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

[Celebrity Cruises]

"One man's trash is another man's treasure"

[az_tchr]

Agree and have given the minutes to my cabin steward who was thrilled in the past. If you are Elite - Celebrity will deduct the cost of your "free" 90 minute package from an unlimited one. I also got 20 minutes for each leg of a B2B.

[girljerk]

We travel frequently in suites. I always have the concierge credit the internet coupons to whatever package we choose. It is not a worthless reward, it gives a little discount. The purser's office can also credit you the value of the minutes.

[macandlucy]

Finally, a respectful answer to an honest question. Thanks aztchr.

[LightningB]

HA - I almost fell off my chair reading this thread.

 

How petty can we be? Someone gives you a gift that you have no use for? Who cares? People give me "gifts" all the time I don't have any use for. I graciously accept them and set them aside. As a business owner, I'm guessing I give gifts that are completely useless to the recipient as well. In all honesty, I don't really care all the much if it's a perfect gift to them. I'm probably giving out 100 of them and trying to do something I think most will appreciate, no matter how small the gesture.

 

If they offered you a bottle of "free water" as you got on the ship, would you ask for some OBC instead because you bought a drink package, or would you take the water and keep moving?

 

If someone is on a month long B2B2B2B, getting a gift (with maybe $10 value) that is worthless to you, really shouldn't be in your mind for more than about 12 seconds while you figure out what it actually is. Move on and enjoy your time on board.

[20pluscruises]

Agree and have given the minutes to my cabin steward who was thrilled in the past. If you are Elite - Celebrity will deduct the cost of your "free" 90 minute package from an unlimited one. I also got 20 minutes for each leg of a B2B.

 

You can do this? What a great idea!!!!!

[wwcruisers]

Sounds sort of like those $50 off your next cruise coupons that RC and X used to send out on your birthday. I got really excited the first time I opened the mail and saw one of those. Then, I read the fine print:

-- only good on new bookings;

-- not combine-able with any other offer/discount;

-- cannot be used with shareholder benefit.

After that, I'd smile and say "oh well" -- as I tossed the flyer into the recycle bin. :rolleyes:

[A Sixth?]

Huh... :o

 

I didn't get anything when I did a B2B January 2014.... :(

 

Would have been nice... I love swag. :D

[vulcan1971]

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:

 

I think you were awarded those minutes so that you could do your guest survey for your cruise. At least that is what I have read has been offered to those who are on multiple consecutive cruises. They probably didn't know you had already paid for unlimited internet when this was offered.

 

To answer your original question.... the "reward" is not useless, it does have some value. You just do not perceive it as having any value to you. ;)

Edited February 16, 2015 by vulcan1971

[C 2 C]

 

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:

 

This is our seventh consecutive cruise on Reflection and we have received this note every time as does every consecutive cruiser.

The 20 free minutes are given to encourage you to fill out the online survey.

We have used our own minutes every time.

 

 

Why not fill out the survey and see what Miami thinks about your complaint?

[Bruin Steve]

A lot of perks are actually fairly useless to a lot of people--like free drinks to those who, for whatever reason, don't drink...

 

But, in this case, the perk is free internet...and the OP is actually using the internet...and paying full price for it...

 

Were it me, I would have no problem approaching the Purser's desk and/or the Captains Club Host and addressing the question...

 

And I think this one might actually bear fruit...

 

As an Elite guest, you get 90 free internet minutes. IIRC, the credit is simply a credit--for the value of a 90 minute package...You CAN go over and pay the difference...or you can purchase a package with a larger number of minutes and just be credited for the 90 minute package...

 

I would not be surprised if the OP could get them to credit that 20 minute "gift" AND the value of the four 90 minute Elite perks toward his account--inasmuch he merely purchased a more expensive package...

 

It is NOT "being cheap"...it's only being fair...It would be Celebrity paying for his first 380 minutes as his perks for being Elite and for booking those Back-to-backs...

 

Now, also, were it me, I wouldn't buy that expensive unlimited package...but, as Elite Plus, I'll be getting 200 free minutes per cruise...and I cannot see wasting more time on my cruise than that working or checking emails...But, even if I go over a little, I'll just pay the going rate for the excess...

[BEAV]

This is our seventh consecutive cruise on Reflection and we have received this note every time as does every consecutive cruiser.

The 20 free minutes are given to encourage you to fill out the online survey.

We have used our own minutes every time.

 

 

The 20 free minutes to complete the survey reminds me that Crystal either gives you 20 or 30 complimentary minutes the last few days of the cruise with the implication that it's for checking in for your post-cruise flight and to print boarding passes.

[Iamthesea]

Agree and have given the minutes to my cabin steward who was thrilled in the past. If you are Elite - Celebrity will deduct the cost of your "free" 90 minute package from an unlimited one. I also got 20 minutes for each leg of a B2B.

 

How did you "gift" the minutes?

[fleckle]

This is our seventh consecutive cruise on Reflection and we have received this note every time as does every consecutive cruiser.

The 20 free minutes are given to encourage you to fill out the online survey.

Although we have nowhere near the number of cruises of Arno, that has also been our experience on back-to-back cruises.

 

They just give all the back-to-back passengers the extra minutes as an incentive and reminder to complete the survey.

They do not check or care what other kind of internet packages we have.

 

It is the same way that they give out free drinks at various events without checking to see whether or not we have a drink package.

They do not offer us reimbursement or an equivalent "gift" instead if we already get unlimited free beverages.

 

[obxgirl]

I am a little confused. You said that you are Elite. Did you take your 180 free minutes per cabin (two people)? You should get that number of minutes per cruise. I guess you must be working a lot.

[heidik]

I am a little confused. You said that you are Elite. Did you take your 180 free minutes per cabin (two people)? You should get that number of minutes per cruise. I guess you must be working a lot.

 

I am a single and you have no choice about the 90 Elite free minutes -- you have to use them first and then have the option of purchasing a package. The coupon in the Elite package is no longer used for redemption

[Gordoncruickshank]

I am a single and you have no choice about the 90 Elite free minutes -- you have to use them first and then have the option of purchasing a package. The coupon in the Elite package is no longer used for redemption

 

Your point is a big like one if my pet moans. When we were select we got 25% off the internet which saved me around $100 on the 1680 mins. Become Elite and u get 90 mins free which saves u $50. Move up level and u are $50 out of pocket. We also get all these vouchers for drinks but we have a premium bev pack. Why go and get a drink when they say you can when you can get what you like where you like when you want it.

 

Free laundry doesn't make up what we lose via internet.

[LightningB]

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

 

An easy way to look at it maybe that this isn't a "reward" at all. They are not trying to praise or recognize you for your consecutive cruising, only removing barriers that B2Bs "may have" that could hinder them from completing the survey.

 

 

re·ward

rəˈwôrd/

noun

noun: reward; plural noun: rewards

 

1. 1.
   a thing given in recognition of one's service, effort, or achievement.
    
    
    
    
   

 

verb

verb:

1.

make a gift of something to (someone) in recognition of their services, efforts, or achievements.

 

"the engineer who supervised the work was rewarded with a bonus"

[redcc55]

You know how many ugly ties I got from my kids as gifts when they were little????

[MizDemeanor]

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:

 

There are often overlaps in benefits and offerings. I take what is provided for as first level, when that is exhausted if I need more for work, and I certainly don't aim to work but it may be necessary for a special issue, I charge it back in my expenses.

 

Why wouldn't you be doing the same?

[dodger1964]

I am a single and you have no choice about the 90 Elite free minutes -- you have to use them first and then have the option of purchasing a package. The coupon in the Elite package is no longer used for redemption

 

 

I don't know if I would put it exactly that way. It is true that the coupon isn't used anymore (our most recent cruise we took it to the computer lounge only to be told that the coupon wasn't needed). They automatically put the credit on your account. (I think it was 49.95??). I guess I never asked, but assume that coupon would have be applied for any package I would have chosen, be it the 90 minute package or any higher one.

[aquaclass]

Sounds like you have run out of things to complain about. So you are making things up.

 

There are lots of perks or rewards which may seem worthless to some, $5 match play to someone who does not go to the casino, elite drink coupons to someone with the drink package, etc.

 

Come on Man! ...... it's you

Edited February 17, 2015 by aquaclass

[heidik]

OP here, thank you everyone for a most enlightening experience.

 

Happy sailing!

[Iamcruzin]

Given the slow internet connection and the Celebrity makeshift website, Does anyone really think 20 minutes is ample time to fill out the survey? It will probably cost you money in the end.

[4774Papa]

Tempest in a teapot. Why am I wasting my time posting on this thread?

Edited February 17, 2015 by 4774Papa
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