Phxazzcruisers

1 hour ago, insley said:

This past fall we had $400 from Celebrity and $350 from our big box TA whom we have used for 13 years. While we know that Celebrity’s OBC is non-refundable , the TA’s OBC has always been refundable. While on the cruise,  I brought up our account on the TV and both amounts were listed as non-refundable.  I was certain there was an error. Long story short,  after much discussion, Celebrity guest services called New Hampshire so I could talk to the TA.  The TA checked and said our OBC was in fact  non refundable. At one point the TA also said Celebrity dictates the type of OBC they provide. She also said it is “often” non refundable.  She said we had been lucky in the past. 

 

I was mainly upset because I would have more strategically planned to use the OBC had I not made the assumption about it always being refundable.  We had just booked two more cruises while on board and Celebrity had already transferred the bookings to our New Hampshire TA. When we returned home we asked that the two cruises be returned to Celebrity and took time to explore other options. We later transferred them to another TA that provides OBC in the form of a gift card upon completion of the cruise. 

 

It it all goes back to that old saying about what ASSUME really means. 

 

Your TA was telling you a "Story" Celebrity does not dictate wether their OBC would be refundable or not.  If the TA actually paid for the OBC it would be refundable, if they used a "special" from Celebrity and just passed it on to you it is Non refundable and should have been yours from Celebrity anyway.

We had dinner with the Captain, the Hotel Director in Tuscan along with 4 and 4 other couples.  We also had dinner recently with the F&B Manager in LPC.  We have also had a lunch in Blu with several Senior Officers and the Captain.  All within the last year

we would use it on some of the excursions and then head to the iLounge.  

20 minutes ago, Pushka said:

Hear Hear. And I think the discussion has been very respectful on all sides and totally cognisant of different cultures and wages agreements in their country. 
 

I don’t think my specific question has been answered? In Med cruises - USD or Euro? As an Aussie the later would be much easier for me. 

Whatever currency is easier for you would be greatly appreciated by the crew member, US$ or Euro.  They can get it converted and put into their shipboard account if they want something different.

Shown on Solstice January 4th and 14th cruise.

Just now, GoneTravelling said:

We will be going on the Celebrity Eclipse in September and I was just wondering if men need a jacket in the dinning rooms onboard the ship?

I read that it's very casual for this cruise. Any answer will be helpful, thank you. 

IT is the same as all of the Celebrity cruises.  There will be casual and evening Chic nights.  Men are not required to wear jackets or ties at evening Chic.  There will always be some that dress up, tie, sport coat, suit and sometimes a tux, but there are always many who just have a nice dress shirt and slacks.  It is your vacation, dress to be comfortable within the guidelines.  We are so happy we no longer need to pack heavy sport coats, but that is our choice.   Enjoy your cruise.  Alaska is a wonderful adventure

42 minutes ago, Denny01 said:

The OP said they were on a ship’s tour. In tendering ports, you normally que up at the theater, get your tour tickets there and then they lead you to the tendering as a group and off you go.

 

Den

Sorry Den, they actually stated they were not on a ships tour that day.

5 minutes ago, trucker den said:

the only cruise I have been on was summit last year. I wanted it to be special for my wife. It was our first cruise so I booked a suite. I wanted top notch service from our butler to take care of my wife. I tipped him 100 upfront. He did nothing for us. We asked him if he could bring us coffee every morning at 7. He told us we needed to fill out the room service card every night for that. And we never saw him the rest of the cruise. This year my tipping strategy will be different.

I am so sorry to hear that and it too late now, but you should have reported him to the Hotel Manager.  That is definitely not the kind of service that Celebrity expects their butlers to provide.  

we used US$ and credit cards everywhere on that cruise.

We NEVER have tipped at the start of a cruise.  We also do not believe in "bribery".  We have always received excellent service on Celebrity and almost always tip extra at the end of a cruise only.  WE do not frequent the martini bar, but do understand why people would tip daily at a place like that, so that the bartender would remember them and have their drinks ready.  That would be an exception to our rule for us.

We always tip in US$.  It is the currency of Celebrity Cruises.  If the crew wants to change it to their local currency the ship will do it for them.  We only tip at the end of the cruise for exceptional service.  We do not tip at the start hoping to get better service, we have always received exceptional service without the "bribe"

What is even more important to the individual crew members if you get exceptional service, is to mention them, by name, on the questioner you receive mis cruise from Hotel Director, and more importantly, on the survey you receive by email a day or two after the cruise.  That is how they earn promotions and raises.

OK, maybe we seem to over tip, we are always in Suites and we always get exceptional service.  Our usual extra cash tips at the end of the cruise or each leg of a B2B cruise for exceptional service have been:

Cabin attendant - $5.00 per day, min $50.00 per cruise

Waiter - $5.00 per day as we always have the same waiter in Luminae, min $50.00 per cruise

Asst waiter - If they do a good job, some do not  $20.00 for a 10 day cruise

Somilier - $5.00 a day for excellent service, less if not so good.  We have had some excellent somiliers who recommend wine to pare with our meals and some that just pour to pour.

Butler - $5.00 a day for excellent service, we usually do not require much so sometimes $3.00 day.

We do not tip the Consierge, as we never use him/her, but will give the Michael's Club host and CC Host about $20.00- $25.00 if they have gone above and beyond, as most do.

I know these seem high in comparison, but for example, in the past there would be 2 stateroom attendants per room, now only one.  We know how hard they work and feel the extra is justified.  Our waiters, by the 3rd night, always know what we like, how we want it prepared and always make excellent suggestions and give excellent service.  We expect the Asst waiter to remember which breads we like and how many, most do, some do not.

And of course, we always mention, by name, the people who give us such excellent service, even those that we do not give extra tips to.

On 1/25/2020 at 6:50 PM, TomInNYC said:

My husband and I will be cruising on this itinerary in a few weeks (along with a friend). Let us know if you are too...tom

sorry we will not be on board.  Just completed a B2B on Solstice in Australia.  Loved it, had a great time and loved both Countries.  Enjoy your cruise

Yes, definitely.  There will be some important stuff in there, such as the dress code for next day and any time changes that may occur.  Enjoy your cruise

2 hours ago, davekathy said:

I use the laughing emoji  when I think the post is funny or ridiculous.

me also

It is definitely combinable with all other offers.  Buying now is not necessarily a bad idea.  They pay a good dividend and have a lot of upside.  The cautionary note now is the Corona Virus.  That will have as it did today, a negative effect on the stock.  I bought it years ago and through the dividends and appreciation it has been a great add to my portfolio.  The return of the shareholders benefit just makes it all the better

I am very impressed with the Shareholder benefit people.  I have a b2b2b cruise booked for this year and completed the form on line to request the OBC.

I just received notice 4 working days later that they credits were all posted to our invoice and received email copies of said invoices with credits showing. Bravo RCCL Shareholder benefits group !!!!

Just another reason we are so very loyal to Celebrity and Azamara Cruises

We were just in a B2B on Celebrity.  Booked a cruise on the first leg and the price dropped significantly during the 2nd leg.  I was informed that since I use a TA, I could have done it on board during the SAME cruise, but since this was the second leg I would have to have it adjusted with my TA.  Sent her an email while on the cruise and it was done immediately.

2 hours ago, ghstudio said:

We all keep reading these threads about tipping and the common thread is that almost no one says how much extra they give.....so we have hand wringing vs useful information. 

 

Not sure if anyone else wants to post, but I'll post what we tip in addition to the standard gratuities.

 

Cabin attendant: $20 plus $10 at embarkation if we ask for something special which we seem to do more often than not.

 

waiter: $20 if we have had the same waiter for multiple nights in select/aqua

 

asst waiter: $10 if we tip the waiter

 

wine steward $20 if he refills our glasses and doesn't try to pass classic wine when we have the premium package (unfortunately, this means we often don't tip him)

 

bartender: varies...usually $10-20 if we use the same bartender often....and he doesn't try to put house vodka in the martini

 

 

 

OK, maybe we seem to over tip, we are always in Suites and we always get exceptional service.  Our usual extra cash tips at the end of the cruise or each leg of a B2B cruise for exceptional service have been:

Cabin attendant - $5.00 per day

Waiter - $5.00 per day as we always have the same waiter in Luminae

Asst waiter - If they do a good job, some do not  $20.00 for a 10 day cruise

Somilier - $5.00 a day for excellent service, less of not so good

Butler - $5.00 a day for excellent service, we usually do not require much so sometimes $3.00 day.

We do not tip the Consierge, as we never use him/her, but will give the Michael's Club host and CC Host about $20.00 if they have gone above and beyond, as most do.

I know these seem high in comparison, but for example, in the past there were  be 2 stateroom attendants per room, now only one.  We know how hard they work and feel the extra is justified.  Our waiters, by the 3rd night, always know what we like, how we want it prepared and always make excellent suggestions and give excellent service.  We expect the Asst waiter to remember which breads we like and how many, most do, some do not.

And of course, we always mention, by name, the people who give us such excellent service, even those that we do not give extra tips to.

As Pickels stated, on the M and S Class ships, they put the two twin beds together and it becomes a King.  It is large and comfortable

no there is not.  I would try not to arrive until about 11:00 or so, when you can board the ship.  

31 minutes ago, Pinboy said:

Not what we we told on several occasions.  If you add it to the bill it goes into the General pool fund. 

We have been on over 50 cruises with Celebrity.  I do not mean to argue, but we clarified this with management a servers long ago and most recently.  I do not think we are diagreeing i think  uou read my post incorrectly.  If you add a tip on the bill it is pooled, of you pay in cash, however, to the server, it is his/hers to keep. 

1 hour ago, Pinboy said:

The Cruise Line now adds the gratuities on to the cost of the trip in the form of a perk-- It's no perk. Just look at the price differences. The reason for the automatic add-on is because too many Guests were " stiffing " the Staff--  Not fair ! 

Also, the automatic daily gratuity is split many ways , including to Staff that you might not have service from ( bar staff--non-drinkers as example ). 

A Sr Manager told me :

If you give your Room Steward a tip -- He keeps it for himself. 

If you give a tip in a Specialty restaurant , it goes into a pool for that restaurant. 

If you opt out of the automatic daily tip, the Staff will know. 

For me, I'd rather get off the cruise feeling good about giving a few extra tips than feeling guilty for not treating someone the way they deserved to be treated after the excellent service we received .  

 

 

This is not totally true.

If you tip your waiter and/or Asst waiter in a specialty restaurant in cash, it goes to them and only them.  If you add it on the bill, it is pooled.

For on US$400 total I would definitely upgrade to a SS on Reflection.  You will get extra CC points per day and get to eat in Luminae as well as a larger stateroom.  All pluses in my opinion.  Enjoy your cruise

Neither is needed.  A nice dress shirt and pants will do just fine.  We love no longer having to pack suits and sport coats.