Elite Social hour changing?

[Oville]

Bruin Steve, your math is real fuzzy. It takes a minimum of 4 cruises to get to Elite and 80 or 85 cruise days to get to Diamond. Compound that with there is no cabins like CC on Royal that gives double points for staying in a D1,2 or 3 cabin on Royal. The rooms are similar in size and price, but you get a single point.

 

Regarding the short Bahama cruises on Royal, check out the price of a JS+ cabin. You've got to dish out some big bucks in order to get double points.

 

I have signicantly more Captain Club points than you. We were "true" Elite in just over a year having taken 5 Celebrity cruise. It would be very difficult to do the same thing on Royal Caribbean.

 

Finally, we were intoduced to Celebrity by a number of Elite cruisers we met in the Lounge on Royal. We took our first cruise on the Solstice, liked the product very much. We gave up our free drinks to do it, but never thought twice about it. When Celebrity added the perk it was a bonus, not the reason we picked X.

[Quo Vadis?]

Bruin Steve, your math is real fuzzy.

 

Fuzzy logic (google it) is necessary to understand the inner workings of the Celebrity and cruise industry mindset. Bruinsteve is way closer than we are..:D

[A Sixth?]

Sorry, I too was trying to read between line's I thought were there but were not.:o

 

Correct, there was no charge, but you still had to fill out the membership card and drop it. There was no 'automatic' membership like Princess has.

 

Is this how CC is joined today or is X giving membership to anyone who sails weather they want it or not?

 

How long did they run it when it first started with no fee until they added a fee?

 

(I am long-time Captains Club, but after it was free again)

[wallie5446]

How long did they run it when it first started with no fee until they added a fee?

 

(I am long-time Captains Club, but after it was free again)

We took some friends on the first season of the Century in '96, and I seem to remember they did not join because of the $35 fee.

 

ie: after it was free, did you still have to sign up, or was it automatic be caused you cruised?

[Oville]

Fuzzy logic (google it) is necessary to understand the inner workings of the Celebrity and cruise industry mindset. Bruinsteve is way closer than we are..:D

 

My disagreement with him is whether the ease at becoming Elite vs Diamond Royal Caribbean members is causing the overcrowding. Yes, there are a few Diamonds but the majority of the people are Elite. This winter alone we added 10 cruise points doing 2 b2bs and a stand alone cruise. If I was new to Celebrity, I'd have made Elite in a little over 3 months.

[A Sixth?]

We took some friends on the first season of the Century in '96, and I seem to remember they did not join because of the $35 fee.

 

Now I'm confused again...

 

Was there a fee from day one which was later was dropped or what? :confused::confused::p

[wallie5446]

Now I'm confused again...

 

Was there a fee from day one which was later was dropped or what? :confused::confused::p

No fee when we joined in 1992, don't know when the fee was started or when they stopped it.

[Quo Vadis?]

No fee when we joined in 1992, don't know when the fee was started or when they stopped it.

 

We paid, I think around 1995, got a meal credit in 2004 when fees for joining were removed.

[Spf12]

Now I'm confused again...

 

Was there a fee from day one which was later was dropped or what? :confused::confused::p

I started cruising with Celebrity in 1993 and joined Captains club.The fee was $35.When the fee was dropped several years later I received a rebate for the fee charged.

[If only]

I started cruising with Celebrity in 1993 and joined Captains club.The fee was $35.When the fee was dropped several years later I received a rebate for the fee charged.

 

We also paid a few back in 1993 but were never refunded or given any credit when they changed. Not to worry still cruising with them.

[TommyD3]

I have been on the Millennium for over a month now.

 

A week or two ago the Captain's Club hostess started telling everyone that the changes to the CC program will be announced this summer.

She was saying nominally around the end of July.

 

We were surprised since the CEO was quoted in late March saying the changes would be announced in the 4th quarter. Maybe it was the fiscal 4th quarter:)

 

Anyway it appears the 3+ years of waiting are almost over.....

[Ray in NH]

Our first Celebrity cruise was in May 1993 (Meridian - lovely ship). Loved the ship, crew, service. We were "hooked" so we paid $35 to join the Captain's Club (no regrets). I do recall receiving OBC at some point later -- do not remember just when that was. :rolleyes: Paying to join was not a burden, we knew we would be back. :) The refund was a bonus.

Ray in NH

[texkan]

Guess we will stay tuned for announcement :)

[dln929]

Alright now, y'all got me running scared. With talk about a new 25 point level, I feel so lowly with my hard-earned 10 points. I immediately changed my veranda cabin to a concierge cabin on our next transatlantic. Whew. Three points in the bag and hardly any pain at all. Got to look into some new bookings now...the race to the points has begun....:D:D

[SHill64]

We took some friends on the first season of the Century in '96, and I seem to remember they did not join because of the $35 fee.

 

I was on the inaugural sailing of the Century in 1995. It was my first Celebrity cruise. And yes, we paid to become Captain's Club members.

 

Shaun

[wallie5446]

A Sixth, looks like we have our answer :)

[wallie5446]

Our first Celebrity cruise was in May 1993 (Meridian - lovely ship). Loved the ship, crew, service. We were "hooked" ]

 

We never got to enjoy the Meridian, but the 'Twins' were what hooked us.

[Montana]

If celebrity changes their Elite status to 25+ cruises, my 19 cruises on Celebrity will not cause me to book more cruises to reach 25. I honestly continue to book Celebrity because somehow that Elite status has a strange hold on me. I like the lounge in the morning hardly ever use it prior to dinner. It could free me emotionally to book other cruise lines with similar itineraries where I am just part of the crowd and not special. Don't get me wrong, I will miss the familiarity of Celebrity but that strange hold will not sway me as much.

[cruiseerf]

From what I heard from both our Captains club hostess and friends.... There are big changes coming to Celebrity's Captains club.

 

There is definitely going to be higher levels.... perhaps 25-50 and 100

 

More weight (points) will be given to cabin category to reward those who spend big $$$ on suites. They will receive significantly more points. There is no reason someone who spends $799 on an inside Cabin for a cruise should receive only 1 less credit then someone who has paid $15,000 for the Royal or penthouse suite.

 

Big onboard spenders on shore excursions, gambling, drink packages etc are also supposed to be factored into the mix of earning credits.

 

Just like frequent flier programs....The more you spend....The more you will get. This much is clear across the board.

 

I am Very happy with this. This last Transatlantic with 900+ Elites was a true mess at all the bars lining up for drinks like never before.....There are far too many...This program must evolve. I am willing to give up some of my perks for this.

 

Like it or not, it makes sense to reward loyalty and with money...you get honey.

 

Happy Sails to all!

[harz99]

From what I heard from both our Captains club hostess and friends.... There are big changes coming to Celebrity's Captains club.

 

There is definitely going to be higher levels.... perhaps 25-50 and 100

 

More weight (points) will be given to cabin category to reward those who spend big $$$ on suites. They will receive significantly more points. There is no reason someone who spends $799 on an inside Cabin for a cruise should receive only 1 less credit then someone who has paid $15,000 for the Royal or penthouse suite.

 

Big onboard spenders on shore excursions, gambling, drink packages etc are also supposed to be factored into the mix of earning credits.

 

Just like frequent flier programs....The more you spend....The more you will get. This much is clear across the board.

 

I am Very happy with this. This last Transatlantic with 900+ Elites was a true mess at all the bars lining up for drinks like never before.....There are far too many...This program must evolve. I am willing to give up some of my perks for this.

 

Like it or not, it makes sense to reward loyalty and with money...you get honey.

 

Happy Sails to all!

 

I had to smile at your post.

 

Part of the reason for the 900+ Elites on a TA would be because of the generally much lower cost per day of TA cruises, so maybe prices should rise to lower the attractiveness of the TA to so many Elites?

 

Do you seriously believe that someone shelling out $15,000 is going to be bothered about the few perks that ANY loyalty status is going to give them even at top tier?

[Ex-Airbalancer]

I was on the inaugural sailing of the Century in 1995. It was my first Celebrity cruise. And yes, we paid to become Captain's Club members.

 

Shaun

 

You must have gone with your mommy and daddy, because there no way you would been old enough to go by yourself :D :p

[CruisingChick]

More weight (points) will be given to cabin category to reward those who spend big $$$ on suites. They will receive significantly more points. There is no reason someone who spends $799 on an inside Cabin for a cruise should receive only 1 less credit then someone who has paid $15,000 for the Royal or penthouse suite.

 

Big onboard spenders on shore excursions, gambling, drink packages etc are also supposed to be factored into the mix of earning credits.

 

Just like frequent flier programs....The more you spend....The more you will get. This much is clear across the board.

 

I am Very happy with this. This last Transatlantic with 900+ Elites was a true mess at all the bars lining up for drinks like never before.....There are far too many...This program must evolve. I am willing to give up some of my perks for this.

 

Like it or not, it makes sense to reward loyalty and with money...you get honey.

 

Happy Sails to all!

 

I still fail to see what "spending more money" has to do with LOYALTY. If I could afford to spend it I would, but we can't.

 

We became loyal to Celebrity because we loved their product and we spend around 90% of our allocated vacation dollars on Celebrity. So why should we be penalized because we can't afford a suite?

 

If you ask me, this will only do more to alienate a lot of Celebrity's long time loyal cruisers.

[Despegue]

We are elite but far from 25 points...

IF Elite status will be only for +25ers, or our hard earned amenities will disappear, we will take our Euros elsewhere where they do value their customers.

I am sure that MANY are of the same opinion, and MOST elites are with less than 25 points.

 

My view...

 

First thing that has to be done is to end the Elite rights of RCCL Diamond members.

 

Extra features for +25 ers. Like free speciality dinner. And dedicated small lounge.

 

Grandfathering All Elites and change the policy for all new bookings starting 01/09/2013.

 

3 vouchers a day for elites to be consumed at own discretion.

Much more social than that forced lounge full off " entitled" return pax. Socialising can be done in all public areas, limiting a venue to a certain type of passengers is ANTI socialising.

[Lsimon]

....There is no reason someone who spends $799 on an inside Cabin for a cruise should receive only 1 less credit then someone who has paid $15,000 for the Royal or penthouse suite....

 

...Just like frequent flier programs....The more you spend....The more you will get. This much is clear across the board....

 

Your two points above miss these key points:

 

There are 1,400+ cabins on an S class ship. Among these there are only 2 penthouse cabins and only 4 Royal Suites. I think Celebrity is a lot more interested, overall, in filling the other 99% of the cabins on the ship then the few of big suites. Also, I think that someone who can afford $7,000 to $10,000 per person for a cabin is going to be influced a whole lot less by a few free drinks and a load of free laundry than someone looking to spend that $799.

 

I'm not familiar with all frequent flyer programs but the ones that I do know about award a premium in the range of 25% to 50% bonus miles for business or first class flyers which is far less than the 100% bonus cruise points given to suite passengers on Celebrity. The real perks with frequent flyer programs are all centered around the quantity of miles flown each year and not the cost of those flights. Their primary target market is the business flyer who can accumulate 50,000 to 100,000 miles a year who can earn both big perks to make their business travel more bearable and a greater ability to actually use the free flights and upgrades when the rest of us are stuck at the bottom of the wait list.

[Christine Frances]

I still fail to see what "spending more money" has to do with LOYALTY. If I could afford to spend it I would, but we can't.

 

We became loyal to Celebrity because we loved their product and we spend around 90% of our allocated vacation dollars on Celebrity. So why should we be penalized because we can't afford a suite?

 

If you ask me, this will only do more to alienate a lot of Celebrity's long time loyal cruisers.

 

From HAL's Mariner Society https://www.hollandamerica.com/myAccount/MarinerBenefits.action

 

Earn Bonus Cruise Day Credits

 

Increase your Mariner Star status simply by enjoying your cruise.

In addition to earning Cruise Day credits for each actual day sailed, there are also easy ways you can earn bonus Cruise Day credits. The more Cruise Day credits you collect, the faster you increase your Mariner Star status, and the more exciting rewards you’ll receive.

 

• Suite Bonus When you pay a published fare for a spacious suite or penthouse on your next cruise you’ll not only enjoy special amenities, but you’ll also qualify for double cruise day credits. For example, a guest who pays published fare for suite accommodations for a 10-day cruise earns 20 cruise day credits.
  
• Onboard Spending Bonus Effective with cruises on or after September 18, 2009, one bonus cruise day credit will be granted for each $300 in eligible onboard purchases. This is calculated on the combined folio charges for all guests on the booking, regardless of who signs each charge and who pays the bill. There is a limit of one bonus day for each day sailed, and 3rd and 4th guests on the same booking do not earn the onboard spending bonus†.
  
• Guests can earn bonus days for cruises beginning September 18, 2009 in accordance with the Program Launch Schedu