Celebrity Blue Chip Club

[kk99]

Update for Blue Chip Players 

A few days ago RCL announced significant furloughs and permanent layoffs due to world health conditions that currently prevent the ships from sailing. Most of the current shoreside employees who worked with the Blue Chip Club casino program for the past several years were permanently laid off.  I wish them all of the best, as they were wonderful to work with, and I hope they have better days ahead.

 

[fstuff1]

1 hour ago, kk99 said:

Update for Blue Chip Players 

A few days ago RCL announced significant furloughs and permanent layoffs due to world health conditions that currently prevent the ships from sailing. Most of the current shoreside employees who worked with the Blue Chip Club casino program for the past several years were permanently laid off.  I wish them all of the best, as they were wonderful to work with, and I hope they have better days ahead.

 

 

permanently?! Link?

 

any reason why Celebrity chose permanent instead of furlough since the cruise line will sail one day this year (hopefully) and will need Blue Chip employees?

 

Edited April 19, 2020 by fstuff1

[kk99]

I found out when I called in last Friday, and asked for employees by name in the shoreside casino operations department. The director of casino performance and at least one manager are still there, at least two other managers are furloughed, and the Florida account executive and people in the Florida casino department who I have dealt with numerous times over the years were permanently laid off. The  telephone calls are still being answered and sailings booked.  I do not know if they are using employees in the Kansas main call center, or employees in other departments in Florida to fill in. There is no link or announcement by Celebrity other than the announcement through Royal Caribbean of the furloughs and permanent reductions of employees through the three brands. As to shipboard employees in the casino, I have no idea as to timeframe when they or anyone else working on the ships will be recalled or how many , other than a guess they will staff the ships as needed shortly before the ships are sailing again once restrictions are lifted.  I do wish all of those former employees all the best for the future. They were always great to work with. 

[NutsAboutGolf]

Oh man, I absolutely LOVED the talented Renata.  Yet they really need to let us see the offers online; Caesars and MLife present their offers online.  I still have to call, wait on hold, tell the rep my preferred sailing dates to hear the room type offers I'll receive.  Only once we receive the sailing offers, which sailings get suites, which get OV, can my significant other and I "request" the time off. 

[Alabaster Cruiser]

Question....I thought that I had gotten an email that stated the earning period for tier levels had been extended past June2021.  I can't find anything about it now and must have deleted that email.  Today someone in the Kansas Blue Chip call center said the period is from January 1,2020 until June 2021.  Does anyone know about an extension?.....thanks

[Paulras]

29 minutes ago, Alabaster Cruiser said:

Question....I thought that I had gotten an email that stated the earning period for tier levels had been extended past June2021.  I can't find anything about it now and must have deleted that email.  Today someone in the Kansas Blue Chip call center said the period is from January 1,2020 until June 2021.  Does anyone know about an extension?.....thanks

I never saw an email but they certainly better extend it. I had one cruise canceled that would have gotten me at least halfway to keeping Sapphire. And who knows when they'll actually be sailing again. If it was a month or two of no sailings, I could see them leaving it. But it's now 3+ months of canceled cruises and everything is turned upside down. I think they should just extend it to the end of 2021. Only seems fair. 

[Alabaster Cruiser]

Paulrus and others...I finally found the email and it did say that the period to earn tier levels has been extended to December 31, 2021.  Thanks...Susan

[Paulras]

23 minutes ago, Alabaster Cruiser said:

Paulrus and others...I finally found the email and it did say that the period to earn tier levels has been extended to December 31, 2021.  Thanks...Susan

Cool. Is it from Blue Chip? I haven't gotten any emails from them since February 

[Alabaster Cruiser]

As a valued Blue Chip Club member, you are always eligible for benefits, rewards, and exclusive offers towards your next vacation. We’ve extended your Blue Chip Club earning period. Your ability to earn a new tier will now end on December 31, 2021 (extended from July 31, 2021). This gives you more time to play and earn a higher tier level. Call in and we’ll be happy to go over the details.                                              This is what Blue Chip sent (part of the email)

[NutsAboutGolf]

You do receive a free annual cruise on select sailings with a high enough status yet blue chip offers are based directly on your play (theo/ADT).  For example, if you go on a few cruises betting $100 bets, receive high status, then go on a few more betting $.25 bets, you most likely will not be receiving future comped cruises until your play increases.  You also may receive Blue Chip offers based on your MLife play; MLife sends RCL your play each quarter.

[poffles]

2 hours ago, Alabaster Cruiser said:

As a valued Blue Chip Club member, you are always eligible for benefits, rewards, and exclusive offers towards your next vacation. We’ve extended your Blue Chip Club earning period. Your ability to earn a new tier will now end on December 31, 2021 (extended from July 31, 2021). This gives you more time to play and earn a higher tier level. Call in and we’ll be happy to go over the details.                                              This is what Blue Chip sent (part of the email)

 

So does this also extend the already earned level to that date, assuming it would have to and it is implied by the extension of the earning period?

 

I didn't get that email either from Blue Chip club, man I wish I could get consistent mail outs from them but I'm happy to hear this if it extends everything.  I am amethyst for first time, not the top but closer than I've ever been (or will ever get :)).

[poffles]

2 hours ago, Paulras said:

Cool. Is it from Blue Chip? I haven't gotten any emails from them since February 

 

Me either, it's been awhile.

[poffles]

I would love to see Celebrity Blue Chip do the same as this ... maybe they will?

 

 

[fstuff1]

1 hour ago, poffles said:

I would love to see Celebrity Blue Chip do the same as this ... maybe they will?

 

 

 

its only 3 more months for Royal. 

rcl = march 2022

celebrity = dec 2021

 

you have 2yrs at your current status for Royal and 1yr 9 months for Celebrity.

not that big of a difference 

Edited April 21, 2020 by fstuff1

[poffles]

2 minutes ago, fstuff1 said:

 

its only 3 more months for Royal. 

rcl = march 2022

celebrity = dec 2021

 

not that big of a deal

 

Agree that it is 3 months difference and not saying big deal but RCL cruise calendar is March so their extension was a year so if Blue Chip did same then ours would be June 30 2022. At least that is what I read.

[CruisingBrian]

On 4/19/2020 at 10:32 PM, NutsAboutGolf said:

Oh man, I absolutely LOVED the talented Renata.  Yet they really need to let us see the offers online; Caesars and MLife present their offers online.  I still have to call, wait on hold, tell the rep my preferred sailing dates to hear the room type offers I'll receive.  Only once we receive the sailing offers, which sailings get suites, which get OV, can my significant other and I "request" the time off. 

 

Yes - me too!

Reny reached out to me directly on her last day. No word about future plans or if she was furloughed or laid-off.

She was the best. 

Second only to Macie Dominguez, who also wrote me to tell me of her last day. Her position was eliminated so she was laid-off.  It was suggested that she could return when business picks up. I'm not sure she will want too after being summarily let go after so many years of service.

Sad.

It's a different world.

Brian

[Paulras]

2 hours ago, CruisingBrian said:

 

Yes - me too!

Reny reached out to me directly on her last day. No word about future plans or if she was furloughed or laid-off.

She was the best. 

Second only to Macie Dominguez, who also wrote me to tell me of her last day. Her position was eliminated so she was laid-off.  It was suggested that she could return when business picks up. I'm not sure she will want too after being summarily let go after so many years of service.

Sad.

It's a different world.

Brian

Nooo! Macie helped me so many times when the other reps screwed up my comps. Not good

[NutsAboutGolf]

2 hours ago, CruisingBrian said:

 

Yes - me too!

Reny reached out to me directly on her last day. No word about future plans or if she was furloughed or laid-off.

She was the best. 

Second only to Macie Dominguez, who also wrote me to tell me of her last day. Her position was eliminated so she was laid-off.  It was suggested that she could return when business picks up. I'm not sure she will want too after being summarily let go after so many years of service.

Sad.

It's a different world.

Brian

 

Don't think I dealt with Macie but she must be good if you're saying its better than Reny!  I do understand it's a SALES office who's job is to book you on a sailing and get off the phone but that wasn't Reny.  She told me they do not receive any commission, I have no reason not to believe her, it just I have no idea if X tell them to tell them that.  I hate to the talented people go and wish X could deploy them elsewhere.  Yet with CCL, MLIfe and Caesars Rewards, I can see the dates, room/stateroom types and offers online.  I shouldn't have to email or call a rep to look this up for me.

[CruisingBrian]

24 minutes ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

 

Don't think I dealt with Macie but she must be good if you're saying its better than Reny!  I do understand it's a SALES office who's job is to book you on a sailing and get off the phone but that wasn't Reny.  She told me they do not receive any commission, I have no reason not to believe her, it just I have no idea if X tell them to tell them that.  I hate to the talented people go and wish X could deploy them elsewhere.  Yet with CCL, MLIfe and Caesars Rewards, I can see the dates, room/stateroom types and offers online.  I shouldn't have to email or call a rep to look this up for me.

 

Macie was Reny's manager. 
 

And I agree - BCC definitely needs to join us in the twenty-first century. They're in need of a thorough overhaul.

As the casino (along with booze) is one of the main sources of revenue for the cruise lines, one would think that more attention would be given to this department.

I love Celebrity, but I've always been flummoxed by the lack of consistency, lack of communication, and general disorganization afforded by the Blue Chip Club. Except for Macie and Reny, of course

[NutsAboutGolf]

3 hours ago, CruisingBrian said:

 

Macie was Reny's manager. 
 

And I agree - BCC definitely needs to join us in the twenty-first century. They're in need of a thorough overhaul.

As the casino (along with booze) is one of the main sources of revenue for the cruise lines, one would think that more attention would be given to this department.

I love Celebrity, but I've always been flummoxed by the lack of consistency, lack of communication, and general disorganization afforded by the Blue Chip Club. Except for Macie and Reny, of course

 

Couldn't agree more.  BCC's site says there are some changes coming: https://www.celebritycruises.com/things-to-do-onboard/casino

[CruisingBrian]

"Couldn't agree more.  BCC's site says there are some changes coming: https://www.celebritycruises.com/things-to-do-onboard/casino"

 

Wow! That is a good start!

Thank you for sharing!!
Brian

[fstuff1]

11 hours ago, CruisingBrian said:

"Couldn't agree more.  BCC's site says there are some changes coming: https://www.celebritycruises.com/things-to-do-onboard/casino"

 

Wow! That is a good start!

Thank you for sharing!!
Brian

 

can you post the info here?

that link requires you to opt-in to celebrity emails to get the info. 😞

[poffles]

46 minutes ago, fstuff1 said:

 

can you post the info here?

that link requires you to opt-in to celebrity emails to get the info. 😞

 

I'm not sure there is any info yet, I was understanding that it is more a promise of changes yet to come.  I opted in to the emails to hear what might be coming. 

 

If there are already changes identified and someone here knows them ... I ditto this ... please do share.....:)

[NutsAboutGolf]

55 minutes ago, fstuff1 said:

 

can you post the info here?

that link requires you to opt-in to celebrity emails to get the info. 😞

 

I emailed, they replied: "At this time the up and coming changes have not been announced or have we been given a release date, my apologies."

[NutsAboutGolf]

Datapoint that RCL doesn't appear to have any upcoming changes to their casino program.  Regardless, I don't expect big changes particularly for low rollers.  Perhaps they'll offer free drinks while playing when sailing resumes, but that really isn't a BCC benefit.