New Celebrity Bundle Pricing (Go! Big, Go! Better, Go! Best)

[MicCanberra]

Thank You.

 

I guess my idea was that every Cruise line is changing this n that. It is not something that only Celebrity is doing. We have seen many things change since our 1st in 1987. But the overall on ship experience presented by Celebrity for what we have to pay, is better, IOHO, than what the others offer.

 

The lines copy each other's promotions and ideas. Is BBB a copy of blended ideas from others? It is starting to look like it.

 

I think you may be right, they need to stay competitive and if one particular strategy is working for a line then others will follow.:D

[ABoatNerd]

A fine good morning sailors:

 

Many of you have analyzed this substantive change to a high level, thank you.

 

May I ask for your advice please.

 

What pricing option is best for my circumstance described below - we are Elite so we utilize the breakfast and cocktail hour benefit which is more than plenty for us.

 

We are minimalist cruisers - not interested in the drink package nor the internet nor do we purchase anything on board. The MDR is fine as we eat out a lot for business reasons.

 

Your direction would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you kindly

 

ABoatNerd

[Iamcruzin]

A fine good morning sailors:

 

Many of you have analyzed this substantive change to a high level, thank you.

 

May I ask for your advice please.

 

What pricing option is best for my circumstance described below - we are Elite so we utilize the breakfast and cocktail hour benefit which is more than plenty for us.

 

We are minimalist cruisers - not interested in the drink package nor the internet nor do we purchase anything on board. The MDR is fine as we eat out a lot for business reasons.

 

Your direction would be greatly appreciated.

 

 

 

Thank you kindly

 

ABoatNerd

 

Need to know if you drink anything at all other than what included in the base fare such as soft drinks, juice, bottled water, or specialty coffee. Do you purchase cocktails outside of what is included in the elite benefit?

 

Do you book through a travel agent that offers on board credit or paid gratuity?

 

Do you purchase anything on board such as liquor, cosmetics, jewelry, spa treatments, excursions, pictures or gamble in the casino?

 

Do you book a cruise many months in advance or are you willing to take your chances on a last minute or exciting deal?

 

Do you choose select dining or traditional dining? The reason I ask is that gratuity needs to be paid at final payment if you chose select. Any OBC would not be able to be applied to that.

Edited July 9, 2015 by Iamcruzin

[Iamcruzin]

Don't look now, but the Parent line is moving an shaking things up too!

 

Guests can get unlimited internet for $15 per day, per device when purchasing multiple days for the remainder of the cruise.

 

Guests can add a second device and get 50% off the second device, for a total cost of $22.50 per day ($15 1st device + $7.50 2nd device).

 

Total cost for a 7-night cruise for one device is $105 or $157.50 for two devices.

 

The unlimited packages can also be pre-purchased in advance via Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner for sailings after August 1, 2015.

 

Guests can also purchase a daily package for $29.95 per day ($209.65 for 7-nights).

 

Unless they upgrade the internet service, unlimited internet could be just as much of a bust as overpaying for paid gratuity or for OBC. Zero service is still zero service even if it's unlimited. I wouldn't gamble with that choice either. Lucky my next cruise isn't until next May so I have plenty of time to read all about the good or not so good unlimited internet service. I have found that with each trip I take there seems to be more and more hot spots in port. My next trip is to Bermuda and they have an inexpensive internet service on the island. That will be more than I need on a 7 day cruise.

__________________

[JaneStarr]

Need to know if you drink anything at all other than what included in the base fare such as soft drinks, juice, bottled water, or specialty coffee. Do you purchase cocktails outside of what is included in the elite benefit?

 

Do you book through a travel agent that offers on board credit or paid gratuity?

 

Do you purchase anything on board such as liquor, cosmetics, jewelry, spa treatments, excursions, pictures or gamble in the casino?

 

Do you book a cruise many months in advance or are you willing to take your chances on a last minute or exciting deal?

 

Do you choose select dining or traditional dining? The reason I ask is that gratuity needs to be paid at final payment if you chose select. Any OBC would not be able to be applied to that.

Also need to know what category of cabin and length of voyage.

[GottaKnowWhen]

A fine good morning sailors:

 

Many of you have analyzed this substantive change to a high level, thank you.

 

May I ask for your advice please.

 

What pricing option is best for my circumstance described below - we are Elite so we utilize the breakfast and cocktail hour benefit which is more than plenty for us.

 

We are minimalist cruisers - not interested in the drink package nor the internet nor do we purchase anything on board. The MDR is fine as we eat out a lot for business reasons.

 

Your direction would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you kindly

 

ABoatNerd

 

Sounds like you don't need anything extra, don't want anything extra. So don't pay for anything extra. Pay base price, Big, take the OBC option and use the OBC for occasional drinks or souvenirs or whatever. Or let it expire unused at the end of the cruise. Or, do a repositioning cruise, the BBB model does not apply, and you don't even need to be burdened by the OBC.

[TourDeCruise]

What pricing option is best for my circumstance described below - we are Elite so we utilize the breakfast and cocktail hour benefit which is more than plenty for us.

 

We are minimalist cruisers - not interested in the drink package nor the internet nor do we purchase anything on board. The MDR is fine as we eat out a lot for business reasons.

 

Sounds like you don't need anything extra, don't want anything extra. So don't pay for anything extra. Pay base price, Big, take the OBC option and use the OBC for occasional drinks or souvenirs or whatever. Or let it expire unused at the end of the cruise. Or, do a repositioning cruise, the BBB model does not apply, and you don't even need to be burdened by the OBC.

 

I agree with GottaKnowWhen unless ABoatNerd determines a need based on questions asked by JaneStarr or Iamcruzin or any other needs. Gratuities would work too. You can use "unused" OBC by going to the casino to cash out although they charge 5% of amount cashed or going to Guest Relations to apply additional gratuities for crew. No need to waste unused OBC.

[DYKWIA]

....

 

There is no value in the 2nd or Top Go! Option aside from convenience of paying (too much) up front [emoji43][emoji33][emoji30]

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

If they realise that people have cottoned on to the lack of value in some options they could make the basic option less attractive and start looking at other cruise lines for inspiration on how to push the better and best options....

Big could = no cabin selection - guarantee only - no dining time selection

Better and best options could include things like free port transfers, cabin choice, choice of dining times.

[CathyCruises]

A fine good morning sailors:

 

Many of you have analyzed this substantive change to a high level, thank you.

 

May I ask for your advice please.

 

What pricing option is best for my circumstance described below - we are Elite so we utilize the breakfast and cocktail hour benefit which is more than plenty for us.

 

We are minimalist cruisers - not interested in the drink package nor the internet nor do we purchase anything on board. The MDR is fine as we eat out a lot for business reasons.

 

Your direction would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you kindly

 

ABoatNerd

Your circumstances are similar to mine. I would watch for cruises that offer senior or resident discounts, and/or book after final payment date (generally 75 days out). Those are lower rates and do not qualify for the BBB promo.

I am watching one cruise right now that's is $1999 with one option, or $1569 with none. Since I am also Elite, and also a shareholder and can get OBC, the lower rate is perfect for me. Except that I am waiting for after final payment!!

On our last 14 night cruise, our total bill at the end was $62 after gratuities and all on board spending, one specialty restaurant included (@50% discount!)

[sginva]

If they realise that people have cottoned on to the lack of value in some options they could make the basic option less attractive and start looking at other cruise lines for inspiration on how to push the better and best options....

Big could = no cabin selection - guarantee only - no dining time selection

Better and best options could include things like free port transfers, cabin choice, choice of dining times.

 

From NCL

They are including inside cabins in their offers with choice of one perk

[Iamcruzin]

If they realise that people have cottoned on to the lack of value in some options they could make the basic option less attractive and start looking at other cruise lines for inspiration on how to push the better and best options....

Big could = no cabin selection - guarantee only - no dining time selection

Better and best options could include things like free port transfers, cabin choice, choice of dining times.

 

You would have to kill me because I would never agree to those terms. I noticed that Princess has finally caught on to the drink package perk when booking. I also noticed that the prices are still reasonable. They were one of the last lines to offer a drink package. I think it's only been available for about a year now. Stay tuned to see if they start bundling.

[OBX-Cruisers]

I am very curious to see how this new program will play out in future reviews from Celebrity cruisers. I am predicting that many (most?) people on the ship will choose the Classic beverage package because it is the best dollar value and can satisfy both alcohol and non-alcohol drinkers with the soda/water and specialty coffee options.

IF that happens, then the reviews about service will be the interesting part.

Bartenders and Al Bacio coffee barristas and servers were already stretched to the limit on our last two Celebrity cruises in Sept. 2014 and Jan. 2015 and that was with only a part of the cruisers on the drink packages.

The Classic package IS GOOD, but the service will become a major issue if they don't increase crew....and don't count on that!

[gsb]

, could be just as much of a bust as overpaying for paid gratuity or for OBC. .

__________________

 

What overpaying for gratuities? or OBC?:confused:

[ChucktownSteve]

Sounds like you don't need anything extra, don't want anything extra. So don't pay for anything extra. Pay base price, Big, take the OBC option and use the OBC for occasional drinks or souvenirs or whatever. Or let it expire unused at the end of the cruise. Or, do a repositioning cruise, the BBB model does not apply, and you don't even need to be burdened by the OBC.

 

Actually the best I see for a minimalist is to either take an inside or higher category using a senior/military/state discount which are not subject to BBB perks.

Edited July 9, 2015 by ChucktownSteve

[OBX-Cruisers]

Sorry, duplicate deleted

Edited July 9, 2015 by OBX-Cruisers
Duplicate

[Iamcruzin]

What overpaying for gratuities? or OBC?:confused:

 

At $15 dollars a day extra to upgrade to better you would be paying more than what the daily gratuity charge would be if you are booked in a category lower than a suite. At $15 dollars a day on an 11 day cruise you would be paying $165 for an OBC worth $150. The longer you cruise the more you lose. Maybe that should be their next slogan. The only other option is the unlimited internet which is worth zero if you can't logon to the server.

Edited July 9, 2015 by Iamcruzin

[gsb]

At $15 dollars a day on an 11 day cruise you would be paying $165 for an OBC worth $150. The longer you cruise the more you lose. Maybe that should be their next slogan. The only other option is the unlimited internet which is worth zero if you can't logon to the server.

 

You are correct--on a 7 day cruise you are paying $210 to get $300 OBC.

[ISABELLA]

I had compare few 10 days Caribbean cruises on X and Princess for April 2016 and 2017. Found that there is no big difference in price ( $150-$200 per cabin) overall with one perk $300 OBC on X and $300 OBC on Princess for the least expensive balcony, X is more for 2016 and Princess is more for 2017.

So there is definitely a choice of similar products available. Being Elite on Princess and Elite + on X - each loyalty programs have their good and useless benefits.

[ISABELLA]

You are correct--on a 7 day cruise you are paying $210 to get $300 OBC.

 

The longer you cruise the more you lose - LOVE IT.;)

[ORV]

Your circumstances are similar to mine. I would watch for cruises that offer senior or resident discounts, and/or book after final payment date (generally 75 days out). Those are lower rates and do not qualify for the BBB promo.

 

I missed the part where the BBB pricing goes away after final payment. Do you have a link to that?

 

Edit, from the FAQ concerning this promo;

 

"Can I book this pricing at any time?

You can book this pricing until 10 days prior to sailing."

Edited July 9, 2015 by ORV

[wwcruisers]

The longer you cruise the more you lose - LOVE IT.;)

 

LOL, Isabella! I had he same reaction. Maybe X could adopt this as the name of their next promo -- instead of "the grass is always greener"! ;)

[chamima]

You would have to kill me because I would never agree to those terms. I noticed that Princess has finally caught on to the drink package perk when booking. I also noticed that the prices are still reasonable. They were one of the last lines to offer a drink package. I think it's only been available for about a year now. Stay tuned to see if they start bundling.

 

And Princess has a choice where you can get OBC instead of the drink package AND it goes up according to the length of the cruise! )

In the event that the guest does not want the beverage package, alternative OBC amounts have been designated: Guests booking sailings 6-9 days can receive $150 per person. Guests booking sailings 10-12 days can receive $200 per person. Guests booking sailings 13+ days can receive $250 per person.

[ABoatNerd]

ABoatNerd thanks those that kindly posted to my query.

 

As minimalist cruisers, we take only 14 day cruises and only balcony 2A or B. We do not use any beverages other than provided via Elite. We do not book any services nor extra charge dining and do not buy any consumer items. We would qualify for the +55 age category.

 

We cruise to be on a ship as we are BoatNerds - we love the ship and the ocean - much less so the amenities and entertainment.

 

Based on people's amazing analysis - It seems that the new pricing strategy will result in a significant price increase for our household for the same basic Celebrity product that we have used before.

 

Cost increases to Celebrity in food etc, should be increasingly offset by the much lower cost of fuel. Cost increases for fares are not justified on cost alone.

 

We are not interested in "all inclusive" vacations because we have minimal needs and wants but we know they are very popular with many folks.

 

It seems Celebrity's new pricing philosophy is not for us

 

Thanks to all for your amazing analysis and support of all on this site

 

ABoatNerd

[chamima]

Starting at midnight EDT.

 

Don't miss our biggest offer ever! We are offering our All-Inclusive Beverage Package for FREE for the first two guests in a stateroom† plus much more on over 350 cruises starting May 2016 through the rest of the year! Explore the historic treasures of Europe, journey north to Alaska and relax in the Caribbean and Mexico. Don't miss this amazing cruise deal.

FREE All-Inclusive Beverage Package for two when you book a balcony, mini-suite or suite†

FREE Specialty Dining for two when you book a mini-suite or suite‡

Up to 50% off 3rd or 4th guest fares**

Reduced deposit of only $100 per person

 

† All-Inclusive Beverage Package is applicable to voyages and cruise fares advertised in this promotion only, valid only for guests one and two per stateroom, and is not applicable during the land portion of Land & Sea Vacations. The All-Inclusive Beverage Package includes beer, cocktails, spirits and glasses of wine up to $10, all non-alcoholic beverages including bottled water, coffee, tea, and espresso specialty drinks A 15% gratuity is included in the offer. In addition a 40% discount on bottles of wine under $100 (gratuity not included on wine bottles) The All-Inclusive Beverage Package does not include souvenir items, room service, vending machine or mini-bar items. The All-Inclusive Beverage Package is available to guests one and two, who are 21 years or older. Guests one and two who are under 21 will receive the Soda and More Package. The package will be applied to the cruise card pre-boarding in the form of a sticker. The All-Inclusive Beverage Package and Soda and More Package are non-transferable and do not follow guests who change promotions prior to cruising. The package may be used on a single voyage only, is not redeemable for cash at any point during the cruise and expires at the end of that voyage. Offer is not transferable and may not be combinable with other select offers or other onboard credits. Package type will be assigned prior to sailing based on age of guest. In the event that the guest does not want the beverage package, alternative OBC amounts have been designated: Guests booking sailings 6-9 days can receive $150 per person. Guests booking sailings 10-12 days can receive $200 per person. Guests booking sailings 13+ days can receive $250 per person.

 

**3rd or 4th guests up to 50% off is based on a discount off the third and/or fourth person fares in the same stateroom as first and second guests. Discount is taken at the time of booking and does not apply to Holiday voyages. Offer has limited space.

 

‡ Specialty Dining voucher is applicable to voyages and cruise fares advertised in this promotion only, valid only for guests one and two per stateroom, and is not applicable during the land portion of Land & Sea Vacations. Voucher will be delivered to the stateroom upon embarkation. Princess Cruises reserves the right to pre-assign Specialty Dining times. Voucher may be used on a single voyage only, is not redeemable for cash and expires at the end of that voyage. Offer is not transferable and may not be combinable with other select offers or other onboard credits. Specialty Dining voucher is quoted in U.S. dollars.

 

*Fares apply to minimum lead-in categories on a space-available basis at time of booking. Fares for other categories, sailings and cruisetours may vary. Fares are per person, non-air, cruise- or cruisetour-only, based on double occupancy and apply to the first two guests in a stateroom. Offer has limited space regardless of cabin availability. These fares do not apply to exclusive occupants or third/fourth-berth guests. Taxes, Fees and Port Expenses of $65-$360 are additional and subject to change. This offer may not be combinable with any other Casino offers, Air Promotions, public, group or past guest discount. Offer is available to residents of the 50 United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Bermuda and the District of Columbia who are 21 years of age or older and receive this offer. Deposits made under this promotion are refundable. Fares quoted in U.S. dollars. Please refer to princess.com for terms, conditions and definitions that apply to all bookings.

 

Offer expires: August 18, 2015. Reference promotion code: R7A

 

Princess sale

[DYKWIA]

You would have to kill me because I would never agree to those terms. .

 

P&O and Cunard offers the lower price / higher price options with restrictions if you pay the cheaper price

 

http://www.cunard.co.uk/fares-terms-and-conditions/early-saver/

 

P+O's is pretty similar but their select (higher) fare also includes free car parking and port shuttles.

 

http://www.pocruises.com/b523/mode-cabins/