Changes Announced for Captain's Club Member Benefits

[C-Dragons]

1 hour ago, verizon said:

A new venue created for Zeniths and Elites Plus will solve the problem.

Suites passengers will have their lounge and higher tiers  Captain clubs members will have their dedicated lounge. 

That's what I suggested many months ago.

 Great minds. 😊

[davekathy]

2 hours ago, verizon said:

A new venue created for Zeniths and Elites Plus will solve the problem.

Suites passengers will have their lounge and higher tiers  Captain clubs members will have their dedicated lounge. 

I'll agree only if Elites are included. 

[dgoz]

On 11/22/2020 at 12:50 PM, Bruin Steve said:

Well...again, "to be truthful", I never have been allowed to sit on a jury.  I tend to get thrown off of jury duty every time...Sometimes, in criminal cases, the defense objects--because I started out my 42 year legal career as a prosecutor.   In civil cases, it has been either side at times...or even the judge...sometimes because I know the judge...or one or more of the attorneys...If not that, it's often one of the parties just because I've often represented what they perceive of as the other side.  Many attorneys choosing a jury--especially plaintiff's counsel in civil cases or defense counsel in criminal cases would rather have someone ignorant of the law.  If they wanted someone knowledgeable, they'd waive the jury trial and have the judge decide. I get kicked off because I know a little too much.

 

But, thank you for trying to educate me on legal principles.

Hilarious rebuttal. I have only recently booked my 1st ever cruise and have no skin in the game--but just had to laugh at loud at a seasoned lawyer getting a lecture on the justice system. Priceless.

[kevanmia]

4 hours ago, pumpkin 11 said:

 

What do you all think of this? I think Always Included has really muddied these waters. I am not even sure Al will stick around.

 

The fact that they can't even comp the full value of the specialty restaurant says everything!   $.05 and $.10!

 

Also, no lounge space for anyone aside from the most elite of elite tiers is the new normal.  The people thinking that Elite Plus and Zenith will have dedicated lounge space are deluded.  Honestly there are too many top tier members to make it feasible -- especially with things like Power Up, when everyone and their mother has Elite or higher it just doesn't mean much.  It's like when I am priority with the airline and 75 people still board ahead of me. 

[DaKahuna]

On 11/18/2020 at 11:08 AM, actuarian said:

It looks to me like very little has changed for those of us who are Elite Plus members.  However, with the removal of access to Michael's and The Retreat, there no longer seems to be much of an incentive to try to reach Zenith level.  I wonder whether this is a harbinger of similar changes at Royal Caribbean.  It would cause quite an uproar if Royal threw their Pinnacle Club members out of the Suite Lounge.

Royal has already done that on most ships.

They just announced they will be implementing a Pinnacle Lounge though.

 

[Orator]

I wonder where they would put separate "Retreats" for Zeniths and others on the different classes of ships. Real estate on a ship is very valuable. Reports on another social media site indicate that there are 2-4 non Suite Zeniths on current cruises. Dedicated a space for 2-4 people IMHO would be a total waste of space and only give ammunition to those who would "lose" the dedicated space. Remember the reaction to the restrictions placed on Michael's Club?

[pumpkin 11]

I would rather a comped specialty dining or shore excursion. Something of that type. 

[4774Papa]

17 hours ago, pumpkin 11 said:

 

What do you all think of this? I think Always Included has really muddied these waters. I am not even sure Al will stick around.

We can only hope

[verizon]

1 hour ago, Orator said:

I wonder where they would put separate "Retreats" for Zeniths and others on the different classes of ships. Real estate on a ship is very valuable. Reports on another social media site indicate that there are 2-4 non Suite Zeniths on current cruises. Dedicated a space for 2-4 people IMHO would be a total waste of space and only give ammunition to those who would "lose" the dedicated space. Remember the reaction to the restrictions placed on Michael's Club?

If you included the Elite plus will be a different story.

I know there are not many Zeniths on every cruise other than the Transatlantic.

[maggie.1008]

There are too many Eites, Elite Plus and Zeniths to have in one venue. They could keep the Elite happy hour in all bars and have a separate venue for Elite Plus and Zenith. 

[maggie.1008]

I have over 1600 points but will never make Zenith. A extra perk lounge would be nice. 

[patty1955]

18 hours ago, jmfdr said:

 

Our input may be different.  We have never really particularly cared about the CC "happy hour" venue as we don't cruise to meet new friends or chat with strangers.  The sky Lounge was always a favorite hang out,  but during "happy hour" we would try to find a two person table, unless traveling with friends.  We were uncomfortable asking to join others at a table and honestly didn't welcome strangers asking to join us.    Thus, for us, the elimination of a designated CC "happy hour" lounge is no big deal.  Plus the CC selection of wine is not very pleasing.  

 

Hope this doesn't offend anyone.

We don't sail to meet new friends or chat with strangers either. We did attend the happy hour for the free drinks and appetizers. Now that there's AI we don't need the free drinks and, since we couldn't always get served with the appetizers, we can pass

[davekathy]

2 hours ago, maggie.1008 said:

There are too many Eites, Elite Plus and Zeniths to have in one venue. They could keep the Elite happy hour in all bars and have a separate venue for Elite Plus and Zenith. 

No way. We elites deserve the same evening CC HH venue like it already is/was. IMO if the top three tier level numbers are to high then the CC host needs to stop allowing hitchhikers (those that are not in the top three tier levels) from receiving any of the perks/benefits that are sharing a stateroom with someone that is in the top three. But unfortunately Celebrity  has temporarily (🤞) put a stop to the evening CC HH in the Sky Lounge. Bummer. And now with AI...

[jg51]

On 8/25/2021 at 2:26 PM, davekathy said:

... On the cruises we were on the Sky Lounge was prefect size for the CC HH. Even before AI you could go to most bars/lounges and get unlimited CC HH drinks during the two hour HH window. No snacks at the other bars/lounges like in the SL.   Have you forgotten?

.

You are ABSOLUTELY CORRECT, "davekathy," but, unfortunately, it appears that no one understood or agreed with you.  That is why we are chiming in.

 

For at least a year (leading up to the virus crisis), Celebrity got rid of the three-ticket silliness and simply opened wide the Captain's Club Cocktail Hour [CCCH] to ALL bars.  By doing this, they allowed all the Elites/Elite-Pluses that loved to spend the CCCH in the Sky Lounge to keep up that old "tradition" -- BUT they allowed all other elites to obtain drinks elsewhere (e.g., by the casino, at the Ensemble/Passport Bars, etc.). 

 

It worked perfectly -- for at least a year -- but then it was utterly ruined by the advent of "Always Included," which "shredded" the E/E+ CCCH benefit.

.

[the penguins]

8 hours ago, jg51 said:

.

You are ABSOLUTELY CORRECT, "davekathy," but, unfortunately, it appears that no one understood or agreed with you.  That is why we are chiming in.

 

For at least a year (leading up to the virus crisis), Celebrity got rid of the three-ticket silliness and simply opened wide the Captain's Club Cocktail Hour [CCCH] to ALL bars.  By doing this, they allowed all the Elites/Elite-Pluses that loved to spend the CCCH in the Sky Lounge to keep up that old "tradition" -- BUT they allowed all other elites to obtain drinks elsewhere (e.g., by the casino, at the Ensemble/Passport Bars, etc.). 

 

It worked perfectly -- for at least a year -- but then it was utterly ruined by the advent of "Always Included," which "shredded" the E/E+ CCCH benefit.

.

You are correct about the benefits being "shredded" in reality the only real benefit of reaching  Elite+ is now 1 extra bag of laundry. Now the "hard sell" X are aware of the problems created by AI and the impact it is having on Elite and above and especially those who don't drink alcohol. The system is under review make your views known to the CC now. Also when you next cruise make your views known to the CC host on board - on our recent cruise the Host had so many complaints she was having to forward them to Miami every day rather than just at the end of the cruise.

[upwarduk]

1 hour ago, the penguins said:

on our recent cruise the Host had so many complaints she was having to forward them to Miami every day rather than just at the end of the cruise.

Really, I hope I wasn’t one of them, although I did mention to Ingrid that we thought it a shame that the camaraderie was missing from the Sky Lounge 5-7pm.

She did tell us that the Happy Hour menu does have some premium drinks included, which I didn’t know. She also mentioned that all bars have C.C menus behind the bar. Thanks to cublet for the attached menu, as it was taken away before I could take a photo. I didn’t see it on the app.

So glad that we didn’t upgrade to premium.

Edited August 27, 2021 by upwarduk

[Orator]

19 hours ago, patty1955 said:

We don't sail to meet new friends or chat with strangers either. We did attend the happy hour for the free drinks and appetizers. Now that there's AI we don't need the free drinks and, since we couldn't always get served with the appetizers, we can pass

We are all different and looking for different things so I understand your preferences. But, I enjoy meeting new people and have met some strangers who have become friends. I've met some very interesting people and have learned quite a bit along the way. For me, meeting people is a highlight. The beast part of cruising is that you have choices based on your preferences.

[the penguins]

4 hours ago, upwarduk said:

Really, I hope I wasn’t one of them, although I did mention to Ingrid that we thought it a shame that the camaraderie was missing from the Sky Lounge 5-7pm.

She did tell us that the Happy Hour menu does have some premium drinks included, which I didn’t know. She also mentioned that all bars have C.C menus behind the bar. Thanks to cublet for the attached menu, as it was taken away before I could take a photo. I didn’t see it on the app.

So glad that we didn’t upgrade to premium.

I was referring to the affects of AI on the prices especially for Elite + and above who don't drink. Although I used the word complaint she used comment. She also said she knew more people were unhappy about the AI pricing but unless they told her specifically she couldn't report it. 

[the penguins]

1 hour ago, the penguins said:

I was referring to the affects of AI on the prices especially for Elite + and above who don't drink. Although I used the word complaint she used comment. She also said she knew more people were unhappy about the AI pricing but unless they told her specifically she couldn't report it. 

and finally since our return Celebrity has inadvertantly sent me a breakdown which shows cost of including the drinks and wifi under the AI system has added £140 per cabin per day to the average cost. Now for some passengers £70  a day for drinks and wifi will be a good deal. For Elite+ and above who don't drink alcohol and don't need unlimited wifi it is just an extra cost with no benefit. If you are in the former group fantastic. If you are in the latter then now is the time to inform Celebrity of your concerns.

[verizon]

This AI thing doesn't benefit to any member belongs to Captain Club.

Celebrity created the Captain club because they know it is important to their business to be loyal and keep coming back.

I really don't know what they are thinking to run a business without loyal customers.

[4774Papa]

1 hour ago, the penguins said:

and finally since our return Celebrity has inadvertantly sent me a breakdown which shows cost of including the drinks and wifi under the AI system has added £140 per cabin per day to the average cost. Now for some passengers £70  a day for drinks and wifi will be a good deal. For Elite+ and above who don't drink alcohol and don't need unlimited wifi it is just an extra cost with no benefit. If you are in the former group fantastic. If you are in the latter then now is the time to inform Celebrity of your concerns.

Yes, I have informed X of my view of AI.   Also, I find that NONE of the cruises that I like the itinerary have the poor option to skip the AI and do a guarantee cabin.   I have told X that prices are WAY higher than what I can find with Royal C. and Princess.   Unless changed, I  many never take another X cruise.

[the penguins]

3 minutes ago, verizon said:

This AI thing doesn't benefit to any member belongs to Captain Club.

Celebrity created the Captain club because they know it is important to their business to be loyal and keep coming back.

I really don't know what they are thinking to run a business without loyal customers.

Hopefully you have told them that direct

[patty1955]

1 minute ago, the penguins said:

Hopefully you have told them that direct

I let them know directly that I like the AI. I've always believed that basic drinks, wifi and gratuities should be included in our fare. 

With our Elite+ we enjoy the laundry, CC breakfast and debarkation lounge.

[LGW59]

3 minutes ago, patty1955 said:

I let them know directly that I like the AI. I've always believed that basic drinks, wifi and gratuities should be included in our fare. 

With our Elite+ we enjoy the laundry, CC breakfast and debarkation lounge.

I’ve said in the past that AI def works for me, I will get my $ worth for sure.  That said it clearly is not a one fits all solution.  They should seriously consider offering a cruise fare menu of sorts.

[verizon]

11 minutes ago, the penguins said:

Hopefully you have told them that direct

Why should I put MONEY in their pocket?