Rare Cruise Junky Posted October 16, 2022 #176 Share Posted October 16, 2022 The strong US $ is definitely making cruising lose its sparkle for this Canadian. Euro or Pound is really good. Australian & NZ dollar are exceptional but for cruises it’s in US. US $ means we must add 38% to everything. Makes zero sense financially to cruise to the places we want to go. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare dlh015 Posted October 16, 2022 #177 Share Posted October 16, 2022 1 hour ago, Cruise Junky said: Euro or Pound is really good. Not sure what you mean by this? You sure don't want to go to the UK right now...1 Pound Sterling is 1.55 CDN! And the Euro is only a little better for you than the USD. But New Zealand and Australia are certainly the places for you (and me) to go! I hadn't looked at their rates for a while! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Cruise Junky Posted October 16, 2022 #178 Share Posted October 16, 2022 (edited) 13 minutes ago, dlh015 said: Not sure what you mean by this? You sure don't want to go to the UK right now...1 Pound Sterling is 1.55 CDN! And the Euro is only a little better for you than the USD. But New Zealand and Australia are certainly the places for you (and me) to go! I hadn't looked at their rates for a while! Which is far better than it’s been for years for the Pound. I was visiting when it was 2.25. Euro at 1.35 is excellent. It’s what it can buy that matters. Exactly right on Australia and NZ. Even Tahiti is cheaper by land right now. Edited October 16, 2022 by Cruise Junky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruising teacher Posted October 16, 2022 #179 Share Posted October 16, 2022 13 hours ago, Orator said: If you've never experienced something, I guess you wouldn't miss if it was taken away. I've experienced Michael's Club and it's been taken away! I've experienced upgraded bathroom amenities and they have been taken away! I am now paying for things like internet and drink packages that in the past were loyalty benefits. No daily bottled water in Aqua Class as before. If you are a new cruiser you might be happy. If you have more than 100 Celebrity cruises you might feel that the sparkle is gone. Perspectives might be different based on experiences and expectations. Orator are you saying that Celebrity has taken away the premium beverage package and internet from Zenith? Whoa!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orator Posted October 16, 2022 #180 Share Posted October 16, 2022 Just now, cruising teacher said: Orator are you saying that Celebrity has taken away the premium beverage package and internet from Zenith? Whoa!!!! Only Michael's Club and bathroom amenities and special Zenith luncheons unless there are a minimum of 8 Zeniths. We are now paying (I'm in Aqua Class) from the drink package and internet that we got free as a benefit. Celebrity seems to like passengers who get no or minimum perks and I understand this reasoning. I predict that more changes are ahead for other levels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruising teacher Posted October 16, 2022 #181 Share Posted October 16, 2022 1 minute ago, Orator said: Only Michael's Club and bathroom amenities and special Zenith luncheons unless there are a minimum of 8 Zeniths. We are now paying (I'm in Aqua Class) from the drink package and internet that we got free as a benefit. Celebrity seems to like passengers who get no or minimum perks and I understand this reasoning. I predict that more changes are ahead for other levels. The website still lists the beverage package and internet as a perk. I have 8 cruises booked with this pricing in mind.🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doubt It Posted October 16, 2022 #182 Share Posted October 16, 2022 Yes indeed. * Constant downgrading of the product commencing about 2018 in particular * Larger ships, no thank you * Removal of forward viewing venues * Class segregation The above results in us and many of our friends avoiding cruise lines that practice this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orator Posted October 16, 2022 #183 Share Posted October 16, 2022 4 minutes ago, cruising teacher said: The website still lists the beverage package and internet as a perk. I have 8 cruises booked with this pricing in mind.🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺 Let me try one more time! For my cruise the beverage package and internet were included in the price of the cruise. The beverage package and internet is still a benefit, but if you're booking Aqua Class or above you are required to pay for the packages in the fare. There is no option for a credit or discount. That means you are paying for an option that you had free in the past. That in my view is a reduction in total benefits. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canderson Posted October 16, 2022 #184 Share Posted October 16, 2022 4 minutes ago, Doubt It said: Yes indeed. * Constant downgrading of the product commencing about 2018 in particular * Larger ships, no thank you * Removal of forward viewing venues * Class segregation The above results in us and many of our friends avoiding cruise lines that practice this. That leaves out the 'mass market' lines altogether (your last bullet point assures that). Which of the alternatives have all of you chosen? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruising teacher Posted October 16, 2022 #185 Share Posted October 16, 2022 2 minutes ago, Orator said: Let me try one more time! For my cruise the beverage package and internet were included in the price of the cruise. The beverage package and internet is still a benefit, but if you're booking Aqua Class or above you are required to pay for the packages in the fare. There is no option for a credit or discount. That means you are paying for an option that you had free in the past. That in my view is a reduction in total benefits. Thank you very much for the clarification. Whew! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canderson Posted October 16, 2022 #186 Share Posted October 16, 2022 9 minutes ago, Doubt It said: Yes indeed. * Constant downgrading of the product commencing about 2018 in particular * Larger ships, no thank you * Removal of forward viewing venues * Class segregation The above results in us and many of our friends avoiding cruise lines that practice this. We note that you started another thread asking when Celebrity would release 2024 itineraries. I'm confused. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grandgeezer Posted October 16, 2022 #187 Share Posted October 16, 2022 2 hours ago, Orator said: Let me try one more time! For my cruise the beverage package and internet were included in the price of the cruise. The beverage package and internet is still a benefit, but if you're booking Aqua Class or above you are required to pay for the packages in the fare. There is no option for a credit or discount. That means you are paying for an option that you had free in the past. That in my view is a reduction in total benefits. I recently bought a new car, and there are many items on the car that wasn’t on the window sticker, does that mean they were free? It was never free, according to your first statement “ it was included in the price”. Now you have the option of not taking it and not paying for it. I’m guessing the went back to that because they had to increase occupancy. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alakegirl Posted October 16, 2022 #188 Share Posted October 16, 2022 On 10/15/2022 at 10:28 AM, Orator said: With changes to the loyalty program Celebrity has definitely lost its sparkle to me. There have been reports by Zeniths that there are from 2-8 Zeniths on a cruise and some of them are in Suites (13 on a recent TA). Most are reporting no special events unless there are more than at least 8. Many have felt the change. I appreciate the benefits that still exist, but I see the trend of lessening loyalty benefits continuing. Not so on Infinity or Summit where Zenith lunches were held even for small groups Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C4HCG Posted October 16, 2022 #189 Share Posted October 16, 2022 Excuse my ignorance, what’s a Zenith? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canderson Posted October 16, 2022 #190 Share Posted October 16, 2022 (edited) 3 minutes ago, C4HCG said: Excuse my ignorance, what’s a Zenith? Someone with 3000+ Captain's Club points. Edited October 16, 2022 by canderson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davekathy Posted October 16, 2022 #191 Share Posted October 16, 2022 1 minute ago, C4HCG said: Excuse my ignorance, what’s a Zenith? For your reading pleasure. https://www.celebritycruises.com/captains-club/tiers-and-benefits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C4HCG Posted October 16, 2022 #192 Share Posted October 16, 2022 Thank you canderson and davekathy. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruisestitch Posted October 16, 2022 #193 Share Posted October 16, 2022 4 hours ago, Orator said: Only Michael's Club and bathroom amenities and special Zenith luncheons unless there are a minimum of 8 Zeniths. We are now paying (I'm in Aqua Class) from the drink package and internet that we got free as a benefit. Celebrity seems to like passengers who get no or minimum perks and I understand this reasoning. I predict that more changes are ahead for other levels. Not sure where you’re getting your information, but there were five zeniths on the last cruise on Summit and there was a special lunch and event for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruising teacher Posted October 16, 2022 #194 Share Posted October 16, 2022 14 minutes ago, cruisestitch said: Not sure where you’re getting your information, but there were five zeniths on the last cruise on Summit and there was a special lunch and event for them. We were on the Solstice last month with quite a few Zeniths. No luncheon. Instead a very lame half hour cocktail party. Must be a ship decision. Too bad because the luncheon is terrific. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goofysmom99 Posted October 16, 2022 #195 Share Posted October 16, 2022 10 minutes ago, cruisestitch said: Not sure where you’re getting your information, but there were five zeniths on the last cruise on Summit and there was a special lunch and event for them. Maybe it depends on the ship and the CC concierge. Presently on Constellation with quite a few other zeniths. I've previously been called by the CC concierge re the CC gatherings where the top cruiser is introduced. Not this time. I wasn't planning to attend, but did expect a call. I'll report back re a zenith luncheon. I'm sure there will be even more zeniths on the upcoming TA. BTW, I'm not in a suite. The suite zeniths were called, at least the ones I spoke to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruising teacher Posted October 16, 2022 #196 Share Posted October 16, 2022 4 minutes ago, goofysmom99 said: Maybe it depends on the ship and the CC concierge. Presently on Constellation with quite a few other zeniths. I've previously been called by the CC concierge re the CC gatherings where the top cruiser is introduced. Not this time. I wasn't planning to attend, but did expect a call. I'll report back re a zenith luncheon. I'm sure there will be even more zeniths on the upcoming TA. BTW, I'm not in a suite. The suite zeniths were called, at least the ones I spoke to. Do you mind saying who the CC Hostess is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Aurora Posted October 16, 2022 #197 Share Posted October 16, 2022 3 hours ago, cruising teacher said: We were on the Solstice last month with quite a few Zeniths. No luncheon. Instead a very lame half hour cocktail party. Must be a ship decision. Too bad because the luncheon is terrific. We were on the same cruise with "cruising teacher." I haven't checked my Zenith group photo from that cruise but my recollection is that there were about 17 Zeniths. I actually didn't mind the cocktail party as there were several Zeniths I had not met previously, and we were able to mingle and chat. We stayed onboard for the September 24th cruise. We had 12 Zeniths on onboard. No lunch and no cocktail gathering. I asked the Captain's Club hostess (the same as on the September 16th leg) and was told something to the effect that she would have liked or organize something but didn't receive approval from Miami. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canderson Posted October 17, 2022 #198 Share Posted October 17, 2022 2 hours ago, Northern Aurora said: ... and was told something to the effect that she would have liked or organize something but didn't receive approval from Miami. Am fascinated by the moments when it appears staff has the autonomy to operate in their own fashion, with some substantial ship to ship differences for the 'big things', and by comparison, those moments when they are suddenly beholden to Miami for their guidance on relatively trivial issues such as this. Hmmm... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Aurora Posted October 17, 2022 #199 Share Posted October 17, 2022 1 hour ago, canderson said: Am fascinated by the moments when it appears staff has the autonomy to operate in their own fashion, with some substantial ship to ship differences for the 'big things', and by comparison, those moments when they are suddenly beholden to Miami for their guidance on relatively trivial issues such as this. Hmmm... It is a mystery to me too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midlo Posted October 20, 2022 #200 Share Posted October 20, 2022 Getting back to the original question, has cruising lost it’s sparkle? Just finished glancing at all of these posts and obviously the sparkle has a different meaning to everyone. This question hit me because we just returned from the Equinox last Saturday and I was asking myself the same question. We were in a PS suite and while we had a great time and enjoyed everything, I couldn’t help but to notice things that could be defined as sparkle missing. For example, in the past you were greeted with a glass of champagne upon boarding, there were a dozen red roses on the table in the suite, a bowl of fresh fruit replenished daily, and during the week a bowl of chocolate covered strawberry’s would magically appear with a thank you card from the Hotel Director. Not to mention the days when you would come back from dinner to find towel animals on your bed. All of that is history. For me the sparkle is at it’s best on the first day after you get to your room and you know you still have the entire cruise ahead of you. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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