Seeking Replies from prior actual Alcove renters

[islandchick]

Does anyone know if you can use your beverage package while in the Alcoves? Also, do you think that you could get the staff to bring an extra lounge chair (just a reg one from the pool area) to the alcove? (I can't understand why there is only one lounger)

[believer33323]

I found this Celebrity PDF online:
[URL]http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=14&cad=rja&ved=0CKIBEBYwDQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.creative.rccl.com%2Fe-lite%2FCEL%2FCE_Incentive_Meeting_Charters_eSales_Kit%2FNew_Resources%2FAlcoves_and_Picnic_Basket_Rates_Flyer.pdf&ei=cxCuUOOuCYX48gTMwYGwCg&usg=AFQjCNFGVqCyy8nuBvw39-R4zifOaG0PTg&sig2=Qe7BxjFUOmNe9X-Wr2QsgQ[/URL]

Notice at the bottom of the first page is states that if you book for an entire cruise you receive a 20% discount.
Total $843.00
Minus 20% discount of $168.00
Equals $674.40
Per day $96.34
or $112.40 for 6 days considering you would not use it much on the first day due to boarding, settling in and all.



I would guess that you would probably receive a 10% for less days. Too steep for me. I'll stay with the single day.

[hcat]

From the photos & passing by the ones on Celeb freqently..., I think the ones on Celeb look alot more attractive--the other ones look like some type of encampment! They are sparsely used...more people seem to be out the open lawn if at all(no extra charge)....

I think the ones on Celeb are also near the upstairs pannini cafe--nice for lunch if you can catch some shade at your table!

[I]We never have problems getting a nice shady spot at either pool area on S class...but we leave after lunch time if things get too busy there![/I]

[slp123]

In the end, everyone has their own value system which leads to their own conclusion as to whether something is of good value [I]to them[/I] or of lesser value [I]to them[/I] and therefore overpriced or of no value [I]to them[/I] and therefore a ripoff. Personally, based on the cabanas we rented on HAL on 3 prior cruises over the past two years, I find the amenity is a very good value. And an even greater value on our upcoming Celebrity cruise given what we decided to do regarding grade of cabin, as discussed below.

Here is what I find of value. First while I don't need total privacy, I do value not being made to feel like a sardine on a deck chair wedged between a myriad of other deck chairs. The alcove set-up gives you elbow room. I also like being outdoors without being directly in the sun. The alcove has a retractable canopy. I love having an assigned space, which eliminates the need of racing on deck to score deck chairs and then having to make sure that they remain yours should you want to go to lunch etc. (It is the very same reason why preferred a fixed seating at dinner, at the same table, with my dear friends and the same waiter). I also like having two in staff be assigned as "Cabana Boys" who will get you towels, fetch you drinks or free bottled water, bring fresh fruit, arrange in alcove spa treatments, what have you. I find their daily services far more useful then the butlers we have had on those cruises where we took a suite.

Finally, as an experiment, we also found that although the 3 of us always booked two unobstructed mid level veranda cabins (or higher), the veranda's on our last 2 cruises were hardly used because we had the cabana. So for the first time since I sailed in the QE2 (which only had a few balconies in Queens Grill and we always booked Princess Grill) we booked 2 ocean view (no veranda cabins, saving over $1050 on our 2 cabins. The Alcove for 6 days will cost us $595 (20% discount when you book for the length of the cruise), so we are way ahead.

Unless of course I miss having room service bring me breakfast on the Veranda . . . a small price to pay for a new adventure. We shall see, but I like trying different things even if I choose not to later repeat them. ;)

[Alg63]

[quote name='believer33323']So on the entire 14 day cruise you had can actually say that no one used them. You watched them the ENTIRE 14 days. I doubt it. it.
The price is 149.00 on a sea day and 99.00 on a port day and is [COLOR=red]NOT PER PERSON[/COLOR]. and it holds up to 4 people. I just reserved ours so I know.[/QUOTE]

He was just saying what he "saw" and wa joking about the cost for grassy.

[njaloha]

[quote name='slp123']I have booked an Alcove for the length of our cruise on Reflection in January. We usually sail on HAL and always book a private Cabana when aboard the Eurodam or Nieuw Amsterdam. We (my two sisters and I just prefer the privacy and solitude). If anyone has actual experienced both the Alcove and the HAL Cabanas, would love to hear your opinion. Also would love to hear from those who have sailed on Reflections or the Silhouette and rented an alcove.[/QUOTE]

[FONT="Comic Sans MS"][COLOR="Black"][SIZE="3"]I just booked one for our Jamaica port day since we don't want to go ashore. :eek:
Instead of booking a shore excursion, we figured the price was worth it. Also, when I mentioned to DH that we could use our balcony to relax, he responded, "Whenever else will I get a chance to use an iPad!!!???" So I booked one for a Christmas present (stocking stuffer). HA! :D[/SIZE][/COLOR][/FONT]

[dolittle]

[quote name='Happy Cruiser 6143'][FONT="Verdana"][SIZE="3"]Well, privacy and alcove are not words I would use in the same sentence. Have you looked at the pictures at all? They are definitely not private. Hordes of people will be passing in front and behind you.

Good luck hearing from actual renters. I'll bet there aren't many.[/SIZE][/FONT][/QUOTE]

This is so right on point we were on board for 13 days and not once did we see anyone near them. If you look at the price this person will pay for his whole trip he could move up to a lux. line. To each his own , we should all thank cruisers like this they keep it cheaper for the rest of us.

[believer33323]

[quote name='dolittle']This is so right on point we were on board for 13 days and not once did we see anyone near them. If you look at the price this person will pay for his whole trip he could move up to a lux. line. To each his own , we should all thank cruisers like this they keep it cheaper for the rest of us.[/quote]

Yes, your correct to each is own. I spend a couple hundred on gifts on board and about 600.00 on booze. I guess you can thank me too for keeping your cost down. Oh and I also rented an alcove for a sea day.

[hansolosmom]

Do they release them x number of days before the cruise? I was looking at our booking and it says none are available. But I can buy drink packages and specialty restaurants.

I'm with the people who like to be outside but need shade. My mom had 3 bouts of skin cancer, so sunlight is a no-no.

[slp123]

[quote name='njaloha'][FONT="Comic Sans MS"][COLOR="Black"][SIZE="3"]I just booked one for our Jamaica port day since we don't want to go ashore. :eek:
Instead of booking a shore excursion, we figured the price was worth it. Also, when I mentioned to DH that we could use our balcony to relax, he responded, "Whenever else will I get a chance to use an iPad!!!???" So I booked one for a Christmas present (stocking stuffer). HA! :D[/SIZE][/COLOR][/FONT][/QUOTE]

What a sweet gift!
Steven

[slp123]

[quote name='hansolosmom']Do they release them x number of days before the cruise? I was looking at our booking and it says none are available. But I can buy drink packages and specialty restaurants.

I'm with the people who like to be outside but need shade. My mom had 3 bouts of skin cancer, so sunlight is a no-no.[/QUOTE]

Although the Celebrity site indicates you can reserve in Alcove on line, you in fact can't. The functionality has not been built. You must call Celebrity and arrange one with their special services desk. Just call the main number and tell the first representative what you are looking to reserve and they will put you through to the appropriate party.

I of course do not have any idea as to what is available and on which days.

SP

[believer33323]

[quote name='hansolosmom']Do they release them x number of days before the cruise? I was looking at our booking and it says none are available. But I can buy drink packages and specialty restaurants.

I'm with the people who like to be outside but need shade. My mom had 3 bouts of skin cancer, so sunlight is a no-no.[/quote]

How many days until your cruise??

Maybe they are all booked. It maybe easier to just call X and find out. 1-800-647-2251

[hansolosmom]

SP & Chris - we aren't sailing until July. But I'll call and find out availability.

[Germancruiser]

Dear me- those cabanas on HAL- Ships are wore then those silly alcoves on board X- s Solstice Class Ships! They on HAL look like a camp ground ( a posh one I admit) one right after the other. Not in my wildest dreams would I consider renting one of those alcoves on X- ships . No sea view at all - my most favorite place is the Solstice Deck , above the pool area- great view´s , just a lot of steps to climb to get there- but that helps burn some extra calories!

[slp123]

[quote name='Germancruiser']Dear me- those cabanas on HAL- Ships are wore then those silly alcoves on board X- s Solstice Class Ships! They on HAL look like a camp ground ( a posh one I admit) one right after the other. Not in my wildest dreams would I consider renting one of those alcoves on X- ships . No sea view at all - my most favorite place is the Solstice Deck , above the pool area- great view´s , just a lot of steps to climb to get there- but that helps burn some extra calories![/QUOTE]

Your comment is way off the subject of this thread. I was soliciting comments from those who have actually rented a Cabana on HAL or an Alcove on Celebrity. Your comment is based on opinion without actual experience.

[Germancruiser]

You are right , of course slp- but when I saw those pictures I could not help myself ( I did so even that I know that REAL CRITIC is not welcome on these boards- ) - I grovel and beg for forgivness!
Michael

[slp123]

[quote name='Germancruiser']You are right , of course slp- but when I saw those pictures I could not help myself ( I did so even that I know that REAL CRITIC is not welcome on these boards- ) - I grovel and beg for forgivness!
Michael[/QUOTE]

I really don't mind negative opinions, or opinions contrary to mine, just so long as they are base on actual prior experience.

That said, I do of course forgive you. To do otherwise would be bad manners.

[Germancruiser]

LOL! Thanks slp- I do so hate bad manners. My tongue slips from time to time- but bad manners- NO GO!
Michael

[slp123]

The Alcoves are great for having a covered area with comfortable and varied seating which is not on top of everyone or anyone else. And while they offer more comfortable seating and generally are larger than most of the private cabanas on HAL, they do not offer the level of service or privacy that is provided on HAL. HAL's cabanas are in a private deck area one deck above the pool deck and so you get not only your own covered cabana but a large private sun deck which is only for cabana users. Also HAL assigns to pool butlers to exclusively look after the cabana inhabitants. That means they bring you fruit, beverages, moisturizer, and other treats through out the day as well as take your lunch order and serve it to you in the cabana as well as fetch anything you want from the pool bar. On X the 1 person assigned to the cabana's is also working in the Lawn Club Grill. You can call him (a private direct line is provided in each cabana) to request things such as water or an ipad.

It wasn't until our second day that I found out that he will also bring a fruit or cheese platter at no charge. There is a charge for getting a picnic lunch set up. However I must say X was very responsive when I told a manager that the service provided by HAL was superior . . . on our third day in the Alcove the attendant passed by several times to ask if he could do anything for us.

Kudos to Celebrity for being so responsive and when next on Reflection I would take a Cabana again---not every day but say for 2-3 days on a 1-week cruise.

[youwash]

So glad to hear that you enjoyed The Alcoves. Our party of 8 also enjoyed them on the Silhouette in Feb. It was so nice to not have to do the chair search, and could come and go as we pleased. We also had as much sun as we wanted and then we had shade when we wanted it. We had rented 2 of them for each of the 2 sea days, but on the second sea day we sailed into a cold front of wind and cold temps. But I would and will rent one again. We had such a fun time with the "Cabanas" that my sisters and I have dubbed ourselves the "Cabana Queens"

[Team Stag]

I understand that if you have the drink package they will not serve you drinks in the Alcoves; but do they prohibit you from bringing your own drinks in there?

[jagoffee]

[quote name='Team Stag']I understand that if you have the drink package they will not serve you drinks in the Alcoves; but do they prohibit you from bringing your own drinks in there?[/QUOTE]

Really? That is really odd.

[youwash]

[quote name='jagoffee']Really? That is really odd.[/quote]

[quote name='Team Stag']I understand that if you have the drink package they will not serve you drinks in the Alcoves; but do they prohibit you from bringing your own drinks in there?[/quote]

That is not true. The attendant will take your card once for your first drink and then get you whatever you want according to your package, for the rest of the day. It was wonderful. We had towels, a large water, fruit plate and lunch from The Porch.(no charge)

We brought in hamburgers and FF from the Mast Grill as we wanted. We were never offered a menu or asked to order from the specialty resturants.

AND we didn't have to worry about chair hogs!

[redjetz]

[quote name='Team Stag']I understand that if you have the drink package they will not serve you drinks in the Alcoves; but do they prohibit you from bringing your own drinks in there?[/QUOTE]

Hi, we were just on the Reflection and enjoyed our Alcove one day. We had no problem using our drink package there, or bringing in food and drink.

They don't do a good job of explaining what you can or can't do, however. but we managed :-)

[Jokare]

We just rented one on Silhoutte this past week. Booked a port day but was actually one half at sea and one half at San Jaun. $99 for the day. It was a windy day so they had the screening down, so no shade. 1 hour after we started using it the only rain of the whole week hit us and we got soaked. Waited a while and went back and enjoyed it the rest of the day. If you want to think of it another way, you could go to the casino and lose $100 in about 30 minutes. This way you get to enjoy 12 hours. Give it a shot.