Celebrity Cruises Launches New 'Captain's Club' Program - OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE!!!!

[Bababooey Land]

Celebrity Cruises Launches New 'Captain's Club' Program

Enhanced loyalty program features two new tiers, with greater recognition and rewards

MIAMI, Nov. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Celebrity Cruises is excited to announce improvements to its Captain's Club loyalty program.

 

Guest feedback helped define the new program features, which include two new, additional levels of status and rewards beyond the existing "Elite" level, which is the highest level of membership in the brand's current four-tiered program.

 

Effective on sailings commencing after November 25, 2013, the new Captain's Club will offer a six-tier program. The Club's current levels of "Preview," "Classic," "Select" and "Elite" will remain, with two new tiers -- "Elite Plus" and "Zenith" -- each with their own unique set of benefits and privileges.

 

Members who achieve the new Elite Plus status will receive an even higher level of recognition and broader benefits, including additional beverage and specialty dining discounts, complimentary 200-minute Internet packages, complimentary cappuccinos, lattes and more.

 

Members who achieve Zenith status will receive benefits and perks befitting this ultimate level of membership, such as access to Michael's Club Lounge (available fleetwide in 2014), a complimentary premium alcoholic beverage package, complimentary laundry, a 1,600-minute Internet package, and other benefits.

 

Celebrity's guests now can accelerate their progression through the loyalty tiers with a new Club Points system which recognizes the stateroom category as well as the days spent onboard. Members' previous cruise credits will be automatically converted into Club Points, and members will retain all of the benefits they earned in the program to-date – with no expiration. In many cases, guests may automatically become charter members of Celebrity's new Elite Plus or Zenith tier. It is important to note that no current members will lose any of the benefits they have come to expect and enjoy today. Full program details are available at http://www.celebritycruises.com/captainsclub.

 

Another new enhancement is the ability to quickly access special pricing exclusively for Captain's Club members through the Captain's Club portal on the Celebrity Cruises website, http://www.celebritycruises.com. By simply entering their name and Captain's Club member number on the site, they can instantly see available loyalty pricing.

 

"At a time when many loyalty programs are cutting back on benefits or making it more difficult to redeem rewards, we're thrilled to do just the opposite," said Celebrity's Director of Loyalty Lee Moreau. "Guest loyalty is the cornerstone to any successful business, and that's why, at Celebrity Cruises, we make our guests the center of our attention. We hope this reinvigorated program will even more vividly show our guests how much we appreciate their loyalty, and allow us to welcome them back onboard even more frequently."

 

About Celebrity Cruises:

Celebrity Cruises' iconic "X" is the mark of modern luxury, with its cool, contemporary design and warm spaces; dining experiences where the design of the venues is as important as the cuisine; and the amazing service that only Celebrity can provide, all created to provide an unmatchable experience for vacationers' precious time. Celebrity Cruises' 11 ships offer modern luxury vacations visiting all seven continents. Celebrity also presents immersive cruisetour experiences in Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, Canada, Europe and South America. Celebrity is one of six cruise brands operated by global cruise vacation company Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE, OSE: RCL). For more information, dial 1-800-437-3111, visit http://www.celebritycruises.com, or call your travel agent.

 

SOURCE Celebrity Cruises

 

Elizabeth Jakeway, (305) 539-6127, ejakeway@celebritycruises.com

[steveweese]

For real or is this another fake one !

[Bababooey Land]

For real or is this another fake one !

 

ha...no, this one is for real : )

[CruisingChick]

No they have issued the Press Release on the Investors Web-site.

 

There are links in the Press Release to the web-site.

 

Only problem is the Celebrity Captain's Club web-site doesn't work.

 

Actual Link to Press Release:

 

http://www.rclinvestor.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=103045&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1879791&highlight=

[ghstudio]

Another amazing announcement by Celebrity. This is a press release....for more information the press is going to click on those links in the announcement and you have to be a captain's club member with a userid/password to even get beyond that screen. If you do have a userid/password, there is no new information there...in fact it still shows the old credit chart.

 

Way to go Celebrity....

[Bababooey Land]

Another amazing announcement by Celebrity. This is a press release....for more information the press is going to click on those links in the announcement and you have to be a captain's club member with a userid/password to even get beyond that screen. If you do have a userid/password, there is no new information there...in fact it still shows the old credit chart.

 

Way to go Celebrity....

 

They dropped the ball AGAIN on this one...years in the making and they cant even have the website working when making the announcement ..sheesh!!

[mcrcruiser]

No they have issued the Press Release on the Investors Web-site.

 

There are links in the Press Release to the web-site.

 

Only problem is the Celebrity Captain's Club web-site doesn't work.

 

Actual Link to Press Release:

 

http://www.rclinvestor.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=103045&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1879791&highlight=

 

We will be Elite + after we take the (2) b2b Caribbean cruises in March 2014.Our points now are 690 . :D

 

What are the real differences between Elite & Elite + . Do we still get the free laundry (one bag each ) ,2 free pressings each ,one free dry cleaning each ,90 minutes free internet each ,the 2 hour free cocktails each day in the Captains club lounge ,The Captains club breakfast ie ,? Then what are the real add on benefits for the Elite + ;because on our Sept 7,2014 ,14 night New England /Canada cruise ,we will be Elite + with the 750 total points earned ?:D

 

Thanks for you reply

[CruisingChick]

We will be Elite + after we take the (2) b2b Caribbean cruises in March 2014.Our points now are 690 . :D

 

What are the real differences between Elite & Elite + . Do we still get the free laundry (one bag each ) ,2 free pressings each ,one free dry cleaning each ,90 minutes free internet each ,the 2 hour free cocktails each day in the Captains club lounge ,The Captains club breakfast ie ,? Then what are the real add on benefits for the Elite + ;because on our Sept 7,2014 ,14 night New England /Canada cruise ,we will be Elite + with the 750 total points earned ?:D

 

Thanks for you reply

 

Hi, unfortunately no one really knows what Elite + will be since the Celebrity web-site has not been updated.

 

I am only assuming it will contain all the Elite Perks plus the few mentioned in the press release (and more):

 

Members who achieve the new Elite Plus status will receive an even higher level of recognition and broader benefits, including additional beverage and specialty dining discounts, complimentary 200-minute Internet packages, complimentary cappuccinos, lattes and more.

 

Anne Maria

[StartrainDD]

Based on 2 points per day for insides or oceanview, or 3 points per day for verandahs, earning points will be much slower than previous.

 

I just completed a 12 night sailing that gave me 2 points (old system); which equals 60 points on the new. If I had sailed under the new system, in our oceanview cabin, we would have earned only 24 points. Even if we had been in a verandah, that would have earned 36 points.

 

I'm glad my recent sailing put us into the "Elite" category. The friends we most often sail with, however, will be stuck in "Select" for quite some time...

[brightonbuoy]

At least the "flashing" status has stopped. Even on my ipad the data can be seen now and doesn't disappear after a few seconds.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[H2OH!]

on website now...

 

Elite Plus Member Benefits*

 

(750-2,999 earned Club Points**)

Many of the benefits of Elite membership plus:

• • Complimentary 200-minute Internet package
  
• • Complimentary cappuccino, latte and espresso
  
• • 10% discount on any Beverage Package‡
  
• • 15% discount on any Specialty Restaurant‡
  
• • Private shipboard departure lounge with continental breakfastAccess to a coffeehouse style breakfast and Evening Cocktail hour
  
• • Invitation to the Elegant Tea event
  
• • Complimentary access to Persian Garden (on one port day of your choice, while the ship is in port)
  
• • Two complimentary bags of laundry (wash, dry, fold) on all Celebrity cruises ***
  
• • Complimentary dry cleaning of one item
  
• • Ability to enroll in Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society Diamond Level
  

 

 

Zenith Member Benefits*

 

(3,000+ earned Club Points**)

Many of the benefits of Elite Plus membership plus:

• • Access to Michael's Club Lounge, including Embarkation Day
  
• • Complimentary 1600-minute Internet package
  
• • Complimentary laundry
  
• • Complimentary Beverage Package+
  
• • 25% off Specialty Dining‡
  
• • Priority Seating in Theater (on formal and production show nights, seats released 10 minutes prior to curtain call)
  
• • Priority embarkation while the ship is in port
  
• • Upgraded bath amenities
  
• • Complimentary lunch at Bistro on Five (when sailing consecutively)++
  
• • Complimentary Extend Your Stay (where available stay onboard longer on disembarkation day)
  
• • Complimentary Luggage Valet service from ship to final destination airport (where available, airline fees still apply)
  
• • Upon reaching the Zenith tier, Captain's Club will make a charitable donation in the member’s behalf
  
• • Upon reaching the Zenith tier, receive a complimentary 7-night Caribbean or Bermuda cruise (in a Veranda stateroom only)+++
  
• • At 6000 Club Points and every 3000 Club Points thereafter receive a complimentary 7-night Caribbean or Bermuda cruise (in an AquaClass® stateroom)
  

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

Did you get that list from the Celebrity site? I looked, but couldn't find it.

 

I think those poor Zenith folks are going to be awfully lonely in Michael's Club all by themselves. How many of them can there be on any given sailing? Doesn't sound like much fun to me.

[brightonbuoy]

I'm guessing the lounge will be for Zenith members, penthouse and royal suite guests and then VIP guests chosen by captains club hosts eg those elite plus guests with the most points.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[elena7seas]

Your Membership Status

 

To qualify for enrollment in the Captain's Club, you must be 18 years of age or older.

Your Captain's Club membership falls into one of six levels: Preview Level (prior to sailing), Classic Level (after first completed cruise), Select Level (after earning 150 Club Points), Elite Level (after earning 300 Club Points), Elite Plus Level (after earning 750 Club Points) and Zenith Level (after earning 3,000 Club Points). After you complete your first sailing, your membership will automatically advance to the applicable membership level. You will then enjoy your new membership benefits on your next sailing on Celebrity Cruises. Your membership number will remain the same as you advance to the next level.

 

 

Tier Credits

 

Beginning November 25, 2013, Celebrity Cruises Captain's Club switched from membership levels based on "tier credits" to "Club Points." Prior to November 25, 2013, members earned one credit for sailing, one credit by sailing on an itinerary of 12-nights or longer, including Cruisetours (applicable to sailings on or after January 1, 2003); and earned one credit by sailing in a Concierge Class stateroom, AquaClass® stateroom, or Suite (applicable to sailings on or after January 1, 2004). After November 25, 2013, Club Points are earned based on stateroom category and length of cruise including Cruisetours when you sail with Celebrity Cruises or Azamara Club Cruises. Celebrity Cruises makes it possible for you to earn up to eighteen Club Points per night.*

The Captain's Club program terms are subject to change without prior notice.

 

*Complimentary sailings, Seminar at Sea, Travel Agent rates, and employee rates do not earn credits in the program. Azamara Club Cruises Note: For a limited time, guests who sail on Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club cruises will earn Club Points toward their memberships in both Captain's Club and Le Club Voyage, regardless of which brand they sail. Both Captain's Club and Le Club Voyage members will enjoy the benefits of their tier levels on both lines. Program terms are subject to change.

 

 

Invitation to Captain's or Officer's Table

 

Not a Captain's Club Member benefit. Based on availability.

 

 

Captain's Club Savings Certificate

 

Savings are in U.S. dollars, are not redeemable for cash, and not transferable. Only valid on new booking. When booking, please reference the applicable option code. Offer may be withdrawn at any time. Discount offer will not be replaced if lost, stolen, or otherwise destroyed. THE OFFER CANNOT BE USED WITH CERTAIN RESTRICTED FARES OR ON CRUISES ON BOARD CHARTERED SAILINGS. This certificate cannot be combined with another certificate on the same booking. Applies only to outside and above categories (category 8 and above). Subject to availability. Offer is not combinable with any other promotion or offer. Celebrity Cruises will deduct the applicable offer value from final payment upon review. Certificate must be submitted to Celebrity Cruises PRIOR TO FINAL PAYMENT. Discount applies on a per-stateroom basis, double occupancy. Singles paying 200% are entitled to full face value. Prices vary by ship and sailing dates, and space is subject to availability at time of booking. When booking through a travel agency, the certificate must be presented to the travel agent at time of booking. Certificate must be submitted at time of final payment. Travel agent commission is based on discounted price. Offer valid for members who are Classic Level or higher at the time of booking.

 

Elite Plus member's 10% discount on beverage packages.

 

If you purchase a beverage package pre-cruise the discount will be taken once onboard at the pre-cruise price. If you purchase onboard you will pay the onboard price of the beverage package and get the 10% discount off that onboard price.

 

 

Specialty Dining Discounts

 

Applies only to the member's cover charge. Not combinable with any other offers. Discount will be taken once onboard. Reservations can be held prior to sailing by calling the Loyalty Desk.

 

 

One-Category Upgrade

 

One-category upgrade requests must be made at the time of booking and apply only for upgrades within the supercategory, depending on availability. Example of a supercategory upgrade in AquaClass: A2 to A1. Suites are excluded. This offer cannot be used with certain restricted fares including but not limited to Exciting Deals, ChoiceAir® specials, Reduced Air, interline, travel agent, Travelzoo, and employee rates. Upgrades apply for one stateroom per cruise. Stateroom assignments only. Not valid on holiday sailings or Reunion Cruises. Upgrades available from categories 11-A1 on all Celebrity ships except Celebrity Xpedition®. Offer valid for members who are Classic Level or higher at the time of booking.

 

 

Reciprocity Between Brands

 

Equivalent recognition is one of the benefits of being a Captain's Club, Crown & Anchor Society and/or Le Club Voyage loyalty member. It offers loyalty members the opportunity to receive recognition and similar benefits with matching tier status–both pre-cruise and onboard–when sailing with one of the three brands. Members of one loyalty program must enroll in a sister program in order to receive equivalent recognition benefits.

Points on Celebrity and Azamara are earned cumulatively in both loyalty programs. For example, 20 Club Points earned on a Celebrity sailing will be reflected as 20 points in both Celebrity's and Azamara's loyalty programs. The total Club Points for the member will reflect all qualified points earned.

Points earned on Royal Caribbean are earned only for the Royal Caribbean loyalty program. Points of each loyalty program cannot be added together. Points are calculated using the applicable brand's program level accrual system.

 

 

The following program levels are equivalent for loyalty program recognition purposes:

 

Celebrity's Captain's Club.....Azamara LeClub Voyage.....Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Society

 

Preview...................................Preview

Classic....................................Adventu rer

Select.....................................Explore r.............................Platinum

Elite........................................Disco verer.........................Diamond

Elite Plus..................................Discoverer Plus

Zenith.....................................Discove rer Platinum

 

 

Priority Waitlist

 

Based on availability. Valid for members who are Classic Level or higher at the time of sailing.

 

 

Priority Embarkation and Preferential Debarkation

 

These privileges offered to Select, Elite, Elite Plus and Zenith members are available at the following ports: Seward, AK; Miami, FL; Fort Lauderdale, FL; Tampa, FL; Baltimore, MD; San Diego, CA; Honolulu, HI; New York, NY; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Harwich, England; Dover, England; Vancouver, British Columbia; Valparaiso, Chile; Barcelona, Spain. Subject to change without notice.

 

 

Pre-sailing Specialty Restaurant Reservations

 

You can make dinner reservations for a Specialty Restaurant anywhere from 60 days to 4 days prior to your sailing date when booking a cruise on any Celebrity ship except Celebrity Xpedition®. You can make your reservation online via our dining reservation tool. If your desired time is not available, please contact our Captain's Club Loyalty Desk, as we have set aside limited seating for our Captain's Club members. Guests must be 12 years or older. Proper attire is required. View our Guest Conduct Policy here. Offer valid for members who are Classic Level or higher at the time of booking.

Note: the Captain's Club program and inclusive member benefits are subject to change without notice.

 

 

Zenith Member complimentary sailing at 3,000 Club Points and every 3,000 Club Points thereafter.

 

Initial Complimentary sailing – Valid for a 7-Night Caribbean or Bermuda cruise in a Standard Veranda Stateroom (1A, 1B, 1C, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D)

 

 

 

Complimentary at every additional 3,000 Club Points – Valid for a 7-Night Caribbean or Bermuda cruise in an AquaClass® stateroom (A1, A2)

• • Fees and taxes still apply.
  
• • May be applied toward a CC or AQ stateroom on a Caribbean or Bermuda cruise. Pro-rated rates apply and are determined by Cruise Certificate Redemption Center.
  
• • May be applied to another sailing. Pro-rated rates apply and are determined by Cruise Certificate Redemption Center based on the average price of a 7-night CAR in a Standard Veranda Stateroom and the desired sailing.
  
• • If member is already booked on cruise that is not within the penalty phase we can re-arrange the previously booked cruise via Cruise Certificate Redemption Center.
  

Must be redeemed within 1 year. One complimentary stateroom per member; 3rd and 4th rates apply; non-transferable. Blackout dates for holiday sailings: Christmas, New Year's.

[ghstudio]

I'm guessing the lounge will be for Zenith members, penthouse and royal suite guests and then VIP guests chosen by captains club hosts eg those elite plus guests with the most points.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

Actually, they've already implemented this on some ships. It was in place on the recent Infinity TA....and yes, it was an empty room almost all the time.

[Cruzinram]

We hd 25 cruises under the old system, which now makes us Elite Plus at 750 pts. Next level will be Zenith, which according to my calculations, we never be able to achieve due to age and number of cruises it will take. Grateful for the new benefits, but couldn't they throw in one 50% discount in a speciality restaurant. From what I have heard, this is many times available to everyone during some of the longer cruises.

[ghstudio]

We hd 25 cruises under the old system, which now makes us Elite Plus at 750 pts. Next level will be Zenith, which according to my calculations, we never be able to achieve due to age and number of cruises it will take. Grateful for the new benefits, but couldn't they throw in one 50% discount in a speciality restaurant. From what I have heard, this is many times available to everyone during some of the longer cruises.

 

Some of the benefits are essentially marketing fillers for many. We are often offered murano for $30 vs $45 and so on...without this program. But if you want a special time and restaurant, this could be a good deal. As with the elite program, you use what you want and pass on the rest. We always have coupons we just throw out. Others probably covet those same coupons.

[CruisingChick]

We hd 25 cruises under the old system, which now makes us Elite Plus at 750 pts. Next level will be Zenith, which according to my calculations, we never be able to achieve due to age and number of cruises it will take. Grateful for the new benefits, but couldn't they throw in one 50% discount in a speciality restaurant. From what I have heard, this is many times available to everyone during some of the longer cruises.

 

I agree about the discounts to the Specialty Restaurants. On our last cruise in September on Summit you could basically "name your own price". The Maitre'd asked me what type of deal did we want and how much did we want to pay.

 

So that 15% discount is almost laughable. Also 10% on Beverage Packages still does not make it worthwhile for us to purchase. We were hoping for 20-25%.

[elena7seas]

Did you get that list from the Celebrity site? I looked, but couldn't find it.

 

I think those poor Zenith folks are going to be awfully lonely in Michael's Club all by themselves. How many of them can there be on any given sailing? Doesn't sound like much fun to me.

 

Hi Linda:

 

I don't know if you were asking me or H2OH!, but my list comes from the first page you get to when you log in to My Celebrity.

 

Underneath your membership status information, on the right you will find a line in blue font that says:

 

Captain's Club Terms and Conditions

 

and an arrow to click, which will take you to this information.

 

It is not very cohesively written, so it's a little hard to take in.

[Kwenz]

Initially we were a little bummed that we were 1cruise short for E+ a level we would have made if our September cruise on Millenium hadn't been cancelled. Now that the new benefits have been posted I feel better because when all is said and done the difference is not that great.

[ClaireP]

The info has just been announced on Facebook and the links to captains club all work. I say well done celebrity for making a change and looking to reward loyalty

[TommyD3]

[quote=elena7seas;40784843

The following program levels are equivalent for loyalty program recognition purposes:

 

Celebrity's Captain's Club.....Azamara LeClub Voyage.....Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Society

 

Preview...................................Preview

Classic....................................Adventu rer

Select.....................................Explore r.............................Platinum

Elite........................................Disco verer.........................Diamond

Elite Plus..................................Discoverer Plus

Zenith.....................................Discove rer Platinum

 

It appears that Azamara will also be adding two new levels to their loyalty program. The listed Plus & Platinum levels are not listed on the Azamara web site.

[FunForUs]

I don't see Priority Tender Tickets listed in the Elite Benefits? Anyone have any information on that benefit?

[kittyluvrnurse]

So REALLY we were one 3 day cruise's worth away from Elite, now we'll do a 7 day in aqua and still not make it. #RIPOFF

[A Sixth?]

Initially we were a little bummed that we were 1cruise short for E+ a level we would have made if our September cruise on Millenium hadn't been cancelled. Now that the new benefits have been posted I feel better because when all is said and done the difference is not that great.

 

We are going to be a few points short too after our next few cruises are complete.... but ya... not sure what we'd actually miss... + isn't all that + :p

 

Also when they say:

 

“At a time when many loyalty programs are cutting back on benefits or making it more difficult to redeem rewards, we're thrilled to do just the opposite,” said Celebrity's Director of Loyalty Lee Moreau."

 

I guess the majority of passengers onboard any given cruise in interior, ocean view and standard balcony classes would disagree. I mean, isn't 65-70% of the ships passenger capacity made up of "less than" Concierge Class/AquaClass cabins?