Unadvertised Captains Club benefits????

[FONToKNOW]

My wife and I are going on our honeymoon cruise on August 23 with X. We are greatly looking forward to the trip along the Eastern Mediterranean, but we are still trying to gather as much information as we can about the cruise line and what our expectations should be.

 

After a reading a few posts about X's Captain's Club, my curiosity has been piqued. I am not sure if we will become cruisers for life, but over the course of our married life I could see ourselves taking a cruise every couple of years (sacrilege, I know). Looking over the listed benefits on X’s website and a few CruiseCritic posters' general reviews of Captain's Club membership underwhelms me, but someone did mention a free wine tasting on board for Captain's Club members in a CruiseCritic post. I am wonder if there are any other unadvertised benefits that would entice me into joining.

 

Thanks.

[jezzdogg]

First off, you can join with no charge the Captain's club after completion of your first cruise. The benefits increase based on the number of cruises with the cruiseline. Classic with 1-5 cruises, Select with 6-10 cruises and Elite with 11+ cruises.

[ocngypz]

Sorry, but what you've read, is what you get. Underwhelming, yes.

[CajunLiner]

Hey, Fontenot! Gotta spell it phonetically? :D

[dkjretired]

Do not believe the CC benefits are underwhelming but you also have absolutely nothing to lose by joining the CC. There is no fee and you can join while you are on board for your first cruise. I appreciate the benefits from the Captains Club but then I am not really someone who wants something for nothing.

 

 

 

Don

[kelmac]

I'm a select member of the Captain's Club and it does seem to be a pretty good thing. On my last cruise we were invited to two special parties, one being a wine tasting session, and the other in Michael's Club with the officers/staff. In addition, we toured the Galley and got a "behind the scenes" back stage tour of the main theater. We have dined at the Captain's table three times (in seven cruises); although the membership in the Captain's club helps, it had little to do with being selected. One class upgrade, priority check in (this only helps in crowded conditions), special early reservations in the alternative restaurants (nice, because we have done three anniversaries there), discount coupons,...,

 

We received special incabin gifts, use of robes and "two for one" bets in the casino.

 

Enjoy! Kel

[nealberk]

Joining for us was a no-brainer. It cost nothing and did get us into the Captain's club party where we were ablr to meet some of the crew.

 

My FIL's CC membership seemed to be very helpful when we missed our flight to Ft. Lauderdale and had to make other plans to get to the ship. He called up CC, stated the problems, and Celebrity had a bus waiting for us to rush us to the ship before it departed. Don't know if it was because he was a CC member, because Celebrity is a classy operation, or what.

[xranger39@aol.com]

 

After a reading a few posts about X's Captain's Club, my curiosity has been piqued. I am not sure if we will become cruisers for life, but over the course of our married life I could see ourselves taking a cruise every couple of years (sacrilege, I know).

 

I was 23 when I took my 1st cruise with Celebrity. I just turned 30 and I am about to book my 5th. I must say that I am absolutely a cruiser for life. I have been extremely satisified with their product and although there are cruise lines that might have better offers to their past guests, I have found that the CC has already paid for itself. I have almost always used the coupons from the newsletters, I enjoy the priority embarkation, and I love the CC parties. Now that it is free to join after completing 1 cruise, the priority embarkation lines are longer, the parties more crowded, etc.

You will hear a lot of debate about the CC and if it's really worth it. Some people might want 2 for 1 rates, others may be satisfied just getting that oversized envelope in the mailbox every couple of months with the newsletter. Really, it's what you make of it. Certainly, having cruised with them exclusively 4 times has helped me out with some customer service issues I've had, but I say go ahead and join. It's free after all and sometimes the best things in life really are free!

[MISSYLOU]

We enjoy our CC membership. The little perks are nice most especially priority boarding. We have had the backstage tours, galley tours and special cocktail parties that were for select and elite members. Our last Infinity cruise we were invited to a "Wine Mixology" whatever. Not the usual wine tasting. It was held in the SS United States Restaurant and there were only six of us. At our table we each had six different glasses of wine with different blends in them and a seventh glass to drink while we learned about the contents of each wine. Then we got to blend the wines to come up with different variations. We drank all seven glasses just before we arrived at Hubbard glacier.:D :D We were quite warm for viewing the glacier. Anyway it was a fun and different experience.

 

The person who is incharge of future cruise bookings and Captains Club events goes out of his or her way to recognize CC members (that is if they are really good at it). Just little perks but nice. We may not be really special to Celebrity but they sure make us feel like we are.

[marvin]

One the better benefits, of being a Captains Club member, if you book your air through Celebrity you can request deviations and airline with no additional charge. I know this will suprise some but it was $400 cheaper to use celebrity air than trying to do it my self to go to London for our upcoming Northern Europe cruise. Marvin

[cruisebunny32]

We have also recieved coupons for future sailings. Also Priority embarkment and disembarkment is nice. Walking past a long line of people in line to get on first is always a perk with me! For Disembarkment we got a special room to sit and wait with pastries and juices. It is usually on the same level as the exit, so you don't have to wait on the steps or elevators. You can also get priority booking of excursions in advance of your cruise. Just do it on line. And advance booking of specialty restaurants. I also enjoy the slot coupons...you get a few extra bucks to spend in the slots free! They also gave us spa coupons as well.

 

Don't forget...when you go to the Captians club or Repeaters cocktail party, you can ask for any drink you like, not just the ones they are serving!

[skyview851]

When we joined Capt's club several years ago, it cost to join. I believe it was $25 or $35. I assume from these posts that that is no longer the case, which probably explains why on our last cruise, the CC check in line was longer than the "regular" line. Why did X make this change?

[hollym]

If you joined CC during the fee paid period, you should have received some renumeration. We did, but I've forgotten if it was in the form of an onboard credit or what. If you are in Founder's Classic, you have the added benefit of priority boarding.

 

Captains' Club is still nice, but since they've made it free, its value has definitely gone south. Priority boarding? You've got to be kidding. As said above, those lines are now the longest. When you make something free, you diminish its value automatically. Didn't your mother ever tell you there ain't no free lunch?

 

The wine tastings are apparently still being offered to Select and Elite members, but they are really not that special. I certainly would not go out of my way to get to one and skipped the one on our last cruise. We also skipped the Captain's Party. Been there, done that. Priority boarding and presailing specialty restaurant reservations are about the only benefits left. Occasionally we'll receive a coupon we can use. I hope someday Celebrity will pitch the free idea and go back to rewarding repeat cruisers. Till then, I'll not be holding my breath.

[Sky Sweet]

This is one of my pet peeves. If you book an inside or outside cabin, you get a free upgrade, but this privilege does not extend to Captain's Club Members who book the more expensive verandah and suite cabins.

[canderson]

If you joined CC during the fee paid period, you should have received some renumeration. We did, but I've forgotten if it was in the form of an onboard credit or what.

The "Founders" of our era got videotapes of their cruises along with the $35 membership. We originally signed up on the Galaxy some years back.

[Bru92]

When we joined Capt's club several years ago, it cost to join. I believe it was $25 or $35. I assume from these posts that that is no longer the case, which probably explains why on our last cruise, the CC check in line was longer than the "regular" line. Why did X make this change?

 

The change took place shortly after Celebrity was acquired by Royal Caribbean and ceased to be an independent company. Those who paid received a coupon for about $50 in either cabin discount or on board credit. I don't remember which but I remember using it about 5 years ago.

 

Mike

[skyview851]

If we got any compensation, I don't remember it, but that doesn't mean we didn't get it :) I didn't mind paying for the benefits, but I guess I was in the minority. I just need to take more cruises to up my rating!

[Deb C.]

No longer free wine tasting for CC members.

 

They did have a special sunset sailaway from Key West with champagne a couple weeks ago for select and elite members.

 

Also the CC cocktail party with the captain had a slip enclosed with the invitation that listed the drinks you were permitted to order. I had never seen THAT before! :eek:

So FONTokNow--just join and you can decide later if you wish to partake of any of the extras.:D

[canderson]

No longer free wine tasting for CC members.

As someone noted above, not that special in any case. They are now offering a "Cabernet Blending" seminar to the Select and Elite members. Should be interesting... especially for those of us with a special interest in wine or an old penchant for mixing everything in sight in our old chemistry sets!

[Hilary]

We're founder's members and got a $50 on board credit for our upcoming cruise...or at least they told us we did...guess we'll find out in a couple of weeks when we board!! We've always enjoyed the benefits of being CC members, but we haven't cruised since it became a free thing, so it'll be interesting to compare.

[DinaB]

Classic member here, but have yet to get one of them thar upgrades. We were told there were none to get.

 

Oh well. Does this get easier day of sail?

[Deb C.]

The CC upgrades are done at the time you place your reservation. For example: I picked out a category 5 cabin I liked, but only paid the category 6 price. I get the cabin I want, but also the discount.

 

Not sure if that is what you meant, but I do think that Dec.2 is too late for a Dec 4 sailing free upgrade based on Captain Club!

 

Enjoy your cruise this weekend!!

 

Deb C.

 

P.S. So glad to hear that the bread basket problem has been taken care of on Century.:rolleyes: Enjoy those yummy breadsticks!!:D

[waylook]

I'll be at my 1st CC party on the Summit in Jan. I want to make sure I understand the whole "any drink you like" part of it. :D How does it work? Do they have alcoholic beverages and you can also ask the bartender for other things? Do they have the standard spirits menu that they have everywhere else. Also, I'll be traveling with my sister and her husband. Can I bring them along? Thanks.

 

 

We have also recieved coupons for future sailings.

Don't forget...when you go to the Captians club or Repeaters cocktail party, you can ask for any drink you like, not just the ones they are serving!

[Deb C.]

When I received my invite to the Captain's Club cocktail party, they enclosed a separate card with the drinks that you could order. I had never been limited like that before this Nov. cruise on the Zenith. (I don't drink alcohol, but soft drinks was a option). Look like things have changed so don't get your hopes up.:(

 

There were 400 invitations to the Cap.Club cocktail party my week. (the next week 490 were to be onboard!) Once they add those with RCCL benefits, probably more than 1/2 the ship will be invited!:eek: How special will all this be then?

[SusieV]

Are the drinks free and unlimited at this party?

 

Hey, sounds like a pretty good benefit to me! We plan to join the CC on our cruise in March.

 

I agree that those of you with much more history with Celebrity deserve something more, though.