New Celebrity Promotion (1, 2, 3 Go !) Returns March 15, 2013

[jerseylily]

Hi Tjar - the transpacific commencing 4th October was originally on the 123 list (early last week) and has been booked with the offer by at least 1 on the roll call. If you have already booked and want to upgrade to 123 you need to be aware that the cruise appears to be nearly full (I am booked on it and have a look now and then) hence you are not seeing it listed now. I am not sure have that will affect your chances on this one (I am UK so there is nothing on offer for me)

[vonnie1964]

I was very excited when I saw this online yesterday but in checking the T&C on the Australian Celebrity website it was pretty clear I could not cancel & re-book my cruise for the deal as follows:

 

"Offer is not applicable to bookings made prior to the sale period (Offer, Booked or Courtesy Hold status). Any existing booking which is cancelled at any time and then rebooked for same ship and sailing within the offer period, will not be eligible for the promotion."

 

I am on a panama canal cruise and don't have other options but good luck to those of you that do. I am still hoping they have the anticipated (?) January 10% off on the drink packages.

 

:)

Thanks for clearing and finding that out , I too booked last

sept for our July 13 Europe cruise and I am really cranky that we can't get this offer. We too are from Australia.

I did ask my travel agent and he wasn't that helpful in trying. I thought I could cancel and re book but your comments just confirm that we can't . Thanks oh well I too am hoping there is a 10 percent discount just don't know when they will offer it ,will have to keep an eye out on cruise critic

[chrishb]

Thanks for clearing and finding that out , I too booked last

sept for our July 13 Europe cruise and I am really cranky that we can't get this offer. We too are from Australia.

I did ask my travel agent and he wasn't that helpful in trying. I thought I could cancel and re book but your comments just confirm that we can't . Thanks oh well I too am hoping there is a 10 percent discount just don't know when they will offer it ,will have to keep an eye out on cruise critic

 

It would only be fair if Celebrity would offer a dedicated beverage package promotion for their customers outside the US, who are not equally treated like their US customers within the 123 promotion. But I guess they won´t run such a promotion short term for their "second class" guests.

[vonnie1964]

Hi Kenorus,

 

Here's the link : http://www.celebritycruises.com/genericHtmlTemplate.do?pagename=choose_your_offer

 

Hi Andy would you also be able to let us know if Celebrity offer a 10 % discount on the beverage package ,seeing we were unlucky on not getting this offer because we booked earlier. At least 10 % is better than nothing grrrr

[charben]

hi monicjay, we are in the same boat we booked and paid for our cruise 1 week b/4 offer started. I rang celebribty UK office and they didnt know anything about it. So have just emailed them and hoping to get a better reply.As you can imaging we are a bit upset about the offer as we didnt get any special deals when booking. Let me know how you get on, thanks Nina

Edited January 28, 2013 by charben

[charben]

@HostAndy, @Wisisato and others:

Quote:

Thanks for your update Wisisato. That is exactly what I am thinking. It´s really a shame for an international company how differently they treat their customers. I hope that Celebrity Management reassess their attitude, otherwise I will definitely never cruise them again. As said other cruise lines have also nice new ships and interesting routes.

 

I do agree and it's now in writing NON US or UK customers are second class. Prices are higher and offers less. Interesting case for lawyers

we are Uk passengers and first time with celebrity, and after being told by the Uk office that American passengers get better deals we will not be booking again with this company either.

[Karynanne]

we are Uk passengers and first time with celebrity, and after being told by the Uk office that American passengers get better deals we will not be booking again with this company either.

 

It is unfortunate that UK customers aren't offered the same promotions as US customers, but I wonder how many UK based cruiselines offer promotions that US cruiselines do not? Just curious...

[Tampa Jim]

Folks in the UK get better deals on European cruises than US residents do. IMO, it is everyone's turn eventually ... good and bad.

[tjar13]

Jerseylilly,

 

Our cruise on Millenium departs Honolulu (for Sydney) on 2 November 2013 and according to my TA ,who specialise in Celebrity, advised that 123 is not available for this cruise, well for Aussie bookings anyway

 

123 is not available for Solstice cruises in Aust waters , however upgrades from Inside to Balcony are free, however the "Inside" price on Solstice ( Honolulu to Sydney ) is similar to Balcony price on Mellenium for a similar cruise the following month. "smoke and mirrors me thinks"

[eadien7]

It is unfortunate that UK customers aren't offered the same promotions as US customers, but I wonder how many UK based cruiselines offer promotions that US cruiselines do not? Just curious...

 

 

It is, but you don't have to pay exorbant (sp) air prices to get to the port. I think it may be celebrity's way to get us yanks to Europe. My airfare is more half the price of the cruise.

[Ex-Airbalancer]

It is, but you don't have to pay exorbant (sp) air prices to get to the port. I think it may be celebrity's way to get us yanks to Europe. My airfare is more half the price of the cruise.

On our TA, A1 is $999, ( no 123 promo) our airfare from Toronto to Fort Lauderdale , Rome to Toronto , $706

Last Summer , Greek island A2, $1200, air fare to Rome and back is $900

 

What is the cost of airfare of London to Rome $19 ?

 

Also I seen Downton Abby , I know how the rich Brits live :eek:

[spkinva]

Just booked cabin 1601 on the Eclipse 14 night cruise in 2014. We took them up on the special "1-2-3-go" and got the free beverage package. Yippee! and we are upgrading to the premium package... Cheers!

[north49th]

Congratulations!

 

The Eclipse last February was our first cruise and I'm afraid that she spoiled us for any future cruises on other ships. She's a fine lady with a great crew.

 

I'd say have a great time but, IMHO, it's a given on the Eclipse!

[wisisato]

On our TA, A1 is $999, ( no 123 promo) our airfare from Toronto to Fort Lauderdale , Rome to Toronto , $706

Last Summer , Greek island A2, $1200, air fare to Rome and back is $900

 

What is the cost of airfare of London to Rome $19 ?

 

Also I seen Downton Abby , I know how the rich Brits live :eek:

 

This discussion is leading to nowhere now.

Flights over the Pond are expensive, would not say that we have a special offer for our TA starting in FLL in April: 1A balcony 2592 EUR or 3470 USD and flight to FLL and back from Barcelona are 750 EUR pP or 1000 USD! Mmmhm, who makes the better deal? It is not the cruisers from Europe...and do not forget the drink package with 1500 USD.

Greetings from Germany

[harz99]

Jerseylilly,

 

123 is not available for Solstice cruises in Aust waters , however upgrades from Inside to Balcony are free, however the "Inside" price on Solstice ( Honolulu to Sydney ) is similar to Balcony price on Mellenium for a similar cruise the following month. "smoke and mirrors me thinks"

 

Having followed this thread for a long time now, and having seen/read the various posts comparing before 123 and after/with 123 prices, I would have to agree with you. It seems some lucky cruisers at the beginning of the promotion may have got a good deal, but increasingly prices have been jacked up to cover the drinks package et al, so no deal, just a marketing con.

 

I will stick to doing what I normally do - either booking as early as possible on board ship for a specific cruise/booking via a pre purchased future cruise certificate, OR taking advantage of any last minute deals TAs are offering.

 

One thing I do wish though, is that the RCCL family would get it's act together and publish it's cruise programmes earlier - I can look at Port schedules for say Sydney and see when certain ships will be there in 2015, so the plans are there, they just don't want us to know!

[generichandle]

A few things about 1,2,3:

 

The obvious price difference for those cruises taking it to those cruises not qualified ..... the cost of a certain Northern Europe cruise read like this. I: $1199, O:$2299, B:2699, S: 3499. Note the huge difference between unqualified inside and qualified outside. Just previous to the promo: I: $1299, O: $1499, B: $1899, s:$2699. I have e-mails still in my list for both. They obviously are simply making up for the promo by raising prices on qualified rooms.

 

But! I was one of the lucky ones :) who got in the 1st few days. My Black Sea outside [on an internet TA] was $1349 with ALL three options. Nice! It is now $2399 with 2 options on Celebrity. *dance*

 

When I was on the Caribbean Princess TransAtlantic, I visited the onboard sales rep. I asked about prices for Australia/NZ. Then I asked why Aussies did not get a similar price. She said simply "supply and demand". She said Aussies WILL pay more, and therefor cruise lines WILL charge more. The markets have been tested extensively. The only way for Aussies to get more reasonable prices is for them to refuse the higher ones. I did not ask but assume the same is true for Brits. Sorry about that. Maybe an organized boycott, though I have no idea how to organize it ......

 

Doug

[harz99]

A few things about 1,2,3:

 

The obvious price difference for those cruises taking it to those cruises not qualified ..... the cost of a certain Northern Europe cruise read like this. I: $1199, O:$2299, B:2699, S: 3499. Note the huge difference between unqualified inside and qualified outside. Just previous to the promo: I: $1299, O: $1499, B: $1899, s:$2699. I have e-mails still in my list for both. They obviously are simply making up for the promo by raising prices on qualified rooms.

 

But! I was one of the lucky ones :) who got in the 1st few days. My Black Sea outside [on an internet TA] was $1349 with ALL three options. Nice! It is now $2399 with 2 options on Celebrity. *dance*

 

 

Doug

 

Hi from another Doug; well done you are one of the lucky ones. What you have said above proves the point I made earlier.

 

I now almost feel sorry for all those North Americans who think they got a bargain, and all those not on Cruise Critic who also will think they got a bargain. The saying " if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true" comes to mind.

[biggerbearmom]

In December I had looked into booking a 2013 Thanksgiving cruise on the Reflection. The quote for a Veranda was $1149. I decided to wait on booking and just booked yesterday for the same price I would have paid in December. I took the drink package...doesn't seem like such a bad deal to me.

Edited January 29, 2013 by biggerbearmom

[Cruise Junky]

Hi from another Doug; well done you are one of the lucky ones. What you have said above proves the point I made earlier.

 

I now almost feel sorry for all those North Americans who think they got a bargain, and all those not on Cruise Critic who also will think they got a bargain. The saying " if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true" comes to mind.

 

No need to feel sorry for us. Some do our homework on pricing and know exactly what the cost was before the promotion. My cruise price didn't move. There are also websites that track cruise pricing so anyone can openly see what the prices were on any given date. Don't get me wrong, some went up...but a lot stayed the same.

[nijh]

Hi from another Doug; well done you are one of the lucky ones. What you have said above proves the point I made earlier.

 

I now almost feel sorry for all those North Americans who think they got a bargain, and all those not on Cruise Critic who also will think they got a bargain. The saying " if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true" comes to mind.

 

 

Don't forget those who are getting the package even after final payment - like the people on the cruise I'm going on. Cost to them for the Premium Package $172, cost to me $909. :mad:

 

That's over $2200 extra for the 3 of us travelling. We're not talking a small perk available to a minority of the client base with this; it's big money with seemingly only the UK excluded.

 

I'm finding it very difficult balancing paying that extra with the idea of booking with X again next year.

[flames9]

Hi from another Doug; well done you are one of the lucky ones. What you have said above proves the point I made earlier.

 

I now almost feel sorry for all those North Americans who think they got a bargain, and all those not on Cruise Critic who also will think they got a bargain. The saying " if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true" comes to mind.

 

Let me see... I had booked before.....My cabin went up 100 pp. So for $200, I now get a Free Classic drink pkg and my gratuities paid for, AND I get to keep the $500 OBC my TA gave me! Sucks to be me!!

 

But I am guessing many in the UK do not have the $3500 airfare bill that we have, coming from Nicaragua!!

[stellarose]

For us the 123 saved us almost 400 dollars. We upgraded to OV for 200 more for bev package on 123 deal. Bev package is worth almost 600 dollars.

[nijh]

But I am guessing many in the UK do not have the $3500 airfare bill that we have, coming from Nicaragua!!

 

But I do have the airfare from the UK to Chile and FLL back to the UK; the offer isn't just for European sailings.

[doodlefan]

We were able to get the drink package for our girls' cruise in three weeks. We got it after final payment and our room had gone down $10.:eek: We got the drinks packages for the four of us, 2 in each room.

 

We were also able to pay the $100 pp more for our European cruise that the balcony went up, so for a total of $200, we got a drink package each for 11 nights and $300 OBC, which covers the extra $200 we had to pay AND we come out ahead $100 and free drinks for an 11 nights cruise. :p

 

We also booked the Summit for next spring 2014, the price was the same as it has been for the last 2 months or so, we booked at that price so now we have a balcony, prepaid gratuities (from our TA) and the drink packages. Cant' beat that. Especially when we were looking at that cruise for the same price without prepaid grats and drink packages. It really brings down the cost when tips are paid and you have no bar bill too.

 

While some cruise price are definitely inflated now, especially the European cruises in the summer, (where you get all 123 offers), many have stayed the same. It's all a matter of knowing your prices to know whether you really got a deal or just paid for the drinks package within the inflated room price.

 

ME???? I'm a happy camper right now. :D

[Virga]

Hi from another Doug; well done you are one of the lucky ones. What you have said above proves the point I made earlier.

 

I now almost feel sorry for all those North Americans who think they got a bargain, and all those not on Cruise Critic who also will think they got a bargain. The saying " if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true" comes to mind.

 

lol, almost. Except I'm grateful to people who aren't price hawks like myself, because they pad the bottom line so lines can afford to keep offering deals to those of us who keep a close eye on prices.

 

 

The fact that pricing changes have varied so much - with, as near as I can tell, very little rhyme or reason - makes me wonder if they are trying to get a feel for what people consider to be 'good value' for a much more all inclusive cruise.