Changes Announced for Captain's Club Member Benefits

[ABoatNerd]

45 minutes ago, jagoffee said:

I read a response letter to an individual on FB.  Celebrity stated that they will be additional benefits added to the CC program in the future after the AI bookings are fully implemented.  For some time there will be a mix of older bookings (without AI) and newer AI bookings.  I read that to mean that they do not wish to improve a lot of extra benefits until everyone is on the AI program.

 

I also believe some of the changes are temporary due to COVID protocols.  

jagoffee, thanks for posting.

 

I believe nothing a profit based company says, ever. 

Believe nothing and question everything. Good principle for consumers.

[Fouremco]

51 minutes ago, jagoffee said:

I read a response letter to an individual on FB.  Celebrity stated that they will be additional benefits added to the CC program in the future after the AI bookings are fully implemented.  For some time there will be a mix of older bookings (without AI) and newer AI bookings.  I read that to mean that they do not wish to improve a lot of extra benefits until everyone is on the AI program.

 

I also believe some of the changes are temporary due to COVID protocols.  

So, they won't be adding benefits until the summer of 2022 at the earliest. Why am I not surprised!

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

4 hours ago, shipgeeks said:

We sailed on MSC Seaside in a non-Yacht Club cabin, and had a wonderful experience.   

 

Glad you liked it.  Just not my cup of tea.  I think it's wonderful that there are so many different cruising options available.  Everyone can find what works for them.

[Pinboy]

3 hours ago, ABoatNerd said:

I believe nothing a profit based company says, ever. 

Believe nothing and question everything. Good principle for consumers.

So, does that mean a Company shouldn't make money ?

Is there a Starbucks in Toronto where you " question everything " and hold up the line ? 

 

[LGW59]

4 hours ago, ABoatNerd said:

jagoffee, thanks for posting.

 

I believe nothing a profit based company says, ever. 

Believe nothing and question everything. Good principle for consumers.

I believe that for profit companies are just that, in it to make a profit.  Do your research so you can understand before you buy or decide not to buy.  For example, my invoice from Celebrity for my cruise in Aug says It costs $xxxx and after my deposit I owe $xxxx, I believe that from for profit Celebrity.  

[The_Big_M]

4 hours ago, Pinboy said:

So, does that mean a Company shouldn't make money ?

Is there a Starbucks in Toronto where you " question everything " and hold up the line ? 

 

 

Where did he say they shouldn't make money? And not sure why he should hold up the line for a simple transaction where there's nothing to question.

 

I must have missed something - or you're reading way too much into it.

[Pinboy]

52 minutes ago, The_Big_M said:

 

Where did he say they shouldn't make money? And not sure why he should hold up the line for a simple transaction where there's nothing to question.

 

I must have missed something - or you're reading way too much into it.

Below is what he/she said:

" I believe nothing a profit based company says, ever. 

 Believe nothing and question everything."

If he/she doesn't believe anything a profit based company says, ever , then why question everything ???  Also, I don't think there is any Company that is not profit based . 

IMO----There's no " trust " and think somehow he/she is being cheated ( in Canada we say screwed ).

That's not the kind of customer I'd want to deal with.

 

 

 

 

[basenji56]

Astonishing Cruise Line Losses, No End In Sight (cruisehive.com)

 

[basenji56]

I was curious about what the Oceania loyalty program was like.  Oceania Club Cruise Loyalty Program (cruisecritic.com)

 

[ChucktownSteve]

2 hours ago, basenji56 said:

I was curious about what the Oceania loyalty program was like.  Oceania Club Cruise Loyalty Program (cruisecritic.com)

 

 

But look at the Azamara Le Club program since you co earn on both Celebrity and Azamara simultaneously.  https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=2466

Celebrity Elite = Le Club Discoverer.

Edited November 28, 2020 by ChucktownSteve

[basenji56]

3 hours ago, ChucktownSteve said:

 

But look at the Azamara Le Club program since you co earn on both Celebrity and Azamara simultaneously.  https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=2466

Celebrity Elite = Le Club Discoverer.

Is this correct???

 

• Four free cruise nights (one time only)

[ChucktownSteve]

8 hours ago, basenji56 said:

Is this correct???

 

• Four free cruise nights (one time only)

 

Yes but there are caveats.  Half your cruises have to be on AZ when you reach the new plateau.  Also the cost for the cruise nights can't be on promotion.  So for three of the seven nights you're paying rack rate, I believe. It's worse for a longer cruise and may not be a valuable perk.

 

But the real good thing is the Celebrity Captains Club points you receive for the level of cabin on AZ..  That way if things improve to your liking at Celebrity, you've been gaining while cruising AZ. Not to mention AZ 's service, quality and persona is a level above Celebrity IMO.

Edited November 29, 2020 by ChucktownSteve

[basenji56]

3 hours ago, ChucktownSteve said:

But the real good thing is the Celebrity Captains Club points you receive for the level of cabin on AZ..  That way if things improve to your liking at Celebrity, you've been gaining while cruising AZ. Not to mention AZ 's service, quality and persona is a level above Celebrity IMO.

I wish there were more AZ cruises out of the states.  

 

I have decided that it no longer makes sense to chase CC points.  I am Elite and that is sufficient.

 

But, service, quality and food are things worth chasing.  I am interested in how AZ food compares to Oceania?

 

 

[ChucktownSteve]

2 hours ago, basenji56 said:

I wish there were more AZ cruises out of the states.  

 

I have decided that it no longer makes sense to chase CC points.  I am Elite and that is sufficient.

 

But, service, quality and food are things worth chasing.  I am interested in how AZ food compares to Oceania?

 

 

 

I'd say on par. However the O specialty restaurants are included while the AZ are not.  The free visits are determined by the number of days and category booked.  Concierge and above get more.

[bigboofer]

Another wonderful benefit of the new "Always Included" is the cost has been added to the per person cost of the cruise. So as a solo traveler I will have to pay for drinks, internet and tips for two people which before you only had to pay for the cabin with tips for one. Solo travel with Celebrity just got very very expensive. I think Celebrity is telling me to go away,

[Bruin Steve]

25 minutes ago, bigboofer said:

Another wonderful benefit of the new "Always Included" is the cost has been added to the per person cost of the cruise. So as a solo traveler I will have to pay for drinks, internet and tips for two people which before you only had to pay for the cabin with tips for one. Solo travel with Celebrity just got very very expensive. I think Celebrity is telling me to go away,

I hate to break it to you, but cruise lines NEVER really want solo cruisers.   Why they never wanted to give a discounted fare, to charge double, is that by having a solo cruiser, they are giving up one berth on the ship...BUT, they were still giving up a lot of potential revenue--one person in a stateroom also pays half the tips, buys half the drinks, buys half of the spa services, goes on only one shore excursion in a port, buys half as much in the onboard shops, spends half as much in specialty restaurants...and so on...

 

If the ship sailed with only solo travelers, the cruise ship would lose money.  They are in business to make money.  If they could fill EVERY berth on the ship, they would love it.  Their business model is selling at least every berth double occupancy AND to sell drinks, shore excursions, specialty meals, spa services, etc.  and to pay their crew through gratuities--based on a full ship.

 

If you think about it, going "all inclusive" is a method of insuring themselves a good portion of that revenue in excess of the fares alone...A drink package sold at regular price really just guarantees them selling 7 drinks per passenger per day--whether they drink that much or not--and they guarantee that high profit margin item--a drink really only costs them between 25 and 50 cents per drink...so, any $8 drink is really $7.50 or more in profit.  Gratuities included means they charge you up front...and guaranty their crew the maximum tip.  When they do those promotions with nonrefundable OBC, that's just to guaranty that you spend at least that much on shorexes, the spa, gift shops or the casino.

 

They are trying to create a cost system where all of those projected profits are PREPAID...and per cabin, NOT per passenger.  Per passenger wouldn't hit the projections.

[RICCruisers]

3 hours ago, Bruin Steve said:

I hate to break it to you, but cruise lines NEVER really want solo cruisers.   Why they never wanted to give a discounted fare, to charge double, is that by having a solo cruiser, they are giving up one berth on the ship...BUT, they were still giving up a lot of potential revenue--one person in a stateroom also pays half the tips, buys half the drinks, buys half of the spa services, goes on only one shore excursion in a port, buys half as much in the onboard shops, spends half as much in specialty restaurants...and so on...

 

If the ship sailed with only solo travelers, the cruise ship would lose money.  They are in business to make money.  If they could fill EVERY berth on the ship, they would love it.  Their business model is selling at least every berth double occupancy AND to sell drinks, shore excursions, specialty meals, spa services, etc.  and to pay their crew through gratuities--based on a full ship.

 

If you think about it, going "all inclusive" is a method of insuring themselves a good portion of that revenue in excess of the fares alone...A drink package sold at regular price really just guarantees them selling 7 drinks per passenger per day--whether they drink that much or not--and they guarantee that high profit margin item--a drink really only costs them between 25 and 50 cents per drink...so, any $8 drink is really $7.50 or more in profit.  Gratuities included means they charge you up front...and guaranty their crew the maximum tip.  When they do those promotions with nonrefundable OBC, that's just to guaranty that you spend at least that much on shorexes, the spa, gift shops or the casino.

 

They are trying to create a cost system where all of those projected profits are PREPAID...and per cabin, NOT per passenger.  Per passenger wouldn't hit the projections.

Bruin, I agree with most of what you posted. One exception is your comment that said if the cruise ship only sailed with solo passengers they would lose money. My comment to that would be if they sailed only with solo cruisers they priced their cruise wrong.

 

I also disagree with your estimate of 25 to 50 cents per drink. While there is huge profit in drinks, most are more than that especially if you take in account the total cost of sales into account. Fountain soft drinks and a plain cup of coffee are likely close to you numbers. 

[Bruin Steve]

16 minutes ago, RICCruisers said:

I also disagree with your estimate of 25 to 50 cents per drink. While there is huge profit in drinks, most are more than that especially if you take in account the total cost of sales into account. Fountain soft drinks and a plain cup of coffee are likely close to you numbers. 

My estimates were CONSERVATIVE.  For example, say someone buys a "Bourbon and Seven" on the ship.  Celebrity charges $9...plus a tip of 18% which takes care of the bar crew.  If I wanted to make the same drink at home, I buy a .750 liter bottle of Jim Beam--which costs $10 RETAIL here in SoCal (of course, at home, I buy the 1.75 liter bottle--which costs even less--about $18, cheaper at Costco)...but, say it's the smaller bottle.  At one ounce per drink, that's 25 drinks per bottle...that's 40 cents a drink.  Add ice and fill the rest with 7 Up--which I can buy, retail, for 99 cents for a two-liter bottle... Figuring maybe 5 ounces of soda at most (yeah, it's more ice than 7 up) goes in the drink, so that bottle fills at least 12.5 drinks...So, eight cents worth of soda, retail.  So MY cost per drink, at home is 48 cents.  BUT, Celebrity doesn't pay retail for either the bourbon OR the soda.  They buy alcohol wholesale...and they buy soda in BULK, often the bar using the spritzer...it is a LOT cheaper.  Their cost may be only half my small volume, retail cost...So, the drink that costs me 48 cents, costs Celebrity maybe HALF that...

So, on that Bourbon and Seven, they are probably making about $8.76 in profit.  Other more expensive drinks may have double the alcohol cost, so, add a few cents to the cost...but add a few dollars to YOUR costs.

I actually spent a little time early in my career working for some major restaurant chains.  Booze is the highest profit item on the menu.

[basenji56]

7 hours ago, Bruin Steve said:

I hate to break it to you, but cruise lines NEVER really want solo cruisers.   Why they never wanted to give a discounted fare, to charge double, is that by having a solo cruiser, they are giving up one berth on the ship...BUT, they were still giving up a lot of potential revenue--one person in a stateroom also pays half the tips, buys half the drinks, buys half of the spa services, goes on only one shore excursion in a port, buys half as much in the onboard shops, spends half as much in specialty restaurants...and so on...

 

If the ship sailed with only solo travelers, the cruise ship would lose money.  They are in business to make money.  If they could fill EVERY berth on the ship, they would love it.  Their business model is selling at least every berth double occupancy AND to sell drinks, shore excursions, specialty meals, spa services, etc.  and to pay their crew through gratuities--based on a full ship.

 

If you think about it, going "all inclusive" is a method of insuring themselves a good portion of that revenue in excess of the fares alone...A drink package sold at regular price really just guarantees them selling 7 drinks per passenger per day--whether they drink that much or not--and they guarantee that high profit margin item--a drink really only costs them between 25 and 50 cents per drink...so, any $8 drink is really $7.50 or more in profit.  Gratuities included means they charge you up front...and guaranty their crew the maximum tip.  When they do those promotions with nonrefundable OBC, that's just to guaranty that you spend at least that much on shorexes, the spa, gift shops or the casino.

 

They are trying to create a cost system where all of those projected profits are PREPAID...and per cabin, NOT per passenger.  Per passenger wouldn't hit the projections.

I think that you are correct.  And you are exactly correct about the drink packages.  When you look at what they charge for drink packages, its pretty crazy given their cost.  "Forcing" people to buy the overpriced drinks package is what this all about.  I'm not sure about the margin on the surf wifi package, but forcing people to pay $119 pp for a seven day cruise has to have a big profit margin too.

 

[hiccups]

On 11/29/2020 at 9:00 AM, basenji56 said:

I wish there were more AZ cruises out of the states.  

 

I have decided that it no longer makes sense to chase CC points.  I am Elite and that is sufficient.

 

But, service, quality and food are things worth chasing.  I am interested in how AZ food compares to Oceania?

 

 

IMO the food on Oceania is better than Azamara.

[jagoffee]

3 hours ago, basenji56 said:

I think that you are correct.  And you are exactly correct about the drink packages.  When you look at what they charge for drink packages, its pretty crazy given their cost.  "Forcing" people to buy the overpriced drinks package is what this all about.  I'm not sure about the margin on the surf wifi package, but forcing people to pay $119 pp for a seven day cruise has to have a big profit margin too.

 

Celebrity never said that they would force people to pay for a drink package or $119 pp for a WiFi package.  They just said it would always be included, except for selective 90 days our cruise bookings.  Nothing was mentioned about increasing the cost of the cruise.  The market will determine  the cost of the cruise with or without the always included items.  It does make sense that the Always Included items with add value to the cruise expensive for a lot of people.  If a lot of people are willing to pay more for that value, then it will drive the price up.  

[LGW59]

3 hours ago, basenji56 said:

I think that you are correct.  And you are exactly correct about the drink packages.  When you look at what they charge for drink packages, its pretty crazy given their cost.  "Forcing" people to buy the overpriced drinks package is what this all about.  I'm not sure about the margin on the surf wifi package, but forcing people to pay $119 pp for a seven day cruise has to have a big profit margin too.

 

Honestly, no one is forced to do anything.  If we don't like the option, we are not "forced" to book it.  I do understand what you are saying, but there really is no force involved, like it, book it, don't like, move along.  

[Miaminice]

From a webinar...

 

[basenji56]

6 hours ago, LGW59 said:

Honestly, no one is forced to do anything.  If we don't like the option, we are not "forced" to book it.  I do understand what you are saying, but there really is no force involved, like it, book it, don't like, move along.  

Of course no one is "forced" to do anything.  Hence my quotation marks around the word "forced." 

 

Last week, I was able to book a seven day Alaska cruise without the amenities.  Subtracting out the gratuities, the price was $700 more with the amenities.  I decided to book the cruise without the amenities.  I would have chosen not to book if I were required to purchase amenities that I didn't need or want.  I don't drink alcohol so I don't need to spend $700 for a few sodas and lattes. 

[bigboofer]

19 hours ago, Bruin Steve said:

I hate to break it to you, but cruise lines NEVER really want solo cruisers.   Why they never wanted to give a discounted fare, to charge double, is that by having a solo cruiser, they are giving up one berth on the ship...BUT, they were still giving up a lot of potential revenue--one person in a stateroom also pays half the tips, buys half the drinks, buys half of the spa services, goes on only one shore excursion in a port, buys half as much in the onboard shops, spends half as much in specialty restaurants...and so on...

 

If the ship sailed with only solo travelers, the cruise ship would lose money.  They are in business to make money.  If they could fill EVERY berth on the ship, they would love it.  Their business model is selling at least every berth double occupancy AND to sell drinks, shore excursions, specialty meals, spa services, etc.  and to pay their crew through gratuities--based on a full ship.

 

If you think about it, going "all inclusive" is a method of insuring themselves a good portion of that revenue in excess of the fares alone...A drink package sold at regular price really just guarantees them selling 7 drinks per passenger per day--whether they drink that much or not--and they guarantee that high profit margin item--a drink really only costs them between 25 and 50 cents per drink...so, any $8 drink is really $7.50 or more in profit.  Gratuities included means they charge you up front...and guaranty their crew the maximum tip.  When they do those promotions with nonrefundable OBC, that's just to guaranty that you spend at least that much on shorexes, the spa, gift shops or the casino.

 

They are trying to create a cost system where all of those projected profits are PREPAID...and per cabin, NOT per passenger.  Per passenger wouldn't hit the projections.

Since I'm paying two fares and one tip and port fees you think a cruise line is losing money I must disagree with your position. As an elite plus cruiser I receive a cocktail party (which I rarely consume three drinks) and internet so having to also buy two packages at very high cost for something I don't need is Celebrity just being greedy. I can't imagine any cruise line selling anything at a loss.

 

Onboard spending at very high prices for tours and shops are generally for new cruisers that haven't figured out how to get value for their vacation dollars. I never go to the casino but I hear the odds and slot payouts are less at sea than on land. Drinking to excess at very high prices (on even for free) is something I have no interest in.

 

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.