Sapphire casino tier no longer has suite type perks?

[fstuff1]

As Sapphire, i had access to the suite lounge (aka Michaels club) on the Silhouette in 2019.
 

this year (2021), i read a trip report from someone on the Millennium.
He said no suite type perks for his cruise. (he was told this in advance.)

Edited July 6, 2021 by fstuff1

[excitedofharpenden]

I'm guessing it's temporary because of Covid protocols and limiting the number in Michael's/Retreat Lounge to just suites. 

 

Phil 

[Alakegirl]

Zeniths are excluded now, too

[winslow050]

07-17-SP-Casino-BCC Flyer-Update 6 23 21.pdf

 

Not sure if I attached this the right way, received an email that states that Sapphire, Sapphire Plus and Ruby still have VIP Lounge Access. Received the email on 6/23/21

It might be different until the covid restrictions change

Edited July 6, 2021 by winslow050

[TeeRick]

16 hours ago, excitedofharpenden said:

I'm guessing it's temporary because of Covid protocols and limiting the number in Michael's/Retreat Lounge to just suites. 

 

Phil 

Probably true.  But I fail to understand the reason if everybody is vaccinated onboard.

[cruisestitch]

We all fail to understand the limitations on access to the Retreat.  Especially with ships not sailing full.

[WonderMan3]

4 hours ago, TeeRick said:

Probably true.  But I fail to understand the reason if everybody is vaccinated onboard.

Not enough staff to provide the level of service they want to achieve in The Retreat area?

[excitedofharpenden]

4 hours ago, cruisestitch said:

We all fail to understand the limitations on access to the Retreat.  Especially with ships not sailing full.

I agree.  Will just have to see how it pans out.  It might have been a knee jerk reaction at the start of post covid ship roll out that they can revisit.  At least I’m more comfortable that it is temporary. 

 

Phil

[bigbenboys]

7 hours ago, TeeRick said:

Probably true.  But I fail to understand the reason if everybody is vaccinated onboard.

I thought guest leaving out of Florida do not have to be vaccinated. Has something changed?

[Fouremco]

37 minutes ago, bigbenboys said:

I thought guest leaving out of Florida do not have to be vaccinated. Has something changed?

What gave you that idea? The ship must sail with a minimum of 95% vaccinated passengers.

 

Following CDC guidelines we will sail with all crew vaccinated and at least 95% of guests will be fully vaccinated.

All guests 16 years and older must be fully vaccinated with all COVID-19 vaccine doses administered at least 14 days prior to sailing.

All unvaccinated guests will require a complimentary COVID-19 test at the terminal. 

For Sailings from Florida
Guests 16 years and older (12 and older for any sailing on or after August 1st) who decline or are unable to show proof of vaccination at boarding will be treated as unvaccinated and subject to additional protocols, restrictions, and costs for COVID-19 testing.

[C-Dragons]

43 minutes ago, bigbenboys said:

I thought guest leaving out of Florida do not have to be vaccinated. Has something changed?

Unvaccinated guests will have to follow the onboard protocols that X has published.

 
https://www.cruisecritic.com/ab/agents/variation-a/news/6211/

[bigbenboys]

8 hours ago, TeeRick said:

Probably true.  But I fail to understand the reason if everybody is vaccinated onboard.

It is this statement "if everybody is vaccinated onboard". But not all guest are vaccinated, at least out of Florida 95%. This was pertaining to access to MC/Retreat. If the above statement is true. Then suite guest out of Florida that are not vaccinated do not have access to the Retreat? Where do unvaccinated suite guest have dinner? Can they use Luminae? All I've heard is a section of the MDR was set aside for unvaccinated guest.

I'm trying to understand what areas of the ship are off limits to unvaccinated suite guest.

[cruisestitch]

Info sent to travel agents

 

unvaccinated….separate dining areas (presumably carved out of Luminae), no gym, no spa

[jagoffee]

On 7/7/2021 at 8:53 AM, cruisestitch said:

We all fail to understand the limitations on access to the Retreat.  Especially with ships not sailing full.

I suspect that suites are not sailing empty as you suggest.  The vacant cabins are more likely other cabin categories.  
The Michael’s club can get fairly crowded at times.  I have not cruised on the Edge Class with the Retreat Lounge, so I am not about that one.

[djh]

On 7/7/2021 at 8:53 AM, cruisestitch said:

We all fail to understand the limitations on access to the Retreat.  Especially with ships not sailing full.

We were on the June 26th sailing and the suites were almost full. Luminae was busy, sometimes almost crowded. The retreat lounge and sun deck were also full alot of the time. Our personal retreat host (butler) told us for the next cruise, every suite was occupied. I think they are using move up offers to fill as many as they can and generate more revenue. There were loads of gamblers on our cruise, many of them high rollers , or at least compared to me. We are just sapphires.

[Orator]

I received a message from X that it hey will review the policy of not allowing Zeniths into the venue when they have confidence 

I’ll wait to book when they have confidence and they once again let Zeniths into MC/Retreat.

[WonderMan3]

8 hours ago, Orator said:

I received a message from X that it hey will review the policy of not allowing Zeniths into the venue when they have confidence 

I’ll wait to book when they have confidence and they once again let Zeniths into MC/Retreat.

 

You won't book a cruise unless you can get into one specific lounge?

[verizon]

Don't you think Zeniths deserved better if they already spent a quarter million.

It doesn't cost them any just to let Zeniths in the retreat MC/Retreat. 

[ReneeFLL]

4 hours ago, WonderMan3 said:

 

You won't book a cruise unless you can get into one specific lounge?

I was wondering the same thing.

 

1 hour ago, verizon said:

Don't you think Zeniths deserved better if they already spent a quarter million.

It doesn't cost them any just to let Zeniths in the retreat MC/Retreat. 

It can get very crowded at times in the MC/Retreat and take away from the suite passengers experience. Zeniths might have paid a "quarter of a million", but what does that average out per day? Suite passengers probably spend 4+ times per day than most Zeniths. Big difference.

Edited July 9, 2021 by ReneeFLL

[Alakegirl]

3 hours ago, ReneeFLL said:

? Suite passengers probably spend 4+ times per day than most Zeniths. Big difference.

Not necessarily true….some zeniths book modest rooms but are big gamblers.  Some book aqua and get daily massages and spa treatments.  Some eat every night in specialty restaurants and order expensive wines.  They end up spending lots more than some suite passengers.  And they do it over and over each year.  

[Orator]

8 hours ago, WonderMan3 said:

 

You won't book a cruise unless you can get into one specific lounge?

No, I won't book until Celebrity states by their actions that they feel that they have control of the situation. 

I know many Blue Chip members who reached Zenith.

Edited July 9, 2021 by Orator

[WonderMan3]

2 hours ago, Orator said:

No, I won't book until Celebrity states by their actions that they feel that they have control of the situation. 

I know many Blue Chip members who reached Zenith.

If I was to not cruise based on Celebrity taking things away I would never set foot on one of their ships again. I experienced free 2 free specialty dining visits taken away from Sky Suites. I experienced laundry and spa credits and specialty dining taken away from my BCC Sapphire status. I'm sure there have been more...

[jagoffee]

Since the newer Celebrity ships have a greater number of suites, it would not be a total surprise for Celebrity to assess the situation in the long term.  With the creation of the Retreat Pool area, I am not sure Celebrity ever intended for this to be available for zenith and frequent Casino guests.  I assume the discussion is centered around the Retreat Lounge portion of the Retreat. I could see a scenario where if the Zenith and VIP casino numbers continue to grow that it might be an issue impacting the Suite passengers.  I recall the days when the number of Elite’s on board was small enough for the CC happy hour to be in the Michael’s Club. It did not take too long for that to be a problem.  Even the Sky Lounge was too small evidently.
 

Still my guess would be that once the Covid type restrictions/protocols are totally gone, the Retreat Lounge will reopen to those that have been removed.

[excitedofharpenden]

39 minutes ago, jagoffee said:

Since the newer Celebrity ships have a greater number of suites, it would not be a total surprise for Celebrity to assess the situation in the long term.  With the creation of the Retreat Pool area, I am not sure Celebrity ever intended for this to be available for zenith and frequent Casino guests.  I assume the discussion is centered around the Retreat Lounge portion of the Retreat. I could see a scenario where if the Zenith and VIP casino numbers continue to grow that it might be an issue impacting the Suite passengers.  I recall the days when the number of Elite’s on board was small enough for the CC happy hour to be in the Michael’s Club. It did not take too long for that to be a problem.  Even the Sky Lounge was too small evidently.
 

Still my guess would be that once the Covid type restrictions/protocols are totally gone, the Retreat Lounge will reopen to those that have been removed.

Yes, it's the Retreat Lounge that is being spoken about. The pool area, where there is one, has always been out of bounds for anyone other than suite guests and understood. 

 

And it's not a guess about the return of the Retreat Lounge. It's what has always been said by Celebrity. It's just that some of us thought it would end up permanent. Recent communication would indicate that as they said at the start, it will return. 

 

Phil 

[jagoffee]

2 hours ago, excitedofharpenden said:

Yes, it's the Retreat Lounge that is being spoken about. The pool area, where there is one, has always been out of bounds for anyone other than suite guests and understood. 

 

And it's not a guess about the return of the Retreat Lounge. It's what has always been said by Celebrity. It's just that some of us thought it would end up permanent. Recent communication would indicate that as they said at the start, it will return. 

 

Phil 

Yes, I should have said as promised.  I am not at the Zenith level nor am I a frequent gambler, but I  usually cruise in a suite.  I have no issue with the policy.  If I did not read CC, I would have no idea that everyone in the Retreat lounge was not staying in a suite; nor would I care as long as it is not overly crowded.

Edited July 9, 2021 by jagoffee