leaveitallbehind

Along with the responses you will receive here, I would suggest also talking with a travel agent who specializes in cruises as they would be best equipped to offer alternatives that would fit your cruising preferences and budget.

As mentioned, very frequent and often heated debate on these boards, and one that, regardless of position taken, will not likely have any impact on the current industry practices. It primarily is a US based practice, where gratuities for service are common. And as many mass market cruise lines are US based, the practice follows. It has nothing to do with how good or bad the employees are paid - it is just a function of how their compensation is constructed - and is typically looked upon as part of the total cost of cruising with the passengers. (And relative to the typical standard of living of most cruise service employees, their pay is considered rather high. Otherwise why would they do it?) There are cruise lines that include this in their base fare, but those fares typically are higher as a result, and net out being about the same as fares that have gratuities added separately. So there typically IMO is not likely a cost differential to the passenger with either method. I think it boils down to a "when in Rome" analogy, and although one may not be familiar with it in their culture, it is the accepted norm with many. As mentioned, you just have to accept it as part of the cost of cruising or seek lines that include it as part of the base fare. As to how it is divided, the crew you are in contact with does receive a portion of the total from you. Others in support you don't see receive a portion as well. You can also add additional if desired to those you are in more frequent face to face contact with. But the minimum suggested is that amount that will cover all those in service support of your stateroom and dining.

Disembarking and reboarding at any US based closed loop itinerary only uses your ship ID card. Eye / photo recognition is part of US Customs at departure port disembarkation. (Which is also backed up by visual Passport inspection if needed). All above confirmed as we just got off Oasis of the Seas yesterday.

Agree.

BTW just returned from RCCL Oasis of the Seas cruise on which the All Access Tour, which included the engine control room and bridge, was being offered for $199.00 pp. Videos not permitted, but unlimited picture taking OK. This is the original tour that was offered pre-pandemic. (Having done this before as a tour, and many times as a loyalty club bridge tour perk we did not do it this time).

You tube videos earn their income from the number of subscribers who follow their channel - not by the cruise lines "sponsoring" them. And why do you think a cruise line would sponsor you? For what? As to deducting pleasure cruise expenses, I am not a tax accountant but I don't think it works that way. But even so, I think you are putting the cart before the horse in that don't believe you can use your pleasure cruise expenses as a tax deduction towards your effort to become sponsored - only once you are sponsored (if even then). But good luck.

....or as currently with a number of lines increasing the number of staterooms that same solo attendant is responsible for as a way to limit the total number of attendants? Or less bartenders, or MDR staff, etc.

To that point Celebrity did offer an FCC to the OP when they wanted to cancel. As any funds paid prior to final payment are fully refundable with suites except the deposit, I would have to assume the FCC was for the deposit. This offer would have kept the OP whole in terms of funds with the caveat that in order to get the value of their deposit they would have to book a future cruise with Celebrity. The offer of the FCC was not required and IMO falls under the general principal to which you refer as Celebrity was under no obligation to do so. I understand if the OP did not want to cruise again with Celebrity that they would pass on the offer. But at least it was made.

Depending on your itinerary certain performers (headliners, comedians, etc.) can be replaced at different ports of call. But most likely the ship crew performers will remain the same but possibly with different performances over the length of the cruise.

Not likely as I doubt the corporate legal team would bother to research CC (if they even know what it is) in order to prepare for something that in their minds is likely trivial. I am sure they are very well prepared and experienced in just this sort of thing as they would be the ones well versed in any legal ramifications of the policies - and changes of same - within the corporation. Especially since they were probably involved with authoring them.

We always do and always will have it with us when out of the country. To some degree it falls under the saying of "I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it".

Certainly - if they were successful. (Big IF IMO). But you may be correct in that other lines may not want to risk the same issues.

Good point, and you may well be correct. I would also think that the OP would not want to continue any business with them afterward either. I also was interpreting @cgolf1's question on a more "global" scale to include a list with other cruise lines.

I wouldn't expect so, as likely IMO, this will be seen as somewhat frivolous and likely not to result in any negative impact. But I am not a cruise line executive nor did I sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night, so who knows? LOL

Pardon the cynic in me, but of course if the OP posts any further updates it will be to acknowledge the overwhelming success of the lawsuit and the large awarded damages that were received as a result. Given the tenor of the overall thread do you really expect otherwise or any confirmation of a failed lawsuit attempt? That all being said I do hope for the best with them in whatever form that takes, as if they wish to continue enjoying cruising, IMO they need to have this put behind them. Life is too short otherwise.

The majority of the responses on this thread have been valid and helpful in terms of the reality of the OP's complaint, Celebrity's current policy and position, and the legal obstacles and likely outcome with any legitimate attempted actions. IMO it is also likely that none of this is what the OP was hoping to hear and doesn't support their desired end result. But I think its nothing more than a dose of reality and hopefully they will move past this situation and continue to enjoy cruising with whatever cruise line lies in their future.

And to add, IMO it's very easy - but unfair - to label others as something (in this case a "cheerleader") simply because they express an opposing opinion. It's something altogether different to express a valid point of view and ask relevant questions, or to point out, in this case, Celebrity's stated policies to help clarify the situation. IMO, that is just adding to the discussion in an objective manner. And to clarify, I only make these comments in support of my responses on this thread.

Specifically St. Lucia, Antigua, Jamaica, Barbados, Dominica, Granada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago. And although not in the Caribbean, add the Bahamas to the list. These countries take these rules very seriously and do not tolerate those who don't respect them.

You are correct that Celebrity has a non-refundable deposit policy with suites in that 100% of the deposit is forfeited with any cancelation - prior to or post final payment. The deposit is also higher than that of standard staterooms. Obviously this can be a strong incentive to maintain a booking. But you can still cancel without further penalty prior to final payment. The fact that Celebrity offered an FCC IMO was at least a gesture to preserve that deposit and eliminate the penalty. But on a sidenote, while this is a frustrating situation that may be seen as not handled well, it would only be that to those who booked that particular level of suite in the timeframe in which the program was changed after booking and prior to the cruise date. They are the only ones who would be affected by this with a change in expectation of what they would benefit by with that suite level. And while this change in service may not be to the liking of those suite guests who had previously enjoyed it, the option to not book with Celebrity now would alleviate any frustration with the change in program with that level of suite. The dollar can provide a powerful voice.

Just further clarification. You indicated you were booked on a recent cruise. So that sounds like you have taken the cruise, correct? If so, did you have some level of butler service in your sky suite? And what is your expectation with this complaint - are you looking for compensation or other restitution from Celebrity? Again, just curious.

Please correct me if I am wrong, but I thought the change with the butler service was from a dedicated butler for each sky suite to a team of butlers that split their time amongst all of the sky suites on a shared basis. (I believe higher end suites have retained the dedicated butler). If so, although it would have not been a dedicated butler only to your suite, you still would have had butler service available. Is that not correct? I realize that is a recent change and I assume is not likely what you had expected with the original booking, but I don't believe they removed the service altogether. Just looking for clarification.

I was more curious than anything as I have not experienced that. But as I said, I am not the best authority on that as we don't book ship sponsored tours. (Other than certain things at the cruise line's private island, where they control the pricing - and in that case it most certainly does change. And usually up! - LOL)

I understand price fluctuations with beverage and wifi packages, but aren't as familiar with changes on excursions once offered. But to be fair we don't (typically) book excursions through the cruise lines so I don't often monitor that. But that would seem unusual to me as they are third party contracted by the cruise lines which typically fixes the pricing for each itinerary.

It depends on whether you are booking them through the cruise or independently. You don't mention which cruise line you are considering, and If you are booking through them it would depend on which cruise line you are sailing with as they may have different timeframes in which you can book. But most of them have on line cruise planners that open for bookings anywhere from 3 - 6 months in advance of the sailing date, some maybe longer. Booking when they are first offered will help assure your space as many popular ones may book full rather quickly. Most on line cruise planners also let you cancel or change a booking without penalty so booking far in advance would not be an issue. However, many require full payment at the time of booking, so that may be a consideration. But if I were booking through the cruise line I would do so as soon as they are offered on the planner for booking. If you are booking independently many operators will accept bookings up to a year in advance and may have flexibility with how much you have to pay and when. You just have to seek out those operators based on port of call on your own and see what they offer.

Just to clarify, the reason for the reduced fare has nothing to do with hurricane season but is based on the fact that this is a one way repositioning cruise, which as you indicate repeats in the opposite direction in the spring. Many cruise lines offer these itineraries at a reduced fare on a semi-annual basis to accommodate their seasonal ships' repositioning. As you acknowledge, sea conditions are based on weather, which can change daily making sea conditions impossible to predict. And just because it is hurricane season does not mean hurricanes will occur on your route, just that conditions are favorable that time of year for storms to develop. As you indicate, the captain will reroute the ship to avoid these storms whenever possible. But your stateroom on the front of the ship is in a location that will be most affected by the up and down motion of the ship as it moves forward through the seas. (The higher decks will feel this more pronounced). So if this is a concern, perhaps consider moving to a mid ship location. The side to side motion felt by waves going across the ship's path will be felt the same anywhere on board (higher decks more as well) but will be mitigated by the ship's stabilizers.