For Celebrity Cruises’ Captain’s Club members, sailing is about more than just the destination—it’s about returning to a brand that consistently delivers a sense of home at sea. Whether they’re cruising for the first time as a Classic-tier member or enjoying elite benefits as Zenith-level guests, Captain’s Club members are among the most dedicated in the cruise industry, and with good reason.
The Captain’s Club program offers a thoughtfully tiered structure that rewards frequent cruisers with increasingly generous perks. Benefits start stacking up after just one sailing, with special discounts, early boarding, restricted area access, exclusive events, and complimentary laundry services, drink packages and Wi-Fi all on the table. Upon reaching the highest-tier Zenith level, guests are even treated to a complimentary cruise.
During the recent President’s Cruise, Hodges Bethge welcomed Captain’s Club guests aboard during an exclusive cocktail reception event, saying, “We are here for all of you. We exist because you exist, and know that we want to make sure that you understand that you’re always our North Star and your feedback, your suggestions, your loyalty means the world to us. So, thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for being loyal to Celebrity Cruises. It really does make the difference to all of us that you all are happy. That’s what we’re focused on each and every day, so thank you from all of us.”
Exclusive Experiences at Sea and on Shore
Some prime examples of the special extras Captain’s Club guests receive were evident during this year’s President’s Cruise, which sailed in May 2025. As Celebrity Apex made her way through the Norwegian fjords, higher-tier Captain’s Club members enjoyed access to exclusive events hosted by company leadership, including president Laura Hodges Bethge herself. From elegant cocktail receptions to intimate Q&A sessions with ship officers and invitation-only dining experiences, members enjoyed VIP moments that further deepened their connection with the Celebrity brand, as well as opportunities to meet fellow loyal cruisers and take part in specially curated experiences.
Celebrity Cruises’ Global Culinary Ambassador, Daniel Boulud, hosts an exclusive Chef’s Table dinner for Captain’s Club members. (Photo Credit: Celebrity Cruises)
Prime Examples of Elevated Extras
While there were multiple exclusive events and experiences for higher-tier Captain’s Club guests available during the President’s Cruise, the pinnacle was probably an invitation-only shore excursion held on an island off the coast of Stavanger, Norway. Celebrity reserved the sprawling private gardens and grounds at Flor & Fjaere in their entirety to hold a private lunch exclusively for Zenith-level guests, attended by Hodges Bethge and the brand’s senior leadership. Guests’ glowing reactions to the elegance and exclusive feel of the event attested to its overall “wow” factor.
Ira, an Elite Plus member from Toronto, told TravelPulse that part of what brings him back to Celebrity time and time again is “Getting invited to events like this—events that I think sort of elevate the experience and help maintain that loyalty by, I think, always keeping their customers happy.” Meanwhile, Elite Plus guests Pat and Jean recalled a previous President’s Cruise Captain’s Club exclusive event that likewise left them speechless. Pat remembered, “The one in Italy, they shut a whole town in Tuscany. I mean a whole—a small— town, but they shut it down and opened the place only for us.” Jean marveled, “If that isn’t special, I don’t know what is.”
Celebrity Cruises President Laura Hodges Bethge mingles with guests at Flor & Fjaere in Stavanger, Norway. (Photo Credit: Northstar Travel Group/Laurie Baratti)
A Sense of Community at Sea
But, the allure of Celebrity’s loyalty program comes from more than a collection of shipboard benefits and exclusive happenings. Captain’s Club membership offers the opportunity to engage with an entire onboard community of like-minded vacationers. Many long-time members form lasting friendships with fellow cruisers, plan future voyages together and stay in touch between sailings. Whether gathering at daily Captain’s Club events or spotting familiar faces during a shore excursion, the program fosters a sense of belonging that keeps members coming back to the brand and its signature experiences.
A Genuine Sense of Recognition
Besides the built-in perks and the special sense of camaraderie, it’s the outstanding staff and the personalized touches they provide that seem to keep loyalty members coming back for more. When asked why she and her partner are such great supporters of Celebrity Cruises, Wanda—who received a President’s Cruise recognition as the Captain’s Club member with the single most loyalty points for the second year in a row—responded, “Each time we come on a Celebrity Cruise, it really is coming home. The officers and the crew make us feel so welcome. They have this great big smile on their face, and they do everything they can to make the cruising experience the best it can ever be.”
But, this type of treatment isn’t reserved for the highest-tier loyalty members. It’s something every guest aboard any given Celebrity sailing experiences. Ira explained, “The service is exceptional, absolutely exceptional, wherever you are—whether it’s your stateroom attendants, your waiters, the coffee people—everywhere. And, if you’ve been on the ship before and see some of the same crew, them recognizing you from a previous sailing. When you think about the number of guests they see each week—you know, if a cruise is seven/eight days and they’re having thousands of people rotating each week—and then people remember you, that’s pretty exceptional.”
Flair bartenders serving at the Grand Atrium’s Martini Bar aboard Celebrity Beyond. (Photo Credit: Celebrity Cruises)
A Crew Beyond Compare
“It’s not the extras that keep me coming back. It is entirely the crew,” Zenith member Mac effused. “The way management instills the ‘Celebrity Way’ in every staffer is astonishing. I am half serious when I say they must put happy juice in the crew’s water supply. The beaming smiles are ceaseless. Even the most mundane positions, such as cleaners and the techs in their overalls that one encounters in the passageways, always smile and greet every guest…The level of training and the ability to select the rare breed of service providers is nothing short of extraordinary.”
Moreover, for Captain’s Club members, the magic of Celebrity Cruises lies not only in the perks and privileges, but in the deeply personal experiences that turn each voyage into something unforgettable. It’s the warmth of a crew who remembers your name, the camaraderie of fellow loyal guests and the genuine feeling of being valued that keeps members coming back year after year. Whether it’s a once-in-a-lifetime President’s Cruise moment or the simple joy of familiar faces and exceptional service, the Captain’s Club isn’t just a loyalty program—it’s a community built on connection, care and a shared love of sailing with Celebrity.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
