Beverage Packages Price Increased

[Mark_T]

It's all good then, as long as it doesn't impact the final balance the promotion is working as intended.

[WestLakeGirl]

8 hours ago, floralscent said:

I couldn't agree with you more WonderMan3! Inconsistency is a huge issue for sure.

 

On the Eclipse and in the Explorers Lounge I asked for a French Martini. This is a drink that a bartender in the Explorers Lounge surprised me with a few years ago on the Solstice. I have asked for this drink in the Exp Lounge on numerous cruises since and everyone has know how to make it...some better than others. This time on the Eclipse the bartender said he didn't know how to make it. Another said she did but was going on break. The original bartender then asked if he could surprise me with a drink and I said 'sure'. He then brings me the worst Appletini I have ever had and I couldn't make myself drink it. I am not picky for the most part but come on Celebrity! Wow...just Wow.

Explorer Lounge?  Not on Celebrity, AFAIK

[IWillGoAnywhere26]

17 minutes ago, WestLakeGirl said:

Explorer Lounge?  Not on Celebrity, AFAIK

Perhaps they're referring to the Ensemble.

[D C]

9 hours ago, durberville said:

Upgrade now $16.80 from $12…and I think they might add another 20% on top of that unless I’m reading wrong. I’m so mad I didn’t upgrade this morning when I was thinking about it! 😡

It looks like a $4 increase to the base $10 upgrade price.  From $12 with gratuity to $16.80 with gratuity.  

 

A 40% increase is ridiculous given that there hasn't been a commensurate price increase in the beverages they're offering.  Especially when they don't even stock what they say they do.  I'll be visiting guest services throughout the cruise if the selection is as bad as it has been the past 6 months. 

[5waldos]

I ordered (by phone) the upgrade from the classic with AI long before final payment. Got a great deal- about $8.50 a day to upgrade the alcohol package and a free upgrade on the non-alcohol. That included my small discount for my very lowly Captain's Club. Does seem strange to me that everyone seems to be quoting different prices to upgrade. 

[D C]

4 minutes ago, 5waldos said:

I ordered (by phone) the upgrade from the classic with AI long before final payment. Got a great deal- about $8.50 a day to upgrade the alcohol package and a free upgrade on the non-alcohol. That included my small discount for my very lowly Captain's Club. Does seem strange to me that everyone seems to be quoting different prices to upgrade. 

Was the discount offered in some way PRIOR to you making the call?

[5waldos]

Just now, D C said:

Was the discount offered in some way PRIOR to you making the call?

No. I just called, having read that the upgrade included a gin that I am particularly fond of. I had no way of knowing what it would cost to upgrade on top of AI since it is not shown anyplace. 

[SeaLegsAl]

I just called up and asked for an upgrade price. Couldn't upgrade just the drinks from classic to premium as she said it might be too early as it was not on the system (1 year out).

 

However, I could use the "elevate" package upgrade which came in at a stagger £500 per person for a ten night cruise (£50 extra per night for clarity). Think I'll stick to Bacardi and hope for a better deal closer to the departure date. 

 

Also noticed the UK website is now allowing cruise only deals if you call them, similar to the US site now.

Edited May 13, 2022 by SeaLegsAl
clarity

[gerelmx]

It is the result of the high inflation

[durberville]

53 minutes ago, D C said:

It looks like a $4 increase to the base $10 upgrade price.  From $12 with gratuity to $16.80 with gratuity.  

 

A 40% increase is ridiculous given that there hasn't been a commensurate price increase in the beverages they're offering.  Especially when they don't even stock what they say they do.  I'll be visiting guest services throughout the cruise if the selection is as bad as it has been the past 6 months. 

Yes! A 40% increase with no warning sure seems excessive! I realize costs have increased, but I think it should apply to new bookings - or at least give those already booked a heads up to upgrade by a certain date or accept the price increase…I booked last week and was assured several times that I could wait and upgrade on the ship - no rush!  

 

That said, I was ticked off last night when I 
went to my cruise planner and only saw the $16.80 option. Called this morning…had a relatively short hold (wow!) and was given the $12 upgrade price minus my small CC discount - so I’m happy. I’d suggest anyone with the same issue call and speak to a customer rep - squeaky wheel and all that. 😬

[D C]

32 minutes ago, gerelmx said:

It is the result of the high inflation

Which spirits or beverages that they serve are up 40%?  None. 

[D C]

31 minutes ago, durberville said:

Yes! A 40% increase with no warning sure seems excessive! I realize costs have increased, but I think it should apply to new bookings - or at least give those already booked a heads up to upgrade by a certain date or accept the price increase…I booked last week and was assured several times that I could wait and upgrade on the ship - no rush!  

 

That said, I was ticked off last night when I 
went to my cruise planner and only saw the $16.80 option. Called this morning…had a relatively short hold (wow!) and was given the $12 upgrade price minus my small CC discount - so I’m happy. I’d suggest anyone with the same issue call and speak to a customer rep - squeaky wheel and all that. 😬

Thanks. Definitely going to call. 

Which # did you use? 

[jelayne]

39 minutes ago, durberville said:

Yes! A 40% increase with no warning sure seems excessive! I realize costs have increased, but I think it should apply to new bookings - or at least give those already booked a heads up to upgrade by a certain date or accept the price increase…I booked last week and was assured several times that I could wait and upgrade on the ship - no rush!  

 

That said, I was ticked off last night when I 
went to my cruise planner and only saw the $16.80 option. Called this morning…had a relatively short hold (wow!) and was given the $12 upgrade price minus my small CC discount - so I’m happy. I’d suggest anyone with the same issue call and speak to a customer rep - squeaky wheel and all that. 😬

40% sounds high but the price to upgrade has been $10 +gratuity for about 8 years.  Hindsight being 20/20 maybe they should have done a couple of smaller increases during that time.  

[durberville]

18 minutes ago, D C said:

Thanks. Definitely going to call. 

Which # did you use? 

I called 1- 888-751-7804 “already booked- existing reservations” Good luck!

[miched]

11 hours ago, floralscent said:

Just off the Eclipse April 23 sailing and I have to say that I did not have 1 good mixed drink, aside from the martini bar martini's. Bar tenders IMO were horrible and I really hate to say that. We had the premium pkg as a perk and I would have been disgusted if I had paid additional to upgrade to premium. We ended up just sticking to wine and other non-mixed drinks as we just couldn't find a bartender that could make a great drink, even using the premium spirits. 

 

We were surprised by the lack of drink making skills as Celebrity typically has a bartender or two that I/we like and will seek out. Not this time...

Feel the same.  We now drink wine, beer or spirits neat.  No chance of them messing it up. Don’t know why it is so hard to make a decent Old Fashioned or Manhattan.  

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

[Mark_T]

1 hour ago, SeaLegsAl said:

However, I could use the "elevate" package upgrade which came in at a stagger £500 per person for a ten night cruise (£50 extra per night for clarity). Think I'll stick to Bacardi and hope for a better deal closer to the departure date.

Something is wrong with that quote, it should be £25 / day / person, so for 2 of you on a 10 day cruise it would be £500 total, unless of course you are travelling solo...?

 

Also the Elevate package includes $200 / person OBC

[GottaKnowWhen]

2 hours ago, D C said:

… they don't even stock what they say they do.  I'll be visiting guest services throughout the cruise if the selection is as bad as it has been the past 6 months. 

Does Guest Services maintain a special stash of liquor? Or is there some other reason for you to visit them throughout the cruise? Just curious…

[D C]

26 minutes ago, GottaKnowWhen said:

Does Guest Services maintain a special stash of liquor? Or is there some other reason for you to visit them throughout the cruise? Just curious…

Ships take on supplies throughout the cruise. A continued lack of advertised offerings justifies more than a single trip. 

[D C]

3 hours ago, miched said:

Feel the same.  We now drink wine, beer or spirits neat.  No chance of them messing it up. Don’t know why it is so hard to make a decent Old Fashioned or Manhattan.  

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

I wouldn't be so certain. Unless you watch them open the bottle and pour, you don't know what you're getting.

It's a serious accusation, I realise, but I firmly believe Celebrity has refilled more expensive spirit bottles with less expensive spirits, and doesn't always pour the wine you ordered.  

I enjoy Woodford. Have had my fair share of it over the years.  A few years ago on the Equinox (iirc), I watched the bartended pour from a Woodford bottle, but what I tasted was definitely not Woodford.  It was late and I didn't feel like making a fuss about it.  

 

This past March on the Edge, DW and I stopped by the Casino Bar for a pre-dinner glass of Decoy Cab.   I didn't see the bartender pour, but remarked to my wife that it didn't taste like Decoy (dramatically different).  Again, about to head to dinner, didn't want to deal with it.  We happened to bring home a bottle of cheap Cab home that Celebrity left us in our room.  Opened it a few days later and instantly recognised it as what we had been given in the Casino Bar.

[floralscent]

18 hours ago, lovecruzin said:

I was on that cruise as well, we spent a lot of at the World Class Bar. Did you try their cocktails?

Can you refresh my memory on where the Explorers lounge is? I missed it but I guess its good I did. I had a hard time finding a good Cadillac margarita until I went to the Ocean View bar of all places 😆 

Hi lovecruzin! We did try World Class and we spent a good amount of time there too...it's likely we saw each other and didn't know we were 'cruise critics'. 🙂 There were a few drinks there that we liked a bit and we found that area of the ship is fun to sit in.

 

The Explorers Lounge is a 'walk thru' bar on the way to Blu and Tuscan. Murano is right off the lounge as well as Michaels Club. Lots of live entertainment there and we LOVE the dark atmosphere there for before and after dinner drinks.

[floralscent]

18 hours ago, jelayne said:

Are you confusing your cruise lines? There isn’t a Explorer Lounge on any Celebrity ship.

OH SNAP!!!!! jelayne...you are right!!! It is the Ensemble Lounge 😲

Well, maybe the drinks are good there as maybe I had too many and forgot the name. Sheesh!

 

All of my comments about the Explorers Lounge were meant for the Ensemble Lounge. Sorry

[floralscent]

8 hours ago, miched said:

Feel the same.  We now drink wine, beer or spirits neat.  No chance of them messing it up. Don’t know why it is so hard to make a decent Old Fashioned or Manhattan.  

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

Agree 100% miched! Hubby loves his Old Fashions and Manhattans but opts for his McCallan scotch or a nice bourbon neat once he realizes the mixed drinks are not going to be good. At least there are options!

[Redtravel]

We were thinking about upgrading drink package for a June cruise.  This thread is the first time that I heard about the increase.  Checked my reservation.  Price was up.  
Years ago, before any price increase, Celebrity would send a notice allowing you to book at the going price and avoid increases.  Call it, doing the decent thing.  Guess those days are past.  Starting to wonder what’s next. Surprises? 
Now, we are not thinking about upgrading the drink package.   

[jelayne]

We almost always sit at the bar and when requesting a drink specify the liquor or champagne we want and they make the drink in front of us.  If we don’t like the taste (rarely) we give it back and ask that they make it again.  I will agree if you have the Premium package and just order a Margarita or pina colada without specific a brand of liquor they may it with the Classic liquor.   

[Mark_T]

18 hours ago, D C said:

A 40% increase is ridiculous given that there hasn't been a commensurate price increase in the beverages they're offering.

The actual increase is 17% for the classic package and 22% for the Premium, which may more closely represent the reality of what they are dealing with in trying to get their hands on limited stocks of wines and other premium drinks...

 

That results in a 40% increase in the gap between the packages, but not a 40% increase in the packages.

Edited May 14, 2022 by Mark_T