UK1sttimer

Boarding will start around 11am. Suites can board anytime you like so the 2:30pm time doesn't matter.

We boarded edge a few weeks ago in retreat and was onboard within 10 mins of arriving.

10 hours ago, critterchick said:

Any chance you could ask the Retreat Host when they are coming back and post here? Thanks!

 

I spoke to the head butler just now and the new butlers for Sky Suites join tomorrow in Sydney.

No butlers for Sky Suite on the current cruise. I asked the concierge when they would be back and was told soon but no fixed date. 

I’m on the Edge now, no butler in Sky suite. 

I would go for Uber, the price difference is tiny if there are 2 people and much cheaper with more. (You would not be eligible for any concession or pensioner fares unless you are Australian ) 

I'm afraid the weather is only going to get hotter. I just checked the forecast for next week in Sydney as we are coming into the city to see the Edge, and 95 will seem cool.

Tips are included wherever the cruise leaves from as long as you book in Aus or NZ. 

It would do! They want you believe you are getting more value (also Celebrity IT isn't sophisticated enough for it to be different to the inclusions for the rest of the world.) 

if you booked an inside room only it would also include tips as per the faqs.

Celebrity realised years ago that the only way to get staff to crew Australian cruises was to build the cost into the base price as the gratuities were always being removed

11 minutes ago, Baynanno1 said:

No.

At least not when comparing yesterday's pricing with today's pricing in Australia.

 

A cruise we have booked for next year was priced at A$16,000 yesterday.

It included as does our booking - Premium Drinks, Premium WiFi, Gratuities and A$1200 OBC (converted from US$800).

 

That same cruise today is priced at A$15,200. It includes Premium Drinks and Premium WiFi.

It does not include Gratuities at US$23 per person, per day. Nor does it include any OBC.

 

So base price difference A$800 less.

But and it is a big but - the removal of Gratuities and OBC equates to A$2218, an actual comparative price difference in A$ of A$1418 more than yesterday's price!

But gratuities are included anyway in cruises booked in Australia so the difference is the $400 in OBC.

On our last Princess cruise we had a couple of drinks orders charged to our room number by someone else. The best thing was the charge for 764 coffees at international cafe, when we went to guest services they asked if we were sure that we didn't order them. We didn't even receive an apology despite having to wait for days for the thousands of dollars credit card hold to be released.

My wife noticed the credit card charge and was expecting something nice from the jewellery shop 😂

1 hour ago, cruzsnooze said:

So you're repeating what was stated, Americans are over charged on crew appreciation to supplement other countries. The dining room was never empty on any of my cruises when we tipped in cash, quite the contrary we were happy to see our tip going to the crew that deserved it. Now the pool has expanded to entertainment, revenue generating areas such a shops and shore excursions. 

Americans aren't overcharged gratuities, the cost is built into the cruise price when booking from those countries. The same 7 night New England cruise in October costs an extra $600 USD when booked in Australia.

The Australian terms and conditions still include free room service, and dont’t seem to have the we can change that at any time clause.

Room service

Room service is complimentary, except when ordered between 11pm – 6am when a service fee of US$4.95 will be charged. For Suite guests, room service is complimentary 24hrs a day. Room service is available on all ships, except Celebrity Xpedition, Flora, Xperience and Xploration.

wonder if anyone from Australia has disputed the room service charges?

Hi Sandra, welcome to cruise critic. The best way to find people on the same cruise as you is to head to the roll calls section. Looks like you have one of the more active ones for your cruise. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2100474