the penguins

For us that is one of the major draw backs with Aqua - sharing tables at dinner is one of the things we look forward to.

I wasn't I was simply illustrating how X adapts to different markets. In the UK and Europe anything that has to be paid i.e. port fees, taxes etc must be included in the basic price. In the US/Canada it shows these costs as an extra. In Australia and New Zealand it chooses to add the tips as well. All X's major competitors adopts the almost identical charging patterns.

they may have another issue, or at least they would have in the UK, as they have in effect two insurance policies for the same event. Here if you make a claim one of the questions the insurance company would ask is if you have any other policies. The company you claimed against could well then claim half the costs from your other insurance company which in turn could see your future premiums rise from both companies.

different rules in the UK to the US. Our (the UK) system is much simpler as our Travel Insurance covers: the travel/cancellation, baggage, injury, and medical in one policy. Plus we can get an Annual Policy that covers an unlimited number of trips (usually up to 31 days per trip) worldwide with the option to increase cover and to travel for longer than 31 days.

Many will agree with you but from X's view point 80% of it's passengers are still from the US/Canada and in the US adding tips/sales tax is an accepted way of life. Book on the UK/Europe sites and X includes port fees and taxes in the base price as it's illegal not to. In Australia/NZ Celebrity includes tips but you pay a price for this as all onboard costs rounded up.

All X's major competitors use an almost identical system and have tips at roughly the same rates. The way tips are split varies for example Princess pools tips across the whole fleet whereas with X each ship and indeed each cruise is a cost centre in it's own right. X is open about how the tips are split and you can get a copy at Guest Relations and I also attached a copy to my Post 22.

100% agree and no one expects you to pay more. X's tips on drinks is 20%.

Glad the Royal system works for you. However X's system is much better for us - at Elite + we get unlimited speciality coffees/teas/chocolate (hot and iced). Lots of free water and sodas in unopened bottles and cans from 5 to 7 to last 24 hours. If we drank alcohol free drinks 5 to 7 plus champagne, mimosas and bloody Mary's at the Elite Breakfast. Smoothies at the Elite breakfast.

Just the items shown on the menu plus sodas and water - you can several of these in cans/bottles.

best bet is to go to the Roll Call connected to your specific cruise where you will see if any of your fellow passengers are organising private tours which usually offer much better value. Much is made of X's guarantee that you won't be left behind but in reality the offer is that if you do miss the ship X will get you to the next port and most other reputable operators offer the same. Another alternative which is our preferred choice, is to book a private guide yourself and then get another couple to share the costs. Lots of companies offer this service and we tend to use Toursbylocals as you can tailor the tour to meet your exact requirements (we take out lunch and most shopping and add coffee/cake breaks. We look for a guide with a vehicle that holds 6 to 8 and then share with one other couple as we like the space.

We always choose Seiect/Any Time dining and regularly have solo passengers join us. When you check in each night just say "sharing please" and the staff will be happy to accommodate you.

they do but according to the OP table selection is no longer an option - I was giving a suggestion of how it might be possible to get a particular size.

Table size is never an option on either fixed or any time dining. Pop down to the restaurant as soon as the desk opens (usually as soon as Muster Station/drill closes) and express your preference - we like a 6 and always book any time for 6.30.

avoid the ones on the Port side as they are under the disco.

Princess is certainly being very aggressive with it's UK pricing although not as cheap as some would suggest. Current prices when booking in the UK: Celebrity: Classic drinks and basic wifi: £39 = approx $47 plus grats of $19 = $66 per person per day. Princess: Premium drinks, wifi and tips £50 approx $60 per person per day. We tried Princess on a TA last spring and found X's onboard performance overall to be better. As always it's great to have choices - no right or wrong just personal preferences.

depends on how you look at it. Originally just in one venue usually Sky Lounge. Changed mainly due to the size of the groups to being at almost every bar but without the nibbles. Now still in almost every bar plus the Lounge on 2 or 3 nights.

not just those nights but every night except embarkation. The Lounge is an extra. not a replacement

You will be in the minority especially on a TA where a lot of passengers will be at the start or end of a longer trip making packing I,e. the weight, a serious issue. I no longer travel with a jacket let alone a full suit, dress shirt etc. Same style of pants for every night (under armour golf - lightweight non crease), a few long sleeved smart shirts and sometimes a Union Jack (British flag) bow tie. Whatever you choice relax and enjoy.

Another source of help is the theatre - costumes need constant attention. We always travel with a sewing kit, glasses repair kit, spare glasses, scotch tape, and shoelaces.

Not dumb. On Silhouette we always book deck 7 - Cabins above and below. This also puts our cabin above the lifeboats for an unobstructed view.

so how do you tip the staff in the laundry or the attendants in the public restrooms? All of these and more are included in the autograts system. Anyone who cancels or reduces the autograts just has to accept that it results in some crew members working for less. Autograts can't be reduced for a specific person or group e.g. a Cabin Steward, any reduction is spread at the same % across everyone in the system. All tips are paid to the crew covered by the system X does not retain any of the money nor charge a % for handling the process. Each cruise is a cost centre in it's own right unlike for example Princess which pools tips across the fleet. By all means make your objections to the system known to X, and all the other major cruise lines that operate a similar system, but please don't penalise the staff. The current tips and they way they are distributed is shown below. Why does X charge extra for Aqua/Concierge Housekeeping because it can. The Suite Service is for the Butler service.

But the page shown clearly says you can forfeit the lower rate and choose to pay extra for a refundable deposit. Seems totally clear to me.

Not just travel agents. On a transatlantic X booked a Guest Entertainer to board in Miami, disembark in New York and fly to another Celebrity ship. Authorities in New York refused the disembarkation, the Entertainer was forced to stay on until the stop in Canada at X's expense, be paid for the gig he couldn't get to and X had to pay for another Entertainer to cover the other ship.

It has been since Covid - you/we now get the choice of refundable or non refundable.

With our free Elite minutes even $50 for WiFi is unnecessary and as we don't drink alcohol a drinks package is a total no. Depending on the amount of OBC we either use it for the auto grats or prepay but never remove them.