Is one of the most popular new Elite perks being Chopped!

[LeftcoastBC]

The only issue that I have with the Programs is over time getting what they actually say that you should get as a benefit from whatever the name of the program happens to be.

 

Change the rules, let me know first. I may be disappointed but as long as I know what's a happening or not....I'm aboard and a happy camper.

 

Communication never was a high point with X and it's still not great even after RCL bought them.

 

Regarding dropping a "Lounge" night for a "Party" it's been a long time since I went to the cattle call to rattle my jewels and get a dead canape so I would rather the lounge be open still. BUT like I said just tell me my options.

[adbnva]

the cocktail hours are a very nice benefit of being elite. i think it should be restricted to elites.

i only hope if they initiate an "elite+" they do not take away the perks that we have enjoyed like royal caribbean did.

there are those of us who cannot take 24 cruises.

[teajak]

joel, just a question. although i am not yet an elite member( i do different cruise lines depending on the time and ports) however, i woulf really like to know, just what exactly do you mean by "like minded people"?

I believe I am safe in assuming that what they mean by like minded people is people that love to cruise.:D

[Mr. Luckytoo]

To rephrase my initial questions…

 

Is it fair for Celebrity to change policy on Captain's Club tier benefits and have lower tier events trump upper tier events if they fall on the same day?

 

Not fair but legal

 

Is it fair for them to do so by means of a notice in your stateroom once you have boarded the ship, while stating they have not changed publicly?

 

Not fair but very easy for them to accomplish

 

My original post was in regards to means and methods not the value of cutback.

 

IMHO - Give me the benefits I've earned that you've promised and stated so in writing or show me the proper respect by giving me some advance notice of change - not after I've step foot on the ship!

 

What started out as 2, soon became 3, 3 is now 4 and with so many that accept this, I sure we'll see more… more being LESS:rolleyes:.

 

Joel

 

As with many "perks programs" in the fine print it likely says subject to change at the discretion of the company. I would be nicer for =X= to contact it's elite members prior to their sailing but then again communication has never been one of their strong points. :rolleyes:

[C 2 C]

joel, just a question. although i am not yet an elite member( i do different cruise lines depending on the time and ports) however, i woulf really like to know, just what exactly do you mean by "like minded people"?

It's like saying "birds of a feather flock together"...

..cruisers swapping stores about what they like as opposed to having a drink with someone who disagrees with everything one has to say .. you know like some people who don't bother reading what this thread is about and post something just to be on the other side of the argument...

 

The opportunity to meet friends in the intimate confines of Michaels' Club is superior to lining up for a mass meeting of up to 400+ people in a large lounge where some people will not have a place to sit and sometimes are not lucky enough to find a bar server.

 

Tomorrow we board Summit and we will have two weeks to experience the policy there..

[floridatravelersforlife]

The questions posed are about business ethics (not morals). If airlines told the truth, if car dealers didnt bait and switch life would be good, but it just aint so.

 

Holding Celebrity to the pax interpretation of the benefits is not realistic. The term "the customer is always right" is history just like the paper highway map.

 

One could boycott cell phone companies, drop cable or dish service and even Celebrity Cruises but what is the point, who loses?

 

Now if one causes a clip on 60 minutes about misleading customers that might lend some influence.

[teajak]

I believe I am safe in assuming that what they mean by like minded people is people that love to cruise.:D

HOPPYSMOM:What did you think it meant?:confused:

[krewzin]

HOPPYSMOM:What did you think it meant?:confused:

 

 

 

My guess is that she thought 'like-minded people' referred to the 'upper crust.' You know....the 'not Sanford & Son' crowd. :D

[hoppysmom]

HOPPYSMOM:What did you think it meant?:confused:

it just struck me as an odd thing to say. i've been on probably 25 cruises and most everyone i've met enjoyed cruising. it's always been fun to meet and get to know people i might not have had the chance to meet in other times and places. if i wanted to meet only people who have similar tastes and opinions to mine i think life would be boring. i don't care where your stateroom is or what you spent on it, we probably are like-minded. i get terribly seasick. always have, always will. i take meglazine 2x daily and enjoy cruising, but i have to have an inside room. can't even look at the water while we're moving. my friends, who my husband and i have sailed with have the captains suite with the grand piano. we are like minded. i'm sorry if i seem longwinded or difficult, but the whole comment after the initial what perks are we losing, sounded a little like "mine is bigger and better than yours"

[Jade13]

 

 

The back of 11-28-2009 Elite Events Letter list the Captain's Club benefits based on tier levels and contains the following wording:

 

Classic 1-4 tier credits:

"* Access to the Captains Club Celebration"

 

Select 5-9 tier credits:

"* Invitation to the Senior Officers Cocktail Party"

 

Elite 10+ tier credits:

As a member of our Elite tier, you will enjoy all the benefits of the Classic and Select membership*, plus:

 

"* Access to the new Captain's Club Lounge at Michael's Club for coffeehouse-style breakfast and evening social hour"

 

The above agrees with the present tier benefits as outlined on the Celebrity website which has been the basis of all Captain's Club tier benefits in the past (i.e. upper tier benefits are in addition to the benefits of the lower tiers). It's also the basis for which they were applied on the November 28th 2009 Century sailing.

 

The effect of the cutback is of less value than the way you are treated and respected by the company. What the value of two days less access to the Elite Lounge is to someone on a 14 night cruise vs. someone on 4 night cruise that finds out onboard he can only enjoy this benefit 1 night instead of 3, will be different.

 

Joel

 

Joel,

 

You mention Century and also list the different tier benefits. We were on Century in April, are Select, and there was no Senior Officers Cocktail Party on this 4 night cruise. I assume there will not be one on our 3 night cruise on Eclipse in November. They did not have the Formal tea and I know this because the Captains Club Rep said she would invite me (knew I was a big tea drinker) but they were not having the tea on the short 4 (and I guess 5 night) cruises. It was the same thing you are mentioning as I don't see either the tea or officers cocktail being listed as only on 7 night and longer cruises. They do mention on the web site that laundry is only available for Elite on longer cruises, but not that these other benefits will not be there. In the case of Century there are a lot of those 4 and 5 night cruises.

 

The best benefit we received was the complimentary pressing of 2 garments which was great so we could pack light, bring one suitcase and have our formal attire pressed.

[Jade13]

the cocktail hours are a very nice benefit of being elite. i think it should be restricted to elites.

i only hope if they initiate an "elite+" they do not take away the perks that we have enjoyed like royal caribbean did.

there are those of us who cannot take 24 cruises.

 

Agree, but Celebrity will easily have Elite members. After all, one can become Elite after only 5 cruises,

 

On the other hand, for those cruising on HAL, you need 200 days for their top tier. They know give double points for their Suites (but they don't have a CC or Aqua class level that is the same size stateroom as reg balcony with added amenities and double points), and spending credits.

 

I'm also afraid by the time I get to this tier they will take the benefits away.

[teajak]

it just struck me as an odd thing to say. i've been on probably 25 cruises and most everyone i've met enjoyed cruising. it's always been fun to meet and get to know people i might not have had the chance to meet in other times and places. if i wanted to meet only people who have similar tastes and opinions to mine i think life would be boring. i don't care where your stateroom is or what you spent on it, we probably are like-minded. i get terribly seasick. always have, always will. i take meglazine 2x daily and enjoy cruising, but i have to have an inside room. can't even look at the water while we're moving. my friends, who my husband and i have sailed with have the captains suite with the grand piano. we are like minded. i'm sorry if i seem longwinded or difficult, but the whole comment after the initial what perks are we losing, sounded a little like "mine is bigger and better than yours"

Judgemental is the way it appeared to me and I believe to some others also. Our enjoyment of cruising has nothing to do with status or your stateroom category. We enjoy a balcony, our traveling companions prefer an inside room, we both enjoy our elite perks and I do not think we need to defend that. Thank you for your reply.

[HeatherInFlorida]

Agree, but Celebrity will easily have Elite members. After all, one can become Elite after only 5 cruises,

 

On the other hand, for those cruising on HAL, you need 200 days for their top tier. They know give double points for their Suites (but they don't have a CC or Aqua class level that is the same size stateroom as reg balcony with added amenities and double points), and spending credits.

 

I'm also afraid by the time I get to this tier they will take the benefits away.

 

Which confirms that Celebrity is more generous with its loyal passengers much earlier int their loyalty than Holland America. Truthfully, it's one of the many reasons I prefer Celebrity and in Concierge Class you have added benefits as well. I've always known I could never get to a point with HAL that I get anything extra. Since the lines are similar in so many ways, I choose Celebrity whenever I can.

 

My guess is that she thought 'like-minded people' referred to the 'upper crust.' You know....the 'not Sanford & Son' crowd. :D

 

I think this is a little presumptuous. Why would you think that? "like-minded" means, simply, people of a similar mind. To read anything other than that into it is a little distrustful of the OP's intent. In general people are drawn to others who are of like mind no matter what that mind may be ... no reason to assume it means 'upper crust' (whatever the heck that is!!!:confused:)

[Cindy G]

It's like saying "birds of a feather flock together"...

..cruisers swapping stores about what they like as opposed to having a drink with someone who disagrees with everything one has to say .. you know like some people who don't bother reading what this thread is about and post something just to be on the other side of the argument...

 

The opportunity to meet friends in the intimate confines of Michaels' Club is superior to lining up for a mass meeting of up to 400+ people in a large lounge where some people will not have a place to sit and sometimes are not lucky enough to find a bar server.

 

Tomorrow we board Summit and we will have two weeks to experience the policy there..

 

 

Very well stated and ditto for us. If you meet the requirements to be included in Michael's Club, you must like cruising. That's how this "like minded" person took it.

[uktog]

But no one meets the criteria for Michaels Club when, as is now almost always the case there are more than 100 Elites on board. Its Sky Lounge or equivalent every night whether it is between 4-6; the Senior Officers Party or the Captains Club celebration.

And guess what we had last week in the Sky Lounge each evening - chair hogs "no you cannot sit anywhere here we are expecting our friends to appear" said one lady - did the friends appear - well one other person appeared but every night she put her bags and possessions across an area that would seat 8 which had a good view of all going on :)

Did not bother us we usually found somewhere with or without other com[any

[venicecruiser]

Jade13 - Unless Celebrity has changed their policies in the last few days, you are NOT Elite after 5 cruises...You need 10 and then you are Elite starting on the 11th...

 

Claudia

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

Agree, but Celebrity will easily have Elite members. After all, one can become Elite after only 5 cruises,

 

On the other hand, for those cruising on HAL, you need 200 days for their top tier.

 

Actually, you can become Elite on Celebrity after 4 cruises. You can earn a maximum of 3 points/cruise. One point for the cruise itself, one for staying in concierge class or higher, and one for 14-day or longer cruises.

 

I'll probably never achieve any sort of status with HAL--they require far too many nights on board.

[Jade13]

Actually, you can become Elite on Celebrity after 4 cruises. You can earn a maximum of 3 points/cruise. One point for the cruise itself, one for staying in concierge class or higher, and one for 14-day or longer cruises.

 

I'll probably never achieve any sort of status with HAL--they require far too many nights on board.

 

You are correct. We received 3 points from a 14 night cruise in an Azamara PH, 2 points on a 5 night cruise on Century in a CC (So Select on our second Celebrity cruise), and 1 point on our 4 night Celebrity. But one could do 3 longer cruises in a CC or Suite and than only need one additional cruise to become Elite.

 

HAL has so many past passengers and the biggest repeat passenger group in the industry. Their program is not designed to get new passengers. You do get double points for a Suite and an extra spend credit for each $300.00 spent including monies for "hotel" charges and pre-booked specialty restaurant, Spa and Excursions and more (all but money spent in the Casino).

[Jade13]

Jade13 - Unless Celebrity has changed their policies in the last few days, you are NOT Elite after 5 cruises...You need 10 and then you are Elite starting on the 11th...

 

Claudia

 

Actually it can be done in less than 5 cruises. You can become Elite in as little as 4 cruises. You get an extra point for a longer cruise and an extra point for a CC, AQ, or Suite. Through 2010 all Azamara cruise points are being combined as they were part of Captains Club until they break off next year (Don't worry, they only have 2 ships so not that many past passengers).

[cruise kitty]

It's actually an extra point for 12 nights or more.

[bnice129]

Over the years I have paid Cruise Lines $30 for wine I can buy in a supermarket for $10, bought $2 beers for $6, plus of course 15%! So as far as I am concerned any drink perks I get now have already been paid for. Why not drop the prices and ditch the booze perks.

[jmraggs]

Agree, but Celebrity will easily have Elite members. After all, one can become Elite after only 5 cruises,

 

 

I thought it was 10 cruises? Or did you mean sailing in a suite after 5 cruises?

[jmraggs]

Just over a year ago Celebrity rolled out the New Captains Club along with much needed improvements for the Elite level. One of the most popular of the New Elite Level Benefits is the Elite Lounge from 4:00pm to 6:00pm daily:

 

As noted in the quote from the Celebrity Captains Club Elite benefits page the lounge is closed on embarkation and disembarkation days.

 

However recently it has been brought to my attention that in addition to the dates stated above Celebrity has been closing the Elite lounge on 2 additional days onboard Solstice 7 night Caribbean sailings. The additional days are the day of the Captains Club Celebration and the Senior officers party. This means on a 7 night sailing the daily Elite lounge is really only open 4 days on 7 night sailings.

 

This was not the case on the one sailing on Century I've done with the New Elite benefits in November of last year. This has not been the case on some other sailings that some Elite level friends have expressed.

 

Is it fair that Celebrity would substitute two reworked older Benefits over the new offerings on certain days while still advertising it as a daily event?:confused:

 

Once more what happens if they do this substitution on a 5 night sailing, is the Elite lounge only open 2 days, or 1 day on a 4 night?:confused:

 

When Celebrity rolled out these changes they stated it was just a start and more was to come. If this is more, then more is less in my book.

 

IMHO, I'm disappointed with the approach and this cut back to a great additional benefit to the Elite level:(, how do you feel???:confused:

 

Joel

 

Actually I was disappointed after reading your post. We are Royal Caribbean passengers looking at a 10 night Celebrity cruise for the first time. On Royal, we really enjoy going to the lounge nightly for drinks and especially socializing with other passengers in a smaller setting. We can do this every night beginning with the first night even if they have a "welcome back" party for past passengers or not.

 

I don't like the "large" crowd type gatherings since it's not as intimate, so from what I am reading, out of a 7 night cruise, we would only have 4 nights in this lounge. It's not the entire cruise experience, but it definitely is a nice perk to end a day for pre-dinner cocktails and enjoy fellow cruisers.

[Bobbie John]

We paid something like $35 to join the Capt Club back in 1996. Years later when Celebrity dropped the charge and made it free, there was a $50 coupon applicable to your next reservation that was sent to us (a refund would have been nicer). We never got a chance to use it before it expired......

 

We were not able to use that coupon either. It was only good for a short time.

[asctony]

Actually I was disappointed after reading your post. We are Royal Caribbean passengers looking at a 10 night Celebrity cruise for the first time. On Royal, we really enjoy going to the lounge nightly for drinks and especially socializing with other passengers in a smaller setting. We can do this every night beginning with the first night even if they have a "welcome back" party for past passengers or not.

 

I don't like the "large" crowd type gatherings since it's not as intimate, so from what I am reading, out of a 7 night cruise, we would only have 4 nights in this lounge. It's not the entire cruise experience, but it definitely is a nice perk to end a day for pre-dinner cocktails and enjoy fellow cruisers.

 

Totally agree with you! RCI also has it a little later and there is no restriction on the wearing of shorts.