MrsKNZ

Ereggae, I'm not sure I see the significance of pointing out that it was a female "genius" who was tasked with managing Celebrity's loyalty program that you appear to be annoyed with. My hope is, and I'm guessing I'm correct, is it was just a description that probably isn't necessary.

Agreed. How on earth is that relevant?

Both of us are 35. Going to Europe in July for the month, France, UK (well, London), Greece, Istanbul embark cruise to Rome, Paris, then home. He's been twice before, me once. Have been to USA twice as well. More worried about US than Europe, and that's not much at all. You only live once, I'd rather live and experience than live in fear. I believe in treating people (regardless of their differences to me) the way I'd like to be treated, and quite frankly, if my time is up, remember me as someone who lived well with kindness to others. An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind - and I'll happily travel while we're still only at pinkeye stage.

Loving your review & your pictures are great! :)

 

 

 

This ship was one of our favorites when she sailed out of Ft. Laud. FL

 

Can't believe how much the Martini's have gone up in price! When we were on the ship they were $10. ea. ! I guess it pays to have the Bev Pkg. !! :D

I think this cruise was one of those that includes gratuity in the price (non-tipping countries) [emoji4]

Nope, I hate peanut butter and I imagine there are many who are allergic to peanuts.

 

Ice cream is probably the only universally loved food. :D

I can agree with this - PB&J seems uniquely American, not universal or even global [emoji4]

Oooh, that looks really good - and sake too! We're booked on EQ in July, I'm actually hoping this is there for that cruise- as sad as I am about missing crepes, I love me some good sashimi and sushi (as well as the rest!). Would've loved tataki and Takayuki as well, but I'll take it. I guess for me, I'll be winning either way (and Celebrity will get some extra $$ from me) [emoji41]

My point is that the cost of these perks is built into the price of the cruise. I'm sure the price of our cruise with the built-in perks is quite a bit greater than it would be with no perks. In the past, I recall others noting that when various promotions came out, the price of the cruise went up.

 

 

 

It seems that total-package pricing benefits Celebrity if a person must cancel within the penalty period.

 

 

 

Previously, if you had separately purchased a drinks package, OBC, internet, pre-paid grats, etc., you would get 100% of these costs reimbursed if you had to cancel during the penalty period, right? Your travel insurance wouldn't have to cover these reimbursable items.

 

 

 

Now, you have a higher price for the total package with "included" perks. You won't be reimbursed for these unused perks if you have to cancel. You'd need greater travel insurance coverage.

As previous poster says, you are covered for the price you paid. If you purchase the perks separately, Celebrity can refund those separately. Your travel insurance will refund the cruise price paid (including the perks if you did it that way).

Are ALL day stops in Istanbul gone then? I just got an invoice itinerary showing they're stopping there. :confused:

Not sure. All I know is people have posted that their day stops have gone, but embarking/disembarking is still happening. This is NOT because of violence, but the port upgrades (which makes sense to me, yes they've been scheduled for a while, but the impact may not have been fully known/construction planning may be behind schedule).

I think Celebrity are not using Istanbul now(??), our cruise did include a stop there but has been cancelled & are also monitoring the situation for Kusadasi.

That's for day stops. They're still embarking/disembarking from Istanbul.

I'm booked on this cruise too, and booked my flights via NZ travel agent months ago. I took out travel insurance which should pay out if embarkation location changes. If not, I'm only out $600 NZD because we're visiting elsewhere in Europe beforehand and flying from there to Istanbul (via Athens, which seems to be the most likely replacement from what I've been seeing). Maybe turn it into an adventure by visiting somewhere else first as well?

+1. My thoughts exactly. And much more concisely put.

Ditto! And I amend my earlier comment to 'at least two' without hairy chests [emoji6]

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I would also point out to the hairy chested amongst you that whilst there may be violence in the US they are rather random and not concentrated in a certain area and counter terrorism work is probably more robust than in Turkey. It should further be noted that the violence is escalating and that the underlying cause is still very much alive and well and the actions are undertaken by organised groups with extensive networks and support rather than lone wolf nutter attacks.

The implication of the above being that those of us who have raised violence in the US in this thread are hairy chested. That's a generalisation of our physical characteristics (quote from free dictionary.com: a basis of generalisation that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning). Either way, inaccurate description of at least one of the posters who disagree with the implied description of Turkey being too dangerous to visit and the US as being 100% safe. For whatever reason.

Ephesus is a long way from the violence and I would deem it safe to travel to (I was there less than 6 months ago). Istanbul is another matter and although the most recent event has been in Ankara there was an event there very recently that was in the very area where tourists congregate in large numbers. The sites of interest there are in a relatively smallish area.

 

I would also point out to the hairy chested amongst you that whilst there may be violence in the US they are rather random and not concentrated in a certain area and counter terrorism work is probably more robust than in Turkey. It should further be noted that the violence is escalating and that the underlying cause is still very much alive and well and the actions are undertaken by organised groups with extensive networks and support rather than lone wolf nutter attacks.

 

 

 

Would you swim at a beach where there had been numerous attacks and there were increasing numbers of sharks in the same area?

 

Just saying.

Hairy chested? Funny, I've never noticed having a hirsute bosom before. Your argument would be taken more seriously if you didn't stoop to that sort of generalisation.

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Using that logic, I would never visit the US, given the rampant gun violence, home grown terrorists, and the foreign terrorist threat.

 

Yet somehow, no one ever brings that up around here after a particular violent act. Should we have stopped cruising from the West coast due to the San Bernardino violence? Perhaps have dropped the East coast after the Boston bombings, the chopping of police officers in New York, 9/11, the sniper shootings in DC and surrounding areas, Ft Hood, and so on... Yet somehow, the US keeps encouraging visitors to keep coming, that somehow it's a one-off event, etc... I would think we could extend the same view to other overseas areas.

 

Everyone has to evaluate their own safety and risk tolerance. Obviously we shouldn't put ourselves in specific harm's way if we can help it, ie I wouldn't be touring Syria just now, but I also won't be writing off an entire area for violence that is hundreds of miles away, just as I don't write off the entire US due to the violence there.

Absolutely agree!

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I've travelled UK, Europe, US, Australasia and the Pacific Islands. There's nowhere in the world completely safe. Especially in election years! There is NO place in the world where you are completely safe from random acts of violence, regardless of the particular reason behind it. Our definition of terrorism, is their definition of patriotism. So I don't let either definition affect me [emoji4]

There is danger everywhere. It may be worth, if your travel is being curtailed by something like this, to look at the odds of being killed (I.e not dying through natural causes), in any other way than terrorist attacks, vs odds of being killed by terrorists. I'm thinking it's pretty high. Car accidents, acts of nature, acts of violence not related to specific religious or political terrorism, all of these things are more prevalent the terrorism. And yet, I drive, walk, travel, live, without fearing everything around me that could possibly kill me.

I'm embarking from Istanbul on X in July. And greatly looking forward to it!

Thank you for that, Mic. I'm a Monkey, and that all rings true, right down to a career as a business analyst! Happy Year of the Monkey to all [emoji41]

I really don't understand what your problem is. People are basically allowed to wear what they please now. Isn't that good enough? I seems the ones who want a separate formal dining room are the ones who are able to wear more casual clothing now.

 

This comes directly from the Celebrity website so why you would think anyone is "snubbing" their nose at suggested dress is beyond me. Relax and be happy and don't worry if someone decides to dress up.

 

"Evening Chic means that you can get glamorous and be sophisticated in your own way. If you would like to still wear a tuxedo or formal gown on Evening Chic nights, you absolutely should.

 

All cruises that are 7 nights or longer will feature two Evening Chic nights. Any cruise 6-nights or shorter will feature one Evening Chic night. All other nights of the cruise will feature Smart Casual attire. Celebrity Xpedition will continue to feature casual attire for the entire cruise."

I think Slidergirl was agreeing with the new dress code, but saying she supports a separate area for those to go who feel that their entire holiday is ruined because of what a stranger wears (I.e not formal, dressy, classy enough for them). And, if I'm correct, I agree. If what I'm wearing is within the stated dress code, but someone just doesn't like it, it's their problem not mine, and I don't want to hear about it [emoji41]

On my invoice it has 'Go Best' charge, and the OBC as a separate box. It doesn't specify what 'Go Best' actually contains, but I've taken a screen shot of the website with the package and the charge so I can use this is we run into any issues later.

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I live in Devonport, work in Grafton (just back before the hospital on your walk), and sketched a wave to your ship as we drove past on the way home at around 4.30pm yesterday! Glad the weather held for you (it's been threatening storms for the past week or so), although today is nicer and less muggy. Glad you enjoyed our little burg [emoji4]

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But any way for those nice people who do not feel the need to put down posters because you don't like their questions:

 

 

 

I just spoke with someone very nice at Celebrity--got the price points for any one who is interested. Above poster doesn't need to read my post since she finds it upsetting for some reason.

 

 

 

Go Big: includes $300 OBC OR gratuities OR Classic Beverage package or 1 unlimited internet.

 

Go Better: for $135 more per person, can pick two of those choices.

 

Go Best for $405 more per person ( or $270 more from Go Better rate) you will get Premium Beverage package and the rest-----

 

 

 

So whichever package we choose we would need to get a separate internet package in any case. So now, by purchasing what we would use seperately:

 

\Our gratuities would be $242 and change, basic soda and water package is $389 and change, and unlimited internet for 2 would be $ 400.00---

 

I should mention that we did have the classic alcohol package on the Summit and only had 6 alcoholic drinks in 7 days between the two of us. That was included in the 123 ALL IN package.

 

So now, I will try to do the math my self, with my feeble brain. Then I will re post to see if hopefully any KIND person agrees with me, or is nice enough to state his/her opinion. Thanks again. Sincerely, Anita

I wasn't being unkind, or upset by your post. I was suggesting a way for you to work it out yourself and possibly avoid the flaming and attacks I've seen others who have asked CC to tell them to do, have suffered. But hey, never mind then [emoji4]

Well, there should be information on the Celebrity site that allows you to cost each of those things separately vs the promo cost. I.e unlimited internet for 9 nights =$250 pp or whatever, gratuities are $14 pppn, so $252 total ($126 each), etc. the. You can do the maths as to whether bundling it is better for you. Asking people here to tell you what to do is a no-win for both sides.

Agreed - I can only get the NZ prices online, which obviously will differ from the US that I will be charged on board (want to use OBC instead of prepay). And there's nothing that specifies the exchange rate at Celebrity, so maths doesn't help [emoji6]

Nope. I set a base budget for our travel, and as long as what we want is achievable within that, I don't let the rest get to me. I've had to compromise (due to the crappy exchange rate) on a couple of things for our July Europe trip (slightly cheaper accommodation mostly), but not to a point where I feel I won't enjoy myself as much. We're both salary earners, have 30 years til retirement in NZ, no mortgage, no kids. Can't take it with us, so we're having fun!

Ah the heady days of cruising and the exchange rate in the other direction :D I remember my first cruise, the exchange rate was something like $1.17 US to $1 AUD. I regret now that I did not buy a heap of US dollars at that point and squirrel them away for future holidays where I needed US$.

Wowzers! And here was me regretting not stockpiling at 85c USD TO $1NZD a couple of years ago! Ahhhh, if only we knew the. What we know now [emoji4]

T&C have changed slightly recently, to put UK cruisers in line with those from US, so you can now transfer a booking ONCE to another cruise, BUT it has always been the case up until very recently that we loose our deposit if we cancel a cruise. No choosing to take a non - refundable deal, that's how it is!

That sucks, but as other posters have stated, UK customers can book through US TA's and get the US rules. At the end of the day though - if you book through UK, you are agreeing to forfeit your deposit if you cancel. OP knew that, agreed to that, and have now changed their mind. Why should Celebrity pay for them to get a lower price against the agreed terms? Imagine the outcry if it went the other way, if Celebrity could charge more if the cost of the cruise goes up, regardless of what price was originally agreed!