Woo Hoo... Pinnacle now equals Zenith on Celebrity

[lovesthebeach2]

2 minutes ago, doghog said:

Beverage Package. Classic Beverage Package (CBP) or Premium Beverage Package (PBP). 

One last question (I promise) 

Is the classic Beverage package the same as what you posted for the drinks from 5-7?

sorry, but we’ve never been on X yet, but have 5 booked….👍

[Another_Critic]

Just now, lovesthebeach2 said:

One last question (I promise) 

Is the classic Beverage package the same as what you posted for the drinks from 5-7?

sorry, but we’ve never been on X yet, but have 5 booked….👍

https://www.celebritycruises.com/content/dam/celebrity/new-images/Drink-Packge-Comparison-Flyer.pdf

[ReneeFLL]

On 6/3/2024 at 4:05 PM, island lady said:

...Driving the 20 minutes from our home over to PC is a treat for us...driving that traffic to Ft. Lauderdale for 3 hours...not so much.  😉 

I know how you feel. We're just a few miles from PE so that's our preferred port if not flying to a port. I don't even like driving down to Port Miami which is just about 45 minutes away.

[doghog]

Just now, lovesthebeach2 said:

One last question (I promise) 

Is the classic Beverage package the same as what you posted for the drinks from 5-7?

sorry, but we’ve never been on X yet, but have 5 booked….👍

No. That beverage menu is specific to the CC HH. You will order your drinks from the regular bar menus. 

[verizon]

2 hours ago, FOXTROT said:

Why??????

Why not ? I did that ALL THE TIME

[nelblu]

You can keep X, I just updated a B-B Casino promo from an interior to an Ocean View balcony for a mere $170.  Looking forward to Utopia in August.😄

[doghog]

1 hour ago, island lady said:

 

LOL...I just assumed your post was a joke anyway.  😄  Like wearing a Carnival t-shirt on an RCI ship.  😉 

I sometimes wear different cruise line T-shirts or hats while on another cruise line. We cruise with Princess also but I don't own anything that says Princess on it. 😂 

Edited June 5 by doghog

[RFerrington]

2 hours ago, orville99 said:

From the comments on the X board, they are not really happy with the new program as it is

I'm getting the same vibe.  I guess I can't blame them.  There are a lot more of us coming their way than there are of them, coming our way.

[orville99]

2 hours ago, island lady said:

 

LOL...I just assumed your post was a joke anyway.  😄  Like wearing a Carnival t-shirt on an RCI ship.  😉 

 

 

 

 

 

Tongue firmly planted in cheek, just like when we used to bring our Disney cruise line beach bags on RCL cruises and our RCL ones on Disney.😅

Edited June 5 by orville99

[orville99]

1 hour ago, island lady said:

 

We definitely be keeping our newly inherited status match on X a secret.  😉 

We don’t even wear ours on RCL ships - I’m not even sure if we pack them any more😇

[The Fun Researcher]

3 hours ago, lovesthebeach2 said:

The upcoming cruises we have booked on X, we have premium package, BUT since we’re only Elite Plus with our status, just how bad is the nightly Happy Hour?  What made it a sick joke? Crappy choices, slow bar service?  I wish they would just do like a royal and allow 5 drinks. I remember back when we had to go to the D lounge to get the drinks….that was awful.

You cannot order the drinks if you are in the main dining room and the 5 to 7 PM happy hour lines up directly with dining times and many cases. It is just so limited in timeframe and the timeframe that they do offer it is very subpar.

[lovesthebeach2]

2 minutes ago, The Fun Researcher said:

You cannot order the drinks if you are in the main dining room and the 5 to 7 PM happy hour lines up directly with dining times and many cases. It is just so limited in timeframe and the timeframe that they do offer it is very subpar.

That’s what I thought.  Thanks. 

[verizon]

Even a 3 years old knows each is bettter.

6 coupon drink a day compare to unlimited drink.

1 free laundry bag compare to unlimited laundry.

[The Fun Researcher]

8 minutes ago, verizon said:

Even a 3 years old knows each is bettter.

6 coupon drink a day compare to unlimited drink.

1 free laundry bag compare to unlimited laundry.

For Zenith and Pinnacle sure, but for Diamond and Diamond Plus even a three year old can tell that it flips the other way

[karena1]

On 5/30/2024 at 10:39 AM, RFerrington said:

Agreed.  I wonder how they will enforce it.  I'm sure it will be a painful learning process just as it was for RC.  I'm surprised that they matched Pinn to Zenith, TBH.  

 

We have never sailed on X so I am not familiar with the Zenith benefits, but it would seem, at first glance, that the Zeniths going to RC will be getting a nicer upgrade than the Pinnies going to X.

I disagree.  We are Pinnacle and now Zenith on Celebrity.  The biggest benefit is the Premium Beverage Pkg is Complimentary!  On Royal, I get 6 free drinks so still pay for a beverage pkg.  Going to save a lot when we sail Celebrity since I don't have to pay for the Package.  

 

[lovesthebeach2]

9 minutes ago, The Fun Researcher said:

For Zenith and Pinnacle sure, but for Diamond and Diamond Plus even a three year old can tell that it flips the other way

I totally agree! Not even close to what we get in Royal.  If they want to push us out like they want with Ps, they should do better. 

[karena1]

On 5/31/2024 at 6:43 PM, Rackham said:

 

One way this could settle out is drink vouchers go away on Royal, Celebrity stops nightly happy hour, Pinnacles gain a deluxe beverage package on Royal, and Diamond/Elite & Diamond Plus/Elite Plus receive a significant discount on the deluxe/premium beverage package.

 

Would there be many angry people below P/Z with losing the drink vouchers or cocktail hour? You bet.

 

Would there be many people below P/Z who'd be excited that they can get the top tier beverage package at a nice price? You bet.

 

And RCG comes out ahead since they've turned a previous cost sink into a revenue generator for everyone who's not P/Z. I would be willing to bet there'd be less people bailing on the RCG companies to other lines than the number who'd claim to online with this change.

Getting the complimentary Premium Bev Pkg on Celebrity vs 6 drink vouchers is HUGE.  Also, looking at prices, I moved our July 2025 Freedom to Reflection and saved over $1200 on cruise fare alone, even with the $200 price cancellation  fee.  Now add the fact that I get a free Premium Bev Pkg vs $40% off with Royal and it is a fantastic savings.  

 

[lovesthebeach2]

5 minutes ago, karena1 said:

I disagree.  We are Pinnacle and now Zenith on Celebrity.  The biggest benefit is the Premium Beverage Pkg is Complimentary!  On Royal, I get 6 free drinks so still pay for a beverage pkg.  Going to save a lot when we sail Celebrity since I don't have to pay for the Package.  

 

And just the opposite for us D+.  The 5 drinks I get on Royal are enough for me,  but more important is I’m not limited nearly as what X would offer if I only used the free drink list.  
so I’m our case, we will be spending more. Much better deal for the elite and elite + to come to Royal

[karena1]

1 minute ago, lovesthebeach2 said:

And just the opposite for us D+.  The 5 drinks I get on Royal are enough for me,  but more important is I’m not limited nearly as what X would offer if I only used the free drink list.  
so I’m our case, we will be spending more. Much better deal for the elite and elite + to come to Royal

Totally agree, this status match benefits Pinnacles more than anyone else.  But since we are Pinnacle, I am thrilled with this change.

 

and I just canceled a Freedom for next July and changed it to Reflection.  Cruise Fare alone was $1200 less even with the $200 fee.  So add the free Premium Pkg and it is a no brainer.  Booking 4 more Celebrity short cruises for Aug 2025 and Jan/Feb/Mar 2026 as they are way cheaper than Royal.  Will still book Royal a lot.  I have 19 cruises booked with Royal through March 2026.  They have Itins that Celebrity does not, especially as we love cruising out of San Juan.  But now I will always compare the 2 and see which gives me the best price/itin.

 

[lovesthebeach2]

5 minutes ago, karena1 said:

Totally agree, this status match benefits Pinnacles more than anyone else.  But since we are Pinnacle, I am thrilled with this change.

 

and I just canceled a Freedom for next July and changed it to Reflection.  Cruise Fare alone was $1200 less even with the $200 fee.  So add the free Premium Pkg and it is a no brainer.  Booking 4 more Celebrity short cruises for Aug 2025 and Jan/Feb/Mar 2026 as they are way cheaper than Royal.  Will still book Royal a lot.  I have 19 cruises booked with Royal through March 2026.  They have Itins that Celebrity does not, especially as we love cruising out of San Juan.  But now I will always compare the 2 and see which gives me the best price/itin.

 

If we were Pinnacle I would also be thrilled.  And my thoughts are that Royal’s principal reason in making this change was to hope that more high level cruisers will move to X and then they will get more revenue from families with kids doing the short cruises. They probably would spend more buying wifi, drink packages and so on. 
I did think since there are lots of D+ that they would also love to see us move because we also get plenty of good benefits. 

[RFerrington]

1 hour ago, karena1 said:

I disagree.  We are Pinnacle and now Zenith on Celebrity.  The biggest benefit is the Premium Beverage Pkg is Complimentary!  On Royal, I get 6 free drinks so still pay for a beverage pkg.  Going to save a lot when we sail Celebrity since I don't have to pay for the Package.  

 

I concur.  I have since changed my mind since that original posting.  P to Z does seem to be a better deal.  There are some P amenities that I would miss - breakfast in CK or specialty restaurant and also BOGO specialty. But overall I think the P to Z move is an improvement.

 

I think the drink package is a great perk but honestly, I don't even use the 6 Pinn vouchers that I get now.  I think overall the drink package will go pretty much unused....but unlimited laundry is a nice perk !

Edited June 5 by RFerrington

[island lady]

4 hours ago, FOXTROT said:

We always tip for free drinks

 

Thanks...the cash tips are the best.  Goes to the waiter/bartender directly.  And no paperwork needed.  😉 

[island lady]

4 hours ago, ReneeFLL said:

I know how you feel. We're just a few miles from PE so that's our preferred port if not flying to a port. I don't even like driving down to Port Miami which is just about 45 minutes away.

 

Indeed...mostly we locals are all going to the same old...same old Carib ports...so why drive longer than needed.  😉 

[island lady]

3 hours ago, doghog said:

I sometimes wear different cruise line T-shirts or hats while on another cruise line. We cruise with Princess also but I don't own anything that says Princess on it. 😂 

 

What...no love boat hats???   😄 😄 

[island lady]

2 hours ago, orville99 said:

We don’t even wear ours on RCL ships - I’m not even sure if we pack them any more😇

 

I use mine at special C&A events....or boarding day with RCI.   Helps move things along.  😄