Elite Status: What is the big deal?

[Oxo]

Cruise line benefits are very subjective to what you may want, use and/or desire. We cruise Celebrity, Princess and RCI mainly. Each line has their benefits that we may use or not. I listed the benefits for Celebrity and Princess below since most of the conversation has been about those two cruise lines. Some we do not use. Some have been cut back to become somewhat minimal.

 

I post this strictly as a reference for your information. Not to get into a contest.

 

Celebrity Elite Member Benefits* (300-749 earned Club Points**) -Select membership plus:

• Access to the Captain's Club Lounge for daily coffee house style breakfast

• Evening Cocktail hour (excludes embarkation and evening of Senior Officers' Party)

• Complimentary 90-minute Internet package

• 20% discount on any digital or print photo package at the Photo Gallery

• Complimentary access to Persian Garden (on one port day of your choice while ship is in port)

• Complimentary dry cleaning of one garment item

• One complimentary bag of laundry (wash, dry, fold) on every sailing***

• A private shipboard departure lounge, serving continental breakfast

• Priority Tender Service in Tender Ports of Call

• Priority wait list in Main Dining Room

• Elegant tea invitation*

• Diamond Level enrollment in Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society‡

• Earn Double Club Points if you travel solo in a stateroom (as of July 1, 2014)

• Receive Hertz Gold Plus Rewards membership (earn free rentals) with weekly rental discounts, free upgrades, and other special offers.

 

Celebrity Elite Plus Member Benefits* (750-2,999 earned Club Points**) - Elite membership plus: Additional to Elite above.

• Complimentary 200-minute Internet package

• Complimentary tea, cappuccino, latte and espresso

• 10% discount on any Beverage or Wine Package‡

• 15% discount on any Specialty Restaurant‡

• Two complimentary bags of laundry (wash, dry, fold) on all Celebrity cruises ***

• Ability to enroll in Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society Diamond Level

 

 

Princess Complimentary Internet Credit# Each Platinum (6 cruises or 51-150 Days) Princess Cruises Captain’s Circle member - The amount of complimentary Internet is determined by the length of the sailing. VOYAGE MINUTES 7 days or less 150 8-20 days 250 21+ days 500

Princess Elite Member Benefits (16 Cruises or 151 Days):

Complimentary Mini Bar Set Up

Deluxe Canapes Selection

Afternoon Tea

10% Boutique Discount

Complimentary Grapevine Wine Tasting

Priority Ship to Shore Tender Embarkation

Priority Disembarkation

Shoe Polishing Service

Complimentary Laundry and Professional Cleaning Services - Excludes same-day service

[A Sixth?]

Agree 100%, but I'm curious what type of underwear do you have that is so heavy? Chain mail????

 

Maybe these? :p

 

[ladytaekwondo]

We love the cocktail hour!!! My DH and I both think it is much better than RCI (whom we love dearly) due to the selection and the snacks. We are going with our parents on a B2B in January and switched up our cabins so our parents will be ELITE also and go with us to the cocktail hour. FUN!!!

[Bisous3]

This will be my first cruise with an Elite status and honestly as someone who has to check their email daily, the free internet is a nice savings for me. Hopefully it won't be so slow as to eat up a lot of time waiting for it to load.

[koolforkatz]

Because of the drinks package, we have never once taken advantage of the cocktail hour. We dropped into the breakfast one time, just to check it out, but it wasn't really our thing.

 

However, love the internet and laundry perks and take full advantage of them.

[socreader]

Nope, sorry.

 

We love the Elite Cocktail time, the free internet, free laundry, free dry cleaning, priority tendering, etc. While we don't use all of the perks we use many and they have greatly added to our cruising experience.

 

We enjoy all of the perks mentioned above but we use the free drinks at Cafe Bacio the most. We like the free cappucino and any other drink we may want there. It is a savings to our bottom line. We notice the difference when we cruise with another line including RCI where we are Diamond and do not get even close the Celebrity's Elite perks. .

Edited October 27, 2014 by socreader

[CruisingChick]

We enjoy all of the perks mentioned above but we use the free drinks at Cafe Bacio the most. We like the free cappucino and any other drink we may want there.

 

The free drinks at Cafe al Bacio are for Elite+ members and not available to Elites.

[vulcan1971]

In addition to those mentioned above, and more I'm not remembering right now: match play in the casino, free scoop of gelato, discounts on wine (we don't get the drink package - with that and the Elite cocktails we're covered)

How could I have forgotten the discount on wines.

 

It appears the discount on wine is an Elite Plus perk as well based on the post from Oxo, which I also confirmed when viewing the perks page on the Celebrity website.

[parallax]

We love our Elite perks. I've been pushing my husband to try other cruise lines but he doesn't want to go without. Our last cruise, the service was so bad at the Elite party that I may be able to talk him into trying Princess so we can cruise here on the west coast.

 

We definitely do not see the perks as a basis to remain with Celebrity. We will use the perks if they fit into our plans. While I like to save money like the next person, I also want to enjoy my vacation so I'm not going to get upset if I spend a couple hundred bucks for misc. expenses. I'm also not going to just use the coupon because I have one.

 

I will have to say that we found the cocktail reception we attended had a strange vibe. We received some strange looks when we tipped our waiter a couple bucks after we received a couple rounds of drinks. We always bring around $50 in singles to tip for excellent service.

[RealDeal]

We just turned Elite. Can you take drinks with you when leaving the Elite cocktail hour?

[villauk]

Agree 100%, but I'm curious what type of underwear do you have that is so heavy? Chain mail????

 

 

This made me laugh :D:p. I now have some weird images in my head :rolleyes:.

 

I like the internet benefits and the laundry. Drinks well often we have a package and we now much prefer the voucher system, we rather have our drinks with all cruisers.

 

Same here, laundry is the best benefit for us. We usually have a package so don't use the lounge.

[Nachosdelux]

We just turned Elite. Can you take drinks with you when leaving the Elite cocktail hour?

 

Not supposed to. However, if they use the Elite coupons for drinks (in lieu of the cocktail hour), then you can take them anywhere.

[ECCruise]

I will have to say that we found the cocktail reception we attended had a strange vibe. We received some strange looks when we tipped our waiter a couple bucks after we received a couple rounds of drinks. We always bring around $50 in singles to tip for excellent service.

 

That's odd. We've always tipped the servers, either on the spot or a larger amount every couple days. Never once seen anyone give us a strange look and seen dozens and dozens of pax doing the same as us. We do usually slip it to them rather than hand it directly (bills openly exposed) and think most people do it the same way so don't know if that could be a factor.

Edited October 27, 2014 by ECCruise

[CruisingChick]

It appears the discount on wine is an Elite Plus perk as well based on the post from Oxo, which I also confirmed when viewing the perks page on the Celebrity website.

 

Really? I did not think they took any perks away from Elites just added extras to Elite+. We always had wine coupons when we were Elite.

[GUT2407]

The only thing we'd even remotely use is the Laundry, I don't want internet when I'm on a cruise, I don't drink and always have a non-alcoholic package and have never missed breakfast unless I decided to.

 

Good job I'll never be elite anyway.

[warmwinds]

We had the wine discounts just a month ago. We each had an Elite coupon for a bottle (I think 20% off a bottle of $40 or less) in whatever dining room you're in (we were in Blu) and another for a discount off a bottle of wine plus a free specialty coffee in Normandie (which we also took advantage of).

 

I think the perks are great and if the Celebrity rep is reading this please know that most of us APPRECIATE the great freebies.

Edited October 27, 2014 by warmwinds

[RealDeal]

Not supposed to. However, if they use the Elite coupons for drinks (in lieu of the cocktail hour), then you can take them anywhere.

 

Thanks!

[4774Papa]

Nope, sorry.

 

We love the Elite Cocktail time, the free internet, free laundry, free dry cleaning, priority tendering, etc. While we don't use all of the perks we use many and they have greatly added to our cruising experience.

Agree, our bar bill for cruises has really shrunk. We don't drink much prior to 5PM and having the happy hour is a great benefit. We still buy wine for dinner, but the savings is great. Also, it is fun meeting other elites at happy hour.

 

The free laundry and internet are nice touches. Priority tendering can be a big help when tendering.

[hcat]

Even though we have the alcohol package and book AQ, we still enjoy many of the Elite perks...internet, laundry, discount coupons, breakfast hour, cocktail get together, sr officers party, various tours on board, wine tasting, elegant tea, disembarkation lounge,.....whatever comes our way that fits our schedule.

 

For us the evening get together was not for free drinks...but to meet other repeat cruisers and socialize... Agree that it has lost some of the ambiance as Elite has more members and gathering is in a bigger venue but still worthwhile.

 

Looking forward to Elite Plus...mostly for extra internet and dining discounts????

[gimletgal]

Cruising Celebrity for the first time in 15 years (prior to RCI) next month. We are registered as Elite by virtue of our reciprocal status with RCI (D+).

 

Am I correct in reading that Celebrity still issues the match play coupons? RCI did away with this perk a while back. It was one of the better coupons you received (3 x $5) and I was a disappointed in seeing them go.

 

Finally, are the perks still delivered in the form of a coupon or is it somehow recorded on your cruise card?

 

Thanks for your replies.

 

Yes, Kurt, you will still receive the coupons in your stateroom, and the match play coupons will be part of them! :) The Connie was the first ship to institute the process of registering your internet account from anywhere on the ship - no coupon required, as it is already recorded on your SeaPass card, and therefore, no trip to the iLounge! It works great. (You will still get the coupon but no need for it.) You and Gina will each have 90 free minutes.

 

The wine savings coupon is a 20% discount on any bottle priced over $40.

 

The laundry coupons are good too. Two complimentary pressed items (ea.), one complimentary dry clean item (ea.), complimentary wash, dry, fold - up to 30 items (ea.).

 

Other coupons: bingo, Persian Garden, AquaSpa, gelateria, and specialty restaurant (free after-dinner Specialty Coffee + 20% discount on wine over $40).

 

I think you will enjoy the "Elite" experience on Celebrity!

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

We definitely do not see the perks as a basis to remain with Celebrity. We will use the perks if they fit into our plans. While I like to save money like the next person, I also want to enjoy my vacation so I'm not going to get upset if I spend a couple hundred bucks for misc. expenses. I'm also not going to just use the coupon because I have one.

 

I will have to say that we found the cocktail reception we attended had a strange vibe. We received some strange looks when we tipped our waiter a couple bucks after we received a couple rounds of drinks. We always bring around $50 in singles to tip for excellent service.

 

Don't know why you got strange looks when tipping the drinks waiter. I always do and most of the people I know do as well. I also tip the people in Bacio when I get my free coffee there and the waiters at the breakfast when I go.

 

I could give a rip about the "status," but I sure do enjoy the perks.

 

Linda

 

[patty1955]

We definitely do not see the perks as a basis to remain with Celebrity. We will use the perks if they fit into our plans. While I like to save money like the next person, I also want to enjoy my vacation so I'm not going to get upset if I spend a couple hundred bucks for misc. expenses. I'm also not going to just use the coupon because I have one.

I'm not sure what I said that this is in response to. Of course, we tip and I can't imagine using a coupon just because we have one.

We don't cruise with Celebrity because of the perks. We know those are just that; perks. We cruise with Celebrity because they treat us well.

[stones902]

Yes, Kurt, you will still receive the coupons in your stateroom, and the match play coupons will be part of them! :) The Connie was the first ship to institute the process of registering your internet account from anywhere on the ship - no coupon required, as it is already recorded on your SeaPass card, and therefore, no trip to the iLounge! It works great. (You will still get the coupon but no need for it.) You and Gina will each have 90 free minutes.

 

 

 

The wine savings coupon is a 20% discount on any bottle priced over $40.

 

 

 

The laundry coupons are good too. Two complimentary pressed items (ea.), one complimentary dry clean item (ea.), complimentary wash, dry, fold - up to 30 items (ea.).

 

 

 

Other coupons: bingo, Persian Garden, AquaSpa, gelateria, and specialty restaurant (free after-dinner Specialty Coffee + 20% discount on wine over $40).

 

 

 

I think you will enjoy the "Elite" experience on Celebrity!

 

 

Thank you Beth. Not that I'm a big gambler or anything but the $5 match play has tangible value. With 3 of those you can potentially win $15 at the Blackjack table and that will pay for a couple of cocktails.

 

 

 

 

 

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[warmwinds]

yes, over $40 on the wine - I mistyped and can't edit.

[tserface]

LOL!

 

Doesn't everyone?

 

(Blush)

 

Tom

 

Agree 100%, but I'm curious what type of underwear do you have that is so heavy? Chain mail????

 

 

 

 

 

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