Need help with go big, bigger, biggest stuff....

[Jetswdo]

Dh and I are happy with classic drink package. We also are booking an Aqua class cabin, in regards to gratuities. We each want the unlimited internet.

 

This is for a 9 night Alaska cruise. I am trying to find out the cheapest way to do all this. Is the Go Best the one to get all of what I mentioned (we don't need the Premium drink upgrade), and obviously don't want to pay for that, if we are cheaper off booking separately.

 

When we were on the Summit- our fare was 123 ALL In-- gratuities and classic package. We did have to pay for internet package, but we were satisfied with the pricing overall... no mumbo jumbo.

 

Anyway, we just want to do what will "rip us off" the least! Thanks. Anita

[ghstudio]

Since the internet package can be shared as long as you both aren't on at the same time, I'd probably take the drink package and OBC and apply the OBC to one unlimited internet package and the gratuities. Compare that to getting the "best" package and then take the best of the two deals.

[Mr. Click]

I would look at one of the bigger online sites who often offer pre-paid grats as an incentive. We have been very happy with that deal, especially when it is combined with 123GO--got pre-paid grats, classic bev package and a bit of OBC and the current go BIGetc deal. TA is paying the grats we we chose the classic bevs and $300 in OBC for our Alaska trip in July and a Western Med trip in Sept. Neither of us use the internet enough onboard anymore to make it worth buying or taking that package, we just use some of the OBC to pay for 240 minutes for the cruise. Ship's internet is generally pretty useless most of the time anyway.

[jagoffee]

From the numbers the length of your cruise is a significant factor in the decision. It costs $15 a day pp to move to Better, so for a cruise less than 10 days the OBC is a good deal, 10 days break even, and over 10 days is in the camp of "what are the thinking?". If you have Elite or Elite plus status you receive coupons for Internet and they can be used for a discount on the Unlimited Internet. Unless you need to be on two devices at the same time there is no need for two unlimited internet packages.

The bottom line is that it depends. The Best is obviously not good for you and the Better depends on the length of your cruise IMO.

[kenevenpar]

I would look at one of the bigger online sites who often offer pre-paid grats as an incentive. We have been very happy with that deal, especially when it is combined with 123GO--got pre-paid grats, classic bev package and a bit of OBC and the current go BIGetc deal. TA is paying the grats we we chose the classic bevs and $300 in OBC for our Alaska trip in July and a Western Med trip in Sept. Neither of us use the internet enough onboard anymore to make it worth buying or taking that package, we just use some of the OBC to pay for 240 minutes for the cruise. Ship's internet is generally pretty useless most of the time anyway.

 

There is no longer a 123go promotion. It is now the BBB nonsense.

 

Isn't Celebrity currently offering two "Free" perks (obviously they are not free)?

Edited January 22, 2016 by kenevenpar

[Mr. Click]

Kenevenpar, that is correct. The reality is that I can still usually get the pre-paid grats from my TA and some other perks from X. Currently they have some two perk offers going. We have done it both ways and it has worked for us. The pre-paid grats from the TA are nice and their service has been outstanding for us.

[kenevenpar]

Kenevenpar, that is correct. The reality is that I can still usually get the pre-paid grats from my TA and some other perks from X. Currently they have some two perk offers going. We have done it both ways and it has worked for us. The pre-paid grats from the TA are nice and their service has been outstanding for us.

 

Thanks. I found the 123Go (all in) to be a much better deal, at least for us. I still have one left later this year.

 

Agreed, the TA benefits can be very nice.

[Cruise Raider]

If your sailing is not one that offers two free perks (I think this is limited to specific itineraries), I would go for the go better option, choose the beverage package and then the onboard credit or the unlimited internet for an additional $15 a night pp. It all really depends on how much you will need to use the internet.

 

Pros and Cons of internet option: The connections on Celebrity are not great and speed is extremely slow with the internet so you might end up using way more minutes than you might think. I have found they are even worse while up in Alaska, so unlimited might be the way to go to account for all the dropped attempts. However, if you have your own computer and are willing to use them while in ports, they do have places to obtain free Wi-Fi.

 

Pros and Cons of the OBC: If you get the free $300 in onboard credits, it is actually only costing you $270 so you are ahead. You can use this for many things, including an internet package.

 

Pros and Cons of the gratuities option: Unless gratuities in your Aqua Class cabin are greater than $15 per day per person, you would never go for this option.

 

Since you don't care to upgrade to the premium package, the go best option will cost you $45 a day pp and we already know the gratuities aren't worth it for you, so you would be paying a lot more than buying them separately.

The same cost applies regardless of the length of the cruise so this way of thinking might not be worth it for a longer cruise in which the gratuities are worth more than the OBC, but for a cruise of 9 days, you are actually better off with the OBC. It is definitely the one I would choose. Again, not sure how much time you will be using the internet so that option may work out better for you.

[ChucktownSteve]

There is no longer a 123go promotion. It is now the BBB nonsense.

 

Isn't Celebrity currently offering two "Free" perks (obviously they are not free)?

 

You are correct. I checked my cruise prices after they came up with the two "free" perks promo. Magically the cruise rate for the same cabin cat I had booked increased by an approximate value of the second perk. I already had the first perk.

[Mr. Click]

Pricing, perks, freebees, OBC it is all a game now. Booking a cruise is kind of like buying a car now. You really need to look at the bottom line for what you want and need.

[ChucktownSteve]

Pricing, perks, freebees, OBC it is all a game now. Booking a cruise is kind of like buying a car now. You really need to look at the bottom line for what you want and need.

 

Yeah reminds me of when the car dealers all added expensive undercoating to pack the price before putting the car on the lot.

[Giorgi-one]

Pricing, perks, freebees, OBC it is all a game now. Booking a cruise is kind of like buying a car now. You really need to look at the bottom line for what you want and need.

You need to watch for promotions. Can often get beverage package, gratuities and OBC for about same price as the GOOD if you book with the right agency.

[Jetswdo]

am getting a headache from all of this! Let me write the exact facts, and then someone can just tell me what to do and I will be eternally greatful!!

 

Cruise is 9 nights. We are booking an aqua class cabin. We each need unlimited internet as we are independent of each other-- I'm just trying to figure out the cheapest way to have: gratuities pre-paid, classic drink package and unlimited internet-- The promotion includes the $300 per cabin OBC which I don't really care about, but I will use it for a spa massage if I can't cash it out at casino-- I always on Celebrity, pre pay specialty restaurants as I am very picky as to the days and reservation times. I pay more than booking the specialty package, but for us it works out better to book the individual restaurants.

The 123 ALL IN had worked just perfect for us- (didn't require much thinking on my part)

 

I need to find the exact pricing point for every thing... Anita

[MrsKNZ]

Well, there should be information on the Celebrity site that allows you to cost each of those things separately vs the promo cost. I.e unlimited internet for 9 nights =$250 pp or whatever, gratuities are $14 pppn, so $252 total ($126 each), etc. the. You can do the maths as to whether bundling it is better for you. Asking people here to tell you what to do is a no-win for both sides.

[Jetswdo]

But any way for those nice people who do not feel the need to put down posters because you don't like their questions:

 

I just spoke with someone very nice at Celebrity--got the price points for any one who is interested. Above poster doesn't need to read my post since she finds it upsetting for some reason.

 

Go Big: includes $300 OBC OR gratuities OR Classic Beverage package or 1 unlimited internet.

Go Better: for $135 more per person, can pick two of those choices.

Go Best for $405 more per person ( or $270 more from Go Better rate) you will get Premium Beverage package and the rest-----

 

So whichever package we choose we would need to get a separate internet package in any case. So now, by purchasing what we would use seperately:

\Our gratuities would be $242 and change, basic soda and water package is $389 and change, and unlimited internet for 2 would be $ 400.00---

I should mention that we did have the classic alcohol package on the Summit and only had 6 alcoholic drinks in 7 days between the two of us. That was included in the 123 ALL IN package.

So now, I will try to do the math my self, with my feeble brain. Then I will re post to see if hopefully any KIND person agrees with me, or is nice enough to state his/her opinion. Thanks again. Sincerely, Anita

[Jetswdo]

I think I am cheapest off just doing the Go Big. Here's why:

Gratuities are $242.10, the soda and water package is $389.00 Unlimited internet for 1 devise is $200. I really don't need OBC- But in the package it is $300.

 

So if I do the Go Big and use it for Beverage package that makes financial sense.

 

Go Better is $270 more to pay for $242? gratuities or $300 which I would pay the 10% fee to cash it out at casino anyway, so no point for that. Unlimited internet for one is $199 so to pay $71 more makes no sense, at least to me.

 

Go Best is an additional $270 above Go Better- the only difference is that instead of Classic, you can then get the Premium.

 

If my math is hopefully correct and that helps someone else in figuring this out, that will make me very happy. Sincerely, Anita

[cookiersmom]

You can use the OBC for either gratuities or internet or whatever. So, on Aqua, Gratuities are $13.45 per person per day. For 9 days, that is only $242.10, so the $300 OBC is the better deal, use it to pay the gratuities and you have $57.90 left toward your internet.

 

Bottom line, OBC is a better deal than Gratuities, if total Grat is less than $300 for your number of sailing days. If beverage pkg is more than $300, take that.

 

(if you are doing flexible dining, I just read that you no longer have to do pre-paid grat. If that is true, OBC works. If not true, then maybe you can't use the OBC for grat?)

[varoo]

Dh and I are happy with classic drink package. We also are booking an Aqua class cabin, in regards to gratuities. We each want the unlimited internet.

 

This is for a 9 night Alaska cruise. I am trying to find out the cheapest way to do all this. Is the Go Best the one to get all of what I mentioned (we don't need the Premium drink upgrade), and obviously don't want to pay for that, if we are cheaper off booking separately.

 

When we were on the Summit- our fare was 123 ALL In-- gratuities and classic package. We did have to pay for internet package, but we were satisfied with the pricing overall... no mumbo jumbo.

 

Anyway, we just want to do what will "rip us off" the least! Thanks. Anita

Sorry, but unfortunately, nobody here can realistically know what will rip you off the least.

 

As others have said, do the math.

First check out which, if any, discounted fares you qualify for to figure out if you would be better off taking a discounted fare without the perks, or paying the full price with the perks.

Also, see what kind of deals are available from some of the travel agencies.

 

But when doing the math, use the price that each perk is actually worth to you, or a close approximation.

Don't just use the value that Celebrity claims it is worth. That only consistently applies to prepaid gratuities.

 

The true value of a drink package depends on how much you would actually spend for drinks without one.

Beverage packages can be a good deal for some and a total ripoff for others.

 

If each of you needs to have an individual unlimited internet package, for whatever reason, then you can accurately use Celebrity's value for that too.

Most passengers do fine with a lower priced package as they really only need to use the internet for uploading and downloading, doing their reading and writing offline.

Even those who get Captain's Club internet packages often don't use all the minutes we receive, and we are usually online every day; sometimes several times a day.

 

 

As for the onboard credit offered, it can be worthwhile if it is money that you would spend onboard anyway.

Otherwise, people treat it as "free" money and end up buying a lot of stuff onboard that they really don't want or need and would not buy otherwise, which is exactly what the cruise line wants. ;)

 

So many of us have collections of those t-shirts from the last night bargain sales (special tonight only at 9:00, with a glass of free sparkling wine) that we bought just to use up leftover non-refundable onboard credit, figuring we can always wear them to the gym.

 

Then if you stay on for the next cruise, you get to see them again on the special, tonight only bargain sale on the next cruise. :D

 

 

Edited January 23, 2016 by varoo

[MrsKNZ]

But any way for those nice people who do not feel the need to put down posters because you don't like their questions:

 

 

 

I just spoke with someone very nice at Celebrity--got the price points for any one who is interested. Above poster doesn't need to read my post since she finds it upsetting for some reason.

 

 

 

Go Big: includes $300 OBC OR gratuities OR Classic Beverage package or 1 unlimited internet.

 

Go Better: for $135 more per person, can pick two of those choices.

 

Go Best for $405 more per person ( or $270 more from Go Better rate) you will get Premium Beverage package and the rest-----

 

 

 

So whichever package we choose we would need to get a separate internet package in any case. So now, by purchasing what we would use seperately:

 

\Our gratuities would be $242 and change, basic soda and water package is $389 and change, and unlimited internet for 2 would be $ 400.00---

 

I should mention that we did have the classic alcohol package on the Summit and only had 6 alcoholic drinks in 7 days between the two of us. That was included in the 123 ALL IN package.

 

So now, I will try to do the math my self, with my feeble brain. Then I will re post to see if hopefully any KIND person agrees with me, or is nice enough to state his/her opinion. Thanks again. Sincerely, Anita

 

 

I wasn't being unkind, or upset by your post. I was suggesting a way for you to work it out yourself and possibly avoid the flaming and attacks I've seen others who have asked CC to tell them to do, have suffered. But hey, never mind then [emoji4]

Edited January 23, 2016 by MrsKNZ

[jenZ]

You can use the OBC for either gratuities or internet or whatever. So, on Aqua, Gratuities are $13.45 per person per day. For 9 days, that is only $242.10, so the $300 OBC is the better deal, use it to pay the gratuities and you have $57.90 left toward your internet.

 

 

 

Bottom line, OBC is a better deal than Gratuities, if total Grat is less than $300 for your number of sailing days. If beverage pkg is more than $300, take that.

 

 

 

-----------

Agreed.

 

To summarize- Go Better is a better deal for you. For $270 more you get $300 to pay your gratuities. , giving you $30 to pay towards your internet.

 

Go Big- select the drink package. ( $389 value to you. Plus $56.40 value for 6 alcohol beverages [emoji6])

 

Still to cover: $ 240 Gratuities + $ 400 unlimited internet for two

 

 

go Better-select OBC. Use $300 to pay your gratuities, leaving you $57.90 left in your on board credit. .

 

Then your Internet for two will now cost you $342.21 out- of- pocket.

Edited January 23, 2016 by JenZ

[Jetswdo]

I calculated the beverage package for the two of us- using just the soda and water one- and the classic alcohol one if purchased separately-- That would be a slight savings for the go big. I calculated that it would come to just about the same thing if I took $300 OBC cashed it in at casino. Don't like being bothered with that. Also I always pre pay gratuities any way, with AQUA- and on other cruise lines, if not included with the fare.

Anyway, I will just pre pay the gratuities for aqua and purchase two unlimited internet packages. Thanks again for all the suggestions. Anita

[Molly369]

I calculated the beverage package for the two of us- using just the soda and water one- and the classic alcohol one if purchased separately-- That would be a slight savings for the go big. I calculated that it would come to just about the same thing if I took $300 OBC cashed it in at casino. Don't like being bothered with that. Also I always pre pay gratuities any way, with AQUA- and on other cruise lines, if not included with the fare.

Anyway, I will just pre pay the gratuities for aqua and purchase two unlimited internet packages. Thanks again for all the suggestions. Anita

 

I also had to do a lot of math figuring this out. I just booked the "Better" option with $300USD SBC. Drink package was $216.00 CAD per person. We are on a 12 night cruise and when I chose the pre paid grats., it defaulted to the $150 pp SBC. Being from Canada and our exchange rate right now, this was a very good deal. Celebrity's site says the classic drink package starts from $77.00 CAD a day @ 12 days is $924.00:)