Are you excited for Aqua class Cruise only changes?

[hcat]

2 hours ago, markeb said:

I guess the one thing I'm pretty confident of is they didn't make this change to save passengers money...

 

As @neverlaysup said earlier in the thread, when you do the actual math AI has almost always been a better deal for most cruisers. In fact, their math says they were practically giving away the drink package and Wi-Fi once you subtracted the cost of gratuities. If you're not going to drink any extra cost beverages that would have been in the package and not going to buy any Wi-Fi, maybe not (but honestly from the businesses' point of view you're not a great customer...).

 

I've said on one of the other threads that I don't see fares staying the same or increasing with tips coming out of AI on October 4; that would just be too stupid an insulting. And not good business. On the other hand, the ship is cashless. They know EVERYTHING about your spending habits. The AI fare, for most passengers, is a daily cap. I suspect the way they discount the drink packages into the AI fare many if not most passengers never look at anything that costs more than their per drink limit. And the servers, sommeliers, and bartenders largely reenforce that (again, great customer service, not so great business). If you don't have a package, are you more likely to buy that $11 Blue Moon or $13 glass of Louis Jadot Chardonnay that was over your package limit?

 

And most people (not anyone on this thread, of course 🤨...) will look at the cruise only fare, not account for the gratuities or the price of a beer, and end up with a bill at the end of the cruise that's bigger than the difference between the AI and Cruise Only fares.

 

I disagree..Internet, casino and alcohol are not the only money makers. 

 

We  spend quite a bit  extra on board..We book all our excursions with x, plus several spa and salon sessions   specialty dining, lots of photos,  and always  one nice bauble in a good jewelry  shop as a keepsake!

 

We drink very little so no overuse of  alcohol like many we see who have a package..

 

[numnums]

On another note, I just remembered that AL will not include gratuities in the future anymore. So if you do get AL, You will only get internet + Drinks in the future.

[hcat]

5 hours ago, numnums said:

On another note, I just remembered that AL will not include gratuities in the future anymore. So if you do get AL, You will only get internet + Drinks in the future.

another reason why we booked before 10/5

[wrk2cruise]

6 hours ago, hcat said:

another reason why we booked before 10/5

 

Just so nobody gets caught waiting too long.  You would have to book before 10/4.   On 10/4 the new policies go into effect.  If you want to lock in the current policies where gratuities are included in the AI rate you need to book today through October 3, 2023.

[hcat]

sorry. I blew it. Thanks for the SAVE.  

 

. The date  new program start date is  10/4..How could I forget  dh  b- day!

Edited September 15, 2023 by hcat

[Lastdance]

On 9/13/2023 at 11:33 AM, hcat said:

just typos.. 

Paying for things I do not need is the new “simply MORE” strategy with Oceania; when I booked my first cruise, this was not the case, so now I will be one and done, as I hate paying for things I do not need/use.

 

Sorry, hcat, as I replied to the wrong post by you!

Edited September 16, 2023 by Lastdance

[gordiej]

Interesting reading. I haven't done a Celebrity cruise since late 2019, and only our first post-covid cruise last Xmas with Virgin. So hadn't realized that AQ was only all-inclusive until recently. Came across a great fare for AQ (marginally more than Concierge, itself marginally more than Veranda) for a 5-night on Summit over Xmas. Was a little pressured to book given TA was going away for the weekend (though we could have booked with someone else...) and we were worried the fare wouldn't last (it was gone the next day).

 

But my main point is that we booked 4 cabins, all cruise-only, and for various reasons, AI didn't make sense for any of us:

1) One cabin is solo BIL and he doesn't drink alcohol at all. No need for AI, not to mention he'd be paying double since AQ GTY could only be booked for two pax.

2) One cabin is my elderly parents who don't drink all that much.

3) One is my young-30s SIL whose boyfriend may or may not be coming (he's booked for now...). They'd get value for sure if he comes, but if not it would be a waste to pay for 2x AI. 

4) One is me and my husband - he doesn't drink very much, and while I drink more, I'm most interested in higher-quality wines. I'd have to upgrade to the premium package but even then probably wouldn't be happy with most of what's available by the glass.

 

So, we'll all likely go a la carte (maybe a non-alc package for some of us, probably at least classic for SIL and/or her BF depending on any sales), we don't need much wifi (1 day in Key West, 1 day in Cozumel with free roaming, can mostly unplug on sea days), and we won't feel pressured to "get our money's worth" on the package (yes, I know that argument has been hashed over for decades!).

 

[Jim_Iain]

As a Zenith,  I like it.    The all inclusive basically took away all of the Zenith Perks we had.   Our intention when we hit Zenith was we would travel more in AQ and then use our perks.   Now that Zenith has access to Retreat and we Get all the perks except tips -   It is very tempting to do some last minute bookings.

[the penguins]

On 9/13/2023 at 3:42 PM, Texed said:

 

If they would extend the "cruise only" to all cabins classes, I would really be intrigued.  😊  

They are 95% there - only Suites now have compulsory AI. 

[the penguins]

23 hours ago, gordiej said:

Interesting reading. I haven't done a Celebrity cruise since late 2019, and only our first post-covid cruise last Xmas with Virgin. So hadn't realized that AQ was only all-inclusive until recently. Came across a great fare for AQ (marginally more than Concierge, itself marginally more than Veranda) for a 5-night on Summit over Xmas. Was a little pressured to book given TA was going away for the weekend (though we could have booked with someone else...) and we were worried the fare wouldn't last (it was gone the next day).

 

But my main point is that we booked 4 cabins, all cruise-only, and for various reasons, AI didn't make sense for any of us:

1) One cabin is solo BIL and he doesn't drink alcohol at all. No need for AI, not to mention he'd be paying double since AQ GTY could only be booked for two pax.

2) One cabin is my elderly parents who don't drink all that much.

3) One is my young-30s SIL whose boyfriend may or may not be coming (he's booked for now...). They'd get value for sure if he comes, but if not it would be a waste to pay for 2x AI. 

4) One is me and my husband - he doesn't drink very much, and while I drink more, I'm most interested in higher-quality wines. I'd have to upgrade to the premium package but even then probably wouldn't be happy with most of what's available by the glass.

 

So, we'll all likely go a la carte (maybe a non-alc package for some of us, probably at least classic for SIL and/or her BF depending on any sales), we don't need much wifi (1 day in Key West, 1 day in Cozumel with free roaming, can mostly unplug on sea days), and we won't feel pressured to "get our money's worth" on the package (yes, I know that argument has been hashed over for decades!).

 

Your point 4: you would both have to buy the premium package.