Yellowfurbaby

Well all OP here again. Painting now arrived in its tube. I haven't yet opened it. I paid the £20 tax on receiving it.

I emailed parkwest two days ago. Not asking for the money back just as feedback in not deceiving customers. It's a con job! They haven't had the good manners to acknowledge my email. Nothing!!!! Shows what type of business it is.

Next cruise we will attend seminars as we enjoyed listening and learning about art as I am a novice but wouldn't buy anything and certainly not receive a free gift!

Lesson learnt good and true.

It was a fantastic cruise though :D

We atttend a Parkwest auction many years ago as a time killer. There was a blind auction. The auctioneer said that the painting was really nice and worth taking a chance on. Every one held up their signs for the starting bid of $5 and then the bidding increased in $5 increments. It got to $45 and a bunch still had their signs up and I was one of them. At $50 there were a few of us left. It increased to $55 and there were no takers, all of the signs were down. The auctioneer said that they would honor anyone that wanted the print for $55. I decided to take a chance as it was only $5 more so I along with about 10 others put up our sign and they recorded our numbers.

 

The print was exposed and it was hideous, and I was stuck with one. After the auction I went to ante up and somehow they did not have my number or info. I was told to fill out some sheets and than the shock really hit. The $55 now was up to over $185. There was the auction fee, restocking, fee, shipping fee, handling and insurance, appraisal cost, and then because I lived in Mi I had to pay 6% sales tax. I told them that I didnt need the appraisal as it was only $55. They would not waive that cost. I also said that I could carry it off the ship. Was told that it was being shipped from Mi. I also said that since it was being shipped from Mi why should I pay a restocking fee and as for the shipping I could pick it up asthe plae was about 20 miles from me. None of it would be waived. I was now stuck with a painting that I didn't like for a artificial inflated cost. Luckily there was a lot of confusion and since they didn't really have my info I snuck out and never looked back. I avoided the area and luckily didn't have to pay for it.

 

A few years later Parkwest was with a big law suit concerning some misrepresesntation and shady practices. They were rather quite for a while and not on any cruise lines. The old saying that time heals is right as they are back and still doing their con.

 

Happy crusing 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

That story is worse than mine! Thanks for sharing. Although on future cruises I may have a wander around the art and attend seminars I shall not ever do an auction or wish to recieve a gift again. Please think twice everyone.

Although not celebrity's fault (we had the best holiday) I shall email them for feedback regarding this. If they have enough unhappy cruisers something eventually may be done.

Thanks all for your words. It is only our second cruise and first cruise The independence of the seas we never bothered with the art gallery. However this time we actually did enjoy browsing and attending the seminars.

Next time though no free raffle ticket shall be given to me. I wouldn't want to 'win' again.

Shame really as I do feel this should have been explained and not just hidden in small print. It leaves a nasty taste in the customer mouths.

So really I know nothing can be done except when the ups man comes again tomorrow I shall pay up and consider it a lesson. Hope this makes newbie cruisers think. Even on holiday nothings free.

Hi. We sailed on the Eclipse in august and enjoying attending the art seminars. We were 'lucky' enough during the Thomas Kinkade seminar to win a small print through a raffle.

We excitedly took our winning ticket to the art desk and signed the paperwork. There we discovered the 'free' painting carried a 65 dollar delivery charge.

A bit saddened we handed over our seapass card and duly paid the 65 dollar charge on disembarkation.

Today a knock on the door and my painting has arrived. Yippppeeee. Until...... The UPS man hits me with another £20 fee for taxes. Now this we were NOT informed of. I sent him away with painting until tomorrow.

Something is not right here. A free gift will now be costing more money than I was led to believe.

I will have no choice no doubt to pay the man as if I refuse it I will have lost the painting plus the 65 dollars I've already spent getting the painting from the US to the UK.

I feel done as this was NOT explained. I have now looked through the three sheets of print out given to me and it does say in the terms and conditions but extremely small and not clear at all.

I wish I hadn't actually won this now. :/

Not really expecting any advice as such but it's a lesson learnt from me and I hope people reading this may think twice before picking up a 'free' raffle ticket.

What would you recommend as the best drink choice included in the classic beverage package?

We had the classic package and was told we couldn't get anything in the Molecular bar. :(

That was what the bartender told us three weeks ago :(

We are on deck 11 in a c2 cabin. I shall do a full review when I return. We are loving it so far

As I type we are aboard the Celebrity Eclipse in Gibraltar. This is the first port of call. Having a great time aboard this beautiful ship. We've had a quick Potter round the shops picking up some bargains and are now back on the balcony waiting to set sail again in about 2 hours. Perfect!

Thanks. I wouldn't say the ports are boring either. I was quite surprised by that opinion. However each to their own. X

Just reading back on my old thread from when I first booked. We now sail in 4 days!!!!! We since upgraded our 2c obstructed view to a concierge class on deck 11 so excited about relaxing on the balcony.

Daughter super excited. Hope she meets loads of friends.

We are very very excited to start our wonderful cruise. X

I don't know the answer but I do wish you well x

Hi,

 

I certainly don't know the answer to this question...and can't speak for Celebrity...but this is what comes to mind for me. Celebrity, and any cruise line, has a HUGE concern about the biggest safety concern at sea...fire...and therefore want to limit to the greatest degree possible, the number of items that "heat" up.

 

At the same time Celebrity, and other cruise lines, want to make cruising as enjoyable as possible for their guests, and allow what these days are considered a normal part of a large majority of individual's daily routines...hair dryers, curling irons and other beauty items as such. Celebrity also realizes that tea/tea making is important/routine to a large segment of the population cruising from the UK...so to try and be more accommodating, they have provided kettles on certain ships/sailings. The difference is this...inventory control...which thereby adds to safety. If every cabin on the Eclipse sailing out of Southampton is issued a kettle...then every Stateroom Attendant on that ship knows that kettles are present, and can be instructed/reminded to check the safety of them each time they service the room. If certain passengers on different ships/itineraries, where the kettles are not issued to every cabin, bring on their own kettle, the staff are not cognizant of this, and thereby that extra safety check is diminished.

 

So, they limit as many items as possible...while at the same time allowing certain "necessary" items to make cruising as enjoyable and as safe as possible.

 

But as cruisestitch says...their ships...their rules, and they have no obligation to explain/justify them all to us !

 

Enjoy

 

Woody

Your points are reasoned and well thought out. I understand what you are saying.

😄😄😄

 

I've decided that, as I cannot get a definitive answer, and as I know you can take on hair tongs, straighteners and hairdryers which all heat up, I am going to pack my little kettle and take the chance on being invited to the 'naughty room' for the first time 😄

 

 

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Well we only live once. Personally I don't understand the logic against kettles. If they don't enforce hairstraightners then why irons and kettles?

I'd love to see them ever enforce a rule preventing ladies from taking hair straighteners/curling tongs onboard :o

They'd have an awful lot of very very unhappy women (me included) in fact it would be a deal breaker for me. I would not have frizzy hair for two weeks! My GHDs are definitely coming with me.!

I've had no experience of an obstructed cabin but there is a 50% restricted view on these. I have stayed in an inside and I didn't mind an inside at all. However if I'd been given an free balcony upgrade I'd snap their hands off. Better a 50% view with extra space on the balcony plus fresh air then much better than no view in an inside.

However you might want to consider the location of both of these cabins. One might be in a noisy or inconvenient location so look at the whole picture.

On Face value though definitely!!!

It looks a little disappointing from these photo's. We love to stroll round the promenade deck after dinner with the view of the ocean. We will obviously miss that on this cruise. It will be our first Celebrity cruise in 3 weeks. Feeling as though we should have stuck with RC but we'll make the best of it. I am sure we will have a great time anyway.

Hi Indy girl. We are on the same cruise on the 2nd and like you only sailed on the IOTS beforehand. There are bound to be things that we will both prefer about the IOTS over the eclipse but likewise there are bound to be things we enjoy more about the eclipse than we did about IOTS too. I'm sure it will be just amazing. We shall love it :D

I for one am really looking forward to no constant loud speaker announcements every five minutes about bingo and art auctions. They drove me nuts!!! Lol

Yes UK sailings have a kettle so I plan on taking instant coffee.

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Bit the bullet and went for the paid upgrade for peace of mind rather than anything else, oldest one is sensible enough but happier that he is just across the corridor, no doubt youngest will be in with us whilst other one lords it in a cabin by himself :)

 

Now need to decide if drinks package makes sense ?

Yikes!!!! Still now at least you have a balcony. The cruise will be fabulous

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Does seem like you were misadvised on booking :(

You really did need connecting cabins for your family. If it was just kids aged say 15 and 17 and you trusted them I would have no issue in them being some distance away but obviously not a 7 year old. Sorry they can't sort it for you as £2500 is very excessive for an upgrade!!! :(

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Can I ask here then rather than starting a new thread. I'm sailing CC class in August. Will I be left water in the cabin?? If so and I drink it will I be charged? Is this water located in mini bar? (I'm aware I will have yo pay for mini bar items)

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Yes they are fobbing you off. Unfortunately it is unlikely celebrity themselves will help you directly as you've booked through a TA. (maybe worth a phone call though) tell your TA that you wish them to phone celebrity and ask them

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How can any ship think it's acceptable to have smoking in public areas like the casino? It's gross!!!! I don't wish to breath in putrid air thank you.

I love how anti smoking the world is becoming. One of the best bravest decisions taken by a British government was to ban smoking in all public areas. It's lovely to be able to go to a pub and not leave smelling like an ashtray.

Celebrity have a similar view :D

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Why?? What is their point?

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The way to think about tipping in NZ,Aus and the UK is the same way the US thinks of extra tips. So if you go into a pub and order a meal and the meal is served as described and is satisfactory and the service as you would expect then no further action is required. Pay the bill and leave. (Although say the bill came to £18.75 probably polite to leave the £20 note but change should be offered first).

However if the waiter is particularly pleasing and has made your experience better than it could of been then of course feel free to leave a tip. Same goes for taxi drivers, hairdressers etc. etc... People in the UK have a national minimum wage that they will receive regardless of good/bad service. Of course many people like a tip but we would all like extra money to supplement our wages wouldn't we? I’m a nurse and would love a tip every time I go above and beyond my duties. Of course I don’t get one and nor should the baggage handler at the docks or the waiter who walks 10 feet to bring me a coffee. That’s their job!

The US of course have different expectations as the tip is actually part of the service industry wages and so if withheld causes upset when none is intended.

Oh and as someone above pointed out never refer to the Scots, Irish and welsh as English LOL. Only us English are worthy enough to receive such a compliment :p

Confusing is a matter of perspective. We are used to this in the US and aren't confused at all. But, whenever I have rented a car in the UK or Australia, I found that having to drive on the wrong side of the road was confusing. One of the reasons I think you should change to driving on the right like most of the world does. :D

Don't know quite where the subject of driving on the left/right came from but I can assure you the people from New Zealand, Australia and indeed us British are perfectly happy and contented to drive on the left and manage just beautifully... Thank you for your concern. :)

Now what other random topics would you like to discuss? Gun crime maybe?

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If you sail from your home country and tipping is not customary like UK, NZ and aus then I wouldn't tip baggage handlers!!! I wouldn't dream of tipping the guys at Southampton docks. I've not seen anyone else do this either.

On the ship prepaid grats (tips) are all you need to do to cover steward, waiters etc etc. Room service maybe a dollar per tray so bring some small amounts of cash and apart from that the only thing is drinks.... However with the drinks packages no further grats are needed and without the package the tips get automatically added to the bill so don't pay again!

Very confusing and one of the many reasons why I dislike it.

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