neenee61

9 hours ago, Sprocket said:

Does Urcomped match the Free Play as well?  

 

No. Happy to forego and try different lines. Currently booked on Virgin AND out of my home port, Melb Aust.

Very quick and easy booking process

There you go!!!! If you book thru Urcomped they offer longer than 9 n8ght cruises.  Very contradictory of Celebrity.  Oh well, I'm really looking forward to trying a few more cruise lines with different itineraries.

Not surprised more Blue Chip cut backs.

Booked on 3rd party site last night. Breath of fresh air dealing with these hosts. One email all done AND better than what BC is offering now and more than likely further down the track.

Quite excited to be trying Virgin over Christmas and is from my home port YAY. Also looking at MSC for Europe. Reviews very mixed with MSC but hey can only try and not return if not the best. 

Had an excellent run with Celebrity, now time to spread my gambling $$ around.

Has anyone had trouble getting comped for longer than 9 nights. Have always had comped B2B with no issue.

Unfortunately past agents have moved on and now new agent telling me no more comped cruises for 9 nights or longer. Won't provide me with a copy of changes. This agent also didn't understand to refund fees & taxes for cancelled cruise in 45 days. She refunded less a %. Not a big $ amount, but surely they should know basic rules. 

I have completed 25 comped cruises, mostly B2B.

Just interested to see if rules have actually changed or just this untrained agent. Have been sapphire since new tier system first introduced, prior to that just comped really well.

3 hours ago, phoenix_dream said:

Airfares are insane but honestly it's really annoying me when people are getting free cruises and then complaining about paying airfare (not directing this specifically at you - that's a general statement).  Many of us - like me - are also having to pay those high airfares and never got a free cruise offer, despite sailing on Celebrity more than 60 times over 20 years and doing some (modest) gambling on each cruise.  So in December, for example, I am sailing on Solstice on a cruise that I paid full fare on, knowing that it is one of the sailings being offered free for many.  I love Celebrity and this surely won't stop me from still sailing on her, but I confess it just doesn't sit well with me.

Ring Blue Chip to see if they can offer u a cruise. If you insert your sail card in machine you will be registered.

Gee i would think having done 90 cruises you would be some what chilled our

3 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

I'm wondering if you attitude would be different if Celebrity had decided to bar Sky Suite Guest like it was when the Suite Lounges were first open.     I suspect the SS would be up in arms claiming contract violation etc. 

 

I can assure you there was quite an uproar from the Upper Suite Guests when they first allowed SS in. 

And also when they allowed us Blue Chip, High rollers in

I'm not feeling very confident at all. Our cruise pause is announced every 3 months or so. A good friend at PO Aust is still stood down with no restart in near future. For early 2023 cruises to go ahead I would think the Eclipse Would be here from Oct 2022 to April 2023, being our summer cruise period. Couldn't see them coming over for a shorter period,,,,,but het who knows in these crazy times. I know our government would be looking at any outbreaks of any ship so they can justify their 'no cruise ' rule.

I would be happy cruising to no where and going round and round in circles.  We are still a " no cruise ship country ' and not holding much hope  for my Eclipse cruises in Nov 2022 & April 2023.

Fingers crossed for the Edge 2023/2024 season.  Not really wanting to do long hauls to cruise at the moment. Blooming hard work cancelling, rebooking and trying to keep track.

Seasons greetings to all and praying for a kinder 2022

 I use luggage covers which stand out in a crowd. Great for identification and also protects luggage. Found best quality, style and price from AliExpress.

Thought I would share this as I know some have had trouble with on holdwait times contacting Blue Chip.  I rang last night 10.45pm Aust time, 7.45am Miami.

 Call went straight thru.  Agent advised they are now open 24/7.  Normally deal with my rep via email, however when paying taxes etc not able to pay online with credit card. 

On another note, doing happy dance that we have Eclipse and Edge coming downunder.  Super excited and fingers crossed that will get to go on the 4 cruises booked on both. Sure beats having to do long haul flights to catch a decent cruise ship. 

Cheers

Exciting news isn't it.have. Have already been in touch with my casino rep to start booking. 

I thought we were doing great getting the Eclipse down here, big bonus with the Edge.  Ive cancelled my OS cruises and decided to cruise closer to home for a while.

YIKES, could be a costly exercise wth international calling.  

23 hours ago, TeeRick said:

What you say is true in comparing data - particularly to the US.  But my friends in Sydney are worried anyway.  Remember that we in the USA have been used to very high case numbers and deaths.  We to a great extent have become desensitized to these numbers.  But our friends in Australia have not had any COVID to speak of compared to ROW.  So they are proceeding with high caution still.  

My good friend is PO casino manager(landside).  She returned to work Jan this year and they were hoping for a restart in March, for Aussies only.  As we all know this hasn't happened and they are now looking 2022.  From our daily updates I wouldn't hold out on any cruises summer 2021/2022.Still quoting that OS travel may resume mid 2022...still won't hold my breath with that.  I have rescheduled cruises for April (Aust cruise) and Japan Oct 2022.  April won't happen and thinking of changing Japan again for April 2023. 

At the end of the day we really need a crystal ball to know how things will pan out.

On 7/9/2021 at 4:21 AM, jg51 said:

.

Meaning no disrespect to anyone, but we think that there is a lot of hyperbole -- unnecessary and unhelpful, inspiring pessimism and less than good mental health --  being used in reference to the CoViD-19 situation in Australia.  Here's why we say this:

 

1.  As of July 1 (a week ago) -- five months since vaccinations began

-- 32% of the Australian population had received at least one dose (of Pfizer or Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine) and ...
-- 10% of them had received both doses.

 

2.  The above numbers are higher by now and will continue to climb every week.  We think that they should be very high long before the end of the year, as long as the government does what is necessary to keep the Pfizer product pouring in.  [Many believe that AZ should be avoided, for either or both of a couple of reasons.]

 

3.  While there has been -- since June 20 -- an increase in the average number of CoViD-19 cases in Australia, that increase is just a "blip" (not a "surge" or "outbreak"), in normal parlance.  To say more than that is hype/sensationalism from the unreliable media.  The reason we downplay this is that these are the very small numbers of new cases that have been reported, each day from June 21 thorugh July 8, in the ENTIRE CONTINENT of Australia (not Sydney):

25 ... 10 ... 12 ... 30 ... 14 [weekend] ... 35 ... 42 ... 29 ... 34 ... 48 ... 33 ... 15 [weekend] ... 76 ... 23 ... 46 ... 29 ... 29 ... 44.

 

We can compare the above numbers to the (continuously descending) average number of new daily cases in the U.S., which has been between 10,000 and 15,000, over the last 35 days.  Since the U.S. has 13.4 times as many people as Australia, it becomes obvious that the actual number of new cases "down under" are very small indeed.  [If Aussies were becoming ill as frequently as Americans are, their daily  average would be between 746 and 1119 (not between 10 and 76).]

 

Also, the current increase in cases could be partly attributable to the fact that Australia has entered its winter "flu season," when viruses are able to survive more easily.

 

4.  Last -- but definitely not least -- is the following fact:

There has not been a SINGLE CoViD-19-related death in Australia since October 28, 2020!  The nation knows how to treat the people who do test positive.

.

We think that Aussie cruising should begin in late 2021 or very early 2022.  There is far too much unnecessary fear.

Thank you.

On 7/9/2021 at 4:21 AM, jg51 said:

.Good to see you researched our Aust stats.  You would be pushing for a Aussie to agree with you on allowing cruises to resume.  The Ruby deaths hit us pretty hard and has left a very taste with the cruising industry during COVID.  As for international visitors that just wont be happening before mid 2022 at the earliest.  I miss my cruising as much as everyone else on CC, but also very happy to wait before being stuck on a sick ship.  Have had both vaccs, but will still use a common sense approach in my travels.  As I write this there is a lady and her young son on Current Affair.  They both contracted COVID on The Ruby and 16 months out still quite unwell. 

So please excuse our Government for not putting cruising ahead of peoples health and wellbeing.

RCCL have just cancelled 2021/2022 summer sailings for Aust.  Think Celebrity will follow.  PO Aust have not announced any restart as all up to the Government.  

Quite embarrassed to say we are only at 5.96% vaccinated.  The Government cannot get their act together nd we are constantly in and out of lockdowns.  Last year we were in lockdown most of year here in Melbourne.  As for travel I changed my Japan trip yet again to Oct 2022 and still not feeling too confident with that happening. Seriously thinking of April 2023.  Have a 2 nighter booked on eclipse for April 2022, and that wont be happening.  This 2 nighter was just  to keep tier status. Oh well who knows when we will be allowed to travel again.  If you are fortunate enough to be cruising, please enjoy an extra tipple or two for me. Cheers

Sure hope they extend.  No international travel from Australia until at least mid 2022. Today Australian cruising cancelled till 17 December and will more than likely be further extended. Think I will be kissing my Sapphire status good bye.

Given that the Sapphire benefits are changing and more than likely not so good cruise offers might be time to book exclusively thru UR Comped.  

Given that the Sapphire benefits are changing and more than likely not so good cruise offers might be time to book exclusively thru UR Comped.  

Well thats a bugger. I actually enjoyed he afternoon tea and pre dinner drink in Michaels/Retreat.  More importantly was very handy having the concierge escort us off early when in a tender port or needing to be first off for a tour.  Was very handy when we visited Port Stanley (Falkland Islands) and needed to be on 1st tender. Oh well will be great just to get on a cruise.  In Aust we don't look like being able to fly international until at least mid 2022.  Fingers crossed for my Japan, Oct 2022 cruise.  Have a great cruise

Another Junior Suite offer with $450 towards an upgrade.  Getting these offers weekly and wish I could take them up....like everyone else.  We cant even fly out of Aust, maybe mid to late 2021.  Normally I would get them to switch an offer over to an Aust cruise, but doubt we will see cruise ships arriving here before end 2021.   

Last week I rec'd an email from Carnival/PO Aust casino VIP marketing manager.  Have known Sue from when she worked at RCCL so was so good to hear that they have returned to work.  At the moment they are waiting on CDNA and state recommendations as to when ships can restart.  Sounds like they may do local cruises.  Oh how nice it would be to start cruising again. 

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year and hope the world becomes a kinder place for all

I seriously doubt that Aust will see a cruise season early 2021.  I live in Meb and we are still in our 2nd lockdown with approx 6 weeks to go.  They are saying that we MAY have some sort of COVID normal Christmas.  Our restaurants will only start agin with outdoor dining, limited numbers approx 26th Oct as long as daily new cases stay low.  We apparently have the hardest lockdown in the world and feeling it now.  Nightly curfews and only essential services open.  Travel international will not be happening till mid 2021 and no incoming either.  We may have a travel bubble with NZ but that wont happen till next year.  So, I really do think no cruise ships till 2021 summer season which is normally starting around October.  Our local cruise company P & O Aust have not announced any start date.  

Oh how I wish.  We are still in our second lockdown with nightly curfews.  Really at end of our tethers and needing to go to casino, out for a meal and most of all CRUISE.  Will be. Few more weeks before we can even dine out and casinos, well who would know when they will re-open.

Yep all open with lots of clear out sales.  Nice little starter before your Transpacific  cruise.  You’ll be nice and settled and rearing to go. Enjoy