Iamcruzin

I just went through this for my late Sept cruise. I am fully paid AI and tips. I have called and did it over the phone with someone from Celebrity because I wanted a new invoice that showed the OBC. I won't book anything pre cruise as we have the classic package and I thought instead of upgrading to the premium package I would use it for any drinks we may want above the classic price. We are playing it by ear. We are not booking excursions and may just use it at a specialty restaurant or in the casino. Is this a refundable OBC?

I agree but they still have better choices compared to other lines who's ships are already bigger than any ship should be, causing those ho-hum ports they call on to become over crowded. If I wanted to visit a crowed island I could have easily taken a train to Manhattan when I lived in NY.

ABC has been on my bucket list since before Covid. I am just getting back to cruising now as the last two years we have been busy selling our home in NY and building one in Florida. We are finally settled. All that time I was watching pricing for that itinerary. I had a great one picked for this year on Princess it was a 12 day reposition cruise from Ft Lauderdale to NY. It called on ABC, St Kitts and Puerto Rico. The price was incredible with all included drinks wifi and tips. It was cheap because it was on the Island Princess an old ship and it was a reposition cruise. One of a kind itinerary. Unfortunately it was a bad week for my wife to take off from work. To get back to cruising I picked up a 4 night cruise for a good price on Reflection. It is shoulder season and hurricane season so the price reflects that. It is going to Key West and Bimini. we haven't been to either of those. I booked this a month before final payment was due with a Florida residents rate and now the price has gone up and we are at 66 days before sailing. Still plenty of rooms left.

Begging for a perfect score is not unique to Celebrity. They were doing it on my first cruise on Carnival in 1986. Back then they gave you a card to fill out before you disembarked. On my last cruise on Royal Caribbean the survey actually asked if any of the servers asked you to give 10's. I just find the entire thing annoying. The service and food have declined so much over the years that no cruise line deserves a perfect score. If you are new to cruising and you have nothing to compare it to 10's could be a legitimate score. Quite honestly if you are a high tier Captains club member Elite plus or Zenith why are they asking you? First of all those groups are the first to complain and send emails acknowledging distain every time they make a change. Second they keep coming back anyway so Celebrity has no reason to appease them. Surveys are a total waste of time and money for everyone involved.

For 3000 points the pin should come from Tiffany.

ABC itinerary is one that books fast and increases in price on all lines. There aren't many sailings and it's a very desired itinerary. I have never seen any reductions or last minute deals for those even after final payment. You need to book when it opens.

My first cruise on Princess was 1991 when it was owned by P&O. The loyalty program didn't start until Carnival took over. I had to scan a photo that was taken by the ships photographer and send it to them to prove that I had sailed on Princess in order to get credit.

Princess has the best itineraries.

Thank you.

I'm sailing on Reflection in Sept Concierge Class. What type of chair do they have on those Verandas. Are they high back or low? I will be driving to port and was thinking about bringing a folding foot stool if the chairs are high back. If they are like the ones that look like they belong in the Ikea Cafeteria then a foot stool wouldn't work. If they have a small table I could use that as well.

It would have been but perhaps corporate is putting the crew up to this. If everyone puts up a 10 then every one must be happy and there is no need to change. For what it's worth I don't do surveys and I'll tell them. It's a complete waste of my time and theirs. Nothing good ever comes from them no matter what industry uses them. The worst is when the Dr's office sends them. The Dr is keeping me alive or I didn't die in surgery. I think that should be an automatic 10.

The guests need loungers and footstools and they prefer to have them. The real answer is Celebrity just doesn't want to pay for them. You have to read between the lines.

I agree. There is a big difference between a Carnival experience and a Princess experience and I don't think one would jump from Carnival to Princess even with loyalty points. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity are more on the same page. IMO Royal is a step up from Carnival in terms of the adult experience. The name Carnival its self suggests a circus with clowns.

Good service doesn't include pouring well brands in place of premium when you paid the premium price. That calls for removal of tips. My experience is that tips help when you paid for the classic and they pour the premium without asking.

I don't recall that one but I do remember when they removed the foot stools from Concierge class and the unlimited water from Aqua Class. When they started to charge for fresh orange juice it sent Elites into a tail spin.

Are you kidding? I remember a thread not so long ago about Alfredo's being included in a package upgrade and without notice they removed it irregardless of the fact that people paid for it when the bookings opened. There are dozens of bait and switch examples that have happened over the years on Cruise Critic on other lines as well. There is an uproar on the Celebrity board now about the lounge chairs being removed from suite balconies. People booked suites thinking they would be provided with lounge chairs and just like that they have been replaced with two low back Ikea dinette chairs.

The drink packages I am booked on the Reflection. Currently the classic drink package is going for $74.99 per person per day. That's the sale price with 15% off. Price out the all inclusive package that also includes basic WiFi. For me at the time of booking it came to $50 a day per person for both drinks and WiFi. We are good with house brands for mixed drinks and wine we don't order off of the special drink menus that tend to be over the price limit so I will just pay the up charge if I want a drink over the price limit. The upgrade to the premium package is on sale for $13.99 daily and both passengers must purchase it. We only do specialty dining if once we board they are offering a discount which has been a better discount than what they offer prepaid online. However, know you need to be flexible with day and time. We are fine with the offerings that are included with the price of the cruise. The specialty restaurants costs have gone up dramatically and aren't the same value as they have been in the past especially since they now add an 18% tip.

Are you saying that your diamond bracelet and watch don't catch on to things but the flat rubber wrist band does? I didn't have that problem with the band.

I never got an email but I booked a month before final payment was due. I didn't get an email but I am able to bid by going on the website under manage reservations. I booked concierge class with the AI. At the time of booking It would have been less money for me to book a sky suite than what they were asking for the opening bid. My cruise has gone up and it's after final payment now. At this point it would be less money to cancel the reservation if I could and book a sky suite for less than the starting bid and be able to pick my location. These cruise lines know what they are doing with these up bids. They know few will do the math assuming the up bid is a better deal and I'm sure that there a some who bid higher than the starting bid. I have had this same experience on Princess and Royal Caribbean as well.

We are booked with the classic. I never order top shelf with a mixer. For the occasional Grey Goose Martini I will just pay the up charge. My wife is fine with the house Cabernet and she doesn't drink any of those sweet umbrella drinks on the special menu.

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From the Celebrity website Room amenities Amenities 2 Bottled waters in-room: daily 2 Yoga mats In-room fitness amenities menu Eco-friendly natural ingredients shower amenities 100% Cotton bathrobes, slippers, towels Welcome bottle of sparkling wine (upon request) Complimentary use of umbrella and binoculars Complimentary shoeshine service Pillow selection upon request Spa Benefits Unlimited access to the Adults-Only Sea Thermal Suite Dedicated Spa Concierge: Personal Consultation Priority Spa Reservations Complimentary fitness classes (Offering varies by cruise length. Learn more) Exclusive spa treatment package discounts* Dining AquaClass Exclusive Restaurant: Blu Expanded room service breakfast menu available† AquaClass Features Floor-to-ceiling sliding-glass doors King-sized bed** Exclusive eXhale® bedding Plentiful storage space Spacious sitting area with sofa Enhanced air filtration system I curious about the Enhanced air filtration system. Do the rest of us breath in contaminated air?

There is plenty of information on this site and videos on YouTube. You should do research. My friend viewed all of the YouTube videos and knew what he was booking. He has lived in Florida for over 20yrs and he didn't think it would bother him. Me on the other hand knows that if I touch a flame it's going to be hot. I don't think that the marketing department could spin heat and humidity in a positive way. Well maybe they can advertise it as the flexibility of converting your stateroom into a steam room by the push of a button.

ABC itineraries sell out fast at top dollar no matter what cruise line or ship. They usually use the older ships because they know that they will fill them. My neighbors did this itinerary in a Concierge class on Beyond in June and their only complaint was the IV Veranda.

Celebrity doesn't use the term balcony at all on any ship. Most people can't distinguish Infinite Veranda vs Veranda and when you look at the pictures it gives the impression that the screens are doors that would separate the two spaces in order to control the temperature inside. There is no mention that the room will become hot and humid or cold and damp.