Is it time for Celebrity to rethink the Elite Cocktail Hour?

With the 1,2,3 Go type promos being the norm and a large majority (I'm guessing) of passengers already having a free beveridge package, does Celebrity need to rethink it's Elite Cocktail Hour?

While I appreciate the perk available to Elite and above, it really doesn't mean much if you already have free drinks. While it's nice to socialize and meet the Captain's Club Host/Hostess, the lure of free drinks and cheap appetizers isn't what it was when you weren't getting free drinks already.

Would improving the quality of drinks be a good idea? How about some first rate appetizers (Shrimp cocktail, bacon wrapped scallops, etc)?

So far I've been lucky and there has always been an Elite Hour. I can't imagine how useless this is if you already have the drink package.

We never use the elite Coctail hour. It may seem silly, but it is usually at the far front of the ship, and dinner is at the far back.

It is difficult for me to do that much walking, especially since we get free drinks with the package anyway. We love the Summit, and enjoy the Rendezvous lounge with music or trivia before dinner. We enjoy our drinks there, and walk directly into the dining room.

The new and upcoming youngesters dont know it's broke, so what needs to be fixed!:D

No, leave it the way it is!

As for improving the appetizers, we already have a thread on how we should tell them how to make more money off of us,so don't dare ask for more!

I find it amusing that so many say that drinks are free with the beverage package. Nothing could be further from the truth. Just look at cruise fares.

No, leave it the way it is!

 

As for improving the appetizers, we already have a thread on how we should tell them how to make more money off of us,so don't dare ask for more!

 

I find it amusing that so many say that drinks are free with the beverage package. Nothing could be further from the truth. Just look at cruise fares.

Dont know about ya'll, but it takes a lot lower % of my take home pay to pay for a cruise now then it did in 1987!

We enjoy the Elite party. We've never had the drink package, so that might influence my opinion. I like the appetizers. My only complaint is that our last cruise we couldn't get the servers to bring any appetizers. Even flagging them down didn't work. If it happens again, I'll talk to the CC hostess.

We have never attended the elite cocktail party. So if Celebrity was to make any changes it wouldn't bother us.

Back in the day, I used to wish for a better grade of ales/beers and DW would have liked a better sparkling wine.

With the 123 pkgs, we no longer take advantage of that expression of Celebrity's gratitude.

We have never attended the elite cocktail party. So if Celebrity was to make any changes it wouldn't bother us.

I think that the vouchers for drinks are the way to go,personally, once the drink packages were introduced it sort of does away with the 'Perk'

It was nice to meet fellow cruisers in the Sky lounge but there are so many

Elites and above sailing on most cruises these days (doesn't that say something about how good sailing on Celebrity is) that nearly every sailing is coupons,

And as most have the drink package why go ???

Anyway the Happy Card as described by one of my Canadian friends

to me is the best thing Celebrity has introduced , apart that is from the Wonderful

People who always make my vacations special

No, leave it the way it is!

 

As for improving the appetizers, we already have a thread on how we should tell them how to make more money off of us,so don't dare ask for more!

 

I find it amusing that so many say that drinks are free with the beverage package. Nothing could be further from the truth. Just look at cruise fares.

You are totally correct in your statement that the Beverage Package is NOT FREE! You and I and everyone else is paying for the 123Go in the increased fares if you really look at it. However, when the word 'FREE' is used, we ASSUME that it means you do not pay for it. LOL

I think that the vouchers for drinks are the way to go,personally, once the drink packages were introduced it sort of does away with the 'Perk'

It was nice to meet fellow cruisers in the Sky lounge but there are so many

Elites and above sailing on most cruises these days (doesn't that say something about how good sailing on Celebrity is) that nearly every sailing is coupons,

And as most have the drink package why go ???

Anyway the Happy Card as described by one of my Canadian friends

to me is the best thing Celebrity has introduced , apart that is from the Wonderful

People who always make my vacations special ��

What is the Happy Card?

After using the coupons I would like to see Celebrity allowing us to use the coupons anytime during the evening. Not only from 5-7PM. They are allowing you 3 drinks per night, so allow 3 drinks per night anytime during the evening. You cannot use them in the MDR and some of the bars.

That is what I would like to see changed.

What is the Happy Card?

Hi Oxo,

The happy card is the sticker that say you

have the Premium Drinks Package

🍷🍻🍷👍😀

Always makes me Happy anyway 😀

Hi Oxo,

The happy card is the sticker that say you

have the Premium Drinks Package

🍷🍻🍷👍😀

Always makes me Happy anyway 😀

Never heard it refereed to as that. Thanks!

We don't drink enough to make the drinks package valuable to us, but love the drink vouchers - we can take a glass of wine into dinner, which is usually the only time we drink.

I wouldn't care if the lounge disappeared since it seems to me there is not a lot of socializing being done. People tend to not mingle. I eat enough at meals that I don't need the appetizers.

But I would hate to see vouchers go away.

TA's are still being excluded from the 123 Beverage Promotions, therefore Elite Happy Hour is still a very nice perk that Celebrity gives us :) Has anyone that lives in the States recently received any additional perks other than OBC for booking a TA lately? Don't mean to hijack the thread, I am just curious, thanks.

After using the coupons I would like to see Celebrity allowing us to use the coupons anytime during the evening. Not only from 5-7PM. They are allowing you 3 drinks per night, so allow 3 drinks per night anytime during the evening. You cannot use them in the MDR and some of the bars.

That is what I would like to see changed.

Totally agree with this! We have early dining at 6 so it does not leave much time to enjoy the drinks and also kids club are closed from 5-7 so hubby and I can not go together if there is a Elite party unless we pay the kids club and have them take the kids to dinner. Just really bad timing...:(

Hey!!! Just because YOU think it's a waste doesn't mean that some of us don't love it!! And we thank you to kindly leave it alone!

We are Elite and the only alcohol we drink on the ship is at the Elite party, using vouchers when they are provided. We usually sail on TAs that do not offer the package, and in any case I am loathe to pay extra to have it included since we are perfectly happy with the Elite cocktail perks. Don't fool yourself into thinking the beverAGE package is free--the costs of cruises have increased dramatically since it was added. . .

I would prefer them to handle it the way RCI does. There is a dedicated room but the hours are longer, and there are appetizers on the sideboard (at least on FOS there were). You also get drinks loaded onto your sea pass (I think it is three, but can't recall), so you don't need to go to the Diamond Lounge unless you want to. They are valid during Diamond Lounge hours. They are also available EVERY day, something that is frustrating on Celebrity by its absence.

I do think that with the continual classic package perks added (and I agree that nothing is 'free'!!), for many of us that perk is no longer of much value. For us, that was one of the key perks that came with being Elite or higher. Now not so much. It likely means more to people who book lower end cabins, as they may choose pre-paid gratuities as their perk as they do not get all three, and then they can have drinks with the Elite hour.

To me the best of all worlds would be to do what RCI does, and additionally let guests choose between that perk and something else of similar value (maybe a free shore excursion up to a certain dollar amount, or unlimited laundry, or a free picture package of a certain amount).

On Silhouette now. Have Premium drink package and access to Michael's Club. Go to Elite Hour every night it's held to meet friends. Go to Michael's Club after visiting Elite Hour.We have different priorities. Some go for drinks and snacks. Some go to meet people and conversation. No rights or wrongs, just individual preferences.

When your have everyone with the drink package the cocktail hour is simply a time to get together with old and new friends. Definately NOT useless.

There are still lots of cruises without drinks built into the cruise (TAs for example) and for these it provides a great benefit of a coule glasses of wine or a drink. I do like coupons when there are too many Elites.

Phoenix Dream - I just got off a RCCI cruise and there was nothing else offered as an alternative. On RCCI you have a dedicated lounge that was available 24/7 - wonderful quiet place!

I haven't been to the Elite cocktail hour since the inception of the all-inclusive beverage packages. Even when they had to be purchased before the 123go! promos etc. I saw the value in them, and thus would rather enjoy a martini at the Martini bar, or a Molecular bar cocktail, or even a sip of wine at the Cellarmasters.

Thus, the Elite cocktail hour benefit is largely of no use to me (though exception is noted for transatlantic voyages etc).

While fares have gone up for some cabin categories, you can still get some remarkable deals and I would not agree that you are de facto always "paying lots more" for the 123go! etc. I was able to book a Summit voyage later this year for $869 CAD in AquaClass accommodations, with $300 OBC, Prepaid Grats, Beverage Package, and TA amenities including specialty dining.

At this kind of price point, with this level of inclusions, how can you go wrong?

From my perspective, I'd rather Elite and higher members perhaps be offered an alternate amenity in lieu of the happy hour - perhaps a free upgrade to Premium package if you purchase (or have included from a promo) the Classic package? Just some thoughts. I know that some guests like the atmosphere and social aspect of the Elite cocktail hour, so I do recognise that it's not a one-size-fits-all answer.

Thus, the Elite cocktail hour benefit is largely of no use to me (though exception is noted for transatlantic voyages etc).

 

While fares have gone up for some cabin categories, you can still get some remarkable deals and I would not agree that you are de facto always "paying lots more" for the 123go! etc. I was able to book a Summit voyage later this year for $869 CAD in AquaClass accommodations, with $300 OBC, Prepaid Grats, Beverage Package, and TA amenities including specialty dining.

 

At this kind of price point, with this level of inclusions, how can you go wrong?

 

From my perspective, I'd rather Elite and higher members perhaps be offered an alternate amenity in lieu of the happy hour - perhaps a free upgrade to Premium package if you purchase (or have included from a promo) the Classic package? Just some thoughts. I know that some guests like the atmosphere and social aspect of the Elite cocktail hour, so I do recognise that it's not a one-size-fits-all answer.

What about those who do not buy or get a Classic Package?

What about those that do not drink enough to want to buy a Classic Package?

The cruise that you got for $869 CAD in AquaClass with $300 OBC, Prepaid Grats and Beverage Package seems to good to be true. Not saying it isn't. However, I check our two Celebrity cruises for 2015 on Equinox and Eclipse and the price difference between cabins was much greater than the price of your cruise.

So, enjoy your cruise. Deals like that are far and few between. At that rate, Celebrity is loosing money. OBC $300+Crats ~$85+Classic Package ~$500 = $885.

I assume that they are hoping that you spend a lot in the shops, etc. LOL

What about those who do not buy or get a Classic Package?

What about those that do not drink enough to want to buy a Classic Package?

What about those that buy the package and don't get any real benefit? Playing devils advocate here :p And yes, I completely hear you - there's no one-size-fits-all answer I think.

Though I understand that the figure is around 70% of guests now on a typical sailing these days have some kind of a beverage package (and a percentage of those that don't have it presumably could have had it but elected to take one of the other "choices" instead). Once the pendulum swings to the "majority" - I guess Celebrity will have to take into account the evolution and the fact that more and more guests have a package these days.

The cruise that you got for $869 CAD in AquaClass with $300 OBC, Prepaid Grats and Beverage Package seems to good to be true. Not saying it isn't. However, I check our two Celebrity cruises for 2015 on Equinox and Eclipse and the price difference between cabins was much greater than the price of your cruise.

So, enjoy your cruise. Deals like that are far and few between. At that rate, Celebrity is loosing money. OBC $300+Crats ~$85+Classic Package ~$500 = $885.

I assume that they are hoping that you spend a lot in the shops, etc. LOL

It's a repo cruise, so they usually go for a lower price point, but as of today the prevailing rate is $1629 CAD for same cabin. Booking early and booking on a group rate can yield some big savings.

I won't be doing any shopping. But they always get their pound of flesh from me in the Casino ;)

YYC/FFA, first off, that is a terrific deal! If you are talking about Summit out of San Juan, they are usually very cheap, although I have not seem them on the specials recently.

While I do agree that you can still find an excellent price if you try hard, if you look at the published prices of a balcony room, they are WAY over what they were a year ago. In fact, if you monitor the eXciting deals, you will notice that they are now, in general, about what the normal price was for a comparable room last year.