helpthejuggler

Emporer9, if took away the tips, you can expect to pay about double on the cruise. I never heard of anyone bitching about the tips like you do. Poor baby.

Not Double..... More? certainly.

More than just the tips? Possibly.

How could adding say... $15 per day double the cost unless your cruise only costs $15 per day to start with.

Fixed price but watch the duration.... The other variable you pay for. ...

The T10 ticket is only valid for the year in which it is bought so your ticket from a couple of years ago cannot be used.

Thanks

I have one from a trip a couple of years ago. Will it still work?

I enjoy Bistro on 5 because it is quiet and never full. Key word....Never full. This venue is underused and for the money it costs to staff and provision I heard that this will become the new suite dining area after a kitchen refit.

 

Wherever it will be....It will be another service for the people who are paying more. With Money...you get honey.

 

Cheers!

Your source is wrong. Bo5 is not going.

Even the lowest priced bottles are nice. If I get a $30 bottle that is not good I complain and get it switched. Only once has this happened with Celebrity....a bad bottle. The replacement was good.

The list will allow you to pay much more. My test is.... If a list cannot provide a nice choice of entry level wine how can I trust them to select a more costly bottle for the list. Spending a little more can pay off but the return quickly diminishes.

Our choice is normally in the $36-45 range. If that means I ignore California...oh well.

Other regions can satisfy at least equally.

Do you have to ask for the chocolates at Cafe al Baccio? We were there almost every day and never saw any.

Ssshhh save some for me. They are lovely.

Ignore the packages unless you know you will use them.

There is inclusive tea, coffee, hot choc sachets, iced water, iced tea, juices at breakfast in the buffet and a couple of other places around the ship.

Often some soft drinks like a fruity cocktail from the dispensers.

Water from the taps is OK for most people.

With all meals you will be offered free iced water, which also available at all bars.

A bottle of wine will start at around $30 (+15% service charge).

I saw a photo which looked like they had changed the brand recently

http://duncanwrites.co.uk/slir/w605/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/IMG_1322.jpg

They used to have multiple types of chocolate in a rectangle shape with different flavours that were subtle but fairly pleasant. They’ve replaced these with a much nicer little square of belgian chocolate

It is really confusing that there is a 'list' except as an indication of what current prices are. The packages are sold or bundled with a price limit. This should be with some assurance that a selection of wines, beers, spirits etc (possibly unbranded) are available within the classic package.

It is all about the limit and the onboard prices set by Celebrity. So simple.

There should not need a to a specific list.

This morning I read a post

http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=42853255&postcount=39

Which says ....

"The Gastrobar food selections ranged from $3-$8. I wanted to order a cider there, but I was told it wouldn't be honored as part of my Classic Pkg (even though it was only $4.50 )".

Not an acceptable constraint given the way in which the package is described/sold or bundled.

I don't buy the alcohol package, or buy rooms with the alcohol package, so have no vested interest, but suggest this is deceitful to those that do.

Hoping to see some info on this new Equinox venue.

I've seen the sample menu

http://media.celebritycruises.com/celebrity/content/en_US/pdf/gastrobar-menu.pdf

But no photos or other info...what is it like??

Will be on Equinox in around a month from now.

We booked the 3 night dining package. This thread has convinced me - Just cancelled the package.

Plan to stick with the MDR until specialty dining cost vs experience are more in tune. Maybe empty tables will get the message across.

You have to remember that the packages are not just about the alcohol, there is also Specialty Coffee's and teas, bottled water, fresh squeezed oj, soda's etc included which when you put it in a "package" makes it really convenient and a lot of the time, a good value.

The non alcoholic packages can make good sense topped off with buying other drinks as you wish. It can save you money overall.

Barcelona?

There is a small wine shop in the cruise terminal.

For a wider choice there are small markets on Las Ramblas (eg Carrefour). Suggest using the port bus to the Columbus monument then walk up Las Ramblas

El Corte Ingles at Placa Catalunya (far end of Las Ramblas) for an even wider choice.

If the DJ has been relocated from Quasar would that venue now be far quieter?

Um. I have to ask. What is the hot glass show?:confused:

On Solstice, Eclipse and Equinox the lawn area has a glass blowing demo area. The show occurs a couple of times most days. Interesting to most people, although some pax watch it many times.

But if they include them some will add more. Then there will be those asking for recommendations on what to add.

A few years later we are back to square one with many hoping the extras can be added in.

Repeat forever.

Make the suggested charge pre paid and mandatory. The problem is resolved easily.

If the cabin stewards are exceptional, we give them extra when we depart.

If the dining room servers are exceptional, we give them extra the last night.

 

When using the Elite Happy Hour, I always have a roll of dollars in my pocket, and they seem to disappear. I will add that I have never, ever seen any of the servers less inclined to serve any of the those who never tip.

 

And, we always mention the special ones by name in the after-action questionnaire--including the cleaners!

PIckpockets at the Elite Happy Hour!!!!

I will have to be careful

My mistake - dont know how i did that.

 

Just to add to the mix - The VAT here is 17.5% = 9.02:confused:

Not any more...VAT is 20%

Cle-guy, Agree - cruise prices should fluctuate with demand as normal.

A slight misunderstanding.....I was wishing that X offer promos on the packages e.g. buy classic, get premium if this helps fill ships or obtain the on-board spend they need.

We must be quite unusual in holding off booking until the GTY rooms became available (no inclusive packages :)) because we did not want to pay the package inflated prices of the various promotions that X seem addicted to.

Compare the rates you paid to that of the GTY rooms.

On our next cruise the difference is $2000 p/p for 7 nights (XC vs C3), or what I think of as an expensive 'freebie'.

Please go back to normal simple pricing and then offer the packages, possibly with seasonal discounts, to those who want them.

'Modern Luxury' should be about choice to customise the experience.

From the FAQs

Classic Non-Alcoholic Package

In addition to enjoying your favorite Coca Cola® can and fountain sodas selections such as Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Fanta Orange and Coke Zero, you may also enjoy fresh squeezed and bottled juices, Premium Coffees and Teas and Non-Premium Bottled Water.

$16.10 per guest, per day* Price after 17th Feb $18.40

Classic Package

Upgrade your cruise experience and pay one price to enjoy all of the benefits of our Classic Non-Alcoholic package as well as all Beers up to $6 per serving and spirits, liqueurs, cocktails and wines by the glass up to $8 per serving. The Classic package also provides you with the chance to receive a discount of 15% on bottles of wine purchased.

$50.60 per guest, per day* Price after 17th Feb $56.35

Does this clarify?

There are quite a few threads discussing drinks that have now been increase to just above the $6 / $8 thresholds so are no longer included.

If you want specific drinks/brands, then you can upgrade to the Premium Alcohol package for around $11.50 per day.

We are calling here next month and are interested in suggestions for what to see and do.

If you have been to the northern part of Sardinia, what did you do or what have you planned for an upcoming cruise?

Well, what I'D like to know is, now that Michaels Club is a private lounge, are the cushions still CHAINED to the banquettes or do they trust the better class of passenger? :D

Spending more money is quite different to being a better class.

The spending of celebrities and sport stars proves there is no link and probably the two are almost opposing factors.

If you feel you have been misled, then contact the Food & Beverage Manager or the Hotel Director when onboard to explain your dissatisfaction.

They have the power to correct the problem and take your feedback to those responsible for mis-selling the cruise/package.