Woo Hoo... Pinnacle now equals Zenith on Celebrity

[RosieRoo]

27 minutes ago, RFerrington said:

Thank you for getting this direct information.

 

So just to be clear, you, as a cross-over P/Z are being allowed in the Retreat on your current cruise ?  
 

Thank you !

We are in the Retreat due to being in a suite, but I specifically asked him about access because we will be on the ship in September in a balcony, so I wanted to know if we’d have access as Zenith. Honestly I was just curious.  He told me he receives an email from shoreside which lists all the Zenith members and if access is granted. For this particular cruise everyone is. It could be different on different ships. This is what I was told on the Eclipse. Since this is so new, I assume it could change at any time.

Edited June 23 by RosieRoo

[RFerrington]

2 minutes ago, RosieRoo said:

We are in the Retreat due to being in a suite, but I specifically asked him about access because we will be on the ship in September in a balcony, so I wanted to know if we’d have access as Zenith. Honestly I was just curious.  He told me he receives an email from shoreside which lists all the Zenith members and if access is granted. For this particular cruise everyone is. It could be different on different ships. This is what I was told on the Eclipse. Since this is so new, I assume it could change at any time.

Roger.  Thanks !

[ReneeFLL]

4 hours ago, doghog said:

I disagree with this reasoning (lack of better terms).  When cruising with Celebrity you are no longer Pinnacle. You are Zenith and should be afforded the same perks/benefits no matter how you became Zenith. Works the other way also. Zenith to Pinnacle. 

We are Zenith because they were nice enough to give it to us, but we didn’t earn it like the real Zeniths. If they do it by actual points, Zenith wannabes will only have the actual points that they have cruised with X. I think I have 194 actual X points so I personally don’t feel I’m entitled to the benefits of real Zeniths. If X wants to give me all the perks I’ll be very happy, but I can definitely understand why they don’t.

 

We had planned on looking at other cruise lines after we made Pinnacle to see what else was out there. Since we had already been on X they weren’t really on our radar. Now with the benefits I’ll be looking at them more. We had already booked a X cruise before this happened, but it was only because other people I know booked it.

 

Edited June 23 by ReneeFLL

[doghog]

29 minutes ago, ReneeFLL said:

We are Zenith because they were nice enough to give it to us, but we didn’t earn it like the real Zeniths. If they do it by actual points, Zenith wannabes will only have the actual points that they have cruised with X. I think I have 194 actual X points so I personally don’t feel I’m entitled to the benefits of real Zeniths. If X wants to give me all the perks I’ll be very happy, but I can definitely understand why they don’t.

 

We had planned on looking at other cruise lines after we made Pinnacle to see what else was out there. Since we had already been on X they weren’t really on our radar. Now with the benefits I’ll be looking at them more. We had already booked a X cruise before this happened, but it was only because other people I know booked it.

 

I respect your opinion. I'm only basing my opinion on when going from Diamond to Elite and Elite to Diamond the perks/benefits weren't/aren't based on cruise points. We appreciate now being E+ with Celebrity for being D+ with RC. However, we were only 92 Celebrity cruise points from making E+ on our own. Now that we are E+ I expect all the perks/benefits that go with that tier level. We made Elite and Diamond before the merger and before the first phase of the reciprocal program. 

 

Our second cruise was our first Celebrity cruise was in 1994. At that time we had to pay ($35.00 P/P) to join the Founders Club. Now the Captains Club. We like the differences and similarities between RC and Celebrity. We also cruise with Princess. But we don't chase the cruise lines tier levels. Nice when we it happens. 

[Alakegirl]

On 6/17/2024 at 7:09 AM, Kbonner said:

How can they phone you when the luncheon is at 12:30a.m. at embarkation day, and the cabins open only at 2p.m. for phone access?

Or do you refer to the lunch with senior officers?

The cabins are open when you board, they just aren’t all cleaned until 2 PM. You can go to the cabin and drop your hand luggage off and pick up any paperwork at that time.

[cruise wizard]

We really like that we can drop off our carryon luggage at our cabin as soon as we embark. Most all times our cabin had been cleaned but paperwork only there about 50% of the time. The boarding day luncheon in the MDR is a big plus as the Ocean View Cafe buffet is a madhouse.

[little britain]

On 6/23/2024 at 10:14 PM, RFerrington said:

Roger.  Thanks !

Retreat Lounge access when not staying in the Retreat

1.        Loyalty Match members will only be permitted to access the Retreat Lounge when not staying in the Retreat based on availability and at the sole discretion of Celebrity Cruises.

 

 

Status Match Terms (celebritycruises.com)

[cruise wizard]

37 minutes ago, little britain said:

Retreat Lounge access when not staying in the Retreat

1.        Loyalty Match members will only be permitted to access the Retreat Lounge when not staying in the Retreat based on availability and at the sole discretion of Celebrity Cruises.

 

 

Status Match Terms (celebritycruises.com)

 

We have been on 4 "X" cruises since the status match and so far - no access to the Retreat Lounge and there weren't many true Zenith's onboard. Our next "X" cruises (B2B) are in late September and first week in October - so we will see what happens.

[little britain]

8 minutes ago, cruise wizard said:

 

We have been on 4 "X" cruises since the status match and so far - no access to the Retreat Lounge and there weren't many true Zenith's onboard. Our next "X" cruises (B2B) are in late September and first week in October - so we will see what happens.

Yup I suspected that that “discretion” was another word for “ will not”! 

[RosieRoo]

34 minutes ago, cruise wizard said:

 

We have been on 4 "X" cruises since the status match and so far - no access to the Retreat Lounge and there weren't many true Zenith's onboard. Our next "X" cruises (B2B) are in late September and first week in October - so we will see what happens.

Did someone actually tell you this or did you just not see it on the list of benefits?  I ask because it wasn’t on the list on my back to back on Eclipse in June, but they were allowed in the lounge. We were in a suite, but I asked the Concierge if us new Zeniths were allowed and he said yes. It may or may not have to do with numbers. I believe he said he got a list from corporate every week. 

Edited July 22 by RosieRoo

[RFerrington]

11 minutes ago, RosieRoo said:

Did someone actually tell you this or did you just not see it on the list of benefits?  I ask because it wasn’t on the list on my back to back on Eclipse in June, but they were allowed in the lounge. We were in a suite, but I asked the Concierge if us new Zeniths were allowed and he said yes. It may or may not have to do with numbers. I believe he said he got a list from corporate every week. 

So, you weren't on an "allowed" list but the Concierge said you could come in, anyway ?  Did your card work to gain entrance ?

[RFerrington]

1 minute ago, RFerrington said:

So, you weren't on an "allowed" list but the Concierge said you could come in, anyway ?  Did your card work to gain entrance ?

Nevermind.  I skipped over the part where you were in a suite....so you could have gotten in anyway.

[RosieRoo]

3 minutes ago, RFerrington said:

So, you weren't on an "allowed" list but the Concierge said you could come in, anyway ?  Did your card work to gain entrance ?

Oh we were on the list, but we were in a suite so it didn’t matter. There’s no card to get into the Retreat Lounge on Eclipse, but the concierge had everyone’s picture on his computer and you had to walk right by him when you came in the door, so I’m guessing he knew who belonged. I think there were only about six or eight of us that were Pinnacles so maybe that’s why 🤷🏻‍♀️

Edited July 22 by RosieRoo

[twangster]

It's interesting to me how X is handling the free Zenith drink package and wifi.

 

With Royal CAS discounts only work once on board.

 

For Zenith you have to pre-order the drink and wifi package ahead of time, at zero cost.

 

For an August sailing:

 

 

 

They haven't loaded the same Zenith discounts for a September sailing yet:

 

 

IIRC for my August sailing the Zenith discounts loaded after check in.  

 

Generally speaking the Royal cruise planner has never been aware of suite or CAS membership.

 

Either way with a premium drink package I don't need Retreat access.  Real Z's can have it.  I'll be at a bar.  

[SilkySal]

13 minutes ago, twangster said:

It's interesting to me how X is handling the free Zenith drink package and wifi.

 

With Royal CAS discounts only work once on board.

 

For Zenith you have to pre-order the drink and wifi package ahead of time, at zero cost.

 

For an August sailing:

 

 

 

They haven't loaded the same Zenith discounts for a September sailing yet:

 

 

IIRC for my August sailing the Zenith discounts loaded after check in.  

 

Generally speaking the Royal cruise planner has never been aware of suite or CAS membership.

 

Either way with a premium drink package I don't need Retreat access.  Real Z's can have it.  I'll be at a bar.  

The World Class bar on Solstice was our every night hangout! They even let DH smoke his own Old Fashions! Those bartenders were fabulous!

[not-enough-cruising]

1 hour ago, twangster said:

It's interesting to me how X is handling the free Zenith drink package and wifi.

 

With Royal CAS discounts only work once on board.

 

For Zenith you have to pre-order the drink and wifi package ahead of time, at zero cost.

 

For an August sailing:

 

 

 

They haven't loaded the same Zenith discounts for a September sailing yet:

 

 

IIRC for my August sailing the Zenith discounts loaded after check in.  

 

Generally speaking the Royal cruise planner has never been aware of suite or CAS membership.

 

Either way with a premium drink package I don't need Retreat access.  Real Z's can have it.  I'll be at a bar.  

The Celebrity cruise planner certainly seems to work better and be more complete, overall

[verizon]

On 6/24/2024 at 1:12 AM, ReneeFLL said:

We are Zenith because they were nice enough to give it to us, but we didn’t earn it like the real Zeniths. If they do it by actual points, Zenith wannabes will only have the actual points that they have cruised with X. I think I have 194 actual X points so I personally don’t feel I’m entitled to the benefits of real Zeniths. If X wants to give me all the perks I’ll be very happy, but I can definitely understand why they don’t.

 

We had planned on looking at other cruise lines after we made Pinnacle to see what else was out there. Since we had already been on X they weren’t really on our radar. Now with the benefits I’ll be looking at them more. We had already booked a X cruise before this happened, but it was only because other people I know booked it.

 

I do wish every Pinnacles think like you.I believe Celebrity offering more to Pinnacles than RCL offering to Celebrity Zeniths.Thats why the Zeniths are not very happy about it.

Any way happy cruising whatever cruise ship you on.

Edited July 22 by verizon

[twangster]

7 minutes ago, verizon said:

I do wish every Pinnacles think like you.I believe Celebrity offering more to Pinnacles than RCL offering to Celebrity Zeniths.Thats why the Zeniths are not very happy about it.

Any way happy cruising whatever cruise ship you on.

 

What loyalty perks do you feel Royal isn't providing to X-Pins?

[lovesthebeach2]

27 minutes ago, verizon said:

I do wish every Pinnacles think like you.I believe Celebrity offering more to Pinnacles than RCL offering to Celebrity Zeniths.Thats why the Zeniths are not very happy about it.

Any way happy cruising whatever cruise ship you on.

In the case of Elite Plus, it’s the other way around.  Royals benefits are better than what we’ll get on Celebrity. One biggie is the 5 drinks that we get.  Any drink, anytime of day up to 14.00, which is almost if not all mixed drinks.  On celebrity we’ll get a Happy Hour list of the basic drinks only at certain bars during a certain time. On Royal we also get 2 days of internet, which if you plan using it well, can last parts of 4 days.

[verizon]

13 minutes ago, lovesthebeach2 said:

In the case of Elite Plus, it’s the other way around.  Royals benefits are better than what we’ll get on Celebrity. One biggie is the 5 drinks that we get.  Any drink, anytime of day up to 14.00, which is almost if not all mixed drinks.  On celebrity we’ll get a Happy Hour list of the basic drinks only at certain bars during a certain time. On Royal we also get 2 days of internet, which if you plan using it well, can last parts of 4 days.

Ya I know Diamond+ to Pinnacles is easier to reach than Elites+ to Zeniths.

[Another_Critic]

1 hour ago, lovesthebeach2 said:

On Royal we also get 2 days of internet, which if you plan using it well, can last parts of 4 days.

Or on X you get 240 minutes of internet, which if you plan using it well, can last the entire cruise.  😄

[verizon]

6 hours ago, Another_Critic said:

Or on X you get 240 minutes of internet, which if you plan using it well, can last the entire cruise.  😄

Also 2 Bags of laundry.

[island lady]

18 hours ago, cruise wizard said:

We really like that we can drop off our carryon luggage at our cabin as soon as we embark. Most all times our cabin had been cleaned but paperwork only there about 50% of the time. The boarding day luncheon in the MDR is a big plus as the Ocean View Cafe buffet is a madhouse.

 

We are very much looking forward to our first X cruise in December!  🙂  

 

Thanks so much for all the info my friend...and the email updates too.  🥰

[lovesthebeach2]

10 hours ago, Another_Critic said:

Or on X you get 240 minutes of internet, which if you plan using it well, can last the entire cruise.  😄

I guess I would need to figure out how to do that  

[little britain]

9 minutes ago, lovesthebeach2 said:

I guess I would need to figure out how to do that  

You just need to make sure you log out after each use, to stop the clock ⏰