greeneg

Since this will be a new pricing structure as opposed to a limited-time promotion, I wonder if reservations booked/deposited prior to July 6 will be "grandfathered" in with your choice of selecting one perk come July 6?

 

For example, if I book and deposit a future sailing today (oceanview or above) that does not currently offer the 123GO, once July 6 comes will I then be entitled to select one perk?

I was just scrolling through this thread and thinking the same thing, we just did an on-board booking for the Millennium on Feb 28 while on the Solstice in Alaska, we have the 1-2-3 promotion so are they going to try and raise our price or honor what we've booked at. Or something else?

Ed

The Azera isn't inexpensive, actually quite luxurious. My choice would be the Alfa, nothing like it except possibly a Ferrari......

Ed

Nice, nice photos. Celebrity should buy some of them from you and use them in their brochures, they are better than what they have.

ED

I would love to see what they would do with my cars, My Wife has a 2007 Honda Fit, I have a 2013 Hyundai Azera, and my pride and joy is a fully preserved 1984 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce.

I believe that he may be on the Solstice, I hope so because we're boarding her Friday,

Ed

I think that this does explain some of the things that I have had questions about recently......now if I could just remember the questions,,,:)

Ed

Thanks for your very nice review, we're boarding on Friday and hope that our weather is as good as yours was. We're somewhat familiar with Alaska, but this will be our first trip on the Solstice and there are 19 of us traveling together, 8 adults and 9 children ages 8-21.

Thanks again,

Ed

Absolutely, there is no reason to do a ship's tour for the Cinque Terra. You get off of the ship in Livorno, take the milk train and get on and off as you like ( you did buy the day pass, didn't you?). The Cinque Terra is unique and not to be missed.

It really is no more complicated than that.

Ed

Thank you for the nice review, we board the Solstice on Friday with our 19 member family for a reunion cruise. Good to know that the Solstice is still part of the program.

Ed

Just to be correct, Jameson's is an Irish Whiskey, not a Scotch. Tastes just like J&B though..

Happy Cruisin'

Ed

No to Facebook.

No to Twitter

No to any social media except Cruise Critic. I tried FB a few years ago, but was totally bombarded with requests to add "friends" that I cancelled my account and went back into my cave.....

ED

Interesting thread, we're on the Solstice on the 19th of this month to Alaska. We're early, traditional dining, and because there are 19 of us traveling as one, big happy, family, I've requested two tables for 10 for the early seating. It will be interesting to see how this is handled....

Ed

Very simple. You will be stamped into the country on a separate sheet which will then be placed in your passport. It will then be returned to you. When you leave the country, you will be stamped out on the same sheet, and it will be removed from your passport.

Hope that's helpful,

Ed

North Carolina, but definitely not a tar heel!

Ed

Reminder: 2900 PAX is NOT a small ship, despite the nature of the itinerary.

Actually, Nicole is Siri's sister......:)

Ed

Did they tell you why it as denied? A group booking alone wouldn't normally disqualify you from getting the shareholder credit. Do you have a BOGOHO or other type of rate?

 

And how are you? I still have fond memories of our 2009 Best of Italy cruise...

The reason given was that the rate that we booked at was " already at a discount" with no further explanation. Really? Thanks for telling me that, wouldn't have known otherwise....

Anyway, Jean, we're doing well, older but not necessarily wiser. BTW, Mike and Judy are with us on the B2B.

Ed

We've had the same thing happen on our upcoming Constellation B2B, credit denied although the booking was done directly via Celebrity itself and nothing was said about a group rate, I know because I did the booking........:(

Ed

Don't hold your breath on the Shareholder Benefit, it seems to get harder to use it every year.

Ed

Jean, we still remember the 05/09 Quest Best of Italy as just about the best that a cruise could be.

Ed

No place like Las Ramblas early in the evening.

Ed

Hazel, I'm sure he has. He was logged on Tuesday afternoon. ;)

 

Phil

Interesting. So far he has been conspicuous by his absence........

Ed

It's occurred to me since it seems that it gets harder and harder to take advantage of the "Best Price" Guarantee due to various restrictions. Might just try it in the future and see what happens.

Ed

We are flying into Istanbul early for our 10-14-2014 sailing on the Constellation and we have already done our e-visas. Much simpler to have it than perhaps to have to deal with a low level bureaucrat at Ataturk Airport after a transatlantic flight. Much easier to simply have the visa and hopefully get your luggage and head for the shower....

Ed

With Century sold X now has no ships less than 2000 persons. Is the trend toward ever larger ships inevitable?

 

Personally, I would pay a (slight) premium to be able to sail on a smaller ship that had access to ports the larger ships cannot use. I think the flexibility, ambiance and better itineraries of a smaller ship would make it very appealing and profitable if properly managed. They do not need to compete directly with Crystal, Azamara or Oceana, just offer a product somewhere in-between. I believe it is possible to accomplish, particularly if the ships are designed for the in-between market from the start, with a normal mix of interior, oceanview and other cabins, and not go for 'all suite' or similar luxury features.

 

I wish they would give it a shot.

 

What features and services do you think they should include, yet still be competitive in the in-between market?

 

Are there other lines that do this that I am not aware of?

This, of course, was the original reason that Celebrity purchased The Quest and The Journey, now Azamara Club Cruises, this would provide Celebrity Standards of Service and Cuisine in a more intimate and laid-back environment for those cruisers who really were not Mega-Ship intensive. Of course, LP has taken Azamara in another direction entirely, but that was the plan when the ships originally joined X. Yes, I think that it can be done if done right, without ambitious pretensions of grandeur; I Know that my wife and I very much prefer the smaller ship experience, and I think that it can be done at a competitive price. I want good service, well prepared food, and interesting itineraries at a rational per Diem. I do think that it can be done and should be profitable.

Ed