Recent upgrade after final payment experience

[JohnBoy in NC]

Recently went through an interesting set of upgrade after final payment experiences on Celebrity. End result - VERY Happy.

 

Originally scored a great deal on quad inside GTY cabin on Connie. Made final payment and then an even BETTER deal came up for a quad OceanView GTY. The price was actually lower than what I paid for my inside (by like $30 or something), but my TA got Celebrity to upgrade to OV GTY for the price I paid for my inside plus I got to add 1 Perk (GoBig!) - so I choose the $300 OBC since a 5 night sailing.

 

Next day I got two sets of friends and their kids to bounce on the incredible deals for quads GTYs (3/4 free, plus non-alcohol package and 40 internet min) that Celebrity had going on.

 

Then a week later I saw where for $70 more for my same OceanView GTY I could get the GoBetter! (adding one more perk)---Classic package for my wife and I. Here is what is interesting - TA said Celebrity would not give me the drink package for the $70 difference, but it would be $150 flat. I don't know where or how they pulled that number...but I ended up taking the offer. They had to apply some sort of coupon in their system for it to work and required supervisor approval, but I now see it under Order History in Manage my Reservation on celebrity website.

 

Of course I will take my TA paperwork onboard...but with 2 perks and a lot of TA OBC with an OV and 2 kids free - scored my best cruise deal ever!

 

Look forward to sailing Celebrity (two M-class sailings coming up)....and hope to sail an S-Class sometime later. I am a big Princess fan and I hope our friends experience a great time (they have only sailed Carnival/RCCL). Look forward to being able to contribute on the Celebrity boards once I have sailed them a few times. I appreciate all of the knowledge/experience that people have shared - really helps one plan!

 

John in NC

[chrismakris]

Recently went through an interesting set of upgrade after final payment experiences on Celebrity. End result - VERY Happy.

 

Originally scored a great deal on quad inside GTY cabin on Connie. Made final payment and then an even BETTER deal came up for a quad OceanView GTY. The price was actually lower than what I paid for my inside (by like $30 or something), but my TA got Celebrity to upgrade to OV GTY for the price I paid for my inside plus I got to add 1 Perk (GoBig!) - so I choose the $300 OBC since a 5 night sailing.

 

Next day I got two sets of friends and their kids to bounce on the incredible deals for quads GTYs (3/4 free, plus non-alcohol package and 40 internet min) that Celebrity had going on.

 

Then a week later I saw where for $70 more for my same OceanView GTY I could get the GoBetter! (adding one more perk)---Classic package for my wife and I. Here is what is interesting - TA said Celebrity would not give me the drink package for the $70 difference, but it would be $150 flat. I don't know where or how they pulled that number...but I ended up taking the offer. They had to apply some sort of coupon in their system for it to work and required supervisor approval, but I now see it under Order History in Manage my Reservation on celebrity website.

 

Of course I will take my TA paperwork onboard...but with 2 perks and a lot of TA OBC with an OV and 2 kids free - scored my best cruise deal ever!

 

Look forward to sailing Celebrity (two M-class sailings coming up)....and hope to sail an S-Class sometime later. I am a big Princess fan and I hope our friends experience a great time (they have only sailed Carnival/RCCL). Look forward to being able to contribute on the Celebrity boards once I have sailed them a few times. I appreciate all of the knowledge/experience that people have shared - really helps one plan!

 

John in NC

 

Great get! See that you're doing Summit. Make sure you do Normandie before the restaurant is removed during her drydock.

[JFontaine]

Sounds good. You do know that for a 5% fee you can pull that OBC from the casino as cash? Bring down the cost of the trip even more.

[JohnBoy in NC]

Great get! See that you're doing Summit. Make sure you do Normandie before the restaurant is removed during her drydock.

 

Yeah...another couple is going on this cruise with us and they have already booked QSuine...which I want to do but they did it on formal night...so hmmmm. I saw where Normandie is going away for Tuscan Grille...if they offer a good discount we may try it...I guess the Connie cruise will give us a taste of what to expect in the MDR.

 

I take it you had a great experience at Normandie? Looks like a nice place/romantic.

 

Thanks!

John

[JohnBoy in NC]

Sounds good. You do know that for a 5% fee you can pull that OBC from the casino as cash? Bring down the cost of the trip even more.

 

I do - but have 3 of my kids on the cruise (my son rooming with his friend) so the $300 Celebrity OBC will be used for grats for 5 people!...and some of the TA OBC will probably be used for some pictures I bet.

 

Yes if the TA OBC shows up as nonrefundable then we will definitely visit the casino if we have any left on the last day. For my Summit cruise I have even more total OBC and with the Pick3 promo we will either be buying an ipad or getting cash from the casino! :)

 

John

[JFontaine]

Don't get your hopes up too high about the ipad - stock fluctuates and is often quite lousy when you are looking for the newest ...

 

Have a great cruise.

[JohnBoy in NC]

Don't get your hopes up too high about the ipad - stock fluctuates and is often quite lousy when you are looking for the newest ...

 

Have a great cruise.

 

yes I had read about this on the boards...we have a mini and would be ok with the current version and not the newest. I plan to price what is on the market in early January and if a decent model is on the ship...then maybe pull the trigger? My bride is chomping at the bit for a "nice" Christmas present of an ipad...and the Summit cruise is a total surprise---so I am going to hold her off if I can without spilling the beans as to why wait till later? :)

[chrismakris]

Yeah...another couple is going on this cruise with us and they have already booked QSuine...which I want to do but they did it on formal night...so hmmmm. I saw where Normandie is going away for Tuscan Grille...if they offer a good discount we may try it...I guess the Connie cruise will give us a taste of what to expect in the MDR.

 

I take it you had a great experience at Normandie? Looks like a nice place/romantic.

 

Thanks!

John

 

 

Qsine is good. If you choose to do it I would try to join your friends. Qsine is a venue that I believe is more enjoyable as a group though as you can fill up pretty fast as it is tapas style.

 

Normandie is true fine dining with table side cooking. If you do the whole spectrum of the menu(appy/salad/dinner/dessert/cheese) you're looking at a $250 dinner for 2 for $100. The service is wonderful and the food just as good.

[JohnBoy in NC]

Qsine is good. If you choose to do it I would try to join your friends. Qsine is a venue that I believe is more enjoyable as a group though as you can fill up pretty fast as it is tapas style.

 

Normandie is true fine dining with table side cooking. If you do the whole spectrum of the menu(appy/salad/dinner/dessert/cheese) you're looking at a $250 dinner for 2 for $100. The service is wonderful and the food just as good.

 

I don't know how I can be able to eat dinner at both places! Skip lunch? Normandie sounds nice....I will probably give it a try!

 

Thanks for the tips everyone!

[crilski]

LOL You're welcome John Boy! Now I wonder if I can score a second perk? See you on the Connie!

[JohnBoy in NC]

LOL You're welcome John Boy! Now I wonder if I can score a second perk? See you on the Connie!

 

YES thank you for the price alert and your upgrade story!!! We are both happy happy happy. Good luck on getting the 2nd perk!

 

BTW my friend was trying to do the same but waited too long I think...quad veranda gty gone for a few days now...and his price difference is now several hundreds of dollars in his category.

[junetraveler2014]

Great upgrade, have a really great cruise:D