BTW - although the website claims that the Amex platinum cruise benefits are only available when booking through Amex travel - that is not true. As long as your travel agent has some type of relationship with Amex travel (not sure what it is), you will get the shipboard credits if paying with the Amex card. Over the years I have used a variety of different agencies and always received the credit. However, as I learned the hard way, if you are booking a fare that is not advertised on the cruise line website or promotional mailings, in all probablity you will not be entitled to the shipboard credit. Some of the cruise lines have amazing deals that are not advertised to the public but provided to certain agencies for "private sales" - the cruise lines need to get rid of inventory but do not want to "cheapen" there product or have to deal with passengers who booked on board with the guarantee that if the price is reduced, they are entitled to the reduced price.