"Always included" - false advertising?

[LGW59]

2 minutes ago, AndyCapn said:

Proceeds to write 400 more words on a subject ak1004 has nothing to add to. 

And after “now I’m really done “.  It’s like the gift that keeps on giving.

[LGW59]

13 minutes ago, ak1004 said:

 

ak1004 is not returning because ak1004 has nothing to add to the subject.

 

That said, ak1004 wants to remind all responders what the original post was about (as usual on cruisecritic, the last 8 pages have nothing to do with the original post).

1. What is Always Included (AI)?
2. Is AI a good value?
3. How AI prices compare to Cruise Only (CO) prices?
4. Can you book cabins with CO prices?
5. Is Celebrity a good line?
6. How Celebrity compare to Oceania, Crystal, Princess, Carnival or Air Canada?
7. How to find a good TA?
8. Can a good TA get you CO prices for a cabin you want?
9. How other cruise lines advertise and how does it compare to Celebrity advertising?
10. Why advertising in North America sucks?
11. Who has a bigger d**k - a Wall Street insider, a lawyer for a large international law firm or an employee of the largest real estate company in the world?
12. Who killed JFK?

The original post had nothing to do with any of those questions/issues.

 

My only goal was to show that in some cases, for certain sailings and certain categories, Celebrity advertised prices are different from the actual prices.

 

Clarification: 

Advertised prices = prices you see in the cruise summary, below the slogan "Always included" (which gibes an impression that all shown prices always include those 3 perks).

Actual prices: prices you see during the booking process when you want to book AI.

 

I showed a specific example with screenshots where advertised prices are different from the actual prices.

 

This specific example is a fact, not an opinion. I believe this is false and misleading advertising. Some people believe it's not. It's pretty simple. Has nothing to do with any of the issues/questions listed above.

 

On a related note, I would like to congratulate Celebrity for building such a loyal customer base of real believers and fanboys/fangirls who will say anything to defend their favorite cruise line, no matter what this line does.

I said that I work for a large international law firm, never said I was a lawyer.  False assumption , fact.

[zitsky]

@ak1004 we are not all fan boys.  Some of us have traveled on several cruise lines.  I have enjoyed this thread but you don't seem to have made many friends, and in fact, you seem to have veered into ah territory with your personal attacks.

Edited October 4, 2021 by zitsky

[canderson]

11 hours ago, bikerunner said:

Some people just cannot see both sides. I agree it’s very clear for me. If I just read the headlines of every article, advertisement etc I would have a different view of things and then agree it’s fake.   So with this headline we all should have bought this car then   No research ooo it’s the best 

@bikerunner

I really don't understand your point.  The Yugo WAS in a class of its own.  It's just not clear whether that class was within the general category of automotive or home appliance. 

 

Both a Yugo and a washing machine are comprised of bits of fairly lightweight metal and plastic.  One would expect the former to transport you from A to B.  Not so much the washing machine as a home appliance, which one not only HOPES, but generally EXPECTS to remain in a stationary position - and not leak on the floor.  😄 

 

 

 

Edited October 4, 2021 by canderson

[canderson]

duplicate

 

Anyone else keep showing logged in, typing a reply, then discovering it won't save because you're really logged out???

Edited October 4, 2021 by canderson
duplicate

[Denny01]

2 hours ago, canderson said:

duplicate

 

Anyone else keep showing logged in, typing a reply, then discovering it won't save because you're really logged out???

I thought maybe it was my iPad but it looks as if I’m logged in but when I post it never is added and it just hangs up.  i just Hate not being able to post here, it’s just so much fun.    
 

edit: we’ll, it worked this time! And after reading the last missive from ‘you know who’ I think I’ll just stop here fora while. 
 

den

Edited October 4, 2021 by Denny01

[mom says]

I think the problem is that the OP is only able to see in black and white. Maybe someone could donate a monitor or tablet that shows color.  Or at least includes shades of gray. Or maybe teach him the enlarge function so he could see the pesky asterisks and fine print.

[canderson]

Is it false advertising when the web site still shows you as logged in, but it has actually logged you out?

 

@Denny01

No, it's not just you.  I never know when this system is going to log me out.  Sometimes it doesn't do it for an entire day, and sometimes it does it half a dozen times a day.  It's gotten to where I copy any long replies to the clipboard before hitting "Submit", just in case.  Nothing wrong with your iPad.

[jagoffee]

8 hours ago, the penguins said:

It doesn't. Book direct and you have 2 choices;

1) a specific cabin with AI

2) a guaranteed cabin with no AI.

Celebrity say these are the only to choices available.

Several contributors on this and other threads say they have agents through which they can book a specific cabin without AI.

When challenged not one of those contributors has been able to give one example on any Celebrity cruise where this is possible. Also no travel agent that I or any of my friends can find advertises such a deal because if such deals were available they would be promoted heavily.

At the risk of going into your rabbit hole, this statement is not correct.  
 

“ Book direct and you have 2 choices;

1) a specific cabin with AI

2) a guaranteed cabin with no AI.”

 

The guaranteed cabin with no A1 is usually not an option when booking.  I am not sure why you believe this is true.  Even if a guaranteed cabin with no AI/Simply Sail/cruise only is available on a small number of cruises it will not be available for all categories on that cruise.  
 

it would be more correct to just say that if you book direct you have two choices,

1) a specific cabin with A1

2) there may be an opportunity on select cruises/categories to book a cruise only fare. ( not as common as you are suggesting.

[canderson]

Aw, c'mon, jagoffee, we were doing Yugos!

 

[Denny01]

I think my head just blew up…… I think I’ll go back to my Roll Call where we think 4 or 5 posts is kind of overdoing talking about laundry. 
 

den

[Oville]

OP, Unfortunately you are like a broken record that just keeps repeating.  It started a few years ago when you dissed Celebrity for Oceania and on and on it goes. We sailed Oceania once and never again, to each their own.  If you like dancing to “Tea For Two”  fine.  That song is something my mother sang to me as a child.  Since you said goodbye to Celebrity 3 years ago why are you back.  Your comparison of Honda to Mercedes is off putting.

[the penguins]

3 hours ago, jagoffee said:

At the risk of going into your rabbit hole, this statement is not correct.  
 

 

“ Book direct and you have 2 choices;

1) a specific cabin with AI

2) a guaranteed cabin with no AI.”

 

The guaranteed cabin with no A1 is usually not an option when booking.  I am not sure why you believe this is true.  Even if a guaranteed cabin with no AI/Simply Sail/cruise only is available on a small number of cruises it will not be available for all categories on that cruise.  
 

it would be more correct to just say that if you book direct you have two choices,

1) a specific cabin with A1

2) there may be an opportunity on select cruises/categories to book a cruise only fare. ( not as common as you are suggesting.

You are totally correct - sorry I over simplified it. Celebrity also agree with you.

[Ex-Airbalancer]

7 hours ago, Oville said:

OP, Unfortunately you are like a broken record that just keeps repeating.  It started a few years ago when you dissed Celebrity for Oceania and on and on it goes. We sailed Oceania once and never again, to each their own.  If you like dancing to “Tea For Two”  fine.  That song is something my mother sang to me as a child.  Since you said goodbye to Celebrity 3 years ago why are you back.  Your comparison of Honda to Mercedes is off putting.

I thought they may play songs from this list , from 60 years ago 😂

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Year-End_Hot_100_singles_of_1961

 

[zitsky]

I couldn't add a "like" to posts and I thought the thread was locked.

[MrCruzdoggie]

On 10/1/2021 at 9:41 AM, ak1004 said:

Celebrity new slogan is "Always included - drinks, Wi-Fi, tips. But this is not really correct, is it? For many cabin categories, the advertised fare is for cruise only.

Quit being a *****

[TeeRick]

21 hours ago, Spif Barwunkel said:

You say G, I say O, GO Dartmouth.

 

Spif are you a Dartmouth alum?

[RichYak]

9 hours ago, jagoffee said:

1) a specific cabin with A1

Wait, I never got any steak sauce when booking direct. That's false advertising by X! 🤣

[Spif Barwunkel]

27 minutes ago, TeeRick said:

Spif are you a Dartmouth alum?

I am not, TR, but I like the school color.

What color is Dartmouth Green?

 

 

 

 

The color dartmouth green with hexadecimal color code #00703c is a dark shade of green-cyan. In the RGB color model #00703c is comprised of 0% red, 43.92% green and 23.53% blue. In the HSL color space #00703c has a hue of 152° (degrees), 100% saturation and 22% lightness.

 

For the skeptics out there, rest assured these varying percentages of colors and hues are "Always Included". 

Edited October 4, 2021 by Spif Barwunkel

[TeeRick]

57 minutes ago, Spif Barwunkel said:

I am not, TR, but I like the school color.

What color is Dartmouth Green?

 

 

 

 

The color dartmouth green with hexadecimal color code #00703c is a dark shade of green-cyan. In the RGB color model #00703c is comprised of 0% red, 43.92% green and 23.53% blue. In the HSL color space #00703c has a hue of 152° (degrees), 100% saturation and 22% lightness.

 

For the skeptics out there, rest assured these varying percentages of colors and hues are "Always Included". 

I actually am an alum of Dartmouth and thanks for the lesson on Big Green!

[Iamcruzin]

To me this is just a reinvented version of:

123 Go

Good, Better and Best  

Pick your Perk

 

Did I miss any?  Always included just means, always included at this price.

[Oville]

4 hours ago, Airbalancer said:

I thought they may play songs from this list , from 60 years ago 😂

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Year-End_Hot_100_singles_of_1961

 

You’re off a decade.😉

[mayleeman]

2 hours ago, Iamcruzin said:

To me this is just a reinvented version of:

123 Go

Good, Better and Best  

Pick your Perk

 

Did I miss any?  Always included just means, always included at this price.

 

Don't forget A Journey Like No Other

[Rob-Bob]

On 10/2/2021 at 7:28 PM, ak1004 said:

If this is not a worst case of false and misleading advertising, then I don't know what false advertising is.

How about NCL advertising "free excursions".

[weregoingcruising]

On 10/1/2021 at 9:31 AM, ak1004 said:

 

I found many cruises where only GTY is available. Just one example - https://www.celebritycruises.com/booking-cruise/selectRoom/stateroomQuantity?pID=IN10M289&sDT=2022-11-18&sCD=IN&sCT=CO

 

But this is not the point. I have no problem with two fares - as long as it's clearly advertised. 

Report them to the fare police.