hammo

Funniest thing I've read here in a while, and I've been hot about the dimunition of the Classic Drinks package. :p

Read the topic title:p

No one is telling you to ask for an $11 wine. You look at the current wine list and choose one that meets your needs. Do you seriously expect them to give you a list now and guarantee the wines will be available in 2015? 2016? Do tell me what sorcery they would employ to facilitate this.

 

Believe me , Celebrity knows what wines are on their lists in 2015 , no sorcery involved there , just good business practice.

There are few better examples of the supply and demand concept in action than in the wine industry. Need more Baileys? Make some. Need more of a particular wine? Not so easy - finite amount of those grapes and finite amount of land that produced them - oh and from year to year the quality can change. When there's not enough of what everyone wants, the price goes up. Shift happens. There are still many wines under the limit. Try them. :)

To be perefctly frank wpgcycler , as a winemaker here is Australia on the Mornington Peninsula , your post is a little patronising and condescending don't you think ? My point is not about supply and demand in the wine industry , and if it was it would not be about the commercial offerings we are speaking about. We are not talking about Screaming Eagle here.

I do understand -- " oh and from year to year the quality can change " - really ? I also appreciate there are wines under the limit and yes I have tried them on 7 previous Celebrity cruises.. Most are acceptable in my opinion . My point was that by increasing the price of some wines which makes them unavailable NOW in the Premium Package that I have purchased , we are being dudded . I enjoy the Dry Creek Zinfandel believe it or not - which seems to now require me to pay extra per glass ? ( Not exactly sure as I await the promised Premium Package List and yes I know you have told me to "chill" - I'm chilling ) I think this is not an expensive wine in the USA ? Same for the Conundrum? Not that this is an amazing wine anyway ( in my opinion) but I do like the fact that I can order it when I like and it was included in the package when I purchased. Surely there has been little price shift or a marked spike in demand for these wines forcing them to nolonger be included in the wine list available by the glass, especially given Celebrity would certainly have secured a very competitive price from the suppliers over a time frame that benefited them as all good business practice requires..They also have an enormous world-wide range to select from to construct a Premium Beverage Package that includes an exciting range of wine for all palates .The list should be longer not shorter!

If there is "bracket creep" in the wine pricing ,and Celebrity makes previously available wines unavailable for the Premium Package , then at least offer alternate replacements . I suggest The $ limit for the Premium Package must therefore too low now. Make the package more expensive if Celebrity must , but degrading the Premium concept to the point where it no longer offers true value is a mistake. Thank heavens the Napa Chandon bubbly remains inside the limit ( not the Rose version though which stings an extra $3 per glass )

UP to $13 - what is so hard about that? Here's the current MDR list - it will change over time AS WILL the prices. Some good stuff on here btw - MOST of it within the limit - some of it not. Don't buy the package if you don't think it's good value - simple.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2042016

Hi again wpgcycler -- I think you are missing the point? The thing is - yes , the limit seems to be $13 for Premium Package wines by the glass still.- and I read you are happy with the choice still available. Good for you. However , Now Celebrity have placed wines previously inside this price limit outside ( wines I like to have ) and now made unavailable unless we pay extra - ontop of the Premium Package deal we signed up for. No replacement wine offered instead on the list - or none that I can see? Maybe I'm missing something here but it seems one sided to me .Maybe they should remove the Premium Package tag and replace it with Limited Mediocre Beverage Package Selection.

Ironically you can still get most Premium brand spirits , or will many of those be placed above the price point also ?

Chill, and see post 317 in this thread for a link to the current MDR list courtesy of Cruisenut.

Hi WpgCycler and thanks for the interest . I think that does show that I am no longer able to order Conundrum and Dry Creek Zinfandel in my Premium Package now ? Or is the Premium limit now $15 ?:confused:

I won't quibble about $1 or $2, but if we find all have gone up $4 or $5 then I'm going to have an issue with it. Part of the plus of having the premium package is not having to worry about paying extra or signing any slips.

 

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Seems the issue of available wines in the Classic Package was resolved by dragging Celebrity to provide information that should have been readily available -- I too have searched for a list from Celebrity --after all who purchases something like a drink package without knowing whats included ?

Well Apparently I do ! -- I have the Premium Package and NOW do not know what wines are included in my purchase. I think that is poor form from Celebrity and I will be *issed off if I'm signing for an upcharge for a wine this September that was included in the Package when we sailed in January and which was included when I purchased the Premium Package.:mad:

Fingers crossed you get the answer by Monday morning.

Have a great cruise!

Its almost Tuesday here in Australia.;)

Thanks -- but any info on the Premium Package list ??:confused:

On what will you base "equivalent"? Wine quality, equivalence is very subjective....even the experts don't agree.

Fair call , but its not too hard to think reasonably .

Does anyone have the list of wines by the glass available for the Premium Beverage Package please . I am assuming the $ limit has been raised to $15 now so wines like Conundrum which increased to $14.50 should still be included ? Sadly I guess Grgich still remains outside the limit , making the Chardonnay selection dismal still . It really has been a very mediocre & limited selection for a premium package , so I guess it will remain so.

Come on Andy !:confused::D

Adding to this post to move it back onto the first page.

Totally confused about the choices of wine on both the Classic and Premium packages.

According to Celebrity UK no significant changes have been made to the lists published on their site.

 

Host Andy.

Can you help us out.

Are there changes to The allowance for the Premium Package -- that is putting previously included wines etc above the $ limit now that were included previously?

Changes to the Premium Alcohol Package ? -- I have read on similar forums that the Premium Package no-longer includes wines previously included and there are now extra charges for these -- similar to the changes - but since corrected - in the Classic Package. ?Any information please or am I mis:confused:informed?

I have a copy of the wines available in the MDR when I booked our Premium Package -- I will expect these wines at least to be available - or an equal equivalent - and included in our package price - no extra , or there will be a stink in the MDR.:eek:

Can someone tell us if there have been changes to the Premium Package please and give some detail about what is now included on the available lists.. I see Celebrity reacted to the Classic reductions -- have there been similar reductions on wines available in the Premium Package ?-- it was extremely limited as it was :mad:.

Also , I like Cle-Guy telling us about upcoming cruises as his travelling group is huge and he is doing the right thing by informing us - Celebrity will not. :rolleyes:

The Original Post is certainly correct and states the obvious in my opinion. For the average JoBlow there is less now . That is a fact. How some prefer to put whatever spin they chose on this is amusing - maybe a little sad. :rolleyes:

We will still look at cruising with Celebrity and have a fine time on our next one, but like several have mentioned, Michaels Club was available to us when we booked ( as were the other offerings ) and while this is a bonus for Suite passengers - it is less for us .

So many apologists for Celebrity here -- maybe some should preface their post with " I am a Celebrity Shareholder ".:p

Just got off of the Silhouette, on Monday (May 5) and the craft beers can now be obtained in Cellar Masters.

Thanks Shadowzbtlr

Have they changed the CellarMasters layout etc ?:)

Has anyone recently returned on Silhouette and can let us know if the original Michaels Club concept -- the Boutique beers / Whiskies etc -- has been assimilated into the Cellar Masters area or any other area on the ship now that the Michaels Club is a no-go-zone for us 2nd class passengers?:cool:

You have to be in a Suite now to get the beer:eek::D

Apparently our Silhouette cruise in September has a large group booked onboard also , although it seems impossible to find out anything about these pre-cruise and therefore difficult to avoid.:(

Michael's makes you feel privileged. We are Platinum on Princess and have enjoyed breakfast at Sabatini's (suites only) but Michael's truly gives you the feeling you are receiving special attention. The concierge said there were fewer than 50 people eligible to use Michael's on our sailing.

 

Stayed at the Ritz-Carlton the night before. Nice room, beautiful ocean view, great food, but I was just another guest. I felt special in Michael's.

 

It's not about food or drink. You can get that on any ship. It's an attitude.

Every now and then you read a post that leaves you speechless.:rolleyes:

I'll ask again, what specifically made the concierge lounge worth the price of admission?

 

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I'm pretty sure its the feeling one gets when looking down from on high.:p

Hi, just so you know, Michael's is restricted now to only Suite passengers

and Zenith Members of the Capt's Club.

Any reason why Celebrity still advertise Michaels Club this way on their website?

Michael's Club

This intimate atmosphere features inviting leather chairs, perfect for sharing conversation, listening to a live guitarist, or savoring one of up to 64 international craft beer selections including ales, lagers, lambics, ciders, wheat beers, seasonal and beer cocktails. They're a complement to an extensive collection of fine whiskeys, scotches, cognacs and bourbons.

No mention of restricting it to the elite?:rolleyes: If access to Michaels Club as the description implies convinced me to book I would feel that I was deceived when told later it was not available for the general population.??

Thanks Cle-Guy

I'm afraid we will have to agree to disagree on the matter of groups such as yours booking 900 places out of 2000- 3000 on a cruise. The story about the 400 in the earlier post as well as several others in similar threads shows there is concern and sadly your idea of cruising is not mine . That does not mean I should "Go Camping" -- I will continue to cruise ( 16 so far ) and pray you are not on my roll-calls.:D No offence - You sound like a nice guy.

Despite what you say ,in my opinion,it does affect the quality of our cruise for those outside that large group and I am surprised you do not acknowledge that . I guess the evidence is in the realization that Celebrity do not want cruisers to know there is a large group onboard as they know most would avoid booking that cruise ! This is because the cruise experience is compromised by restricted access to areas , large crowds together making the Martini and Molecular Bars impossible , (same in the theater and pool areas.) ,restricted dining times as you mention booking entirely the late dinner seating ,etc etc. Anyway , as you say , its all about the bottom line , hey - and being a shareholder ! Pity us poor punters.

I am relieved that your group seems not to be on our upcoming cruise , although apparently we do have a large unknown group who have booked most inside and oceanview cabins out , so I will experience first hand the affect that has on my families cruise and be sure to let you know .

Thanks for the "heads Up" on your upcoming cruises , I am sure you will have a fantastic time and I hope everyone else onboard has the same.

By the way , I don't like camping , I am around 60 , and $ value IS always a consideration.:D::p Cheers

Hey Cle-Guy

Care to enlighten us when your next group cruise will be so we can avoid it and give you some more space ? That would be the right thing to do wouldnt it.