Did Celebrity get it right - Captain's Club

[NLH Arizona]

I certainly hope that "points for onboard spending" is in the plans. I might make Zenith yet! (I'll never live long enough otherwise lol.)

If they every consider giving points for money spent in the casino, I could possibly make Zenith before I turn a couple years older LOL!

[chamima]

Excluded... see below.

 

To Qualify for the 123go! Offer, the following requirements must be satisfied. Cruise must be booked between Nov. 29, 2013 – Feb. 28, 2014 (the “Offer Period”) and must be a 3-night or longer cruise, that departs between Feb. 2014 – Mar 2015. Offer excludes Celebrity Xpedition, Transatlantic, and Transpacific cruises. Offer requires ocean view or higher stateroom booking at the non-discounted standard cruise fare. Offer cannot be combined with any other offer, promotion or price program. Offer is applicable to new individual bookings and to staterooms in non-contracted group bookings, which must be named and deposited during the Offer Period. Bookings that meet all of these requirements are “Qualifying Bookings.” The first two guests in a Qualifying Booking for a European sailing may choose any two of the following options and one of these options for all other sailings: Classic Beverage Package for Two, Free Gratuities for Two, or Onboard Credit (“OBC”). The first two guests in the stateroom must select the same options. Triple and higher occupancy guests will each receive one 38-minute internet package and one Classic Non-Alcoholic Beverage Package. Limit of one Offer per stateroom. All guests in the stateroom must book during the Offer Period. You must notify Celebrity of the option(s) you chose by the earlier of Feb. 28, 2014 or 10 days prior to departure date for Feb. 2014 cruises. Provide promo code BEV123go for Beverage, OBC123go for OBC, and GR123go for Gratuities. For Europe 2014 cruises, provide promo code EUBEVOB123go for OBC & Beverage, promo code EUBEVGR123go for Beverage & Gratuities, promo code EUOBGR123go for OBC & Gratuities. Classic Beverage Package for Two option applies to two guests per stateroom and includes beers up to $5 per serving; and spirits, cocktails, and wine up to $8 per serving, all soda selections, fresh squeezed and bottled juices, premium coffees, teas and non-premium bottled water and server gratuities (amount based on gratuity guidelines). Premium Beverage Package upgrade available for an additional charge of $11.50 per person, per day which includes gratuities by contacting Celebrity Cruises. Free Gratuities for Two option applies to two guests per stateroom and provides for prepaid stateroom, waiter, assistant waiter and head waiter gratuities in the amount suggested by Celebrity’s guidelines. Gratuities will be applied to reservation within 10 days of booking. Onboard Credit option is one per stateroom and the amount is based on the number of cruise nights: 3-5 nights $100; 6-9 nights $200; 10 nights or more $300. OBC has no cash value, is applicable to cruise only, non-transferable, not redeemable for cash, and will expire if not used by 10:00 PM on the final night of the cruise. Triple and higher occupancy guests will each receive one Classic Non-Alcoholic Beverage Package and one 38-minute internet package when booked in a triple or higher occupancy stateroom. Beverage package includes all soda selections, fresh squeezed and bottled juices, premium coffees, teas and non-premium bottled water and server gratuities (amount based on gratuity guidelines). Upgrades to other Beverage packages are available for an additional charge plus beverage gratuities by contacting Celebrity Cruises. Internet usage terms apply. Register for internet access at I-lounge during the cruise. Additional Internet packages can be purchased onboard. Beverage Packages: Terms of Celebrity’s Alcohol Policy apply, including a minimum drinking age, which varies by itinerary. Each guest must provide date of birth by the earlier of Feb. 28, 2014 or 10 days prior to departure date for Feb. 2014 cruises. Captain’s Club Member Offers apply to new individual bookings made Nov. 29 – Dec. 31, 2013. Classic Captain’s Club Members and above (“CC Members”) are eligible to receive 25 bonus Club points, for Aqua Class and above stateroom bookings. Bonus Club points will be added within 14 days after conclusion of sailing. CC Members are also eligible for a 50% Reduced Deposit Offer on bookings made more than 70 days from departure date. Reduced deposit must be paid by Feb. 28, 2014. To redeem using celebrity.com, proceed to the Payment page, select “Other” in the deposit field and enter 50% off the deposit amount. Valid membership number must be provided at time of booking; new members may book onboard without a membership number but must provide the membership number by Mar. 10, 2014. To redeem offer contact your Travel professional, or Celebrity Cruises or book online at Celebritycruises.com and mention your promo code you choose. Trade: Group bookings that are named prior to the Offer Period cannot be cancelled and rebooked under this Offer. All Offers are non-transferable and applicable only to the Offer Cruise. Offers exclude interior staterooms. No refunds or credits for unused options. Offers are subject to availability and change without notice, and are capacity controlled. Offers not applicable to charters or contracted groups. Cruise portion of cruisetours eligible for Offers based on number of cruise nights. Single occupancy bookings eligible for Offers. Refer to Cruise Ticket Contract for additional terms and conditions.

 

©2013 Celebrity Cruises Inc. Ships registered in Malta and Ecuador. 13036107 • 11/2013

 

Thanks, I'm glad to hear that, it is just that I was told the opposite. I like your news much better than mine.

 

I found the post.

And the one from Facebook:

Is Celebrity considering any on board ways to earn more club points? Ex: excursions, specialty restaurant meals, casino?

Like · Reply · Yesterday at 4:09pm

 

Celebrity Cruises - Now that we have rolled out the new system, we will be looking at new ways to leverage Club Points. Stay tuned... ~ LM

Edited November 26, 2013 by chamima

[footer6]

I am disappointed inasmuch as I have two cruises booked in 2014 which would have brought me into ELITE status and now I find that I will be 2 points short and will only qualify after booking a third cruise. I am not impressed.

 

Although the consensus seems to be that most people are happy with this change, it hurts me. I am Select. Under the old system, if I took an 11 day and a 7 day both in Concierge (a total of 18 days) I would reach Elite. Now I need 30 days to reach Elite. How is this a positive?

[BILL-WI]

Even though Celebrity used a different formula to figure out the cruise perks it looks like they are following RCI's lead on the tiers. There is a huge gap between D+ and Pinnacle.

 

I agree with you 100%...and I think RCI's next step will be to further break down their points given for each cabin type, thus making it much harder to earn points unless you are in a GS or higher. Just like Celebrity did.

 

RCI and Celebrity both were faced with the same problem; how to slow down the march of passengers to the higher levels; were the passengers earn more expensive perks.

 

BILL

[NLH Arizona]

I found the post.

And the one from Facebook:

Is Celebrity considering any on board ways to earn more club points? Ex: excursions, specialty restaurant meals, casino?

Like · Reply · Yesterday at 4:09pm

 

Celebrity Cruises - Now that we have rolled out the new system, we will be looking at new ways to leverage Club Points. Stay tuned... ~ LM

Thanks so much. My Travel Agent is on vacation, but will be back December 2nd and she is going to change out my cruises and it looks like I'll qualify. I've never done the 1-2-3 before! Yeah!

[BILL-WI]

Although the consensus seems to be that most people are happy with this change, it hurts me. I am Select. Under the old system, if I took an 11 day and a 7 day both in Concierge (a total of 18 days) I would reach Elite. Now I need 30 days to reach Elite. How is this a positive?

 

It may not be positive, but it is fair, because we are all playing by the same rules! It has slowed everyone down, unless you are in a Suite or higher!

 

BILL

[Northern Aurora]

Looking at your sig line you're not to loyal to X so I'm trying to figure out why you're so unhappy with the program.

 

 

I had the same thought -- if the poster is not loyal to Celebrity then why all of the complaints?

[Northern Aurora]

I'm shocked at all the people complaining about the Loyalty program, especially the people who haven't reached "Elite" yet. We were Elite after four cruises and have enjoyed all the perks on our last eight cruises. Look at what the other lines give you after so few cruises.

I've done 11 cruises on Holland America, for 101 days at seas. That makes me a 3Star Mariner. You know what I get for free? Nada, nil O. Some discounts on things but nothing free. I'm Ruby on Princes with 38 days with them, again 0 free perks. We don't book cruises based purely on perks, we go with itinerary, price, and ship. In the last three years, we have done 3 HAL and 2 Princess even though we are Elite on X and Diamond on RCL.

I totally endorse the practice of giving more to the people who spend more money. For example, we each go on 10 cruises, you in an inside cabin at $600 p.p. and me in a Aqua balcony at $1250 p.p. After 10 cruises, you have paid $12,000, double occupancy. I've spent $25,000. Their cost to maintain the Aqua isn't double the cost of the inside cabin. More money in their pocket. Who would you want to come back more if you were them?

It doesn't do any good to complain about it, as someone else mentioned, vote with your wallet and move on.

 

 

I've thought for years that Celebrity has one of the nicest loyalty programs of the major cruise lines. Thanks for outlining your perks on HAL and Princess.

 

Under the "old system" we had 39 points, which translates to 1170 under the Captain's Club program. We fall in the Elite+ tier, and I am pleased with the new perks. We tend to do longer cruises and so the second bag of laundry will be very welcome. And increasing the internet minutes from 90 to 200 will also be welcome. If there is a coffee package included, well that is just icing on the cake!

[jagoffee]

Princess is worth looking at. Of course, I am inside the penalty period for cruising so I can't vote with my wallet this time.

 

Princess is a nice product as well, but I suspect it will take you even longer to get to Elite. Their Elite is probably closer to the new Celebrity Elite+. You may be better off in the long run continuing with Celebrity. Good luck with whatever you decide.

[gimletgal]

I'm at 1100 points and I honestly think they needed to add another tier between Elite + and Zenith. Plus, I would like to know how many years they went back to decide on their points. I looked at my list of cruises and noticed they didn't go back for all the years we've been cruising X. There are at least 4 or 5 of my early cruises missing from the list.

 

Did you look at all the pages of your cruise history. I thought they had missed some of mine too, but then realized there was more than one page! :)

[SHill64]

We appreciate the perks given to us by Celebrity and have long enjoyed the cocktail hours and breakfasts available to Elite members. So now we will soon be Elite Plus (in about 3 weeks after our next cruise) and just took a look at the new benefits. It is totally underwhelming and really not much of an improvement of the already wonderful Elite level. Thought it might be fun to analyze the additional benefits:

 

200 min or internet - Probably the best perk as its more then double what you get as Elite

 

15% off of Alternative Dining Venues---Now this is a big nothing. We have normally been able to get 30-50% off by just asking on many of our cruises. When the restaurants are not doing well, they will often bargain. One can also do quite well by simply booking a specialty restaurant package that gives discounts of up to 31%.....so this 15% off is not much of a deal.

 

10% off beverage packages ---It is what it is :)

1 additional free bag of laundry - mighty generous of them

 

With all due respect Hank, asking for a discount to a speciality restaurant on a cruise ship is tacky. If I was traveling with you, I'd be embarrassed. :confused:

[SHill64]

Hi guy!!! Sure enjoyed our time on Reflection and your stories about our mutual experiences! Did you notice it's happening again right here and now?

 

After Flex got into Miami, I got to see the Mars Maven launch at KSC thanks to a guy I met on Silhouette in April.

 

I can't wait for Diane to meet you guys next time! Any idea how I can get a hold of Burke?

 

Hello Carl Sagan of the Seas! Yes, I do see what's going on here and I see a couple names we talked about! :eek:

Email me and I'll give you his email address.

 

SDT

[SHill64]

I'm at 1100 points and I honestly think they needed to add another tier between Elite + and Zenith. Plus, I would like to know how many years they went back to decide on their points. I looked at my list of cruises and noticed they didn't go back for all the years we've been cruising X. There are at least 4 or 5 of my early cruises missing from the list.

 

You can fax or email proof of sailing and they will update your sailing list.

[SHill64]

Did you look at all the pages of your cruise history. I thought they had missed some of mine too, but then realized there was more than one page! :)

 

Very good point! I was on hold with the Captain's Club desk when I figured it out last year. :o

[SHill64]

Wow - what a nasty, rude comment. No place for that or your comments on blue states. Sorry some of us don't live in a state which has several major cruise ports with dozens of ships sailing each day and can't just drive to a port and jump on a cruise anytime we want to have already achieved Elite status and not care that there might be some of us who were wronged by the change.

 

Rude!

 

Actually, I wasn't trying to be rude. I'm flabbergasted that someone would call Murano or the Tuscan Grille and make an offer to eat there. Celebrity often has 50% off on the speciality restaurants, so there would be no need to haggle with them for a deal. :confused:

[Paulras]

Actually, I wasn't trying to be rude. I'm flabbergasted that someone would call Murano or the Tuscan Grille and make an offer to eat there. Celebrity often has 50% off on the speciality restaurants, so there would be no need to haggle with them for a deal. :confused:

 

 

Sorry I mistook "If I was traveling with you, I'd be embarrased" for trying to act like a jerk. It's obvious now you were simply being constructive.

[footer6]

It may not be positive, but it is fair, because we are all playing by the same rules! It has slowed everyone down, unless you are in a Suite or higher!

 

BILL

 

I wasn't aware we weren't all playing by the same rules before. I thought I was. So it will take me almost twice as long to reach Elite - yeah that's fair.

[SHill64]

I think the new system is so unfair! We always book an Aqua Class cabin and always get free access to the Persian Gardens, so one of my Elite Plus perks is a waste! I'm writing Michael Baliey immediately.....:rolleyes:

 

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
  

[Ma Bell]

I'm amazed that there are so many people who claim to have spent thousands of dollars booking a concierge cabin just so they will be Select or Elite sooner. If that is true I think some basic economics classes are called for. I know people book cabins for the location and amenities which have some value but the Captain's Club benefits are really nothing that can't be bought for much less.

 

It seems that most of the disappointment is coming from cruisers who are not particularly loyal to the brand and those who have been working the two to five day cruises to achieve a higher level in the Captain's Club. There has to be a cut off somewhere and unfortunately no matter when they would have decided to do it, there would still be the same moaning.

[LINGBER]

Love Celebrity! Favorite cruise line by far. I think their Captains Club is great! But, am I just a wee bit annoyed that I changed my 1B to a C3 and spent several hundred dollars more simply so I could earn another tier credit?

 

Yes! Because my cruise is past final and paid in full. I don't have the opportunity to switch back to a less expensive cabin type or to cancel and rebook. I am locked into a CC cabin which decision was made to spend the extra money based on Celebrity's advertised captains club benefits, in this case an extra tier credit. Is it all subject to change? Yes, but I booked in good faith based on what they advertised at the time of my booking.

 

I do think it would have been nice if Celebrity grand fathered cruises that are past final payment, so that when the cruise is completed, we get the value that they have established the tier credits to be worth. That or it would have been nice if they announced the changes were coming 3 months in advance to give their loyal customers the opportunity to make an educated decision on cabin type for their upcoming cruise. Who knows....maybe we would have booked a suite!

 

With all that said I still love the Celebrity product and the Captains Club. And I love being able to share my point of view on cruise critic. I can't wait for my cruise but it would have been nice to be 25 pts closer to the next level when I complete my cruise in 4 weeks.

Edited November 27, 2013 by LINGBER

[lovemylab]

Actually, I wasn't trying to be rude. I'm flabbergasted that someone would call Murano or the Tuscan Grille and make an offer to eat there. Celebrity often has 50% off on the speciality restaurants, so there would be no need to haggle with them for a deal. :confused:

 

That would actually be the reason why someone would ask. Experienced cruisers know that the specialty restaurants often do have discounts - so why not ask if there is one available when making the booking?

 

These discounts are usually not listed in the daily newspaper. The only way we found out about one on our last cruise was when a waiter from that restaurant approached us while we were waiting for a table in Select Dining. Since they're not advertised - and it's impossible for the roaming waiter to approach all 2500+ passengers - what is the harm in asking if there are any promotions for that night?? Sorry, but IMO that is not rude or considered haggling.

[wallie5446]

Actually, I wasn't trying to be rude. I'm flabbergasted that someone would call Murano or the Tuscan Grille and make an offer to eat there. Celebrity often has 50% off on the speciality restaurants, so there would be no need to haggle with them for a deal. :confused:

Just off Reflection, some asked, and were told that on the 7 days sailings they no longer offer discounts.

[BILL-WI]

Just off Reflection, some asked, and were told that on the 7 days sailings they no longer offer discounts.

 

Did they still off the Ultimate dinning package?

 

BILL

[wallie5446]

Did they still off the Ultimate dinning package?

 

BILL

 

Yes, we had some on the Roll Call do the 5 day.

[2Fltravelers]

Hey Michelle! We missed you and Robert this year. We're on the Silhouette TA next November and will be going to lunch at Stefania again in Greve! Wanna join us?

 

SDT

 

 

 

Sent from my SCH-I405 using Forums mobile app

 

Don't tempt me! ;) I'll email after the holidays. Best to your better half.

 

Michelle