Michael's Concierge

[Orator]

I have been following the discussion about access to Michael's Club by guests not in a qualifying suite with great interest although it does not affect me directly. I have been greatly impressed with descriptions of Michael's Club posted on Cruise Critic and am certainly pleased to read reports that access will not become devalued by allowing exceptions.

 

However, I personally believe that there is a difference between the Sky Suites adjoining the PH on the M-class ships and any other adjoining rooms. These two suites were clearly designed to be extensions to the M-class PH and, although they are also sold separately, when booked with the PH should they not be considered a two-bedroomed suite? If the rules were clearly defined [e.g. the PH and adjoining Sky Suite should be booked at the same time under the same reservation number], in those circumstances alone, should not the PH perks be extended to occupants of the Sky Suite?

 

Your suggestions makes a great deal of sense and Celebrity should write it into the rules.

[cle-guy]

The new Michaels Club is also highly guarded. When my Zenith adult son and I were on the Century in February after they had just opened the new Michaels Club we discussed the admission restrictions with the hotel director. Celebrity allows non Elite cabin mates entrance to the Elite lounge, but prohibits non Zenith cabin mates from entry into Michaels Club. We were told that even if my son were traveling with his fiancé, she would be denied access. VERY interesting since per Celebrity policy the moment they married she would automatically become Zenith!!! The hotel director also stated that he was not permitted to override the normal policy and allow someone access.

 

I know they are tough. But they also DO allow non zeniths and non-suite guests in. I know they have let our travel group's leader access for example, and they also allow in others they determine are VIP but don't meet the criteria. There is SOME discretion, it's just not exercised often.

[cle-guy]

WOW !!!

So parents in a high end suite would have to pay an extra $105 per teen age child (per day) for them to dine with them (if the children were in an adjoining non-suite cabin)? They could probably be added as 3rd & 4th in the suite for less money!!

 

Which Celebrity and RCI would LOVE as they would then sell the extra cabin and gain extra revenue from it!

 

Suite diners are also free to eat in the MDR and other outlets, they are not FORCED to eat in the Suite Dining room. It's part of the decision making process when booking multiple cabins, if suite dining for all is important, one must book all suites or pay the fees, or the alternative it to book a mix of cabins and forgo the suite ding room experience to dine together.

[cle-guy]

Hi Kurt,

We will be sailing this time in a Celebrity Suite. Last time in the CS, I do not recall any e-mail from any rep- nor alcohol in the suite- is this Royal and above only? I would like to schedule some spa services prior to boarding.

 

Txs

 

I sailed in CS March 8, did not get the email, I sailed in April in PH and did. I believe the suite concierge program rolled out mid march or early April, is why I didn't get it for my March sailing.

[jcpc]

FWIW - We were in PH 6148 on Constellation in April. My two sisters were in SS 6146, adjoining the PH. Reservations were not made at the same time as 6146 was not available when we booked 6148. We put 6146 on a waitlist and it cleared. Therefore, Celebrity assigned 2 separate reservation numbers (which I believe they would have done even if both were booked simultaneously as I believe each cabin gets a separate res number). My sisters were not given access to Michael's Club, but it truly was no big deal to us at all.

[cle-guy]

However, I personally believe that there is a difference between the Sky Suites adjoining the PH on the M-class ships and any other adjoining rooms. These two suites were clearly designed to be extensions to the M-class PH and, although they are also sold separately, when booked with the PH should they not be considered a two-bedroomed suite? If the rules were clearly defined [e.g. the PH and adjoining Sky Suite should be booked at the same time under the same reservation number], in those circumstances alone, should not the PH perks be extended to occupants of the Sky Suite?

 

AMEN SISTER!

 

I think it's stupid that X lets those 2 particular sky suites sell on their own without also booking the PH with them, at least for early bookings.

 

I think they should hold those suites back from sale until such time as the connected PH is also sold, make them "phone only" reservation type cabins as they do with the Family Verandas, then open them for sale once the final payment time comes if the Penthouse has not booked them by then.

 

I have booked the PH for the Rio for Carnival cruise in 2016, and wanted the sky suite for friends coming and they were already booked, even though at the time I booked, there were about a dozen other sky suites left. So now I check every day hoping for one to cancel.

 

Celebrity could easily advertise the Penthouse as one of a very few suite cabins at sea with 2 separate bedrooms, what a huge marketing gimmick, and they can easily sell the sky suites as singles within the 90 day after final payment period

[Orator]

I know they are tough. But they also DO allow non zeniths and non-suite guests in. I know they have let our travel group's leader access for example, and they also allow in others they determine are VIP but don't meet the criteria. There is SOME discretion, it's just not exercised often.

 

You are correct. Corporate will designate some people as VIP. They usually affix a "V" sticker on their Seapass Card. They just need to be consistent from cruise to cruise and ship to ship. The PH-Sky Suite suggestion makes perfect sense and should be adopted by Celebrity. It's just good business. Michael's Club concept is fairly new and is constantly being evaluated. I know the person at Celebrity who was responsible for the rollout and I know that he wants to make it as successful as possible. My guess is that there will be some tweaking along the way as they gather responses from those who have experienced the concept.

[RMSeadog]

The new Michaels Club is also highly guarded. When my Zenith adult son and I were on the Century in February after they had just opened the new Michaels Club we discussed the admission restrictions with the hotel director. Celebrity allows non Elite cabin mates entrance to the Elite lounge, but prohibits non Zenith cabin mates from entry into Michaels Club. We were told that even if my son were traveling with his fiancé, she would be denied access. VERY interesting since per Celebrity policy the moment they married she would automatically become Zenith!!! The hotel director also stated that he was not permitted to override the normal policy and allow someone access.

 

I was told in RF last month that non-Z members in cabin would be allowed in Mike's. We have to wait until Jan in CN to find out for sure. Regards to all. ~ Rick

[cle-guy]

I was told in RF last month that non-Z members in cabin would be allowed in Mike's. We have to wait until Jan in CN to find out for sure. Regards to all. ~ Rick

 

I'm an "operations" guy and like policies to be streamlined and simplified as much as possible.

 

As Elites can bring non-elite cabin members to elite events, it is quite logical that Zenith's can bring non-Zenith cabin members to Zenith venues.

 

Not sure what the policy IS at the moment, but this would make perfect sense from an operational standpoint.

[C-Dragons]

...

However, I personally believe that there is a difference between the Sky Suites adjoining the PH on the M-class ships and any other adjoining rooms. These two suites were clearly designed to be extensions to the M-class PH and, although they are also sold separately, when booked with the PH should they not be considered a two-bedroomed suite? If the rules were clearly defined [e.g. the PH and adjoining Sky Suite should be booked at the same time under the same reservation number], in those circumstances alone, should not the PH perks be extended to occupants of the Sky Suite?

Sounds simple, but unfortunately the way the system is set up, each cabin must be booked under a separate reservation number. Not even a X res agent can circumvent this, so can't see this happening.

[C 2 C]

I was told in RF last month that non-Z members in cabin would be allowed in Mike's. We have to wait until Jan in CN to find out for sure. Regards to all. ~ Rick

 

Would that policy then encourage family/friends splitting cabin assignments? For example husband and wife both booking a cabin and sharing the two cabins with daughter/son-in-law, or friends, then swapping keys when on board and gaining access to Michael's?

[cle-guy]

Would that policy then encourage family/friends splitting cabin assignments? For example husband and wife both booking a cabin and sharing the two cabins with daughter/son-in-law, or friends, then swapping keys when on board and gaining access to Michael's?

 

That's certainly a potential side effect and certainly happens now with Captain's Club elite events. But reality is the only potential people this would apply to are Zenith Members with 3000 points, who have a lot of respect for the program, and people who have booked only multiple cabins in higher category suites, Celebrity and Above, so it's really a moot point, other than if they share key cards. But booking 2 cabins to guest in a cabin mate, they'd have to both be CS or higher.

 

But I was never asked to show a key, they just knew visitors by name and on sight from the initial meeting on boarding. Perhaps the first time in if there were no introductions a Key may have been requested for others. But a day or 2 in, they know who belongs.

[Cruise a holic]

Would that policy then encourage family/friends splitting cabin assignments? For example husband and wife both booking a cabin and sharing the two cabins with daughter/son-in-law, or friends, then swapping keys when on board and gaining access to Michael's?

 

People do that all of the time. For example if the husband books with his cabin mate son-in law and wife daughter cabin mate- And the husband and wife are Elite, the Elite status is shared by the "guest" in the cabin.

I am sure Celebrity is aware of this.

[pantoot]

But I was never asked to show a key, they just knew visitors by name and on sight from the initial meeting on boarding. Perhaps the first time in if there were no introductions a Key may have been requested for others. But a day or 2 in, they know who belongs.

 

I think they have photos, like the casino does for blue chip members.

We missed the escort on boarding, went straight to our room and didn't show up there until just before dinner. The host greeted us both by name before any introductions.

[cle-guy]

I think they have photos, like the casino does for blue chip members.

We missed the escort on boarding, went straight to our room and didn't show up there until just before dinner. The host greeted us both by name before any introductions.

 

I'm sure of it. I've been greeted by a butler I hadn't yet met walking down a corridor, before ever finding my cabin. Also ever notice how Facial Recognition matches you up in the photo studio? I never get photos done by handing over my cabin key, yet can find all of me when I go to a kiosk..

[TommyD3]

I was told in RF last month that non-Z members in cabin would be allowed in Mike's. We have to wait until Jan in CN to find out for sure. Regards to all. ~ Rick

 

Rick,

 

That would be good for Barb who will be doing the Transpacific with her sister later this year:) She is at least 1.5X Zenith but her sister is not Zenith. I think it is the thing to do at least if the two people in the cabin are related (siblings or parents & children).

 

Tom

[Orator]

Rick,

 

That would be good for Barb who will be doing the Transpacific with her sister later this year:) She is at least 1.5X Zenith but her sister is not Zenith. I think it is the thing to do at least if the two people in the cabin are related (siblings or parents & children).

 

Tom

 

I believe that they should treat this type of situation exactly the same way they treat a non Elite isharing a cabin with an Elite. No coupons for a level higher than they earned, but the ability to attend all functions with their Zenith roommate. I wouldn't limit it to relatives since that could present some problems. Lots of things to be worked out.