MICHELLE

Can you all elaborate on this - so let's same I'm in Aqua Class on Equinox, and want to bid up to Royal Suite or

another suite- I do NOT get the retreat Premium drinks and wi-fi unless I have that already?    I should know this 

but it seems kind of unfair?

3 hours ago, Momof4crazytocruise said:

I have 2 open cruises with Michelle and haven't gotten an email either - congratulations on retirement. She will be missed!

@Momof4crazytocruise hi ya!  send me an email - I have been working through my list slowly - will be still working through February!

7 hours ago, LandstromCruise said:

I haven’t gotten an email yet! @michelle has been great for me as well.  Congrats on the retirement Michelle. I’m hoping to be there in about 15 years

@LandstromCruise getting you all set up !  sent you an email

6 hours ago, Matt said:

I've known @michelle for so many years, and she is one of the best travel agents ever. She will be missed!

@Matt - we have known each other for about 25 years or so amazing!

You have the best most positive Blog around and so glad I was able to help you kickstart it off 10 years ago!

Don't worry - I'm not dying people, lol

On 12/31/2024 at 12:16 PM, Jolly Ogre said:

NOOOOOO!!!!!!

Aw thank you - but I will still be here on the BLOG supporting @Matt  Needing a break to move near my new Grand Baby 

@SpeedNoodles  Girl we have had some gun together and I am so happy to have worked with you over these years
Yes, send me a note on who you want me to move you too - SO MANY good MEI Agents that can service you

@baltodave Thank you for the nice words - you are in GREAT hands with Jenn Greene and it was

my pleasure working with you and your family all these years !!!  Best of Everything

Yikes - seems like we have had lots of increases since 2020 on things like this.

On 10/4/2024 at 9:01 AM, Matt said:

I would expect that to be the case.

yep they opened the rooms at 10am and let people right on Oct 5

On 9/24/2024 at 2:46 PM, MarvinS said:

Major bummer for me!  I was supposed to be getting on Icon in just a few days (Sept. 28th) and that sailing was just cancelled!  I was so looking forward to seeing this new ship!

As I already had airfare planned all the way from Alaska and leave time carefully scheduled off work, I did have some flexibility in that we were leaving for two weeks (one week cruise; one week visiting family).  I immediately worked with my wonderful MEI travel agent @michelle, and was able to re-book onto Adventure the following week, so just flipped and switched around my travel plans.  Fortunately, I was able to get things shuffled around without too much hassle.   At least I'll be able to get on a cruise ship for vacation!  Adventure is one I've not been on yet, so will get to add that one to my list, too.

THIS IS WHY I USE A TRAVEL AGENT!

Glad it all worked out for you and hoping you are going to miss these storms that are hovering out there - Enjoy!

On 9/9/2024 at 11:35 PM, Cruisedude said:

We’re supposed to be going on a cruise this week out of Galveston, but my wife and son may not be able to go. Was thinking I would just cruise solo if they couldn’t make it, but when I called RCI to ask about changing the names on the cruise the representative told me I would be denied boarding if they didn’t show up. 

This is the first time I’ve ever heard of this. Is this true? I don’t think I’ll have time or be able to find anyone to come along, or time to get the names changed before the manifest is printed. 

Some agents are new, or they maybe are being schooled in all matters but also they may have been told to tell this to you by RCI

But from all that I know, this is not true - Usually you can change a person's name outside of 72-96 hours prior to sailing, once the ship
has been sent the Name Manifest (72 hours out) then they cannot do this.

Again, the agent may not have known this, but that person is not charged as no show, cruise lines just do not like people doing this
And if the do no show, you will get that persons' taxes, gratuities, planner items refunded.  Cruise fare is not refunded
but I would make sure of this and follow up on it later.

Timing is everything - if you know someone cannot travel with you - and you cannot replace them, and you 30 days or less
from cruising, then a no show is kind of your best option.

If 30+ days outside of travel, if you try and cancel that person, it may actually cost you money, because they reprice the cruise that day

Lots of details but that is what a good Res Agent or better TA is for... hope it works out.
 

I love when the new deployments open up and keep in mind, often times, this is the BEST pricing

you will get when booking certain itineraries and sailings.  Don't wait to book if it's the trip you want!

2 minutes ago, michelle said:

Yes, agents have the ability to hold longer but its nice they are letting direct 24 hour holds again
Yes, they used to do this back in the day....

also we are seeing new enhancements on invoices now - Bedding is a line item
Which is very helpful - this below is an example of a quad cabin for clients

ex;  Bed Configuration: 2 LOWER TWIN BEDS - CONVERTED TO QUEEN, SOFA BED DOUBLE

And an example of a triple where it tells you if its an upper berth or sofabed
i'm sure these are all not 'absolutely perfect- but its helpful, like when they also added
on invoices the percentage of obstruction your cabin has - 

triple OV balcony on Freedom
Bed Configuration: 2 LOWER TWIN BEDS - CONVERTED TO QUEEN
Available Upper berths - 1

Yes, agents have the ability to hold longer but its nice they are letting direct 24 hour holds again
Yes, they used to do this back in the day....

also we are seeing new enhancements on invoices now - Bedding is a line item
Which is very helpful - this below is an example of a quad cabin for clients

ex;  Bed Configuration: 2 LOWER TWIN BEDS - CONVERTED TO QUEEN, SOFA BED DOUBLE

On 4/15/2022 at 12:25 PM, sftraveler said:

I also recently had a very bad experience with FbC. I booked the now cancelled Millennium Panama Canal 15-night cruise over the holidays. Because it's holiday season and flights can be scarce I went ahead and reserved flights through Celebrity for the return (it's a one-way cruise and we live in the departure port city). They cancelled the cruise, but shorted us $200 per person for a supposed FbC cancellation fee. I say it again: they cancelled the cruise. Never mind that a benefit of FbC is that you can cancel until final payment. The flights weren't ticketed or paid for, nor was the cruise beyond the fully refundable deposit. None of that should matter since they cancelled, not me.

They won't talk with me directly since it was booked through an agent, and she was not able to get clarification from them. I've disputed that charge on my credit card. Nightmare of a service experience.

aw this is just a lack of communication - your agent just has to ask them to refund the $200 and they will - but airfare is so tricky if you or your agent do not know "key words" when talking to air desk people is so confusing - I always tell my clients until they have air ticketed its not really active for them and you can ticket anytime once they are held, but you should not have had to go through the million calls to find this out- bummer air is the hardest part of travel nowadays

I usually get off for 1-2 hours and walk around - have a few shops i like to visit and

just walk around but I agree so many people do not like getting off the ship here

which is not great for the city itself...

On 4/17/2023 at 10:14 AM, Matt said:

I appreciate the kind words, and big thanks to @Curt From Canada for all the tips! I wasn't sure if it was worth upgrading the drink package or not.

I always upgrade the drinks and the wi-fi before boarding - well worth it I think

On 4/14/2023 at 10:38 PM, SpeedNoodles said:

Exactly.  Last year due to a Cruise Planner issue (a technical issue, not of my doing), my Alaska sailing got canceled 30 days prior to sailing.  Just....gone.  The amount of time and expertise it took for my TA (thank you @michelle and @Beci) was unbelievable.  And this was all over Mother's Day weekend.  I would not have had the time (as I worked all weekend) or the knowledge to reinstate this sailing and all cruise planner purchases (without losing any money).

I will never sail without a TA.  They are worth their weight in gold, and then some.

thanks and may was that 1 year ago?

SO crazy its not pulling up for me either - i'll be watching my mail too, thanks for the notice

I really like Celebrity - slower pace yes, and more adult friendly - they have fun wine tasting classes and unique dinners.
and restaurants that I really like.  I took Solstice to Alaska last year and loved the staff and the Sky Suite I had.  And your
Royal benefits transfer too.    The ships are different but I like the change of pace, the all-included packages I can add
and the fun shows.

On 12/13/2022 at 4:12 PM, SpeedNoodles said:

My TA got me an Owner's Suite on Odyssey of the Seas for the price of an Owner's Suite on Empress of the Seas (difference was about $7k).  Thanks @michelle!!

the good old days lol

Shoot I was hoping the ELITE benefits would be better I'm just about to do an 11 night Celebrity to New Zealand next year so
was hoping for some extras - at least Laundry for that length will be good.

4 hours ago, Cruiser79 said:

For those that have done the at home test, have you needed any extras? I have 7 in our party, and thinking I would get 9 total, is that enough?

They sell them in lots of 3 or 6 so yes 9 should be good

Hi all

Letter today says only Dec 4, 2022 sailing is cancelled- they are going to have Ship previews

for one week only it looks like.  So Nov 27, is a go right now as is Dec 11th

Just looks like those on Dec 4, 2022 are getting emails for Wonder of the Seas.

On 3/7/2022 at 10:19 AM, Jolly Ogre said:

I started out with Dannette and then when she left MEI they assigned me with @michelle. She has been nothing short of wonderful to work with.

aw thanks!