cruisellama

Its called "Power Up" points.

You paid your dues. Currently no one is sailing (since March), so no one is collecting any points. In effect we have "lost time", and as Ben Franklin once said, "Lost time is never found.." Celebrity introduced a patch during the shutdown where you actually earn some loyalty points without sailing. You can't get many, but 4 is not difficult to pick up. My wife and I have picked up 6 points each without sailing just playing the game.

That would be great. I found coming up with assumptions for daily rate for each class of cabin to be pretty difficult (a TA could do much better). RCL only uses 2 levels for point awards. Celebrity has 6 different point awards based upon cabin class. Then I ran a comparison (very gross) to determine how much you have to spend on either line to reach Diamond/Elite and Pinnacle/Zenneth. (As status as reciprocal between lines - which is line is cheaper to attain the highest level). Gross results: On Celebrity you can reach Zenneth faster with the highest level suites (earning 18 point/day) at an overall cumulative lower cost (inverse). But I'm sure my daily rate assumptions are overstated for the non-suite and assumed too low for suites in both cases. If you throw Edge class and Oasis class top end Iconic and Family Grand suites it really hikes the $/night, but on Celebrity as you're earning 18pt/night you reach the top level faster. So fast track to Celebrity Zenneth with suite route is $76K/pp for 160 nights at sea. Fast track to Pinnacle would be non-suites for $105K/pp (probably lower as daily rate assumption is overstated) and 700 sea days. Again this was a very gross estimate.

That's a REAL corny joke. Pun intended.....

All your points are good. There would need some thought behind on it on what makes financial sense. I believe the Hotel, Dining, and Beverage executives all have revenue targets. Perhaps the casino operations is separate profit center, so different rules might apply. I'm just suggesting this might be an interesting tool for departments to boost revenue. Need to sell more drink or dinner packages? More photo packages? Then provide a marketing incentive to bundle different packages up to a dollar level to pick up a point. I think folks on a tier cusp might spend a few bucks to bump to a higher level. As you note - it needs to be smartly and fairly done - while making financial sense - of course approved/established by the company leadership. I don't think it would be so gross as to enable an entire tier move on a single cruise. It's interesting to model what it takes to progress from 1st cruise to Pinnacle. Many assumptions required - but you have to spend a boatload of $$ and spend many sea nights to make it that far. You can try to do it with low cost cabins, or accelerate with suites - but its a boatload of money. Its an interesting trade study.

You use the "promotion" when you need a revenue boost. Not for trivial purchases, but for maybe every $500 or $1K of on-board sales. So you could purchase some spa/dinner/photo packages and get a point or two. The current 2X deal won't be permanent. Its being used to boost near term bookings and collect more deposits. Why couldn't Casino spending also be applied? Maybe every $1K in cash cycled through the casino, in they throw in a point or two. If you're on the cusp of a level, you might just drop a few bucks so you're there the next time you sail.

I always thought loyalty point adders through adding on-board purchases or bookings would be a productive way to increase revenue. Offer a point for a 3-day dining package, or 1 for booking a spa package. Allows for more immediate cash flow.

We haven't been sailing since March. Might go into 2021? Who knows? But without sailing, no one has collected points since March. So double points allow to make up lost time, and not necessarily point packing except for the super cruisers who will be back in force. Sister company Celebrity has allowed for "no sail" points for surveys and purchases such as booking cruises or on-board purchases. I think the best effect is when you're on the cusp of a new tier and a point or two will push you into the next tier.

PS the asymmetry of the AFT window isn't really noticeable when you're on the inside looking out (sitting in the lounge). But looking at the aft of the ship from the outside is a bit peculiar.

I too felt the burn.. ?

Yes - the asymmetric glass windows enclose the Eden area. Two + levels - the Eden restaurant (lower) and the bar, lounge, cafe , and entertainment area. Also a small book/magazine cart they refer to as the library. The main and 1/2 level are connected with a Fibonacci curve/ramp that also accommodates seating, swings, lounges (very quiet area). There are shades that may be deployed. But the space temps are very well controlled. There is entertainment, but no large stage. The entire area is used as an open and interactive entertainment area. Areas for aerial performers, gymnasts , Green Bush People from the Eden commune , and various ensembles.

Maybe you'll even get to try the "0 touch" room service (or with any luck - back to normal by the time you cruise).

That's great news. Celebrity (Eclipse) has made the Monterey stop over a limited season. (Just the locals really don't like cruise ships interfering with their ocean view.)

I thought the cruise planner credits go right back to your credit card. A while ago, I received a refund for a cruise planner purchased excursion back to my cc (from a cancelled cruise).

This is what the link looks like.

FCC right? Once issued you get a code, then an option to use that code against an existing reservation or deposit toward new reservation will be possible. It will be in the cruise planner. There are some blogs or you can use your TA explaining how to protect your excess FCC if you have some. Some folks have built up a bank of these things.

Do you all have time for a the joke about the world's fastest cruise ship? Don't worry, it's a quick one liner

Protocols worked - good for Costa

We sailed Edge and really enjoyed it (and were supposed to be on her this Nov), but there are some "quirks" the crew and Celebrity had to fix as guest comments started coming in. I'm anxious to see comments on Apex - meaning did they start out avoiding errors on Edge. For example, they discovered excess wind across the Magic Carpet limits when you can use and and what you can actually do with it during sailing. When in port, its can be used for all functions including recovering tenders, but when sailing, there's a wind speed/direction limit for bar/restaurant services. Overall the design really leans forward with great space design/usage and great culinary offerings.

A cruise ship captain was waiting to set sail, but didn't have as many people on board as he needed to make it worth while, so he got an idea, he would go to the boardwalk, and offer people half price for tickets. He got a couple of takers, but not enough. Then he got another idea, he would offer half price tickets, and free food! Again, he was able to spark the interest of a few more people, but he still needed to fill a couple more rooms. As he was brainstorming, he saw a little girl playing with a kitten, and he got an idea. He ran to a pet store and bought all of the kittens they had. Then brought them back to port, and offered a free kitten to anyone who bought a ticket. It worked like a charm, and before long he was out of kittens and had sold out of all his cabin space. Happily, he headed back to the bridge and prepared to cast off. His first mate smiled admirably at him, and said, "wow, captain, you did it, you sold all the tickets we have room for! " The captain replied, "Yeah, but it took meowers."

Interesting how we've accepted and adapted to specialty dining business model. When it was introduced, there was some resistance to the premium cost and diluting of the "all inclusive" cruise package - now its normalized and I see far less aversion in cruising blogs. It's a matter of preference, but travelers seem to adapt .

Very interesting. Would be interested to see the sorting bins as materials are removed. Any "smalls" that end up on eBay?

Hadn't seen this one.