brfan

Maybe you aren't understanding my post. I was concerned about gratuities - no the steward's income. I commented about wanting the distribution of the gratuities to be fair. Nothing more.

Lab guy - not sure why you are talking about biting off more than I can chew. but one of the other posters said it better than I did. Gratuities are just that - but since they now have us pay ahead, the concern should be there to make sure it is fair.

 

The distribution of gratuities would be based on the contract the crew member has with Celebrity. Since many tipped crew members have been working for Celebrity for years, doing contract after contract, I would assume that the distribution is fair. If it wasn't they would not return and be working for another cruise line.

My husband and I are leaving today on the constellation and the only way I knew about the formal night change was from Cruise Critic....how did people hear about this if they weren't on Cruise Critic?

 

Celebrity apparently emailed people who had upcoming cruises. However, I have a cruise on the Eclipse in January and didn't get an email. Like you the only way I knew about this change was on Cruise Critic.

I got cash on the Celebrity Summit on November 20and they charged a 5% service fee.

 

Did you have a cash account or was it linked to a credit card? I'm trying to find out if Celebrity has the same policy as Royal for not charging the 5% if you have a cash account. I've asked over at the Celebrity board, but didn't get a response.

Please come back and let us know what Celebrity has to offer. :)

 

From what I've seen it's not as good a deal on Celebrity. You can purchase $25 OBC online in their gifts by Celebrity link. They are currently charging $30.60 CAD for $25 USD.

One thing you will need to check if you are travelling with a friend and the friend is the lead person on the reservation. My friend (who was the lead for the reservation) and I both bought OBC pre cruise and my OBC was credited to her. It was simple thing to change, but it is something you will need to check.

[quote name='johnjen']Yeah, we had a long wait when we stayed the park and cruise at Embassy Suites...it was worth it though (free)...I'm expecting that again this time, but I've read some people were actually paying $65 for a limo ride from the ship to the hotel! That is insane![/QUOTE]

I don't think the shuttle is free. I just checked the Embassy Suites website and a regular room without the park and cruise package is $189 per night and with the park and cruise package it's $249. The difference is $60 per night. (Note: this is before taxes). I've sent an email to the hotel to find out how much they charge to purchase the port shuttle (I don't need parking) as I am planning on spending two nights pre cruise and don't want to spend an extra $120 (plus tax) as I'm sure a cab would be cheaper to take to the port. If anyone knows how much Embassy Suites charges for just the port transfer, I would appreciate it.

I also have a question, which I'm sure has been answered somewhere, but I'm not sure how to search to find it...I've booked the Epic for next October and picked the dining package (4 dinners) as one of the perks. My question is for those who have the dining package as a perk can you book pre cruise or do you have to wait until you are on the ship? In other words is NCL's website smart enough to know you have the package and you won't be charged if you book pre-cruise for 4 speciality restaurants?

That is what some people would have you believe, but in the five years that the Epic has been sailing there hasn't been anyone reporting that someone saw them, or that they saw someone else in this fashion.

 

Well considering that there are only a small percentage of cruisers on Cruise Critic it's not surprising it hasn't been reported, if it did happen. Now if a room mate happens to enter/exit the cabin at the moment the person in the shower exits then the passer by (and room mate) might get to see more then they wanted. :eek: :D

You're joking, right?

 

I was actually wondering the same thing, since I almost always am wearing a t-shirt with shorts and have had no issues having breakfast or lunch in the dining room. Plus most others are wearing the same thing as well. I don't think I've ever seen anyone with a dress shirt on in the dining for breakfast or lunch. Perhaps the rule should be changed to t-shirts, shorts, flip flops not in the evening, unless Celebrity's definition of a t-shirt is different from mine.

Hi Brenda,:) I sailed SUMMIT last week and had credit left on my account.

I went to the casino and yes, they charged a 5% fee but it was worth

it to me because I wasn't going to buy anything with the obc I had left.

I got the cash instead:)

 

Thanks, I find it interesting that Royal doesn't charge the 5% if you have a cash account.

Does Celebrity charge the 5% to get cash at the casino if you have a cash account? Royal doesn't and I was wondering if Celebrity had the same policy.

Thanks.

 

Does anyone know the answer to my question? Thanks.

I think it replaced Cellar Masters (not 100% sure of that. Guaranteed someone on CC will correct me if I am wrong:D). it serves mostly "craft beers" - though I use that term loosely, as most of the beers are from large breweies...but just a large selection of "premium" brands (i.e., not Bud Light). Some specialty cocktails and wines also on offer. Menu is "pub food". burger, steak pie, flatbreads...

http://media.celebritycruises.com/celebrity/content/en_US/pdf/gastrobar-menu.pdf

 

I'm pretty sure it was only on the Equinox that the Gastrobar replaced Cellar Masters. As someone already said on Eclipse it's become part of the Passport Bar and Cellar Masters is still there.

Does Celebrity charge the 5% to get cash at the casino if you have a cash account? Royal doesn't and I was wondering if Celebrity had the same policy.

Thanks.

Food and beverages and food service -- an overview (“complimentary” venues)

 

Now, unfortunately, I have to deal with some negatives, as the food and food service in some of the “complimentary” venues were substandard. Too often, we found the servers to be harried and confused, and the quality of the food to be subpar. In some cases, the food was actually inedible. We are not picky eaters, it doesn’t take much to make us happy when we eat out – just some decent food and decent service, but this was too often lacking on Anthem. Many dishes really did not taste good. And a number were described on the menu by “classic” American names, like “New England clam chowder,” or “Ruben [sic] sandwich,” but bore absolutely no relationship to that dish (and tasted awful). Maybe this was not an issue when Anthem was in Europe, but it’s hard to believe it will play well now that Anthem is sailing out of New Jersey.

 

The food service issues could easily be solved by having better trained servers, and perhaps more of them. There really was no excuse for the service issues we encountered, and hard to believe they existed on a ship that has been sailing for six months. And the food quality issues need to be addressed by the chefs and those above them.

 

Another problem we encountered is that the freestyle soda machines (of which there are not many) were often totally empty, or did not have popular items available. Neither of us is a big soda drinker, but every now and then I did like to be able to get sparkling water or a diet soda and, in my spouse’s case, Coke, and too often we were stymied by the unavailability of our selections. At one point, I spoke to a staff member in the Windjammer about this, and her response was to tell me to go to a bar, not “I’ll get this taken care of right away.” In fact, the machines need to be managed better – inspected and filled more often. (I will say, though, that carrying around the big mug needed to use these machines was a PITA, and we rarely did so. I imagine RCI counts on that as a money saver.)

 

In the following posts, I’ll give our thoughts on the specific places where we ate.

 

If I were to guess regarding the service issue is that a lot of new crewmembers (either brand new or back from vacation) joined the ship for the TA and many of the existing crew went on vacation (at least those that had been with the ship since the beginning). I've heard that they do a major turn over of staff during TAs.

We have been told that there are no WOW cards on board as well, that the only access the crew has to the cards is receiving one from C&A members (and only available at check in) .[ATTACH]eytrpq[bATTACH]

 

I've been told that as well, and have not yet received one when I checked in nor have I remembered to ask for one. However last year I did a back to back on the Liberty. I didn't get one when I checked in for the first cruise but one was left on my bed at the beginning of the second cruise.

Packing for a cruise I grabbed a pair of shoes to wear on formal nights and threw them in my suitcase. Fast forward to first formal night and get the shoes and realize I brought two different shoes. However they were close enough in appearance that I thought I'd just wear them and hopefully no one would notice until I realized they were both the left shoes. :D

I would suggest speaking with the Maitre d' as soon as you board to let him or her know your plans. That way if your in-laws are at a table with others or they've been assigned a table just large enough for them that they can be moved to a table with 2 extra seats.

I assume the system will not let you make other reservations if you have DD Classic so you'd have to go and wait a bit at one of the other venues.

 

I'm wondering if that will be allowed. Currently if you are in traditional you can't go to the my time dining room. I'm wondering if the same will be true if you DD Classic if they will let you go to another dining room or if you'll need to go the buffet, specialty, etc., if you wish to skip a particular restaurant in your rotation? It would be interesting to find out if anyone with Classic has tried this and been successful.

ChoiceAir T/A air is cheaper because Royal has decided to forgo the mysterious "up charge" most airlines add when flying International and NOT flying round trip. So yes a cruise line can, if they choose, charge less than an airline.

 

My understanding and I could be mistaken, is that Choice Air purchases in bulk return flight seats to Europe and then can sell the one ways cheaper (eg. half the return cost). I don't believe they are forgoing any mysterious up charge. They are simply buying the returns knowing that people will be needing one way tickets for both the east and west TAs.

He was serious. No he did not charge double as we just got up and left. He never tried to stop us from going so I assume he was serious.

 

Interesting, though I still think he was joking (or maybe I'm giving him the benefit of doubt). I believe you mentioned your wife had the drink package so if he did charge double it would still work out to zero (0 x 2) :D

Breaking News

 

I book my own airfare and save quite a bit of money. I only used Cruise Air with Royal once and never again. Bloody idiots had us flying on the redeye from San Francisco to Miami and on to San Juan for the trans Atlantic cruise arriving the same day. After that I started booking our own air for my Father and I arriving a day or more before the cruise and staying a day or more after the cruise.

 

For our upcoming cruise to Dubi I found a San Francisco to Barcelona and Dubia to San Francisco on British Airways for $1,190 when cruise air wanted $1,500+ on other airlines. Even with an overnight hotel for $70 in Barcelona and for $155 in Dubai were still come out ahead and get better timings

 

People who are either gullible that they are getting the best deal or are getting the same tickets as they would booking direct are so wrong.

 

 

When you go to Kayak and the airline websites directly try and compare the different prices and times. Do you really want to be at the mercy of Cruise Air when your flight is delayed or cancelled they really can't do much except try and rebook you. At least if you plan to arrive before the cruise by a day and leave at least a day or more after the cruise your options are better.

 

For instance we leave San Francisco at 4:40 PM with 5 hours in London to account for delays and arrive the next day in Barcelona at 7:40 PM.

 

On the return we arrive on Friday early morning 6 AM to Dubai and leave on Sunday at 1:45 AM so this gives us time to explore the city and in fact allows us to enjoy our hotel and transportation to the airport and the Executive Lounge at the Hotel with food and drinks throughout the day.

 

We arrive London around 5:30 AM and leave to San Francisco 9 hours later arriving at 7:00 PM the same day and then go to sleep at 9:00 PM.

 

I would much rather fly on a European carrier that offers complimentary alcohol, better meals and Inflight Entertainment and get miles with American Airlines. Some US air carriers like United skimp on service and charge more for it.

 

If you take the proverbial you will save yourself money. Royal Caribbean Air is not what it claims to be and their terms and conditions are so restrictive to the point that it scares me. Will they really fly you to another port if your flight is delayed?

 

What if you booked Cruise Air and you had two or three connections and paid more but could get a flight for less with only one connection? You are really at the mercy of their schedules..

 

Just my 2 cents.

 

Maybe I'm missing something here, but with Choice Air you choose what flights/airlines you want. Choice Air, from what I've seen is always the best choice for Transatlantics for one way flights to/from Europe. Now within North America most of the time you are better off booking it yourself and not use Choice Air.

No , I did not think of that. I wish i had of.

 

Are you sure he wasn't just joking around or did he actually charge double?

Keep in mind, anyone that has sailed is a C&A member. Not necessarily loyal

 

You don't have to sail Royal to be a C&A member. You can become a C&A member if you've sailed Celebrity and are a Captain's Club member. I don't know if that is also true with Azamara or any of Royal's other smaller lines.

 

You can also become a Captain's Club member with Celebrity if you are a C&A member.

I often do late night room service.

 

I know i have not been charged ever, last summer I did 2 Bermuda cruises one inside and one AquaClass, and not billed. Most of mine are in suites, so can see how in a suite they may waive the late dining fee, but I know I had late nights in both my inside and AQ last summer.

 

Maybe it's a fee they can but don't charge like the fuel surcharge that never got billed?

 

As to working OT, many of the crew are hired specifically for overnights, so they are there anyway, it's not like someone is ringing them in their cabin at 3:15 am and saying, "hey Bob, we got another late night delivery, get dressed and get down to the galley would ya?!". Overnight the kitchens have to be humming baking breads and pastries for breakfast, cutting all the fruits needed for drinks garnishes, defrosting frozen meets and fishes, etc.

 

There is a person around who can deliver a Room Service tray.

 

I worked a midnight shift for a while, my shift differential was 50 cents per hour. But I chose to work the midnights and knew what I was getting into.

 

My waiter on the Eclipse in March was doing night time room service. He started work in the dining room for dinner and worked straight through till morning and then was off until dinner. He was pretty exhausted as it was hard for him to get any sleep during the day as his room mate would be coming and going and the daytime ship noises.

Someone asked this question on Royal's Facebook page and the Royal representative responded that there would be no more courtesy holds for Caribbean cruises. No explanation was provided at the time I read this last night.