VIP Program

[cle-guy]

We were not met in the terminal.

 

What i've discovered or this treatment, is at checkin, use the suite check in lines. They give you a red rose. Be sure as you embark the red rose is visible to those admitting guests thru the line - it's the symbol to them you're a suite guest and to grab you and offer the extra assistance.

 

One cruise I put the rose in bag and got no acknowledgement, next time I had it in hand, and a guest service associate grabbed me and asked me my name and welcomed me and escorted me to the Michael's lounge to await my room.

[C 2 C]

Over time people at the top end would stop cruising due to age or lack of interest,

 

I think they are developing a pill for that.. not the age part but lack of interest.. in cruising..

 

Andy's adage about "just not feeling the love" has us sailing with friends, not a cruise line. The Century sailing in February is the one that holds the most attraction in a long time, not because of the itinerary, which is great, not about the ship which is the oldest in the fleet, but because of the people who are cruising.

 

Celebrity's cavalier treatment of frequent cruisers who "do not make the cut" is a real irritant. The VIP treatment on one cruise for some, only to be totally ignored on another, is a Pandora's Box waiting to be opened.

[uktog]

This is how it was displayed on Infinity last month

[CruisingChick]

Perhaps in the short term.. Some of your top Elites would move to higher levels and perhaps go to a dedicated lounge (VIP). Making it much more difficult to reach the Elite level would slow growth from the bottom end. Over time people at the top end would stop cruising due to age or lack of interest, thus reducing top end pressure. These combined factors would result in fewer Elites.

 

Okay, I see where you are coming from now. Thanks for the explanation.

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

What i've discovered or this treatment, is at checkin, use the suite check in lines. They give you a red rose. Be sure as you embark the red rose is visible to those admitting guests thru the line - it's the symbol to them you're a suite guest and to grab you and offer the extra assistance.

 

One cruise I put the rose in bag and got no acknowledgement, next time I had it in hand, and a guest service associate grabbed me and asked me my name and welcomed me and escorted me to the Michael's lounge to await my room.

 

We used the suite check in line. We were given red roses. We were holding said roses in our hands. Absolutely nothing happened as a result of these red roses. I knew about going to Michael's Club from having read Cruise Critic, so we did go there. On our own.

 

My take is it was the staff on the Infinity. They just didn't seem to give a rip. If I had never cruised Celebrity previously, I would never have come back. But I know that's not how it usually is.

[Celebrity Cruises]

I think it's important for Celebrity to recognize the ill will and potential loss of business if they take anything away from current Captain's Club members.

 

Hi all,

 

While we can't comment on the VIP program currently being tested, we can confirm that you will not lose any current Captain's Club benefits that you are receiving.

[C 2 C]

What i've discovered or this treatment, is at checkin, use the suite check in lines. They give you a red rose. Be sure as you embark the red rose is visible to those admitting guests thru the line - it's the symbol to them you're a suite guest and to grab you and offer the extra assistance.

 

On our last cruise in February we were given the red rose, were not told of its significance, held onto it throughout the entire boarding process without anyone guiding us to a separate section nor to Michael's. Some Hotel Directors are much less welcoming then others.. We have even heard one express that there is no such thing as a VIP, all guests should be treated the same. (Whether you are on your first or your 100th... etc)

[Despegue]

Thank you, Official Poster:)

 

This is a VERY important message actually.

[karena1]

Thank you, Official Poster:)

 

This is a VERY important message actually.

 

That is exactly what I figured, it would mirror what Royal did when they changed their program. No one lost their current status, it just takes longer to reach the next level.

[PSCruiser]

That is exactly what I figured, it would mirror what Royal did when they changed their program. No one lost their current status, it just takes longer to reach the next level.

 

Well, except for being thrown out of the Conceirge Lounge.

 

Although the "official" statement is reassuring, if X does rev, amp their program they could learn a lesson from RC - don't spring the new program on loyal guests and then spend years trying to placate those that they angered, i.e. building the new D lounges, etc.

Instead, outline the new program for rollout at a future date, and then spend the interim to "make things right" for the current tiers that might feel slighted.

[warmwinds]

So if it's going to be revenue based, does that mean that if you take advantage of the "deals" - drink packages, etc. - that that will be to your detriment because someone paying a la carte for all their drinks will probably spend more?

[Orator]

So if it's going to be revenue based, does that mean that if you take advantage of the "deals" - drink packages, etc. - that that will be to your detriment because someone paying a la carte for all their drinks will probably spend more?

 

And, if you book with Choice Air will you get additional credit? Will using Celebrity transfers give you more credit since you're spending more dollars with celebrity. And will a Hotel package and/or land tour give you more? So many questions, so few answers. Guess we'll just wait and see. Celebrity has our input and it's totally their decision.

[Project_gal]

What i've discovered or this treatment, is at checkin, use the suite check in lines. They give you a red rose. Be sure as you embark the red rose is visible to those admitting guests thru the line - it's the symbol to them you're a suite guest and to grab you and offer the extra assistance.

 

One cruise I put the rose in bag and got no acknowledgement, next time I had it in hand, and a guest service associate grabbed me and asked me my name and welcomed me and escorted me to the Michael's lounge to await my room.

 

No, this does not always happen. On our last cruise, we were in a PH on Eclipse [who I had read on CC did use the red rose] but were given no rose nor directed anywhere. Eventually my husband went to Michael's Club and asked the hostess who said the lounge was open only for PH and Elite guests. He replied that we were both and we were invited in but, if I had not read about it on CC, we would not have known.

 

I am not sure how long the red rose has been used but we have never been given on for a RS either.

 

Sue

[bob278]

Well, except for being thrown out of the Conceirge Lounge.

 

Although the "official" statement is reassuring, if X does rev, amp their program they could learn a lesson from RC - don't spring the new program on loyal guests and then spend years trying to placate those that they angered, i.e. building the new D lounges, etc.

Instead, outline the new program for rollout at a future date, and then spend the interim to "make things right" for the current tiers that might feel slighted.

Not exactly in context. The Diamonds were excluded form the Concierge Lounge quite some time before the C&A program changed. One had little (if anything at all) to do with the other. I don't know if I would characterize the creation of the Diamond Lounges as "placating those they angered" or a reasonable plan to maintain a level of benefit to Diamond level members that were affected by the success of the loyalty program.

 

I may as well join in on the speculation many have engaged in and say that I think the Captain's Club will change (but who knows when?) and the new program will look very much like the current RCL Crown & Anchor Society, including how credits are translated to points.

[C 2 C]

No, this does not always happen. .Eventually my husband went to Michael's Club and asked the hostess who said the lounge was open only for PH and Elite guests. He replied that we were both and we were invited in but, if I had not read about it on CC, we would not have known.

 

It is amazing that a great concept is often frustrated by poor implementation.

 

The host or Concierge has a picture of VIPs and top suite guests as soon as they register. There should be a "butler" notified that their guest is boarding and escorted to the lounge. The technology is there but implementation is lacking.

On one cruise we were celebrating my wife's birthday on a sailing with our favorite captain. No matter where she went she was greeted by a Happy Birthday Mrs... It seems that the captain had her picture posted with every department.

[PSCruiser]

Not exactly in context. The Diamonds were excluded form the Concierge Lounge quite some time before the C&A program changed. One had little (if anything at all) to do with the other..

I'll argue that (at least for upper tier members) the exclusion from the CL WAS the major revision of the C&A. The point conversion thing that happened later was to almost everyone's benefit, so no big deal.

[Jade13]

I have sailed many times on Celebrity, Azamara, and Royal. I have also sailed on other lines. Often when choosing a cruise, the elite status perks often are a deciding feature. I enjoy the elite perks. It took me a long time to get to elite. On my most recent cruise on the Infinity, I enjoyed the elite lounge. The hostess was excellent. However, many of the staff treated me poorly. I asked to speak to the hotel director many times. He was unavailable for the entire 15 days? It was the first time that I came home unhappy. Too many problems that were not resolved. We usually book another cruise while we are sailing or within a month after the trip. It didn't happen this time. Instead we came home and booked a land tour. We just did that tour and loved it...17 days. And, we are booking another trip with the same tour company again. Happiness on a trip makes you want to repeat the experience. It may be a long time before I cruise on Celebrity again.

 

What tour company are you using that you like?

[dmk]

[What if every elite gets vouchers but no "free drinks" in a lounge and if the lounge now offers a better drink menu for VIPs.

 

And if my grandmother had wheels, she would have been a train. lol:D

 

Oops, just couln't resist.:)

[Jade13]

Hi all,

 

While we can't comment on the VIP program currently being tested, we can confirm that you will not lose any current Captain's Club benefits that you are receiving.

 

Great news! Thank you Celebrity Cruises for responding.

[Dave85]

Hi all,

 

While we can't comment on the VIP program currently being tested, we can confirm that you will not lose any current Captain's Club benefits that you are receiving.

 

Glad to hear it! Thanks for clearing up some of the wild misinformation that's being posted here.

[ghstudio]

Glad to hear it! Thanks for clearing up some of the wild misinformation that's being posted here.

 

What misinformation? My assumption, based on this post from celebrity is that we will still have the 5-7 cocktail hour or three vouchers per person....we just wont have the cocktails in michaels club.

[NLH Arizona]

That is exactly what I figured, it would mirror what Royal did when they changed their program. No one lost their current status, it just takes longer to reach the next level.

Did those that were a cruise away from the next level then have to basically start over to reach that levels. For example, if they have 9 points when the system is changed and Elite is changed to say 25 points, would they have to have another 16 points to reach Elite with the new program, even though in the old system they would only need 1 point to reach Elite. Not sure I'm explaining this correctly, but it is very important to those that are so close to Elite, but might not be cruising again until next year.

[Oville]

And, if you book with Choice Air will you get additional credit? Will using Celebrity transfers give you more credit since you're spending more dollars with celebrity. And will a Hotel package and/or land tour give you more? So many questions, so few answers. Guess we'll just wait and see. Celebrity has our input and it's totally their decision.

 

Or is it more simple than what you described, like what Royal Caribbean and Celebrity currently do. You pay more for a cabin and you get more credits, you pay a lot more for a cabin and you're treated like royalty. Also if you drop $10s of thousands in the Casino you are considered a VIP. Finally, when you are top cruiser you're treated pretty sweet.

[ghstudio]

Or is it simpler than what you described, like what Royal Caribbean and Celebrity currently do. You pay more for a cabin and you get more credits, you may a lot more for a cabin and your treated like royalty. Also if you drop $10s of thousands in the Casino you are considered a VIP.

 

If you drop $1000's in the casino, you are already in a far better, already existing, VIP program ...free cruises, free specialty dining, free bottles of liquor. Nothing celebrity offers will come close.

[neverbeenhere]

See RCCL formula for the "best guess" as to what will happen. And prepare your running shoes.