Rare hcat Posted September 26, 2023 #151 Share Posted September 26, 2023 19 hours ago, Jim_Iain said: Zeniths get Free Premium Drink Package (so that is not the issue), they also get free premium Internet and Free Laundry. Now if you are Zenith in a Suite you are forced to pay for all the same perks in your fare as oppose to the past when you could book without perks that we already have Some of you may have the same feeling shortly when some of the airlines like Delta start dropping access to their lounges for many that currently can access them. We felt like that with Royal C when Diamond level guests (Elite on X) were no longer given access to the lovely well stocked lounge which became "suite guests only". It was more disappointing when the Celebrity Elite lounge (used am and pre- dinner, mostly in Michaels) was summarily taken away for use by suite guests only. The new Cap Club lite breakfast.,usually in Tuscan was fine but the Cap Cocktail Party upstairs in the Nightclub was not the same cozy get together it had been. It was open to all levels of Cap Club Members, many coming just for the free drinks. I think now it is available at most bars so hardly a cozy gathering at all anymore. The Retreat area is now that same type of venue. With the shifting focus to suites, and other marketing programs, accumulating loyalty points to achieve higher Cap Club levels is no longer a great incentive or benefit. We appreciate our E + perks but all the focus is now on suites...sadly, the SS guests are now losing some of their perks. Who knows what's next.? Seems fickle! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zitsky Posted September 26, 2023 #152 Share Posted September 26, 2023 So as a SS passenger will I even notice a difference in the lounge? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyD3 Posted September 26, 2023 #153 Share Posted September 26, 2023 2 hours ago, sunnyBGI said: The official announcement “materialized”. Nice 🙂 Definitely good news, especially the line about opening auxiliary lounge spaces to accommodate the large numbers as opposed to the rumor of no access if crowded !!! Still waiting for my formal notice !!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mac_tlc Posted September 26, 2023 #154 Share Posted September 26, 2023 Coupled with the upcoming option to book Aqua with no perks, this gives Z’s an option to not pay for their perks as is the case with a suite. It’s just restoring what they had pre-Covid — and it was supposedly taken away because of Covid. The times we have been in the lounge there was space for more folks. BTW, I am E+ with little or no chance of ever becoming Z, especially given Celebrity’s current pricing, so this change doesn’t benefit me. mac_tlc 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare hcat Posted September 26, 2023 #155 Share Posted September 26, 2023 (edited) Not sure where we stand on our slow crawl to Z. I think it will be useful on the transatlantics where there may get more ZENITHS??? On our one time only Retreat cruise on BEYOND , lounge was a ghost town...other than sailaway day Wonder if they will be able to leave with bottles of water or soda, esp those without bev packages? Edited September 26, 2023 by hcat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruisestitch Posted September 26, 2023 #156 Share Posted September 26, 2023 Zeniths have beverage packages Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billc23 Posted September 26, 2023 #157 Share Posted September 26, 2023 44 minutes ago, hcat said: On our one time only Retreat cruise on BEYOND , lounge was a ghost town...other than sailaway day IMHO the retreat lounge/Michael Club on S/M class ships are much nicer social spaces than the E class and used by more people. The E class sun deck with bar is great and people tend to utilize that space instead of the retreat lounge. The M/S class sun deck - on the revolutionized ships - is not very appealing and is not used very much. So the "ghost town" feel varies according to ship class and some may enjoy the solitude anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix_dream Posted September 26, 2023 #158 Share Posted September 26, 2023 On 9/25/2023 at 4:42 AM, Georgia_Peaches said: There’s no way I’d ever let them do my laundry! Free or not. Just no. Not sure why not. Been having them do my laundry for years. No issues. Sometimes I am away from home for weeks at a time. No way am I packing 3 or 4 weeks of clothes in a suitcase, or 3. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix_dream Posted September 26, 2023 #159 Share Posted September 26, 2023 21 hours ago, markeb said: I don't know where you're flying. Rooms sometimes. Seats almost never. I've seen sold out flights with 50 elite flyers on the upgrade list (United)... DH just got upgraded to First Class yesterday. He and I both got upgraded on each leg of a round trip last week. I confess it doesn't happen as often anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix_dream Posted September 26, 2023 #160 Share Posted September 26, 2023 19 hours ago, NutsAboutGolf said: I believe they only care about bookings, don't really care if they're brand new or Zenith although probably prefer new so they don't have to give away free benefits. They claim to have strong bookings and on the RCI side, claim their newest ship still being built, the IoS, has possibly broken every booking record in the book. I'm extremely curious to see what's next after the E-class And new cruisers are much more likely to spend onboard for shops, shore excursions, photo packages etc., than seasoned cruisers 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare NutsAboutGolf Posted September 26, 2023 #161 Share Posted September 26, 2023 49 minutes ago, phoenix_dream said: And new cruisers are much more likely to spend onboard for shops, shore excursions, photo packages etc., than seasoned cruisers You're right. Another thing he mentioned in the earnings call was that they found that short cruises are a (his term) "on-ramp" for new cruisers. I'm sure the majority of their earning call covers RCI but X has progressively increased their short sailings since their restart 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zitsky Posted September 26, 2023 #162 Share Posted September 26, 2023 2 minutes ago, NutsAboutGolf said: You're right. Another thing he mentioned in the earnings call was that they found that short cruises are a (his term) "on-ramp" for new cruisers. I'm sure the majority of their earning call covers RCI but X has progressively increased their short sailings since their restart On ramp? Maybe for people wanting a booze cruise. Is that the direction they’re going in? I guess it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare markeb Posted September 26, 2023 #163 Share Posted September 26, 2023 8 minutes ago, zitsky said: On ramp? Maybe for people wanting a booze cruise. Is that the direction they’re going in? I guess it is. Maybe for people who don’t have a lot of time off? Why does it have to be a booze cruise? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrk2cruise Posted September 26, 2023 #164 Share Posted September 26, 2023 Actually well written and clear communication, unusual for Celebrity. Specifically stating that it's lounge only and doesn't include sundeck or Luminae which is what it has always been. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark_K Posted September 26, 2023 #165 Share Posted September 26, 2023 34 minutes ago, zitsky said: On ramp? Maybe for people wanting a booze cruise. Is that the direction they’re going in? I guess it is. I would sooner think an “on ramp’ for people new to cruising who want to try it out. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare DaKahuna Posted September 26, 2023 #166 Share Posted September 26, 2023 We have no problem with Celebrity restoring access to the Retreat Lounge/Michael's Club to Zenith members. We enjoyed a number of conversations with Zenith members when sailing in a suite on cruises prior to COVID. We received valuable information about the various ships and itineraries and helped us make choices for upcoming cruises. In our cruises post COVID the only times we have found the lounge to be crowded was for special events, e.g. magician show, senior officers event, prior to disembarkation in ports, and of course debarkation day. As many have reported most of the times the lounges have been very underutilized, in our opinions. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jim_Iain Posted September 26, 2023 #167 Share Posted September 26, 2023 Just received the official e-mail Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare DaKahuna Posted September 26, 2023 #168 Share Posted September 26, 2023 She also just announced that it was 'effective immediately' on the Webinar and told members who were currently on board to 'run to the lounge right now.' 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zitsky Posted September 26, 2023 #169 Share Posted September 26, 2023 1 hour ago, markeb said: Maybe for people who don’t have a lot of time off? Why does it have to be a booze cruise? Don’t ask me. Just ask people in the RCI forum what their short cruises are like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare DaKahuna Posted September 26, 2023 #170 Share Posted September 26, 2023 4 minutes ago, zitsky said: Don’t ask me. Just ask people in the RCI forum what their short cruises are like. I have noticed recently that Celebrity has been emailing me offers of numerous 3 to 6 day Caribbean cruises. I wish they would go back to doing more 12 - 14 day cruises. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zitsky Posted September 26, 2023 #171 Share Posted September 26, 2023 11 minutes ago, DaKahuna said: She also just announced that it was 'effective immediately' on the Webinar and told members who were currently on board to 'run to the lounge right now.' I’m waiting for my next SS cruise where they will tell me that “our” Retreat lounge is in the overflow area. What used to be called the buffet. Here are your food and drink tickets. The soda machine is included. 😭 🙂 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare DaKahuna Posted September 26, 2023 #172 Share Posted September 26, 2023 1 minute ago, zitsky said: I’m waiting for my next SS cruise where they will tell me that “our” Retreat lounge is in the overflow area. What used to be called the buffet. Here are your food and drink tickets. The soda machine is included. 😭 🙂 Wrong cruise line - there are no soda machines on Celebrity ! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
excitedofharpenden Posted September 26, 2023 #173 Share Posted September 26, 2023 Just had the official email and am delighted to see this Zenith perk back. The underhanded way the removal was done had me walking away from Celebrity, but am very happy that the new President of Celebrity has seen sense. Definitely now an option again. Phil 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jagoffee Posted September 26, 2023 #174 Share Posted September 26, 2023 5 hours ago, hcat said: We felt like that with Royal C when Diamond level guests (Elite on X) were no longer given access to the lovely well stocked lounge which became "suite guests only". It was more disappointing when the Celebrity Elite lounge (used am and pre- dinner, mostly in Michaels) was summarily taken away for use by suite guests only. The new Cap Club lite breakfast.,usually in Tuscan was fine but the Cap Cocktail Party upstairs in the Nightclub was not the same cozy get together it had been. It was open to all levels of Cap Club Members, many coming just for the free drinks. I think now it is available at most bars so hardly a cozy gathering at all anymore. The Retreat area is now that same type of venue. With the shifting focus to suites, and other marketing programs, accumulating loyalty points to achieve higher Cap Club levels is no longer a great incentive or benefit. We appreciate our E + perks but all the focus is now on suites...sadly, the SS guests are now losing some of their perks. Who knows what's next.? Seems fickle! A Zenith member not purchasing a suite (and purchasing a Cruise Only rate) has a very generous and valuable list of nice benefits IMO. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremiah1212 Posted September 26, 2023 #175 Share Posted September 26, 2023 2 hours ago, zitsky said: On ramp? Maybe for people wanting a booze cruise. Is that the direction they’re going in? I guess it is. If you need new or more customers you have to give them a shorter option. New to cruising and new to brand people almost always start with short cruises. That's been proven time and time again for years if not decades. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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