ailetoile

With all the postings about Drink Packages and all the questions/confusion, why NOT make the Drink Packages a Sticky?

Opinions.

I put together a whole FAQ on the subject, so obviously I'd like to see the information that we have compiled in one place. Bonus points for it being a place where the information can be updated as things change, in my opinion...

is there a daily dollar amount limit that you can spend up to?

Nope! It's all you can drink within the package limits.

Not every bar has it but it is an official drink the ship stocks.

 

The best places to get it are the MDR, Mast Grill, and Sky Lounge; several other bars on the ship did not have it there.

 

If you want a diet, caffeine-free drink, Sprite Zero is also there and more widely available.

Thanks for chiming in :) I knew that she was able to get it but I didn't really pay attention to WHERE outside of the MDR. :o

My mom was able to get it at select bars and at dinner (brought by our assistant waitress). This was two weeks ago.

Part of the fun is certainly saving for something like this for us, our first time on Celebrity and I'm hoping it's not our last if we can afford it again next year. Every little increase does add up for us still even at our time of life 40/50s. I'm afraid after 20 years supporting adults with learning difficulties I'm aware I'm never going to be well off.

I truly believe that in spite of all that you're reading on here before your trip you will have an amazing time. It will be a nice break from what sounds like a selfless career. :)

While I do get that for us every bit counts. We're not a couple that earn a huge amount but like to enjoy the nicer things in life when we can. I noticed on a recent poll they worked out the average Celebrity cruiser earned $114000 a year. We're at a whole lower level than that.

While my husband and I are NOW comfortably above that median income, there was quite a long time when I was in graduate school where we earned less than a quarter of that as a couple. Our vacations were a HUGE splurge. I do know where you are coming from.

With that being said, we found many, many ways to enjoy ourselves on a Celebrity cruise that did not involve drinking premium beverages or spending money at all. We made it work with the complimentary beverages that were available, along with a couple of bottles of wine that we brought aboard at embarkation.

When we were in that financial place, we were grateful for the opportunity to be on the ship and (mostly) away from work at all. The ambiance, the food, the feeling of being catered to, the ports of call in brand new places, even the shows that people on here love to complain about... all of it was an adventure for us. We barely even thought about things like drink packages or even a la carte drinking because it was just out of our budget. No bad feelings, just not on our radar. It was so easy to not have strong feelings about those hot-button topics because we saw the vacation itself as treating ourselves, and anything that we were able to afford on top of that as icing.

I am absolutely not calling you ungrateful. I know that everyone has different vacation priorities and things that make the trip special for them and that perhaps alcohol is a part of that special experience for you in a way that it isn't for us (I have a clotting disorder and was on blood thinners for all of my 20s, so I never got into the habit of drinking often). I'm simply saying that I do understand the perspective of a cruise who is budgeting every single cent, and I understand VERY well how disappointing these changes must be for you.

With that being said, however, I think that it is very easy to get caught up in changes like these when you frequent this message board, and that it is equally easy to get caught up in the negative feedback loop that develops whenever those changes are posted. A vacation is supposed to be a time of rest, relaxation, and happiness. Despite some of the recent price increases, I believe Celebrity still does deliver that "product" amazingly well. I do hope that you can still enjoy your vacation once you get there. It sounds like you have earned it.

...

Now that I write all of that, I have to say that there is actually a part of me that very much misses being in that place. Our recent trip a few weeks ago was the first Celebrity trip that we've taken since our financial circumstances have changed. While I had an amazing time, I definitely cannot say that I had the fierce pleasure and pride in this trip that I have felt in the past when part of our journey to cruising was scrimping and saving to get there. :o

just wondering if anyone knows how much one bottle of water is on the ship? am a big water drinker so thinking the price of at least the classic pkge might be worth it? if anyone knows let me know ok? thanks

A bottle of water is a couple of dollars. If water is your main concern, here's are a few things to keep in mind before you buy a very expensive alcohol package:

*You can buy a much cheaper package that doesn't include alcohol. There's a package for water only, a classic non-alcoholic package that includes non-sparkling water, and a premium non-alcoholic package that includes almost every non-alcoholic drink on the ship. Any of those packages will run you less than half the cost of the Classic Package. You can still purchase alcohol a la carte.

*You can bring on as much bottled water as you want at embarkation. Many, many people arrive at the dock with a case or two of bottled water that they check in add luggage so that it is delivered to their stateroom.

*The tap water on Celebrity IS potable, so you may be able to save yourself a bit of money by drinking that while you are in your room and at meals.

I was slightly unclear about one thing. We booked a cruise for May and we received "classic beverage" packages from Celebrity as a perk of booking. Will some 18% gratuity be added to our shipboard account based on the $49 daily value or does "free" mean free?

Free means free. The gratuity is part of the package :)

Yesterday I was told I am cancer free, today a gin and tonic never tasted better, and tomorrow I don't care what it cost. In two weeks time my cruise will never be better...

 

It's all perspective...

Congratulations on your cancer free prognosis!!!

well good, you can pass me your free drinks then. ;) :D

Easier for you to swallow this increase with your strong pound, it's brutal for us Canadians. A molecular (or whatever it'll be called by then) will be over $18 for me with tip, you can be sure I won't be having more than one a day.

I'll go back to pay-as-you-go, probably bring on water and live without lattes and pool drinks. Some nights will be quieter, that's all.

Remember that you can bring on two bottles of wine at embarkation to help give you a happy medium.

You could also consider sending yourself a bottle of a spirit you like through Gifts By Celebrity (it's still a bit expensive, but no 18% gratuity) and bringing aboard mixers so that you can make your own drinks. It's not the same as having someone else do it for you, and I know that it's not the same as a Molecular Bar (or whatever) drink, but it IS far cheaper.

I'm living in Canada now, but posts like this make me thank my lucky stars that I'm self-employed with a steady income in each country so that I can choose which country to finance things out of. :(

You and I align more often than not. That said,

 

Go sail one of the others for a $100 or two less, we did, the Ruby Princess in 2012. Was it horrid? No. But different enough to make us gladly pay the $100 or two more for the overall better ( IMHO & experience ) product delivered on ship by the staff and crew of Celebrity.

EW

 

ps: that 2012 cruise cost more than our 2013 sailing on the Reflection.

I actually really appreciate this perspective. Thank you for sharing this. :)

I have had the Classic package on my last three cruises (free as perk once and purchased twice) and have been MORE than satisfied with it. I would order a glass of wine to go with my appetizer and a different one for my entree in Select dining with the sommelier at the beginning of the meal and never had any issue. If you are REALLY concerned about having your wine immediately, you can stop at the bar on your way into the dining room and bring it in WITH you. Full confession, I have done this before but mostly because I love hearing the string ensemble in the bar before dinner :D

 

I don't generally complain about the complaints on this board since all are allowed their own opinion, but please don't be discouraged by them! Rest assured that the Classic package has been an excellent experience for me. Enjoy your coffees/teas/waters/sodas/wine/beer/cocktails and relax! :cool:

This! I have never had the Classic Package (I've always cruised either without or with the Premium Package), but my mom had the Classic Package on our cruise last week and she received the same service as anyone else.

But as Philomath said, try not to get too discouraged by some of the complaining on this board. It often reaches the point of rampant and entitled, and I definitely understand how it can concern someone who has no way of knowing if those complaints are correct.

From personal experience I have found that if you simply treat your servers and sommelier with a shred of human decency then the odds are good that you will USUALLY be well taken care of.

I hope that you enjoy your trip :)

I wonder if anyone can confirm its the same list of wines this year out of uk? I read a review over on the review board where it mentioned only one wine available on classic package.

This is one thing I cannot confirm as I never saw a wine list on my recent sailing. Jenna may have more luck on her upcoming sailing if no one else answers before that?

Welcome home! Thank you so much for these answers. You've been a huge help. I do have a question about the Classic Drink Package, it doesn't include alcoholic coffee drinks, but can you get a shot of baileys and then go get a NA specialty coffee? With me asking this can you also, w/the classic drink package get a shot? Thank you very much!!!!!!

Yes, you can make your own drinks as it were with the Baileys and a non alcoholic coffee purchased one after the other. You can get shots of included alcohols.

And thanks! :)

He/She probably got fired for letting the cat out of the bag and causing an uproar on Cruise Critic.

I'm not debating the "cat out of the bag" part, but to be fair it seems like it doesn't take that much to cause an uproar on Cruise Critic ;)

Did you participate in your groups sailaway or the Celebrity Meet & Mingle. If so how were you notified and what day and time was the M&M held on?

Thanks

Ken

Yes, I participated in both. Our group's sailaway was before the muster drill at the Sunset Bar. Our M&M was the following morning at I believe 9:30 or 10:30am at Lawn Club Grill. We were notified of the M&M time and location via a letter that was waiting for us in our room.

Thank you! I don't think anyone believes me when I tell them how big that lobster was!

We went through the pictures on Tuesday night (we only got back on Monday), and I have to tell you... It was huge and we have a clear picture to prove it. :eek:

Thanks for your review! I believe my wife and I were on the snorkel trip with all of you with Cozumel H2O...definitely a great time! If you are able to upload all the great pictures you were able to get, we would love to see them. Thanks!

Once I get them uploaded, I will post them to our roll call. It'll probably be over the weekend!

Our roll call is here:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1952405&page=38

Thanks for the great review. The answer in "Blue" above was in reference to the Chase Card travel notification. I have found the link online, but from onboard, I guess it would be painfully slow online.

 

I'm sorry you had some issues on your cruise but still enjoyed it.

 

Happy sailing,

Jenna

We actually burned through 20 minutes of Internet finding and clicking that link only to have the stupid card still not work... :(

Husband just phoned Celebrity UK who claim to know nothing about this increase. He also enquired about upgrading from our classic package, which was included, to premium and use our onboard credit to cover difference and was told they can't do that. A bit miffed if they are doing this and Uk office have no knowledge.

If he was trying to use his onboard credit to upgrade prior to boarding then he would have been told no regardless of his location. Celebrity doesn't let you charge anything against your onboard credit until you're actually onboard. :)

One issue I have not seen addressed is that to upgrade pre cruise all passengers in a cabin must upgrade. If you upgrade on board you can do it for only those who want it and you can do it at any time.

This is false information that I wish people would stop spreading.

I can only imagine, it will have 1 of 2 scenarios:

 

ONE:

Paid $49 for classic, upgrade before you sail until 4/20, pay $10+ to upgrade

Paid $49 for classic, upgrade after 4/6 onboard, pay $16+ to upgrade

Get the classic package as a perk, pay $10+ to upgrade

 

Two:

They have no way when you upgrade at a bar to know what you paid for a package, you pay $10 to upgrade.

 

As others have said, charging $16 to upgrade smacks of dishonesty when there has been a lot of marketing pushing booking of cruises with the perks promoting the $10 upgrade. Sure, I know they can change it, but the price difference is STILL $10.

 

Scenario 2 is a bit the way airlines do upgrades to extra leg room seats or premium cabins. The prices are set, and everyone pays the same to upgrade regardless of what they paid for the seat. I know this is a bit general and not always the case as airlines are sophisticated enough to actually offer different flyers totally different prices for add-ons at check in. Celebrity is NOT this sophisticated, in the IT realm anyway.

 

Finally, I am happy to ask how this will work onboard, on Monday, BUT I fear the information won't be communicated properly to the ships or call centers for a few weeks.

 

Happy sailing,

Jenna

It would be awesome if you could ask while you are onboard :) Our next cruise isn't for a while so I'm not really too concerned one way or the other about the immediate future, but if it does turn out that they'll be forcing the $16 upgrade for some insane reason then I'll go ahead and do the upgrade for our future cruises before April 20.

Too funny.....We had Jack in 9370 from 3/8-15......we both commented that he was the best attendant we had to date. Ship was great too!

He didn't do anything that was outright upsetting or WRONG to us. Something about him just rubbed the two of us the wrong way. I think we've just been really spoiled in the past.

My parents, on the other hand, had a big problem with him. Aside from the toilet paper incident (which I don't blame them for), I could never QUITE figure out why.

If you upgrade pre-cruise before April 20th, you’ll only be paying the current difference to upgrade to Premium ($10 per day + 18% gratuity).

 

If you upgrade pre-cruise as of April 20th or onboard as of April 6th, then you’ll be paying the new upgrade rate to Premium ($16 per day + 18% gratuity).

Wouldn't the new difference between the two packages still be $10 per day + 18% gratuity? Or are you saying that the Classic Package perk will be considered at its old price when upgrading instead of its new price?

Thank you.

Sorry, not a joke. Wanted to get this information out as fast as we received it.

We really do appreciate that. Thank you.