markeb

Back to the OPs question: The first reply listed what should be available in the premium package. Your call on how much of that is "premium". In August there were definite shortages. Mostly in wine, but our sommelier (we were in the Retreat) was able to suggest some great lesser known wines by the glass that were far better than the standard name brand offerings. Whether those were available in the MDR or the bottles were hidden away in Luminae is unknown. The listed wines are "such as"; I don't think there's an actual list of wines until you're onboard, and even that was frequently outdated. Whisk(e)y was hit and miss, but generally acceptable. I really think their specialties are cocktails, especially the World Class Bar if available, and they do seem to have liquor on hand for all those signature drinks. We had OBC so when we actually wanted a good wine, we bought a bottle. I'm not a fan of their by the glass Pinot Noir or Cabernet, although I think they had Kendall Jackson Vintner's Reserve Pinot Noir which was surprisingly good (could have been Estate, but it was in the package, so I don't think so). They had some really nice Italian wines by the bottle. But we weren't looking for Caymus or Conundrum, so I wouldn't have noticed if they weren't available.

Hard question to answer, but probably not. The passes generally have their greatest value if you're planning to visit a large number of attractions that the pass covers. But in the time you're talking about, you probably don't have time to make it worthwhile. Look at the attractions you want to visit in your two days (I'm pretty sure the passes are consecutive days; is this 3 1/2 consecutive days or is your time split?). Look at their admission costs. Look at free attractions (no cost to walk around Buckingham Palace, visit Horse Guards, etc.). Divide the number of attractions you were originally considering by 2, then add up the costs and compare to the cost of the pass. And realize you probably want to experience London rather than simply rack up time in various attractions. If you look at the example on the London Pass web page, you would not stop in order to save that GBP 82. HOHO busses are horrible means of transportation so using them to get to the Tower would be a major waste of time. Nor would you see Buckingham Palace, walk along the Strand or the South Bank or visit Hyde Park, etc. You might be able to crowd in a West End show, if you can stay awake. The pass doesn't include the London Eye, for instance. The view from the Shard probably replaces that. I've done passes in Amsterdam when we were there for over a week, and got my money's worth from them. But I'm harder pressed to do that in London.

This has been a fun thread to vent on, but has anyone actually looked at RCG's financials? They're a public corporation; their SEC filings are available. RCG as a whole (Celebrity isn't separated) made about 2/3 of it's revenue from ticket sales in the first 9 months of 2022. 1/3 came from onboard activities (probably includes specialty restaurants, etc.). Their biggest operating expense is "Other Operating Expenses" which are pretty much all fixed costs. After that, their biggest operating expense is payroll (onboard cruise personnel), which for all intents and purposes is a fixed expense in the short to mid term, followed by commissions, transportation, and other, which does vary with the number of customers and is "the costs directly associated with passenger ticket revenues", including travel agent commissions, air expenses, and variable port costs (per head costs as described), and credit card fees. Then you have fuel, which is pretty much a fixed cost (it doesn't really vary with the number of passengers) and food, which should vary with the headcount. There's an onboard and other expense, but that's pretty much a cost of goods sold. Going on the basic principle that fixed expenses are actually fixed, you're left with commissions, transportation, and other, which is essentially the cost of doing business, and food as variable cruise operation expenses. Depreciation, interest, and corporate overhead pull them into the loss column; none of those are impacted by suggestions in this thread. So, really, with most expenses being essentially fixed, you cut food costs and raise onboard revenue. Maybe cuts in other little things would add up (cheaper toiletries?), but they're pretty much budget dust. And food is only about 7% of revenue. The good news is it looks like they're making up their variable expenses with revenue, which means they're losing less money by staying in business than by shutting down! Oh, BTW, their 2022 financials, dismal as they are, are better than 2021...

I suspect more people eat breakfast and lunch in the OVC than in the MDR. And opposite for dinner. Probably means they’d reinforce the OVC for breakfast instead of the MDR. Which galley prepares room service?

I could be dead wrong, and I don’t care for the changes either, but my first thought when I saw the changes was they don’t have and can’t keep enough actual cooks. Eggs for RS, cooked to order meats in the OVC, stir fry stations, etc. require actual cooks. Continental breakfast, prepared dishes on the buffet, etc. can all be prepared ahead of time and devote more skilled labor to the MDR. If that’s the case, it’s not the amount of labor, but the skill set that’s the issue. No, that doesn’t explain decreased quality of ingredients.

So maybe, this is the first sailing since the start of 2023 and it's a new law or regulation from the Cayman Islands? Which would mean experiences before January 1st wouldn't really matter?

Last time I looked, the correct answer was “and you clothed me”.

It really depends on the bar and bartender. I love a good Manhattan, but only a couple of bars have real Luxardo cherries (if that) or a decent sweet vermouth. Craft Social had rye, for instance, but I think still crappy vermouth. Beam and a candied cherry isn’t a Manhattan! I think they’re generally better stocked for tropical drinks than classic cocktails. Kind of is what it is. But, if they’ve got the ingredients, they should make it.

I'm trying to understand why it's somehow the fault of women who were from the description fully compliant with the dress requirements that someone's husband was distracted? It's 2023, not 1845, isn't it? I don't believe we're living in Victorian England! I don't know what rule was being broken in the example...

Several parts to this. Yes, you can upgrade on board. The math isn't that simple, of course. You should be able to upgrade in your cruise planner. You can also wait until you're on the ship and see whether you think the upgrade is worth it. MOST of the time, you only pay the difference between the max price of the classic package the price of the drink, plus 20% gratuity. Some items (premium waters, I believe) cost full price. Each passenger over 21 can bring 2 bottles of wine at embarkation. There is no corkage with a drink package (which you have). No beer or liquor.

Sorry for your loss.

Corkage isn’t a fee for opening the bottle. It theoretically partially replaces lost revenue since you didn’t purchase the bottle and covers ancillary expenses like glasses. Something of an archaic term.

Who knows. Could be the location of IVs alters air flow around the suites. I'm not an expert in fluid dynamics... I doubt that, BTW, but I don't know it's not true.

There is no corkage charged anywhere on the ship if you have a beverage package. The current FAQs are silent, but Celebrity has never charged a corkage fee to bring wine onboard, or if consumed in your cabin. That used to be spelled out, but the old language is gone. Screening occurs before you check in, so there's no way for security to know if you have a package, and there have been no reports of corkage charged for simply bringing a bottle onboard. If you don't have a package, there is a corkage fee if you bring a bottle to a public venue. Pouring a glass in your cabin and carrying it into the dining room doesn't create a corkage fee.

I'm making a wild assumption that as a service company, the bulk of corporate expenses are personnel. So executive and management pay cuts would have a large impact on the bottom line. If you look at RCG's income statements in their 10-K and 10-Q, food and fuel are their largest expense. Followed I think by interest on their debt (been a few days and their online filings were wrecking havoc with my web browser). Their admin and selling costs are actually not that high. Cutting executive compensation really wouldn't do much for them...

Near Field Communication. The protocol phones use for contactless payments, event tickets, etc.

Yes. If you can at all. At least one day!

Find a way to add a day on the front. 3-5 is better, but at least add a day or two. You're already taking the time and flying over there... Harrods is more than a huge department store. It is that, and it is huge. It is a temple to consumerism. You can spend an afternoon in the food hall alone. Fortunately for me, everything is outrageously expensive and the cute Harrods bears in duty free at Heathrow fill any purchase needs. But pretty much everything is over the top, and with VAT, over the top expensive. There are other places I consider more "British" in London, but not even Selfridges has as much high end product under one roof!

What time is the transfer? What do you plan to do with your bags? What are you wanting to see? It's a huge department store... It "probably" can be done. The maps show about 45 minutes each way on the Piccadilly line to Knightsbridge. Heathrow Express to Paddington is 15 minutes (once you get to the HEX station, which sometimes feels like a different time zone...) and currently showing around 20 minutes or so by cab from Paddington. A little faster but quite a bit more expensive. And the same for reverse. There is luggage storage at the airport; I'll defer to a recent traveler as to ease of use. If this is something you want to do, it's probably at least worth exploring the train from London to Southampton and not have to double back to Heathrow. Might create more rather than less luggage issues, but I'd at least look into it. Where's JB when I need him to bail me out?!

Honestly, the butler can do almost anything that guest services would do, as well as the things already mentioned. Ours would see us in the hall, like LGW59, and ask if we needed anything. They offered to bring snacks, a glass of wine, etc. We had cans of water and diet coke in the cabin. "Most" things you do, from laundry to room service to help with an excursion, they can handle. I don't feel we've ever stressed one (we've only had two so far...), but their role is to make things easy. And they seem to have the tools and connections to do that! And yeah, they'll remind you of suite seating in the theater, which we've done more by accident than intent.

That’s really the question, isn’t it? Forget the gnashing of teeth here, but if you can offer a premium product, charge appropriately, and make a profit, then from the business standpoint, do it. And, bluntly, fire the customers that won’t go with you. I don’t think they believe they can get there, so they’re stuck in no man’s land. Which is likely to eventually alienate everyone. Enjoy the cruise, sell the stock…

Have to agree here. I'd spend at least one, ideally 2-3 nights on Oahu and enjoy Hawaii a bit before flying back. No issues storing bags that way!

Agree. The Australian ETA has a processing fee of AUD 20. There theoretically is no fee for the ETA, but you pay a processing fee. A difference without a difference. You have plenty of time. In most cases you'll be approved immediately. 30-60 days out should be fine.

Bo, my memory, is that X, like RCI, once had an official policy prohibiting alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. As bad as both lines have been at contradictory information, I don't believe they ever had a policy on how to do something they told you not to do. The non-alcoholic piece was clearly never (maybe rarely?) enforced... The FAQs are silent on anything but alcohol today.

This looks like another one of those things that depends on the ship and port... In August on Equinox, we were offered early off for two ports. We met in the Retreat Lounge and were escorted off "first in line" in San Juan. I believe we had the same opportunity in Tortola, but had an early excursion so it didn't make a difference. It was not something offered at every port. And I didn't see a priority line to reboard, but there wasn't a line anyway.