Elite program changes: no free internet!!

[reklawr]

I got this info from the Celebrity secrets they usually don't tell you about thread:

 

.... if you see that they are doing an Internet class, you an get free internet for 30 minutes (you just have to sit through the class). :o

 

[Andy]

I got this info from the Celebrity secrets they usually don't tell you about thread:

 

.... if you see that they are doing an Internet class, you an get free internet for 30 minutes (you just have to sit through the class). :o

 

 

I think that is a myth. I sat in on an adobe photoshop class a few weeks ago on Century, and that was not offered. They did however, give everyone a $5 match play coupon in the casino :)

[Benita]

For the poster that is looking for better internet perks, try Princess. Free internet access after 4 or 5 cruises.

For those who have done 10 cruises, you qualify for Diamond Status on Royal Caribbean. Only 20 minutes free internet per person, but you get CONCIERGE privileges. Free cocktails every night from 5pm to 8:30, a great cappacino machine, running all day for free, and lots of other great perks. This, mixed with the choice of lots of ships from Ft. Lauderdale and Miami, vs Celebrity's one ship on Sunday made us RCCL converts.

I do like Celebrity better. Cabins are nicer, and food better. When it comes to loyalty programs, most of what you get from any of the lines are not worth a lot of money, but are nice touches. The Concierge lounge makes all the difference in choosing which line.

[Andy]

For the poster that is looking for better internet perks, try Princess. Free internet access after 4 or 5 cruises.

For those who have done 10 cruises, you qualify for Diamond Status on Royal Caribbean. Only 20 minutes free internet per person, but you get CONCIERGE privileges. Free cocktails every night from 5pm to 8:30, a great cappacino machine, running all day for free, and lots of other great perks. This, mixed with the choice of lots of ships from Ft. Lauderdale and Miami, vs Celebrity's one ship on Sunday made us RCCL converts.

I do like Celebrity better. Cabins are nicer, and food better. When it comes to loyalty programs, most of what you get from any of the lines are not worth a lot of money, but are nice touches. The Concierge lounge makes all the difference in choosing which line.

 

Hi Benita !

 

I agree with you about the Concierge privileges. That is a great perk with RCI. We enjoy it very much when we sail with RCI. If Celebrity could only add just 1 perk, that would be the one I would hope for. I am a little surprised they have not made it happen yet. I do hope they will have a Concierge lounge on Solstice and Equinox.

[cruising with marti]

Phil ... I KNOW you were kidding, but there are plenty of us who MUST stay in touch with the office while on Vacation. As much as I wish I didnt have to stay in touch.... I manage a great deal of client money, and as we know, the stock market wont stop because I am on a Cruise :).

 

I totally love what I do, but the big downside is, that its nearly a 24/7 responsibility now... that is, if you care about your clients, and I sure do.

 

Hi Andy, you are right, my comment was a little tongue in cheek and was not meant to insult any one.

but in my view, Internet charges incurred while sailing and associated with business, is just another expense that is associated with doing business. after all a business luncheon or dinner will cost me a lot more than $100.00 Internet charge.

Bottom line I don't give a hoot about free Internet access and for that matter any other CC perk, which does not mean that I won't take advantage of them, it is just not the reasons I choose a cruise.:)

Phil

[Arubalisa]

The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

 

Loyalty is a thing of the past. Companies have no loyalty to their employees and employees have no loyalty to thier companies. If you like it ....buy it. If you don't like it, don't buy it. Brand loyalty is no different.

 

Celebrity sells their ships, service, and food. Elite member lists are feel good things. They have never had any real monetary value that would persuade anyone to chose Celebrity. If you don't feel good, do something that makes you feel good.

 

Geeez ......:o

 

I have to run....I'll log back on this evening and you can flame me all you want.

No flames from me, because IMHO, you are absolutely right. In today's world, companies have loyalty only to their stockholders. Right now do you hear complaints about gas prices from people who own Exxon/Mobil stock?

[Arubalisa]

It is really amazing how Celebrity is supposed to be an upgrade to Royal Caribbean, and RCI's loyalty program is much better than Celebrity's. Go Figure.

Maybe someone can help me here. I too always "thought" that X was "supposed to be an upgrade to Royal Caribbean", but why is the pricing (at least when I look :( ) either the same OR more expensive on Royal Caribbean than on X? Simple supply and demand? If so than X needs to do something/anything to make their product more attractive.

 

Obviously making Elite members angry is not the right way to start. Also don't get why the "perks" for the 2 lines would be so drastically different. IF X is supposed to be an upgrade to RC, then logically the perks should be better, not worse.

 

Is RCI, trying to "kill" X? Probably not, but just thinking out loud here.

[Andy]

Hi Andy, you are right, my comment was a little tongue in cheek and was not meant to insult any one.

but in my view, Internet charges incurred while sailing and associated with business, is just another expense that is associated with doing business. after all a business luncheon or dinner will cost me a lot more than $100.00 Internet charge.

Bottom line I don't give a hoot about free Internet access and for that matter any other CC perk, which does not mean that I won't take advantage of them, it is just not the reasons I choose a cruise.:)

Phil

 

Hi Phil !

 

No worries. I know you were kidding :) I hope all is well !

[hermang]

You'd also get that $$$$ on board credit on RCCL.

RCCL needs to add a few new ports before we go back. We might be persuaded to do the Serenade out of San Juan just because it is San Juan but other than Empress doing some of the smaller islands - we have been to all except St.Lucia which if we take the Connie next year will go there. Not interested in Eastern Caribbean or Belieze

[C 2 C]

Maybe someone can help me here. I too always "thought" that X was "supposed to be an upgrade to Royal Caribbean", but why is the pricing (at least when I look :( ) either the same OR more expensive on Royal Caribbean than on X? Simple supply and demand? If so than X needs to do something/anything to make their product more attractive.

 

Is RCI, trying to "kill" X? Probably not, but just thinking out loud here.

 

I'm presently booked on Century 13 day Transatlantic Oct 27 starting at $799.

Brilliance does the same crossing same price Nov 7

 

RCL gives a credit to upgrading to Balcony plus all the perks of daily free bar, specialty coffees, 20 minutes internet on a newer ship.

Celebrity gives me the superior "Ahhh, Celebrity treatment"

 

I will be on Voyager next week to try out the perks. Right now I'm thinking that RCL wants me more than Celebrity. I get onboard booking credit and stock owners credit on both lines.

 

The Elite/Diamond perks might not mean much to a person who cruises once a year but they are meaningful to me when I cruise 3 months of the year.

[cruising with marti]

We cruise at least 3 times a year and have for the last 5 years. we are Platinum, Diamond + and Elite and the CC perks still mean very little to me;)

Phil

[C 2 C]

We cruise at least 3 times a year and have for the last 5 years. we are Platinum, Diamond + and Elite and the CC perks still mean very little to me;)

 

10 day Princess Dawn, 14 Summit 12, Jewel of the Seas, 10 day Constellation

 

Phil

 

 

 

I see you play the field though. No cruise line has convinced you to sail solely with them. That is the way we intend to go. All of them offer a desirable product. RCL and Princess though reward us for returning. Celebrity does not.

[excitedofharpenden]

Bottom line I don't give a hoot about free Internet access and for that matter any other CC perk, which does not mean that I won't take advantage of them, it is just not the reasons I choose a cruise.:)

 

Phil

Well Phil, I'm sure you don't need my endorsement, but I'm with you:)

 

Phil

[cruising with marti]

I see you play the field though. No cruise line has convinced you to sail solely with them. That is the way we intend to go. All of them offer a desirable product. RCL and Princess though reward us for returning. Celebrity does not.

 

Quite true, but that does not mean that I intend to give up sailing X:)

Hi Phil, I knew you would have the same thoughts;)

Phil

[CaribbeanBound]

For what it's worth, the Cabernet Blending Seminar is REALLY worthwhile, and the Captain's Club parties (with an open bar), and Senior Officer's Cocktail party (with an open bar) are worth attending.

[Andy]

Quite true, but that does not mean that I intend to give up sailing X:)

 

Phil

 

Hi Phil !

 

Believe me... I will not stop sailing Celebrity. Perks are just that. They are always nice to have, and I do wish they will be improved in the future. With that said, the lack of them would not make me look elsewhere. Celebrity has an outstanding product, and that is good enough for me.

[dsawyer]

Change to Princess - after 5 cruises, one gets unlimited free Internet. That's a real perk for repeat customers. :)

[tuggers]

I too, would not give X up over perks, however, with the uninspired ports and the lack of 'love' I'm feeling from upper management when problems occur, I will probably be more willing to 'play the field' as some others do, where for over 2 years I did X almost exclusively.

[C 2 C]

For what it's worth, the Cabernet Blending Seminar is REALLY worthwhile, and the Captain's Club parties (with an open bar), and Senior Officer's Cocktail party (with an open bar) are worth attending.

 

Cabernet blending:

On Mercury there were too many attendees so we only had wine tasting amounting to half a glass each during February sailings.

 

When the gathering is too large the waiters are tough to collar for a second drink. The Captain's club gathering was limited to champagne and wine. The Senior Officer's party was much better because of the smaller group.

[nu2sea]

I truely don't care about the perks. I cruise Celebrity because I enjoy the product.

 

That being said, don't insult me by making up "loyalty" levels that are meaningless. That is what disturbs me.

 

It seems that Celebrity has a very different idea of what their repeat cruisers want than the repeat cruisers have. Which says that either they really don't care what we want or they think we are idiots.

 

Calling these changes upgrades is Orwellian doublespeak.

 

Susan

[superjerryw]

I truely don't care about the perks. I cruise Celebrity because I enjoy the product.

 

That being said, don't insult me by making up "loyalty" levels that are meaningless. That is what disturbs me.

 

It seems that Celebrity has a very different idea of what their repeat cruisers want than the repeat cruisers have. Which says that either they really don't care what we want or they think we are idiots.

 

Calling these changes upgrades is Orwellian doublespeak.

 

Susan

 

You hit the nail on the head. It's better to give us nothing than to tell us you are rewarding us for our loyalty by giving us so called perks that are meaningless.

[greeneg]

I have to admit that I've found this a very interesting thread to follow.

 

When we first started cruising with Celebrity ( in June of 2001), we were very impressed with the way that their Customer Service handled a potential disaster ( a cruise cancellation) and turned it into a very positive experience. Since then, I have always been impressed with the number of repeat customers that Celebrity has managed to retain: it seems that we almost never have people at our tables who have not cruised Celebrity before. Since the ships seem to be pretty much full, that would imply that they have managed to create a pretty substantial and solid customer base on which to build.

 

Now, all of a sudden, I seem to be noticing more and more adverse comments on these boards and in general, about food choices and preparation; tired, repetitive, and un-imaginative itineraries, and now un-responsive customer service on the Corporate Level. When someone with Gail's ( Tuggers') cruising history has concerns to which Management appears to be reluctant to respond; well, I think that's a matter of some concern.

 

To be fair, in the past, any concerns that I have had have always been handled promptly and appropriately, but this recent series of events ( the bleach cruise, food comments, negative Customer Service Posts) has gotten my attention.

 

We joined Captains Club immediately after the original failed cruise, paying the required fee at that time. We have never received an upgrade, never been invited to the Captain's Table, and with the exception of priority embarkation ( which you can now get with Xpresspass), really never received much in the way of perks. Still, we were made to at least feel that Celebrity did appreciate the fact that we were repeat passengers...

 

I think Susan's comments about "Orwellian Doublespeak" and a Management Disconnect are well founded, which is an additional source of concern on my part.

 

I am afraid that what we may be seeing here is another company which is beginning to depend too much on too many "Consultants/Focus Groups" and too many "Bean Counters" for their own good. This is how, IMHO, GM got to where it is today: it decided what it was that their "loyal " customer base wanted, made only that available, and ignored customer input that told them they were going down the wrong road. I hope that we are not seeing the progressive conversion of Celebrity from RCCL "Premium Division" to just another cookie cutter, mass market cruise line. Celebrity got to where it is because the "Celebrity Experience" in all aspects meant something which repeat clients could and did appreciate. After all, when you are filling your ships, and 90+% of those passengers are repeat clients ( we have been on 3 cruises that I know that statistic is true), I'm not certain that I would be in any hurry to change things: monitor what's going on and what people are thinking, yes-- of course. But change what you are doing when you are that successful, why on Earth would you consider that? Is the destruction of your customer base worth another 1 or 2 cents per share gain short term at the cost of your long-term success?

 

It would seem that the Cruising Industry is becomming more and more competitive internally and externally as all inclusive travel becomes more and more attractive to more people. Celebrity has, IMHO, gotten where it is because it has valued it's long time clients and to change that ( if that is what we are beginning to see) is a serious miscalculation for the longtime good of the Company.

 

I hope that I am wrong and am being a little frightened of shadows: however, even I am starting to be concerned enough to look at some of the other cruise possibilities and this is the first time in my 700+ posts that I have written that.

 

Attention X: you need to dance with the Lady that brought you.......

[C 2 C]

Celebrity has, IMHO, gotten where it is because it has valued it's long time clients and to change that ( if that is what we are beginning to see) is a serious miscalculation for the longtime good of the Company.

 

Very well-expressed concern. You have summarized the problem as I see it as well.

[C 2 C]

You hit the nail on the head. It's better to give us nothing than to tell us you are rewarding us for our loyalty by giving us so called perks that are meaningless.

 

We are getting the donut hole.... Great surroundings, empty of substance...:D

[oars]

Yes Andy we did have insurance but it was with Travel Guard and not Celebrity. Thanks for the idea of calling and asking for Caption Club Supervisor.