Celebrity Pass ....new purchase for priority boarding, etc ?

[goofysmom99]

Why am I no longer surprised at any of the long list of tacky things that have been done to a formerly great brand?  And I'm sure they aren't through either.  I feel like I'm watching X being flushed (as in toilet) away.

[neverlaysup]

7 hours ago, Smmessineo said:

Just got an email advertising this for my March 2025 cruise.  When I clicked it said sorry not available. 

Looks like an option to buy a  priority pass for various things.

Looks like we are getting "Royalized" with this offer. On RCL, they call it "The Key".

[LouChamp]

10 hours ago, Susanb10567 said:

I got an email but it left out the part about having to purchase it…

 

it seems like they are taking a page from Princess with this…

 

just looked at it again …I didn’t have the letter but if I clicked booked now it says it’s available to purchase for 32.99 a day…ugh

 

in looking what it offers I do not see the value…

Aloha.  As you said this is akin to Princess and HAL Club Orange to a degree. They are all doing it I guess.

[lv2cruisgrl]

11 hours ago, Smmessineo said:

Just got an email advertising this for my March 2025 cruise.  When I clicked it said sorry not available. 

Looks like an option to buy a  priority pass for various things.

This is pathetic.  Seems Celebrity is circling the drain! 

[mayleeman]

The only thing that would have it make some sort of sense would be for non-suites to get access to the full MDR menu in room service.

[weregoingcruising]

10 hours ago, GottaKnowWhen said:

All good questions about the practical details.

i haven’t dug into the math, but I think $33/pd is not that bad since it includes the wifi and room service fees. It could be an ok value if those are important to someone.
The theatre seating perk? No thanks, we haven’t been to the shows in 4-5 years, the volume level is too high, even for my wife after she takes off her hearing aids. Well, once or twice we have briefly sat in seats in the last row, then made a quick exit when our noise level fears we’re confirmed.

 

Ditto

[weregoingcruising]

The X on the smoke stack stands for XTRA fees.

[kywildcatfanone]

12 hours ago, Dolebludger said:

It looks like Celebrity is “taking a dive to the bottom” to become a mass market line.

No offense, but celebrity is a mass market line.

[RedIguana]

12 hours ago, Susanb10567 said:

I don’t think it includes WIFi …it looks like it gives you an upgrade to premium WIFi…from basic..

It is strange wording. The question is whether it upgrades you whether you have the basic or not, as in upgrades you just from basic or also upgrades you from nothing. It appears to be extremely similar to Royal's The Key program other than this strange wording. The main differences being there are no flowriders, ziplines, or rockwalls to give special times to, and The Key is good for one internet package per guest, not 2. But the wording in The Key about internet is not ambiguous like this.

 

[GottaKnowWhen]

19 minutes ago, RedIguana said:

It is strange wording. The question is whether it upgrades you whether you have the basic or not, as in upgrades you just from basic or also upgrades you from nothing. It appears to be extremely similar to Royal's The Key program other than this strange wording. The main differences being there are no flowriders, ziplines, or rockwalls to give special times to, and The Key is good for one internet package per guest, not 2. But the wording in The Key about internet is not ambiguous like this.

 

On my second reading, I decided that I agree with Susanb10567 - it is probably just an upgrade from Basic to Premium. I find it a bit irritating that the wifi portion, whatever it is, is for two devices per passenger. Really? Do they think we are incapable of switching the link back and forth between multiple devices? 

All of this is quite irrelevant for me anyway. We'll go to the Galapagos next fall, then a spring 2025 Caribbean b2b. After that, any cruising we do will probably be Windstar or similar. Our fourth Windstar will be summer 2024 and I expect that to confirm our move away from Celebrity.

[Oceangoer2]

13 hours ago, hcat said:

They should just  serve better quality food with nicer presentations, and service and they can justify their prices and increase bookings which must be slumping.m

That's exactly, almost word for word, I entered into the 'comments' section of the survey from them received this morning.

[PTC DAWG]

I like the folks who come on here to tell us all they are going to a different much more luxurious line.  What's the old movie line?  Well, Bye!

 

Celebrity is offering something that most cruise lines in their category offer a version of.  Buy it, or not.  I don't see how if bothers my experience in any way.  

[NMTraveller]

8 minutes ago, PTC DAWG said:

I like the folks who come on here to tell us all they are going to a different much more luxurious line.  What's the old movie line?  Well, Bye!

 

Celebrity is offering something that most cruise lines in their category offer a version of.  Buy it, or not.  I don't see how if bothers my experience in any way.  

Celebrity used to have some of these options for free being part of a premium line.  Now I guess they are not premium anymore and people are moving on to achieve their previous level of service without being nickel and dimed to death.

[deliver42]

Don't want it?  Don't buy it. No problem.

[hcat]

11 minutes ago, Oceangoer2 said:

That's exactly, almost word for word, I entered into the 'comments' section of the survey from them received this morning.

truth is truth!  and  many agree!

 

Soon everyone will have priority and will be treated like  a CELEBRITY!  ( Xs Old PR campaign)

[RedIguana]

21 minutes ago, GottaKnowWhen said:

I find it a bit irritating that the wifi portion, whatever it is, is for two devices per passenger. Really? Do they think we are incapable of switching the link back and forth between multiple devices?

I was on Princess to Alaska this year under their Premium package, which is 4 devices per person. I travel with a laptop, phone, and tablet. It is a nice touch to not have to log in every time I pick up a different device. 

[Ex-Airbalancer]

Don’t want it, don’t buy it , pretty simple thing to do

 

[Saturngrl]

We always purchase The Key on RC.  The embarkation lunch and disembarkation breakfast, combined with being escorted off the ship after breakfast, are so worth the price! 

 

On Celebrity, we sail Concierge, so we get the embarkation lunch.  No need for show reservations/seating on Celebrity.  If this new Pass featured the MDR disembarkation breakfast and escort off the ship, I might purchase it.  This perk, plus having a dedicated space in the terminal to find your luggage, makes the worst day of the cruise much less painful.  

[PTC DAWG]

43 minutes ago, NMTraveller said:

Celebrity used to have some of these options for free being part of a premium line.  Now I guess they are not premium anymore and people are moving on to achieve their previous level of service without being nickel and dimed to death.

Nothing is free. 

[truckswain]

3 hours ago, PTC DAWG said:

I like the folks who come on here to tell us all they are going to a different much more luxurious line.  What's the old movie line?  Well, Bye!

 

Celebrity is offering something that most cruise lines in their category offer a version of.  Buy it, or not.  I don't see how if bothers my experience in any way.  

This!

 

Well said!

[Ex-Airbalancer]

SomePeople were very upset when Celebrity went to Always included 

now Celebrity is breaking out more options for people not to pay ,

so is that bad ?  

 

 

[bikerunner]

8 minutes ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

SomePeople were very upset when Celebrity went to Always included 

now Celebrity is breaking out more options for people not to pay ,

so is that bad ?  

 

 

Its the world of social media, there are so many opinions on how they want things.  I still will do the same due diligence and price out cruises and see what the best options are.  Tho I am moving on after my next 2 cruises to Azamara, Oceana and river cruises but that is just because I look more now for itineraries and places that they are going to. Plus I want a small ship experience now.  

[Cruising89143]

17 hours ago, Dolebludger said:

It looks like Celebrity is “taking a dive to the bottom” to become a mass market line.

Celebrity has been mass market for years as are Princess and HAL. Many want to believe the marketing of “Modern Luxury” that Celebrity has been pushing but it was nothing more than a marketing game.
 

This new program is nothing more than RCI’s KEY being adapted to the X brand. Based on the number of people who purchase it on RCI, I would being willing to bet it will be popular with new cruisers. 
 

Celebrity is adding three and four day cruises on the Reflection along with stopping at Coco Cay. X is changing. People can either accept it or find a new cruise line. I now look at X as RCI with less kids. Laura Hodges Bethge was brought over from RCI for a reason. We’re now seeing why with the changes. 

[Team Stag]

I don't post a lot but enjoy reading the threads.  I've slowly starting to feel sorry for Celebrity.  It doesn't seem what they do - no one is going to be happy.

 

I read through here and see comments like; "cash grab" or "nickel and dime".  But I also remember for years there were posts of "I'd book Aqua if I wasn't required to get drinks, tips & wifi.  I don't use that (or get it free / discount with CC Perks etc)".  So we don't like Celebrity because they required us to buy their all inclusive packages.  Now we don't like Celebrity because they are piece meal it together and giving those the options to pay for something they may want.

 

I read the email.  I wasn't initially impressed.  But I'm not the target audience for this.  I don't think anyone with Elite Status or above cares or those that book suites.  But if someone likes the Concierge Benefits but finds a great Veranda room on the hump - this allows them to get the best of both worlds.  We see programs like this come and go regularly.  Makes me think of the "Drinks & Things" Package that use to include the in-room mini bar.

Edited November 3, 2023 by Team Stag

[m8zenblue]

I will be cruising in January, 2024.

I did not receive this e-mail, I would not take advantage of this offer anyway, but, interested  to read the entire e-mail, if anyone still has it.