Celebrity Enhances Captain's Club!
Ray Goldenberg
I received this press release from Celebrity Cruises and thought it
would be of interest. If you have missed any of my news' postings,
they are available on my web site.
Best regards,
Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
http://www.lighthousetravel.com
Celebrity Cruises Salutes Repeat Guests With Enhanced Captain's Club
Program
Customer Loyalty Program Adds New Benefits
MIAMI, June 4
Consistently honored for its warm and attentive service, Celebrity
Cruises has introduced an enhanced Captain's Club program featuring
new pre-cruise privileges and onboard perks for repeat guests. The
expanded, three-tiered program is designed to recognize Celebrity's
most loyal guests with a variety of benefits based on the number of
cruises they have experienced.
"Celebrity's Captain's Club program has always been designed to thank
our members for their loyalty; our expanded program takes our
commitment to them to the next level," said Ares Michaelides, senior
vice president of Marketing and Brand Planning for Celebrity Cruises.
"The enhanced program includes a number of exclusive benefits for our
repeat guests, all designed to offer added convenience, value and
personal attention."
"Classic": One to five cruises
To honor members in the "Classic" level, Celebrity offers a
one-category upgrade, a custom air complimentary administrative
request valued at $50 for domestic flights and $75 for international
flights, pre-sailing dining reservations at one of Celebrity's elegant
specialty restaurants (on Millennium-class vessels), a complimentary
wine tasting, an exclusive golf clinic, an invitation to the Captain's
Club cocktail party, a welcome amenity, gifts with purchase in the
AquaSpa, and casino certificates. Members will continue to receive
special offers in the quarterly members-only newsletter and will be
invited to enjoy four annual Captain's Club Reunion Cruises.
To show appreciation for Captain's Club members who have completed one
to five cruises and enrolled prior to September 1, 2002, Celebrity
created the "Founder Classic" category, whose members will continue to
receive all "Classic" category benefits, along with the additional
benefit of priority embarkation and preferential disembarkation.
"Select": Six to 10 cruises
"Select" Captain's Club members will receive all the benefits of
Classic category members, and will have the option of enjoying either
the AquaSpa gifts with purchase offered to Classic level members or,
depending on their preference, may instead receive additional casino
certificates.
Celebrity will also offer Select category members priority status for
shore excursion waitlists, priority embarkation and preferential
disembarkation, and a private onboard event, as well as a
behind-the-scenes tour of such areas as the ship's galley, or
state-of-the-art theater lighting booth and video editing room.
"Elite": 11 cruises and up
To show appreciation for its most loyal guests sailing on their 11th
Celebrity cruise or above, Celebrity's "Elite" level offers a wide
array of shipboard and shoreside Captain's Club privileges.
In addition to the Classic and Select pre-cruise benefits, Elite
members have the choice of enjoying the AquaSpa benefits offered to
the Classic, Select or Elite level members with additional casino
certificates.
Elite Captain's Club members also will be offered special privileges,
such as a customized Elite event, a surprise gift and other benefits
which vary by ship, but may include such perks as backstage tours and
a private shipboard departure lounge with a continental breakfast.
Guests who have sailed with Celebrity at least once and are 18 years
of age or older are eligible for membership. Up to two adults from the
same household can become Captain's Club members for a one-time fee of
$35. In order to obtain benefits and ensure onboard recognition,
guests must include their membership information at the time of
booking.
To enroll in Celebrity Cruises' Captain's Club program or for further
information, please call Celebrity's Captain's Club Desk at
1-800-760-0654. If calling from outside the U.S. or Canada, please
call 1-316-554-5961, or visit us online at
www.celebritycruises.com/captainsclub.
Celebrity Cruises is the highest-rated and fastest-growing premium
cruise line in the industry, with the youngest fleet of any major
cruise line. The launch of Constellation in May brought the Celebrity
fleet to nine ships. For more information, contact your travel
professional.
villa deauville
us look more closly at taking a celebrity cruise.
SUNNY<.........does not care to be told when to eat
Charles
villa deauville <SUN...@webtv.net> wrote:
> Now if only Celebrity would introduce Freestyle or/and PC it would make
> us look more closly at taking a celebrity cruise.
If they just expand the dining hours that would be fine. I don't care
for Freestyle or PC dining. The "enhanced" Captain's Club seems to be a
misnomer in part. If I were not already a member I would not pay the
$35 until after doing five cruises.
--
Charles
George in NY
As always thanks for keeping us all up to date. It will be interesting to
see if the new " perks " are in place on our Galaxy cruise that we embark on
in a few days. The last literature I recall receiving denoted us Platinum
members and I don't recall any new cards or anything being issued since Gold
card. I am wondering if they will be issuing new membership cards.
If I am reading correctly it looks like that after Sept 2002 new members
will not be afforded Priority embarkation, is that your take? In a way it
makes sense since as the club grows it is harder and harder to find non-club
members. We've laughed that sooner or later the non-member lines could be
shorter and that I could see us refusing to get into Captains club long line
swearing to be newbies and demanding the shorter first time line. :) Kidding
of course for the literal at heart.
George in NY - always get a little crazy and strange towards sailing date
I wanna go NOW! Said he stamping his feet like a little kid
Are we there yet???Huh are we????
"Ray Goldenberg" <r...@lighthousetravel.com> wrote in message
news:jonpfu84eqt2882b7...@4ax.com...
George in NY
I doubt you will ever see free cruise no matter how many times we all sail,
however, REAL discounts and upgardes would be a fantastic thing! Don't get
me wrong, I'll take what I can get, but in my opion no line truly reflects
an appearance of consistently valuing good customers. Most promo's and
coupons you get as a repat cruiser, any line, can be beat or prove unusable
due to better deal without coupon. I think Celebrity's priority embarkation
and one cat upgrade are better than most but leave much to be desired. I
have been fortunate enough to have been able to take well over 30 cruises
since 1984 many of which have been on Celebrity. At age 52 I am hopeful of
being able to take many more before heading to that big Captains party in
the sky. Between fares, onboard expenses, and so forth a pretty penny has
been spent and I think that anyone that is that dedicated to cruising,
especially a particular line, should be recognized to the fullest extent
possible by a line. I am sure many that frequent this board are dedicated
cruiseaholics and I know many have more cruises under there belt than I. I
don't know that anyone really feels that the cruiseline of their choice has
convinced them that they truly are valued customers.
So I say heck, if I cruise twice a year with you forget the coupon and
restrictions and just give me a guarenteed 15 or 20 % off the real price
regardless of cat, time of year, date booked and so on. Save the money for
the extra welcome party's, with a true savings I will be happy to buy the "
free " drink.
George in NY
"Normsr" <nor...@prodigy.net> wrote in message
news:3CFD1D7F...@prodigy.net...
Hi Ray
Another good benny would be to offer a free cruise to people who have sailed
with them more then 10 times. I think all cruise ships should offer an
incentive like that, or similar to it.
Norm
OcnGypZ
What irks me is that my Crown & Anchor benefits are still BETTER!!
After sailing Celebrity over 11 times, there isn't any incentive to continue.
I added up what I spent on my last 7 cruises with them April 2001-April 2002.
If I had spent that money with Seabourn ,I'd be working on a free cruise now!!!
I have total of 23 with the line.
The new "benefits" don't cost them very much... and I am not impressed. I
don't want another bottle of Michel Roux champagne and another set of champagne
flutes. I have too many already. I want a discount on my premium verandah
cabins and suites.
Bottomline, I cancelled my Dec booking on Zenith... booked with
Silversea....lower per diems!!!!!!!!!!!!
Babette
June
June
"George in NY" <geor...@bellatlantic.net> wrote in message
news:nHaL8.34664$m9.3...@nwrddc02.gnilink.net...
Tom & Linda
We vote for traditional dining.
24 hour buffet... YES. But keep traditional dining.
--Tom
Tom & Linda
I'd estimate that I've saved at least $500-800 with 5 1-cat upgrades on
5 sailings after we joined.
But you're right... they need to extend the upgrades to balcony cabins.
--Tom
radamo
program for past passengers of either line. I have 5 RCCL cruises now and
Celebrity won't recognize even 1 to join the Captain's Club (heck, I would
even give them the $35...).
RA
"George in NY" <geor...@bellatlantic.net> wrote in message
news:YvaL8.34648$m9.2...@nwrddc02.gnilink.net...
OcnGypZ
Tom:
I am a Diamond C&A member. We get special pricing on balconies and suites.
Also concierge service on those ships which offer it.
The "reunion" cruises on RCL DO have lower rates which are not available to the
general public. Celebrity tosses out a coupon and then says you can only apply
it against their higher 5* rates - which are higher than the rates appearing on
their own website. Any John Q. Cruiser can get a lower rate on these so-called
"reunion" cruises with Celebrity by using promotional rates.
Since I do book balconies and suites, the CC upgrade is of no use to me. I've
only used it twice successfully on Zenith. Once in January for my back to
back... and once for Bermuda.
I still think all alumni programs should be based on days... not number of
cruises.
Babette
villa deauville
The Grand and Golden do have traditional dining so you are free to do
either or.
SUNNY<........is really having a hard time with choosing a cruise line
Tom & Linda
aft window on all ships except Zenith/Horizon. So 2 different formats
wouldn't work.
--Tom <--- has NO trouble picking a cruise line - NOTHING beats Millie
class, unless you want Bermuda, but we'll give GrandP a chance to knock
Infinity out of first place for our favorite ship ever
Daniel Allen Butler
Babs, you play Crown & Anchor? Woo-hoo! I wanna party with this girl!
(Don't tell Kitty I said that!)
Daniel Allen Butler
(The Hammer)
The opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of the management, but
they ought to be!
Bicepeak
>From: "George in NY" <geor...@bellatlantic.net>
>Date: Tue, Jun 4, 2002 17:43 EDT
>Message-id: <YvaL8.34648$m9.2...@nwrddc02.gnilink.net>
>
>Ray,
>
>As always thanks for keeping us all up to date. It will be interesting to
>If I am reading correctly it looks like that after Sept 2002 new members
>will not be afforded Priority embarkation, is that your take? In a way it
>makes sense since as the club grows it is harder and harder to find non-club
>members. We've laughed that sooner or later the non-member lines could be
>shorter and that I could see us refusing to get into Captains club long line
>swearing to be newbies and demanding the shorter first time line. :) Kidding
>of course for the literal at heart.
>
Don't laugh George, this really DID happen to us on a Galaxy cruise in 2000 to
Alaska from San Diego. We were in this huge Captains' Club Line and I noticed
the regular line was moving very quickly and was almost empty while the 2 CC
check -in people were trying to figure out how to get started. I figured the
non-CC people were waiting in another room after they checked in so CC members
could board first. Wrong! They were directly boarding the ship! I am a mild
mannered guy, but I lost it then! I felt like a fool standing there waiting in
line. So I just cut over to the regular check-in and immediately boarded.
My advice, keep an eye on both lines and take the one thats moving!
Sean
Ray Goldenberg
<geor...@bellatlantic.net> wrote:
>If I am reading correctly it looks like that after Sept 2002 new members
>will not be afforded Priority embarkation, is that your take?
Hi George,
Yes, that is the way I interpret the press release.
Steve Buch
CC checkin and we breezed though a regular station where no one was waiting.
- Steve B.
June
school vacation times. They sure were on our summer Horizon cruise.
June
"Steve Buch" <sb...@etracsolutions.com> wrote in message
news:3CFE9D...@etracsolutions.com...
Philip & Karen Selwyn
>
> ...press release from Celebrity Cruises
>
> ...introduced an enhanced Captain's Club program... "Classic": One to
> five cruises ... "Select": Six to 10 cruises ..."Elite": 11 cruises
> and up
Our experience last night--
At the advice of our TA, my husband called Celebrity to make sure that
all our cruises were accurately recorded in their system. Turns out,
their records were incomplete. Cruises taken before the RCI take-over
were not in their records. As we keep good records, it was very easy to
supply the date and ship of the cruises from the pre-RCI era and our
record is now complete.
I'd encourage anyone who cruised Celebrity in its early days to check
out their records.
Karen Selwyn
Conboy129
Cruisetraveller
Summit. Fortunately I keep a record and all our cruises
in my computer and take a printout of it just in case I need it. It was
necessary to provide cruise dates which confirmed our status as 'Select'
By the way, Summit, to celebrate its inaugural Alaska season on May 24th
departure, was the first ship in their fleet to use the new system and the
perks you receive in 'Select' category are very, very good.
Bryan
Letterhead Email
Cruiseny
I am irritated with the 'enhanced' Captain's Club benefits. I have
been on four RCCL cruises, and two Celebrity Cruises. On RCCL I get
counted as a 'Gold' member, which is the very same way a person who
has been on ONE cruise is treated.
On Celebrity, I am counted as nothing, since I refuse, on basis of
principle, to pay $35 to have my previous cruises recognized.
It is my belief that Captain's Club should be aligned with Crown &
Anchor. Current Captain's Club members could be given $35 vouchers to
shut them up about 'but now it's free' etc.
I would then be counted as having been on six RCCL cruises, which is
the correct number.
This would not only be the right way to treat those of us who
routinely cruise both lines, but also give RCCL cruisers incentive to
'try' Celebrity, just as Carnival cruisers are given incentive to
'try' HAL, Costa, Cunard, Seabourn, and Windstar.
I find this especially irritating, as the onboard sales people on
Voyager of the Seas in February 2002 were not only pushing RCCL
cruises but also Celebrity cruises. However Celebrity would not have
recognized me, even if I had paid $35, for the cruise on which I had
bought my Celebrity cruise!
Considering that the RCCL people were pushing 'our sister line'
Celebrity, they should do as they say and make Celebrity at least as
appealing as another RCCL cruise, and vice versa!
Anything less, i.e. what they are doing now, is pure and simple an
example of the bad customer service that is being increasingly
rendered by RCCL, who on my latest cruise have made me feel like a
second-class citizen, the first-class ones being the RCCL employees!
If you do not believe me, go to my Voyager review at:
http://cruiseny.home.att.net/voyager.htm
and look at the 'Long Way Home' paragraph...
What is happening to RCCL!
By the way, Ocngypz, I would love to have the opportunity to cruise
Silversea at a lower per diem than Celebrity... Were you kidding
about that?
Happy Cruising,
Cruiseny
Chris
>Date: 6/9/02 4:02 PM Central Daylight Time
>Message-id: <5c1addf0.0206...@posting.google.com>
So write a letter. GEESH
Chris
Tom & Linda
over 5 subsequent sailing (for example, if you want a cat 4, you pay for
a cat 5 and get a cat 4).
I don't think that RCI give you anything of worth for past sailings (5%
off in the gift shop ain't squat)... but the 1 cat upgrade has been
worth big money for me. And the coupons in the RCI repeater magazine
say that they have to be presented at the time of booking... which
wouldn't work for us since we tend to book very far in advance - though
we really don't care for RCI anyway.
I for one am VERY glad the programs are different. RCI would ruin
Celebrity's program if they were the same.
--Tom
Charles
<TKAN...@worldnet.att.net> wrote:
> I don't think that RCI give you anything of worth for past sailings (5%
> off in the gift shop ain't squat)... but the 1 cat upgrade has been
I have gotten what amounts to the same thing as a catagory upgrade for
being a past cruiser on RCI. I get a discount on my cruise for being a
Crown and Anchor member. I can take the money which makes sense or use
the difference and take a higher catagory room. Same thing whern you
are a Captain Circle member on Princess. You just give your number when
you book. You are kidding yourself if you think the one catagory
upgrade is something special on Celebrity. And that next catagory room
is the same anyway only one deck up. You are not really "saving"
anything since you are not really getting anything worth the extra
money they charge for the next catagory. All the $35 was worth was that
priority embarkation which does come in handy since Celebrity has the
slowest embarkation of all the cruise lines I have been on. Another
funny thing, they have a repeaters party anyway on Celebrity for
repeaters who are not Captains Club members!! With the enhanced
Captains Club if I were not already a member I would wait until I had
the fifth cruise to join.
--
Charles