Panama Canal Celebrity Cruise Line

[swimfin]

Hello!
Has anyone sailed Celebrity and if so, can you help me with the following concierge level (NOT Aqua class) questions?

1. Is there a concierge lounge?
2. Do they offer a “happy hour” or night time open bar?
3. What are the concierge perks?
4. How do the drink packages work?
5. Is it best to pre-pay and include drink package and WiFi bundle while booking?
6. How does dining on Celebrity work?
7. Is concierge class really a better deal / worth it?
8. Anything you can tell me that’s different than Disney that I should know or because of?
Thank you!
Cheers!

 

[hrhdhd]

Hello!
Has anyone sailed Celebrity and if so, can you help me with the following concierge level (NOT Aqua class) questions?

1. Is there a concierge lounge? No (the equivalent to Disney Concierge on Celebrity is The Retreat, not Concierge)
2. Do they offer a “happy hour” or night time open bar? Yes, for Elite and higher (in Celebrity's Captain's Club)
3. What are the concierge perks? Lunch in the MDR on embarkation day, more points per night for Captain's Club, maybe afternoon snacks (might have been discontinued)
4. How do the drink packages work? Not sure what you mean by "work"; you buy either the regular or premium package and can order drinks up to a certain $ amount (maybe $11/$17?)
5. Is it best to pre-pay and include drink package and WiFi bundle while booking? You can do the math, but sometimes the amenities go on sale in the cruise planner
6. How does dining on Celebrity work? Need to know which ship
7. Is concierge class really a better deal / worth it? Probably not
8. Anything you can tell me that’s different than Disney that I should know or because of? A lot is different. You don't have to do the silly wait-up-til-midnight thing to check in, muster is showing up at your station and having your card scanned, you can buy shore excursions anytime once you've booked

See answers above.

 

[swimfin]

See answers above.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!! I’m not sure what they charge for drinks, and if I do the included at booking it’s $70/day for classic and WiFi instead of $89.99 for just the drinks … never cruised Celebrity so I don’t know what they charge for …
We would be on the Summit … 16 night Panama Canal

 

[hrhdhd]

On the Summit, one MDR is fixed seating (same table, same wait staff, probably early @ 5:30, late @ 7:30/8) and the other is Select (anytime, but you can make reservations per night in the app).

I'd probably do the $70/day deal. You might be charged 20% gratuity on the $89.99, so it'll be higher.

Info about drink packages here: https://www.celebritycruises.com/things-to-do-onboard/onboard-packages/beverage-packages

 

[Lesverts]

It really depends. Doing their package pre-booking can be cheaper but it can also not be. Depends on the number of guests and popularity of the sailing etc. One thing though is that if you pre-book you cannot purchase Premium Access. Which is essentially the concierge perks and premium wifi. So you can essentially turn any cabin into a 'concierge' cabin. As a solo on my next Celebrity it is going to be cheaper for me to buy the premium access and the premium drink package a la carte compared to the booking price bundle. But your mileage will vary.

Concierge is essentially just their framing of the premium room locations on the ship. You get a fancy gold room key too.

 

[Dug720]

See answers above.

Actually check-in for port arrival time IS at midnight on Celebrity. The difference is it's based on departure port, so it could be earlier or later than midnight your time.

 

[Dug720]

If you purchase a drink package and WiFi separately rather than doing AI, if the price drops in the planner you can always cancel rebook (you do have to pay up front, so there would be a time (7-10 days) for a refund).

If you go with the Classic package, you can purchase drinks that are more and you'll just be charged the difference (plus the added grat). Same with the Premium, though I think you really only run into that with some wine by the glass.

 

[hrhdhd]

Actually check-in for port arrival time IS at midnight on Celebrity. The difference is it's based on departure port, so it could be earlier or later than midnight your time.

It's not necessary to check in at midnight though. No one checks the supposed arrival time. Show up at 11 and you're good.

 

[Dug720]

It's not necessary to check in at midnight though. No one checks the supposed arrival time. Show up at 11 and you're good.

In most cases. But there have been ports where that IS checked. You get one of those with a 2:30 arrival time and you show up at 10, you're going to be waiting a long time.

 

[hrhdhd]

In most cases. But there have been ports where that IS checked. You get one of those with a 2:30 arrival time and you show up at 10, you're going to be waiting a long time.

Never had that happen, and I am Elite Plus on Celebrity. Also, the port won't generally be open at 10 for arriving passengers anyway, so that's not related to checking in online.

You can check in two weeks after the check-in opens and still get the earliest supposed arrival time. Celebrity cruisers aren't fanatics about checking in at 12:00:01. It simply doesn't matter.

 

[Dug720]

Never had that happen, and I am Elite Plus on Celebrity. Also, the port won't generally be open at 10 for arriving passengers anyway, so that's not related to checking in online.

You can check in two weeks after the check-in opens and still get the earliest supposed arrival time. Celebrity cruisers aren't fanatics about checking in at 12:00:01. It simply doesn't matter.

I've been on Celebrity (just a lowly Elite though) and have had people at tables next to mine who in other ports did have their port arrival time checked, so it can happen.

They may not be fanatics about checking in at midnight (likely because of the ability to book excursions from the time you book your cruise), but they're certainly fanatical about a lot of other things.