Ninotchka

Not on Equinox, 6/25 sailing. A thousand other delicious things are, though!

Thank you! This was helpful. I'd been fixating on the end of the text string and not the beginning. When I looked more closely and ignored the rest, I saw that some of them were OBN and some were in fact OBR.

Appreciate the tip!

All your OBC is non-refundable. Don't know what all the rest of the codes stand for but all that is important is all yours start with OBN. OBR is refundable.

 

 

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So I figure that

OBN-ONB CREDIT PCP N $100

means nonrefundable, and

OBN-ONB CREDIT PCP R $100

means refundable.

But what do these mean?

OBN-ONB CREDIT GAP C $100

OBN-ONB CREDITS INDI $100

the codes are for TA-provided OBC, but I can't tell if it's refundable or not.

Thanks! Aboard Equinox now and having a fabulous time.

If the purpose of additional tip is to assure continued above and beyond service, what is the sense in giving it at the end of the cruise?

Well, clearly some people see it as a thank-you and not as an insurance plan. :)

Most people give a tip if they dine in specialty restaurants, $5-10 pp per meal.

 

It is customary to tip the porters a dollar or 2 per bag when you drop off your luggage.

 

If you go on an excursion it is customary to tip the guides.

 

If you get services in the salon or spa, it is customary to tip just like on land...I'm not sure whether or not Celebrity adds this on.

 

It is customary to tip a couple of dollars whenever you get room service.

Thank you! A year later, this is super helpful. Gearing up for our first cruise and trying to figure out how much cash to take, and in what denominations.

How much do you generally tip on excursions?

I also see online that there are still handicapped cabins available. Therefore we are not keeping one from someone who needs one. Why would a cruise line keep a handicap cabin available until the last booking date and then sail with an empty cabin?

 

 

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You've done absolutely nothing wrong, and it was reasonable to ask what the consequences would be for you if you were moved (presumably because someone who had booked a non-accessible cabin in that category decided that they needed an accessible one).

Frankly, I think a lot of people who have legitimately suffered because of inappropriate use of accessible spaces jumped on you without reading closely enough to see that your booking was entirely appropriate.

Enjoy your cruise. If someone ends up needing the accessible room, I hope you get bumped to something awesome!

Ok- you are getting all those features and how is it discrimination? I don't follow that logic. You aren't getting a standard cabin. You are getting a larger, specially equipped one. No one is saying that you can't travel. That would be discrimination. If you have to pay more for a larger cabin to accommodate you- that seems reasonable. In fact, you aren't guaranteed a stateroom on any ship. If they run out of disabled cabins, then you can't go. My suggestion would prevent people who don't need them in the first place from booking them.

I disagree entirely. Accessible cabins are there to permit those who need them to have the same experience (access!) as non-disabled people. They simply need more space to do so, and that shouldn't come with an extra charge. I really like this graphic:

http://img-9gag-fun.9cache.com/photo/ajAerM1_700b_v2.jpg

You are arguing for pic #1, equality -- everyone gets the same, regardless of need. #3 would be the best, but it's pretty hard to achieve on a cruise ship because space is so limited. So they go for #2, which allows equitable access for each type of cabin.

As far as I'm aware, these cabins are neither more expensive nor cheaper, which is exactly as it should be. That's why I conclude that if the accessible cabin was cheaper than the others, it's because it was the last one in that particular category. There's no other reason it would be cheaper.

Morally, no one should book an accessible cabin if they don't need it -- unless it's the last one, in which case it's irrelevant that a disabled person may need it more, because no one is going to be able to book that category of cabin. Disabled people will then have equal access to that particular category of cabin, which is to say, none.

Why do you think it was cheaper?

I pray you never need a accessible cabin

 

 

I am puzzled by your hostility. I absolutely think that people who need accessible cabins should have first preference… within a given category. "Because I want more space" is a lousy reason to book an accessible cabin. "Because there are no other cabins available in my desired category" is perfectly reasonable. Anyone who wants to to book next, whether they need accessibility features or not, is going to have to choose a different category.

Reread the post. You are wrong.

Okay, what in the post made you think that there were non-accessible cabins available in the same category? If the other cabins were more expensive, it's because they were in a different category.

Whoah, hang on, selfish-and-appalling folks. My read is that the poster got the last cabin available in the cheaper category, and that happened to be accesssible. I assume there are accessible cabins available in other categories. No harm no foul -- it's not rude or selfish to book the last cabin. Yes, it won't be available for someone who needs it,,,, because it's the last cabin! S/he did the right thing by booking it only when there was no other choice in that category. It'd be rude to do it when there were other choices, but that's not what happened.

Onboard, are there typically discounts on the packages, or only on individual meals? Thank!

Thank you! I'm glad to hear that they're sensible about it.

Sorry to hijack this thread, I just couldn't contain myself when my mineral water was threatened. :D. And yes, we have Premium.

Technically you aren't supposed to order two beverages at the same time. You will find that in the dining room you will order wine from a sommelier and sparkling water from a different person. You shouldn't run into trouble having both drinks in front of you at the same time.

Phew. Thank you!

-Newbie Cruiser

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

1. The beverage package on Celebrity doesn't work that way, you're allowed unlimited use daily, but you'll only be able to get one drink per order with your package(for example, you can't get both a soda and a cocktail or two cocktails at the same time on the same seapass card, you could, however get a soda at one bar, wait a couple minutes and then walk to a different bar and get a cocktail using the same card).

 

Wait what? I like to drink sparkling water with dinner -- does this mean that I won't be able to have a San Pellegrino and a glass of wine at the same time?

We're AQ and I'm optimistic about Blu -- but I wonder about the specialty venues. I'm particularly interested in Murano and Sushi on Five.

Getting glutened would give me a miserable 2-3 days so I'm not inclined to risk it if it's iffy. If anyone has experience, please share! Thanks.

Not OP, but this is great to hear! We are sailing in June and I have celiac disease. Aqua class, so will be at Blu. I've been a little nervous about lunches, since we won't be at Blu for those but it sounds like I'll be fine.

Wow. People have strong feelings about this! I was checking to see if there were any cruise-specific reasons -- concerns that wouldn't apply to any bill that were paid before its time.

I went ahead and paid it off, because the zing I get from looking forward to our paid-off cruise is greater than the amount of interest we would've gotten in four months.

I appreciate the input!

I hear ya! But money is only 100% fungible if you ignore the human element. I'll get considerable satisfaction out of knowing that our cruise is paid for. Just trying to suss what the risk actually is... I'll see what my TA says.

Anyone? Going on our first cruise to celebrate our 20th/4th -- 20 years of being together, 4 years of marriage!

Thanks! That sounds like a risk I can live with in return for the pleasure of knowing that it's paid for. :)

First time cruiser, first time poster!

My wife and I are going on a cruise for our 20th anniversary and we couldn't be more excited. We're going on Celebrity Equinox in June 2017.

We have already set aside the money, and I'd be happy to know that it's paid for. I feel pretty sure there aren't going to be any more price drops -- it looks like it's at a low (according to a price tracking site). Is there any disadvantage to paying in full before the due date?

Thanks! I'm sure I'll be back with many more questions. Very happy to have found this forum.