Paulras Posted December 19, 2018 #26 Share Posted December 19, 2018 Glad no one was negative about those of us who are Sapphire and Ruby in the casino program who also get Michael's Club Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcpc Posted December 19, 2018 #27 Share Posted December 19, 2018 (edited) 18 hours ago, cruising teacher said: We are one of the original Zeniths. Early on Zeniths were invited. No longer. Are you sure that you were not also traveling in a Suite? On the Edge, the Zenith members are not being invited to the Senior Officers gathering in the Retreat. I would not be surprised to see all the other ships following the Edge's lead on this. Zeniths were also not invited to the senior officers luncheon. I have also been on sailings on other ships where Zenith members have not been invited to the "senior officers lunch", but rather only those folks in higher level suites were invited. In my cruising experience, I have found that Michael's Club (now the Retreat) has been a "gathering place" for all the Zeniths as they like to get together and converse with each other as they have developed personal friendships and relationships over the years. However, I have never found that the Zeniths made the venue feel "overcrowded". Edited December 19, 2018 by jcpc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeeRick Posted December 20, 2018 #28 Share Posted December 20, 2018 On 12/18/2018 at 3:25 PM, cindivan said: We typically have cruised RC but as DH and I become empty nesters next year we are branching out. One cruise we have talked about for a long time is a TA. Recently there was a thread on RC where people who had booked suites on a TA were saying how disappointed they were to find how crowded the suite lounge (equivalent to Michaels lounge I think) and the Coastal Kitchen (equivalent to Luminae?) were with pinnacle members (the highest loyalty members on RC of which I doubt DH and i will ever be). They were saying how it very much decreased the value of booking a suite when they couldn’t make reservations at Coastal Kitchen on a regular basis. There was also several comments about entitlement attitude which I won’t get into. The thread got quite long and there wasn’t a whole lot of disagreement that there are a lot of pinnacles on TA cruises (and longer off-season cruises in general) and sometimes do compete with suite guests for room in the lounge and Coastal Kitchen. A TA will probably be a few years out for us, but it just made me wonder if Celebrity was like that. We have loved the cruises we have done with Celebrity so it’s in the running for us, and if we splurge for a suite we want to be able to take advantage of this benefits. It’s my understanding that Zenith have access to Michaels but not Luminae. Any one have thoughts/exoperience regarding this? TIA Firstly- how would we honestly answer your question ? The Zenith members do not go around advertising who they are. Sometimes you meet one or two and it might come up in conversation. In my experience they are just a pleasure to cruise with. Not sure who gets the info about how many Zeniths or E+ etc are on board that others have referenced. Crowding has never been an issue in MC in my experience- no matter who is invited in there. On RCCL there have been issues brought forward about certain cruises like the President's cruise on ships with a suite lounge like Oasis-Class with a large number of Pinnacles on board. A few call them self-entitled. Again IMO I have never experienced cruising with a rude Pinnacle- but have experienced a multitude of self-entitled rude cruisers on every ship. They are in general not related to a particular CC or C&A level at all. Or any specific state or country. They are just the same rude people we meet everywhere! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Aurora Posted December 22, 2018 #29 Share Posted December 22, 2018 On 12/19/2018 at 3:19 AM, Xport said: ... Best to you and C, G... M: We throughly enjoyed that Pacific Coastal cruise on the Infinity and enjoyed meeting you. Take care. Gerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare hcat Posted December 22, 2018 #30 Share Posted December 22, 2018 Michaels Club started as an upscale cigar venue, then a piano bar, then it was for Cap Club Elites and up for morning and afternoon gatherings. At one point it was a craft beer venue. .Re- purposed a few years ago as a suite club.. Too many Elites ( and Diamond crossovers) to fit there by that time, and there was a need to make a special lounge for suite guests. In my opinion Zeniths have shown amazing loyalty to X and deserve their perks...and more! Glad they are welcomed .... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiseerf Posted December 22, 2018 #31 Share Posted December 22, 2018 Many Zenith members know each other throughout years of cruising, Ceremonies etc. Transatlantics have the highest numbers of Zeniths gathered together. Our last transatlantic had 22 Zeniths onboard and Michaels club was a hot mess. Suite guests couldn't get drinks, at one point they arranged their own snacks and wouldn't let the suite guests have any because they had not ordered them. It is a difficult balance at times however most MClub staff negotiate it quite well. In answer to your query, Yes, Michaels club IS more crowded when you have many Zenith members. Safe sails! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare chemmo Posted December 22, 2018 #32 Share Posted December 22, 2018 We would not have a clue who is in Michael’s because of being in a suite, Zenith, Casino, VIP...Conversation tends to start with ‘Where are you from?’ and continues from there... We did find when cruising on RC people did seem to discuss their status more both in terms of ‘suite level’ and ‘loyalty level’...I found it amusing to be challenged in the Diamond lounge by a fellow guest saying ‘You shouldn’t be in here it is for Diamond only and you come from England’.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jagoffee Posted December 22, 2018 #33 Share Posted December 22, 2018 7 hours ago, chemmo said: We would not have a clue who is in Michael’s because of being in a suite, Zenith, Casino, VIP...Conversation tends to start with ‘Where are you from?’ and continues from there... We did find when cruising on RC people did seem to discuss their status more both in terms of ‘suite level’ and ‘loyalty level’...I found it amusing to be challenged in the Diamond lounge by a fellow guest saying ‘You shouldn’t be in here it is for Diamond only and you come from England’.... I guess they thought that they did not diamonds in England. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jim_Iain Posted December 22, 2018 #34 Share Posted December 22, 2018 14 hours ago, cruiseerf said: Many Zenith members know each other throughout years of cruising, Ceremonies etc. Transatlantics have the highest numbers of Zeniths gathered together. Our last transatlantic had 22 Zeniths onboard and Michaels club was a hot mess. Suite guests couldn't get drinks, at one point they arranged their own snacks and wouldn't let the suite guests have any because they had not ordered them. It is a difficult balance at times however most MClub staff negotiate it quite well. In answer to your query, Yes, Michaels club IS more crowded when you have many Zenith members. Safe sails! We were on the same cruise as it was our initiation into Zenith and of course met the other 20 Zenith's. I don't think it fair to say it was much more crowded because of Zeniths as at least 60% of those Zenith's (including ourselves) were also traveling in suites. We neve had a problem getting a drink and our drinks were constantly topped up without even asking. Possibly had to do with us being late diners and never arriving before 7:45-8:00. The crowding we saw was Suite guests, who don't have packages coming in for a free drink, to bring to dinner or the theater and then leaving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare hcat Posted December 22, 2018 #35 Share Posted December 22, 2018 When we had access to Michaels Club...neither drink nor food could be removed. Same for Diamond Club. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Cruise Raider Posted December 22, 2018 #36 Share Posted December 22, 2018 38 minutes ago, hcat said: When we had access to Michaels Club...neither drink nor food could be removed. Same for Diamond Club. We've always enjoyed going to the Elite event up in the Sky Lounge on Celebrity, even when we've had the drink package. You are right, we've been stopped on the way out if we had a drink in our hand. We would explain we have the package so it would just cost them more money to have us dump a perfectly good drink and have us order another one outside the lounge. They just don't want drinks walking out of that lounge / Michael's Club. They aren't quite as picky about that on RCCL. Many times, there were no seats so they were encouraging you to take your food /drink elsewhere on the ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Covepointcruiser Posted December 22, 2018 #37 Share Posted December 22, 2018 We have been on two transatlantic in the past two years. On the Reflection, Michaels Club was extremely crowded from 5 pm to 7:30 pm. Getting a drink before dinner was very difficult. On the Reflection there are extra suites so the impact of Zenith passengers would have been felt. Michaels wasn’t as crowded on the Silhouette but it was still difficult to get a drink before a 7 pm dinner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Aurora Posted December 23, 2018 #38 Share Posted December 23, 2018 1 hour ago, hcat said: When we had access to Michaels Club...neither drink nor food could be removed. Same for Diamond Club. 1 hour ago, Cruise Raider said: ......They just don't want drinks walking out of that lounge / Michael's Club. ...... Our experience in Michael's Club has been quite different. While I've observed folks stopped from taking drinks out of the Elite/Elite+ cocktail event, I have never observed anyone stopped in MC from leaving with a beverage. We frequently stop in MC after dinner and are often asked if we want a "top off" to take back to the stateroom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George C Posted December 23, 2018 #39 Share Posted December 23, 2018 We and others took drinks out of micheals all the time, same as rccl suite lounge, not a big deal for us since we also get drink package . We did a 70s rock and romance charter several of the musicians stopped there fun talking to one of the guys from America which is one of our favorite groups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jim_Iain Posted December 23, 2018 #40 Share Posted December 23, 2018 We have had the same experience as @Northern Aurora. We spent 37 days on Millennium, 7 on Constellation and 15 Silhouette this year and have always been offered a top up to take to dinner. We usually decline as we have drink packages. When MC first opened to only CS and above I had heard that they restricted drinks being taken from the lounge but never experienced myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix_dream Posted December 23, 2018 #41 Share Posted December 23, 2018 I rarely can afford suites (prefer two cruises in AQ to one in a suite), but I can say that when I walk past Michael's Club and glance in, I rarely see many people in there at all. I'm sure at times it can be crowded, but usually it looks pretty empty to me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcpc Posted December 23, 2018 #42 Share Posted December 23, 2018 (edited) 18 hours ago, Jim_Iain said: We have had the same experience as @Northern Aurora. We spent 37 days on Millennium, 7 on Constellation and 15 Silhouette this year and have always been offered a top up to take to dinner. We usually decline as we have drink packages. When MC first opened to only CS and above I had heard that they restricted drinks being taken from the lounge but never experienced myself. @Jim_Iain - you are correct in that when Michael's Club first opened (CS and above only) you were not allowed to take drinks out of Michael's Club. The Michael's Club Concierge told you that on the first day. Things have certainly changed as now they encourage you to leave with a full drink. Edited December 23, 2018 by jcpc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare groryjm Posted December 24, 2018 #43 Share Posted December 24, 2018 8 hours ago, phoenix_dream said: .......... I rarely see many people in there at all........... one of the things we like about Michael's is that it can be a quiet sanctuary away from the hussle and bussle.😎🍸 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phxazzcruisers Posted December 24, 2018 #44 Share Posted December 24, 2018 i must agree. We have never been stopped from taking our drinks from Michael's Club either on our way to dinner or back to our room later at night. We were in Suites and had a drink package, so it really didn't matter, but again, we were never stopped from doing so Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiseerf Posted December 24, 2018 #45 Share Posted December 24, 2018 On 12/23/2018 at 4:32 AM, Jim_Iain said: We were on the same cruise as it was our initiation into Zenith and of course met the other 20 Zenith's. I don't think it fair to say it was much more crowded because of Zeniths as at least 60% of those Zenith's (including ourselves) were also traveling in suites. We neve had a problem getting a drink and our drinks were constantly topped up without even asking. Possibly had to do with us being late diners and never arriving before 7:45-8:00. The crowding we saw was Suite guests, who don't have packages coming in for a free drink, to bring to dinner or the theater and then leaving. Just to follow up on your Zenith numbers. When The program switched over the "New Captains" club program rewarded people for the # of cruises and not $$ spent, because they were using old data with new parameters. So your first "Batch" of Zeniths were mostly inside or Window cabin cruisers who cruised for winters etc, Not suite guests(only 5% in the beginning I believe). Celebrity had to start here in order to move over to rewarding their biggest spenders. So of our 22 Zeniths on that cruise I believe 3 were in suites, perhaps we were on a different cruise? Only now are we starting to see Zeniths who have made their cruises all in Suites etc....we meet them in Luminae. Regardless, our experience is that Michaels club is crowded, day of arrival and departure and between 5-8PM usually if there are many Zeniths onboard. Safe Sails! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ma Bell Posted December 24, 2018 #46 Share Posted December 24, 2018 14 minutes ago, cruiseerf said: Just to follow up on your Zenith numbers. When The program switched over the "New Captains" club program rewarded people for the # of cruises and not $$ spent, because they were using old data with new parameters. So your first "Batch" of Zeniths were mostly inside or Window cabin cruisers who cruised for winters etc, Not suite guests(only 5% in the beginning I believe). Celebrity had to start here in order to move over to rewarding their biggest spenders. So of our 22 Zeniths on that cruise I believe 3 were in suites, perhaps we were on a different cruise? Only now are we starting to see Zeniths who have made their cruises all in Suites etc....we meet them in Luminae. Regardless, our experience is that Michaels club is crowded, day of arrival and departure and between 5-8PM usually if there are many Zeniths onboard. Safe Sails! Do you ask someone how many Zeniths are on board? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jagoffee Posted December 24, 2018 #47 Share Posted December 24, 2018 24 minutes ago, cruiseerf said: Just to follow up on your Zenith numbers. When The program switched over the "New Captains" club program rewarded people for the # of cruises and not $$ spent, because they were using old data with new parameters. So your first "Batch" of Zeniths were mostly inside or Window cabin cruisers who cruised for winters etc, Not suite guests(only 5% in the beginning I believe). Celebrity had to start here in order to move over to rewarding their biggest spenders. So of our 22 Zeniths on that cruise I believe 3 were in suites, perhaps we were on a different cruise? Only now are we starting to see Zeniths who have made their cruises all in Suites etc....we meet them in Luminae. Regardless, our experience is that Michaels club is crowded, day of arrival and departure and between 5-8PM usually if there are many Zeniths onboard. Safe Sails! Obviously we do not how you collected your data for this conclusion, but my observations somewhat contradict this conclusion. I seldom see people in the Michael’s club that I do not also see at least occasionally in Luminae. (So my assumption is that they are not Zenith) The cruises that I find Michael’s club busiest is on repositioning cruises. I guessed that this was because those cruises have less suite people with drink packages. I do not recall ever meeting any Zenith status cruisers in Michael’s Club , but it is not a question that I would ask. (Nor would I care) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix_dream Posted December 24, 2018 #48 Share Posted December 24, 2018 12 hours ago, groryjm said: one of the things we like about Michael's is that it can be a quiet sanctuary away from the hussle and bussle.😎🍸 I understand - that would appeal to me too. The OP was wondering about crowding - I was responding to that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordoncruickshank Posted December 24, 2018 #49 Share Posted December 24, 2018 On 12/18/2018 at 9:31 PM, eby said: Zenith have a premium drink package.They can drink anywhere. So do most suite guests if they have booked on board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alakegirl Posted December 24, 2018 #50 Share Posted December 24, 2018 Zeniths always have a drink package. Suites may or may not have, especially on repositioning cruises where perks are rarer, the sky suites probably don’t have them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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