Wolf 8

Very good information, thank you.  We sail on 12/11/23 and it's a relief you didn't mention cabin popping and creaking or the musty odor that have recently been CC topics.  Safe travels home.

On 11/11/2023 at 7:36 PM, IDL said:

Is the Eden Cafe on Beyond open for lunch on embarkation day?

The app says no (at least for the 12/11/23 sailing).

10 minutes ago, CrossM2 said:

Does anyone know if it’s best to buy the package with your booking or wait? We are primarily beer drinkers so I’m thinking classic. Does anyone what beer is offered on Apex on celebrity ships?

Answer:  Buying a drink package pre-cruise is less expensive than onboard.  Find and compare the list of classic vs. premium package beers to make your decision.

54 minutes ago, jean87510 said:

That is on the cruise line to take care of their workers.  

I think you were trying to say, "It is on the cruise line to charge passengers enough to take care of their workers."  Or can you clue us in on some other cash inflow Celebrity has to achieve, "Economic justice"?

20 minutes ago, nferr said:

 I agree 100% on that. Or as part of fees and taxes.  

I also think folding gratuities into the fare is the best answer.  It weeds out the crowd who stiff the crew and that alone will enhance the onboard atmosphere for both crew and guests.  We would still have the power to report really bad service (and if it's not made right, go elsewhere next time) and, of course give cash tips for excellence.

23 minutes ago, georgetheblue said:

This whole drinks package upgrade thing just doesn’t make much sense.  I booked the AI back in June.  I kept receiving email offers to upgrade from the classic to premium bev pkg at a 20% discount.  Well, to only upgrade, they will not give the 20%.  I ordered and cancelled and reordered several times in the past months still trying for the 20% because it would only give me 5% discount.  Last week they email that because I had joined the Captains Club, call this # and receive 10%.  So I cancel the premium pkg again, wait for the OBC to go back into my account and call the # they gave me.  No problem at all, finally saved 10% on that premium package.  I know I will be using it because the martini bar martinis are $17 and the classic pkg only covers $10 and under.  I know it’s not much $$ but don’t offer it to me if I can’t have it.

This could save you more.  Log on to your Celebrity account and go to the, Plan My Cruise" section to see if, "Upgrade to Premium Drink Package" is offered at a lower price than you've paid.  If so, go to your, "Order History" and cancel your existing drink upgrade; the OBC will be put back in your account immediately (refresh your screen to confirm it).  Than purchase the upgrade online (don't call them) at the lower price.  I did this last week and dropped my upgrade price from $466 to $184 for 11 nights.

I respect that we must each measure our own generosity.  Personally, I pay the daily gratuity fee and at the end give cash tips to staff who were good to us.  But I also have selfish motives.

I've heard that crew may learn en-route which cabins removed their gratuities. I ask, "Would I really want to offend someone who will be alone with my toothbrush day after day?

On 10/10/2023 at 8:19 AM, peachcreamsicle said:

Anyone else not receive Power Up Points emails? Not sure how I can opt in?  

Opt-in: Log on to your Celebrity account > Click the top Celebrity Logo > Click your name (on right) > Click the "Subscribe" envelope icon at the upper-right > enroll.

On 10/31/2023 at 3:24 PM, firefly333 said:

Well darn my first b2b2b and tips are up.

I think the notice says if you prepay your gratuities before 11/11 you will not be charged the higher rate when you sail.  Enjoy your b2b2b.  On your 2nd and 3rd embarkation days you should receive an invitation to the Concierge lunch in main dining and find some goodies delivered to your stateroom.  Enjoy!

I consider it RCL's finest moment that they have Rhapsody evacuating America citizens.  I'll make it a point to say so in person to the officers of Celebrity Beyond when we're on her month after next. 

Our Dec 2022, "Book Now or Book Later" form from on the Silhouette says, "Within 1 year choose your next Celebrity Cruises vacation."  They honored it 8/31/23 (and credited the OBC) when we booked the Beyond for Dec. 2023.

Additional nonsense:  I wait until the day before debarkation to buy the, "Book later" deal (why start the clock early?).  At home I look for their periodic, "Limited time offer! 2x Captain's Club points to book your Future Cruise!" emails.

This morning I booked a C1 cabin on the Beyond 12/11/23 11 day sailing with, "All Included" drinks, WiFi and gratuities. Tonight I saw this thread and my BP spiked until I confirmed the gratuities change does not apply to me. . . YET.

No, I am not thrilled with Celebrity's sharply higher prices and cost cutting.  But they are trying to stay afloat with crushing debt and INFLATION.  Value investors know RCL has negative free cash flow and a deathbed Quick Ratio courtesy of the pandemic. 

I'm just grateful Celebrity is still afloat and we are still afloat to enjoy it.  Glass half full or half empty?

Given how over-the-top, "Inclusive and accepting" Lisa Lutoff-Perlo has been, when she announced she was, "Transitioning" my first thought was she'd be back in 6 months as Leo Lutoff-Perlo.  Promoting Laura Hodges Bethge who's run the logistical side can only be an improvement.

After we book I buy 100 RCL shares if the technical measures (SMI, MACD,etc.) show it's hit the bottom of its day range and rising.  I then immediately put in a limit sell order and use the purchase confirmation for the OBC.  But as a value investor, with a ROIC of -$8.59, FCF per share of -$12.55 and worse, a Quick Ratio of 0.35 RCL is disqualified on just the fundamentals.

Have an amazing time.  Don't waste a moment. . . . .sleeping can wait for home.  And FYI - If you see an appetizer on the menu you like, ORDER TWO! (Trust me, it's OK).

Tomorrow my wife and I (I married better than she did) fly to Miami and board the Silhouette Monday to celebrate 38 years of my good fortune.  🥰

With age (then early 60's) and growing net worth we moved up to Celebrity about 5 years ago.  We always enjoy the few bold young ones who find themselves among fossils yet are willing to get their party on.  They would never guess that 300 years we could drink & dance all night (then function at work the next day).  We ran Boston and the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim a few times, too.

What I do find strange is are the folks my age and younger who only semi-awaken to songs from the 1950's or elder.  And they play Canasta.  They are proper and act their age.  Forgive me, but I have not forgotten seeing Van Halen, Pat Benatar, ZZ Top and AC/DC back in the day.  Nobody played Canasta.

Still Celebrity ships are magnificent, the food is amazing, the staff are wonderful and I can seamlessly enjoy some and let the rest slide to the side. . . . .

Last January on the Silhouette they showed NFL playoff games which were of course Sunday broadcasts not weekday streaming.  NFL games are sparse onboard but boy, if you want cricket you'll be in heaven. 

Excellent answers from all about B2B.  My wife and I will be doing our first B2B (Silhouette 12/5/22 to 12/15/22 then 12/15/22 to 12/19/22).  Does anyone know if B2B guests have to get of the ship then get back on before new passengers arrive?  Also, is it true that on turnaround day B2B guests are served lunch in the main dining room?  Thanks!

1 hour ago, tigger54 said:

Ok got it. Thank you all for your help.

If you are sailing on Celebrity you will need to download the Celebrity app rather than the one for parent company Royal Caribbean.  You will also need to create an account with Celebrity (booking a cruise with them does not do that) to log in via the app.  It's definitely worth it for checking in, completing the embarkation day emergency drill and knowing what's happening onboard each day.

One last thing, it's worth it to select your boarding time slot using the app as soon as it's available.  The first slots are usually 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and they usually go fast.  Have fun!

2 hours ago, GWNiemi said:

I have enjoyed the RCCL shareholder credit for about 20 years.  I didn’t realize that so many others are receiving the credit.  Anyone have an opinion as to how many cruisers are shareholders?

I've encountered others on Celebrity ships who take advantage of the shareholder OBC.  Given the demographics on board I would not be surprised if at least 10% own RCL stock.  I've never owned more than the 100 shares but between price appreciation & call premiums I've always made money with it.   

We will be on the 12/5/22 Silhouette sailing.  Our embarkation ritual is (1) Passport bar for celebratory glasses of Champagne then, (2) the Mast Grill at 11:30 a.m. for lunch.  We sailed Celebrity 12 months ago and I'll know if the hamburgers or the special sauce have changed. 

Mast Grill lunch on embarkation day is heaven.  Safely onboard with iced cold beer, burgers, thick fries, the working world down below and an entire cruise ahead.  Come to think of it, it's a, "Cheeseburger in paradise".☺️

This year we sailed on both Harmony and Silhouette.  IMHO the comparative value of their loyalty programs pales to the experience being sought.  Celebrity main dining and lounges offer superior fare, service & atmosphere.  Celebrity staff are very, very cool.  RCL ships have the Flow-rider & slides.  RCL has superior production shows.  RCL is family-friendly and raucous while Celebrity markets to an older, affluent clientele and some LGBTQ types seeking safe spaces among oldies.

My advice is don't pinch pennies on loyalty bennies, pick the experience you' re hoping for.

Today the Celebrity site homepage has an announcement that Covid-19 tests are no longer required for cruises departing from U.S. ports after 11/2/22.  Did I just make your day or what?

16 minutes ago, reallyitsmema said:

 

Adventure doesn't have Royal Suite Class.

You are indeed correct that RCL Adventure has no Royal Suite Class.  It does however have suite categories of sufficient expense to ameliorate the needs of those who book passage in steerage then yip because they failed to read the details of when they'll take their meals.  My bad.

3 hours ago, OnTheJourney said:

We're scheduled on the Adventure in the near future, and I just noticed today that MTD - as we're typically assigned to beCAUSE of being able to eat early - is now listed as not starting till 6:30 - an hour later than the early MDR seating. I'm not happy. 6:30 is way too late for us especially since we like to catch the earlier show time. I'm thinking we should have our TA change us to the early seating so as to get in by 5:00 - 5:30. Not sure I can do this myself on the website.  If we do the MDR though and can't reserve a table for two, we'll probably scratch the MDR completely and just do the buffet, and then might strongly consider not cruising with RCL in the future. 

An answer to your dilemma would be revising your booking to Star class.  It includes complete specialty dining and a concierge to arrange both satisfactory mealtimes and a table 4 2.