Elite Cocktail Party - are guest allowed?

[geospyder]

Coming up we will be on our first cruise as Elite status. Our friends will still be Classic. Can they attend the Elite Cocktail Party as our guests?

[FLACRUISER99]

Coming up we will be on our first cruise as Elite status. Our friends will still be Classic. Can they attend the Elite Cocktail Party as our guests?

I Don't think so, do think they should be able to?

[mgmigs]

Nope

[FloatSomeMore]

Not usually. The Captain's Club host/hostess is usually there checking your card for the appropriate status prior to permitting entry. Then again, last year on our Bermuda cruise, we had such a small Elite group no one ever checked our cards.

[Compass Rose Monica]

Only if a non-elite person is booked in your (elite) cabin that they can attend. Otherwise, no.

[Orator]

The answer is "No". People already complain about the crowds. Think what it would be like if people were allowed to bring guests. Allowing guests on some cruises and not allowing them on others would just cause confusion and more problems.

[Lsimon]

You are the invited guest. Your invitation does not include any of your friends unless you share the same cabin. This will be detailed on the Elite Event listing in your cabin when you board. In the past this has specified: "All Elite members, their spouses and/or stateroom companions are welcome"

[New Hampshire]

Guests are not permitted and they shouldn't be. If one person in the cabin is Elite, that person's cabinmate can attend.

[tallcva3344]

Only if a non-elite person is booked in your (elite) cabin that they can attend. Otherwise, no.

 

RCCL does not allow that in the Conciere Lounge. H

[geospyder]

Thanks for all the responses. I kind of figured they would not be allowed but thought I'd check to be sure ahead of time.

[cherylroslyn]

Thanks for all the responses. I kind of figured they would not be allowed but thought I'd check to be sure ahead of time.

All ships are different.......most things on ships are on a case by case basis...... and if you are tipping and having a good time who knows what will happen....but offiically the answer is probably no.............but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen every day on every ship in the fleet,..........

[CruisinNole]

I'll preface this comment by saying that I think it is wrong to allow non-Elites into the Elite lounge even though cruising with Elites, but it does happen. On our last cruise, an Elite couple cruising with us did talk the CC Host/hostess into giving a non-Elite couple, also cruising with us, a seapass that said they were Elite. This same Elite couple gave their Aqua Class seapasses to another couple so they could eat in Blu one evening. So -- I wouldn't do it but if you are so inclined, speak to the CC Host/Hostess.

[FLACRUISER99]

I Don't think so, do think they should be able to?

This should have said: I Don't think so, do you think they should be able to?

[Orator]

All ships are different.......most things on ships are on a case by case basis...... and if you are tipping and having a good time who knows what will happen....but offiically the answer is probably no.............but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen every day on every ship in the fleet,..........

 

This is very poor advice. Doing this can cost a person his/her job. I've seen people trying to bribe their way in before.

[Denny01]

Another clarification....all ships aren't different. Guests are not allowed and that is a Line-wide rule that is followed. And tipping isn't going to do it, unless you are inferring a bribe of the Hostess is an option or a good idea to try...not. You might find yourself with your friends enjoying a drink during the Elite Lounge time alright, but Not in the Elite Lounge

 

Now, as in all cases where rules and guidelines are set, there may be some very unique/isolated circumstance where some Elite Host/Hostess allowed a guest to join....as in all rules, there is always someone asking for ane exception, and who knows, they may get it. Just be aware you are asking for somthing very much beyond the norm.

 

I have a feeling from your response, you just wanted to know if guests were OK, and now understanding that isn't allowed, you aren't looking to try to get them in anyway.

 

On one cruise, we had friends who hadn't fleeted up yet. We'd go to the Elite Lounge, enjoy it for a while, and meet new people. Our friends had no issue with us Not being hooked at the hip at all times and all worked out. In fact they upgraded to Concierge on their next cruise in order to get more points, and joined us on our B2B as Elites. Neat!

 

Den

[Orator]

Another clarification....all ships aren't different. Guests are not allowed and that is a Line-wide rule that is followed. And tipping isn't going to do it, unless you are inferring a bribe of the Hostess is an option or a good idea to try...not. You might find yourself with your friends enjoying a drink during the Elite Lounge time alright, but Not in the Elite Lounge

 

Now, as in all cases where rules and guidelines are set, there may be some very unique/isolated circumstance where some Elite Host/Hostess allowed a guest to join....as in all rules, there is always someone asking for ane exception, and who knows, they may get it. Just be aware you are asking for somthing very much beyond the norm.

 

I have a feeling from your response, you just wanted to know if guests were OK, and now understanding that isn't allowed, you aren't looking to try to get them in anyway.

 

On one cruise, we had friends who hadn't fleeted up yet. We'd go to the Elite Lounge, enjoy it for a while, and meet new people. Our friends had no issue with us Not being hooked at the hip at all times and all worked out. In fact they upgraded to Concierge on their next cruise in order to get more points, and joined us on our B2B as Elites. Neat!

 

Den

 

Exceptions usually come from Corporate. There may be some people they need to stroke. I met one who was a very, very high roller on another line, at least that's what the Hostess told me.

[phoenix_dream]

I have heard of people splitting up their cabin bookings just to get this benefit. (that is, one Elite person in each cabin). That could be a bit of a hassle but I have heard on these boards of people doing it. Not sure I would agree that it is an honest thing to do, just sayin it's been done.

 

As has been mentioned, Celebrity can be inconsistent about these things - one of my (very few) points of extreme annoyance with Celebrity. This one bugs me more than some of the others (like inconsistent 'policing' of dress code) because we are talking about a benefit of potentially some signifcant amount of money considering the whole cruise. I'd rather see some poor schlub who forgot to pack his suit jacket get into the MDR on formal night, than the CC hostess allowing guests who have not earned the priviledge to get the free drinks that others have earned, no matter how many Elites are onboard.

 

ps

I am not trying to be harsh to the OP - no harm in asking an honest question.

[Denny01]

Exceptions usually come from Corporate. There may be some people they need to stroke. I met one who was a very, very high roller on another line, at least that's what the Hostess told me.

 

Agree. We met a couple at the Elite Lounge who were on their first Celebrity, but were big time cruisers...had a nice suite and so on. They invited us up and enjoyed a lunch in their suite. One was a lawyer (Boston no less), and the other owned restaurants.

 

Classy and nice, and obviously were being catered to, but you really couldn't tell. Just a couple of regular guys enjoying benefits the Line provided to them. As far as I could tell, the Elite upgrade was provided, not asked for.

 

And of course, I've had Lines cater to me. Last time on Princess, they gave me a map of the ship.....free!

 

Den

[Orator]

Agree. We met a couple at the Elite Lounge who were on their first Celebrity, but were big time cruisers...had a nice suite and so on. They invited us up and enjoyed a lunch in their suite. One was a lawyer (Boston no less), and the other owned restaurants.

 

Classy and nice, and obviously were being catered to, but you really couldn't tell. Just a couple of regular guys enjoying benefits the Line provided to them. As far as I could tell, the Elite upgrade was provided, not asked for.

 

And of course, I've had Lines cater to me. Last time on Princess, they gave me a map of the ship.....free!

 

Den

 

My guess is that they were listed as VIPs and received some additional perks. VIP's include the highest point cruisers, high Suite guests, Corporate types and perhaps some special guests. Special treatment begins when they embark. They are given special tags and someone generally meets them, takes their carry ons and escorts them to Michael's Club for snacks and drinks. Senior Officers are there to meet them. They will be taken to their cabin usually before cabins are open to the general public. I've experienced this treatment and it can really spoil you.

[Adammara]

From our experience on Eclipse, we were always asked for our pass at the 'Happy Hour', although we were never asked for it at the Elite breakfast or the sail in to Geiranger on the helipad.

 

Richard

[jackdiamond]

You are the invited guest. Your invitation does not include any of your friends unless you share the same cabin. This will be detailed on the Elite Event listing in your cabin when you board. In the past this has specified: "All Elite members, their spouses and/or stateroom companions are welcome"

Ergo, a spouse residing in a different cabin will be welcome. It should read; "All Elite members, their spouses or companions, or all of the aforesaid, residing in the same cabin as the Elite member are welcome"

[jackdiamond]

You are the invited guest. Your invitation does not include any of your friends unless you share the same cabin. This will be detailed on the Elite Event listing in your cabin when you board. In the past this has specified: "All Elite members, their spouses and/or stateroom companions are welcome"

Ergo, a spouse staying in a different cabin would be eligible. This should read; "spouse or companion, or either of the aforesaid,residing in the same cabin are welcome".

[geospyder]

...no harm in asking an honest question.

 

That's exactly what it was. I didn't really know and figured it was better to ask.

[Hlitner]

When we were last on the Silhouette (this past Dec) there were over 250 Elites on the ship. They always had one or two folks at the entrance to the cocktail party who would check each person's cruise card (it says Elite). After a few days we got to know the staff and they still would check our cards. One of them told me it would be their "%$#" if they were not seen checking every card....even when they knew the cruiser.

 

Hank

[mandream]

When we were last on the Silhouette (this past Dec) there were over 250 Elites on the ship. They always had one or two folks at the entrance to the cocktail party who would check each person's cruise card (it says Elite). After a few days we got to know the staff and they still would check our cards. One of them told me it would be their "%$#" if they were not seen checking every card....even when they knew the cruiser.

 

Hank

 

Probably a good idea when there are that many Elites. On our last cruise there were relatively few Elites (my observation based on attendance at breakfast and HH). We introduced ourselves to the CC Host the first evening and were greeted by name the rest of the cruise. Never a need to show our card again.

 

Sounds like that experience may be less and less common as time goes on.

 

Mike