Do Elite Members on Celebrity Cruises Get Free Drinks?

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When it comes to cruising, one of the things that many passengers who often travel look forward to is the loyalty program and the privileges that come with it, especially those that include free drinks. For members of the Captain’s Club of Celebrity Cruises, this is a valuable point of interest, especially for those who are Elite and above. Therefore, do the Elite members on Celebrity cruises get to drink for free? The answer is yes, but it is not that simple because the privileges depend on the level of membership in the Captain’s Club.

An understanding of the Captain's Club

Celebrity Cruises' loyalty program, called Captain’s Club, offers its members a number of privileges, such as preferred embarkation, invitations to special events, and, of course, free drinks. The program is tiered, with six levels: Preview, Classic, Select, Elite, Elite Plus, and Zenith. The benefits do get better as you go up the tiers, and the drink benefits are especially appealing to those at the elite level and above.

What is the Benefit of Elite Status?

The Captain’s Club is the rewards program of Celebrity Cruises, and elite status is attained when one has accumulated 300 points, which can be earned in one or several cruises depending on the length of the cruise and the type of cabin booked. When you attain the Elite status, you get to enjoy several privileges, and one of the most popular is the Elite Cocktail Hour.

The Elite Cocktail Hour is a daily affair that takes place from 5 to 7 p.m., during which Elite members and above can partake in free drinks in a separate area. This benefit covers the entire cruise period, including the embarkation day, which was earlier not covered but has been included after receiving feedback from members. The drink menu usually includes beers, wines, spirits, and other non-alcoholic beverages that are available for consumption to suit the needs of all the guests.

1. The Effect of the Recent Shift

The addition of embarkation day to the Elite Cocktail Hour is something that most of the regular Celebrity cruisers have been looking forward to. Originally, the members disagreed with the exclusion of embarkation day as one of the factors. Indeed, embarkation day is the first day of the holiday, and what is better than starting the holiday with a free cocktail? The change is an indication that Celebrity Cruises is willing to take its customers’ feedback and make changes where necessary. It also enhances the value of the Elite status, thus making the loyalty program even more attractive to the regular users of the cruise.

2. Elite Plus and Zenith: Even More Drink Perks

For those who have moved to the next level of Elite Plus (750 points) or Zenith (3,000 points), the drink benefits are even more rewarding. Elite Plus members are allowed to have more drinks during the Elite Cocktail Hour, as well as wines and premium spirits, among other drinks. They also get a 20% discount on the beverage package, which means that they can order their favorite drinks during the cruise at a cheaper price.

Elite members of the Captain’s Club, known as Zenith, are offered free drinks on the ship and not only during the Elite Cocktail Hour. Besides the cocktail hour, the members of Zenith have the opportunity to spend time in the Retreat Lounge, where alcoholic beverages are served free of charge at any time.

This membership level is the highest in Celebrity’s loyalty program, which provides the highest level of luxury and convenience for frequent travelers.

3. The Costs and Benefits of a Decision

Of course, the drink benefits for Elite members and above are quite appealing, but they have to be viewed in the context of the total cost of cruising. For those who often travel with Celebrity Cruises and appreciate the opportunity of the Captain’s Club, free drinks and other bonuses can bring a lot of added value.

It is also important to note that although the Elite Cocktail Hour offers a good amount of free drinks, those who wish to indulge in more expensive drinks or those who wish to drink outside of the cocktail hour may find it beneficial to purchase a beverage package. Celebrity Cruises has different beverage packages that range from the simplest ones, such as water, soda, and coffee, to the most complex ones, such as spirits, wines, and cocktails. Whether to go for the package or to rely on the free options is, therefore, a matter of choice, depending on the drinking habits of the consumer.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is therefore evident that Elite members on Celebrity Cruises do get free drinks with the privilege of being taken to embarkation day, as was recently the case. Although the cost of the cruises is increasing, the perks, such as free drinks, make the loyalty program very valuable for regular cruisers. For those who like to have a drink or two while sailing, the Elite status and above is a good chance to do so without having to worry about the bill. As Celebrity Cruises keeps on enhancing its loyalty program according to the members’ suggestions, it is evident that the Captain’s Club is a good motivator for travelers to remain loyal to the brand.