Elite cocktail hours extended...permanent change

[davekathy]

29 minutes ago, Mytravellove said:

Just came off the Reflection...as a new Elite, I loved the fact that I could choose to relax in the Sky Lounge for a drink (and enjoy the appetizers with other Elite & Elite+) before dinner (5pm to 6pm) then head for dinner for 6pm and have a glass of wine with dinner, and just before 7.30pm order a cocktail which I would take to drink at the casino/show. 

I am not a big drinker and if I had to have 3 drinks in the Sky Lounge, I'd either be dancing on the tables or late for dinner....neither of which would be polite/considerate. 

I fully acknowledge that those who have been used to 'unlimited' drinks in the Sky Lounge would think this is a reduced benefit, but can you really drink 'more' than 3 drinks in 2 hours? This benefit now gives us the choice to enjoy all the venues (except the Martini Bar) and have a drink in the dinning room.

As for the Senior Officers' event, it was also held in the Sky Lounge but for Select and higher...and it was crowded. Difficult to find a seat, but no problem getting a cocktail or wine or the appetizers.

I can. 

[sarasotascott]

14 hours ago, davekathy said:

I can. 

Me too, easily....I like the expanded HH time and the ability to go to different bars but why they did not mirror Royal with 3 drinks on the card and unlimited drinks at the sky lounge is a bad call on the part of the decision makers.  

[davekathy]

6 minutes ago, sarasotascott said:

Me too, easily....I like the expanded HH time and the ability to go to different bars but why they did not mirror Royal with 3 drinks on the card and unlimited drinks at the sky lounge is a bad call on the part of the decision makers.  

I believe most feel the same about the change. I guess it's another way to get us to either select the BP as a perk or purchasing the BP. 

[marvelous cruiser]

I'm sailing on the Equinox next week as elite+.  Can you order those 3 free drinks in their MDR?  Seems to be some confusion about which ships allow this perk to be used at dinner.  When I called the captain's club they said the drinks could be used between 5-7pm in any bar or restaurant.  Asked if that included the dining room and they confirmed it could but just wanted to verify with a recent cruiser. 

[TeaBag]

On 11/16/2018 at 12:44 PM, DUTRAVEL said:

Currently on the Silhouette - you cannot get the Elite Captain’s Club drinks in the dining room and the hours remain 5:00-7:00. You can get a drink on the Captain’s Club menu (up to three) at any bar except the World Class Bar. 

Sorry, that was the case for you in the MDR as it was not that way in Blu.  I may forget the exact wording, but I thought it said that the 3 coupons loaded on your card could be used anywhere on the ship except World Class bar and Cellarmasters.

 

(Hi to Henrietta, I was one of the many who asked to pet her.  So sorry I did not know you were on CC.)

Edited November 23, 2018 by TeaBag

[davekathy]

3 hours ago, marvelous cruiser said:

I'm sailing on the Equinox next week as elite+.  Can you order those 3 free drinks in their MDR?  Seems to be some confusion about which ships allow this perk to be used at dinner.  When I called the captain's club they said the drinks could be used between 5-7pm in any bar or restaurant.  Asked if that included the dining room and they confirmed it could but just wanted to verify with a recent cruiser. 

Looks like the experiences from ship to ship and sail dates are consistently inconsistent. Best thing to do is ask the CC host when you are onboard and when you are in the MDR. 

[bubbachief]

Anyone had recent experience on the Eclipse as to hours and if valid in dining room?

[Beanb41]

On ‎10‎/‎29‎/‎2018 at 11:40 PM, leaveitallbehind said:

RCI has done this for some time now with three coupons loaded nightly that can be used at the bars and restaurants on board, but they also utilize the Diamond (and Concierge) lounges to serve unlimited drinks in addition to the coupons.

 

Is this new policy with Celebrity similar or are they eliminating the lounge with coupons only to be used at the different venues?  Or do they still have the lounge available with unlimited drinks as well as the coupons for other venues?

Celebrity now limit the "Elite" drinks to three irrespective whether or not you attend the cocktail hour or get them from a bar. The benefit form attending the cocktail hour is one gets pre dinner canapés. With more and more people having drinks packages and the ability to get three drinks at any bar I forsee the cocktail party being phased out

[davekathy]

1 hour ago, Beanb41 said:

Celebrity now limit the "Elite" drinks to three irrespective whether or not you attend the cocktail hour or get them from a bar. The benefit form attending the cocktail hour is one gets pre dinner canapés. With more and more people having drinks packages and the ability to get three drinks at any bar I forsee the cocktail party being phased out

My Magic Eight Ball says, don't count on it. 🎱

[Beanb41]

13 minutes ago, davekathy said:

My Magic Eight Ball says, don't count on it. 🎱

Time will tell. On our just completed Eclipse cruise there would have been 15 people max at the daily cocktail party.

[davekathy]

9 minutes ago, Beanb41 said:

Time will tell. On our just completed Eclipse cruise there would have been 15 people max at the daily cocktail party.

Not all cruises are created equally. On our March/April 2018 B2B Caribbean cruises on the Equinox and our September 2018 Canada Pacific Coastal cruise on the Infinity the CC HHs were always very well attended.  We kept the severs very busy. 

Edited November 26, 2018 by davekathy

[bubbachief]

15 hours ago, Beanb41 said:

Time will tell. On our just completed Eclipse cruise there would have been 15 people max at the daily cocktail party.

What were the hours of the Happy Hour and could you get your drinks in the dining room?

[CounselorCruiser]

Having sailed both Celebrity as Elite and RCCL as Diamond, RCCL has a much better venue … the Diamond Lounge is open from 5:00-8:30 with better food and unlimited drinks PLUS you still have 3 drinks on your Seapass Card. I sure wish Celebrity would follow suit. On our last RCCL cruise, we could get drinks in the MDR, too.

[Wine-O]

12 hours ago, CounselorCruiser said:

Having sailed both Celebrity as Elite and RCCL as Diamond, RCCL has a much better venue … the Diamond Lounge is open from 5:00-8:30 with better food and unlimited drinks PLUS you still have 3 drinks on your Seapass Card. I sure wish Celebrity would follow suit. On our last RCCL cruise, we could get drinks in the MDR, too.

Celebrity is doing everything in its power to gut the Elite benefit.  

Edited November 28, 2018 by Wine-O

[davekathy]

12 hours ago, CounselorCruiser said:

Having sailed both Celebrity as Elite and RCCL as Diamond, RCCL has a much better venue … the Diamond Lounge is open from 5:00-8:30 with better food and unlimited drinks PLUS you still have 3 drinks on your Seapass Card. I sure wish Celebrity would follow suit. On our last RCCL cruise, we could get drinks in the MDR, too.

...or possibly RC will mirror Celebrity. The DL are getting a lot more crowed. 

[Charles4515]

24 minutes ago, Wine-O said:

Celebrity is doing everything in its power to gut the Elite benefit.  

 

No they are not. They have enhanced the benefit for most. Some who don't care about their liver are slightly impacted.

[jasm8449]

On recent Reflection TA.  Elite +.  Not on a drink package. Went up to the Sky Lounge (half a Sky Lounge on Reflection), and it was jam packed - not a seat to be had.  The noise level was ridiculous.  Was very happy to be able to go to virtually anywhere else - with appetizers in Passport and Ensemble bars.  Select 8pm diners, so glad to be able to get a drink anytime after 4:30pm.

[TeaBag]

We thought it was enhanced on Silhouette also.  We stopped going to the Sky Lounge years ago because of the crowding and the noise.

[Wine-O]

2 hours ago, Charles4515 said:

 

No they are not. They have enhanced the benefit for most. Some who don't care about their liver are slightly impacted.

Wow, how  sanctimonious of you.   

[Provence55always]

Totally agree with Wino-0......not a nice comment by Charles4515. 

[Denny01]

I’ll disagree with Wine-O - I see this specific change as an overall positive, but agree Charles4515’s post is an unnecessary putdown. I personally know Wino-O and his second liver is just doing fine.

 

I understand Celebrity is doing away with some of the underused spa areas and relacing them with a liver transplant clinic. Great. Think I’ll get the Premium Package when they do. And those with fine livers can get a major discount by donating parts of ther’s while on the cruise. 

 

Den

[4774Papa]

On 11/27/2018 at 10:21 PM, CounselorCruiser said:

Having sailed both Celebrity as Elite and RCCL as Diamond, RCCL has a much better venue … the Diamond Lounge is open from 5:00-8:30 with better food and unlimited drinks PLUS you still have 3 drinks on your Seapass Card. I sure wish Celebrity would follow suit. On our last RCCL cruise, we could get drinks in the MDR, too.

We did our first RCI cruise this year and loved the Diamond Happy Hour.  It ran from 4:30 to 8 and you could order a drink with your meal at the MDR or specialty dining restaurant if before 8PM.  It was unlimited drinks in the lounge with a max of 3 outside of the lounge.   Our 23 day cruise didn't require us to pay for any alcohol for the entire cruise.

[4774Papa]

18 hours ago, Wine-O said:

Wow, how  sanctimonious of you.   

Perhaps it was a bit sanctimonious, but my doctor advises me that I should drink no more than two alcoholic drinks a day.  I stick to that pretty well when at  home (sometimes don't drink alcohol for several days).  However, while on a cruise, I do drink more, probably about 4 glasses of wine on average.  It is a personal choice.

[mafig]

Reflection?

 

Any up to date information as to whether coupons are available for use in the MDR???

[Cruise a holic]

On ‎10‎/‎29‎/‎2018 at 7:47 AM, leaveitallbehind said:

 

True, but you pay for the beverage package (when selected as a booking perk it is in the cost of the stateroom fare - choose not to include any perks and your fare is lower), whereas the Elite lounge drinks are at no cost and are offered as a tier level loyalty benefit.  Apples and oranges.

 

My only point is only that the change with unlimited v three coupons is a change in a loyalty benefit which results in it being a lesser benefit.

However, the "free" drinks are limited to a few items.  No top shelf beverages.  Since we have the best package, we do not order off the limited list.  We have any premium martini or drink that we want.