Suggesting a Captain's Club Level above Elite Plus but below Zenith

[Plato123]

Not a new topic but.....

We are Elite Plus and can not see ever getting to Zenith but might stay with Celebrity if they would tease us with another loyalty level with expanded benefits, whatever they might be.

Maybe called an Elite-X level or an Apex level?

As it stands we will be jumping ship after our next Celebrity cruise (and not just for the perks).

 

[jelayne]

So would you stay with X if they added a level and gave that level the E+ perks and maybe 50% off a dinner in a specialty restaurant and a extra dry clean item?

Edited November 9, 2022 by jelayne
Typo

[gold1953]

This has come up often . I would not switch cruise lines once I get Elite Plus ( in January)  I want to enjoy the little offering they give us

[Orator]

Little to no hope of getting a new level. They have been reducing benefits, 

[Northern Aurora]

Several years ago I was seated beside the current head of loyalty during a Zenith lunch.  She told me this suggestion is mentioned frequently.  Captain's Club hosts will say the same.  Since past behavior can be a predictor of future behavior I don't realistically seen an additional loyalty tier between Elite+ and Zenith being created.

[D. B.]

I won't live long enough to get to Zenith so I will have to be satisfied with my 2 bags of laundry...😢

[shipshape sam]

57 minutes ago, gold1953 said:

This has come up often . I would not switch cruise lines once I get Elite Plus ( in January)  I want to enjoy the little offering they give us

Enjoy.  We are Elite Plus and love the Celebrity product/service, but Captains Club no longer holds any sway on decision to book.  At least for us, AI eliminated a lot of the benefits we utilized on Celebrity.  I think getting a discount on Specialty Dining package and 2 bags of laundry are all we would potentially use going forward and it is rare if we even use laundry service.

 

But, I hope you get to sail often on Celebrity.  

[someguyfl]

I'm at Select now, and should earn Elite after my next cruise plus some Power Up surveys that will likely come in the next month or two ... 

 

Looking at the list of benefits ... The only benefits I see any value in at Select level [all assuming a double occupancy cabin, and a 7 night cruise]:

Free scoop of Gelato (value $10?)

Discount on Beverage package (Value $100?)

Pressing of two items per person (Value $30)

Discounted bag of laundry per person (Value $20?)

So ... $160... Maybe that's a 4% discount given the current prices.

 

At Elite, we add

One dry clean item (Value $50?)

One free bag of laundry instead of discounted (Value $30 above the select level)

Happy Hour alcohol (Value $300, being generous and assuming my wife drinks a bunch)

So, $540 ...  Maybe a 13.5% discount. Okay, this is significant.

 

At Elite Plus:

Complementary premium coffees - but I'll stil end up paying for Premium Non-Alcoholic package most likely to get access to the fresh juices and unlimited San Pellegrino. (Value somewhere between $0 and $50)

Doesn't add much

 

Zenith:

Premium beverage included ($1000 value)

Premium Wifi included ($300 value)

$1300 additional value


My point is, Select is almost nothing. Elite does have some value ... Elite Plus doesn't bring any value at all ... Zenith again has a lot of value.

You want something that is half way between Elite and Elite Plus? What do you want that benefit to be - Complimentary high-fives from staff between hours of 8PM and 9PM?

 

I sail on Celebrity because I enjoy the product, and I do think Elite will add some value once I get there... but I don't expect to ever earn Zenith. If there was a cruise I'd rather take on another line, I would. (eg: I'm considering Princess for Alaska in 2023 - I've already done it twice on Celebrity Solstice, but want to see some additional ports that Celebrity does not visit)

I'd love it if they added some more benefit to the existing levels, but there's no reason for another tier, IMHO.

Edited November 10, 2022 by someguyfl

[someguyfl]

11 minutes ago, shipshape sam said:

 At least for us, AI eliminated a lot of the benefits we utilized on Celebrity.

AI is no longer the default, and now costs extra again. So, the benefits of Elite happy once hour do come into play once again.

[jelayne]

You have some items off in pricing.  A bag of wash and fold laundry is $50 if they offer a “fill the bag” special which doesn’t happen on many sailings.  Dry clean item range is more like $10 -17   Gelato $6.  
 

For Elite you didn’t mention our favorites the 30% discount on upgrading internet and the 90 free premium internet minutes or the 15% discount beverage package upgrade    Then there is Priority Tendering,  value priceless.
 

[someguyfl]

Just now, jelayne said:

You have some items off in pricing.  A bag of wash and fold laundry is $50 if they offer a “fill the bag” special which doesn’t happen on many sailings.  Dry clean item range is more like $10 -17   Gelato $6.  
 

For Elite you didn’t mention our favorites the 30% discount on upgrading internet and the 90 free premium internet minutes or the 15% discount beverage package upgrade    Then there is Priority Tendering,  value priceless.
 

I wasn't putting effort to get to 100% exact, merely pointing out that most of the value is achieved at Elite, with very little at Elite Plus... and Zenith is so far off that it's probably not even worth considering for me.

Yes the added discounts on internet/bev at Elite level over Select is worth something, but not as much as the Happy Hour benefit. Laundry and Gelato ... I never did get my free Gelato even after a bunch of cruises (though I will finally do it this time in 2 weeks)... And as I'm only Select, I never got to experience the Elite laundry benefits. I do usually get my suit pressed, though. 

[maggie.1008]

Does anyone know how many Elite Plus and Zenith’s there are ? We have 1900 points and we will never make Zenith as we cruise on the smaller ships , on other lines. 

[cruisestitch]

Supposedly still under 500 total Zeniths

[Northern Aurora]

24 minutes ago, cruisestitch said:

Supposedly still under 500 total Zeniths

 

 

When we were called in November 2020 by shoreside concierges to inform the Zeniths that the Zenith Loyalty Level would no longer allow access in to Michael's Club the person who called us told me the number of Zeniths at that time.   I can account for at least 12 folks who became Zeniths since the resumption of cruising.  The number may be approaching 500 folks who have over 3000 loyalty points.  There has been at least one death that I am aware of.  But more importantly, from Celebrity's point of view, is that the number of folks reaching Zenith seems to be accelerating.

[wrk2cruise]

32 minutes ago, Northern Aurora said:

Celebrity's point of view, is that the number of folks reaching Zenith seems to be accelerating.

 

Should be no surprise to them with PUP,  double points etc.    Double points in a PH or above suite and you get there pretty quickly.  They are responsible for diluting the program.

Edited November 10, 2022 by wrk2cruise

[goofysmom99]

35 minutes ago, Northern Aurora said:

Celebrity's point of view, is that the number of folks reaching Zenith seems to be accelerating.

From my point of view, I spent a whole lot of money to get there, especially factoring in how long I cruised paying double for cabin but receiving single points.

[Orator]

The growing group of new Zeniths appear to be Blue Chip members who get comp cruises as well as the points. At some point, it might have arrived, the “top cruiser” will be Suite guests who do not pay for the cruise. Have absolutely no problem with this. X can do whatever they want.

[Northern Aurora]

35 minutes ago, Orator said:

The growing group of new Zeniths appear to be Blue Chip members who get comp cruises as well as the points. .....

 

Well -- my perception is that the growing number of new Zeniths are NOT Blue Chip members who reached the level on comped cruises.

[Arizona Wildcat]

58 minutes ago, Northern Aurora said:

 

Well -- my perception is that the growing number of new Zeniths are NOT Blue Chip members who reached the level on comped cruises.

Agree.  Have cruised with lots of Zeniths.  None were in the casino except for a couple hands of blackjack.  Most walked through.

[alcpa1]

I have to laugh about the newest rendition of the E+ and Zenith rant.

Just today, while working on an upcoming cruise via my cruise planner I glanced at my cruise history. I'd forgotten how long we have cruised on Celebrity (30 + years.) Even more stunning is the fact that those early cruises earned ONE point. Some were even longer than one week. So I guess I should thump my chest and skip up the ramp, turn to those below me and do a Rocky dance when I board next month. 

[someguyfl]

1 hour ago, alcpa1 said:

I have to laugh about the newest rendition of the E+ and Zenith rant.

Just today, while working on an upcoming cruise via my cruise planner I glanced at my cruise history. I'd forgotten how long we have cruised on Celebrity (30 + years.) Even more stunning is the fact that those early cruises earned ONE point. Some were even longer than one week. So I guess I should thump my chest and skip up the ramp, turn to those below me and do a Rocky dance when I board next month. 

IIRC, when Celebrity changed the program over from the old qualification system to the new one, they multipled the number of points by some amount ... and also if the minimum number of points for your current level was higher than that number, they just set your number of points to that.

I'm fairly certain after the adjustment I had less than 150 points, but was just barely Select, so they increased my points to 150.

[Northern Aurora]

1 hour ago, Arizona Wildcat said:

Agree.  Have cruised with lots of Zeniths.  None were in the casino except for a couple hands of blackjack.  Most walked through.

 

I am trying to think of which or any Zenith we know who spends any time in the casino.  Maybe avoiding the casino is why folks can cruise enough to reach Zenith.  That and avoiding the bidding on the Park West "fine art."

[Cruise a holic]

My DH and I are at about 1600 points.  We are Senior Citizens and who knows if we will ever reach Zenith. I also believe that a new level of increased benefits should be added that is between elite plus and zenith. I would also like more benefits added per each category.

 

We really enjoy sailing on Celebrity, and Royal and the increased benefits would IMO be a great incentive for those who sail on celebrity.

 

 

Edited November 10, 2022 by Cruise a holic

[Pennstatedj]

We once thought we would never get to Zenith, but during our next cruise starting on Nov 21 on the Silhouette we will cross the 3k point mark and become Zenith. So there is hope. I have no idea what will happen and when, but we will enjoy the benefits on the next cruise in January .

[verizon]

8 hours ago, Orator said:

The growing group of new Zeniths appear to be Blue Chip members who get comp cruises as well as the points. At some point, it might have arrived, the “top cruiser” will be Suite guests who do not pay for the cruise. Have absolutely no problem with this. X can do whatever they want.

I agree with you 100%

A friend of mine in AMETHYST TIER received many free cruises from Blue Chip Club.He will be on a Free cruise at the end of the month after his reposition cruise from NYC.

He told me he will be Zeniths with 5or 6 more cruises.

In future the Zenith club will be full of cruisers from Blue Chip Club and also from the TA groups.