Mark_T

Both require that the cruise was booked with Celebrity, and that is the bit that the response from Celebrity is putting in doubt, soon as that is cleared up it will be more certain if Celerity have got it wrong...

I don't think that US customers have much to worry about, for the OP in the UK it is a little different, but what protection they have will only become clear once we know if they were booked directly with Celebrity, or if they purchased a package holiday which included a cruise with Celebrity...

... and of course, given it is a UK booking, we should assume that travel insurance was most likely taken as well, so that may be of assistance...

It may be a complete red herring, but the reference in the reply from Celebrity to contact the 'holiday booking company' suggests the OP may have purchased a 'package holiday' which included a cruise on a Celebrity ship, the rules for these can be a bit different. There is a company over here called ROL (Readers Offers Limited) they list all the various cruise company cancellation policies that are more flexible than usual, like the CWC policy from Celebrity, but include the following note: "Please note: All Flexible Cancellation Policies exclude all exclusive Reader Offers Limited Package Holidays. Standard cancellation rules apply for 2022 departures." If the OP can confirm who they booked with it may indeed just be a mistake that is easily fixed, but if it was one of the ROL packages that they booked then they need to deal with ROL regarding any cancellations, not Celebrity...

Who did you book with though? When you mentioned 'holiday booking company' it suggests that it wasn't booked direct with Celebrity, or booked via a Travel Agent, but some thing else...

Who did you book with? Was this a package put together by a 3rd party? If so then it is their terms that will apply to you rather than Celebrity's. Was that proof in the form of a lab test, or other similar report? ... for obvious reasons, photos of a self-test for example, would not be considered as 'proof'.

In the context of the tipping culture being forcefully represented here, yes, most would still tip, just less than would otherwise have been the case. Never going to resolve this on a forum, some will bring their own regional practices with them regardless of the local culture and will vigorously defend their approach as the only justifiable way to behave, as you can see in this thread. This is a good reason why this stuff is best not debated on here, just do as you feel appropriate and recognise great service where appropriate in whatever way you feel to be right, just don't seek to justify what I hope most would agree is unfair (removing auto-tips on the last evening for example) and on the flip side, if at all possible don't try to bully others into following what you do just because it is 'normal' for you...

My comment was poorly phrased, and the short edit time prevents changing it, but it was phrased as a question to the OP, as in 'were you explicitly told...'

Have been explicitly told that the test does not have to be monitored? When they say you have to present a negative test result that pretty much ensures that it can't be one you have done yourself like the UK self-test kits as there is no documented result to present? I would have thought the easiest solution was to check the availability of rapid testing services in Canada...

We do have to get used to these variants, and others to come, being around for the foreseeable future and as long as we do not see significant rises in hospitalizations they really shouldn't be influencing our decisions unless personally you have significant co-morbidities... Waiting for there to be no variants out there would mean the end of travel within their remaining lifespan for many people...

Yes, you can buy in advance with OBC, you just can't make the actual reservations before you board.

Usually we find the 3 night package is not worth having, but once you go up from there it is a decent saving if you are not fussy about when and where you will eat each night.

My wife's took a little over 3 weeks last month. Applied online then mailed the old passport in.

Talk to your Sommelier, the menu does not show everything that is available.

A sensible move from the looks of things.

We pretty much made Murano our MDR last cruise, excellent food and spectacular service every time. There was nothing wrong with the 'warm water' lobster tail either.

Better hope that is 'cancel for any reason' insurance as failing to ensure you have a valid passport isn't usually covered... Hopefully this isn't a recent booking and the CWC guaranty will be the answer...

The UK is already onto a 2nd card and our PDF versions run to multiple pages so the cruise lines are used to not having everything on one card/page. Whatever they give you next is not likely to be a problem as it is not like there is a consistent international standard now, so an extra card, or a replacement card with everything on shouldn't be a concern.

They will hold back space to be reserved once you are onboard, but you certainly can't depend on being able to walk-up to Murano and get a seat, but you can often do that with the Sushi restaurant. Never hurts to ask though, but if you want to be sure of eating in a particular venue at least once then try to make a reservation on the day you board, if not before, then take your chances on the other nights.

This is not something we are ever likely to get agreement on, I just adapt according to where I am. I've never removed tips on a cruise, and as I've said, I know what is expected when I'm in a country that expects it. What I do not do is try to do it anyway when in countries that do not expect it. Respect the country/culture of the place you are in.

So bribe the server in an attempt to skip the line... doesn't sound quite so noble that way around though does it? This is one of the least welcome exports from the US in countries that didn't have this as a problem originally. I know that nothing will change this behavior, I've been well trained in the art of competitive tipping during the time I've spent living in the USA, and I do know when a bribe is customary in the US, just a pity it couldn't have stayed in the US.

Also some of the reasons why we have not recently been back to Regent. The Celebrity product meets our needs very well these days.

That is an interesting perspective.. have you ever considered that if you hadn't trained them to know that you would tip in those circumstances, the availability that was there all along to meet your request would not have mysteriously vanished in the first place.. ? 🙂 We have had some interesting conversations with guides in countries where tipping was not a national habit, about how the locals have learned to encourage it once they discovered that certain nationalities expected to tip and believed it would get them better service, when the locals were keen to provide great service anyway...

The only other one that comes to mind is the Martini bar where it is not uncommon to tip a little extra to the bar staff in appreciation of their performance in the preparation of your drink, even if you have the Premium Package which includes the tip. I do understand your motivation having been a Regent cruiser originally an d yes, it does take a little effort to get used to the differences with Celebrity.

Currently the app doesn't even let you select anything beyond the Sept 24 - Oct. 1st cruise and that one is only partially populated with place-holder data so I really wouldn't worry, it all gets filled in as you get closer.