Celebrity at it again, I guess the new CEO can’t seem to tell the truth!

[the penguins]

2 hours ago, Baron Barracuda said:

Why tell them anything.  Just say you are only checking in for yourself.  Your cabinmate is traveling separately and will presumably arrive later.

Because everyone on a booking has to check in together. I know others will now post to say the rule isn’t enforced but it is one of the Booking Conditions. Any way why wait because presumably if you were able to check in alone when your companion didn’t arrive your name would be broadcast across the ship with “Mr Jones or whatever please come to Guest Relations immediately”. 

[Baron Barracuda]

2 hours ago, the penguins said:

Because everyone on a booking has to check in together. I know others will now post to say the rule isn’t enforced but it is one of the Booking Conditions. Any way why wait because presumably if you were able to check in alone when your companion didn’t arrive your name would be broadcast across the ship with “Mr Jones or whatever please come to Guest Relations immediately”. 

Out of curiosity read through the Guest Terms and Conditions and couldn't find any mention of this.  Can you please cite the relevant section and paragraph.

[BeasleysMom66]

1 hour ago, Baron Barracuda said:

Can you please cite the relevant section and paragraph.

 

It isn't in the T&C.  I remember seeing it in several places/emails prior to my cruise last month.  They want the entire party there for the initial boarding.  Once you depart and start arriving in ports they don't care how/when you come and go.  Now whether it is enforced at embarkation is another issue and most likely port dependent.  I know it came up when someone was leaving out of Port Canaveral and had planned to drop off their family at the pier and go return their rental car then meet them on board.  

[RichYak]

1 hour ago, BeasleysMom66 said:

It isn't in the T&C.

Then it's a request, not a requirement.

[dreamer321]

4 hours ago, Baron Barracuda said:

Out of curiosity read through the Guest Terms and Conditions and couldn't find any mention of this.  Can you please cite the relevant section and paragraph.

or

These paragraphs seem the closest to what we are talking about. Virtually all bookings are done as Promotion Cruise Fares.  See, for example, the current "Take 75% off 2nd Guest + Bonus Savings" promotions.  I would argue there is a difference between the 2nd guest canceling before final payment which would trigger this paragraph and a repricing and the 2nd person no showing at embarkation because of (fill in the blank) reasons.

 

 

[critic2023]

I am a solo cruiser who enjoys Celebrity and intended to make it my go-to line moving forward. I'm close to Elite status with them and had no intention of stopping. But this new solo pricing gives me such a huge red flag that I don't quite know how to move forward at this point. To me, paying double (aka, the same price as a couple occupying a regular cabin) is already the upcharge. That upcharge makes sense - they sell most of those cabins for X price, so they're losing money if they give it to me for half that. That's just part of the game of cruising, and it's unfortunate but I'm willing to work with it. But to charge me more than a couple would pay is absolutely ludicrous. They even do that with the drink package pricing. It's insane. I'll pay double occupancy and not complain one bit, but to charge me more than a couple makes me want to give my business to another line - a shame, because I truly have enjoyed my many cruises on Celebrity.

[Liao]

9 minutes ago, critic2023 said:

I am a solo cruiser who enjoys Celebrity and intended to make it my go-to line moving forward. I'm close to Elite status with them and had no intention of stopping. But this new solo pricing gives me such a huge red flag that I don't quite know how to move forward at this point. To me, paying double (aka, the same price as a couple occupying a regular cabin) is already the upcharge. That upcharge makes sense - they sell most of those cabins for X price, so they're losing money if they give it to me for half that. That's just part of the game of cruising, and it's unfortunate but I'm willing to work with it. But to charge me more than a couple would pay is absolutely ludicrous. They even do that with the drink package pricing. It's insane. I'll pay double occupancy and not complain one bit, but to charge me more than a couple makes me want to give my business to another line - a shame, because I truly have enjoyed my many cruises on Celebrity.

It’s interesting that it is not like this on all cruises, seems to be on a random basis.

[canderson]

On 6/13/2024 at 12:41 PM, lizinindy said:

I'm curious as to why the price is double on some cruises and more than double on other cruises. Since Celebrity's IT dept. isn't exactly tip top, could it possibly just be an IT glitch that's setting the price incorrectly? I can't figure a scenario where the revenue algorithm selects certain "ships?" or "itineraries?" that would trigger a more than double rate. Just a crazy thought...but we know that IT dept. is kinda wacko!

Here's one variable that, if included in the algorithm, would certainly cause a different result -- number of port days vs. at-sea days.  For example, given that port days generate shorex revenue but at-sea days generate onboard revenue, what's likely the number of $ that a passenger will spend in cruise line bucks on a port intensive 14 day cruise vs. a 14 day transAtlantic?  While those would be at the extremes, certainly there would, on average, be a difference?

 

I'm sure there are many more, and more subtle ones that have been teased out of the data over the years by all of the lines.

 

 

[the penguins]

9 hours ago, Baron Barracuda said:

Out of curiosity read through the Guest Terms and Conditions and couldn't find any mention of this.  Can you please cite the relevant section and paragraph.

when you do the check in and select your time it's on the confirmation document

[the penguins]

4 hours ago, Liao said:

It’s interesting that it is not like this on all cruises, seems to be on a random basis.

supply and demand but that doesn't make it fair.

[drakes2]

12 hours ago, critic2023 said:

I am a solo cruiser who enjoys Celebrity and intended to make it my go-to line moving forward. I'm close to Elite status with them and had no intention of stopping. But this new solo pricing gives me such a huge red flag that I don't quite know how to move forward at this point. To me, paying double (aka, the same price as a couple occupying a regular cabin) is already the upcharge. That upcharge makes sense - they sell most of those cabins for X price, so they're losing money if they give it to me for half that. That's just part of the game of cruising, and it's unfortunate but I'm willing to work with it. But to charge me more than a couple would pay is absolutely ludicrous. They even do that with the drink package pricing. It's insane. I'll pay double occupancy and not complain one bit, but to charge me more than a couple makes me want to give my business to another line - a shame, because I truly have enjoyed my many cruises on Celebrity.

I have 2 upcoming celebrity cruises one Caribbean in the fall this year and a TA next April both booked as a solo at a substantial resident discount. Seriously thinking of booking an 11 night Europe cruise on the same ship,  Italy Greece and Turkey following the TA but prices are more than double for a single, however, it has dropped over $200 since I checked last week. One positive is my return flight home on May 16th is direct and super cheap.  The first cruise out of Europe following a transatlantic seem to be a lot more not sure why. 

[pzsdd6]

12 hours ago, Liao said:

It’s interesting that it is not like this on all cruises, seems to be on a random basis.

There are times when you can indeed find solo rates with only 100% supplement, sometimes even slightly less. Unfortunately, that works against the complaints solo travelers have, because as soon as you try and nail down someone from Celebrity on their ridiculous price gouging against solo travelers, they immediately throw out that 1 in a thousand cruises that has only a 100% supplement, and say “ see here is one”, while all the rest have significantly more. My goal in highlighting this thread was to build up enough momentum and visibility to this less than fair practice. I’ve said it before and will continue to say it, at least until such time as they change their practice, the CEO, Laura Hodges Bethge can’t tell the truth! If you say you are going to stop this, then do so, don’t lie! It is my personal opinion, backed by her actions, that she was brought over from RC to try and remake aspects of Celebrity into another RC. While I don’t have much experience or knowledge on how RC handles their solo bookings, I would venture to say that it is the same or similar. If anyone knows, please add to the discussion.

[wrk2cruise]

1 hour ago, drakes2 said:

The first cruise out of Europe following a transatlantic seem to be a lot more not sure why. 

 

I also found that to the be the case spring of 2025.  My 7 night booking following the TA has had 6 price drops in less than a month and has fallen almost 30%.   I thought it was way overpriced when I booked.  It's looking better now.

[the penguins]

1 hour ago, drakes2 said:

I have 2 upcoming celebrity cruises one Caribbean in the fall this year and a TA next April both booked as a solo at a substantial resident discount. Seriously thinking of booking an 11 night Europe cruise on the same ship,  Italy Greece and Turkey following the TA but prices are more than double for a single, however, it has dropped over $200 since I checked last week. One positive is my return flight home on May 16th is direct and super cheap.  The first cruise out of Europe following a transatlantic seem to be a lot more not sure why. 

some suggestions:

1) as most of X's ships are withdrawn from Europe during the winter until those ships return there are very few cruises available so demand builds up.

2) check the dates as they may coincide with holiday periods here.

3) starting with high prices is much easier than starting with low ones - remember in the UK/Europe we no longer get the benefit of the price drops that you do in the US.

[the penguins]

13 hours ago, canderson said:

Here's one variable that, if included in the algorithm, would certainly cause a different result -- number of port days vs. at-sea days.  For example, given that port days generate shorex revenue but at-sea days generate onboard revenue, what's likely the number of $ that a passenger will spend in cruise line bucks on a port intensive 14 day cruise vs. a 14 day transAtlantic?  While those would be at the extremes, certainly there would, on average, be a difference?

 

I'm sure there are many more, and more subtle ones that have been teased out of the data over the years by all of the lines.

 

 

Ships lose money when they are docked.

Shore excursions generate very little profit when compared to the revenue from the Casino, shops, bars, speciality restaurants, bingo/ Deal or no Deal, Art Auctions all of which are closed when the ship is in port.

[Liao]

13 hours ago, canderson said:

Here's one variable that, if included in the algorithm, would certainly cause a different result -- number of port days vs. at-sea days.  For example, given that port days generate shorex revenue but at-sea days generate onboard revenue, what's likely the number of $ that a passenger will spend in cruise line bucks on a port intensive 14 day cruise vs. a 14 day transAtlantic?  While those would be at the extremes, certainly there would, on average, be a difference?

 

I'm sure there are many more, and more subtle ones that have been teased out of the data over the years by all of the lines.

 

 

Based on this, I am their ideal algorithm 🤑

[canderson]

28 minutes ago, the penguins said:

Ships lose money when they are docked.

Shore excursions generate very little profit when compared to the revenue from the Casino, shops, bars, speciality restaurants, bingo/ Deal or no Deal, Art Auctions all of which are closed when the ship is in port.

Exactly.

[TGfromTX]

20 hours ago, Liao said:

It’s interesting that it is not like this on all cruises, seems to be on a random basis.

I've had a couple of responses stating this isn't across the board, but I think I've filtered plum and ***** to look across all of Royal Caribbean and Celebrity cruises with the best result being a 99% supplement fee.  Same results even on their transatlantic and repositioning cruises where some other lines offer 0% and almost all other mass lines are significantly reduced supplement.  I consider these 2 lines amongst worst in industry for solo travelers, but I do plan to ask onboard at the 'next cruise' desk to see if they have means to cut a deal.

[TGfromTX]

7 hours ago, drakes2 said:

One positive is my return flight home on May 16th is direct and super cheap.

I was pricing out TA due to 0% solo supplement on a different cruise line and the cheapest flights I could find were $600-$800 USD.  Is this range you are considering super cheap?  Just trying to get a point of reference for a good deal since I have never flown overseas - Hawaii is as far as I've flown & it was under $300 each way.  

[drakes2]

10 minutes ago, TGfromTX said:

I was pricing out TA due to 0% solo supplement on a different cruise line and the cheapest flights I could find were $600-$800 USD.  Is this range you are considering super cheap?  Just trying to get a point of reference for a good deal since I have never flown overseas - Hawaii is as far as I've flown & it was under $300 each way.  

I live in Canada and found a direct Air transat flight Rome to Toronto,  Canada for $600.  That works out to around $430 USD. A great price considering I paid $1600 this April to fly home from Barcelona. Granted, I did book the cruise just weeks prior to sailing. 

[TGfromTX]

11 minutes ago, drakes2 said:

I live in Canada and found a direct Air transat flight Rome to Toronto,  Canada for $600.  

Interestingly, the cheapest flights I've found (between Europe ports & US) seem to be from Barcelona back to the US.  For some reason, going TO Europe seems more expensive.  What means did you use to get to the airport form port, taxi?  Was it under $100 USD? Thanks for all the info.

[drakes2]

1 hour ago, TGfromTX said:

Interestingly, the cheapest flights I've found (between Europe ports & US) seem to be from Barcelona back to the US.  For some reason, going TO Europe seems more expensive.  What means did you use to get to the airport form port, taxi?  Was it under $100 USD? Thanks for all the info.

I took the cruiseline shuttle which I booked at a sale price ($25 CAD) when I booked the cruise. Since I was solo didn't want to get into a taxi by myself especially in Barcelona. It worked out great. 

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

16 hours ago, drakes2 said:

I took the cruiseline shuttle which I booked at a sale price ($25 CAD) when I booked the cruise. Since I was solo didn't want to get into a taxi by myself especially in Barcelona. It worked out great. 

I've taken taxis several times in Barcelona by myself with nary an issue.

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

2 hours ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

I've taken taxis several times in Barcelona by myself with nary an issue.

Agreed.

[zgscl]

On 6/14/2024 at 8:40 AM, the penguins said:

I would tell them at check in - sorry due to work issues, flight delays or they simply decided not to travel, whatever - , the other passenger won't be travelling. At that point I suspect X's response will be that, as the missing passenger might board later in the cruise, they will have to sort out any refunds (port fees, taxes etc) at the end of the cruise.

If going this route I would simply say nothing at check in or a vague they are flying in seperately. No reason to open a can of worms when checking in. 
 

That being said I wouldn’t personally do this. Whether or not X is enforcing no show fees on double bookings that will now be solos is debatable, but I wouldn’t personally risk it. I’d much rather find a different line that doesn’t force me to play games.