Is the Captain's club dead?

[maxsales]

Other than the Zenith category is there really any value in the Captain's club?  With most cruises now being AI the free drinks are valueless and if you are Elite+ the Al Bacchio benefit is gone.  The wireless benefit is no longer needed so I guess the only thing remaining is laundry.

 

Anyone else think Celebrity should revise their loyalty program?

[Ken the cruiser]

However, they very much come into play if you're Elite and you book a cruise without the All Included perks. But, you are correct, the laundry perk is pretty much all that's pertinent if you have AI as part of your booking.

[Orator]

I have opposed AI on Celebrity because I lose some benefits, but if I were in the Corporate office, faced with the cash flow problem, I would do the same. Benefits especially for Elite, Elite+ and Zenith negatively affects the bottom line. I've said in many threads that Celebrity would want to replace loyal cruisers who have earned benefits with first time cruises who would spend extra since they require no additional cost to Celebrity.This is a critical time for all cruise lines and survival is at stake. They need to do what they can to reduce costs and add revenue. They must remain flexible and adjust strategy as required. 

[upwarduk]

1) One category upgrade for Elite & above. 2C price for 2B cabin.

 

Photo is of a partially obstructed 2C balcony.
 

 

2)Elite breakfast.

 

 

3) Some Premium drinks on the Happy Hour menu for Elite and above.

An advantage if you are on the Classic package.

 

 

4)Free wine tasting for Elite and above ( usual price $35p.p)

 

Edited November 1, 2021 by upwarduk

[Alakegirl]

Discounts in spa, salon & specialty dining still remain, do they not?

[FLCruiser97]

Discounts on upgrades, like classic to premium BP and surf to stream wifi.

[the penguins]

44 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

However, they very much come into play if you're Elite and you book a cruise without the All Included perks. But, you are correct, the laundry perk is pretty much all that's pertinent if you have AI as part of your booking.

If you were able to book all cruises without AI you would be correct. However as at present that is not possible, and when it is it's for guarantee cabins the value has been dramatically reduced.

[the penguins]

24 minutes ago, FLCruiser97 said:

Discounts on upgrades, like classic to premium BP and surf to stream wifi.

Discounts are tiny and the drinks one is useless for anyone who doesn't drink alcohol.

[the penguins]

36 minutes ago, Alakegirl said:

Discounts in spa, salon & specialty dining still remain, do they not?

Again small and often easy to match once onboard without any need to be Elite or above.

[TeeRick]

59 minutes ago, maxsales said:

Other than the Zenith category is there really any value in the Captain's club?  With most cruises now being AI the free drinks are valueless and if you are Elite+ the Al Bacchio benefit is gone.  The wireless benefit is no longer needed so I guess the only thing remaining is laundry.

 

Anyone else think Celebrity should revise their loyalty program?

There are quite a few previous threads on this topic.  Yes some of the value with the current marketing campaign called AI has been diminished for the time being.  Many posters are demanding more or replacement benefits.  Even Zenith members.  But is the Captain's Club dead as you ask? 

One thing to consider is that the current thread called Captains Club Power Up Points has over 3500 posts and counting.  Some here might be still interested in CC and CC points. Maybe for the future when Celebrity changes its marketing campaign (again).

[the penguins]

41 minutes ago, upwarduk said:

1) One category upgrade for Elite & above. 2C price for 2B cabin.

 

Photo is of a partially obstructed 2C balcony.
 

 

2)Elite breakfast.

 

 

3) Some Premium drinks on the Happy Hour menu for Elite and above.

An advantage if you are on the Classic package.

 

 

4)Free wine tasting for Elite and above ( usual price $35p.p)

 

All true but most useless for anyone who doesn’t drink alcohol.

Most items in the breakfast can be found in other venues, but yes we enjoy the atmosphere in Tuscan.

The cabin upgrade when available is worth about £50.

AI has destroyed all the major benefits.

[the penguins]

53 minutes ago, Orator said:

I have opposed AI on Celebrity because I lose some benefits, but if I were in the Corporate office, faced with the cash flow problem, I would do the same. Benefits especially for Elite, Elite+ and Zenith negatively affects the bottom line. I've said in many threads that Celebrity would want to replace loyal cruisers who have earned benefits with first time cruises who would spend extra since they require no additional cost to Celebrity.This is a critical time for all cruise lines and survival is at stake. They need to do what they can to reduce costs and add revenue. They must remain flexible and adjust strategy as required. 

No other major cruise line (including Royal) has gone the route chosen by Celebrity of introducing a pricing structure that impacts so disastrously on many of it's most loyal customers.

Celebrity has recognised the problem in an email from Marie Kirk, Celebrity Engagement Center based in Wichita, who stated " we appreciate that not everyone wants or needs a full beverage package or WiFi access, so we are working to address that".

If you want to make your views known you can email Marie Kirk,  celebrityengagementcenter@celebrity.com

[TeaBag]

Haven't sailed since Covid reared its ugly head so I don't know if Cappuccino is still free in Cafe Al Bacio for Elite+.  We enjoyed the perks we received in the past for our loyalty.

[Bo1953]

Well, the argument for those who do not drink or can find the same food in other venues, cabin upgrades not of value, discounts minuscule and etc..., I wonder the reason some of us continue to sail on X who are E and E+ if no value/reward for sailing X all these years are not there any longer?

 

Will someone chime in to enlighten me on this?

 

bon voyage

[TeaBag]

To answer your question, Bo, we have 2 more sailings on Celebrity that were booked some time ago and we are moving on, 4 booked on Azamara.

[the penguins]

5 minutes ago, Bo1953 said:

Well, the argument for those who do not drink or can find the same food in other venues, cabin upgrades not of value, discounts minuscule and etc..., I wonder the reason some of us continue to sail on X who are E and E+ if no value/reward for sailing X all these years are not there any longer?

 

Will someone chime in to enlighten me on this?

 

bon voyage

1) we hope that Celebrity will do as they have indicated they will and reintroduce non AI fares in a meaningful way.

2) we have FCC's that can only be used on Celebrity.

3) we still like the overall product just not the current and  hopefully short lived AI pricing.

4) we have cancelled one cruise on X, moved another to Royal and are holding fire on 2023 cruises  in the hope that the AI issue is resolved.

[CHEZMARYLOU]

14 minutes ago, Bo1953 said:

Well, the argument for those who do not drink or can find the same food in other venues, cabin upgrades not of value, discounts minuscule and etc..., I wonder the reason some of us continue to sail on X who are E and E+ if no value/reward for sailing X all these years are not there any longer?

 

Will someone chime in to enlighten me on this?

 

bon voyage

We sail in upper level suites so there is no E or E+ benefit that is of value to us except for the spa discount.  We don't always want to go on a port day and took advantage of the discount for a massage for me and 2 shaves, a facial and a hair cut for my DH.  We are not chasing Zenith and will continue to sail on Celebrity regardless of the CC benefits.

[cruise kitty]

Personally, I still find value in the CC benefits, the laundry, the priority tendering & disembark in ports where it's necessary to do immigration onboard, the upgrade all have value for me.

 

But the most valuable benefit (for me) is having a dedicated captain's club host/hostess who can take care of any little problems that may arise onboard, or who might invite you along for special sail ins on the helicopter pad, escort you to the tender boats, etc.  

[FLCruiser97]

1 minute ago, cruise kitty said:

Personally, I still find value in the CC benefits, the laundry, the priority tendering & disembark in ports where it's necessary to do immigration onboard, the upgrade all have value for me.

 

But the most valuable benefit (for me) is having a dedicated captain's club host/hostess who can take care of any little problems that may arise onboard, or who might invite you along for special sail ins on the helicopter pad, escort you to the tender boats, etc.  

Good point @cruise kittyand don't forget your free gelato.

[DCPIV]

I don't know about Captain's Club, but this horse has been dead for a while.  Yet we continue to flog the poor beast.

 

It's been pretty well established that the ideal solution for the monetary benefits would be to allow the choice between AI and not.  There are some of us Elite and above members that will would find value in the AI bundle and would gladly choose it.  Others may want to buy the packages a la carte or not at all.  

 

As pointed out by others, there are number of non-monetary benefits to being Elite and above, as well.

[basenji56]

I found the Elite benefits to be of higher value when carried over to Diamond on Royal.  I loved having four drinks loaded to my card every day.  Also, the Diamond lounge on Royal is very nice.  Nothing comparable on Celebrity.

 

[DCPIV]

1 minute ago, basenji56 said:

Also, the Diamond lounge on Royal is very nice.

 

That depends a great deal on the ship, especially when crowded during what used to be the happy hour.

[basenji56]

4 minutes ago, DCPIV said:

 

That depends a great deal on the ship, especially when crowded during what used to be the happy hour.

That is probably true.  But, since they loaded the four drinks to your card, there is no need for a happy hour rush unless that what's you want.  It was pretty empty on Allure last week. 

[Algebralovr]

I've seen a lot of "Simply Sail" prices offered lately, and if you key in your CC number, there have been a number of cruises where they offer a "loyalty price" which is a little bit off the simply sail price.  

If you book one of those, or a guarantee, then the E+  coffee/tea perk is certainly a help, as is the happy hour.  

The 270 minutes of internet?  I'll use the status to purchase an internet package since I need it due to committments at home.  

Laundry?  Means I can pack lighter.  

 

We have one cruise upcoming where the cost differenc for Simply Sail vs AI was $500/person.  We don't need 2 internet packages, we can do without the drink package, the gratuities were not that much.  We simply paid the gratiuties, and still saved a lot.  

[marieps]

1 hour ago, TeaBag said:

To answer your question, Bo, we have 2 more sailings on Celebrity that were booked some time ago and we are moving on, 4 booked on Azamara.

Have you sailed Azamara before, TB?