2 cruises away from Elite status. Am I crazy?

[Georgia_Peaches]

10 hours ago, TeaBag said:

Before you get really hung up on laundry, they wash everything in HOT water. 

So basically only good for underwear and maybe workout attire.  I'm very particular about how my laundry is done and almost never use hot water.  And I prefer to air dry most things to prevent shrinkage.  The laundry benefit is lost on me but I can see how some on longer cruises would like the perk.  

[Georgia_Peaches]

3 hours ago, hcat said:

Many  priority advantages are diluted, esp with added suites.

Now they are selling packages where folks can buy priority , so we expect to see more dilution of perk impacts for long time loyal customers.

This is such a good point.  It seems that with all the new ways X has invented for one to get the benefit of a status level (priority embarkation, tendering, internet, etc.) they are thinking more and more about how to attract first-timers and cruise line hoppers.  If I can just buy a package that gives me the perks I want without loyalty, then why would I stick to a brand?  This is smart marketing on X's part as they seek to attract the millennial generation, but it sucks for others who have steadily built their status by remaining loyal to the brand. 

Edited November 12, 2019 by Georgia_Peaches
clarification

[drakes2]

13 hours ago, CHEZMARYLOU said:

So you would need 170 points before December 2020.  A Penthouse Suite gives 18 points per night so if you booked a 10 night cruise in a Penthouse Suite you would be Elite in December 2020. A laudable goal but how much is free laundry worth? 

I think around $50 per bag plus you get 2 items pressed which was handy for me. I'm picky what I put in the laundry bag and have to be very precise and leave notes on the laundry slip but all worked out.  The 90 minutes of free internet was good but takes a minute or 2 to log on and off plus I lost 20 minutes somewhere and the ilounge could not figure it out so returned them to me. The have to record the reason why they are returning minutes which is nonsense IMO. 

[TeeRick]

Chasing status and points is exactly what the Celebrity accountants want you to do.  But in this case patience pays huge dividends if you just cruise on your normal schedule.  You will eventually get there.  If you normally do suites or sail with 2 to 4 perks then Elite or even Elite+ provides very little concrete benefits to you other than a title.

[Cdresser]

I totally understand the temptation to book a cruise to get the status change but I've resisted (so far!) For me, one of the biggest benefits of Capt Club is the tier matching with Mlife (MGM casino properties). We have a timeshare in Vegas so I that means I get benefits on land and sea vacations. I just discovered the joy of cruising so I'm still quite far from elite status, I'll be select after our December cruises.

[RichYak]

1 hour ago, Cdresser said:

For me, one of the biggest benefits of Capt Club is the tier matching with Mlife (MGM casino properties)...

Same here. Let me take you on a little ride...

 

I used my Captain's Club Select tier to match to Mlife Gold. Then matched Mlife Gold to Hyatt Explorist status. The Hyatt Explorist status got me a free American Airlines Gold status challenge that I used for free checked bags and free upgrades to Main Cabin Extra seats for 3 months. In addition, the last time I was in Atlantic City, I stopped by Harrah's and matched my Mlife Gold to Caesar's Diamond, which I then matched to Wyndham Diamond. I used one of the aforementioned statuses (I forget which) to match to National Car Rental Executive Elite which I then matched to Hertz President's Circle.

 

All of this from just a Captain's Club Select tier. After our cruise next month, my wife will be CC Elite, which I'm told makes me Elite as well by way of marriage. 😎

[di T]

12 hours ago, TeaBag said:

Before you get really hung up on laundry, they wash everything in HOT water. 

😂😂 we get extra laundry now we are elite plus but we only send things of little value.

Husband once sent two designer polo shirts bought new for the cruise £180 worth they came back to fit a 3 yr old! 

[calicakes]

6 hours ago, chemmo said:

We still enjoy an Elite breakfast

Can someone tell me how this breakfast is different from an AQ breakfast?  Is there anything that is included( aside from alcohol) that we can't get in Blu? 

[calicakes]

4 hours ago, Cruise a holic said:

 If you have to spend money to upgrade to a suite it cost much more for the perks-  Again, we like suites and it works with our budget- but to overspend for the extra points to go into a suite IMO not worth it at all.  

 

The all inclusive rate includes drinks, tips, internet  and typically an onboard credit.  

We wanted to try out a suite since we've only sailed( 4 cruises thus far) in AQ.   The cost of the suite vs AQ for our Dec 23, 2020 cruise on Constellation was only 2k more after factoring in the OBC we received back from the TA.  

[calicakes]

13 minutes ago, RichYak said:

Same here. Let me take you on a little ride...

 

I used my Captain's Club Select tier to match to Mlife Gold. Then matched Mlife Gold to Hyatt Explorist status. The Hyatt Explorist status got me a free American Airlines Gold status challenge that I used for free checked bags and free upgrades to Main Cabin Extra seats for 3 months. In addition, the last time I was in Atlantic City, I stopped by Harrah's and matched my Mlife Gold to Caesar's Diamond, which I then matched to Wyndham Diamond. I used one of the aforementioned statuses (I forget which) to match to National Car Rental Executive Elite which I then matched to Hertz President's Circle.

 

All of this from just a Captain's Club Select tier. After our cruise next month, my wife will be CC Elite, which I'm told makes me Elite as well by way of marriage. 😎

Did you learn that from ChicagoPaul?  I saw his mention of that Mlife to Hyatt status match.  I would be interested in the main cabin extra benefit on AA.  I do have a Citibank Admiral's club card so we get "free" lounge access to American and Alaska.  

[calicakes]

I feel better about not trying to get to Elite before the Dec 2020 cruise.   While my wife gets 6 weeks of vacation a year, we like to take local driving trips so we can take our dogs.  When she retires in 4 years and we move back to FL, we'll take more cruises per year. 

[cangelmd]

We chased Elite status a bit, my husband is retired, I’m a few years away. We really enjoy cruising as a relaxing vacation. As retirees, we would be close enough to south Florida to drive. Our thought was that get Elite now while vacations are a smaller percentage of our income and we can splurge. Then when I’m retired and our income is more limited, we can do last minute, bare bones cruises, just to be on the ship, and can get by without perks.

Also, when retired we have our eye on a few long itineraries, and being Elite will take care of many of the extra expenses on those - drinks, laundry, internet.

We sailed on Celebrity a couple of times in the 90s and were pleasantly surprised with the bump in CC points those trips gave us.

 

We also splurged on a Celebrity Suite on a 10 day itinerary - that was actually the cheaper route to Elite because we were falling short by about 5 points and were looking at having to do an extra trip.

 

 I agree, though, chasing Elite just to be Elite likely isn’t worth it.

[TeaBag]

We used to go to the Elite breakfast all the time to get the Cappuccino.  Since we now get it free at Al Baccio we never go to the Elite breakfast.  It is mostly cold items, fruit, cold cuts, muffins, pastries etc .  The Blu breakfast is much better.

[NLH Arizona]

I wouldn't take a cruise just to go up a tier on the loyalty program.  The perks are nice, but not that great. 

[taxatty]

I did this once a few years ago to get to Diamond on RCI right before RCI changed the elite qualification rules using a point per day instead of per cruise, but it was a cheap weekend cruise from a local port and we had another RCI cruise already booked on which we could use the D benefits. I wouldn't have done this if the facts were any different. 

[hcat]

33 minutes ago, TeaBag said:

We used to go to the Elite breakfast all the time to get the Cappuccino.  Since we now get it free at Al Baccio we never go to the Elite breakfast.  It is mostly cold items, fruit, cold cuts, muffins, pastries etc .  The Blu breakfast is much better.

True..BLU is a full breakfast but often nice to stop into the  Elite breakfast for the cappucino and some pastries...or if we want a lighter meal...They have a great buffet spread which we prefer to the plated.. Love the lox and bagels.

[drakes2]

1 hour ago, NLH Arizona said:

I wouldn't take a cruise just to go up a tier on the loyalty program.  The perks are nice, but not that great. 

The embarkation lunch is the only thing of any great value if you're Elite status. 

[RichYak]

2 hours ago, calicakes said:

Did you learn that from ChicagoPaul?  I saw his mention of that Mlife to Hyatt status match.  I would be interested in the main cabin extra benefit on AA.  I do have a Citibank Admiral's club card so we get "free" lounge access to American and Alaska.  

No, I'm not familiar with ChicagoPaul, it was my own research. I write about credit card points and travel benefits for a blog and matching status is a related topic.

 

The AA deal was a summer promo for those with Hyatt status. You got AA gold for 3 months which allows you to book Main Cabin Extra seats (if available) at check-in. MCE gets you more legroom and free beverages.

[TFLG]

About the only thing I use is the laundry, sometimes the 90 minutes of internet.  Prioity tendering can be nice but I never do the eleite breakfast or cocktail hour since I'm never up early enough and usually have a bevy package. Even if I didn't have the bevy package I'd rather hang out at the Martini bar with the fun people.  The rest of the stuff they give is pretty useless to me.  Only 351 points to elite plus lol.....  It's certainly nice to have it but I would not go out of my way to spend a bunch of money to earn a few dollars worth of swag.

[Cruise a holic]

2 hours ago, hcat said:

True..BLU is a full breakfast but often nice to stop into the  Elite breakfast for the cappucino and some pastries...or if we want a lighter meal...They have a great buffet spread which we prefer to the plated.. Love the lox and bagels.

Actually, we were disappointed in the Blu breakfasts on some earlier cruises.  My DH eats "unhealthy" He likes bacon and fried potatoes and we never could get that in blu or at the Elite breakfast.  

 

Either the buffet or lumanie were our dining venue.  I enjoy the salmon and bagels which wasn't available at the Buffet on our last Equinox sailing in August.  So typically had our breakfast at Lumanie.  But heard that the MDR breakfast was also good.

[Cruise a holic]

4 hours ago, calicakes said:

We wanted to try out a suite since we've only sailed( 4 cruises thus far) in AQ.   The cost of the suite vs AQ for our Dec 23, 2020 cruise on Constellation was only 2k more after factoring in the OBC we received back from the TA.  

We love the suite experience- Michael's club is wonderful.  Not sure if the Constellation will be renovated, if yes, they will have a great suite lounge and suite deck.  The extra space in your cabin is great!  We enjoyed all of the amenities.  You will probably be invited to the helipad for sail aways, perhaps a bridge tour, and other special functions.  It was nice having a butler also.  Lumanie is a really nice private restaurant.  You aren't sitting on top of the table next to you.

 

If you can swing it, try a suite.  if not you will also have a great trip.  My only caution is that once in a suite- it is hard to go back to a regular cabin!

[chemmo]

4 hours ago, calicakes said:

Can someone tell me how this breakfast is different from an AQ breakfast?  Is there anything that is included( aside from alcohol) that we can't get in Blu? 

 

On S class ships the Elite breakfast is in Tuscan so there is the view to start with...

 

There is either a cold buffet or a cold buffet menu to choose from. Either way you are looking at choices of fruit, salmon, cheese, ham, breads, Danish pastries...

 

Drink wise there are fruit juices, Mimosas, Bellinis, Bloody Marys and quality coffees.

 

As we tend to cruise in a RS with an occasional PH we have all options available....It really is nice to experience everything. Whilst Luminae has great big cooked breakfasts and room service brings everything to you if you simply fancy a ‘light, tasty bite’ then Elite breakfast fits the description....

 

I am sure both Blu and Luminae would provide everything provided at the Elite breakfast...once again about variety and ambience...

[mrsgoggins]

2 hours ago, drakes2 said:

The embarkation lunch is the only thing of any great value if you're Elite status. 

I thought that (assume you are talking about the MDR lunch) was only available to Concierge and back-to-back passengers. Am I wrong?

Edited November 12, 2019 by mrsgoggins

[Jules1]

1 hour ago, drakes2 said:

The embarkation lunch is the only thing of any great value if you're Elite status. 

Hi,

My husband and I are Elite status, but haven't sailed Celebrity for about 10 years.  We've been sailing another line which has become our favorite, but they didn't have a cruise that would work for us in March.  We booked a Reflection cruise to try Celebrity again.  Where is the Elite embarkation lunch?  How do you find it on embarkation day?  Sorry, probably a stupid question, but we're trying to figure out the details of sailing on Celebrity since we've been gone so long.

Thanks!

[Mirage]

My thoughts are that chasing points by taking an "Extra" cruise, really is not a goal worth pursuing on strictly a points basis.

I would suggest that any cruise that is "Extra" is great.

 

If your in to the cruise experience, then a side benefit of hitting the next tier, and getting a few benefits is nice, yet focus on the points is not anyways for us, why we reached Elite Plus. Chasing Zenith is not a goal either, it would be nice as it would suggest we have cruised more which we enjoy strictly for the experiences.

 

Your mileage or preferences may vary.