Currently on the Edge in the Retreat and being told we do not have a drinks package?

[PTC DAWG]

1 minute ago, Dolebludger said:

Here is what I mean by lack of transparency in on line booking  on Celebrity. I just did a “ghost” booking on a cruise to the E Caribbean in a Sky Suite. Nowhere was I able to determine if the booking would have AI benefits or was SS. I was able to determine that it had Retreat access, but WiFi, tips, and drinks in lounges outside of Retreat — these things were a mystery, as were credits for excursions and such. So I clicked “options” and found only travel insurance (with no full explanation of coverage available) and refundable deposit (cost $702 — deposit shown as $500?). 
 

if the OP here booked online, it is apparent how he didn’t get what he thought he would get. He probably has no WiFi unless he pays some obscene charge onboard.I would never book a cruise with as little info as the Celebrity site provides for on line booking.

It’s really fairly simple these days..I have never had a mix up on any of my bookings with Celebrity..it really is a great on board experience. 

[LGW59]

18 minutes ago, Dolebludger said:

Here is what I mean by lack of transparency in on line booking  on Celebrity. I just did a “ghost” booking on a cruise to the E Caribbean in a Sky Suite. Nowhere was I able to determine if the booking would have AI benefits or was SS. I was able to determine that it had Retreat access, but WiFi, tips, and drinks in lounges outside of Retreat — these things were a mystery, as were credits for excursions and such. So I clicked “options” and found only travel insurance (with no full explanation of coverage available) and refundable deposit (cost $702 — deposit shown as $500?). 
 

if the OP here booked online, it is apparent how he didn’t get what he thought he would get. He probably has no WiFi unless he pays some obscene charge onboard.I would never book a cruise with as little info as the Celebrity site provides for on line booking.

Total opposite of my experience 

[Missymo]

Before finalizing, your booking should show you exactly what your getting for your $$.  I always look for the AL (Always included) with wifi, tips, and drinks (classic) before finalizing. 

[ORV]

Did the OP ever come back?

[WonderMan3]

25 minutes ago, ORV said:

Did the OP ever come back?

 

Nope

[hiccups]

53 minutes ago, Dolebludger said:

Here is what I mean by lack of transparency in on line booking  on Celebrity. I just did a “ghost” booking on a cruise to the E Caribbean in a Sky Suite. Nowhere was I able to determine if the booking would have AI benefits or was SS. I was able to determine that it had Retreat access, but WiFi, tips, and drinks in lounges outside of Retreat — these things were a mystery, as were credits for excursions and such. So I clicked “options” and found only travel insurance (with no full explanation of coverage available) and refundable deposit (cost $702 — deposit shown as $500?). 
 

if the OP here booked online, it is apparent how he didn’t get what he thought he would get. He probably has no WiFi unless he pays some obscene charge onboard.I would never book a cruise with as little info as the Celebrity site provides for on line booking.

If you do a mock booking online from the Celebrity website, you end up with a screen like the one in Post 111.  It very clearly shows what's included for that booking.  If you don't see the listings for OBC, WiFi, drinks and tips, then they aren't included.  I don't know what other information you would expect Celebrity to include.

[zitsky]

7 minutes ago, hiccups said:

If you do a mock booking online from the Celebrity website, you end up with a screen like the one in Post 111.  It very clearly shows what's included for that booking.  If you don't see the listings for OBC, WiFi, drinks and tips, then they aren't included.  I don't know what other information you would expect Celebrity to include.

I feel bad for some of these posters.  But as a few have mentioned, get that booking confirmation!

[hiccups]

13 minutes ago, zitsky said:

I feel bad for some of these posters.  But as a few have mentioned, get that booking confirmation!

Yes, I feel some people are making this more complicated than it really is.  It doesn't really matter what codes Celebrity uses, if you book online it's pretty clear, and if you use a TA, they should verify what's included.  Then check the confirmations.

[PinkSandGirl]

56 minutes ago, hiccups said:

If you do a mock booking online from the Celebrity website, you end up with a screen like the one in Post 111.  It very clearly shows what's included for that booking.  If you don't see the listings for OBC, WiFi, drinks and tips, then they aren't included.  I don't know what other information you would expect Celebrity to include.

I think it's more when you book over the phone or with a travel agent and making sure you are getting everything you think you are.  

 

As for me, I always price out on Celebrity's website but I have never booked a cruise online.   I take screenshots of the details.   I call and book over the phone or over the phone/e-mail if using an outside travel agent.  

 

As soon as I book, I look at that confirmation to make sure everything is the way it should be.  If it isn't, I get it taken care of immediately.  

 

I know there are many people that do not and assume all is correct and most of the time I'm sure it is...and many of them would say,  why bother doing all that verification.   There are also many people that rely on travel agents and/or the cruise company having everything correct but there is the possibility that a mistake has been made, which is why I check everything and keep records of it all. 

 

The Celebrity Booking Confirmation is the key to it all.  It has everything listed.   I find the online Celebrity cruise info/planner doesn't always reflect the perks correctly.

 

Thankfully all perks, etc... have always been correct onboard (🤞,🙏, knock on wood) for my cruises but any pre-cruise discrepancies are always taken care of beforehand.  

 

Plus, I am the planner/organizer for everyone that travels with me so I have to make sure their booking confirmations etc...are all in order. 😉

...and I wouldn't have it any other way.  😃

 

I will keep doing it the way I always have.  I love my trip folders with every possible piece of information I may need. 😉😅

 

🍹

 

 

Edited February 23, 2022 by PinkSandGirl

[graphicguy]

2 hours ago, Dolebludger said:

Here is what I mean by lack of transparency in on line booking  on Celebrity. I just did a “ghost” booking on a cruise to the E Caribbean in a Sky Suite. Nowhere was I able to determine if the booking would have AI benefits or was SS. I was able to determine that it had Retreat access, but WiFi, tips, and drinks in lounges outside of Retreat — these things were a mystery, as were credits for excursions and such. So I clicked “options” and found only travel insurance (with no full explanation of coverage available) and refundable deposit (cost $702 — deposit shown as $500?). 
 

if the OP here booked online, it is apparent how he didn’t get what he thought he would get. He probably has no WiFi unless he pays some obscene charge onboard.I would never book a cruise with as little info as the Celebrity site provides for on line booking.

Then what you were looking at was a GUARANTEE RATE.  It would have looked like this…no perks offered, so none listed…

 

Suite Guarantee

First Guest

$4,358.00

Second Guest

$4,358.00

Discounts

SIMPLY SAIL NRD

-$980.00

SAVE 6TO8N NRD

-$2,318.00

Dining

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner included at select venues 

Exclusive Access to Luminae

Taxes & Fees

Taxes, Fees, and Port Expenses

$273.18

Trip Total

$5,691.18 USD

Minimum Deposit

$500.00 USD

Remaining balance due

February 23, 2022

$5,191.18 USD

[LGW59]

2 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Then what you were looking at was a GUARANTEE RATE.  It would have looked like this…no perks offered, so none listed…

 

Suite Guarantee

First Guest

$4,358.00

Second Guest

$4,358.00

Discounts

SIMPLY SAIL NRD

-$980.00

SAVE 6TO8N NRD

-$2,318.00

Dining

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner included at select venues 

Exclusive Access to Luminae

Taxes & Fees

Taxes, Fees, and Port Expenses

$273.18

Trip Total

$5,691.18 USD

Minimum Deposit

$500.00 USD

Remaining balance due

February 23, 2022

$5,191.18 USD

Exactly and if you go to the next step in the booking process you get the option to add a package.  I did this for a gty sunset veranda on Edge and selected indulge package and that added grats, premium bev pkg and OBC.  Called my TA to review and done, easy peasy.  Everything on my confirmation is exactly as it was on the website.  Entire process took 20 minutes.

[publicpersona]

10 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

It would have looked like this…no perks offered, so none listed…

It is irrational to suggest that one needs to assume no perks are included unless specifically told that they are when you are first told that the perks are

 

”Always Included. Every booking. Every cabin. Every sailing.”

[graphicguy]

18 minutes ago, publicpersona said:

It is irrational to suggest that one needs to assume no perks are included unless specifically told that they are when you are first told that the perks are

 

”Always Included. Every booking. Every cabin. Every sailing.”

This was discussed in here several months ago when many of us booked the first sailings after start up.  Some complained that they didn’t want to pay if they didn’t want internet, or drinks, etc.  so, Celebrity offered Simply Sail rates with no perks included.  Some now say all cabins should be AI.

 

I think Celebrity should go one way or the other, because they aren’t going to please everyone, all the time, although they’re trying.

 

I like AI, as I use all the perks.

 

When all’s said and done, if you book a category and you get to the booking/cabin choice page, and it doesn’t state the perks included, they aren’t.  I’d make that statement for any booking, on any ship, on any cruise line.  You know what they say about ASSUME.

[LGW59]

43 minutes ago, publicpersona said:

It is irrational to suggest that one needs to assume no perks are included unless specifically told that they are when you are first told that the perks are

 

”Always Included. Every booking. Every cabin. Every sailing.”

Nothing irrational about it, do your homework 

[RichYak]

47 minutes ago, publicpersona said:

It is irrational to suggest that one needs to assume no perks are included unless specifically told that they are when you are first told that the perks are

It is irrational to assume anything. No one is suggesting that.

[DaKahuna]

54 minutes ago, publicpersona said:

It is irrational to suggest that one needs to assume no perks are included unless specifically told that they are when you are first told that the perks are

 

”Always Included. Every booking. Every cabin. Every sailing.”

https://www.celebritycruises.com/faqs/always-included

 

Sorry but I cannot find "Every booking Every cabin. Every sailing" on their FAQ page.  Can you help me out with a recent link to where it says that? 

 

[markeb]

34 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

https://www.celebritycruises.com/faqs/always-included

 

Sorry but I cannot find "Every booking Every cabin. Every sailing" on their FAQ page.  Can you help me out with a recent link to where it says that? 

 

Not in the FAQs. There is an asterisk, of course…

 

Now, every Celebrity cruise always includes drinks, Wi-Fi, and tips* on every sailing, in every room, every time. It’s that simple.

https://www.celebritycruises.com/cruise-deals/always-included

 

Its obviously a marketing page, not terms and conditions, but it is how they’ve marketed AI. 

 

Edited February 23, 2022 by markeb

[cdn_tbird]

36 minutes ago, markeb said:

Not in the FAQs. There is an asterisk, of course…

 

Now, every Celebrity cruise always includes drinks, Wi-Fi, and tips* on every sailing, in every room, every time. It’s that simple.

https://www.celebritycruises.com/cruise-deals/always-included

 

Its obviously a marketing page, not terms and conditions, but it is how they’ve marketed AI. 

 

I don't know about you, but when I see an asterik I go looking for the "gotcha". If you scroll down to the T&Cs on that page you come across the "gotcha"

All guests in an Eligible Booking who choose the “Always Included” pricing package will receive a Classic Beverage Package and Gratuities Included and an unlimited Basi Wi-Fi package. 

 

For me that would have set off warning bells and I would have been asking questions if I wasn't sure. However, as others have pointed out, when you get to the final page before you book it, X clearly outlines what is included in your booking. I suspect OP isn't that experienced with cruising or at least X, and could have benefited from dealing with an experienced TA instead of doing it themselves.

[markeb]

4 minutes ago, cdn_tbird said:

I don't know about you, but when I see an asterik I go looking for the "gotcha". If you scroll down to the T&Cs on that page you come across the "gotcha"

All guests in an Eligible Booking who choose the “Always Included” pricing package will receive a Classic Beverage Package and Gratuities Included and an unlimited Basi Wi-Fi package. 

 

For me that would have set off warning bells and I would have been asking questions if I wasn't sure. However, as others have pointed out, when you get to the final page before you book it, X clearly outlines what is included in your booking. I suspect OP isn't that experienced with cruising or at least X, and could have benefited from dealing with an experienced TA instead of doing it themselves.

I agree completely. We booked what’s become our summer 2022 cruise as a spring 2020 cruise. At that time, there was no AI, but all suite (now Retreat) bookings came with everything. With AI, there are, or were, Retreat bookings that didn’t come with everything. Kind of like booking a first class flight and not getting free drinks. Kind of weird. I honestly don’t know if you can book a Retreat cabin without a Retreat package! That’s what booking onboard plus a good TA is for! But I do subscribe to trust but verify…

[mfs2k]

10 hours ago, PinkSandGirl said:

   I call and book over the phone or over the phone/e-mail if using an outside travel agent.  

I do the same. Sometimes you can discover better deals with a rep on the phone. 

[mfs2k]

9 hours ago, LGW59 said:

Nothing irrational about it, do your homework 

Some people think “Always included” means always included. Silly them. 
On Celebrity “Always included” means usually included unless you don’t choose always included. Nothing irrational about that. 😜

[mfs2k]

Not everyone books standard fares.
 

There are casino rates, military rates, travel agent rates, resident discounted rates, Captains Club rates, etc. Each rate code is different and comes with unique features.
 

For example I booked on the phone a guarantee suite casino rate on Beyond.
Usually guarantee rates are simply sail with nothing included yet mine had A.I. 

 

It took me a long time to understand what my booking confirmation meant and I had to verify the codes several times over the phone because my online booking afterwards implied I had nothing included since I was being offered a beverage package at full price in my cruise planner.

 

It may not be confusing for a simple booking but all bookings are not simple. 

[graphicguy]

I think by now if there’s any confusion, especially after all the explanations have been given, there’s really nothing more to do or that can be said to help those who still don’t understand this.  It’s the same as most other cruise lines.

 

I used to sail NCL a lot.  They’ve got their “Free at Sea” promotion…free drinks, some specialty dinners, etc. Their “asterisk” is you have to pay service charges and tips…which usually add hundreds to your cruise fare.

 

 NO matter how it’s explained or how many asterisks or how much you quote the WEB site, some  to understand.

 

As far as the OP is concerned, sounds like he and his wife had a misunderstanding about what S/He booked and tried to take their misunderstanding to their Concierge (feel sorry for the Concierge), who showed what they booked.  I think the wife knew.  The husband wouldn’t accept it.

 

@mfs2k….you understood your booking was more complex than normal and called their PCC to understand what you were getting.  That’s the smart thing to do.

 

Normal booking?  Pretty cut and dried, and certainly pretty self explanatory once you walk through the booking process.  I suspect some ignore the obvious (the asterisks or the disclaimer that a particular price point does not allow you to participate in AI).  

 

Some, no matter how much we try to explain it, will not accept our explanations.

Edited February 23, 2022 by graphicguy

[canderson]

It might allay a few fears if the Cruise Planner didn't offer inapplicable packages and upgrades.  The piss poor inability of the existing system to create Cruise Planner offers that properly correspond to the existing booking is inexcusable.  Being offered the opportunity to purchase or upgrade to a package already covered in the booking creates a great deal of unnecessary concern.

 

Worse, it's not even a matter of tying offers to promotions.  When sailing in a RS, we are offered beverage packages, internet packages, and multi-meal specialty dining packages that are already built into the fare.  If it wouldn't likely take hours to unwind, it would be tempting to add one of these items using the Planner just to see how X deals with it.

 

I can only imagine how the full spread of offers must look to someone who isn't already 100% confident that their booking includes perks that they believe they already have.

[mfs2k]

5 minutes ago, canderson said:

It might allay a few fears if the Cruise Planner didn't offer inapplicable packages and upgrades.  The piss poor inability of the existing system to create Cruise Planner offers that properly correspond to the existing booking is inexcusable. 

Agree 100%