Is it Me or is this truly a worthless "reward"?

[heidik]

Ok, to preface, I am a "Suite Elite" on 4 b2b's at this time on the Reflection. On this trip, for the first time, we are able to opt for "unlimited" internet usage for $299 if selected in the first 2 days of these 7-day cruises. This is great for me (sort of) as I need to work everyday while cruising and hated having to constantly log in and log out, etc. $299 per week adds up though over a 4-week period......

 

My concern is that I just received a "gift" from the International Host of 20 Minutes of free internet time as a "thank you" for being a consecutive cruiser. Well isn't this basically "worthless" if I have already paid for unlimited usage? In addition, the Elite "perk" of 90 minutes free internet is also not worth anything to me if I still need to pay for unlimited usage.....

 

Your thoughts on this? Should I go to Guest Relations and ask if I can get some sort of refund on my internet payment to make this "gift" applicable to those of us that have paid for unlimited internet? :confused:

[jelayne]

The gift from the International hostess was a nice gesture. I doubt that she knew you had the unlimited internet package. You could pass it forward by giving those 20 minutes to a crew member who would appreciate the gift.

[wallie5446]

Say, 'Thank You'.

 

Now if you had not purschased a pkg you would be all smiles instead of whipping the gift hoarse, right!

[heidik]

Say, 'Thank You'.

 

Now if you had not purschased a pkg you would be all smiles instead of whipping the gift hoarse, right!

 

Are you kidding me? I am asking a legitimate question regarding a new, unfamiliar situation here on a Celebrity cruise. This is the correct venue to take my questions regarding Celebrity policies is it not? This is a place where I may ask fellow cruisers who may have experience with this what their thoughts are, no? Who is whipping the gift horse? Why did you even respond to my question if you were not planning on being helpful to a fellow CCer.

[heidik]

Ok, to preface, I am a "Suite Elite" on 4 b2b's at this time on the Reflection. On this trip, for the first time, we are able to opt for "unlimited" internet usage for $299 if selected in the first 2 days of these 7-day cruises. This is great for me (sort of) as I need to work everyday while cruising and hated having to constantly log in and log out, etc. $299 per week adds up though over a 4-week period......

 

My concern is that I just received a "gift" from the International Host of 20 Minutes of free internet time as a "thank you" for being a consecutive cruiser. Well isn't this basically "worthless" if I have already paid for unlimited usage? In addition, the Elite "perk" of 90 minutes free internet is also not worth anything to me if I still need to pay for unlimited usage.....

 

Your thoughts on this? Should I go to Guest Relations and ask if I can get some sort of refund on my internet payment to make this "gift" applicable to those of us that have paid for unlimited internet? :confused:

 

Please allow me to add that I am not being sarcastic or "snarky" here, I appreciate the gift and have used this before on b2b's -- it is automatically given to you when you complete the Survey at the end of the first cruise.....my question revolves around the "value" now that there is unlimited internet packages available. That is all. Of course I am grateful for the gift - that was never the question or concern here.....

[wallie5446]

Are you kidding me? I am asking a legitimate question regarding a new, unfamiliar situation here on a Celebrity cruise. This is the correct venue to take my questions regarding Celebrity policies is it not? This is a place where I may ask fellow cruisers who may have experience with this what their thoughts are, no? Who is whipping the gift horse? Why did you even respond to my question if you were not planning on being helpful to a fellow CCer.

 

Because I feel it was a wonderful gesture on the part of a Celebrity employee, who was only expressing how happy the Company was with your locality.

 

Not a 'worthless' reward or gift. Very far from it. Do you only want comments that agree with your concept of worth?

 

But I can see your point, 4 b2b's. 20 minutes Internet is hardly worth logging in for.

[Banjo]

I guess its like getting a Christmas present that you neither want or will have no use for. Like a ugly tie or sweater.

 

If I received received 20 minutes of free internet (since I & probably overwhelming majority of passengers never purchase the unlimited package), I like it and make good use of it.

[welshfamily]

Oh your are in an awkward position and I also think this is the place to ask how others may have handled such a situation.

I think it is important that you do something as IMO the hostess ought to have done her research I.e. Looked at your sea pass account if she is able to do so, sorry not sure who is allowed to do that.

 

If I have read your post correctly you are on the first of 4 btb cruises. In your case I would say thank you to the hostess and politely point out you already have unlimited internet access. It is then up to the hostess what she does with the information. One would hope that she replaces it with a gift of equal value such as flowers for your room, a nice bootle of wine, lunch in a speciality resturant or some other gesture. Certainly the Captains Club Host has a pot of money which enable them to give gestures of goodwill.

 

I do hope you are enjoying your cruise.

[cle-guy]

The true gist of the free 20 minutes for a B2B cruiser, is so they can't complain about the emailed guest satisfactions survey and say its stupid to send to B2B and need it done within 1 week.

 

By giving the 20 minutes email access, they are ensuring you have free internet to tend to the survey if you want to do so. If you don't use to for that, then you can do anything you wish.

 

When my grandma sends me a useless $5 check for my birthday each year, I accept it warmly don't complain nor ask her to replace it with something else. A gift is a gift. Take it or leave it.

Edited February 16, 2015 by cle-guy

[Jane2357]

I guess its like getting a Christmas present that you neither want or will have no use for. Like a ugly tie or sweater.

 

So you purchased the unlimited package and the Host unknowingly gave you 20 minutes free. You wonder if this reward is useless - well for you, in this case, I would say that it is. Should you ask to have your $299 fee adjusted to refund the cost of the 20 minutes - your call but it comes across as cheap IMHO. I like the idea of gifting the free 20 minutes to a crew member who is giving you great service.

[lx200gps]

So you purchased the unlimited package and the Host unknowingly gave you 20 minutes free. You wonder if this reward is useless - well for you, in this case, I would say that it is. Should you ask to have your $299 fee adjusted to refund the cost of the 20 minutes - your call but it comes across as cheap IMHO. I like the idea of gifting the free 20 minutes to a crew member who is giving you great service.

 

Exactly that. Well stated

[Westyone]

I suggest asking guest services the question. If I remember correctly, the 90 Elite minute pkg is worth around $50. Not sure of the cost of 20 min. Perhaps they will give you a credit.

 

What you are doing is essentiallly upgrading from the Elite pkg. kinda like when you upgrade the classic 123go beverage to premium. You only pay the $10.50 difference. Give it a try esp since they certainly value your B2B business.

 

Are you in a suite with access to Michaels? Ask the concierge there.

 

Why are people so snarky so often???

[heidik]

Oh your are in an awkward position and I also think this is the place to ask how others may have handled such a situation.

I think it is important that you do something as IMO the hostess ought to have done her research I.e. Looked at your sea pass account if she is able to do so, sorry not sure who is allowed to do that.

 

If I have read your post correctly you are on the first of 4 btb cruises. In your case I would say thank you to the hostess and politely point out you already have unlimited internet access. It is then up to the hostess what she does with the information. One would hope that she replaces it with a gift of equal value such as flowers for your room, a nice bootle of wine, lunch in a speciality resturant or some other gesture. Certainly the Captains Club Host has a pot of money which enable them to give gestures of goodwill.

 

I do hope you are enjoying your cruise.

 

Thank you very much for understanding my question! As a business owner, I give gifts to my clients in appreciation for loyalty, etc. -- it is common business practice and it is important to make sure your client receives a gift that is meaningful. It's just common sense. My whole question revolved around notifying Celebrity that their new internet package offering makes this particular gift "valueless" for some clients. Just as I (and others that I know) ask for something other than the welcome bottle and other alcohol "perks" because I don't drink alcohol, I would think Celebrity would want to ensure that their nice gestures "hit the mark" if their intent is to thank their client for being a repeat customer.

Edited February 16, 2015 by heidik

[Iamthesea]

You could pass it forward by giving those 20 minutes to a crew member who would appreciate the gift.

 

I am curious how the Internet minutes can be gifted to a crew member? They would need to have your folio number to use the gift...would they not? I am not sure that I would feel comfortable giving that out as it is connected to my payment account. :rolleyes:

 

To the OP...yes, in your case, the gift is a worthless award, just as champagne in a stateroom is worthless to me when left in our stateroom. I do re-gift that to the stewards. Apparently, the crew uses gifts like that in a trade with other crew members to get things that they would like to have. And according to another thread on this board, they re-gift to other passengers as a nice gesture. ;)

[njaloha]

$299 for unlimited internet seems really high for a 7-day cruise or is this for all 4 b2bs in total?

We had $199 on the silhouette in January with a 25% off internet coupon through Captain's Club bringing the cost down to 149. My DH had to work as well and $149 for unlimited was worth it for him. ;)

[dodger1964]

They are snarky because sometimes some of the issues seem so petty...the host wants to give me 20 minutes of free internet that i can't use and they want to go to guest services to see if they can do anything??

 

20 minutes are worth about $10. Is that really time you want to spend at guest services inquiring about?

 

 

Last cruise I had drink package...I got a free bottle of champagne in the room. I should have taken it to guest services and asked to get a credit, and on top of that I should have asked to a credit for the elite cocktail hour drinks that I didn't get any benefit for since I had free drink package?

 

To OP, my direct answer is that you should not go to guest relations if you chose to get unlimited internet, but that is just IMHO.

 

have a great cruise(s).

[Rob the Cruiser]

It's the thought that counts.

 

Enjoy!

[cle-guy]

And I find almost the entire sheet of elite coupons worthless. My last 2 cruses, I haven't used a singe coupon I still have the entire full sheets.

 

• Drink packages make the wine discount and al bacio free coffee perks useless.
  
• I don't gamble
  
• The spa coupons are not accepted by the spa, they say their "port day" pricing is better than the coupon discount
  
• I now take the unlimited internet option, so the free 288 minute is useless
  
• I just never get around to the gelato
  
• I don't do laundry on ship, I do use the pressing coupon on occassion
  

 

Should I go visit that Captain's Club Hostess and tell her these are nice and all, but I want something meaningful and not worthless?

[macandlucy]

I think your question is legitimate. You have paid $1200 for internet - that's not chump change! I think it's completely reasonable to go to guest services and ask if they can credit a bit back. The worst they can say is no.

 

It's no different than being given a $50 dollar drink card when you have already paid for an unlimited drinks package. If it's really a thank you gift then it should have some value to the recipient. This is a business, not an out of town relative on a fixed income, or an in town relative with questionable taste in sweaters ;)

 

I'd give it a shot for sure. Good luck with it, and if you do try, please let us know the outcome.

 

Hope you have a wonderful cruise!

[ClaudiaB]

Seriously. It IS kind of a legitimate question. I'm very interested in the real answers to the redundancy of the elite and elite plus minutes and purchasing an unlimited minutes package.

Maybe there is nothing and you in essence "lose" your perk minutes. We will be in the same boat (ha ha) on our cruises. My husband uses our elite minutes and also buys packages because if he couldn't keep in touch with his company we couldn't cruise at all.

Is this unlimited minutes option new? I don't remember seeing it before.

[heidik]

Seriously. It IS kind of a legitimate question. I'm very interested in the real answers to the redundancy of the elite and elite plus minutes and purchasing an unlimited minutes package.

Maybe there is nothing and you in essence "lose" your perk minutes. We will be in the same boat (ha ha) on our cruises. My husband uses our elite minutes and also buys packages because if he couldn't keep in touch with his company we couldn't cruise at all.

Is this unlimited minutes option new? I don't remember seeing it before.

 

Yes, it is brand new and it is very expensive if you are doing 7-day cruises.....I'm not sure what is offered on a longer-length cruise, but I am paying $1200 for this trip.....I think it actually works out as a better "deal" if one is a Classic cruiser and gets the 20% discount off of the minutes they've used......90 minutes free as an Elite does not have benefit when you have to purchase the unlimited. The other packages now are daily and I think per minutes...I'd have to recheck at the beginning of my next leg.

[cle-guy]

Is this unlimited minutes option new? I don't remember seeing it before.

 

Unlimited seems new this year. Not sure if all ships and itineraries yet, But I had the option for $199 for my 7 day out of San Juan on Summit in January, and think there was a $69 for 1 day unlimited option as well. $28.50/day for a 7 day cruise with the unlimited plan. Wasn't too long ago some hotels shared similar pricing for use.

[caladezi]

 

the crew would far rather have a cash tip than a coupon for a scoop of gelato.

 

the crew can not use your coupon. What you have to do is go and get the gelato and then hand them the cone.

[Pilot70D]

And I find almost the entire sheet of elite coupons worthless. My last 2 cruses, I haven't used a singe coupon I still have the entire full sheets.

 

• I don't gamble
   
  

 

Should I go visit that Captain's Club Hostess and tell her these are nice and all, but I want something meaningful and not worthless?

 

I don't gamble either - I merely subsidize the casino. Would it be possible for the Captain's Club Hostess to convert part of these subsidies to OBC even if I don't do B2B cruises???????;):D:D;)

[Giorgi-one]

20 minutes free internet is an insult for someone on 4 b2bs in an inside cabin let alone a suite. I"m guessing most people here have never used the internet on a cruise ship. 20 minutes is about enough for one log-in session.