terrydtx

I really like Buffalo Trace Bourbon and was able to find it on the PDP on the Equinox, so I hope I can find it on the Apex. If not Woodford and Bullett are my go-to bourbons.

Thursday the 14th

We found the Banks Mansion from recommendations on Cruise Critic and very much looking forward to being there on Tuesday.

Last June on the Equinox I was able to get Mccallan 12 year old with the Premium DP, I do not see it listed anymore as well. Bait and switch is the new normal with Celebrity. I hope the Luminae Lounge will have the Maccallan.

So if you wanted a rum and Coke did they charge for the coke? I would have ordered a rum and Coke and hold the rum, LOL For our trip starting next week, we are staying in Amsterdam at the Banks Mansion All-inclusive boutique hotel. It includes a made to order breakfast, all items in the mini bar, water wine, beer and soda. We also have an afternoon appetizer and open bar included, not nickel and dimes here. They even advertise leave your wallet in your pocket while staying with us. After our cruise we are staying for 5 nights in Santorini Greece at an All-inclusive all luxury suites hotel with breakfast, drinks and afternoon appetizers delivered to our suite by a "butler". Mini bar also included, both of these places put Celebrity to shame. Both hotels are about $400 per night, or $200pp.

How did you like Eden?

We get 2 bottles a day at all Hilton properties with our Hilton Diamond loyalty level. We also get free upgrades, free breakfast and free Wi-Fi. On Celebrity with Elite we get a bag of free laundry

We have been comparing X to Oceania and we can cruise with O for less than Celebrity SS. That's the direction we are going for the future.

Enjoy your cruise, we fly to Amsterdam on Monday to get on the Apex on Thursday. We are also in a SS. Have you used any room service yet? I was wondering how they handle that now that butlers do not do the delivery and set ups.

I thought it was too, we are not about to pay $5.50 for a bottle of water in our cabin which up to now has always been free or included. We pay $13k+ for a cruise and Celebrity now wants to nickel and dime us on everything.

And now the Retreat Lounge concierges are telling current passengers to get water, sodas and beers to take back to our cabins for the mini Fridges. If Celebrity changed this, they would have another cookiegate situation. But I can see a change in policy when 130+ Sky Suites clean out the Retreat Lounge coolers and supplies on the E Class ships.

I got a care package from my TA today. Last week I told her about the changes in SS and that we had to now go to the Retreat lounge to get bottled water and beers for our cabin. She sent us 2 Travelon theft proof backpacks and a tote bag, so now we can load up on drinks and not have to worry about theft on our way back to the cabin. LOL

Thank you I will not make that mistake again. My last boss before retirement was an Ian.

Well stated and what you saying is something Celebrity Corporate should be noting and addressing, when their most loyal customers are now looking elsewhere for a better bang or experience for their bucks spent. @Jim_Iain is another example of this, Jim and Lain are doing their first non Celebrity cruise in 22 years this next week and they are double Zenith. Our first cruise post covid was August 2021 on the Equinox just after cruising resumed, we were in a Sky Suite, and it was our best cruise ever. Since them our 3 subsequent Celebrity cruises have gone downhill with each one being worse than the one before. After our January B2B Celebrity cruises are done we are done with Celebrity unless we see some dramatic changes back. We now book a cruise for the itinerary first and not brand loyalty.

I will be interested too, we board the Koingsdam in November with the standard HIA.

Chocolates only on Embarkation and Chic nights now. Not sure about the others.

The something else will be paying out of pocket for all gratuities. Nothing is replacing the tips and also if in the Retreat no more OBC for cruises booked after Oct 4th. Not sure where you have been over the last month or so, this has been extensively covered in CC.

Starts on all cruises BOOKED after Oct 4th, 2023. Cruises booked before Oct. 4 still have AI with tips.

We also enjoy dinner at Tamarind on the Eurodam.

We could not upgrade last year on the Oosterdam. I went as far as the food and beverage manager and was told the signature HIA drinks package could not be upgraded. I never believe anymore what a HAL or Celebrity rep tells me as 90% of the time they are wrong. The only thing I can say about cruise line reps is that they are consistent on being inconsistent. Remember the new policy on drinks over the package cap only will cost the difference plus 18% tip. This needs to be balanced with the difference to upgrade. A drink at $12 will only cost $1+.18 for the tip or $1.18.

I have never noticed noise problems on any HAL ship with Canaletto.

Like this:

Maybe we just need bigger glasses?

i just informed my wife that she will be assuming the Butler duties on our cruise next week, her reply I cannot repeat as it would violate the forum rules.😡

I stand corrected but that is still a better policy than Celebrity's NRD. Before Celebrity's NRD change, you would only lose $100pp if canceled before FP.