gergles

To be clear, you do not need to purchase Persian Garden access to use a sauna. There is one located in each changing room, which is in the spa area, but does not require spa access to use.

You can start boarding at the same time as everyone else, but status may let you get through the line faster. (There are different lines for the different status levels which may or may not move faster than the "everyone else" line.)

On the last sailing I was on, I saw them politely ask people to go to a different bar if they ordered something blended. I wouldn't want them to have to disappear to find a blender either!

Never knock free.

 

Wonder what if anything they'll add to the buffet to replace it.

I believe I read that they've added more pizza and pasta selections during the hours sushi used to be served.

I still would love to hear examples of this 'extra service' that justifies tipping more than the already extortionate 18%. If it's just "skipping the line", I feel it's unethical to pay for that.

What else are they doing for you? Shoe shines? Like, I legitimately cannot imagine what 'extra' 'above and beyond' service a bartender can provide that would justify any additional tips.

The Martini Flight is not included and if you order it even with the premium package you have to pay full price.

Has sushi been removed from the buffet in an attempt to continue the price gouging

Yes, on ships that have converted to SO5.

I&J, Equinox is 8/6, it's in the list.

I got my package as a perk with gratuities perk and I am trying to get a 'translation' of GOBETTER BEVGRT with a cost beside it and I was told that I can decided what it is - gratuities or cost for beverage package.....

BEVGRT is both a beverage package and your daily gratuities.

All customary and expected tips are included between the drink package and the daily service charges (and the specialty dining charge if you choose to eat there). Any additional tipping is at your discretion and is not required, expected, or usual.

SO5 is a la carte. There's a menu posted in a different thread; the pricing is extravagant.

I don't agree with the "it's all just more choices" cutback cheerleaders (I think I'm just sensitive to that because my first cruise was on NCL which is now officially the Nickel Collecting Line, and that forum is the paragon of that argument.)

You used to get sushi for free in the buffet. Now you don't. You have the 'choice' to pay more money for what you used to get included in the fare. I don't view that as X being such gracious and wonderful hosts to magnanimously extend us the option to partake of sushi, I view it as them miserly demanding $10 for a California roll in a ship where meals are allegedly included in the fare.

I view this as another cutback; while the buffet sushi was never outstanding, it was certainly serviceable. Removing the sushi from the buffet and putting it in a wildly expensive specialty restaurant is a bad move, IMO.

(I live in Manhattan and wouldn't pay anywhere near $10 here for a California roll. The prices are crazy town.)

No pizza near the pool, but there is some in the buffet, though I do agree that the room service pizza is much better.

Be warned, one new thing since you last sailed is that room service now has a charge of $5 between 11pm and 6am.

If diners were texting, watching videos, or playing games when seated at a large table with diners other than their own group (traditional dining), yes, this would be rude.

I disagree. They're not obligated to entertain you.

There have been reports that Celebrity reports large on board purchases to US Customs, and when the purchasers leave the ship at the end of the cruise, they are stopped for inspection when they swipe their key cards, identifying themselves. I don't know if this is true, but I have read enough reports over the last few years that I thought I should mention it.

Customs is very far away from when you get your final scan off the ship, so that isn't likely.

It is quite possible that Celebrity sends a list of names of large purchases to Customs, though, and that they could cross-reference that before letting you leave.

Re: another poster mentioning that the prices are "duty free" -- keep in mind that this isn't some magic wand that prevents you from having to pay import duties when you bring the item back into the US. If you bring newly-purchased items back that are over the amount of your personal exemption, you must declare them to Customs and may be required to pay duty on it (the duty for most watches you'd buy on a cruise is 4.2%).

The concept of "non-refundable" is a fiction made up by X to enhance their profit margin; let's not pretend like it's some sacrosanct ideal that we all need to uphold. If I'm told "you get $500 for booking a cruise" and then it turns out to be 500 Celebrity Fun Bucks only redeemable on their overpriced tat, that's not the same thing, and it's dishonest to act like it is.

The new rule is, if you have obc you can only take it out in the casino in promotional chips for the blackjack or roulette tables, or as downloadable credits to be played in any slot machine.

OBC doesn't even post to the account for 2 days. How on Earth are they enforcing this?

Can you link me to someone that has explained this as happening? I can't imagine this being the case unless someone stupidly goes "Hi, I'd like to cash out OBC" instead of just saying "$300 please".

However, one caveat is that the TA is possibly quoting you a combined amount, where some of the OBC is from Celebrity and some is from them. You won't know for certain how it is split until your 2nd day onboard, when you can look on the TV in your room for "OBR" (refundable if you don't spend it) and "OBN" (not.) Purchases onboard will deplete your OBN first.

If it's all from Celebrity (none from a travel agent, for example), it is use it or lose it.

You can, however, withdraw anything that's left before the end of the cruise by going to the casino and asking for whatever amount you'd like in cash. Don't mention you're trying to cash out OBC, just ask them for however much money you need. The casino will charge a 5% fee for this service, but it beats a 100% fee that you'd pay if you let it be kept by Celebrity.

There's not a flat rate from LGA to/from Manhattan.

$40 is on the high side of average from the cruise terminal to LGA but not unrealistic based on traffic.

If you're planning on bringing 4 full-sized bags you are not going to have room to physically put them in the room. This is another extremely important thing to consider. You can put 1 full-sized bag under each bed, and you could probably put one more (standing) elsewhere in the room without obstructing the entire walking space, but beyond that would really be pushing it, IMO.

I am considering booking a cruise on the Summit departing this Saturday!!! the 23rd and looking at flying from Toronto to Miami and then on to San Juan. Surely this won't be a problem? Or am I being naive!?!?

Look at a globe and look at where the snowstorm is going to be. It certainly might be a problem depending on how well the airline is willing to divert around the storm (hint: it would be a LONG diversion from Toronto).

Yes, you can.

Just a note that popular excursions do sell out so if your plan is to use OBC to buy, make sure you buy first thing when you get onboard if there is any chance that missing that excursion would make you upset.

I maintain this is a terrible policy of Celebrity; other than excursions (which again, you run the risk of the one you want being unavailable) OBC can only be used on things where Celebrity has a grossly high margin (note that with Select Dining, which they're clearly trying to force everyone to, you can't use OBC for service charges). If you want to pass out money, pass out money, not "buy things you don't need and don't want" Fun Bucks. JMO.

The Classic drink package has always included all drinks at Cafe Al Bacio, so I'm not sure why you thought otherwise. This even includes the alcohol coffee drinks.

I was in a C1 (aft) on Silly and the balcony is basically entirely open. But definitely not the deal the Sweet 16 are.