Elimination of Celebrity Sapphire + benefit in The Retreat

[FastandFurious]

Boarded the Celebrity Millennium today in St. Maarten. As a sapphire tier gambler went to the Retreat ( formerly Michael’s Club ).  Entry is a published benefit and has been for a long time. It is also a benefit for higher status gamblers ( Sapphire Plus & Ruby ). Was nicely told that entry privileges had been revoked one week ago. I was not happy since the published benefits clearly still provide for entry. Long story short I tried to make a logical argument that this was not right especially when the staff was put in the position to deny entry when the official benefits indicated eligibility. The casino host emailed Miami for clarification. Will find out tomorrow what the answer is. The Retreat concierge and casino host were very apologetic. They let us stay tonight but who knows what will happen tomorrow. I will say the club was not crowded at all so any capacity limits are a totally bogus rationale for denial of entry.

[CTSandy]

That’s very disappointing, I am also sapphire and that was a very nice benefit ☹️  Has anything else changed?  Did you still get the free play, drink package, and internet?  

[FastandFurious]

When I first received my traditional sea pass card no indicated drink package eg. “CALL” in lower left corner. Went to CS they called casino received confirmation. New card prepared. Re internet. Went to internet lab. Told I needed code. Went to casino and received a strip of paper with code. Gave it to internet lab. They installed 7 weeks worth of internet. Will find out today about free play and The Retreat. I think because almost everyone has All Included it takes a few more steps for a comped cruiser with no AI to get set up.

[mattie123]

I checked last week and the Sapphire benefits had been changed on the tier page.  $500 in freeplay and a classic package with no Retreat access.  Sapphire+ gets premium package and $1000 in freeplay .  Loved going to Retreat but as long as Call is noted noted on my seapass card when I board I'm okay.  

[soflacrzr]

On 6/6/2021 at 9:30 AM, FastandFurious said:

When I first received my traditional sea pass card no indicated drink package eg. “CALL” in lower left corner. Went to CS they called casino received confirmation. New card prepared. Re internet. Went to internet lab. Told I needed code. Went to casino and received a strip of paper with code. Gave it to internet lab. They installed 7 weeks worth of internet. Will find out today about free play and The Retreat. I think because almost everyone has All Included it takes a few more steps for a comped cruiser with no AI to get set up.

Appreciate the updates and the info.

Thanks again and safe travels.

[FastandFurious]

When I first received my traditional sea pass card no indicated drink package eg. “CALL” in lower left corner. Went to CS they called casino received confirmation. New card prepared. Re internet. Went to internet lab. Told I needed code. Went to casino and received a strip of paper with code. Gave it to internet lab. They installed 7 weeks worth of internet. Will find out today about free play and The Retreat. I think because almost everyone has All Included it takes a few more steps for a comped cruiser with no AI to get set up.

[FastandFurious]

It’s been confirmed that Sapphire level is no longer eligible to enter the Retreat. I told them to change their webpage ASAP because otherwise the poor staff onboard who had no role in this decision will bear the brunt of the disappointment. Some type of notice should have been sent out to all the Sapphires instead of hearing “Oh we received an email last week and you are Not allowed to enter” . Not a huge deal but some type of notice would have been nice.

[neenee61]

Well thats a bugger. I actually enjoyed he afternoon tea and pre dinner drink in Michaels/Retreat.  More importantly was very handy having the concierge escort us off early when in a tender port or needing to be first off for a tour.  Was very handy when we visited Port Stanley (Falkland Islands) and needed to be on 1st tender. Oh well will be great just to get on a cruise.  In Aust we don't look like being able to fly international until at least mid 2022.  Fingers crossed for my Japan, Oct 2022 cruise.  Have a great cruise

[CTSandy]

3 hours ago, neenee61 said:

Well thats a bugger. I actually enjoyed he afternoon tea and pre dinner drink in Michaels/Retreat.  More importantly was very handy having the concierge escort us off early when in a tender port or needing to be first off for a tour.  Was very handy when we visited Port Stanley (Falkland Islands) and needed to be on 1st tender. Oh well will be great just to get on a cruise.  In Aust we don't look like being able to fly international until at least mid 2022.  Fingers crossed for my Japan, Oct 2022 cruise.  Have a great cruise

Will definitely miss having the escort off when disembarking.  Also loved the tea in the afternoon at The Retreat Lounge.  
 

[mattie123]

Just looked at tier page, Priority Debarkation is still included for Sapphire and above.  Since we can't access Retreat for this, hoping we will have a notification with our luggage tags.

[hoadred]

On 6/5/2021 at 8:33 PM, FastandFurious said:

Boarded the Celebrity Millennium today in St. Maarten. As a sapphire tier gambler went to the Retreat ( formerly Michael’s Club ).  Entry is a published benefit and has been for a long time. It is also a benefit for higher status gamblers ( Sapphire Plus & Ruby ). Was nicely told that entry privileges had been revoked one week ago. I was not happy since the published benefits clearly still provide for entry. Long story short I tried to make a logical argument that this was not right especially when the staff was put in the position to deny entry when the official benefits indicated eligibility. The casino host emailed Miami for clarification. Will find out tomorrow what the answer is. The Retreat concierge and casino host were very apologetic. They let us stay tonight but who knows what will happen tomorrow. I will say the club was not crowded at all so any capacity limits are a totally bogus rationale for denial of entry.

 

Hey #FastandFurious - that's a real shame that Celebrity didn't communicate this specific change in perks. Not a very nice way of treating their most loyal guests and gamblers! How was your casino experience on Celebrity's first "new normal" cruise? Did you notice any differences in terms of odds, slot selection etc or was it just like old times? Grateful for any observations as I'm booked on Summit in a few weeks. Thank you.

[FastandFurious]

I had to show the Casino Manager ( Danella ) the real time tier benefits on my IPAD . Once she saw that benefit was still posted she contacted Miami for one time /last time admittance. She was great but the regular Retreat folks then resented our entry so we were treated like we had rabies. Was pretty uncomfortable. But I got pissed so I kept  going in. The server however was great. She did not know we were the “untouchables”. STAY AWAY from the slot machines. I could have just tossed $100 notes off the fantail and had more fun. Retreat was largely empty the whole time even though all the Suites were occupied. IMO very stupid change in policy. Earlier today canceled 4 future cruises. Folks at tables were having fun. Drinks were free but for the first time server asked for cabin # ???? even though I was actively losing $$$$$$. Any other questions let me know. Good luck

[FastandFurious]

Oh on craps the pass line unless you bet $25 you can only do double odds behind the line.

[Alabaster Cruiser]

Did you happen to notice the table minimums on like 3 card?

[FastandFurious]

Sorry I did not but there was a lot of whooping it up at the card tables. They were packed every night. 

[winslow050]

Did you ever get your free play?

[FastandFurious]

Yes but see my earlier post on hoops. The tier benefits page is no longer up so be careful about any expectations. One last whine. I think a Sapphire must put 100K through the tables/machines in whatever qualification period is then applicable. To take a benefit away such as access to the Retreat makes no economic sense but is merely to make the Suite experience more “ exclusive “ IMO.

[CTSandy]

I am sure that they took the Retreat away because suite passengers did not want non-suite people in there.  In fairness, if I was paying $$$ for a suite, I suppose I would want associated benefits to be exclusive.  I really will miss popping in there:(

[neenee61]

Given that the Sapphire benefits are changing and more than likely not so good cruise offers might be time to book exclusively thru UR Comped.  

[WonderMan3]

Zeniths had their access to the Retreat removed as well. I believe it was left as it will be “revisited”, but that benefit is gone for now.

 

Not surprising on the Blue Chip side of things though. They have been chipping away at the tier benefits every year. My spouse and I always sail in suites so the Blue Chip benefits at this point are pretty useless since we have basically everything already included.