Corkage - time to whine

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BSeabob

Guest
Update from X's FAQ's


FAQ Answers

Is there a corkage fee in the main restaurant?
Subject: Food and Beverage


Wine purchased by or on behalf of our guests from our selection of Bon Voyage gifts are not subject to a corkage fee.

Gifts of wine not purchased through Celebrity's Bon Voyage Gift program, or not selected from Celebrity's onboard wine list will be subject to a corkage fee of $25 per bottle, effective November 1, 2006.

Please note in accordance with our Guest Alcohol Policy Policy our guests may not purchase liquor ashore for consumption on board. Beer, Wine or Spirits brought onboard by our guests will be placed in storage and returned on the last day of the voyage. Alcohol purchased in our onboard shops will be delivered to the guest stateroom on the final day of the cruise.

I guess that's the end of taking a favorite local wine with you as far as I'm concerned. wow
 
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Mbandy

Guest
=yeah We had table mates celebrating their 25th anniversary who brought a special bottle of champagne and wanted to share with the rest of us. I thought that was very nice so I let the head waiter know that I was picking up the corkage fee. I think they should allow one bottle per cruise without the fee for people who are celebrating special occasions or just want their own favorite vintage one night.
 
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nimbex

Guest
hmn, this is higher than others in the industry. While I've never minded $10, $25 plus a $30 bottle is a bit steep. This is really amazing in that celebrity feels so threatened by the loss of revenue from my bringing my favorite bottle.

Yes to me, bringing my favorite local fingerlakes wines REALLY enhances my dinning as I already know what I like... on another line, I would bring two bottles and decide which to open based upon dinner choices. I am not a wine snob by any means, I just simply like to have what I already know I like and will try new wines at the vineards, I'm not starting a wine tasting with my dinner.

Will this stop me from cruising celebrity... well I guess no as I plan to book one for Jan. but this is a huge disatisfier... to pay $25 more just to enjoy my favorite selection on my vacation is not about the $$$, to me it's the principle. We're not doing this to cheat them out of money... lord knows the cruise line will get an ample amount on everything else they charge for and while on vacay I spend freely. So this irks me... not trying to be negative in a great informative post. Just sharing one viewpoint.

So everyone be warned- I'll be the one who uncorked her own wine in her stateroom and brought a glass of it to the dinning room. simple enough. I won't be paying the corkage fee, OR purchasing wine from the ship.... I'll simply then bring my own glass to dinner from my own stock (with my permission slip intact :)" with the glass graciously provided from my room steward. I'm really not sounding nasty with typing this, just frustrated and disapointed that I have to make a personal stance on vacation when I should be being pampered. I'll anxiously await the "new" fee for wine glass provisions in staterooms.

but I promise NOT to wear jeans or irritate my fellow tablemates.

Mbandy- for you I'll happily bring a bottle to share AND pay the corkage fee... that was a wonderful gesture.

thank you for the update just had to add my unneeded opinion... sorry in advance

carol
 
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AngelFan

Guest
Don’t apologize, Carol. I respect your opinion and feel the same way. We are over a year from taking our first Celebrity cruise, but this type of charge makes me nervous. I’m also disappointed that Celebrity won’t even allow us to take wine on board any more. Even Carnival allows us to bring wine. Is Celebrity going to nickel and dime us on everything?
 
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BSeabob

Guest
I agree, I think the biggest whine that I have is with the fact that we are not supposed to take any wine aboard..but if you do happen to get it there and wish to take it to the dining room there is a fee and that's OK.

We have in the past taken a case aboard twice. Both times here in Vancouver. Both times local wines to share with our tablemates and staff. We won't do that anywhere else it just doesn't make sense to pack that weight plus the bother. The drive and get on is very easy here and it was great to share and a lot of fun.

We have done that twice once on X and then again this past spring on HAL.

X seems to be taking the fun out of it all together. For what reason? $$ ?
Now that we are not supposed to take wine..most won't right? We usually obey the rules. So if hardly anyone is going to do it why raise the rent on the old cork screw? (maybe I just answered my own question ?)

We like nimbex will not stop cruising X..we too already have a booking for next year. But I just don't like it. bah humbug.
 
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randy

Guest
Our waiter graciously opened our (clevery snuck aboard) wine without comment or fee. I think that the corkage fee is simply a deterrent to those who may negatively impact the cruise line's profit on wine sales. As long as we are on this thread, one beef I DO have is the "gratuity" on wine. Why do I pay my sommelier $4.50 to uncork and decant a $30 bottle of wine, but $9.00 for a $60.00 bottle? Is the cork that much harder to pull out, the bottle farther from the table or the more expensive bottle more slippery? Seems that wine in the dining room ought to be a flat fee for the sommelier's service, with a tip at the end of the cruise like everyone else. End of rant.
 
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BSeabob

Guest
does he/she not spend appropriate % of morre time at your table fussing over a the more expensive bottle ?

Couldn't agree with you more. Some of the more expensive ones now have screw tops anyways. :) I can open them with my teeth should they be difficult to turn.
 
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Mbandy

Guest
BSeabob what did they charge to open your box of Merlot and pull out the little spigot? :lol Just kidding, of course.

I'd also encourage all you X cruisers to do the Martini tasting at the Martini bar. About $9 for six samples of different Martinis.
 
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BSeabob

Guest
Michael now don't get me whining about those fake martini's at those "Swill" tastings. Warm.. small... and I couldn't get them all down.... awfully sweet. :)
 
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Mbandy

Guest
The comment I heard from one young lady on Century was telling her friends the martini tasting was a "cheap way to get drunk".

It is interesting to taste the different flavors but I agree, too sweet. Make mine with gin. Extra large, extra dry and extra olives.
 
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ROSS

Guest
[quote randy] As long as we are on this thread, one beef I DO have is the "gratuity" on wine. Why do I pay my sommelier $4.50 to uncork and decant a $30 bottle of wine, but $9.00 for a $60.00 bottle? Is the cork that much harder to pull out, the bottle farther from the table or the more expensive bottle more slippery? Seems that wine in the dining room ought to be a flat fee for the sommelier's service, with a tip at the end of the cruise like everyone else. End of rant.[/quote]

LOL!!! A very good point. I think the corkage fees and gratuity schedules are ridiculous. The fee should just be a flat fee...period. RCI/CELEBRITY are just following the industry trends by charging such ridiculous prices. They could easily charge less for the wine and include the tip in the price...they would sell more and everyone would be happy. RCI buys wine a huge savings...and totally tax and duty free. Their prices are now in the stratusphere. What used to be an ammenity onboard is now a luxury...with prices to match.
 
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