why does celebrity refuse to honor the elite 2 hour happy hour the first night of all sailings?

[cheeseheads4ever]

Thanks so much for the info! I have read on another thread that at the Martini Bar CC Happy Hour they don’t participate.

Not positive.

[mahasamatman]

On 8/5/2023 at 10:16 AM, NutsAboutGolf said:

The next step I expect cruise lines to take with loyalty is for new cruisers only, they’ll get rid of lifetime status (existing will be grandfathered) and require you to re-qualify every 1-3 years

 

MSC requires you to travel at least once every three years or you lose all accumulated benefits.

[Covepointcruiser]

If you need alcohol and don’t want to pay for it frequent Al Bacio during embarkation times and partake of the included “champagne”.

[shipshape sam]

On 8/1/2023 at 4:06 PM, jwlane said:

There's nothing to "honor".  The first night is just not part of the benefit.

Good response.  

[Empehi]

That is why you bring a bottle of wine on board to drink on the first night!

 

e

[Charles4515]

8 minutes ago, Empehi said:

That is why you bring a bottle of wine on board to drink on the first night!

 

e

And the bottle of wine will likely be better than the wine on the Celebrity happy hour list. 

[awhcruiser]

On 8/1/2023 at 3:48 PM, retired dude said:

I have often wondered why they cannot honor the elite benefit on the first night of the cruise by doing the 5-7 happy hour in the lounges...just a thought...Surely they have the necessary info from the sail pass in their bar computer system by then, as the passenger has been onboard for hours prior...Hope it is not another cost cutting thing.

Did you call them and ask?  

[doghog]

On 8/1/2023 at 1:48 PM, retired dude said:

I have often wondered why they cannot honor the elite benefit on the first night of the cruise by doing the 5-7 happy hour in the lounges...just a thought...Surely they have the necessary info from the sail pass in their bar computer system by then, as the passenger has been onboard for hours prior...Hope it is not another cost cutting thing.

Call 1-800-760-0654 and ask. Then post back what you were told. 

[NutsAboutGolf]

This is what X's social media is claiming is the reason yet I don't buy this.  I believe what others have said which is this is a hold over from when it was held in the sky lounge and now they're just making up excuses to justify not offering them so they don't have to "lose" money.  "Smooth check in experience"?  Check in is done in the terminal, not the ship so how would free drinks on the ship from 5-7 for Elites and above interfere with check in process?  Also, if alcohol is such a concern during check-in, why do they allow people to order drinks with the package or for purchase, shouldn't they NOT sell alcohol to anyone?

 

I had a chat with a gambler who had interesting theory which is X is funneling those on casino deals who rarely have the drink package into the casino on the first night as X gives free drinks to those playing

 

[hcat]

this thread is "beating a dead horse"

bring on your own wine...drink the free sailaway bubbly  ..or buy a drink!

 

Thought  Elites get a comped drink at Cafe Baccio ?

[NutsAboutGolf]

1 minute ago, hcat said:

this thread is "beating a dead horse"

bring on your own wine...drink the free sailaway bubbly  ..or buy a drink!

 

Thought  Elites get a comped drink at Cafe Baccio ?

 

Aren't 95% of threads like this?

[hcat]

3 minutes ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

 

Aren't 95% of threads like this?

true!  and no.one  seems to use CC  search feature anymore..same ques are asked over and over!

[NutsAboutGolf]

I understand folks think the exact opposite of me and while I kind of see spending a couple hundred for costume jewelry on a whim, I don't see how one could spend thousands on jewelry on a foreign flagged cruise ship.  If something turns out to be fake or not the quality you were told it was, you have very little recourse.  Maybe folks think X corporates will stand behind their jewelry purchase?  If you're spending at least $5K, book a roundtrip to one of the five states that don't have sales tax which are Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon and Alaska.  Unlike like a vehicle, mined diamonds do appreciate in value but like a vehicle, jewelers will only offer around half that price.  If you buy at costco, you can return it for the full purchase price even decades later.  Also, many reputable jewelers offer various trade-in options

[Charles4515]

1 hour ago, hcat said:

Thought  Elites get a comped drink at Cafe Baccio ?

No.

[2chiefs]

On 8/4/2023 at 9:11 AM, WestLakeGirl said:

<SNIP>

Today, for anyone who has a beverage package included in their booking, the happy hour is probably superfluous— <SNIP>

 

On 8/4/2023 at 9:47 AM, Charles4515 said:

<SNIP>The happy hour is something they don’t have to have at all <SNIP

Disagree. We always book all included but we still like the "Happy Hour" for the Hors D'oeuvres and especially the camaraderie with the other frequent cruisers. I hope they don't do away with it.

[DaKahuna]

3 minutes ago, 2chiefs said:

 

Disagree. We always book all included but we still like the "Happy Hour" for the Hors D'oeuvres and especially the camaraderie with the other frequent cruisers. I hope they don't do away with it.

 

 Hate to be the bearer of bad news bu they have not served hors d'oeuvres since the restart from the COVID shutdown.  They no longer have it exclusively in the Sky Lounge but rather you just order happy hour drinks at most bars throughout the ship from 5 - 7 PM.

 

[2chiefs]

1 minute ago, DaKahuna said:

 

 Hate to be the bearer of bad news bu they have not served hors d'oeuvres since the restart from the COVID shutdown.  They no longer have it exclusively in the Sky Lounge but rather you just order happy hour drinks at most bars throughout the ship from 5 - 7 PM.

 

OK then. That is bad news..  Thanks

[Charles4515]

4 hours ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

his is what X's social media is claiming is the reason yet I don't buy this.  I believe what others have said which is this is a hold over from when it was held in the sky lounge and now they're just making up excuses to justify not offering them so they don't have to "lose" money. 

That is BS that they posted.

 

I don't  think it would cost them much. More like it is inertia. 

[Charles4515]

1 hour ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

I don't see how one could spend thousands on jewelry on a foreign flagged cruise ship.

I know people who buy jewelry on cruise ships or cruise ports because they like to shop and the jewelry reminds them of the cruise when they get home. 

[Ex-Airbalancer]

11 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

 

 Hate to be the bearer of bad news bu they have not served hors d'oeuvres since the restart from the COVID shutdown.  They no longer have it exclusively in the Sky Lounge but rather you just order happy hour drinks at most bars throughout the ship from 5 - 7 PM.

 

That is in correct , I think it depends on the ship 

our Spring TA on the Reflection they had Happy Hour in the Sky Lounge with crew serving d’oeuvres 

[DaKahuna]

1 minute ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

That is in correct , I think it depends on the ship 

our Spring TA on the Reflection they had Happy Hour in the Sky Lounge with crew serving d’oeuvres 

 

Thank you.  That is the first time I have heard of them doing it since the restart. I use to really enjoy sitting at the bar in the Sky Lounge having a drink and eating the pupu's while my wife got ready for dinner.   

 

We did a B2B on Reflection in 2021 and there was no Happy Hour in the Sky Lounge so I guess it could also depend on the itinerary as well as the ship. 

 

[NutsAboutGolf]

2 minutes ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

That is in correct , I think it depends on the ship 

our Spring TA on the Reflection they had Happy Hour in the Sky Lounge with crew serving d’oeuvres 

From 5-7pm, correct?  Because if not, it could just be CC party which may or may not include officers

[Ex-Airbalancer]

1 minute ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

From 5-7pm, correct?  Because if not, it could just be CC party which may or may not include officers

Not my first rodeo 😁

There was a group of 7 all E or E +

drink part was irrelevant as we all had drink package 

we would usually get up there about 6:15 for pre dinner drink ,

We  like on openness in the Sky Lounge 

 

[hcat]

2 hours ago, hcat said:

this thread is "beating a dead horse"

bring on your own wine...drink the free sailaway bubbly  ..or buy a drink!

 

Thought  Elites get a comped drink at Cafe Baccio ?

maybe  it's our drink package?

I know we do not pay at Cafe Baccio

[Charles4515]

10 minutes ago, hcat said:

maybe  it's our drink package?

I know we do not pay at Cafe Baccio

if you have a drink package you would not pay for drinks. The Elite happy hour drinks would be redundant.