nibird2

I think it is the atmosphere and service that makes them special. You are not dining with 1,000 other passengers and the service is much better, in my opinion.

Agree with you on the atmosphere....disagree on the service. We have cruised Celebrity 9 times. I estimate we have eaten 20 times in those restaurants . I can count on one hand the number of times we were asked if we wanted pepper. Only when the restaurant is half empty does anyone come around to pour your wine without being asked. Often when ordering we initially only order our appetizers as often entrees arrive as the appetizers are being cleared. That's not very special.

However at the end of the day it's all about what works for you. We live just outside Philly and have access to many "Special" restaurants. Perhaps the people who enjoy the ship's restaurants do not have access to special restaurants at home.

I do not understand why people call these restaurants "special"

Two years ago onboard Solstice about 200 of us on a galley tour were told by the Head Chef that the food in the "Specialty" restaurants is the same as the MDR. It may have been prepared a little differently and dressed up a little differently, but it is the same.

If you choose to pay $45 more for the same MDR food that's your choice. We no longer do so, but that's our choice

In the year since our previous cruise Celebrity has dropped the string quartet, accapella singers, coffee cart in Ocean View for table service of coffee, Grand Buffet, reduced the number of choices in the Ocean view buffet and who knows what else. They have , however , managed to increase the fares.

By the way our Celebrity booked transfer to the Miami airport dropped 12 of us at the wrong terminal and REFUSED to right the problem. We had to walk well over a half mile, luggage in hand, to get things right.

A booked a cruise online on the Reflection two days ago for a March sailing. I received a resident rate. I paid in full since we are within final payment time frame. The deal I got was good and included either the prepaid gratuities or the beverage package. I chose the beverage package and called to upgrade to a premium package. The agent took my credit card information. I was sent an invoice that had all of this written on it. A day later a TA with the company calls me and says I'm not entitled to the perks because I got a resident rate.

 

It was clearly on the website and the invoice that I was getting all of these things.

 

This amounts to several hundred dollars being pulled from me. I would not have booked this cruise if this hadn't been offered. I said I would like to cancel the cruise without penalty or I would like to receive my perk. The travel agency's telling me too bad. I've written to the agent and to customer service.

 

Does anyone know if there is anything I can do? Thanks for any help.

Samething happened to me. Got call from ta after all was booked. told her everything was confirmed and paid for. Ta got back to me later and stated that I would receive 100% of the credits quoted to me.