The retreat

[hcat]

58 minutes ago, Sam.Seattle said:

Generally, after you have been onboard some staff members through out the ship will know where you are staying.  When boarding Celebrity if you are in a top suite, they will have your photos printed and will be looking for you when you are boarding. (at Fort Lauderdale in my personal experience).

 

Remember all the folks who wear their room card in a clear sleeve? Ever wonder why? 🤪

 

Cheers,

🍹

They used to also quietly seek out E plus guests and assist them off long lines in the hot sun when entry into the  terminal was delayed.. also provided extra waters..  

 

Now most perks go to suite guests who are paying top rates .

[Bruin Steve]

I always keep my card in my pocket...because that's where I usually go to find what I need even at home...my wallet, my car key, whatever...

My wife wears hers around her neck...not for anyone to see...I don't think she wants people to stare at  her chest...She does it because she wears a lot of clothes without pockets and doesn't carry her purse around onboard.

 

Over on Princess, they always put your names on a card at your cabin door...along with your Captains Circle status ...and it's color coded...So, you walk down the hall and, if you want, you can see who' Elite or Platinum or whatever...  Now that they've gone to the "Medallions"--which most wear around their neck--but they are tiny and the lettering is tinier...and it only gives your name, the ship and the sail date.  It comes with a lanyard and plastic holder...with a plain blue insert card with just a Princess logo...BUT, onboard or on the net before your cruise, you can buy changeable cardboard inserts to tell everyone what your "status" is!  Amazing how many of these they sell.

 

[blackshirt]

The amenities included with a retreat suite mention shore excursion credit. Anyone know how much of a credit? I can’t seem to find that anywhere. The different levels of OBC are listed but not the shore excursion credit.

[HskrCrsr]

4 minutes ago, blackshirt said:

The amenities included with a retreat suite mention shore excursion credit. Anyone know how much of a credit? I can’t seem to find that anywhere. The different levels of OBC are listed but not the shore excursion credit.

 

I believe Retreat cabins get the Indulge package, which comes with these OBC's:

Indulge- $200 1-5nights; $300 6-9 nights; $400 10 nights or more

 

Then I think that OBC is evenly split between standard OBC and Excursion OBC. See below:

[Sam.Seattle]

2 hours ago, C-Dragons said:

They wear them around their necks because it's the only way to carry them when their hands are full with a drink in one hand and a plate of food in the other.  😁

Of course that is the reason why! 
like my short and sweet response?

[Sam.Seattle]

2 hours ago, excitedofharpenden said:

Me thinks you are onto something!😉. I've seen it so many times. The lanyard of "do you know who I am? ". With me my key card will stay firmly in my pocket until I have to pay for something (or not as the case may be!). To some though it's a badge of honour to be worn proudly. 

 

Phil 

Phil, I so agree with you! Then there are some who will go into great detail to convince you otherwise.

Cheers

 

[blackshirt]

44 minutes ago, HskrCrsr said:

 

I believe Retreat cabins get the Indulge package, which comes with these OBC's:

Indulge- $200 1-5nights; $300 6-9 nights; $400 10 nights or more

 

Then I think that OBC is evenly split between standard OBC and Excursion OBC. See below:

 

Thanks for that. I had found those OBC amounts but nothing about being split between standard OBC and excursions. Just booked our first retreat, I see the OBC but nothing indicating any of it has to be used on excursions. I was hoping the excursion credit was extra but I guess not.

[George C]

1 hour ago, HskrCrsr said:

 

I believe Retreat cabins get the Indulge package, which comes with these OBC's:

Indulge- $200 1-5nights; $300 6-9 nights; $400 10 nights or more

 

Then I think that OBC is evenly split between standard OBC and Excursion OBC. See below:

We are getting 600 OBC for 7 days on our royal suite. Using mine for casino chips , celebrity gives you a ten percent bonus on chips

[HskrCrsr]

13 minutes ago, George C said:

We are getting 600 OBC for 7 days on our royal suite. Using mine for casino chips , celebrity gives you a ten percent bonus on chips

 

I think the OBC list above (Indulge- $200 1-5nights; $300 6-9 nights; $400 10 nights or more) is per person, so $600 for 7 nights if there are two people would be right in line with this. But half of that might be designated for excursions:

Good luck in the casino!

[Bruin Steve]

Cruise lines love to give out OBC as a perk.   Throughout history, a lot of people would use it for drinks or gambling...and both are extremely high profit areas for the cruise line.  Drinks cost them pennies on the dollar...and most gamblers (yes, a few win, but...most) just gamble until it's gone...

 

Of course, now...and especially with a suite...you are already paying for gratuities, drinks and wifi with your cruise fare...and, if you are in a suite, you can't even buy an upgrade on that...and, with Luminae, we already get the equivalent of a specialty restaurant--and upper suites get those as well.  With Elite Plus status, we even get free laundry...and, since we don't gamble, that leaves only shore excursions, spa and the gift shops in which to spend that OBC...

 

AND, we got $600 for each of our 7-night cruises...BUT, because of the promotions in effect when we booked our original cruises prior to lifting-and-shifting twice...and those that were offered for various reasons since, we are now up to $1750 in OBC on one cruise and $1250 on the other.  And it's impossible to use that all up in shore excursions.  We normally would have done private tours in port (which may or may not be allowed now), but, thanks to the OBC, it's pretty much guaranteed we will do shorexes...and my wife will just have to spend an at-sea day in the spa...and she could walk away with some gift shop jewelry.

 

All in all, it is smart for Celebrity to blend this into the fares, then give it back as OBC.  We're paying for it though it's less noticeable...and it guarantees we spend that money on the ship.

[George C]

3 minutes ago, Bruin Steve said:

Cruise lines love to give out OBC as a perk.   Throughout history, a lot of people would use it for drinks or gambling...and both are extremely high profit areas for the cruise line.  Drinks cost them pennies on the dollar...and most gamblers (yes, a few win, but...most) just gamble until it's gone...

 

Of course, now...and especially with a suite...you are already paying for gratuities, drinks and wifi with your cruise fare...and, if you are in a suite, you can't even buy an upgrade on that...and, with Luminae, we already get the equivalent of a specialty restaurant--and upper suites get those as well.  With Elite Plus status, we even get free laundry...and, since we don't gamble, that leaves only shore excursions, spa and the gift shops in which to spend that OBC...

 

AND, we got $600 for each of our 7-night cruises...BUT, because of the promotions in effect when we booked our original cruises prior to lifting-and-shifting twice...and those that were offered for various reasons since, we are now up to $1750 in OBC on one cruise and $1250 on the other.  And it's impossible to use that all up in shore excursions.  We normally would have done private tours in port (which may or may not be allowed now), but, thanks to the OBC, it's pretty much guaranteed we will do shorexes...and my wife will just have to spend an at-sea day in the spa...and she could walk away with some gift shop jewelry.

 

All in all, it is smart for Celebrity to blend this into the fares, then give it back as OBC.  We're paying for it though it's less noticeable...and it guarantees we spend that money on the ship.

Wife also always gets a message on our cruises.

[Shadow9612]

On 4/11/2021 at 10:24 AM, TeeRick said:

I book a suite because I have a lot of extra money to spend!😀

Now you have even more due to all the money saved from all the cruises that you couldn't take over the last 13 months  😉

[Shadow9612]

7 hours ago, zdad59 said:

Aw hell no !!!

What are those?  they look great!

 

[Bruin Steve]

1 minute ago, Shadow9612 said:

What are those?  they look great!

 

Antifreeze and Cream!

[zdad59]

1 minute ago, Shadow9612 said:

What are those?  they look great!

 

Frozen Blue Hawaiian.   Essentially a frozen Pina Colada with Blue Curacao in it.

[Shadow9612]

3 minutes ago, Bruin Steve said:

Antifreeze and Cream!

I'm glad  @zdad59 answered below otherwise the crew would have really been looking at me funny when I ordered antifreeze and cream 😜

2 minutes ago, zdad59 said:

Frozen Blue Hawaiian.   Essentially a frozen Pina Colada with Blue Curacao in it.

Looks good - and your description sounds a lot more exciting than the one from @Bruin Steve 🤪

[Cruise a holic]

We now always book a suite- it makes the experience so much more special.  We love the extra perks, luminae and especially of the Edge class the suite deck with great seating, a full bar, lunch if you wish, and great service.  They have a small pool and hot tub also- only on the apex and edge. The S and M class have waiter and bar service via an attendant- not as nice as the Edge class.

 

The suite lounge on all of the ships, especially M and S class a delight.  We spend time in the lounge as they offer drinks, entertainment and a special concierge who helps with many things.

 

The butler service varies- we have had wonderful helpful butlers and lousy ones- They can assist in packing and unpacking- help also with special requests and serve meals in your suite.  Assist with laundry if you need it.  They bring you canapés daily- not that you really need them!  The cabin itself is much bigger then a balcony cabin- you can actually comfortably walk around.  Plenty of storage and a nice bathroom.

 

If you can swing it- so nice to sail in suite class.

Edited April 16, 2021 by Cruise a holic

[Pinboy]

19 hours ago, excitedofharpenden said:

The lanyard of "do you know who I am? ".  To some though it's a badge of honour to be worn proudly. 

Really ???  What " Honor " ?? That they spent more money than other passengers ??  Big deal !!

Hate to admit it--- We've been on over 45 cruises, never looked at anyone's lanyard.

Mind you, Pinboy couldn't take his eyes off of --- 

 

 

 

Edited April 16, 2021 by Pinboy
spelling mistake

[Sam.Seattle]

12 hours ago, Pinboy said:

Really ???  What " Honor " ?? That they spent more money than other passengers ??  Big deal !!

Hate to admit it--- We've been on over 45 cruises, never looked at anyone's lanyard.

Mind you, Pinboy couldn't take his eyes off of --- 

 

 

 

How could you not look???  They adorn the card in shinny clear sleeve and buy lanyards with enough bling to make Liberchi blush.  (showing my age with that comment).  If by chance you truly did not see them, then I would bet you heard them making their way to the font of the special people line.  Just having a little fun tonight... please don't take these comments too seriously.  Hopefully you smiled or even chuckled 😂as you read my comments.

 

Cheers!

🍸

[Pinboy]

10 hours ago, Sam.Seattle said:

They adorn the card in shinny clear sleeve and buy lanyards with enough bling to make Liberchi blush.

LOL----We used to watch LIBERACE , not Liberchi almost ( ?? ) every Sunday night on the Ed Solomon show.

And, that ain't no bling --  I seen the same beautiful " stuff " on a " stuffy lady " heading straight to the front row in the theater 5 minutes after the comedian started his routine.  Her husband ( no guessing on that one ) was strolling 6 ft behind her wearing his plaid blazer. The comedian noticed them, of course , and asked if they enjoyed their 3 deserts and if this was their first cruise. 

I did see people wearing lanyards , but didn't give it a minute of thought--- 

I did give a lot of thought to that beautiful 32 yr old with the " old fart "  buying a pre-loved Rolex .

I wonder if--- no, not a chance !!

( Yes, I know--- forget it already !!! )

[blackshirt]

2 hours ago, Pinboy said:

LOL----We used to watch LIBERACE , not Liberchi almost ( ?? ) every Sunday night on the Ed Solomon show.

Ed Solomon? That would Ed Sullivan. After dinging them for Liberace, not sure if that’s on purpose or an ironic twist.

[Pinboy]

23 minutes ago, blackshirt said:

Ed Solomon? That would Ed Sullivan. After dinging them for Liberace, not sure if that’s on purpose or an ironic twist.

I did it on purpose to see if anyone else on CC watched Ed Sullivan--  

Those were the days when I could understand the words being sung and didn't include the " F " word in every sentence. 

 

[davekathy]

Just now, Pinboy said:

I did it on purpose to see if anyone else on CC watched Ed Sullivan--  

Those were the days when I could understand the words being sung and didn't include the " F " word in every sentence. 

 

Ed definitely heard and understood Jim Morrison when the Doors played, "Light My Fire". 😁

[NCHPcruiser]

Exactly what Bruin Steve said!

 

[Longboysfan]

On 4/11/2021 at 9:24 AM, TeeRick said:

I book a suite because I have a lot of extra money to spend!😀

Take me along if you lovea me....

Take me along....