Elite cocktail hours extended...permanent change

[Wine-O]

1 hour ago, Charles4515 said:

 

I think it is good that Celebrity is not enabling unhealthy alcohol use and is limiting the number of free drinks to three during the social hours. Alcohol over users will still be able to imbibe on their own dime. 

 

Three free drinks is quite generous and so are other other loyalty benefits like the free specialty coffee, 240 internet minutes and laundry I get. 

 

 

Yeah, if you drink beer, the three drinks probably cost them less than 50 cents.  Three vodka drinks probably cost them even less.   That's really generous of them.  

Edited November 13, 2018 by Wine-O

[Charles4515]

3 minutes ago, killsport said:

You really should do your homework. Poor diet kills 5x more people worldwide than alcohol. So if you're worried about government and medical studies, you should focus where you "save" the most people.

 

The discussion is about the number cocktails, not about diet. 

[Charles4515]

6 minutes ago, Wine-O said:

Yeah, if you drink beer, the three drinks probably cost them less than 50 cents.  Three vodka drinks probably cost them even less.   That's really generous of them.  

 

They don't have to give any of the loyalty benefits they give. Do any mainstream cruise lines besides Celebrity and Royal Caribbean give free drinks at bars and lounges? 

 

You are assuming that Celebrity will save money. By allowing the three drinks from any bar and the MDR more Elite members may take advantage of the benefit. Certainly all Elite members have not been going to the Elite Lounge every evening.

[killsport]

10 minutes ago, Charles4515 said:

 

The discussion is about the number cocktails, not about diet. 

Cocktails are consumed orally, hence they are part of a diet. And the logic/approach you espouse on this subject of imposing limits on a list of items (that were free) is dangerous.  Why not expand that approach to other (previously) free items? Why not expand it to food? Or towels? Or shampoo? Or pretty much every item on the cruise ship.

A more appropriate comment would have been something to the effect of:

"Three drinks is plenty for me, as I am concerned with the health impacts of additional drinking. So the change doesn't impact me."

Having said that, it is the combination of repetition, poor service, and the continued nickel and diming (this being one example) that has led me to reduce my trips on Celebrity and enjoy land-based all-inclusives.

[Wine-O]

2 minutes ago, Charles4515 said:

 

They don't have to give any of the loyalty benefits they give. Do any mainstream cruise lines besides Celebrity and Royal Caribbean give free drinks at bars and lounges? 

 

No, they don't have to give us a damn thing, and we don't have to sail with them.    We can take our $$$ elsewhere.  

[Charles4515]

1 minute ago, killsport said:

Cocktails are consumed orally, hence they are part of a diet. And the logic/approach you espouse on this subject of imposing limits on a list of items (that were free) is dangerous.  Why not expand that approach to other (previously) free items? Why not expand it to food? Or towels? Or shampoo? Or pretty much every item on the cruise ship.

 

 

Celebrity is not an all inclusive.cruise line. The free drinks are a perk of a loyalty program that only a subset of passengers recieve. They are not something provided as part of the cruise fare. 

[Charles4515]

8 minutes ago, Wine-O said:

No, they don't have to give us a damn thing, and we don't have to sail with them.    We can take our $$$ elsewhere.  

 

That is true. Go ahead but your plan as you expressed it is not to take your $$$ elsewhere. Your $$$ will still be going to the same corporation. Sailing on Azamara, Celebrity, or Royal Caribbean the $$$ goes to RCCL.

Edited November 13, 2018 by Charles4515

[killsport]

2 minutes ago, Charles4515 said:

 

Celebrity is not an all inclusive.cruise line. The free drinks are a perk of a loyalty program that only a subset of passengers recieve. They are not something provided as part of the cruise fare. 

So is the laundry (bad for environment). So is gelato (bad for health). So are many other items. You chose one that the reduction doesn't impact you. You applied logic that says if it is unhealthy, it should be reduced with no complaints. What if they reduced it to two drinks? Or, as your "health research" claims, only allowed women one drink and men two? Would that be fine with you too?

The all-knowing sage that you are, please decide what is best for me, as I clearly am unable to determine what is good for me and must follow the approach you wish to apply to all others.

[jagoffee]

43 minutes ago, Charles4515 said:

 

I am not jesting. Or making a judgement.  I am going by standards set by governement and medical organizations. By the science.

 

The Department of Agriculture and Department of Health & Human Services: 1 drink per day for women and up to 2 drinks per day for men.

 

National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: men should not exceed 4 drinks per day or a total of 14 per week and women should not to exceed 3 drinks a day or a total of 7 per week.

 

American Heart Association: men should not exceed 2 units/day and women should not to exceed 1 unit/day.

Perhaps you do not realize that the Elite free drinks allocation can be used for non alcoholic drinks?

[A Sixth?]

The three drink thing is a bit of a problem when you like a beer with a ginger beer mix.... not that it ever is a problem (wink)

[A Sixth?]

The three drink thing is a bit of a problem when you like a beer with a ginger beer mix.... not that it ever is a problem (wink)

[lisiamc]

1 hour ago, Charles4515 said:

 

I am not jesting. Or making a judgement.  I am going by standards set by governement and medical organizations. By the science.

 

The Department of Agriculture and Department of Health & Human Services: 1 drink per day for women and up to 2 drinks per day for men.

 

National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: men should not exceed 4 drinks per day or a total of 14 per week and women should not to exceed 3 drinks a day or a total of 7 per week.

 

American Heart Association: men should not exceed 2 units/day and women should not to exceed 1 unit/day.

The nicest thing about being grown up is that I can make my own decisions about what I would like to eat and drink, and when I’d like to do it.  

[Charles4515]

7 minutes ago, lisiamc said:

The nicest thing about being grown up is that I can make my own decisions about what I would like to eat and drink, and when I’d like to do it.  

 

That is true. So what? As a business Celebrity can make the decision to limit the number of free drinks to three or to zero. They also decide what time and where you can get the free drinks. 

[lisiamc]

 

 

We’re outliers for the purposes of this thread.  We nearly always have a drinks package, and while the Elite Cocktail Hour drinks are a nice gesture, we rarely take advantage of them.   When we go to the Sky Lounge for Elite Cocktails, it’s for the company.  

Edited November 13, 2018 by lisiamc

[Wine-O]

2 hours ago, Charles4515 said:

 

That is true. Go ahead but your plan as you expressed it is not to take your $$$ elsewhere. Your $$$ will still be going to the same corporation. Sailing on Azamara, Celebrity, or Royal Caribbean the $$$ goes to RCCL.

Yes, but as a shareholder, others can spend their $$$ with Celebrity.  I'll take my $$$ where I find the best value.  

[Cruise Raider]

On 11/1/2018 at 12:10 PM, Lexy08 said:

 

Going on Equinox this Mon. Used to be able to take companion to Lounge with you for unlimited free drinks  and canapes and also 3 coupons on card. I always enjoyed Lounge and never used coupons. Now it will be nice to use in the dining room, but crappy wine unfortunately. Also they don't have rye whisky available (my drink) !  It seems that companion in cabin will not get to enjoy any of my Elite Plus benefits whereas they used to. 

 

Well, to be frank, there may have been an issue with non-Elites receiving Elite and Elite Plus benefits and they set out put an end to that.  True, it was always allowed in the past but maybe they were looking for ways to discourage that.  I am sure some will find their ways around it.  

[Luvcrusn]

I think my take on this whole drinks thing, and all the other loyalty club perks is a bit different that what I'm reading here. DH and I make our cruise and other vacation  and travel decisions based on what we want to do, where we want to do it, and how much we are willing to pay. If a cruise line or other vacation venue wants to give us a bonus as a thank you we graciously accept it and say thanks. We don't cruise or vacation to "earn" anything other than the joy of travel, and don't feel entitled to extras. When cruise lines, resorts, hotels and other vacation options say thanks for our business or just give us what we paid for we're happy, and when they give us more, we're grateful and say thanks. They don't have to give us anything. If they change those extras it's their prerogative, just as it's ours to make our travel choices of where and how to spend our vacation dollars.

[Denny01]

5 hours ago, Charles4515 said:

 

Switch to RCCL? You are not making a switch. Celebrity is a brand of RCCL. 

Yes, Wine-O is making a change. RCCL and Celebrity are very different experiences. And I don’t think Wine-O and most other cruisers who are switching from a Line they’ve used numerous times really care about Corporate Finances or punishing some Company, I think that whatever reason they list is the reason they are changing.

 

Myself, Celebrity still meets my cruising interests and needs. Done 30+ and 20+ on Celebrity. Do I see changes? Yup. Are some on them because I’ve become a bit jaded and start to nitpick? Yup. Have tried other Lines, and came back to this Line. I’m not a big Carnival fan, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t cruise Princess or other CCL LInes - heck I’ll cruise Carnival this Dec with my kids/grandkids.  I don’t care what Corporate entity runs it. Why would anyone. 

 

Den 

Edited November 14, 2018 by Denny01

[airhose]

Is it possible to use an elite 'coupon' to get a drink for someone else (eg. non-elite cabinmate), or are the coupons described as non-transferable? 

[Charles4515]

12 minutes ago, Denny01 said:

Yes, Wine-O is making a change. RCCL and Celebrity are very different experiences. And I don’t think Wine-O and most other cruisers who are switching from a Line they’ve used numerous times really care about Corporate Finances or punishing some Company, I think that whatever reason they list is the reason they are changing.

 

Myself, Celebrity still meets my cruising interests and needs. Done 30+ and 20+ on Celebrity. Do I see changes? Yup. Are some on them because I’ve become a bit jaded and start to nitpick? Yup. Have tried other Lines, and came back to this Line. I’m not a big Carnival fan, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t cruise Princess or other CCL LInes - heck I’ll cruise Carnival this Dec with my kids/grandkids.  I don’t care what Corporate entity runs it. Why would anyone. 

 

Den 

 

I don’t care either what corporate entity runs it.  I am pointing out that Wine-O is not taking the $$$ as Wine-O puts it.......somewhere else.The $$$ is going to the same place. 

 

I will be on Royal Caribbean again in January and I look forward to the entertainment and the spectacular ship (HOS) . I don’t look forward to the MDR food and the smoke filled casino. Royal Caribbean may be value but Celebrity is higher quality. Since I am also cruising on Oceania I somewhat prefer quality over value. I don’t cruise for free cheap booze which is what they give away as perks on Celebrity and Royal Caribbean. So much ado about free low quality alcohol. 

 

[Wine-O]

8 minutes ago, airhose said:

Is it possible to use an elite 'coupon' to get a drink for someone else (eg. non-elite cabinmate), or are the coupons described as non-transferable? 

There are no coupons, from what I have been reading.  Three drinks are on your seapass.  Do with them as you wish.  

[davekathy]

6 minutes ago, Wine-O said:

There are no coupons, from what I have been reading.  Three drinks are on your seapass.  Do with them as you wish.  

You are correct. 

[Wine-O]

28 minutes ago, Denny01 said:

Yes, Wine-O is making a change. RCCL and Celebrity are very different experiences. And I don’t think Wine-O and most other cruisers who are switching from a Line they’ve used numerous times really care about Corporate Finances or punishing some Company, I think that whatever reason they list is the reason they are changing.

Den 

We enjoyed sitting at the bar and tipping the bartender well.  My beer was on ice and always refreshed and my wife's cosmos were always topped off.  We had a camaraderie with the bartender, and he would mix concoctions for the ladies.  It's just not the same ambiance.   It's just not the same anymore.  It's more like take your three drinks  and be done with it.  

[Charles4515]

20 minutes ago, airhose said:

Is it possible to use an elite 'coupon' to get a drink for someone else (eg. non-elite cabinmate), or are the coupons described as non-transferable? 

 

You order the drink and the server will apply it to your sea pass card at their register. 

 

[Charles4515]

2 minutes ago, Wine-O said:

We enjoyed sitting at the bar and tipping the bartender well.  My beer was on ice and always refreshed and my wife's cosmos were always topped off.  We had a camaraderie with the bartender, and he would mix concoctions for the ladies.  It's just not the same ambiance.   It's just not the same anymore.  It's more like take your three drinks  and be done with it.  

 

You can still do that. Being limited to three drinks does not stop you from tipping the bartender, having comraderie with the bartender or the stop the bartender from mixing concoctions. I do all that and have never had more than three drinks. Usually we have one or two.  It does not change the ambiance having three drinks or less except I guess that I am sober.