Dar & Bob

Even worse on this cruise is that due to the weather we did not dock at Georgetown - we were at Spotts Bay. We took an excursion, nothing there - so tendering and just going to a bar was not a real viable option. And for the rest speculating they did specifically say it was due to the GC Laws. We have been there before and do not remember anything like this. It was a real hassle with only the pool bar open - the poor bartenders. They did try to alleviate it a bit with a cooler cart with beers, waters and sodas. Friends are on another line this week going to GC and texted them to check when they are in GC waters what the bar situation is.

When we got it the difference for the one cat upgrade was not significant. I originally forgot to ask about it but there was a big price drop, in fact I actually got the same cabin with the Elevate package for less money than my original booking. I asked for the one cat upgrade price at that point.

I called my rep and she gave me 1A veranda for 1B price. That may not be combinable with the military discount

Well let's just say without looking up your actual booking - their computer systems IMO are an absolute mess. One example for our sailing this week, I booked the Enhance package which included the premium drinks, wifi, tips and OBC. When they did away with that package - our premium drinks disappeared from our planner. I called the answer yes you have it and a drink package shows up in our planner. Fast forward to last week getting documents ready, our Xpress pass shows only CALL not PALL, yet another phone call. Also, on their site now and reports were saying that bottled water, sodas etc not included in CALL which we have on another cruise. With all of the issues we've had with our bookings, I think they have no way to distinguish if CALL was booked in 2021, 2022 or 2023 since they can't even figure out IF it was booked. 🙂

When is your sailing??

After a Princess cruise last year where we ended up literally spending hours in the GS line I have learned to get creative to stay out of that line!!!

I emailed cec@celebrity.com about an upcoming cruise that I haven't upgraded from the Classic. This is the response I received (which I am printing for friends who have Classic on this cruise and for my cruise later) "It is my pleasure to notify you that with the All Included beverage package you will receive the Classic beverage package, which includes non-premium bottled water, premium coffees, juices, sodas and premium teas. "

I took about 3 days for our Xpress pass to get fixed on the app. If you have the email I think it will be updated - when you board go to a bar and get something premium and ask the bartender. If it isn't fixed you have to go to GS anyways.

Maybe what is needed is a Class Action suit for switching out products that have been contracted. Obviously Celebrity is incapable of distinguishing when passengers booked to give them what they actually paid for at the time. If they keep it up someone is going to jump on it.

Unfortunately for us we have already put a deposit down and they are changing the product that was included. We booked AI Classic now X is eliminating items from the package? How is that right. If you booked a Sky Suite and all of a sudden the Retreat isn't included now what?? They have retracted prices on cruises 3 weeks after people put their deposits down. Celebrity just can't keep changing the "contracts" to suit them.

I called and they changed my Xpress pass - I don't want to wait in line at Guest Services. So call ahead of time and they will change it.

As I mentioned before, I will be telling our friends to go to guest services if they are being charged for bottled waters or sodas or coffees. Those were definitely included when booked. It's crazy that you sell one thing and then change it up. We booked the Elevate package when that was still available and sure enough our Xpress pass only showed CALL so had to contact them. When they make these changes they are going to have to distinguish with what you booked and paid for. Also we had a rep at X and now evidently they don't do that anymore. So you don't have a contact person. Not sure a TA can do any better from what I have been reading. Getting concerned about all of this since we have 2 more cruises booked with X right now.

IMO X should include the Zero Proof if those beverages were included when booked. We have the Premium package for our next cruise but our friends did not upgrade. I will be taking the listing with us and see if they can go to Guest Services to have it added at no charge. I will say that is a bait and switch since it was included when booked.

When I look at the Classic Drink package for my cruise in a couple of days this is what is says : What's Included Vodkas: Absolut and flavors, New Amsterdam, Smirnoff, Tito’s Whiskeys: Dewar’s White Label, Famous Grouse, Jim Beam, Johnnie Walker Red, Monkey Shoulder, Seagram’s VO Rums: Bacardi, Captain Morgan’s, Kraken Black Spiced, Malibu, Myer’s, Wray & Nephew Tequilas: Don Julio Blanco, Teremana Blanco Beers: Alaska Brewing beers on Alaska sailings. Coors Light, Corona, Franziskaner, Heineken, Kirin, Kirin Light, Miller Lite, Moretti, Newcastle Brown Ale, Strongbow hard ciders, Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob Ultra Gins: Beefeater, Gordon’s, Praire Gin Zero Proof: Acqua Panna water, Evian water, San Pellegrino, Premium coffees, Red Bull & Editions, Sodas, Premium teas, Vitamin water, Bottled Iced Teas, Aqua Spa Fresh Juices, Zero Proof Cocktails Frozen & Non-Frozen Liqueurs and Cognacs: Campari, Galliano, Hennessy VS, Kahlua, Licor 43, Ouzo, Romana Sambuca, Southern Comfort, Tia Maria A large selection of wines from various regions around the world, including California, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Argentina, Chile and Australia

We were on the Edge in April and sitting at the MC bar a guy came up with a big bowl of ice cream to make his drink, not sure exactly what he wanted but the bartenders were very accomodating 🙂

We are wondering as well. The only information when doing a search is this one individual. It does appear that the Rotterdam is going to San Juan instead from the poster that shows all the ships and their ports. Per cruisemapper there are sill multiple ships shown on many dates in January. We had a shore excursion booked on our own and I have emailed them to see if they have any information.

We have been in both a mini suite and a Veranda and the size was not noticably different to us. The mini suite has the divider area which makes it a bit bigger. Looking on both websites there is possibly 50 sq ft difference. We were on the Sky Princess in November and the food was very lacking, even had to send it back one night. We are waiting to see how we like the Equinox - we were on the Edge in April and loved it, No comparison to the 3 Princess cruises we were on this year.

Not Sure what ship you are on but comparing a regular balcony on Princess to us is no comparison to a veranda on X. We sailed on Princess in a DB to save some money and it was okay but definitely not a comparison. . When I did my comparison Princess Enchanted was 6110 per couple for 10 nights in a MS with Plus pkg while Equinox was 4127 per couple for 9 nights Veranda with Classic package. Suprisingly a week later the price dropped and I got the Enhace package with the 1a Vernada for 4,113. The one night more is worth something but not $2K. I always look at both. We want to try the new Sun Princess but so far I can do an E class for less money.

I highly doubt we will be less than the classic. I am good with the bottled water and the coffees and sodas we would drink are included in them. Right now we are booked on the Ascent in just an IV with Classic AI. At this point not thinking it would be worth it to upgrade for a couple of martinis a day. We booked the Exhale package which is no longer available at this point. The extra OBC made that a no brainer for us. Have to see going forward.

So next cruise I need to keep track if $20 each per day is worth it. Most likely not. We have upgraded on this cruise and we are in a Sky Suite in May so right now don't need to consider it until the one after that. Going to try to keep track but you know that's hard.

Agree with most of what you said especially those discounting other's opinions as you should be happy to be cruising. We were have cruised mostly Princess and have just found X. On our cruise this month I did a spreadsheet comparing cruises and much to my surprise comparing a verandah to mini suite X came out quite a bit less. Princess does not have the "class" system like X You literally cannot buy your way into Sanctuary. You have to get one of the first boarding times and RUN there to possibly secure a space. We have loved Princess but the most recent cruises were disappointing even though we had booked club class on two of them. Slow service and cold or undesirable meals. I will really be interested to compare our upcoming cruise on the Equinox since the last X cruise was on the Edge in April.

I thought that you only paid the difference between the two packages and that seems to have remained the same. I am showing the difference as $20 per day. Is that not the case now?

Thank you for the response we were just wondering what happens 🙂

Curious about those on board - I assume they gave you meals but did you still have access to your cabin. Still able to drink etc? Just wondering what the protocols were.

Yes but I assume since I am signed in under my name it only shows mine. LOL the sign in button automatically signs me in so I can't even check under his name.