Smiles3usa

I'd spend more time getting to know some of my fellow cruisers. The places we sometimes remember, the relationships formed is something to be treasured.

As a New Englander, I agree that I find the fascination with lobsters a bit odd. Lobsters here are cheap, found in most supermarkets (where they will steam them for free), and quite good. The lobsters I've had on the ship were either overcooked, or the warm water kind that are not as sweet or good, in my opinion. But then again, to each his own.

Our dog, 7 years old, has been staying at the same "pet resort" since we got him at 12 weeks old when we are away. He's had training classes there as well as doggie day care. He knows the folks and is always happy when we get near the place. I love the webcam the place provides, and I love knowing the hours that I can watch him in training or in play. But yes, I do think of him daily...and miss him dearly. It helps to know that he is having fun.

A tip of the hat to the OP – what a refreshing post!

My two bits say that Celebrity is not trying to “run off” the more frugal cruiser. Rather, I think, Celebrity is trying to raise the total outlay all cruisers spend. I think, the 1-2-3 promo and its ilk, are just the beginning as Celebrity raises the overall cost per day from all cruisers. In the very near future I see Celebrity becoming more inclusive (including perhaps the classic drink package and/or gratuities ) and raising the base fare to reflect such inclusion. Many will complain that they don’t want Celebrity to be more inclusive – Celebrity knows this. They also know that those who will abandon the line because of the increase in costs are the very ones not likely to spend significant monies on the ship in the first place. One way or another, Celebrity will exact more than the bare minimum from all who cruise.

In sum, the more frugal Celebrity cruisers won’t be run off. But, I think, they will be required – very soon – to pay more monies to continue to sail Celebrity.

Sounds exactly like the dinning system on Cunard. The exact reason I refuse to sail the line. I thought the folks paid more for suites for the accommodations? Too many off limits areas of the ship and who will want to sail in steerage?

Just wanted to share the other side of the coin.

I have used consolidator fares a number of times. Three times for Transatlantic cruises, twice for Asia cruises and once of a meditrerrian cruise. For the Transatlantic cruise, the airfare was $1600 less than the published fare; for Asia cruise, I save approximately $800 RT than the published fare; for the med cruise, I save approximately $500 than (at the time) the published fare.

I purchased cruise insurance on all my trips...often the difference in airfare was enough to pay for the cruise insurance (which included insurance for delayed trip..and to catch up with the ship..in addition to the usual..for the normal trip insurance stuff). I haven't bought cruise air...but consolidator fares are, generally, less than cruise airfare..and you know exactly what you are getting.

Sure, consolidator fares do not get you everything you might get with published fares. But, from my experience, it does get you to the ship (from my experience) on time..and for much less than published fares. Indeed, it gets you there with enough savings to pay for trip insurance...AND MORE!!!!

Find a consolidator that you trust...and go from there. Will it help every time...no. But most folks who travel for cruises are not using airfare 1000's of times per year. You pay your money and take your chances. So far, it has worked 100% for me

Ironically, one of the things that pushes prices higher is when folks book cruises, in which they believe the price is too high, with the hope that a price drop will come. Only when folks think that the price is too high and do not book -- will the price drop. There is never a reason to be disappointed in the price, you know up front what it is. If the value is not there, don't book it.

But I agree with your general proposition that the 123go! promo convinced some folks to book the cruise at a higher price point. Value is in the eye of the beholder.

Effective April 10, 2014 you will not be able to get a visa on arrival in Turkey airport any more. You will have to apply for an e-Visa in advance or if denied apply for a visa at the nearest embassy or consulate. See https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/tour/

I think there is quite a differece between bragging about being rewarded for complaining and merely stating the facts. I read a few reviews where folks talked about the compensation they received for incidents which they brought to management''s attention. I did not percieve all the posts which did so as "bragging." I find that it is often difficult to ascertain the poster's intent from simple words on the page. I prefer to give folks the benefit of the doubt...unless the post leaves no doubt about their intention.

While I have yet to have a complaint about a cruise, I have posted quite a few criticisms about restaurants and hotels which I believed were not up to snuff. My posts were very specific; and generally, did include items which I felt were top notch about the establishment too. I have not yet been to a place where I felt everything was horrible. I think one of the most influencial means to make companies aware of their shortcomings is to let them know the specifics. For example, I went to a hotel where the business centerir did not have paper to print off a boarding pass. I told the front desk each day for 3 days. On the fourth day, my final day, I went and brought a ream of paper, left it in the business center and wrote up the incident on trip advisor explaining how I thought there were several service shortfalls for a 5 star hotel. I did get an apology from management, an offer for a free stay and a promise that training of personnel would include handing items that are not necessary in their job description. Now, I did not "complain" to be mean spirited or to obtain something additional, but rather to warn future travelers and to let the company know of shortfalls.

While there will always be people who want something for nothing, most, I believe, try to improve a product/servce. Okay, so I am naive. I perfer to live that way :)

It sounds great! Has anyone used this and have any comments about it?

You might consider reviewing some of the roll call threads of those itineraries that require visas. For example, on our Asia cruise on Princess, several folks discussed the visa requirements and several folks got together and went to NYC to meet for a day and get the required visas in one day without the middleman.

There is also information here in the Port of Call section. I remember a post regarding obtaining the Cambodia visa upon arrival at the airport.

CC has a wealth of information, its not always in one place. But the best advice is to check it out on the cruse site itself. Requirements are always changing.

Even if one doesn't agree on the relatively short time horizons for booking certain airline tickets, hopefully everyone can agree that booking a ticket one year in advance when seats are initially released will seldom yield the lowest fare. Yet, many folks believe that this is valid strategy. A good graph of historical, average airfares according to how far in advance they were booked can be found at

http://www.cheapair.com/blog/travel-tips/how-far-in-advance-should-i-book-my-flight/#more-800490460.

 

This analysis was based on the results of looking at 560 million fare searches. There is the expression that a million ants can't be wrong.

One thing is certain, there are no absolutes with respect to airfares. I booked my RT BOS - FCO for Oct 2014 in Nov 2013 at 702 pp on Turkish Airlines. Yes, Turkish Airlines is starting service in Boston in 2014 and they had "grand opening" fares. Today, the same flights I choose are at 900 pp. I seriously doubt that i will see another airfare for $700 RT. Perhaps, but I am not willing to take the chance. I'd agree that a year out is a good start for looking...and the best airfare will come somewhere down the line. The way to procure the best rates, however, remain, from my perspective in a willingness to pull the trigger on buying airfare whenever you find a fare that seems reasonable.

I would not agree with the blanket statement that airfare has no bearing on cruise fare. My observation has been such that when airfare for North Americans tends to be higher, cruise fare tends to be lower. This is readily observable on the transatlantic cruises. Those transatlantic cruises that end in Florida are generally priced higher than those that end in South America or San Juan (where airfare is, generally, much more expensive). This is especially obvious on cruise prices after final payment. But as a general proposition, given the global markets, save for the transatlantic cruises, I have not seen a correlation between cruise fare and airfare. The best cruise fare seems elusive and is obtainable by luck or perseverance ... with the ability to pull the trigger as soon as an acceptable fare is shown winning out most of the time.

I'd agree that there is no "best time" to book airfare. Unfortunately, patience is necessary and then, not always rewarded.

Escargot...yuck! Clam bellies with garlic and butter. Lots of butter still does not mask the rubbery taste. Now some yummy foie gras, well that another story :)

Anybody who scoffs at traveler's checks has never had the opportunity of standing in front of an A.T.M. that does not work.

 

Traveler's checks may not be cutting edge but they are dependable.

Please know that I wasn't scoffing. I still remember Karl Malden doing the American Express commercial for traveler's checks. For that matter, I still remember a time when if you didn't get to the bank by 3:00 p.m. on Friday, you had no money for the weekend; there were no ATM machines. At that time, credit cards were something only for the rich! My times have changed.

I have found during my travels there are far more places to get money with an ATM machine (there is ALWAYS one around -- maybe one must walk an extra block) then places willing to cash a traveler's check. People should do what they are comfortable with. Change, however, is not always a bad thing.

I like booking 18 months to 1 year in advance; the anticipation of the cruise and the planning contributes to my enjoyment of the cruise. That said, I am taking my first cruise on Celebrity due to Princess pricing strategy. I simply refuse to pay double to cruise on Princess. Perhaps the pricing strategy won't stay around for long. I did notice that Princess cruises coming up in the next 90-120 days are very similarly priced compared to Celebrity. But for some reason, Princess prices its initial cost far above what they will accept. Ce la vie! The market will decide. To me, while I enjoy Princess, it is not a luxury brand--especially with 3000+ folks aboard--and I will not pay for it as such.

Wow! Do they still sell travels' checks? Who knew? With the debit ATM cards, I thought travelers' cheques had outlived their usefulness.

RCL has put a system on their ship with special soda dispensers which work with the special "souvenir" cups used for the packages. The system is called Freestyle Machines (click here for more info). So it there is more of a reason the system is based on fountain drinks and not cans and also a reason each person with the package gets a special cup. The machines are actually a special feature as they can dispense custom beverages - see here or here for more info.

That's great RCL has done this. It still does not answer the question why one would pay $65.00 per day for an "ultimate" drink package and then have to pay $2.75 if s/he wanted a can of soda!!! RCL has made for self-service soda (the reason the gratuities are not segregated for its packages). Not everyone wants the fountain drinks. Celebrity gives you the choice -- no there aren't 150+ watered down choices. Then again, I prefer a choice between canned and fountain sodas.

We use credit card for the ship and cash for the port of calls. Generally, we have pre-paid most of our (major) expenses in the ports e.g., the hotel stays pre- and post- cruise, the museums visits/individual sites that have pre-purchase availability, I purchase on-line (saves not only $$$ but much time). The excursions we are taking (if going with cc members, we have individual envelopes with the cash for those particular excursions separated from our "cruise cash."). I generally have foreign currency for the countries we will visit, approximating the amount that we will spend. (I do so much research, I am usually within $100 of how much we will spend.) I don't like using my credit card out of the country, but generally do so with well recognized establishments, (hard rock cafes).

I must admit I am surprised that the dollar amount mentioned most is $100 per day. Generally, in addition to the prepayments, we figure on about $150 each per day. Since we don't do much shopping, it comes very close to what we do spend on the trip. And we seldom go over our budgeted amount (okay, save a beautiful emerald ring in Rio :) )

If you were to buy the classic beverage package (before boarding) it would cost you $1214.40 ($44 + 15% gratuities x 12 days x 2 persons). The $300 OBC basically covers your gratuities and gives you $12.00 extra (assuming you are not in aqua or a suite). BTW, if you are in aqua or a suite, the prepaid gratuities works out to a better deal. In any event, you are, most likely, going to pay gratuities. So basically you have to decide if the beverage package is worth $700.00 to you. That works out to approximately $30 per person per day extra for you to re-price your cruise. Only you can determine whether it is worth it. Would you spend $30 per day for drinks covered by the classic package?

BTW, you don't have to cancel and rebook -- and risk losing your cabin. You can just ask your TA or Celebrity to have your cruise repriced to include the current promotion.

Also, some TA's charge for you to change your booking. Figure that in your calculations also. In any event, the 123 go package lasts until February. No need to rush your decision.

I had travelled on 6-7 cruises before I decided to buy travel insurance. Nothing had ever "gone wrong" and I figured all was okay (but then again, everything is okay in our 20/30's.) When we decided to do a 16 day asia cruise with stays for 3 days pre-cruise and 6 days post-cruise, I decided to insure the travel because our budget for the cruise had basically quadrupled from previous trips. The insurance was approximately $900 (at the time we were in middle 40/50's). Two weeks before our trip was scheduled to begin, my mom died unexpectedly. It was a devastating time for me. I got back from the funeral (out of state) three days before we were scheduled to leave. I called the insurance provider and found out everything was covered. So I knew that I could cancel without any financial repercussions (unlike our land trip to Egypt in early October 2001 when few americans were traveling to the middle east and we had prepaid everything, with no travel insurance)

Anyway, I decided to go on the cruise, since there was nothing I could do to change the situation. Although I had my mournful moments, I found myself enjoying the trip much more than I could have ever anticipated.

On our cruises and land trips since then, I have yet to buy travel insurance again. I am afraid to. Although I know superstitions are childish, I now equate buying insurance with something devastating happening on/before our trip.

I guess we all do what we are comfortable with. It was comforting to me to know that I had brought travel insurance -- even though I did not use it -- because it gave me the choice I needed.

I've made a deposit on my first Celebrity cruise for Oct 2014. Since I booked in June, there have been 3 different promotions : 1-2-3 go, Pick your perk, 15% giving thanks and now, come Friday there is another 1-2-3 only better. Is this how Celebrity normally operates? I find it totally confusing. I don't mind watching for price drops -- and my trip has had a few. But figuring out which promotion is better...and how it effects the bottom line is frustrating.

From my perspective, it seems to be all marketing gimmickry. I thought Celebrity was an established product. Why all the new gimmicks to sell it?

I just don't understand why RCCL would not include canned sodas in any of the packages. One spends $65 per day and then must pay for a can of soda (at 2.75/can). I don't care for those fountain sodas....they rarely taste the same.

Hmm... The flyer I received said 1-2-3 only better. For European cruises you can pick 2 -- classic beverage package, pre-paid gratuties or up to 300 shipboard credit. Plus there are now additional benefits for 3 and 4th person in the same cabin. My cruise price has not increased, perhaps it will on Friday. In any event, I'll be crunching numbers and determining what is in my best financial interests. :)

Thanks all. I booked it. $702.30 pp RT. Plus, because there is a 10+ hour layover each way (no earlier flight due to TK schedule) we will get free hotel room in Istanbul coming and going. I do like a good deal and appreciate the reassurance from folks who have recently been to Istanbul.