Can anyone explain please?

[Nancy48]

Hi, we are new to Celebrity so have been reading these boards avidly for some time. We are booked on a Constellation EasternMediterranean cruise next June, which seems to be almost booked solid. When we booked we were told we could only have Select Dining as both sittings were already full. This suited us fine and as our package also included pre paid tips we didn't anticipate a problem. At first the website showed us as Select and the two sittings as wait listed. Now, however the two sittings are available and Select sometimes says that we are wait listed for Select and sometimes says we are booked for Select.

 

Not sure why this is happening, is it something we should chase up, or is this another example of the Celebrity website not being very good?

 

Thanks for some really informative postings, these boards are so helpful.

Nancy

[CHEZMARYLOU]

It's probably just Celebrity's web site but you should check with them or your travel agent to confirm that you have the seating that you want. Even if you have traditional dining you can prepay your tips which you are not really paying because they are being offered as a perk.

[az_tchr]

Not sure why anyone would book using the website. Also if you are under 30 days since your booking suggest giving a big box TA a call and see what they will offer you to transfer your reservation. We usually book on board and then transfer. The TA usually gives us something in the 10% of OBC (refundable). They can also wait list you for dining preferences. In 15 cruises or so with X we have never not received our preference for dining - did sometimes need to wait until we boarded.

[SAC69]

It's probably Celebrities website not jibing with their new, but not public, policy to default all dining requests to select by stating all seating times are sold out. This has happened to me on my upcoming March sailing on Reflection. If you don't receive prepaid gratuities as a perk you are automatically told all seating times are sold out, even a year in advance. This is because they do not want you using any OBC for tips because if you did that would be 100% out of Celebrities pocket. They want you only to use OBC on things that already have their profit built in. Your seating would be released the day after you prepay the tips at final payment. It should not matter in your case however since it's a perk.

[cruiserhal]

Nancy,

 

Unfortunately we have learned not to depend on the information supplied by Celebrity or Royal Caribbean web sites. Very sad but true.

 

If you booked with a travel agent just call them because they seem to have a magic :) phone number and can get to talk to people who know what the true answers are.

 

Enjoy your cruise. Celebrity as been our preferred line for many years now.

 

Hal