Solution

Based on what the OP said, it does not seem like a Group Rate. It is likely a prevailing rate and the sailing is eligible for the group amenity (in this case, US$50 per cabin on board credit).

Canadian agencies tend to have smaller perks than the US counterpart. In most cases, the Group Amenity is about US$50 on board credit.

One advantage of having the bed by the balcony is that you have quick access to the blow dryer after your shower. When the bathroom space is at a premium, we put all the hair care products on the desk. This way, I can dry my hair while my wife can use the bathroom.

With the bed by the bathroom, you just need to walk a few steps further to the desk. Not a deal breaker.

I will take any arrangement as long as I have a cruise.

Have you considered taking the Eurostar from Amsterdam to London?

You can also use the coupon in the dining room. Good for those who eat at the early sitting, or at SELECT dining during that time.

Selections are rather limited.

The program may not combined with some deeply discount rate (Exciting Deal, for one).

"Program excludes all other price programs and discounted rates, including, but not limited to, Exciting Deals, Category specials, Category guarantee rates, Reduced Air, Interline, Travelzoo, resident, travel agent, and employee rates."

3 hours ago, ghstudio said:

Book a TA onboard today and get free gratuities...plus up to $300 OBC (concierge cabin)....offered on the reflection.  May be a one day only offer.

 

pretty rare that you see this type of offer directly from celebrity.  Of course fares are way up...

I got the same offer in November 2016 on a TA crossing. I am doing another TA in November this year, hope they continue this offer till then.

Keep checking for the fares, they will come down eventually.

Several years ago when we were on a ship during a time period where the current offer for booking on board was about to expire and be replaced with a new offer, we asked the future cruise manager whether it would be better to book now, or to wait for the new offer.

Her reply was that most likely the next offer would either raise the prices and include more perks, or lower the prices and include fewer perks.

Time after time as we watch the offers change, we smile as we recall her prophetic words.

 

Yup, there is no free lunch.

Thank you for your suggestion. Perhaps the best course for us in the future would be for us to book independently instead of through a TA. Our situation was initially we were all healthy and able bodied with no need for accessible accommodations. The change of cabin was only made to enable all of us to continue with our reservation. This to me is different than just upgrading to a better room for other reasons.

Not necessary. A good TA will go the extra mile to assist the client. If the TA simply changed the booking online, yes, the rules apply as the computer is program to do so. If the TA simply called the regular Agent desk, the rules may or may not apply depending on who was on the other line. However, there was always the level above the person on the phone, which has more authority to do exceptions.

Believe it means that you have a 6:00pm reservation in Select Dining. Suggest you check it with hostess when you board.

This is not true. Select Dining time will not show on the booking even if you reserve it online. The bracketed time is the Wait List time.

This means you are confirmed for SELECT but waitlisted for 6 p.m. traditional dining.

Thank you very much for a fantastic review. Have a safe trip home.

Thank you for posting.

Seems like there are glitches in the system. If you look at another thread, someone signed in and use "Manage My Reservation" and got the pre-paid gratuities cancelled.

This is how a Canadian Visa Debit card works from Visa Canada website. Seems like you need to treat it as if it is a Visa Credit Card (except it takes money out of the bank account directly). This is no different than a pre-paid Visa card, select the Credit Card option when paying.

Canadian merchants Online, Over the Phone, and by Mail

Visa Debit is accepted online, over the phone, and by mail at participating merchants in Canada. To date, more than 44,000 online merchants accept Visa Debit in Canada and the number keeps growing.

In Stores Outside Canada

When shopping in stores outside of Canada, Visa Debit (excluding Virtual Visa Debit) is accepted wherever Visa is accepted. Look for the Visa acceptance mark.

International merchants (including US) Online, Over the Phone and by Mail

Visa Debit is accepted by US and International online, telephone, and mail order retailers that accept Visa.

You won't get any price advantage as it is prevailing rate. However, the additional perks make it worthwhile!

We will be landing in Rome on the Reflection in May 2018. I can't seem to find on celebrity website if they offer a post cruise package. We will not be able to do a pre cruise package as our cruise is a B2B2B.

 

Does anyone know if it is offered and if it is where I can find it on the website. Thanks

How long are you planning to stay in Rome after your cruise? This is a very easy DIY city. We just spent almost one week in Rome last November before our Atlantic crossing on the Silhouette.

Find a hotel close to the Termini Train Station and you have access to excellent public transportation. Even if you stay in other areas, you can find public transportation easily.

No, you can pay for a C3 and upgrade to a C2, but C2 to C1 is excluded. This is enforced.

 

 

Mike

Yes, you can upgrade from C2 to C1. You cannot upgrade from C1 to Aqua Class as C and A are two distinct classes.

Thanks! Sailing on her Apr 30th. Can't wait!

Looking to book this sailing as well.

.... Note that you cannot upgrade from a 2A to a 1C or 1A to a C3 or C1 to A2 for example. I personally think the restriction of cat 2A to cat 1C not being allowed silly as there are no additional "perks" for the cat 1Cs, just higher decks and more central locations, but them's the rules.

I checked with Celebrity when I completed my two bookings a few days ago. 2A is eligible for upgrade to 1C. 2 and 1 are both classified as standard balcony cabins.

The OP states that they require info for transfer from Fort Lauderdale Airport

From the FLL website, I found this:

http://www.broward.org/Airport/Transportation/Pages/ToMIA.aspx

It clearly shows the cab fee to be $76.

I suspect the $20 cab fee is from Miami airport.

 

We are arriving to FLL a day before our Reflections Cruise; I'm renting a Hertz Car (US$52.90 all in) and dropping at the Hertz location close to the Port of Miami. That location has a shuttle that takes you to the ship.

OP did not say which terminal. Celebrity sails out of both Port Everglade and Miami. Because OP is flying into Fort Lauderdale, most of us will assume the ship is sailing out of Fort Lauderdale.

Thank you very much for your review. I am planning to sail on one of these Royal class ships some time in 2017.

I bought two of these while on board my Transatlantic in November. They have a special arrangement for those who were on the four TA sailings (Oct / Nov).

Regular offering

1) Cruise now - you will select and confirm a cruise that is eligible for the offering (limited by time, and type). The perks can change (i.e. one perk, or two perks), but the OBC is standard.

2) Cruise later - you put a deposit and you will get to select a cruise in the future. You don't need to confirm a specific sailing now. Usually there is no perk, and a lesser OBC

Special offering - happened on the four Fall TA (and could be on others)

1) Cruise now - similar to above. If I chose a 2017 sailing, I got only one perk plus the usual OBC

2a) Cruise later regular sailing - there is a special offer for unannounced 2018 / 2018 sailings. We are able to put a small deposit for a 2018 / 2019 sailing. As these sailings have not yet been announced, so essentially they are giving us the Cruise Now benefits with a Cruise Later certificate. We will get two perks, plus the usual OBC. The terms is, we MUST confirm a 2018 / 2019 sailing before the end of the year. Otherwise it will become a standard Cruise Later certificate (i.e. just the OBC). For 2017 sailing you only get one perk.

2b) Cruise later TA - this is also a special offer. We can put a small deposit to get the certificate for 2018 Transatlantic (unannounced). In addition to the small TA OBC, we will get free gratuity for two people. Again, the sailing must be confirmed before end of the year, or it becomes a normal Cruise Later certificate.

This will have nothing to do with transferring the booking to your agent. The regular terms apply.

The trick is to allow plenty of time! I would be curious though if it was easier for folks getting off earlier or for the ones who paid for Fort Lauderdale tours.

We were on this cruise, and assigned a 7:20 a.m. time slot. Our rental car pickup was at 10:30 a.m. so we were in no rush. Nonetheless, we decided to leave the ship around 8'ish. There was no line up to the terminal. After retrieving our luggage, it was a short wait before we went through customs. It could have been faster if the couple in front of us did not take the food and fruits off the ship :eek:

This was not the case in 2013 after the Caribbean sailing. It was long and slow. I guess it is a hit and miss.

We also took the Silhouette on a TA last month and loved every minute of it. Enjoy your cruise!!

x 3. Beautiful ship. Great crew on the TA.

OP thanks for the review and the pictures. Look forward to seeing more.