wanting something like that after the Martini Bar!

I've cruised twice on Summit during the last few months, and the more recent of those was earlier this month and solo.  It was fantastic!  She's a marvelous ship with an outstanding crew.

As mentioned, Luminae is rather intimate.  I dined alone on the first night but had a good time chatting with the mother and daughter that were at the table next to me.  On the second night, a group of three invited me to join them, and I ended up dining with them every night for the rest of the cruise.  Even if you don't meet anyone in the Retreat Lounge, you can let the Maitre d' at Luminae (hopefully still Danilo) know that you would be interested in dining with a group (or perhaps another solo cruiser if there is one).

Definitely let the Retreat Concierges know that you are alone and interested in meeting folks.  I hope Connie and Noemi still are in that position (and Sylvia, who now is the "Retreat Manager").  They are wonderful.  However, the number of folks that will be in the Retreat Lounge may vary.  

You have every reason to not be stressed about arriving.  It couldn't be easier or more pleasant.  When I got out of the Uber that brought me to the terminal, one of the porters looked at my luggage tags.  He immediately said "ah, you're in the Retreat.  Come with me."  He took me over to a podium where a very nice lady confirmed my cabin number and that I had all the stuff I needed (vax card, negative test result, etc.)  She took me to the check-in desk, and then someone else escorted me on board and up to my room.  I got there right around 11 AM (maybe a few minutes after?)  I dropped off my luggage, chatted briefly with my Retreat Host (Rogelio--I didn't need an orientation because I had just been on board a couple months before), went and confirmed my spa appointments, completed the "muster" and still was at Luminae at 11:55 AM.  Remarkable!

18 minutes ago, bauermj said:

 

Same for me, the gratuity question was a clue.

 

I do understand how this would lead to confusion and should be fixed by Celebrity. Annoying

You reminded me of something that I just confirmed with a mock booking.  The offer to prepay gratuities always comes up on that same page that offers insurance and refundable deposit.  However, the "maybe later" box is checked when making an AI booking.  As it turns out, the "maybe later" box still was checked when I did the mock "Loyalty NRD" booking.  I have to believe that also was the case when I did the actual booking yesterday.

There most certainly are some crossed wires.