They've oversold our cruise! And we got the offer!

[Pushka]

Today we received this email. The cruise has had its balcony plus sold out for a year. Some haven't been assigned their guarantee and it's through a very large US TA so they have to be honoured.

And no one is posting the same on either Cruise Critic roll call or our FB group. We have the best stateroom below the suite category so much valued.

Hmm. We might consider one of the options.....I'm hunting down YouTube for options. Some seem nice, others not so much.

​

Dear Guest,​

We can't wait to welcome you aboard Celebrity Millennium®! Ahead of our April 20, 2025, sailing, we're reaching out with an incredible first-come, first-served offer.​

Guests who have flexibility in their travel accommodations have until April 10, 2025, to take advantage of this offer. So, make sure to review your options and submit your preference to (deleted) before then.​

If you don't wish to participate, you may disregard this email, and we'll see you on April 20th!​

Your Offers​

Option 1: Move to one of our Ocean View staterooms on the same Celebrity Millennium sailing AND receive a 100% refund of your cruise fare.​

What you'll receive:​

• You'll be assigned one of our beautiful Ocean View staterooms on the April 20, 2025, sailing, and Celebrity Cruises® will fully refund your cruise fare on your current booking, including any non-refundable deposits for Celebrity Millennium.
• If you used a Future Cruise Credit to pay for your reservation, any NEW funds paid above the certificate amount will be refunded and the original FCC will be reinstated and valid for a year from issuance.

Option 2: Move to one of our Interior staterooms on the same Celebrity Millennium sailing AND receive a refund of your cruise fare PLUS a $500 Onboard Credit (OBC) per stateroom.​

What you'll receive:​

• You'll be assigned one of our cozy Interior staterooms on the April 20, 2025, sailing, and Celebrity Cruises will fully refund your cruise fare on your current booking, including any non-refundable deposits for Celebrity Millennium.
• We'll also provide you with a $500 OBC, per stateroom, which you can use in most of the venues onboard - treat yourself to a bite, a luxe souvenir, or a spa service.
• If you used a Future Cruise Credit to pay for your reservation, any NEW funds paid above the certificate amount will be refunded and the original FCC will be reinstated and valid for a year from issuance.

Option 3: Cancel your sailing and receive a 100% refund PLUS a 100% Future Cruise Credit (FCC).​

What you'll receive:​

• Celebrity Cruises will fully refund your current booking on Celebrity Millennium, including any non-refundable deposits.
  • If you used a Future Cruise Credit on this sailing, we'll refund any NEW funds paid above the certificate amount and we'll issue a new certificate.
• PLUS, a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) valued at 100% of the cruise fare paid on your current booking to book an alternative sailing departing by April 20, 2026.

If you're accepted for the Option 3 offer, we'll also reimburse you for any non-refundable, pre-purchased travel expenses (e.g. hotel, flight) you may have incurred. Please send us your receipts showing the non-refundable cancelation charges to [email protected] for reimbursement. You can expect to receive any refunds to your original form of payment within 14 business days after we update your travels. Kindly note, refund times may vary depending on your financial institution.​

This special offer is time-limited and subject to availability. If you're happy to be excluded from this offer, please disregard this email as no further action is required.​

If you're interested, please submit your current booking details no later than April 10, 2025 via the (deleted) This is the only way to apply for the special offer, as our Call Center teams are unable to process any inquiries over the phone. If you're successful, we will contact you on April 11, 2025,via email confirmation and an updated booking invoice. If you're not contacted by us, you'll remain booked in your existing Celebrity Millenniumaccommodations.​

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.​

Sincerely,​

​

​

 

[VPS]

Which cruise is it?

 

[Pushka]

Which cruise is it?

Circumnavigation of Japan and which takes in the peak of Sakura season in Aomori and Hakodate during Golden Week. Extremely popular cruise. Still deciding. It doesn't even appear on the search now and hasn't for weeks. So they need some people to outright cancel, then they can move balcony people down to the window/interior.

 

[VPS]

Decisions, decisions

 

[Pushka]

Decisions, decisions

Hammering YouTube right now. It would change a few things for us like a different dining venue. Never sailed in a non balcony.

 

[n7of9]

I'd take Option 1. Literally the only time I'd cruise in a non-balcony would be if it was free.

 

[RooFlyer]

Just had a look at the cabins - complex matrix of cabins and class amenities (3 on Aquaclass type cabins). Are you concerned that you might get bad/bad?

 

[Captain Halliday]

I know an airline that could learn a thing or two from this cruise line and how it handles disruptions.

 

[Pushka]

I'd take Option 1. Literally the only time I'd cruise in a non-balcony would be if it was free.

Yes. Agree but not sure if Free cruise is worth giving up a balcony. Just thinking of one of us is unwell etc then fresh air is nice. Weather should be mostly balmy.

Post automatically merged: Saturday at 9:46 AM

Just had a look at the cabins - complex matrix of cabins and class amenities (3 on Aquaclass type cabins). Are you concerned that you might get bad/bad?

Absolutely. Some of the ocean views have the window behind the bed which is useless. Others have the window where you'd expect - on the side.

We are currently in an Aqua cabin which dines in Blu. On the top deck and straight through the corridor to the bar and along the same deck to the open deck above the pool. If they threw in a free premium drinks package....that's thousands of $.

 

[Brissy1]

Great choices, lucky you!
Contrast that with (in Australia) airline notifying you weeks out that J seats are overbooked, and their offer is...

I wonder though after you choose an offer, that it may not necessarily be guaranteed if others get in earlier or select options that are cheaper for the company. He who hesitates is lost?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Not sure option 2 sounds so great… interior stateroom (that even they describe as ‘cozy’ lol)… and $500 OBC. Pfft.

Option 1 sounds great. Guess it depends how much the cruise cost. ‘Free’ sounds good!

 

[RooFlyer]

Do you know if they might:

"We didn't get enough volunteers, so we've chosen you to get downgraded and refunded"?

 

[kamchatsky]

I would take Option 1. To me time is more important than money.

 

[cjd600]

Have never cruised but reckon the prime balcony room would be hard to give up…a balcony would be a must for me

 

[Pushka]

Great choices, lucky you!
Contrast that with (in Australia) airline notifying you weeks out that J seats are overbooked, and their offer is...

I wonder though after you choose an offer, that it may not necessarily be guaranteed if others get in earlier or select options that are cheaper for the company. He who hesitates is lost?

They usually do these things by phone - ie first in best dressed. But given its online I reckon they will wait until April 10 to finalise so they can maximise profit / minimise loss. I've not heard an offer like this being sent to Aussies though.

It will be around $12,000 aud. We booked almost on release so got a great deal. The price soared as cabins were taken. While it's a great cabin the price we paid is on the cheaper end that many others would had to have paid. Maybe we can push back more if they get desperate. I have heard if there are no takers then they up the offer. I know that several people in this cruise FB page are on guarantee and have not been allocated a cabin yet.

Then MrP had to ask just now, Can they cancel us anyway?

 

[p--and--t]

Mmmm. A full refund in cash and get to sail on same cruise same places in peak season still with a "window"/ obstructed view. Sounds very attractive as long as it's sort of mid ships with less rocking.

 

[Pushka]

Mmmm. A full refund in cash and get to sail on same cruise same places in peak season still with a "window"/ obstructed view. Sounds very attractive as long as it's sort of mid ships with less rocking.

thats the thing. You have no control over where it will be. On FB page for this cruise most aren't going to try it out at least that's what they are saying. There are some really nice ones and ones you'd never select. We were discussing it just now and realise that our first thing we do each day is go out on the balcony and take a photo. But maybe they might sweeten it if no takers. One person has contacted celebrity just to check it's a true email because of course someone has said it's a fake. Despite the fact that each email details names, sail dates and booking numbers. So there's always a Karen.

 

[zig]

Good luck in your pondering and decision making.
If it were me, given that you booked early (for a lower fare) and are happy with your location and dining options I would ignore the email and stick with the original booking.

 

[Pushka]

Good luck in your pondering and decision making.
If it were me, given that you booked early (for a lower fare) and are happy with your location and dining options I would ignore the email and stick with the original booking.

Yes. Wise words.

 

[RooFlyer]

Good luck in your pondering and decision making.
If it were me, given that you booked early (for a lower fare) and are happy with your location and dining options I would ignore the email and stick with the original booking.

Thinking some more, yes, that would be my decision too. For the same reason as I often don’t accept a hotel room upgrade as it’s usually the worst in the category.

OR accept with conditions as to new cabin specification. They can always just not accept.