Go Stupid, Stupid-er, Stupid-est. My offer to you...

[Cruise Junky]

For a 7 day cruise, the premium drink package is $455, the OBC is $150, the tips are $91 and the Internet is $125. This is per person. I did the math.

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk

 

You're looking at the best package which does work out, especially for a 7 day cruise. It's the go better that doesn't make any sense and makes less sense on a longer cruise because you're still paying $15 pp pd for the upgrade but the OBC doesn't increase.

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

In favor of which cruise line (if any), instead?

 

- Joel

 

I don't know. Maybe more land trips. River cruising. Haven't thought that far ahead. I'm fully subscribed for cruises through 2016 at the moment. Waiting to see what happens with BBB. And what the benefits (if any) of booking onboard will be.

 

Linda

 

[Can'tstopcruising]

Best deal, folks.....an inside cabin!

[Oville]

Best deal' date=' folks.....an inside cabin![/quote']

 

But many don't want an inside cabin. Interestingly enough we booked a cruise in a non-inside just before B3 that went down in price after the change. It maybe the exception and not the rule but it did.

 

To those who are comparing prices booked a year+ or even many months before B3, it doesn't make sense to say today's prices are more as fares do go up over time based on availability.

Edited July 25, 2015 by Oville

[Oville]

I don't know. Maybe more land trips. River cruising. Haven't thought that far ahead. I'm fully subscribed for cruises through 2016 at the moment. Waiting to see what happens with BBB. And what the benefits (if any) of booking onboard will be.

 

Linda

 

 

Linda, as you may recall we took a land trip last September and loved it so much we are doing it again this year. Maine, here we come right after Labor Day.

 

Katie

[AtleeH]

Exactly. All customers must know that Celebrity, like the other cruise lines, never makes changes like going to BBB for the benefit of the customers. It's always done to benefit Celebrity's bottom lone.

 

Nothing more, nothing less.

 

With the new pricing method, all a passenger can do is decide if the new price is still worth paying to go on what ever cruise is selected.

 

 

....

 

This pricing scheme is for the advantage of Celebrity...NOT for the advantage of the customer...

 

...

 

[Grandma Gilly]

I have been following this thread with great interest.

Whichever way you look at things, you are HAVING to take something you may not want unless you book an inside cabin.

[FreestyleNovice]

You're looking at the best package which does work out, especially for a 7 day cruise. It's the go better that doesn't make any sense and makes less sense on a longer cruise because you're still paying $15 pp pd for the upgrade but the OBC doesn't increase.

 

Thanks for your usefull post (from a less experienced X booker trying to find out the BBB "perks" :D )!

[Janet987]

Question, and please forgive me if it has already been discussed in either the Stupider or Bigger thread. Point me in the right direction if it has, but we almost always book last minute so I haven't read all the posts.

 

The Terms and Conditions of BBB read:

 

Offers exclude interior staterooms, are not combinable with any other offer, promotion or discounted rate, including, but not limited to, Book & Go, Exciting Deals, Celebrity’s ChoiceAir, Interline, Senior, resident, net rates, travel agent, and employee rates.

 

Doesn't this mean X will continue to discount both before and after final payment; with lower fares as they do now, and without the BBB? If five months before sailing the sales of verandas are far short of estimated, won't we still see senior and resident rates (both at a discount and without BBB) to move any slow selling class? And after final payment, anything goes. There are 22 sailings on Xciting Deals for next Tuesday. It would appear the only ones forced to take perks they may not want, are cruisers who book far ahead at "rack rates" for certain itineraries. Or take Choice Air without BBB. For anyone who thinks the new pricing structure is stupid, hold off purchasing then we can all continue to get the same discounted fares without BBB. ;) Or have I missed something??

 

Steve, Casino is the other top source of on-board revenue. Maybe one of the perks should have been $100 of chips and tokens for an extra $110.:rolleyes:

Edited July 25, 2015 by Janet987

[Janet987]

Checked a number of December sailings in the Caribbean. The green "special offer" banner is on many classes for many sailing and ships. The first page has the three BBB offers but under those three blocks is:

Want to see if you qualify for a different discount?

That links to the usual senior, military, CC, etc. page. Some of the resulting discounts were worth foregoing the Big price, though it was re-offered as an OBC for the same net price.

Edited July 25, 2015 by Janet987

[Iamcruzin]

Question, and please forgive me if it has already been discussed in either the Stupider or Bigger thread. Point me in the right direction if it has, but we almost always book last minute so I haven't read all the posts.

 

The Terms and Conditions of BBB read:

 

 

 

Doesn't this mean X will continue to discount both before and after final payment; with lower fares as they do now, and without the BBB? If five months before sailing the sales of verandas are far short of estimated, won't we still see senior and resident rates (both at a discount and without BBB) to move any slow selling class? And after final payment, anything goes. There are 22 sailings on Xciting Deals for next Tuesday. It would appear the only ones forced to take perks they may not want, are cruisers who book far ahead at "rack rates" for certain itineraries. Or take Choice Air without BBB. For anyone who thinks the new pricing structure is stupid, hold off purchasing then we can all continue to get the same discounted fares without BBB. ;) Or have I missed something??

 

Steve, Casino is the other top source of on-board revenue. Maybe one of the perks should have been $100 of chips and tokens for an extra $110.:rolleyes:

You are correct the rules seem to be the same as the 123go and pick your perk promos. However many like to book early to secure their room choice or because some itineraries have a history of selling out or spiking in price.I booked a cruise 18months out for the first time because I had been watching the price of a particular itinerary for the past 2 years. Year two pricing was completely different than year one. The prices in 2015 were $200 more than the prices for 2014 and 2016 for the same sailing date and room category so I booked 2016 with the all inclusive offer for CC and up. My C2 category sold out a year before sailing and the prices for the same week in 2015 were still $200 more only 30days before sailing than what I am paying in 2016. The 2015 last minute price didn't even include any perks. I believe the lowest price for 2015 a week out was the same as what I am paying without perks.

 

Personally judging by the two threads and my own personal feelings I don't think the BBB will have the same positive results in bookings as the promotions did. Promotions create a sense of urgency and prompt people to book because they don't want to miss a deal if they have any intensions of booking a particular cruise. This new pricing isn't a promotion it's the price with a choice of an add on included in the price. I have no sense of urgency to book until I have checked out pricing and promotions for similar itineraries on other lines. I'm not elite, elite plus, or whatever on any cruise line so I'm only loyal to the money in my wallet. I feel sorry for those who bought into the whole loyalty program. Now not only are they seeing declines in a product that they enjoyed they are now feeling deceived because the loyalty perks don't hold the same value.

[Cruzin Carol]

The charges for this are per person per day, so it only becomes an advantage on the shorter cruises. Go big is one item included. Go better is $15 per person per day. Go best is $45 per person per day. If you take the beverage package, and add go better for the OBC, it's only an advantage if the cruise is less than 10 days. I'm really surprised they priced it this way. Paying for go better makes no sense at all unless it's a shorter cruise.

[C-Dragons]

All this talk about being "forced" to buy unwanted perks is quite amusing. I guess most are just ignoring the fact that anytime you booked a cruise with "1,2,3Go!" or some variation of that promotion, you were "forced" to pay for it as it was figured into the price of the cruise. As has been said many times before, nothing is free.

X is a business, their goal is to provide a desirable product and increase profits. This new pricing structure may indeed be aimed at new cruisers, those who actually do see value in it. Not X's "loyal" highest ranking CC members who only want to pay the lowest price for a cabin, then not spend a dime more on board because they get all those "free perks". Wake up and smell the "free Cappuccinos", nothing has really changed, you've been paying for everything all along.

[TomBeckCruise]

Rather than getting lost in the thread that is already nearing 1,000 posts, I thought I'd start this new one...

 

We've already discussed how little sense the cost of the perks makes...

And I've long ago opined on how much worse it is for those of us in "Elite Plus" who get free pre-dinner drinks, free specialty coffees and 200 minutes of free internet anyway--further diluting any value to those perks...

 

But here, I just want to say something about the gross stupidity of Celebrity's presentation of these "Great Deals". They are letting you know they are screwing you. It's right out there, blatantly on their web page.

 

I recently returned home from my Galapagos cruise on Xpedition...and they unrolled this thing while I was gone...So, I finally got the chance to sit down and check out whether my options are improved or not on the two Celebrity Cruises I have booked for the coming year...

 

So, I first went to my March Silhouette cruise--7-night Caribbean...

It shows a price of $1249 for a balcony cabin--same as when I booked with the 123Go...I originally took the Drink package as the slightly better option (remember, for me, it's only really covering drinks I have outside of my free pre-dinner drinks and free coffees)...So, for me, this is really no change...

 

So, I thought, what about those "Go Better options"? Well, here is where it gets a little silly--It states "Add Go Better for only $105 per person...They offer, for example, "Free Gratuities". Well, for this 7 night cruise, those gratuities are worth only $90.65! ($12.95 per day pp)...So, with much fanfare, they are telling me that, for a mere $105, they will give me a perk worth a whole $90.65???

 

Why would anyone ever take that option?

 

But, at least it's somewhat hidden--You have to do the math to see what you've been offered...

 

But, then, I went to my July Spain/Portugal cruise...

There, when you go through the same exercise, you get to that perks page and, plain as day, they give you THIS option:

 

"$150 pp to spend onboard

Upgrade for only $195"

 

They are not even hiding it there...

They flat-out say "Pay us $195 and we'll give you back $150 in on-board credit!"

 

That is incredibly audacious!

 

Picture a big sign in your local Department store advertising "$150 Gift card now on sale for only $195"...

 

For anyone who thinks they are getting a great deal on this promotion, I'm making this one-time offer: Send ME $195 and I will send you $150 back...No strings attached...

In fact, I will do this with no limit...You can send me $390 and I will give you $300...and on from there in whatever multiples you wish...

And this offer is not for any nonrefundable credit...I will give you your perk in perfectly legal US Cash--that you can spend anywhere and in any fashion you wish.

 

Seems like a great offer.where do I send the check.

Honestly, the bean counters are laughing at this stuff. They. Might be nitpickers, but not stupid.

Edited July 25, 2015 by TomBeckCruise

[midwestchick]

Checked a number of December sailings in the Caribbean. The green "special offer" banner is on many classes for many sailing and ships. The first page has the three BBB offers but under those three blocks is:

Want to see if you qualify for a different discount?

That links to the usual senior, military, CC, etc. page. Some of the resulting discounts were worth foregoing the Big price, though it was re-offered as an OBC for the same net price.

 

 

What am I missing? Where are you seeing the green special offer banner? :confused:

 

There was just one A1 cabin open on our upcoming cruise, so I decided to price it out. It was substantially higher than what I paid and I do have the 123 perks.

There's no way I would pay X what they're charging for that cruise.

[jelayne]

WOW your airport only charges $5.75/day parking?:eek:

 

Yes. We use global airport parking. You park at a hotel near the airport and use the hotel shuttle to & from airport. Here prices range from $4.50 to $8-9 per night this way. Cheaper than the off airport lots which are $13 and the airport remote lots.

 

Seems like a win-win hotels make $ on parking spaces that would sit empty. Shuttle drivers have more passengers so more tips. Global airport parking is making $ from hotel and we save on parking.

[Janet987]

What am I missing? Where are you seeing the green special offer banner?

 

There was just one A1 cabin open on our upcoming cruise, so I decided to price it out.

 

Midwestchick,

If your cruise is almost sold out, a popular itinerary, then you may not see any special offers. But if you search for ones not selling well, you have the option to book without BBB. From the X website, Find a Cruise, I searched for only the month of December for Caribbean. View Offers. Almost every sailing, including Holiday ones, have a green banner over almost every class. First result page are the three BBB prices, but under is "Want to see if you qualify for a different discount?" Enter state, senior, military, CC etc. For Reflection Christmas cruise, the $1399 drops to $1149 with military.

Since we have Elite drinks and internet, and my on-line TA will likely give some OBC to pay for grats, saving $500 with a discounted price works out in this case. Discounted prices are still there without BBB, and well before sail date.

 

Signed, "loyal" CC member sipping my "free cappuccino". I didnt buy a 123Go and won't a BBB..doesnt matter what X calls it. :)

Edited July 25, 2015 by Janet987

[midwestchick]

Midwestchick,

If your cruise is almost sold out, a popular itinerary, then you may not see any special offers. But if you search for ones not selling well, you have the option to book without BBB. From the X website, Find a Cruise, I searched for only the month of December for Caribbean. View Offers. Almost every sailing, including Holiday ones, have a green banner over almost every class. First result page are the three BBB prices, but under is "Want to see if you qualify for a different discount?" Enter state, senior, military, CC etc. For Reflection Christmas cruise, the $1399 drops to $1149 with military.

Since we have Elite drinks and internet, and my on-line TA will likely give some OBC to pay for grats, saving $500 with a discounted price works out in this case. Discounted prices are still there without BBB, and well before sail date.

 

Signed, "loyal" CC member sipping my "free cappuccino". I didnt buy a 123Go and won't a BBB..doesnt matter what X calls it. :)

 

Thanks. I'll check it out. I have purchased 123 cruises but I won't be purchasing a BBB cruise at the current pricing. The 123 promo has worked out really well for us.

And yes, our upcoming cruise is a popular itinerary.

[travelberlin]

Best deal' date=' folks.....an inside cabin![/quote']

 

Yeap it looks that way... I am elite plus and in order to avoid all those perks in the BBB promotions at the inflated prices (nothing is free on those promotions), the only alternative seems to be, to book inside cabin:(

[grandgeezer]

Yeap it looks that way... I am elite plus and in order to avoid all those perks in the BBB promotions at the inflated prices (nothing is free on those promotions), the only alternative seems to be, to book inside cabin:(

 

You have two other options, try other cruise lines or don't cruise. After our cruises in December, we are going on a cruise hiatus and see how things unfold. This will be the first time in over two years we won't have at least two cruises booked. If we book them, we take them.

[midwestchick]

We've always had a balcony. I think before I book an inside cabin, I'll be looking at other cruise lines. :mad: :mad: :mad:

[Macadian]

Reminds me of the series of books "**** for Dummies". In this case, Deals for Dummies", literally. Having said that it's pretty academic for me these days as cruises may well be off the agenda until the Canadian dollar picks up against the US dollar, for new bookings. :(

[grandgeezer]

We've always had a balcony. I think before I book an inside cabin, I'll be looking at other cruise lines. :mad: :mad: :mad:

 

We feel the same way. Our first cruise was in an inside cabin, and because of it, it was almost our last. We moved up to an ocean view and everything was good. A few cruises later, we tried a balcony and now we wouldn't consider anything less.

[CathyCruises]

Yeap it looks that way... I am elite plus and in order to avoid all those perks in the BBB promotions at the inflated prices (nothing is free on those promotions), the only alternative seems to be, to book inside cabin:(

 

Nope, not true. Watch for resident rates, senior discounts, and exciting deals. You can get non-inside cabins at low prices without any perks.

 

Today a cruise I am watching is $1469 senior rate, or $1549 with $300 OBC per cabin. I assume that OBC could also be a bev pkg. (I think it defaults to OBC if you don't select anything else), so for $160 extra I get $300 OBC, not the greatest deal but not terrible.

 

However, I am a shareholder, so personally I'd be better off taking the lower price and getting my $250 OBC from shareholders credit. Then if I can get a TA to throw in free Grats, I'd be in pretty good shape. I should mention I am also Elite so don't need the drinks pkg.

 

All that said, I can't take this particular cruise, just following for interest and watching how the math plays out.

[RDC1]

Nope, not true. Watch for resident rates, senior discounts, and exciting deals. You can get non-inside cabins at low prices without any perks.

 

Today a cruise I am watching is $1469 senior rate, or $1549 with $300 OBC per cabin. I assume that OBC could also be a bev pkg. (I think it defaults to OBC if you don't select anything else), so for $160 extra I get $300 OBC, not the greatest deal but not terrible.

 

However, I am a shareholder, so personally I'd be better off taking the lower price and getting my $250 OBC from shareholders credit. Then if I can get a TA to throw in free Grats, I'd be in pretty good shape. I should mention I am also Elite so don't need the drinks pkg.

 

All that said, I can't take this particular cruise, just following for interest and watching how the math plays out.

 

Is the $1469 senior rate per person or per cabin (I haven't seen very many fares where the rate for two comes out with an odd number)? If it is per person then it would be $320 extra to get $300 OBC.