Do people receive Welcome back gifts from Celebrity in their cabin?

[JLMcruise]

We have sailed with one hotel director and cruise director many times. She always greets us when we board by name.  I have also received a bottle of wine when we haven't known the hotel director. We do a lot of B2B cruises so I don't know if that has something to do with it. I think if a crew member recognizes you - that may help.

[Orator]

The HD on SIL sends a "gift" to all who are on B2B. I thanked him and he said that anyone on a B2B gets the "gift" from him.

[phoenix_dream]

I am a fairly recent Zenith and so far out of around 15 cruises since reaching that level it has only happened to us once, in an Aqua Sky Suite, with a note from the Hotel Director and an $8 (retail) bottle of wine which we couldn't bring ourselves to drink.  

 

So it really all depends.  They could be much higher rated Zeniths than me.  They might have gotten it from their travel agent.  They might be in a high level suite.  They might have sailed on the same ship many, many times and developed a relationship with the HD or some other high level officer.  It is definitely not a stated perk.

[sofietucker]

Well, we're close to Elite Plus but have never done a B2B. Stay in Sky suites. We get all kinds of wine, flowers, and stuff like a fancy wine tumbler with coral etched on it, a fancy coaster, special leather-covered stainless-steel water bottles, lanyards, masks, etc.

[phoenix_dream]

23 hours ago, sofietucker said:

Well, we're close to Elite Plus but have never done a B2B. Stay in Sky suites. We get all kinds of wine, flowers, and stuff like a fancy wine tumbler with coral etched on it, a fancy coaster, special leather-covered stainless-steel water bottles, lanyards, masks, etc.

You're saying you've received all these things staying in Sky Suites in Celebrity??  In recent years??   Other than cheap wine and a couple of flowers (never a bouquet) I have not received any of these and I've stayed in Sky Suites or above (Including Royal Suites a couple times, as well as a Celebrity Suite) many, many times since restart after Covid, including 9 such cruises last year alone, when I was sailing as Zenith.

[Mermen]

On 2/20/2024 at 8:53 PM, kwokpot said:

On another Celebrity Social media forum someone posted a photo of a bottle of Decoy wine and a lovely personalized note that was left in their cabin welcoming them back on Celebrity. I asked if they knew why they received it and they were a bit coy and didn't answer the question. They're in Aquaclass and it wasn't from the casino. Do other people receive Welcome back gifts from Celebrity? I can honestly say we've never received anything that wasn't from the casino department. Just curious. 

Hi Kwokpot, we’ve been on a cruise or 2 before with you and yours. I responded to a similar thread earlier on CC; there seem to be inconsistencies within X. We’re Elite Plus and on this cruise we’re currently on, in a Sky Suite. We did not receive the previous Captains Club gifts or tokens: fresh fruit, chocolate dipped strawberries, or offer of fruit or canopes, fresh flowers on arrival, a welcome letter or call from CC, envelope with the discounts, stationary (though we never used in the past)…we did receive a key holder though. Last cruise, same cabin type and status but felt the appreciation for receiving what we always had based on our number of cruises. My subjective opinion is that X is cutting back and just not consistent with the welcome back gifts. 

[goofysmom99]

I think I've always received wine as a zenith.  On my most recent TA in Nov, I received a parade of food/wine deliveries with personal notes = macarons, chocolates x2, chocolate covered strawberries (I'm allergic but they didn't know that), fancy cheese platter x2, shrimp plate, and two separate special delivery cookie surprises (personally brought by the Exec Chef and F&B Mgr).  Also received wine x2 (1 HD, 1 FBM) and a fruit basket.  I'm grinning about the fruit....absolutely stunning and included a big, beautiful pomegranate.  I've never bought/dealt with a whole pomegranate at home much less in my cabin so I googled what to do with it and gave it a shot.  It was pretty good (and messy).  I did have to track down a suitably sharp knife from OVC.  I'm sure some of the extra largesse and "personal deliveries" were because I'm a zenith, but most were management mea culpas from a mind-boggling succession of food screw-ups (shellfish and gluten) on that cruise.  Several were inexcusable.  Anyway, my balcony neighbors on both sides were quite delighted with all the extra loot I shared.  BTW, the fancy cheese platters looked fantastic.....and included bread and crackers touching the cheeses (that gluten thing again).  They finally gave up and sent a bouquet. 😉

 

I'm boarding Summit next week B2B; will be on the lookout for wine.

[sofietucker]

3 hours ago, phoenix_dream said:

You're saying you've received all these things staying in Sky Suites in Celebrity??  In recent years??   Other than cheap wine and a couple of flowers (never a bouquet) I have not received any of these and I've stayed in Sky Suites or above (Including Royal Suites a couple times, as well as a Celebrity Suite) many, many times since restart after Covid, including 9 such cruises last year alone, when I was sailing as Zenith.

Yep. On the Edge in 2021... But not on the Silhouette in AQ last month. Will see what happens in a couple of weeks.

[2flacruisers]

On 2/21/2024 at 10:39 AM, lynncarol said:

Just was on the Celebrity Equinox this past January. We are elite but were staying in an obstructed balcony room.  Still, we discovered a free Celebrity tote bag on our bed.

We also received the tote while sailing early Feb. on the Reflection.

[TrueCruiseaholic]

It all depends upon the ship and the officers. Anyone with access to a budget (CC Concierge up through HD and Captain) can send items to a stateroom. 

 

I would like to maintain some anonymity, but I have received many "gifts" over the years. The bottom line is if you are top cruiser or know people well, you are more likely to get extra things both inside and outside of the stateroom. 

 

I don't want to be too cryptic, but I don't want to write how "this person sent me this."

 

This gets to one of the issues with going from ship to ship. Different ships and different people treat guests differently. If one were to use the best experiences as the basis for comparison, most cruises would fall short.

 

To respond to the start of the thread, it could be almost anything. When getting "extra benefits" one does not want to upset the apple cart or spread too much word about the benefits. Some ships/officers send things to all the Zeniths. Some send to only the top cruiser. Some send nothing and don't interact with/acknowledge Zeniths or Suite Guests (it isn't their job to be honest). Being on more B2B cruises, more cruises in general, ingratiating yourself with officers, all can get you extras. I have not personally received it, but I have seen photos on another website of Zenith/Top Cruiser guests with 8-10 bottles of wine in their stateroom or being given Veuve Clicqout as a gift. Even an Elite Plus member has shown off the many gifts they have received. It's not the norm, but it has happened. The grass is greener on the other side, unfortunately.

Edited February 24 by TrueCruiseaholic

[jelayne]

On 2/21/2024 at 11:57 AM, kwokpot said:

Yes, we've also never been invited to any of that either. Isn't that tied with Zenith status though? 

No. 
Pre Covid there was a dinner with a Sr Officer once, maybe 2x on longer cruises and before that Captains Dinner. Over the years we have been invited to some of these.  Sometimes the attendees were selected by the CC Host other times the Officer had guests he/she wanted to attend.  Our first invite was on our 3 rd or 4th Celebrity cruise and we were in a veranda, didn’t know a soul and did not attend any of the CC events.  No idea why we got an invite other than they wanted ac I’d of nationalities.  One of the Officers at that dinner later became a HD, and after that every time we were on a ship he was on we were invited to his Sr Officer table.  
 

Those dinners are gone but last time we saw him he sent a bottle of wine and chocolate covered strawberries.  

[NMTraveller]

Are you sure that they weren't travelling with Forbes?

 

🤣🤣🤣

 

No welcome back gifts for us ...

[81Zoomie]

We will be Elite+ after our next cruise in a few weeks.  Stay in a Sky Suite about 50% of the time.  Have never received a welcome gift.  Last 2 cruises we had to ask for the advertised welcome aboard “house wine”.  Never have had an invite to an officers table.  On our last cruise we didn’t even receive a tote bag.

Edited February 24 by 81Zoomie

[lynncarol]

After reading all these replies...maybe I have the answer.  I bet they look up your onboard spending now to decide if you are 'worthy' of a free gift.  Speaking only for myself, I can see why my husband and I aren't on the top of their list: We don't gamble, partake only of the free drinks we get in Elite status, never use specialty restaurants, do our own tours and rarely use ship excursions.  Heck! I wouldn't waste a free gift on me either if I were the one making decisions. 

[Harrisonkid]

We are elite and never received wine but at the end of the cruise we get a personalized invoice ...does that count ☺️

[squadron]

On 2/21/2024 at 10:08 AM, doghog said:

We never have. I guess we aren't welcomed back. 😁

I will miss the bottle of wine. water and soft drink that I get on RCI!  Equal to Elite on Celebrity status.

[gold1953]

On 2/25/2024 at 12:10 PM, lynncarol said:

After reading all these replies...maybe I have the answer.  I bet they look up your onboard spending now to decide if you are 'worthy' of a free gift.  Speaking only for myself, I can see why my husband and I aren't on the top of their list: We don't gamble, partake only of the free drinks we get in Elite status, never use specialty restaurants, do our own tours and rarely use ship excursions.  Heck! I wouldn't waste a free gift on me either if I were the one making decisions. 

All the same for us! We can afford all of it but are totally happy with the way we sail. We do book direct with Celebrity and they seem to be aware and mention it . 

[C-Dragons]

On 2/24/2024 at 5:58 PM, NMTraveller said:

Are you sure that they weren't travelling with Forbes?

 

🤣🤣🤣

 

No welcome back gifts for us ...

 

[Marie51]

I was on the Summit a couple years ago, and I received flowers on the second day of the cruise. Didn’t order them, they just appeared, I am elite.

[goofysmom99]

Boarded Summit yesterday. Concierge cabin.  Zenith.  Have received wine, flowers, fruit, and chocolates. Dined with friends in Luminae = $30 + $6 tip.  Check.  Then was charged $21.76 for a glass of Louis Jadot Macon Villages chardonnay ($17 and included in premium package).  Even though I had it removed, how do you get to $21.76 from $17??  20% would be $20.40; $18 would be $21.60.  Room service, which for Zenith is included, charged me $12.69.  OK, $9.95 plus 20% should be $11.94.  So where does $12.69 (extra 75 cents) come from?  All the charges have been removed but the numbers are screwy.  BTW, I had printed ZENITH BENEFIT in block letters on my room service hanger.  I didn't contest the Luminae charge but the seared red snapper was so overcooked, it was inedible.  By the time I could speak to waiter, everyone else had finished.  Not an auspicious first day.  Hope the next eight days improve.

Edited March 1 by goofysmom99