Pinnacle/zeniths ?

[Cruising89143]

16 minutes ago, verizon said:

Why send out Notifications.Isn't it easier to set up a rule for those with 1400 points to allow in the Lounge.If 1400 points is too low they can set it to 2800 points.

I don't think any one have problem with that as they have been so Loyal to the company.

This rule can also applied to Celebrity if 3000 points get over crowded in the lounge.

We all know Suite guests pay a lot more on the sailing.

Because on certain cruises they are a very high number of Pins. It’s up to the suite concierge to determine the number of Pins allowed in. Transatlantic cruises bring on a very large number and there could be a large number of top cruisers on board. All cannot fit in the suite lounge without affecting suite guests who should have priority. 

[verizon]

5 minutes ago, Cruising89143 said:

Because on certain cruises they are a very high number of Pins. It’s up to the suite concierge to determine the number of Pins allowed in. Transatlantic cruises bring on a very large number and there could be a large number of top cruisers on board. All cannot fit in the suite lounge without affecting suite guests who should have priority. 

Easy solution.In this case No one is allowed in the lounge except Suite Guests.

Edited August 15 by verizon

[Pennstatedj]

Just off the Beyond and as a zenith we were allowed in the suite lounge and the door opens when you get near the roof entrance. We did not go up stairs but could have and did not. 

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

I have never seen card access to Michaels or the retreat lounge.  Only sail on M & S class ships.  The concierges, however, know who belongs and who does not.

[C-Dragons]

24 minutes ago, verizon said:

Easy solution.In this case No one is allowed in the lounge except Suite Guests.

Agreed.

 

33 minutes ago, Cruising89143 said:

Because on certain cruises they are a very high number of Pins. It’s up to the suite concierge to determine the number of Pins allowed in. Transatlantic cruises bring on a very large number and there could be a large number of top cruisers on board. All cannot fit in the suite lounge without affecting suite guests who should have priority. 
Also agree. Considering the price Suite guests are paying they should have priority.

 

[Joker54]

2 hours ago, verizon said:

Why send out Notifications.Isn't it easier to set up a rule for those with 1400 points to allow in the Lounge.If 1400 points is too low they can set it to 2800 points.

I don't think any one have problem with that as they have been so Loyal to the company.

This rule can also applied to Celebrity if 3000 points get over crowded in the lounge.

We all know Suite guests pay a lot more on the sailing.

Your suggestion will not work since the number of Pinnacles allowed in the Retreat Lounge/Michaels club is based on space availability. If for example 30 Zeniths happen to be cruising then very few Pinnacles if any would be allowed in the club, if only 3 Zeniths were on the cruise then a higher number of Pinnacles would be allowed.

 

This is not based on how crowded the club might be at a particular point in time, rather what the potential for the club to be crowded / full.

 

This will never be a one size fits all

 

Cheers

[hcat]

1 hour ago, verizon said:

Easy solution.In this case No one is allowed in the lounge except Suite Guests.

or limit to  Suite guests and Zeniths, if space available for the Zs.....end the reciprocity for Pins..They are "gifted in " while Zeniths earned it & suite guests paid for access!

 

probably more Pins than Zs so not really an  equal perk!

[doghog]

IMO,  Zeniths not in a suite shouldn't be allowed in the Retreat Lounge. Pinnacles not in a full suite shouldn't be allowed in the Suite Lounge on RC.

 

Both phases of the reciprocal program are only adding to the increasing issues and numbers of the three top tier cruisers. Perks/benefits will start to erode away.    

Edited August 15 by doghog

[Orator]

The debate has ended. Zeniths were removed  from MC/Retreat and restored! The President of Celebrity Cruises has said Zeniths wouldn't be removed again. Some Suite people should get used to it!

[canderson]

2 hours ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

I have never seen card access to Michaels or the retreat lounge.  Only sail on M & S class ships.  The concierges, however, know who belongs and who does not.

Rumor has it that our mug shots are distributed around the ship.  Just for fun, I'm going to try to visually confirm on this next cruise.

[cruisestitch]

I don’t know if they are distributed by wide, but certainly the suite concierge is have the photos of all who are supposed to have access.  

[C-Dragons]

11 minutes ago, Orator said:

The debate has ended. Zeniths were removed  from MC/Retreat and restored! The President of Celebrity Cruises has said Zeniths wouldn't be removed again. Some Suite people should get used to it!

Really, Orator…?

SMH

[C-Dragons]

24 minutes ago, canderson said:

Rumor has it that our mug shots are distributed around the ship.  Just for fun, I'm going to try to visually confirm on this next cruise.

We were told by one of the Retreat managers that the staff who  work there are required to memorize the faces of the guests who have access so that they know who has access and to welcome them by their names.

I do like your idea though. 😎

Edited August 15 by C-Dragons

[DaKahuna]

46 minutes ago, canderson said:

Rumor has it that our mug shots are distributed around the ship.  Just for fun, I'm going to try to visually confirm on this next cruise.

 

 It is not a rumor.  I have watched the Retreat Concierge's refer to the book while sitting at their desk when someone they did not recognize walked in.  

 I have also seen them check the book at embarkation to help them identify who is in the upper suites and get escorted aboard the ship. 

[jelayne]

1 hour ago, canderson said:

Rumor has it that our mug shots are distributed around the ship.  Just for fun, I'm going to try to visually confirm on this next cruise.

We walked up to the bar on the Retreat Sundeck shortly after boarding.  The bartender called my DH by name.  We didn’t remember seeing him on previous cruises so DH asked how he knew his name.  The bartender said they have photos of all guests that they are to review.  He had been reviewing photos just before coming to the bar to start his shift. 

[wrk2cruise]

I've been called by name in various areas all  over the ship.  It always makes me turn and wonder.

[canderson]

10 minutes ago, wrk2cruise said:

I've been called by name in various areas all  over the ship.  It always makes me turn and wonder.

Had this happen 2 X cruises ago.  It was about 7 days into a 14 nt TA.  We had yet to set foot into the MDR on that cruise, but something on the menu took our attention, and we decided to drop by for lunch.  The M'd greeted us by name at the entrance ... we'd never seen him before.  Was a little freaky.

[phoenix_dream]

4 hours ago, doghog said:

IMO,  Zeniths not in a suite shouldn't be allowed in the Retreat Lounge. Pinnacles not in a full suite shouldn't be allowed in the Suite Lounge on RC.

 

Both phases of the reciprocal program are only adding to the increasing issues and numbers of the three top tier cruisers. Perks/benefits will start to erode away.    

I agree that perks will likely start to erode away, especially the Pinns getting all the Zenith perks even though it was way easier to achieve that status on Royal than what we had to do to get Zenith on Celebrity.  You are welcome to your opinion but I definitely do not share it as regards Zenith in the lounge.  It is very hard to achieve Zenith (again, unlike achieving Pinnacle) so there are rarely many Zeniths on any particular cruise (an occasional exception, like some TA's).  It is a perk there for a long time, then taken away even though we were told it was temporary, and finally, finally restored and once again promised not to be taken away.  I don't like comparing it to Royal because there are very few perks for Zeniths going to Royal as opposed to Royal being matched to Zenith!

[doghog]

1 hour ago, phoenix_dream said:

I agree that perks will likely start to erode away, especially the Pinns getting all the Zenith perks even though it was way easier to achieve that status on Royal than what we had to do to get Zenith on Celebrity.  You are welcome to your opinion but I definitely do not share it as regards Zenith in the lounge.  It is very hard to achieve Zenith (again, unlike achieving Pinnacle) so there are rarely many Zeniths on any particular cruise (an occasional exception, like some TA's).  It is a perk there for a long time, then taken away even though we were told it was temporary, and finally, finally restored and once again promised not to be taken away.  I don't like comparing it to Royal because there are very few perks for Zeniths going to Royal as opposed to Royal being matched to Zenith!

Very familiar what it takes to achieve Zenith. The numbers of Zenith just multiplied due to phase two of the reciprocal program. I'm not a fan of the reciprocal program. Celebrity's CC top three tier levels are going to experience what RCs CAS top three tier levels has been experiencing. The Retreat Lounge will end up doing what RC is doing in the Suite Lounge. Limiting Pinnacles based on the number of suite passengers for that specific cruise. I can see all cruises (no matter the itinerary) having an increase of Zenith numbers.

[dcbiker97]

6 hours ago, canderson said:

Rumor has it that our mug shots are distributed around the ship.  Just for fun, I'm going to try to visually confirm on this next cruise.

They do have it. We once saw it laying on the counter at the Gelateria on Summit. It was actually opened to our mugshots.  

[markeb]

So I’m a lowly E, thanks to reciprocity. (Although only 9 points from E on CC alone). I’ve also lived through Continental/United and Marriott/Starwood. Funny thing about those. It was nuts for awhile then largely normalized. Yes, those are mostly annual programs (I’m lifetime with Marriott/Bonvoy). It is almost impossible to get an upgrade on United these days and they’ve restructured their qualifications multiple times. I think the barbarians at the gates are equally likely to just blow over. I know it’s no fun to just relax, but can we wait until it’s an actual problem?

 

BTW, Laura’s answer to this was spot on. It’s an RCG program. Arguably always has been. Not a Celebrity program. RCG wants to retain customers. They’ve expanded it across RCG because their data showed their customers were likely to switch lines without a retention incentive. Rewarding loyalty is a side effect. 
 

Now if you want to see real craziness, try to get a seat in a United Club as a member or Star Alliance Gold with all the “Credit Card Members”. At least RCG isn’t doing that!

[canderson]

25 minutes ago, dcbiker97 said:

They do have it. We once saw it laying on the counter at the Gelateria on Summit. It was actually opened to our mugshots.  

What cabin class were you in at the time?

[island lady]

On 8/14/2024 at 2:49 AM, chemmo said:

On our last experience on RC (Oasis) the suite lounge was full of elderly Pinnacles who camped out. I am elderly myself but have never camped out in one space on a ship. Many of them spending a big chunk of the day there….It was the only time I have ever seen an atmosphere in a lounge between suite guests and higher tier level guests. Some suite guests were coming into the lounge and finding that there were simply no seats and were (perhaps understandably) complaining to the concierge. Three pinnacles were ‘guarding’ six seats despite the intervention of the concierge. Never seen anything like this on Celebrity but there again Zeniths don’t make an effort to stand out, I wouldn’t usually have an idea in a Celebrity lounge who were suite and who were Zenith’s. Not so in our experience on RC…

 

I think Celebrity’s idea of deciding pre cruise is sensible. As people on other threads have said, the Retreat lounge is often quiet and extra guests don’t matter but it is at least then protected from an overload…

 

If Pinnacles are not allowed in and Celebrity know it perhaps they will set up an alternative venue/part venue a few times a cruise? It could be a reasonable compromise to set up something similar to what used to be the Elite event in the Sky Lounge…

 

We are D+ and E+ and never likely to make top tier on either so no axe to grind…A difficult decision to make for Celebrity…Reward the loyal customers by allowing access or protect those who have booked a suite room…Hopefully, they will find an acceptable compromise.

 

Looking forward to seeing responses. Our next cruise is on Reflection. On our last cruise on this ship Michael’s Club was far more busy than we had ever seen before. We assume because there are so many more suites. It didn’t spoil our enjoyment of the lounge but certainly some nights it could not have taken any more guests and drinks service was slower. The only criticism we would make is that on this cruise the concierge staff were far less ‘personal’. No time to ask guests how their cruise was going etc, they just constantly had queues…Hopefully as they make their decisions they will take into account factors such as number of suites.

 

I am an elderly Pinnacle.  I do not "camp out" in the SL or CL....and I also book suites.  We mix it up in various lounges around the ship including some time in the SL or CL.   

 

How do you know which of those "elderly Pinnacles" you saw in the lounge were not booked in suites?  Did you interview every one of them?  

[island lady]

On 8/14/2024 at 6:25 PM, Straughn said:

When the changes to the Captain’s Club/Crown & Anchor society were announced, my first thought was that there was going to be an issue allowing Pinnacle access to The Retreat lounge. I am probably going to get

beaten up for what I am about to say.  There should be no crossover between Pinnacles and Zenith. Have the benefits transfer up to Elite+ and Diamond+. The top cruisers (Zenith and Pinnacle) on each line should only have those privileges on the line they earned them on. In other words, a Zenith on X is not automatically a Pinnacle on Royal and vice verse. 

 

RCI came up with that....not the Pinnacles or the Zeniths...(or you) have control over that new program.  Their cruise ships...their rules. 

[chemmo]

1 hour ago, island lady said:

 

I am an elderly Pinnacle.  I do not "camp out" in the SL or CL....and I also book suites.  We mix it up in various lounges around the ship including some time in the SL or CL.   

 

How do you know which of those "elderly Pinnacles" you saw in the lounge were not booked in suites?  Did you interview every one of them?  

I am sure most Pinnacles are not ‘campers’. The point I was trying to make is that if you do get a group who do this then it does impact the enjoyment of others.

 

I knew the group were all Pinnacles, not in suites because they told me and many others…Several were missing the cold of the Northern States and had booked several b2b cruises from mid January until mid February and good luck to them! They had secured good deals and with the Pinnacle benefits they were saying that this was their regular January/February plan. I was thrilled they were having a good time. I had no personal issue with them.

 

However, we had flown across the pond to get a bit of sunshine following a difficult time and had paid out a substantial sum for suite perks. At the time I had some mobility issues following surgery (on crutches).  Some nights we wished to enter the lounge for a drink prior to dining in Coastal Kitchen and it was frustrating that seats were really hard to come by. On several evenings one or other of the concierge staff would encourage us (and others) on entry to immediately sit in Coastal Kitchen as there was no seating available. On some nights we did this but it wasn’t our plan…We had boarded expecting to be able to enjoy a comfortable lounge space.

 

To reiterate, I have no issues with a group of Pinnacles enjoying their perks! What I do object to is a system that results in those of us who have paid $$$$ for a suite not being able to sit and relax in the suite lounge…

 

In our experience we have never had any issues on Celebrity with crowding in the suite lounge. I hope the measures Celebrity take in monitoring numbers secures this. I also hope that if Pinnacles are restricted access that Celebrity can ‘compensate’, as suggested in my post, by offering an alternative space.

Edited August 16 by chemmo