jg51

. Whoah! We are totally confused by what people are saying, seemingly in reply to our post -- which we have "re-quoted" at the top of this reply. We beg everyone to explain things more clearly and at greater length, if you have something that is truly germaine to the specific subject that we have raised. Thank you! We are not at all interested (or asking) about purchasing a single meal (or multiple meals) in specialty restaurants [SRs] PRIOR TO our cruise. Please do not respond about pre-cruise purchases! We are asking only about purchasing multi-meal packages on EMBARKATION DAY (E-Day) -- after getting aboard a ship. It is our memory -- correct or faulty -- that the prices that are advertised for packages, purchased on board (on E-Day), already include a service charge ... and that "X" does not add an additional 20% over and above those prices. As stated by us in our initial post, the price advertised at a table on deck 3 of the Equinox, last month, was about $315 for eight meals on E-Day. Therefore our question is simply this: Will we be charged ONLY that amount ($315) -- or is "X" now going to add another $63 on top of that $315 (i.e., a new service charge of 20%) on E-Day? If so, that would result in an average price per (allegedly discounted) meal of about $48 -- which may be 20% off (at most). In our opinion, $48 per meal is far too high an amount to charge guests who are making such a significant commitment of funds. People who are buying eight meals ought to be able to expect what they received in the past -- a discount of about 1/3 off the regular price, not just 1/5. PS: The reason we initially said that Celebrity adds "service charges" -- not "gratuities" is this: A gratuity is a (1) FREE-WILL offering that is (2) given by a customer AFTER services have been rendered. If a customer is FORCED to pay extra BEFORE a service is rendered, that is NOT a "gratuity," but is instead a "service charge." The word, "gratuity," comes from the Latin word for "free" (as in "free-will") -- and that Latin word, also used in English, is "gratis." People give tips (gratuities) to waiters, etc., AFTER they have shown themselves worthy to receive them. If we must give a waiter (or a stateroom steward) something in advance, that is NOT a gratuity! .

. May we try the above just one more time? It seems impossible that no one could reply! Thanks. .

. In our many years of cruising on Celebrity ships (mostly Solstice-class ships), we have often booked specialty-restaurant packages on Embarkation Day -- helped by a crew member sitting at a table near the Guest Services desk. We believe that we have paid exactly the package price requested -- and that the price has always included a service charge (originally 15%, later 18%, and maybe 20% now). The last time we were aboard Equinox (which was not long ago), an eight-dinner package was going for $315 (if we recall correctly) -- almost $40 per meal, which is quite a lot more than a year or so ago. Can anyone who is aboard now (or has very recently disembarked) confirm that the package prices being asked (at the table on E-Day) still include the service charge (which many folks mistakenly call a "gratuity")? We think that, now that package prices have been greatly increased, an additional, unprecedented service charge would be quite shocking; it would add about $63 to the aforementioned $315 package price. [PS: Lest anyone get the wrong impression -- namely, that we are miserly -- the truth is that we have always liberally given cash tips to waiters, sommeliers, and bar servers -- both in MDRs and SRs.] Thanks, in advance, for your reply. ,

. Much obliged! .

. Thanks for mentioning this, "upwarduk." We were unaware of it. Does this mean that there is no longer any iLounge at all on Silhouette ... or has the iLounge just been moved to a different part of the ship (possibly much decreased in size, due to lowered usage)? This is important to us, because we do not have any "devices" of our own, so we have always relied on iLounges on "X" ships for access to the Internet. .

. Yes, "cruisestitch," the OP did start such a thread in July. (Good catch!) We just replied on that older thread today, so this one should be deleted (or ignored). .

. A couple of days ago, we were evaluating a Caribbean back-to-back of 9+9 days against a Caribbean back-to-back of 9+10 days. Because we had the same question that you have, "m8zenblue" -- even though we are "scarletandgray -- and because we could not find any reference to this situation at the Celebrity Internet site, we phoned "X" and asked about it. The vacation planner told us that -- in the case of the 9+10 -- we should expect to be tested near the end of the first cruise ... BUT ... that this could change on any day in the near or distant future. .

. Equinox still has the good "Card/Game/Puzzle Room" overlooking the "grand foyer," on Deck 9. To generate more revenue -- thus taking some fun out of cruising for certain people -- "X" replaced Silhouette's card room with four interior staterooms. We can't recall if those four new cabins are for single travelers or not. .

. We are astounded to see (now) that Jameson was not listed above! Apparently, we were copying from an old [obsolete] version of the "X" flyer that compared the two beverage-package levels. Sorry about that! .

. Hello, "Belfast1916." Here is a list of whisk(e)ys that are typically found aboard Celebrity ships -- but one cannot be sure to find them all in these "troubled times," when supply may be unreliable. We'll let you determine which of these are Irish and which are not ... COVERED BY THE CLASSIC BEVERAGE PACKAGE: Canadian Club Dewar’s White Label Famous Grouse Jim Beam Johnnie Walker Red Monkey Shoulder Seagram’s 7 Seagram’s VO COVERED BY THE PREMIUM BEVERAGE PACKAGE: Aberfeldy 12 Bulleit Bourbon Bulleit Rye Chivas Regal 12 Crown Royal Dewar’s 12 Gentleman Jack Glenfiddich Reserve Glenfiddich Select The Glenlivet Jack Daniel’s Black Jack Daniel’s Honey Jack Daniel’s Rye Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Johnnie Walker Black The Macallan The Macallan Lumina The Macallan Quest Maker’s Mark Rittenhouse Rye Wild Turkey Woodford Double Oaked Woodford Reserve Woodford Rye Have fun (but please don't overdo it)! .

. Thanks again, Helen. We wondered if you happened to meet a very personable, multilingual bartender from the Philippines -- named Abel? We knew, some months ago, that he was aboard the Equinox, working at least at the outdoor bar aft of the Oceanview Cafe. .

. Did you phone Celebrity and purchase a Premium Beverage Package (or upgrade from Classic to Premium)? If so, then a 20% service charge was already assessed to you at the time of purchase (or upgrade). . There ought not to be an additional 20% service charge added when you are onboard and ordering drinks. If there is such a charge, that would be something absolutely brand-new (and very disturbing) -- resulting in our boycotting Celebrity! [If there is an additional, unjust charge, we recommend that you not (masochistically) add a cash tip besides!] Have a pleasant voyage. .

. We confirm this statement (in case "Ocdublin" would feel more comfortable with a "second opinion"). .

. Thanks for the reminder, Helen. We needed your advice, because we will be on the same ship soon ... and we will be using the E+ laundry benefit ... and we will have the same beverage package as you. That is ... we will be aboard if we pass the nasty virus test! .

. We were aboard the Equinox and Summit last year -- and the Reflection this year (many months ago) ... and we feel almost certain that Celebrity was then offering free tests, on the final full day of each cruise arriving in the U.S., not just to back-to-back guests, but also to Europeans who were required (by their home nations) to pass such tests before flying home. That's not quite the case for you, Telly "Clojacks" Savalas, but your special case may allow for the same courtesy to be afforded to you by Celebrity. As we mentioned, these events (if they really happened -- and are not figments of our imaginations) occurred months ago, and Celebrity may no longer be making such an offer to "foreigners." Nevertheless, we think that it would be worthwhile for you, "clojacks," to contact Celebrity and see if they will test you for your immediate-future travel (due to your pressing circumstances). Maybe they will do it for free. Maybe they will do it if you pay them. Maybe they will not do it at all. If they will not do it, then you could consider the following (if it is still available), which are notes that we jotted down, based on comments that someone posted here, several months ago: "In an emergency, a very rapid (30-minute) CoViD-19 test can be had for about $80 at Instant Medical Care (1328 SE 17th St., Fort Lauderdale -- 954-200-6001). IMC is open from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday through Saturday. It is very close [5-minute drive?] to Port Everglades (cruiseport) -- in a small strip mall between Walgreens and the Embassy Suites Hotel, just north of the ship's terminal. [Use Google to pinpoint it.] The test result is provided in a hard-copy form that is acceptable to Celebrity." CAUTION: We did not use IMC, and we cannot guarantee that the above is accurate or up-to-date. GOOD LUCK, Telly. We hope that you will make it through the unforgettable Panama Canal! .

. Hear, hear! Young children are the best people in the world -- so pure and innocent. It is just as bad for anyone to be prejudiced against them as it is to be prejudiced against people of a different race. Yes, kids may cause momentary disturbances, but we (supposedly mature adults) can tolerate such things, if we would just be a bit patient and compassionate. We too were once kids, and we appreciated older folks tolerating our foibles. .

. On another thread (on Sunday, July 31), a CruiseCritic member said that he had phoned someone at the Celebrity corporate office ... and was told that there would continue to be onboard testing, on the last full day of each cruise, for back-to-back guests. As of now (he said), the plan is to continue this throughout 2022. Of course, plans/policies can change. .

. We agree, "actuarian." In fact, when we are "back-to-back-to-back" (in the near future), we will WANT to be quarantined -- rather than sent home -- if we test "positive" at the end of either the first or second cruise! It would be better for both us and the other airline-passengers if this were to happen. The problem is that we believe that we have read, on this board/forum, that Celebrity requires infected guests that are returning to the U.S. to leave the ship -- and that only guests that are returning to a non-U.S. port are allowed (or even required!?) to remain on board for the subsequent cruise. One married couple, who experienced symptoms and tested positive (early in their European cruise), recently reported here that they were required to remain on the ship even though they were not booked on back-to-back cruises!!! We hope (1) that on-board testing has now been eliminated or (2) that those who test positive can remain aboard, even if the ship is returning to the U.S.. Time will tell. .

. PS: We agree with your characterization of the policy as "ridiculous." For weeks (even before the mid-July announcement by the CDC), we have publicly been advocating the dropping of all testing -- pre-cruise and onboard (for back-to-backers) -- regardless of length of cruise. .

. Don't worry, "LIMPIT." You will not have to be tested within the city of Miami (while off the ship). Instead -- assuming Celebrity will do what they have done in the past -- you will be tested onboard, on the last full day of your first cruise. If you pass the test, you will be allowed to stay aboard for the second cruise. If you fail the test, there are two possibilities: (1) you may be required to disembark and go home; (2) you may be confined to your stateroom [or a different stateroom] for a period of quarantine and re-testing. You'll have to wait and see which of those unpleasant options they will impose upon you. (We think that #1 is more likely, since your disembarkation point is in the U.S.. We will be facing a similar dilemma soon. If #1 is imposed, then you and we will get a full refund, although we may have to pay for a change to airline arrangements; we aren't sure about that yet.) .

. As stated twice above, "We need the money for other things." We cannot afford both (1) cruising ... and (2) the "changing technology" and "the latest operating systems." So we will cruise until we are "left behind" -- with no regrets. We try to stay psychologically and spiritually strong, not giving in to societal pressures. In other words, we don't try to "keep up with the Joneses." So many people have forgotten that possessions (such as the latest technology/inventions) and thrills (such as cruising) are not essential in life. One can enjoy life without them. We will not waste money on things that we don't truly need (and travel that we can live without). This makes it possible for us to give away some of our money to the needy, instead of to corporations that are already very wealthy. . . If we "can do it on a computer," then we will do it. If we cannot, then we will not "cruise to a Canadian port." We will not allow ports to dictate how we live our lives. We have been to Canada, by land and sea, many times (going back to the 1960s). We never needed to go there even the first time, so we can survive without returning -- although we do like it there. (We live directly across one of the Great Lakes from Canada.) If the Canadian government officials will not make it easy for us to visit, then they, more than we, will have missed an opportunity. .

. Thanks. You are very kind and fair-minded. Yes, we have a computer, but it does not have a camera and microphone. The same is true for people who come to CruiseCritic via simple computers at public libraries. .

. Not meaning to attack you, Jim -- since you are such a nice guy -- but ... . Why do the cruise lines and CruiseCritic members assume that everyone has the hardware and software to engage in "proctored testing" (i.e. Zoom/Skype or whatever those things are)? Like tens of millions of other people, we have no such hardware and software -- and we don't wish to have it. We need our money for other things. The same thing is true about something else -- the almost universal assumption, by cruise lines and CruiseCritic members, that everyone has a smartphone and "apps." Like tens of millins of other people, we have no such phone and app -- and we don't wish to have them. We need our money for other things. We would like to ask that our choices be respected -- and the respect would be shown by a cessation of the assumptions that are made. Thus, we would ask to see the cruise line and members using conditional statements -- and providing alternatives; for example: "If you have [such-and-such capability/equipment], then you can [do this-that-or-the-other]. Otherwise, you can [etc.]" For a year or more, we and the many other folks like us have been treated like "third-class citizens." We have been made to feel like the "steerage dwellers" of today's cruising world! .

. We didn't say that all pre-cruise testing must end. We only said that those vaccinated passengers who don't want to disembark at ports that require testing ought not to be forced to present evidence of a test on Embarkation Day -- and ought not to be tested on board before consecutive cruises. Another way of saying this is ... Those vaccinated passengers who don't want to be tested (such as "yours truly") should be allowed to board -- but should not be allowed to disembark at any test-demanding port(s)-of-call. At this point -- given what the CDC has now done, and given the weakness of the viral strain -- nations that have had a chance to be fully vaccinated surely realize that they no longer have a valid reason to continue their "blockade," so we believe that they will very soon be dropping it, to avoid the continuation of self-inflicted economic harm. Until those nations change their policy, however, a cruise line can certify that all disembarking guests have been tested. .

. On Celebrity ships, if a crew member in the laundry chooses to mix together items from two or more passengers, he/she will do something to distinguish between the two batches. On some ships -- believe it or not -- the crew member will use a permanent black marker and write numbers or letters on any tag that can be found (usually on the back inside of the neck). On other ships, little cloth tabs (with a letter-or-number code on the front and a bit of adhesive on the back) are stuck down on each of a guest's items. Sometimes, these tabs are annoyingly difficult to remove; if removed with too much force, the garment may suffer a tear. (The crew member will not remove them!) .