Ellaleah

3 hours ago, bnurick said:

The core issue is X sold ‘All Inclusive’ and they cannot deliver. The result is ‘word smithing’ what was promised. X is simply a bad counterparty risk for the cruiser in this moment in time.

I so agree.  I booked a TA for 11/24 at the beginning of this year with AI.  They cancelled it, but let us keep our OBC and gave a little more.  I rebooked it (1 day less ).  Now that is cancelled and they will not let us keep our OBC offering a new $200.  OBC and no AI.  I don’t trust them and that is what they have destroyed.  They have lost me!

We have an interest in the excursion that Celebrity offers which includes Azorean Folklore and dinner.  It is sold out for our 11/24 cruise.  What might be the best excursion for out day in Ponta Delgado?  Thank you.

45 minutes ago, SRQbeachgirl said:

 

 

I just called and successfully applied both AARP gift cards to my balance due. The whole process was super easy and the call took less than five minutes. No hold time at all, either. Not bad for $100 in savings (two $500 cards).

 

Definitely important to read that fine print so people don't mistakenly think they can use these for shore excursions, onboard purchases, etc., but for paying a balance due it can be a good deal--just know the limitations and refund policy. Maybe someday they will go to a gift card process more like Carnival Corp. so you can use them for everything and apply them yourself online rather than making a phone call.

My cruise is not until 11/24.  I booked quite awhile ago.  I have called Celebrity and been told that their policy has changed allowing one to use multiple gift cards to pay your cruise balance.  I have bought 1 $500. Card so far.  I will call again (ask for Rewards dept) and ask when I am closer.  This will be my first Celebrity,but I have closely followed the threads on here.  I trust Celebrity as far as i might throw a ship!  Just last week I called for assistance during the flash sale with upgrading my AI Wi Fi because I didn’t see the option on my planner.  I was assisted and charged.  In looking at it after I realized that I was charged too much for the upgrade.  I phoned again and it was adjusted.  It felt like they were using a hand calculator.  They do not inspire confidence!  It felt very rinky dink!

I phoned and was told it is not for new bookings only.  The issue is how much one can use.  It was $1000 per double cabin, but people have written here that they have changed that.

48 minutes ago, CruisinBanka said:

Celebrity gift cards can only be use for new bookings, including final payment Gift card amount caps out at $1000 per cabin.

I believe that this policy has changed.  There has been discussion on this board about it and I know that you can use the gift cards after you have booked.  I don’t trust what Celebrity tells you.  My cruise is a way off.  I will call them again before I buy more than the $500. I purchased for a solo cabin.  

I have been on 1 NCL and maybe 4 Princess.  Not much of a sampling, but I felt as though I was being nickeled and dimed on the NCL.  My most recent Princess was 1/22 and we had a great customer service and food experience.

Celebrity is being greedy.  If a casino in Vegas were to be non smoking,  gamblers could go next door to another.  Where can they go on the ship?  They can’t!  Celebrity doesn’t want them to take a vape break cause they might toddle off to a show and not return.  Just greedy!

25 minutes ago, Islander500 said:

For those who have been getting info directly from Celebrity, is it confirmed that the Apex will only be in drydock for the short period between 10/23/24 and 11/9/24 when the TA is now scheduled? 

I am booked on the Apex departing Lisbon 11/9/24.

Just to clarify, we are now able to pay for the entire cruise with gift cards?  I know that this was not the case with Celebrity as I called several months ago and was told that we could only use $500. on a solo veranda.  I now understand that this has changed.  Please let me know if that is correct.  ThankYou.

33 minutes ago, zitsky said:

Also a lot of drinking and sex, if you believe the reviews.

Most Americans enjoy drinking and sex while making a lot more $!

3 hours ago, grandgeezer said:

That’s because it’s not for 99% of the people in the U.S. Who in their right mind would take a job that you have to abandon your family and friends for six months or longer, work seven days a week, up to twelve hours a day unless the money was substantially more than they could make at home? When I first started out I had a job that paid big bucks but it required me to travel a lot, sometimes for two weeks, or longer. When I met the girl of my dreams, I quit, and found a job that paid less money but allowed me to stay home. That was only about 54 years ago.

As far as the ONE American who wrote the book, what was her job? I’m guessing it wasn’t a room steward, a drink server or any of what I would call manual laborers.

If I recall, RCL has a ship that just does Hawaii and is flagged in the U.S. If so, they have to abide by our laws that cover wages, hours worked, etc. They might have Americans doing the manual labor jobs.

The American that wrote the book started in a very low level ( I think waiter) and moved up.  He did it for a non American girl that worked on the ship.  It tells of the hard work and long hours.  That is why you will not find Americans working on ships.

5 hours ago, grandgeezer said:

In many cases you are providing some of them with an extravagant life style. We’ve talked to many crew members who are highly educated, college degreed, and they said they make much more money working on a cruise ship than the could at home working in a job that needed their degree to get.

5 hours ago, grandgeezer said:

In many cases you are providing some of them with an extravagant life style. We’ve talked to many crew members who are highly educated, college degreed, and they said they make much more money working on a cruise ship than the could at home working in a job that needed their degree to get.

5 hours ago, grandgeezer said:

In many cases you are providing some of them with an extravagant life style. We’ve talked to many crew members who are highly educated, college degreed, and they said they make much more money working on a cruise ship than the could at home working in a job that needed their degree to get.

That probably depends on where “home” is for them!  Have you encountered any Americans working on ships that say it’s better than the job they could get at home?  Doubtful.  There was one American that worked on a cruise ship and wrote a book about it.  It was very interesting, but it certainly did not sound glamorous or lucrative.  The book is Cruise Confidential.

I will be going on my first Celebrity next year.  I always give a cash tip in addition to the auto gratuities.  I assume that each employee I tip gets to keep theirs.  What would be the point of tipping dining room personnel in white envelopes?  Can I get confirmation?

4 minutes ago, kywildcatfanone said:

I did not, sorry for the confusion.  I thought maybe you were referring to how this is good for those who don't buy the packages.  What I meant by that was packages are a huge profit stream for the cruise lines right now, and they are marketing them like crazy, and it's obviously working and people are happy with them.  For me, as someone who does not pay for them, I think it's keeping the cruise only cost down a bit, so to me it's a win/win/win for all involved.

The conversation on here seems to assume that all these AI prices are the same.  They are not and some are so “out of whack” that it defies math and or logic why anyone would do them and I would not do them for the good of the cruise line as they are not adding some of these crazy AI’s for the good of the customers.  They need to be looked at individually.

1 hour ago, gfkcruiser said:

Error in pricing?

It makes no sense.  I have seen them makes other errors the other way and there are discussions on here about them not honoring the price that was initially booked.

1 hour ago, janetmojo said:

We like Lisbon Riders for private and group tours.

Thank you very much

5 hours ago, janetmojo said:

We are staying in Lisbon for three night between Celebrity Cruises this summer and have booked a private tour for just the two of us for the day in Lisbon if anyone would like to join us (like another couple?)  I hope this is allowed since I can't really figure out what group to post in to see who might be in Lisbon for a cruise during that time. (I know technically this isn't allowed but since we aren't cruising to Lisbon I don't want to post this in a ton of different threads??)

Sorry, but I will not have that situation until 2024.  I wondering who you booked for the private tour as I will also be in search of one next year.  Thank you.

I’m only very slightly impressed with the response because of the extremely poor manner in which our Apex 11/3/24 cruise was canceled.  Nobody knew nothing and it was next to impossible to convince them that the cruise was canceled even after I told them that I got the letter from Celebrity.  That being said, it is sad that they have set my expectations so low.

Here is my communication……

1 hour ago, micruiser2002 said:

If someone plans to buy the drink package separate anyways then this is a good deal.  The difference in price is still better than buying each perk individually.  It has nothing to do with whether someone would drink that much or not, it is whether a person wants all of those perks.  Also with the price of drinks onboard it is not very hard for a lot of people to spend that much in a day especially on a TA with all of those sea days.

It is not better than buying a drink pkg.  I did the math.  It is pretty insane!

6 minutes ago, CruiseCrew123 said:

Or someone who likes nice coffees , smoothies and sparking water . It’s not all about the alcohol 

If you back out premium Wi-Fi and gratuities.  That leaves about $1800 for drinks if they do give you $400 OBC.  Maybe some could drink it, but hard to believe too many would find this AI price enticing. 

9 minutes ago, D. B. said:

A heavy drinker could get their moneys worth on a 16 night cruise?

I did the math.  It would have to be very heavy!

This is from an email offer I received today for a16 nightTransatlantic11/23.  It has an additional $400.  OBC.  Who might buy the AI?  It makes no sense to me, but I am very curious if anyone else find this appealing.

I will be in Lisbon, Porto, and Ponta Delgado 11/24.  I know that there are steep cobble stone type streets.  Being that we are both seniors I’m thinking we might be best off with a private tour.  I am not fond of cruise ship excursions.  Has anyone used an excursion operators in any of those places?

14 minutes ago, alyssamma said:

This is why I called 2x. The second time the rep told me no, and I said I heard it changed last month. He put me on hold for about 10min, came back and apologized and said yes, the policy has changed.

Very scary that nobody there knows nothing.  Fortunately, my cruise is not for over a year, so I can see what happens.  Thank you fo4 the news!

6 minutes ago, alyssamma said:

Called again and got confirmation from a second rep...WooHoo!

 

Other restrictions still apply though...so basically just the cruise far and nothing else (including the deposit). But that's great news IMHO

I have just had a poor Celebrity experience regarding our Apex cruise which was to be 113/24 and was canceled.  We are now rebooked on the Apex, 11/9/24.  They insisted for days that our cruise was not canceled after Celebrity sent out letters stating that it was.  The lack of knowledge of what was happening by Celebrity employees was astounding and although I am happy about this gift card news, I am skeptical.  Be careful!