Fossil1948

Seems to me that Black Friday is just a way to promote sales without identifying what savings are being made! Prices advertised quote "half price second guest", "half price gratuities", "port parking", "OBC" so you really need to know what prices were 2-3 months ago.

Always dubious about sales...

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Celebrity charge $65 a day for classic package which limits you to just a few off of the total selection of wines available, Pinot Grigio, Cab Sav, etc.

So if you're happy with those and stick to 4 a day, youre gonna come out in front. If you drink more, take the package. You can always take the package part way through for temaining days?

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Well, I guess I will have to forfeit the "free" wine option with this cruise although I'm still tempted to press the TA to provide wine or other goods to the value stated on their correspondence? May not come to anything but I do feel cheated of I don't get the wine as stated, even if it is poor quality it could be used in cooking?

Well, I've said exactly that to the TA and asked that they provide the wine as stated on the offer. Probably won't get a good outcome but, hey, it's worth a try.

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I didn't have a dinner suit on our first cruise so bought one for our second as most wore black tie for our first cruise. The format changed to Chic, which has opened interpretation issues, but didn't see anyone stopped from entering the dining room. I am still taking black tie for future cruises until fancy dress is acceptable because I can...

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Logged on at 03:30 this morning to find no reservations displayed. Then a message saying maintenance work fom 03:00 until late on today, think it said 23:00...

Hopefully, all will be restored then?

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Oh well, I'll let it go and move on. Live and learn...

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It seems you don't "get what you pay for" anymore, you get what you're given

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We've just been caught out by a "shared transfer"

It wasn't something we asked for, it was just part of the deal and no mention was made of the transfer when cruise was booked. However, after a two hour flight to Rome, we were made to wait for 2.5 hours at the airport for another flight to land before transport finally arrived to take us and passengers from the other flight to our hotels! It was 4 hours after landing that we were eventually dropped at our hotel due to the fact that the transport dropped off 8 other couples at various different hotels all over Rome. Is this what you would expect? I thought the "share" meant just people on our flight...

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Hi,

A case of 6 bottles of wine is part of my cruise booking but in order to claim it, i need to disclose my credit card details? Is this normal?

Naked Wine gets some "reviews" that are not totally satisfying?

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Be aware, scans are made for "smugglers". Vodka in water bottles is a favourite...

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I am not that experienced with booking cruises either directly or through a TA but I have learned quickly from mistakes made from the outset.

Firstly, know what you want. I.E. Destinations, stateroom, OBC, drinks package, etc. Then, if using a TA, tell them and get the best price quote.

It sometimes better to get OBC if you dont drink a lot of alcohol as your OBC may cover your drinks cost? If you go as a couple, and one person drinks, then buy one drinks package and charge any other drinks to your sea pass card and pay at the end of the cruise. You can monitor charges on the room TV program...

You can also take a drinks package part way through your cruise and pay for remaining days...it's flexible.

Only certain stateroom grades may carry an inclusive drinks package, oceanview and above...check costs without a drinks package and then with a drinks package. If the difference is more than $65 a night per person, a drinks package may be warranted.

You need to know if you're gonna get value for money.

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Hi. As you've booked through a TA, you should have no problem - check with them as they are your interface with Celebrity. I made the mistake of booking personally and lost my drinks package as I booked a guarantee room so be careful of that if you do it yourself...

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11 nights ultra all - inclusive in 5* hotel in Egypt with flight included, £880.00 per person. Wonderful hotel, great food. Works out at £80.00 per night. All food, all drink. Still available...

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That must be MY OBC???

All gratuities gratefully accepted.

Strange isn't it? You get extra and I get lose mine...Ah well, that's life...

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Good points, well made.

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As I have said before, you are easy prey to this kind of online booking of unscrupulous companies but you live and learn. I have booked many other offers with British companies with no problems. It just makes you mistrust the Americans. If you offer website booking, there really should be complete transparency. Let's hope I'm not fool enough to not learn from the experience? What is unforgiveable is the fact that nobody from Celebrity answered my emails regarding the perks directly after booking when I could have re booked with a TA!

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As I've said, I've since spoken to TA's but the cruise is full and apparently there is no leeway.

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I spoke to Janna (?) Who was very helpful as opposed to the first person I spoke with who was very "strict", and seemed not very accommodating...wish I'd have spoken to Janna first call? Also, I'd emailed very soon after booking (and twice more since)to confirm the drinks package inclusion but 5 weeks later, still no response? This could have been pain - free weeks ago!

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Well worth taking this approach!

Seems like the way forward...

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I am trying to understand (after the event) just what the difference in price is between booking "guaranteed" and selecting a stateroom? If the difference is around the cost of a "Classic" drinks package and $300 OBC, then no harm done. However, I still feel let down by not being advised online during booking!

By the way, I've been subsequently introduced to a travel agent, whom despite having no financial incentive re this booking, has been very helpful in explaining a few things and I will certainly use him to book any future cruises...

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Thanks to all for your replies. I would start by saying I have spoken to Celebrity here in the UK and did indeed cancel the cruise on the proviso that I got a full refund. I was offered nothing by way of my ignorance, being a first time cruiser. Then, having discussed further with my wife, we decided that we were so looking forward to our first cruise as all the elements seemed to fit our criteria, that I rang Celebrity back to see if we could get the cruise reinstated? With this manager's help, the cruise has been recovered and we are now going. We were given an OBC of $200 which is good but obviously far short of what was originally on offer. I do hope the cruise meets our expectation as it will surely cost us more than if we had selected a stateroom in the first place and paid the higher price?

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Pay the admin (about £35 per person) to change the booking.

I've contacted Celebrity and all I'm told is "when you ticked the guarantee" box, you were advised that no other offers could be included". How flaky is that as a get-out clause? Surely what you are giving up and at what cost, should be advised at that point?

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

 

Please say you did not book online :eek:

 

A phone call to Celebrity would be well worth your effort

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Sad to say, I booked on line. When I questioned why I did not receive the deal as stated, I was told by Celebrity I got the stateroom type at a lesser price - it seems about £150 cheaper than my neighbour but lost £1000 worth of benefits.

What do I do?

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