Surcharges for drinks in Retreat Lounge

[DaKahuna]

 I still think they are talking around the issue.  If someone orders a glass of Decoy Cabernet  or Conundrum Blend  in Luminae is there going to be an up charge or not?  I still don't see an answer to this in their communications.  There was no upcharge for either on our last cruise but now both appear to be $19 vs $17. 

 

[markeb]

2 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

 I still think they are talking around the issue.  If someone orders a glass of Decoy Cabernet  or Conundrum Blend  in Luminae is there going to be an up charge or not?  I still don't see an answer to this in their communications.  There was no upcharge for either on our last cruise but now both appear to be $19 vs $17. 

 

 

I still can't tell if there's anyone on this thread who's actually encountered this yet to know. I believe way back when there was  a second hand story off of a social media post. There appears to be a lot of assuming the worst...

 

Although the non-answers from X make that easier.

Edited December 31, 2023 by markeb

[HMR74]

First, mgt should have been thinking how to make it easy and pleasant for guests right from the get go.

 

Second, if I am not in retreat not in Blu, and in the masses, but buy a premium package then I shoud be "qualified" to get the same drinks anywhere on board, not to hear that the particular drink is not available in that steerage venue.

 

And I do understand the real upper level wine and whiskeys shoudl be prices differently.

 

In the end its not a problem, we will avoid  X if we are not happy with the value received (subjective)  and its an independent decision our ours from our friends, who BTW just complained the other night that the newest prices are getting higher. I have not yet looked.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[tfred]

40 minutes ago, markeb said:

 

I still can't tell if there's anyone on this thread who's actually encountered this yet to know. I believe way back when there was  a second hand story off of a social media post. There appears to be a lot of assuming the worst...

 

Although the non-answers from X make that easier.

probably need some actual drink menus for spirit and wine. Also, real life "did you get charged for that $19 glass of wine?"

 

The selection of built in premium reds is Mouton Cadet Blend.  Really, that is it in a suite?

[High on the Seas]

15 minutes ago, HMR74 said:

First, mgt should have been thinking how to make it easy and pleasant for guests right from the get go.

 

Second, if I am not in retreat not in Blu, and in the masses, but buy a premium package then I shoud be "qualified" to get the same drinks anywhere on board, not to hear that the particular drink is not available in that steerage venue.

 

And I do understand the real upper level wine and whiskeys shoudl be prices differently.

 

In the end its not a problem, we will avoid  X if we are not happy with the value received (subjective)  and its an independent decision our ours from our friends, who BTW just complained the other night that the newest prices are getting higher. I have not yet looked.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There have been too many bad decisions lately to think Celebrity has been thinking through all of the ramifications of their changes. 
 

Cookiegate

Buffet food reductions

MDR food quality

Room service charges

Sky Suite butler changed

Vaping in the casino

etc. 

[HMR74]

37 minutes ago, High on the Seas said:

There have been too many bad decisions lately to think Celebrity has been thinking through all of the ramifications of their changes. 
 

Cookiegate

Buffet food reductions

MDR food quality

Room service charges

Sky Suite butler changed

Vaping in the casino

etc. 

empty suits

 

I was in corporate a long time. we spent a tremendous  amount of time questioning proposals, and sometimes  it would go up to the CEO who found a flaw in "our" thinking. so the  idea was canned. and in retrospect, rightly so.

 

Thats apparently not happening at X. Perhaos they have thewrong people in upper levels of management. Nonethe less. I see the problems  there and how it manifests to the "guests" , with a certain arrogance or indifference.

 

We pay a lot of money for these cruises and thats okay if we are happy with the product received. And that includes we have limited time available for vacations and do not want to se a week or 5 wasted.

 

The X ship seems rudderless.

 

like a 3 and 14 football team, it needs a  shakeup. 4 and13 is about the same as is 5 and 12.

 

Winning is everything. (Lombardi)

 

 

 

 

 

[tfred]

A Sky Suite in any E Class ship is almost $11K for a week in the Caribbean - $1500/night.  Not inexpensive. X should do what they can to offer at the least the appearance of value. Suite wine selections and food quality is something that pax can immediately see even if they are not wine lovers.  With only one or two selections it is obvious they are cutting back   Can hardly wait to see what the spirit selection looks like  

 

It may be that they are trying to increase bottle sales by limiting selection of better wine

[jelayne]

2 hours ago, tfred said:

 

It may be that they are trying to increase bottle sales by limiting selection of better wine

If the wine is available both by the glass and by the bottle, buying a bottle costs significantly more on a per glass basis.  Some of our favorites:

 

Emmolo merlot bottle $86( w/ discount & gratuity) by the glass $25 upcharge $9.60. Five glasses is a $48 in upcharge 

 

Decoy and Red Condundrum $67 a bottle, by the glass $19, upcharge $2.40.

It would take 28 glasses with upcharge to equal the cost of 1 bottle.  
 

Caymus is $187  a bottle, upcharge is $21.60.   Nine glasses with upcharge equals the cost of 1 bottle. 

 

We won’t be buying any bottles.
 

 

 

 

[markeb]

26 minutes ago, jelayne said:

If the wine is available both by the glass and by the bottle, buying a bottle costs significantly more on a per glass basis.  Some of our favorites:

 

Emmolo merlot bottle $86( w/ discount & gratuity) by the glass $25 upcharge $9.60. Five glasses is a $48 in upcharge 

 

Decoy and Red Condundrum $67 a bottle, by the glass $19, upcharge $2.40.

It would take 28 glasses with upcharge to equal the cost of 1 bottle.  
 

Caymus is $187  a bottle, upcharge is $21.60.   Nine glasses with upcharge equals the cost of 1 bottle. 

 

We won’t be buying any bottles.
 

 

 

 

With their pricing system, and frankly the quality of current offerings, it would be crazy to buy a bottle of anything available by the glass. On the other hand, buying a bottle opens up an entire range of wine. We would definitely be buying bottles. 

[CHEZMARYLOU]

We buy a bottle when we want a specific wine, or something new, that is not available by the glass. I'm just wondering how they will react to my request for 2 bottles of Vevue and a bottle of Decoy in our suite.  Haven't had a problem in the past, in fact on our last cruise our Butler swapped out the standard bottle of champagne for Vevue.

[terrydtx]

1 hour ago, jelayne said:

If the wine is available both by the glass and by the bottle, buying a bottle costs significantly more on a per glass basis.  Some of our favorites:

 

Emmolo merlot bottle $86( w/ discount & gratuity) by the glass $25 upcharge $9.60. Five glasses is a $48 in upcharge 

 

Decoy and Red Condundrum $67 a bottle, by the glass $19, upcharge $2.40.

It would take 28 glasses with upcharge to equal the cost of 1 bottle.  
 

Caymus is $187  a bottle, upcharge is $21.60.   Nine glasses with upcharge equals the cost of 1 bottle. 

 

We won’t be buying any bottles.
 

 

 

 

Excellent way to put the wine by the glass prices in perspective. Will have to try the Caymus by the glass next month on the Edge in Australia.

[terrydtx]

52 minutes ago, CHEZMARYLOU said:

We buy a bottle when we want a specific wine, or something new, that is not available by the glass. I'm just wondering how they will react to my request for 2 bottles of Vevue and a bottle of Decoy in our suite.  Haven't had a problem in the past, in fact on our last cruise our Butler swapped out the standard bottle of champagne for Vevue.

If you are in a SS that wouldn't be a butler but your room attendant who would have to make the switch. 

 

On the Apex in September my wife went up to the Retreat Lounge to get 2 glasses of Cherry Pie Pino and John the Retreat bar bartender gave her a whole bottle as he said that would be easier than carrying 2 glasses back to the cabin. Back when we actually had a butler, we would have had the butler bring us the 2 glasses of wine. Times have changed for sure.

[DaKahuna]

Buying a bottle of wine really only makes sense if you do not have a drink package.  As @jelayne pointed out, if you take into consideration the cost differences, although I do not believe she accounted for any bottle discount in her pricing (which in our case would be 15% -20%) it still makes is less expensive to pay an upcharge. 

 

[RichYak]

11 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

although I do not believe she accounted for any bottle discount in her pricing

She did

2 hours ago, jelayne said:

w/ discount & gratuity

 

[jelayne]

16 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

Buying a bottle of wine really only makes sense if you do not have a drink package.  As @jelayne pointed out, if you take into consideration the cost differences, although I do not believe she accounted for any bottle discount in her pricing (which in our case would be 15% -20%) it still makes is less expensive to pay an upcharge. 

 

I did.  Discount of 20% and gratuity of 20% on the discounted price. 

[markeb]

33 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

Buying a bottle of wine really only makes sense if you do not have a drink package.  As @jelayne pointed out, if you take into consideration the cost differences, although I do not believe she accounted for any bottle discount in her pricing (which in our case would be 15% -20%) it still makes is less expensive to pay an upcharge. 

 

 

I'd qualify that buying a bottle of a wine that's available by the glass only makes sense if you do not have a drink package.

 

With a premium drink package and the 20% bottle discount, there are wines on the wine list that can be had close to retail. You're going to have to go to $75-80 and up a bottle for that to work, but you may get a much better wine than is available by the glass. That's not a change. The better wines were always by the bottle. And that's pretty much the case in any restaurant around the world. What is a change is that in the past Celebrity had a nice selection of "other" wines that were in the package. You could have for instance a nice Spanish Tempranillo that paired well with food instead of an OK at best California cab. A lot of those don't seem to be there today.

 

Our last three cruises came with a PDP. I'd watch the math a lot closer today on whether soda, water, coffee, cocktails, etc. came close to paying for the package. But in November I would have been hard pressed to justify the package for better wine.

 

EDITED: Oops. These threads are running together. This one was at least originally specifically about the Retreat Lounge. Not sure that bottle pricing really applies there...

Edited December 31, 2023 by markeb

[NMTraveller]

3 hours ago, markeb said:

With their pricing system, and frankly the quality of current offerings, it would be crazy to buy a bottle of anything available by the glass. On the other hand, buying a bottle opens up an entire range of wine. We would definitely be buying bottles. 

Yet we keep on running into sommeliers trying to sell the whole bottle repeatedly.  It is rather annoying.  We are also running into bottles of wine that have been uncorked and kept for too long.  When we get a fresh bottle it does not taste the same it is much better…

 

The Caymus is good.

 

Edited January 1 by NMTraveller

[TommyD3]

9 hours ago, markeb said:

 

I still can't tell if there's anyone on this thread who's actually encountered this yet to know. I believe way back when there was  a second hand story off of a social media post. There appears to be a lot of assuming the worst...

We were onboard Reflection in early December while Celebrity was rolling out the wine price increases. We were never charged a surcharge, but many times were told that if on the subsequent cruise they would charge a surcharge. Were onboard Summit a week later. Specifically asked the shore side concierge to have Whispering Angel available in the Retreat lounge. They did and we went thru the one bottle the first day. On the second day we asked for more and were told that the Retreat manager was trying to get more. On the third day we asked again. This time the bar server said they could not serve it because it was over the Premium Package. We talked to both the Suite Manager and the F&B Manager and were told we could have it but we would be charged a surcharge. The F&B said this has always been Celebrity policy. We refused the surcharge and had mixed drinks instead.

 

My question is in response to the new president stating that there will not surcharge for any wine on the menu in the Retreat lounge, the Retreat sundeck or Luminae. I know that after the price increases were implemented earlier this month there were MANY wines on the Luminae wine list over $17 a glass. Either they are scurrying to update those menus or suite guests (and only suite guests) will get the overpriced wines w/o a surcharge !!!

 

Is anyone onboard currently who can comment about this? Are you getting wines priced over $17 listed on the Luminae wine menu w/o a surcharge? Or have they removed all the wines over $17?

[George C]

1 hour ago, NMTraveller said:

Yet we keep on running into sommeliers trying to sell the whole bottle repeatedly.  It is rather annoying.  We are also running into bottles of wine that have been uncorked and kept for too long.  When we get a fresh bottle it does not taste the same it is much better…

 

The Caymus is good.

 

We are always reluctant to buy a glass of red wine that may have been opened days ago , we had to return a glass on rccl a few years ago , something as popular as decoy would probably be ok. We will bring two bottles, trade our champagne for a couple of bottles of decoy like we did last year. 

[markeb]

1 hour ago, NMTraveller said:

Yet we keep on running into sommeliers trying to sell the whole bottle repeatedly.  It is rather annoying.  We are also running into bottles of wine that have been uncorked and kept for too long.  When we get a fresh bottle it does not taste the same it is much better…

 

The Caymus is good.

 

That’s one of those things I suppose. If it’s been open for a couple of days, it’s probably past its prime. But I’d generally prefer a good red be opened and maybe decanted. But we’re into advanced sommelier and that’s not a ship thing…

 

I’ve found the sommeliers to be hesitant to offer a bottle, or even a glass over the package limit. Even the ones who clearly know their stuff. Thats equally unfortunate. NYC on Wednesday at a real restaurant with real sommeliers…

[High on the Seas]

25 minutes ago, markeb said:

That’s one of those things I suppose. If it’s been open for a couple of days, it’s probably past its prime. But I’d generally prefer a good red be opened and maybe decanted. But we’re into advanced sommelier and that’s not a ship thing…

 

I’ve found the sommeliers to be hesitant to offer a bottle, or even a glass over the package limit. Even the ones who clearly know their stuff. Thats equally unfortunate. NYC on Wednesday at a real restaurant with real sommeliers…

Very sad state of affairs that Celebrity has caused with reductions of covered cocktails and wines under their premium package. I am not much of a wine drinker but enjoy a glass with dinner when cruising.  Can’t get too excited with what will be left with no upcharges on the premium package. I am afraid that the selection and overall quality may come up short. I do enjoy a port wine after the meal and have noticed that their 20 year is no longer covered under the premium package, just the 10 year. I guess Celebrity’s definition of being a luxury cruise line seems to mean you better be prepared to pay up if you want a decent drink or glass of wine.  
 

Happy New Year everyone!

[DingoMom]

11 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

 I still think they are talking around the issue.  If someone orders a glass of Decoy Cabernet  or Conundrum Blend  in Luminae is there going to be an up charge or not?  I still don't see an answer to this in their communications.  There was no upcharge for either on our last cruise but now both appear to be $19 vs $17. 

 

@DaKahuna  and @richczarnecki, last month I was on Ascent. I used to drink Mer Soleil by the glass on the PDP, especially in Luminae. Now it is Not on the Luminae wine menu. I asked about it, and the Sommelier said it was certainly available, but would be a $2.40 upcharge. As I recall, the old ‘good reds’ (Decoy and Conundrum blend) are Not on the Luminae wine menu. Therefore, although Laura is correct that the wines ‘on the menu’ are included, the wines on the menu are quite substandard. So, in my experience on the Ascent, you WILL be charged $2.40 if you want a decent glass of wine.

I am on the Beyond next week, so I will investigate our questions there!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 🥂🍾🎉

Edited January 1 by DingoMom

[wrk2cruise]

1 hour ago, TommyD3 said:

My question is in response to the new president stating that there will not surcharge for any wine on the menu in the Retreat lounge, the Retreat sundeck or Luminae.

 

The cynic in me read this as they will not be serving anything which would not be covered by the premium package in the Retreat lounge.   

 

I would expect Luminae and Retreat sundeck to charge per the packages as they always have even though she said otherwise (I suspect she might not know that those venues have always been different than the lounge wrt drinks).

[terrydtx]

15 minutes ago, wrk2cruise said:

The cynic in me read this as they will not be serving anything which would not be covered by the premium package in the Retreat lounge. 

I agree this will be the reality.

[jelayne]

18 minutes ago, wrk2cruise said:

 

The cynic in me read this as they will not be serving anything which would not be covered by the premium package in the Retreat lounge.   

 

I would expect Luminae and Retreat sundeck to charge per the packages as they always have even though she said otherwise (I suspect she might not know that those venues have always been different than the lounge wrt drinks).

 

2 minutes ago, terrydtx said:

I agree this will be the reality.

I just wonder if I can order Red Condundrum in the Lounge and pay the upcharge or drink just drink Grey Goose.  
We board the Ascent in 3 weeks, so I will report on the Lounge but won’t be reporting  on Luminae or the Sundeck.