An insult or just a new policy?

[Crazy Cruzer]

...Here's a story that dampened the experience just a bit....

 

Let me say this one final time: It's not about me!

 

I could see how someone could get the impression this disappointed you when you started this post by saying it "dampened the experience"

[NLH Arizona]

I certainly understand the OP's pain ... "loyalty" seems to be falling to the wayside in pursuit of the all-mighty $$.

 

On the other hand, we have been the recipient of unexpected surprises that made our travels much more enjoyable and exciting!!

 

Just a matter of striking the right balance ... ;)

Your correct it is a matter of balance. On another cruise line, I've sat at an officer's table on each cruise but one. I wasn't disappointed on that one cruise, I was happy that I got to experience it on other cruises and that others had the same opportunity. On the cruise I wasn't at the officer's table, I sat with some people that I have remained friends with for years and to me that made it just as special.

[Oxo]

What determines the VIP status?

[Hawaiidan]

Cruise lines are almost all in the business of selling you some sort of elite status to get you to come back. Mostly it is targeted at a persons ego as a route to the wallet.

 

Being a" golden anchor commodore of the mystic knights of the sea" is food for you only.

 

I dont pay attention or take any or the programs very serious, I have never attended the " special events" held for repeat folks and just am happy to be on the cruise and relax without all the fuss.

 

Dont take any program too seriously they are all what they are...a come-on.

[johnb0529]

Working for a company that runs a large loyalty program for our loyal customers, i would not be surprised that their data shows that the majority of 'loyal' cruisers don't use the captain's dinner invitation repeatedly.

 

While there are people who do want to dine at the Captain's table every cruise, a number of people report back that once they have done it once or twice, they will decline the invite. When you decline the invite, the hostess has to find to new guests to invite. If they found the majority of cruisers decline after 1-2 dinners with the captain, the sound business decision is to start offering to people who meet a profile identified as 'potential high-value customer'.

[USVI-4-me]

Cruise lines are almost all in the business of selling you some sort of elite status to get you to come back. Mostly it is targeted at a persons ego as a route to the wallet.

 

Being a" golden anchor commodore of the mystic knights of the sea" is food for you only.

 

I dont pay attention or take any or the programs very serious, I have never attended the " special events" held for repeat folks and just am happy to be on the cruise and relax without all the fuss.

 

Dont take any program too seriously they are all what they are...a come-on.

 

 

Enhance or bruise the ego. Celebrity knows all about it. Or, they think they do. Their approach leads to many positive posts on this CC Board.

 

IMHO, this thread reminds me of special guest in a nice restaurant being treated to red carpet treatment most of the time, only to find one evening that while expecting another great evening, you find yourself seated at the table by the kitchen, by the restroom, on in the middle of the thoroughfare. It's a bummer to get all dressed up and feeling special only to be offered something less instead of the best.

 

Did the situation simmer, or did you request to be seated at the best table with an apology for the oversight? Since I'm a frequent cruiser, I'd want to know the reason we were slighted while we were still on the ship.

 

Not necessarily for a special invitation, a complimentary bottle of wine, but because I'd want an explanation. How can you be loyal when slighted?

 

Maris

[swsfrail]

Let me say this one final time: It's not about me!

 

You certainly fooled me! With comments like "dampened the experience", "this lack of concern about the loyal cruiser", "any downgrade in the value of brand "loyalty" will adversly affect the Captain's Club program", sure makes it sound like you are complaining about losing something you think you have earned. So, yes, it does indeed appear to be about you. Otherwise, why would you care?

[GeriatricNurse]

So I guess I should take a cruise on Princess and/or Holland America and maybe they will treat me special since it would be our first time cruising on them?

 

Sorry, but you will not be treated special on your first cruise with HAL, (except for the friendly & personable service, along with great dining, etc., etc.)! ;)

[Karynanne]

Enhance or bruise the ego. Celebrity knows all about it. Or, they think they do. Their approach leads to many positive posts on this CC Board.

 

IMHO, this thread reminds me of special guest in a nice restaurant being treated to red carpet treatment most of the time, only to find one evening that while expecting another great evening, you find yourself seated at the table by the kitchen, by the restroom, on in the middle of the thoroughfare. It's a bummer to get all dressed up and feeling special only to be offered something less instead of the best.

 

Did the situation simmer, or did you request to be seated at the best table with an apology for the oversight? Since I'm a frequent cruiser, I'd want to know the reason we were slighted while we were still on the ship.

 

Not necessarily for a special invitation, a complimentary bottle of wine, but because I'd want an explanation. How can you be loyal when slighted?

 

Maris

 

Why do you feel the need to know why you didn't receive an invitation? Or something in lieu of an invitation? This sense of entitlement has me baffled.

[hcat]

Just marketing I guess ????

 

On our Summit cruise, all the officers were very friendly & visible to everyone...but the Asst hotel Director & cap Cluib hostess were esp. all over the Royal Diamonds who were first timers on X....enjoying crossover Elite status ...They seemed to get many special invites to focus groups & Officers table... it seemed designed to get them to stay with Celebrity...

 

DH was a bit put out by it all but never really troubles me...I am there to enjoy my cruise & whatever perks I desire to take advantage of...

[Orator]

You certainly fooled me! With comments like "dampened the experience", "this lack of concern about the loyal cruiser", "any downgrade in the value of brand "loyalty" will adversly affect the Captain's Club program", sure makes it sound like you are complaining about losing something you think you have earned. So, yes, it does indeed appear to be about you. Otherwise, why would you care?

 

Perhaps I should let this one pass. Okay, I'll go for the bait. What I said was that "it dampened the experience a bit". It did not destroy the experience, or make it a huge negative, it was a bit. In fact I booked another cruise on MIL while on board, so the disapointment was less than major. I currently am scheduled to take 6 Celebrity cruises between today and May 1st and plan to enjoy each of them. My mistake was believing that a special tag at boarding would lead to something special.It didn't and I was "a bit disappointed" as I think others would be. I am known by many on this board and they would be a better source of answering why I would care than I. I believe that invitations to the Captain's Table should be spread around and there should be a firm policy restricting guests to one invitation per cruise. I know some that have been invited multiple times. Last night I was seated in a Michael's Club and changes in treatment of frequent cruisers was a topic of discussion. I asked several if I should share my concerns and they said that I should since they shared it. As I've said before,I get more extras than I could reasonably expect, even when not getting a special tag. It might be difficult for some tobelieve that there are people on this board who really look beyond themselves when making comments and offering suggestions. Fortunayely I've met some of them on MIL.

[Montana]

Have been to the captain's table 3 times usually when our beautiful 30 year old daughter was with us. Nice but the perk I value the most is the room upgrade with a guarantee. I will be happy to have others invited for a tour of the bridge or to dine with the Captain, but when you upgrade me you are my first choice for a return cruise. Like others have mentioned there doesn't seem to be a real reason for upgrades.

[cruiseacecat]

I also learned from a 175+ cruise point cruiser that a frequent cruiser with more than 120 points was denied access to Michael's Club following boarding because they weren't a VIP or B2B guest. Bet we have the same source. I know he's quite upset about what appears to be a change in direction.

I suspect you are correct about the source. If they are still on board, please give them my best wishes. Thanks

 

Anne

[Orator]

I suspect you are correct about the source. If they are still on board, please give them my best wishes. Thanks

 

Anne

 

They left today. Believe they'll return to MIL on March 5th. Interesting, but not surprising that some seem more intersted in questioning my motives rather than than focusing on my thesis.

[USVI-4-me]

Why do you feel the need to know why you didn't receive an invitation? Or something in lieu of an invitation? This sense of entitlement has me baffled.

 

 

I'm sorry you are confused.

 

I often ask questions for knowledge, not for freebies.

 

Understanding solves many problems.

 

You see, asking "WHY?" you are not invited to a function when you anticipated an invitation leads to smooth customer relations...

 

I hope this has helped.

 

 

Maris

[cruise kitty]

Just returned from a wonderful cruise. Here's a story that dampened the experience just a bit. When DW and I received our Seapass cards we were also given a tag that read: "VIP". As soon as my foot touched the deck and officer came over and welcomed us aboard. He directed us to a special door and said that we could relax in Michael's Club. Great so far.

 

We too, received the VIP tag on our recent cruise, it was surprising because it was only our 4th cruise with celebrity, & only 3rd that we have points for (first cruise they were charging for captain's club & we didn't join:( )

 

It was pretty fantastic, escorted to Cellar Masters, given freebies, what a way to start a cruise! I don't know why it happened, but it sure was a treat! It never occurred to me to think something more would be coming our way later in the cruise.

 

We weren't invited to the Captain's Table, which would not have worked for us as we certainly didn't have appropriate clothing, (in fact, as an aside, I wonder if only MDR people get asked??)

 

I described the whole VIP thing in my review here:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1511591

[Karynanne]

I'm sorry you are confused.

 

I often ask questions for knowledge, not for freebies.

 

Understanding solves many problems.

 

You see, asking "WHY?" you are not invited to a function when you anticipated an invitation leads to smooth customer relations...

 

I hope this has helped.

 

 

Maris

 

There lies the issue. You anticipated an invitation.

[swsfrail]

Last night I was seated in a Michael's Club and changes in treatment of frequent cruisers was a topic of discussion. I asked several if I should share my concerns and they said that I should since they shared it.

 

Really? Sounds like a group of 1%'s sharing their expectations of entitlement. I have been sailing since the 30s, so I probably have been on more ships than most of the crowd you refer to. When I was younger and more able, I sailed many times over those earlier years, earning the highest level of "loyalty" benefits on several lines. Whenever I was invited to any of the special events I have been privileged to enjoy, including dining with the captain on several occasions, I always considered it a bonus or a gift, not something I have "earned". For some reason, I have never expected to be invited, nor disappointed if I wasn't. It never occurred to me that I was owed special treatment and should feel slighted if I wasn't given the red carpet treatment some of you "loyal" cruises seem to demand.

 

Different times, different attitudes, I guess. :(

[USVI-4-me]

There lies the issue. You anticipated an invitation.

 

 

Please read the original thread, post #1.

Orator expected to be invited.

 

I'm just a poster here........

Though I've been invited to dine with the Captain based on my charms.

 

Maris

[Orator]

We too, received the VIP tag on our recent cruise, it was surprising because it was only our 4th cruise with celebrity, & only 3rd that we have points for (first cruise they were charging for captain's club & we didn't join:( )

 

It was pretty fantastic, escorted to Cellar Masters, given freebies, what a way to start a cruise! I don't know why it happened, but it sure was a treat! It never occurred to me to think something more would be coming our way later in the cruise.

 

We weren't invited to the Captain's Table, which would not have worked for us as we certainly didn't have appropriate clothing, (in fact, as an aside, I wonder if only MDR people get asked??)

 

I described the whole VIP thing in my review here:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1511591

 

I didn't get an escort or freebies, just a tag that was removed as soon as I boarded. I thought I received the tag because I was 2nd in points. The Hotel Director provided that information. In the past the top two cruisers were invited to a Captain's Table, but not this time. The most frequent cruiser told me that that type of recognition appears to have been ended and new cruisers have appeared to replace them. Guess that "Captain's Table" has become a hot button issue and some choose to discuss that rather than my intended focus on the downgrading ofl loyalty recognitions.

[ghstudio]

Would you really ask someone why you weren't invited which implies that of course you thought you should have been invited?

 

How awkward.

[Azulann]

The title of this thread is "Insult or New Policy"

 

After three pages of responses , no one has said that not receiving a invitation to the Captains table is an insult.

 

As to new policy, the responses have been there does not seem to be an established policy, therefore a "new" policy is pretty meaningless.

 

All of you have a great next cruise, whether new, select, elite, diamond, vip or whatever.:)

[bighairtexan]

Though I don't know the OP well at all, having cruised only once w/ him, my take on this thread is that it was posed as a QUESTION about the possible trends in loyalty treatment. I don't believe he's been irate and demanding, which might indicate a sense of entitlement. A small disappointment seems quite human. During the one cruise together, it never struck me that he was acting at all "entitled" or at all smug about his frequent cruiser status. In fact, the opposite. I wasn't aware of his many Celebrity cruises until AFTER the cruise and inferring from posts that he's cruised a LOT. And our paths crossed many times.

 

I've always been confused about who gets invited and why. But I'd never pose this as a question because next, because then someone might accuse me of feeling entitled. I wonder how this has changed from a thread about loyalty perks in general (including Captain's Table), to a Captain's Table thread.

[ghstudio]

Though I don't know the OP well at all, having cruised only once w/ him, my take on this thread is that it was posed as a QUESTION about the possible trends in loyalty treatment. I don't believe he's been irate and demanding, which might indicate a sense of entitlement. A small disappointment seems quite human. During the one cruise together, it never struck me that he was acting at all "entitled" or at all smug about his frequent cruiser status. In fact, the opposite. I wasn't aware of his many Celebrity cruises until AFTER the cruise and inferring from posts that he's cruised a LOT. And our paths crossed many times.

 

I've always been confused about who gets invited and why. But I'd never pose this as a question because next, because then someone might accuse me of feeling entitled. I wonder how this has changed from a thread about loyalty perks in general (including Captain's Table), to a Captain's Table thread.

 

It actually turned into an "entitlement" thread based on the OP's first post.

[bighairtexan]

It actually turned into an "entitlement" thread based on the OP's first post.

 

I guess that's open to interpretation and obviously there are plenty of folks that agree with you and plenty who don't.