The Perks that aren't

[Mynki]

17 minutes ago, GerScot said:

How do you physically transfer an onboard booking to a TA?

 

Contact your TA via email to get whatever deal it is that they're offering in writing from them after advising of the exact cruise you plan on booking. This is likely additional OBC etc. 

Book onboard and tell the Celebrity staff who you are transferring the booking to. There is a time frame to complete this within if you don't organise things immediately. 

Work with your TA as required.  

[Hlitner]

41 minutes ago, GerScot said:

How do you physically transfer an onboard booking to a TA?

You have a couple of options.  You can actually tell the Future Cruise folks (as you are booking) that you want the reservation transferred to a specific agent....and it will be done.  The other option is to transfer an existing reservation once you get home.  To do this you would first talk to the agency where you want to transfer (you would want to work out any additional OBCs or perks before you transfer) and then go through the transfer procedure which means contacting X and telling them where you want to transfer.  The exact procedure will sometimes change over time, but you will usually have to make the formal request in writing (the cruise line will tell you exactly what you must do).  We recently did a transfer on Princess booking and that line actually had a simple online form which we filled out and submitted.

 

Hank

[jelayne]

Some TAs actually handle the transfer process for you so you don’t need to do the paperwork.  The most I have had to do in the past 6 or 7 years is once be on a 3 way call to authorize X to transfer my booking.

[wrk2cruise]

http://rccl.force.com/directtransfers/DTTCelebrity

[ipeeinthepool]

WOW.  I just checked the price of my Feb 28 12 night Caribbean cruise on the Equinox in a Veranda cabin with the Classic drink package and gratuities. I booked it in February for $4400 for 2.  If I booked it today it would be $6900.  I'm not sure I'll be booking many more cruises with Celebrity at that price.  I will be really surprised if Celebrity can maintain these prices.

[drakes2]

5 hours ago, Baron Barracuda said:

If you're willing to take chance fares don't increase over time why not just book refundable and  just before fp date cancel and re-book non-refundable at lower price?

I had actually thought about that but now my category which is an ocean view verandah on the Apex has increased $410. I was hoping to upgrade to an infinite verandah but seems unlikely. I don't sail until end of May so anything is possible. 

[calicakes]

4 hours ago, GerScot said:

How do you physically transfer an onboard booking to a TA?

About a week after we came back from our cruise, our TA contacted us with the agreement to sign.  I told them the cruise we booked onboard was a placeholder( a 2021 date) because the schedule has not been released yet for the cruise we want to take. 

[Stateroom_Sailor]

3 hours ago, Hlitner said:

You have a couple of options.  You can actually tell the Future Cruise folks (as you are booking) that you want the reservation transferred to a specific agent....and it will be done. 

 

I wouldn't count on that, at least not without double checking before 60 days have passed.  We booked a future cruise on Summit a few years back, and as of a week or two later, our TA did not have it in their system.  I was told that this happens frequently, and to always verify.   Who knows if it was a human or tech error, or still in the pipeline, but that's what we've done from then on.

 

Edited October 13, 2019 by Stateroom_Sailor

[hcat]

5 hours ago, ipeeinthepool said:

WOW.  I just checked the price of my Feb 28 12 night Caribbean cruise on the Equinox in a Veranda cabin with the Classic drink package and gratuities. I booked it in February for $4400 for 2.  If I booked it today it would be $6900.  I'm not sure I'll be booking many more cruises with Celebrity at that price.  I will be really surprised if Celebrity can maintain these prices.

 

If you book as soon as the itins come out, the prices  and perks are  usually good.  Sometimes they go down but most often these days they increase by a fairly large amount.  If the new round of prices are  too high compared to what we  believe is reasonable,  we'll look around or probably  take a lesser category or shorter cruise,

[ipeeinthepool]

1 minute ago, hcat said:

 

If you book as soon as the itins come out, the prices  and perks are  usually good.  Sometimes they go down but most often these days they increase by a fairly large amount.  If the new round of prices are  too high compared to what we  believe is reasonable,  we'll look around or probably  take a lesser category or shorter cruise,

Hopefully that will be the case again.  Just a few more weeks until we find out about early 2022 in the Caribbean.  I'll probably need to find out when the other lines open their 202 Caribbean seasons and check the prices on other lines.

[jagoffee]

22 hours ago, jelayne said:

 

 We have a annual travel insurance policy that covers a cancellation for the standard reasons; death or serious illness of family member, accident, hospitalized, etc.  the which are the only reasons we would cancel.

I looked for a US based annual travel policy.  $1340 a year (for two people) for a policy that is good for $10K a person per year.   Does this sound about right?

Thanks

Edited October 14, 2019 by jagoffee

[retird]

I have never found the perks to be financially beneficial.   I always book at the lowest price they have for the cabin I want and pay for things as I go .  So far I have always come out ahead when I do the math.  When cruise lines first started offering free perks, they were truly free.   In later years, they just increase the fare price  if you take the perks.  So they are not free. 

 

I have been  monitoring several cruises on several cruise lines and I noticed that when they offered an upgrade for the price of a lesser cabin( ie: when they offered balcony for price of ocean view, ) they actually increased the price of ocean view to the price of a balcony.   Not blaming them for their marketing strategy, but as in any financial transaction , it is buyer be ware.

[drakes2]

5 hours ago, retird said:

I have never found the perks to be financially beneficial.   I always book at the lowest price they have for the cabin I want and pay for things as I go .  So far I have always come out ahead when I do the math.  When cruise lines first started offering free perks, they were truly free.   In later years, they just increase the fare price  if you take the perks.  So they are not free. 

 

I have been  monitoring several cruises on several cruise lines and I noticed that when they offered an upgrade for the price of a lesser cabin( ie: when they offered balcony for price of ocean view, ) they actually increased the price of ocean view to the price of a balcony.   Not blaming them for their marketing strategy, but as in any financial transaction , it is buyer be ware.

I'm with you 100 percent. When you break down the cost of 4 FREE perks in addition to the cabin the savings works out to be ten bucks. Being Elite status I get 90 minutes of internet access and free drinks between the hours of 5 to 7 pm.  I went to the casino a few times and was offered free drinks there as well. With the money I saved I was able to purchase a couple of items in the ports for my Mediterranean cruise next year. Big birthday coming up and first time doing the Mediterranean so pretty excited. 

 

[Grandmaanne7]

6 hours ago, retird said:

I have never found the perks to be financially beneficial.   I always book at the lowest price they have for the cabin I want and pay for things as I go .  So far I have always come out ahead when I do the math.  When cruise lines first started offering free perks, they were truly free.   In later years, they just increase the fare price  if you take the perks.  So they are not free. 

 

I have been  monitoring several cruises on several cruise lines and I noticed that when they offered an upgrade for the price of a lesser cabin( ie: when they offered balcony for price of ocean view, ) they actually increased the price of ocean view to the price of a balcony.   Not blaming them for their marketing strategy, but as in any financial transaction , it is buyer be ware.

I am usually able to find a cruise with perks that are beneficial to me.  For example, my current booking is a 5-day cruise in an OV cabin (guarantee) including all 4 perks for only $409 pp.  I prefer longer cruises but when a deal like that comes along, I grab it!  Hoping to snag a few more like that.

[wrk2cruise]

9 hours ago, jagoffee said:

I looked for a US based annual travel policy.  $1340 a year (for two people) for a policy that is good for $10K a person per year.   Does this sound about right?

Thanks

 

We use $10000 per trip travel insurance associated with a Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card $450 annually but first $300 in travel expenses are credited back to you,  combined with an annual Geo Blue annual medical insurance for about $400.

 

Many here seem to do the same.  There was a recent thread on the subject plus there is a cruise insurance board.

[jagoffee]

26 minutes ago, wrk2cruise said:

 

We use $10000 per trip travel insurance associated with a Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card $450 annually but first $300 in travel expenses are credited back to you,  combined with an annual Geo Blue annual medical insurance for about $400.

 

Many here seem to do the same.  There was a recent thread on the subject plus there is a cruise insurance board.

I appreciate you taking the time to respond.  I will need to do further research as it would be beneficial for us at those costs.  

Thank you.

[eguiney]

Also noticed that as of this morning, that if you choose the Classic Beverage Package as one of your "Free Perks" it cost an additional $280 for the 10 day cruise I was looking at. They even went as far as have "Our most popular choice" flag above it.

The nickel and dimeing of the public continues to grow and one of the reasons, I no longer enjoy cruising as I once did.

[Grandmaanne7]

18 minutes ago, eguiney said:

Also noticed that as of this morning, that if you choose the Classic Beverage Package as one of your "Free Perks" it cost an additional $280 for the 10 day cruise I was looking at. They even went as far as have "Our most popular choice" flag above it.

The nickel and dimeing of the public continues to grow and one of the reasons, I no longer enjoy cruising as I once did.

Celebrity announced this a few weeks ago.  The Classic package as a perk included a $14 per day fee.  There has been much discussion on these boards regarding this.

[TeeRick]

10 hours ago, jagoffee said:

I looked for a US based annual travel policy.  $1340 a year (for two people) for a policy that is good for $10K a person per year.   Does this sound about right?

Thanks

These annual travel policies are usually for Medical only.  Look at Geo Blue for example.  Much less expensive than your price. Travel policies that cover trip cancellation and interruption are usually not priced on an annual basis but instead on a per trip basis.  I have found pretty comprehensive ones on the usual travel insurance sites for about 5% of total trip cost. 

[SugSug]

Celebrity better reconsider their interpretation of what a "PERK" is.  They are now charging $14.00 per person/per day for taking the beverage package PERK!  This is not a PERK if you have to pay anything for it, regardless if it is one penny or $14.00 per day.  That is a charge that you are forced to incur when Celebrity is offering 3 PERKS  for a particular cruise and, like my husband and myself, we do don't need the free WiFi perk.  So we take the gratuities, on board credit and the beverage package that will cost us $336.00 (on a 12 day cruise) for the  PERK!  THAT IS NOT A PERK, IT IS JUST ANOTHER TACTIC TO EXTRACT MORE MONEY FROM US.  DON'T OFFER THE BEVERAGE PACKAGE AS A PERK, OFFER IT AS WHAT IT REALLY IS, "A DISCOUNTED DRINK PACKAGE".  WHAT'S NEXT, CHARGING US FOR BRINGING LUGGAGE ON BOARD?  SHAME ON YOU CELEBRITY.

[villauk]

59 minutes ago, TeeRick said:

These annual travel policies are usually for Medical only.  Look at Geo Blue for example.  Much less expensive than your price. Travel policies that cover trip cancellation and interruption are usually not priced on an annual basis but instead on a per trip basis.  I have found pretty comprehensive ones on the usual travel insurance sites for about 5% of total trip cost. 

 

 

Again, differs by country.

 

 

Appears some posters have just asked for new X quotes, hence the realisation of the $14pp pd.

[jagoffee]

1 hour ago, TeeRick said:

These annual travel policies are usually for Medical only.  Look at Geo Blue for example.  Much less expensive than your price. Travel policies that cover trip cancellation and interruption are usually not priced on an annual basis but instead on a per trip basis.  I have found pretty comprehensive ones on the usual travel insurance sites for about 5% of total trip cost. 

Yes, I also found many more responsible priced Medical only plans for annual and individual trips.  When you add trip cancellation to a policy, the price increases significantly and has annual  limit on the trip cancellation benefit.

[retird]

12 hours ago, Grandmaanne7 said:

I am usually able to find a cruise with perks that are beneficial to me.  For example, my current booking is a 5-day cruise in an OV cabin (guarantee) including all 4 perks for only $409 pp.  I prefer longer cruises but when a deal like that comes along, I grab it!  Hoping to snag a few more like that.

Shorter cruises are becoming less economical for me.  As an example for the end of November, 2019, I have been looking at a few cruises out of Fort Lauderdale and Miami.unfortunately airfare from London, Ontario is more than a 10 day cruise

 

[Grandmaanne7]

8 minutes ago, retird said:

Shorter cruises are becoming less economical for me.  As an example for the end of November, 2019, I have been looking at a few cruises out of Fort Lauderdale and Miami.unfortunately airfare from London, Ontario is more than a 10 day cruise

 

Yes, adding airfare would definitely eat away at any potential savings.

[Fouremco]

16 minutes ago, retird said:

Shorter cruises are becoming less economical for me.  As an example for the end of November, 2019, I have been looking at a few cruises out of Fort Lauderdale and Miami.unfortunately airfare from London, Ontario is more than a 10 day cruise

 

While we prefer longer cruises, we'll occasionally take a 7 day cruise out of Fort Lauderdale or Miami and even with these shorter cruises have never even come close to paying more for airfare than for our cruise. Ottawa prices aren't very good, but clearly better than London's!