American Express Membership Rewards - Cruise Privileges Experiences?

I apologize if this information has been posted, but I did a search and couldn't find any relevant information. Have any of the Plat card holders had any experience with Cruise Privileges? I'm thinking about using this for a cruise next year on Holland America and just wanted some input about any possible downsides to using the service. Thanks for any help you can give me.

If you are talking about the true plat card- used on another line where I got $300 shipboard credit :D (actually got 900 credit in one year so it covered the cost of the card!)

Don't know what HA offers - but I can't see any downside ;) (unless it is that the value of the offer is less than the cost of the card!)

Thanks, estnet. I am indeed talking about the "true" plat card. And I'm not worried about the value of the card. It's already paid for itself with the airport club entry feature alone! Anyway, thanks for the input.

FYI, The $300.00 Shipbord credit ( per cabin) is available when you pay the entire cruise fare with your plat amex.

It is not necessary to book your travels through amex travel services, they haven't been very competively priced in my experiences.

It is not necessary to book your travels through amex travel services, they haven't been very competively priced in my experiences.[/QUOTE]


I thought they were very competively priced when I was pricing a crusie. But it is alot like buying a car I would go back and forth between different wholesalers to see who would go the lowest. I went with another company but I knew I had hit bottom when Amex travel wouldn't go any lower.

peace
wwonka

I was very satisfied with my experience last year using cruise privileges for a Crystal Cruise. When I first called, I was advised the shipboard credit was $300. Subsequently, I was informed that the credit had been increased to $600. When I arrived on board, there was a thank you gift from American Express in my cabin and a note telling me the shipboard credit was $900. The fare quoted was competitive and I would not hesitate to use American Express again.

Thanks everybody for the great info. Looks like I'll be booking that cruise! :)

Is this credit applied automatically? or do you have to do something to get the credit. Going on a Costa Cruise in Sept.

thanks

I recently booked a Holland America cruise for next summer. The confirmation from the cruise line listed "$300pp shipboard credit" right in the comments. To my surprise and pleasure, it also listed "AMEX Platinum VIP Customer"!

My parents booked cruise directly with Holland America on their
suplementry Platinum card, I'm the primary Centruion card holder. It was
only after booking I mentioned this offer and they contacted Centurion
UK who insisted that they are not eligible as it must be booked through
them. I have read several posts online saying differently, but they are
not budging on this. Any ideas how to chase this one up as my parents
leave on the 1st of Jan.

Many thanks

I do not know if UK based cards are eligible, but see information for US based cards below:

https://www124.americanexpress.com/cards/platinum/cruiseprivileges.jsp

1. 2004 Cruise Privileges Program (CPP) may be combined with past passenger or group promotions depending on cruise line. CPP may not be combined with other American Express® Card offers. Blackout dates and category and fare restrictions may apply. CPP is a special benefit for Platinum Card members. Certain Platinum Cards are not eligible for certain benefits and services. The partners and benefits described herein are accurate as of 02/04 and are subject to change or cancellation without notice. American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. acts solely as agent for travel suppliers and is not responsible for the acts or inactions of such suppliers. CST#1022318-10, TA-149 Registered Ohio Travel Agency, Washington UBI# 600-469-694 ML-1192

2. The $300 ($150 per person, double occupancy) shipboard credit cannot be used in the casino or for payment of gratuities, is non-transferable, and cannot be redeemed for cash or credit. One of the travelers must be a U.S. Platinum Card or Centurion member and there is a three-cabin limit per Card member, per sailing. Payment must be made with an American Express Card in the Platinum Card member's name. Book through Platinum Travel Service (PTS) or refer your travel professional to PTS. To receive CPP amenities, travel agencies are responsible for following CPP bookings guidelines provided by PTS Agency Services Desk (ASD): 1-800-443-7672, prompt 5. Program valid for sailings completed by 12/31/05. Amenities are subject to change without notice. Ships’ Registries: Crystal Cruises: Bahamas; Cunard Line: Great Britain; Holland America Line: Netherlands and Bahamas; Princess Cruises and Tours: Great Britain and Bermuda; Radisson Seven Seas Cruises: Bahamas; Wallis & Futuna; Seabourn Cruise Line: Bahamas; Silversea Cruises: Bahamas; Windstar Cruises: Bahamas.

We also got a bottle of Dom on the SilverWind last May & an invitation for a private tour of the ship's bridge.

Hmmm, last November I booked five (three of which were balcony cabins) on RCCL. I did not book the cruise through American Express Platinum travel but paid for all five cabins with our Small Business Platinum American Express card. There was never mention from the cruise line and we did not receive any ship board credit. Was I supposed to ask American Express for ship board credit? Did we lose out or what???

Your TA has to secure the onboard credit for you, and there are certain steps he/she has to take. Amex is making it more complicated and costly for the TA's to get this for their clients.

And, it can't be retroactive, you have to get it/use it while you are onboard.

I'm not a TA, but have chatted with one about this.

My parents booked cruise directly with Holland America on their
suplementry Platinum card, I'm the primary Centruion card holder. It was
only after booking I mentioned this offer and they contacted Centurion
UK who insisted that they are not eligible as it must be booked through
them. I have read several posts online saying differently, but they are
not budging on this. Any ideas how to chase this one up as my parents
leave on the 1st of Jan.

Many thanks

According to the UK centurion travel benefit booklet you do get credit or discount on their cruise partners.

Silversea Cruises
Cunard line
Seabourn Cruise Line
Windstar
Star Clipper ( Royal Clipper only )
Crystal Cruises
Companie Des lls Pondant

No mention if you have to use Amex travel when booking and Holland America isn't listed anyway :td:

Do you get the credit when you book the cruise with the Plat card even if you don't show up?

I'm contending the idea of giving a cruise to a friend as a gift. I personally don't like cruises...too confined.

Do you get the credit when you book the cruise with the Plat card even if you don't show up?

I'm contending the idea of giving a cruise to a friend as a gift. I personally don't like cruises...too confined.

No - it's an onboard only credit... and feel free to give that cruise to me :p

AE cruise privilege (https://www124.americanexpress.com/cards/platinum/cruiseprivileges.jsp) Cruise Privileges Partners

Crystal Cruises
Cunard Line
Holland America Line
Princess Cruises
Radisson Seven Seas Cruises
Seabourn Cruise Line
Silversea Cruises
Windstar Cruises

Only the black (Centurion) and "the" Platnium (395$ yearly) will get you the privilege.

Welcome to Flyertalk, CWC

AE cruise privilege (https://www124.americanexpress.com/cards/platinum/cruiseprivileges.jsp)

Only the black (Centurion) and "the" Platnium (395$ yearly) will get you the privilege.

Now that I look at my docs, on our last Silversea cruise, we actually received the original $300 shipboard credit, then another $300 as we didn't want the upgrade (same veranda cabin, but in the middle on a lower deck) - I think this might have been our agent's deal with SS, plus the bottle of Dom - right there you're over $700 value ($600 of it basically cash) for a $395 card - made it well worth it for us to sign up.

Even if we didn't get the extra $300, still about $400 for a $395 card plus all it's other benefits - and that's if you only cruise once a year.

Just to update you, received a text message from my parents and they happily informed me that they received:

Two-category upgrade on outside staterooms or $300 per suite shipboard credit
Complimentary dinner at the Pinnacle Grill
No welcome champagne (Still looking in hope)
No $300 credit (Its upgrade or credit and they were pre assigned upgrade)

All in all my parents were very happily surprised as they thought this would never happen. Centurion UK were adamant that the privileges where only assigned when reservations were made through them when talking to them directly. However thanks to your advice we hocked up our US TA with the UK Centurion guys and they managed to get things sorted so thanks for all the advice and help.

If I am reading their terms correctly, the $300 shipboard credit is when two people occupy a cabin.

We got the $300 credit when traveling on the Windstar, and I used it in the spa :)

I am going as a single traveller on Radisson Voyager, and it looks like the fine print limits the credit to $150/person. So, if you are not a couple do you only get half the amount?

Has anyone had experience while travelling solo?

I think it is 225$ for single person. ^