Elites and above: do the perks keep you enticed?

We’re cruising on another line this year where we won’t have any recognition points so we’ll know if we miss the perks shortly. However, they do have self-service laundry onboard which I will use;

As you know, I tried this 'other' line... I tried the self serve laundry and was very impressed - the room was very clean... :)

(I missed the drink package - not for alcohol, but for coffee - I bought a coffee card which worked well.)

I've been thinking about this a long time and comment on it during the post cruise survey. But I cannot offer any suggestions of new perks they could offer. Any ideas we should suggest to celebrity?

I'm one of those people who would appreciate more rewards given to Captain club members that are meaningful... But I'm not sure what those rewards would be [emoji23]. I'll start thinking...

Some things that quickly comes to mind - additional onboard credit? Spa treatments or shore excursions?

The lack of another "attainable in our lifetime" level after elite + actually is costing celebrity some $'s. We are ambivalent to the differences between concierge and a 1A cabin, so we find little reason to move from 3 pts a day to 5 pts a day. For the most part, we now book regular balcony cabins on S Class ships...generally 1A's with the larger balconies. If we were working towards another level, we might consider (and pay the $'s) for concierge cabins.

Good point!

I find it an interesting observation that once some loyalty members get to either Celebrity Elite+ or RCCL Diamond+ they feel they will not likely achieve the next level Zenith or Pinnacle. Too many points to the next level. We are in the same situation now on both lines too. Do you enjoy the hard earned perks at these levels or try other cruise lines? If another level is added between E+ and Zenith would the challenge of getting to that new level keep you with Celebrity? Or does it depend on the new perks (perhaps minimal) offered at the new level? Does Celebrity want to lose E+ members to other lines because they make more money selling cabins to cruisers without those extra perks? This does not apply to E+ suite customers of course since they pay a lot and don't get much value from E+ perks due to the suite perks offered. Your thoughts?

As a long-time Celebrity cruiser, I thought I would never look elsewhere. I'm Elite+ with no possibility of reaching Zenith, and Celebrity shows no sign of changing that situation, so points don't make much difference to me. Suite prices are really getting out of hand. Recently accepted an offer from MSC that was a no brainer--they match my status on Celebrity, so I end up in their highest tier, and I was able to book a balcony suite in the Yacht Club with NO single supplement. $2,000 vs. the $8,000 for the next sky suite I have booked on Celebrity. Think the sky suite is going to go bye bye. Why should I pay $6,000 more on a ship that doesn't even have the ship within a ship concept with a private pool, etc.? The Yacht Club suite comes with free drinks, a specialty restaurant dinner, and internet I believe. Haven't checked on the internet yet, but my sister is currently sailing on the same ship in the Yacht Club and she will report back Saturday.

So, no, the current loyalty tier system is not keeping me loyal to Celebrity.

We also are E+ and share your opinion re sailing with X. Friends of ours sail primarily with Oceania and love to mention their perks gave them a free cruise, I think at the same level as Zenith. Not sure that's provided on Celebrity?

You have to take a kajillion cruises to get to the level to get a free cruise out of Oceania plus the kajillion dollars spent We have 100 days on Oceania and another 22 day booked and that still won’t get us past bronze level that gives you $100 OBC. We sail Oceania because it’s a great experience, great service and food but not for points.

You have to take a kajillion cruises to get to the level to get a free cruise out of Oceania plus the kajillion dollars spent We have 100 days on Oceania and another 22 day booked and that still won’t get us past bronze level that gives you $100 OBC. We sail Oceania because it’s a great experience, great service and food but not for points.

Oceania does not play the loyalty game because they don't have to!

We cruise with Celebrity because we like the ships and love the service. However, we NEVER cared about the points. We will be Elite+ soon. Just as someone else mentioned above, we went to Elite breakfast once and weren´t thrilled and on all of our cruises we maybe went to the social hour maybe two or three times. Also we don´t use any of the other perks.

I like to say: we cruise for fun and not for points.

So are the points what make us stick to Celebrity? No! Celebrity just checks all our boxes - that´s it.

However, we are not married to Celebrity. Next year we have a cruise booked on HAL because we liked the itinerary more (Japan).

We are elite+ and love the benefits and use all of them. We will not reach zenith level but love Celebrity product, the staff and ships. We would like more variety in itineraries as we have done them. The benefits are difficult to give up to try other ships.

We cruise with Celebrity because we like the ships and love the service. However, we NEVER cared about the points. We will be Elite+ soon. Just as someone else mentioned above, we went to Elite breakfast once and weren´t thrilled and on all of our cruises we maybe went to the social hour maybe two or three times. Also we don´t use any of the other perks.

 

I like to say: we cruise for fun and not for points.

So are the points what make us stick to Celebrity? No! Celebrity just checks all our boxes - that´s it.

 

However, we are not married to Celebrity. Next year we have a cruise booked on HAL because we liked the itinerary more (Japan).

I’d be really interested to read your review once you’ve taken your cruise with HAL to Japan - it’s on our bucket list ;).

Loyality benefits are factored into vaction decisions but they are not weighted highly.

Time is precious and it is slipping away. That affects us. Not interested in the same, over, and over, and over.

Maximizing the experience across different cruise lines, land based tours etc is the priority.

It seems as cruising is on a high, the cruise lines water down the loyalty benefits as well as the ship board experience. Fine, but we are not loyal to any service provider cruise or otherwise.

It is amazing the experiences to be had when you stop being loyal to a cruise line and experience many other cruise lines.

Loyality only to the almighty $ bill, ie a "deal" or "lowest cost" - does not mean your investment and time is maximized.

No matter what you do, have a safe travel!

Loyality benefits are factored into vaction decisions but they are not weighted highly.

 

Time is precious and it is slipping away. That affects us. Not interested in the same, over, and over, and over.

 

Maximizing the experience across different cruise lines, land based tours etc is the priority.

 

It seems as cruising is on a high, the cruise lines water down the loyalty benefits as well as the ship board experience. Fine, but we are not loyal to any service provider cruise or otherwise.

 

It is amazing the experiences to be had when you stop being loyal to a cruise line and experience many other cruise lines.

 

Loyality only to the almighty $ bill, ie a "deal" or "lowest cost" - does not mean your investment and time is maximized.

 

No matter what you do, have a safe travel!

Very well said. My feelings exactly. I feel that the quality of the vacation or cruise far surpasses the quantity of perks/loyalty benefits to be had. Or the $$$ spent. Or the ego's fondness of being to be able to say "I am Elite+ almost Zenith" ;)

We are both elite and with Celebrity there are expectations that are met.

We make use of the Tuscan breakfast, it is relaxing; the laundry, our last cruise with two cabins, this was handy. The internet is used and we partake in the 5 - 7 time even with a drink package for the first hour only due to dining time. Zenith will not happen, too big of a gap.

For us, if we had a drink package, we make use of it, but would never buy it directly.

Been on the MSC Seaside Yacht Club last month, while good itself, there were unresolved issues and the ship/line is not for us.

One has to look at the total package and not be confined to Celebrity unless it benefits the cruiser. We are turning into last minute cruisers vs. outlandish pricing when booking ahead.

Perks are OK. Wouldn't turn them down. But the elegant ships and great service make us, Pinnacle on RCI. booking more and more Celebrity cruises.

After my next cruise i will be Elite. I am an older Captain's Club since I paid $35 to join several years ago. I generally travel solo so if they had given me credit for all those cruises I would have already hit Elite.

I do like the priority embarkation so I can skip a little ahead. (Once I'm at the port I want to get on board quickly.) I do look forward to the laundry perk when i get it. The itinerary is more important to me. I have cruised on 5 lines. I pick based more on itinerary than anything. I jumped to 3 star Mariner on HAL last year. They have some nice European cruises i want to try. A river cruise in my future too.

Mostly for me, a cruise is my vacation. I get away from work/home. I see new and different scenery, someone else is making my dinner and cleaning my cabin. I can be entertained nightly. I only have to unpack once. I can relax. Perks are nice and i appreciate the ones i get. Happy vacation to you all!

michelle

I was getting ready to respond to the OP's post, when the above post from lvz2cruz got me thinking of things from a different persepctivfe (for which I thank you). Here's my take:

 

I love collecting points in general, and I really looked forward to climbing the ranks of celebrity's Captain's Club.

 

Once I achieved Elite, Elite+ seems so far off, and Zenith is unachievable for me. So, I wish celebrity would put more levels between Elite and zenith, with more measurable and significant benefits.

 

With the go big/go better offers which are regularly available, the unlimited drink package removed the perceived benefits of the elite cocktail hour or breakfast.

 

So after thinking more about this, I realized I'm loyal to celebrity because of the product and the quality, and their loyalty program really isn't what brings me back Cruise after Cruise. All this to say, I wish the captain's club benefits were in fact more significant.

 

I do find the laundry benefit(s) the most significant and useful!

Actually the difference between elite plus and zenith is huge. That is where another level should be IMO

We reached Zenith last year. It wasn't a goal, but just happened. Now that we reached Zenith I admit that I enjoy the free laundry, free internet, premium beverage package and Michael's Club access. When we were Elite+ I appreciated the two bags of laundry per person and the internet minutes.

But what actually kept us returning to Celebrity through the years was the fact that Celebrity was the first mainstream line to tackle smoking by limiting outdoor smoking venues and stopping interior smoking. My husband hates the smell of cigarettes, but I have allergy issues. Being around smoking makes me very congested.

And I agree -- there really needs to be a loyalty level somewhere between Elite+ and Zenith.

After my next cruise i will be Elite. I am an older Captain's Club since I paid $35 to join several years ago. I generally travel solo so if they had given me credit for all those cruises I would have already hit Elite......

michelle

Not sure what you mean by traveling solo so if they had given you credit for all those cruises, you’d already be Elite. We travel as a couple but only get individual points which would be the same as a solo. Do you think couples get more points? Or am I missing your point, which is quite possible...Im a bit dense.

Den

Not sure what you mean by traveling solo so if they had given you credit for all those cruises, you’d already be Elite. We travel as a couple but only get individual points which would be the same as a solo. Do you think couples get more points? Or am I missing your point, which is quite possible...Im a bit dense.

 

Den

Denny, they didn't start giving double points for traveling solo until a year or two ago. I think that's what she is saying -- if way back then when traveling solo she got double points credit, she would be Elite. That's my take.

Mine too.When they pay double fare, then it is only fair that they get double points. I'm glad they have started this for solo travelers.

Seashell have you ever asked Celebrity if they would give you the double points for some of those past cruises?

Celebrity very clearly spelled out to solo travelers that double points would not be retroactive.

I started cruising in 1993 on X then switched to HAL for about 10 years. Came back for the food and service. I still like the Celebrity product, even though a lot of things have changed or diminished over the years. I'm happy to receive double points but I still think I ought to get double minutes and double laundry. I'm a solo who books C3 cabins as I inch to the next level. At that point, I'll probably start booking 1As again, at least I hope they stay 1As. I noticed that the present 1A cabins on Deck 9 (9292, etc.) are showing as C3s on Oct 2019 Eclipse Hawaii cruise. Haven't taken the time to see when/if it applies across the fleet.

Actually the difference between elite plus and zenith is huge. That is where another level should be IMO

And I agree -- there really needs to be a loyalty level somewhere between Elite+ and Zenith.

I also agree with this. Does anybody know the reasoning behind not having another level between Elite plus and Zenith? What is the logic behind having such a huge gap?

We reached Zenith last year. It wasn't a goal, but just happened. Now that we reached Zenith I admit that I enjoy the free laundry, free internet, premium beverage package and Michael's Club access. When we were Elite+ I appreciated the two bags of laundry per person and the internet minutes.

 

But what actually kept us returning to Celebrity through the years was the fact that Celebrity was the first mainstream line to tackle smoking by limiting outdoor smoking venues and stopping interior smoking. My husband hates the smell of cigarettes, but I have allergy issues. Being around smoking makes me very congested.

 

And I agree -- there really needs to be a loyalty level somewhere between Elite+ and Zenith.

Interesting thread, but I would agree that for me Celebrity's smoking policy is a major reason we cruise Celebrity as noted by this post and some others as well.

I also agree with this. Does anybody know the reasoning behind not having another level between Elite plus and Zenith? What is the logic behind having such a huge gap?

Maybe Captain's Club will add that new level some day to reduce the gap. But keep in mind that a new level = additional perks for those that achieve it and more cost to Celebrity. There are a lot of Elite+ CC members out there.

But what actually kept us returning to Celebrity through the years was the fact that Celebrity was the first mainstream line to tackle smoking by limiting outdoor smoking venues and stopping interior smoking. My husband hates the smell of cigarettes, but I have allergy issues. Being around smoking makes me very congested.

That hits the nail on the head for me about what keeps me sailing Celebrity more than (although I heartily appreciate) the CC perks. When we sail other lines I not only can't use the casinos, but have to go up or down a deck to avoid walking through it. I also can't use other parts of the ships. Since it's not an issue of dislike of smoke, but rather that it seriously causes a throat reaction, each time I sail another cruise line I appreciate Celebrity all the more.