AMEX Plat Cruise benefit: experiences and fine print (2006 - 2021)
Aug 28, 2018, 10:20 am
#106
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K, UA Gold, Marriott LTT, Avis President's Club
Posts: 1,539
The TA does have to use a specific rate code, correct. However, the TA also has to go to Amex and validate the Platinum card and provide the cruise line a verification number....
I am assuming Amex, could revoke the authorization # if you say cancelled your Platinum card, or say they did an audit and found you didn't pay for it with the correct card....
I am assuming Amex, could revoke the authorization # if you say cancelled your Platinum card, or say they did an audit and found you didn't pay for it with the correct card....
Dec 12, 2018, 9:40 pm
#107
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: Hilton Gold, SPG Gold, CC Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 433
I am booking 2 rooms for 2020 using Amex Platinum for cruise OBC Cruise priviledge program. Does anyone know if complete purchase has to be made with Amex Plat or any Amex credit card. I plan to place initial deposit on Amex Plat. Final payment not due until Nov 2019. Just wondering if whole payment has to be made on Amex Plat or can I use different card.
Dec 13, 2018, 5:18 am
#108
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: YVR
Posts: 625
I am booking 2 rooms for 2020 using Amex Platinum for cruise OBC Cruise priviledge program. Does anyone know if complete purchase has to be made with Amex Plat or any Amex credit card. I plan to place initial deposit on Amex Plat. Final payment not due until Nov 2019. Just wondering if whole payment has to be made on Amex Plat or can I use different card.
Dec 13, 2018, 11:03 am
#109
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,953
There is some flexibility for card issued in the USA:
Valid for new bookings of voyages of at least five nights made with a participating supplier through Platinum Travel Service, Centurion Travel Service, any American Express Travel office, eligible Travel Associate Platform agencies, or the Agency Services Desk. May not be combined with other offers unless indicated. Blackout dates, category and fare restrictions may apply. Payment must be made with an American Express Card in U.S. Platinum Card Member or U.S. Centurion® Member's name. Available for U.S. Platinum Charge Card Members and U.S. Centurion® Members only, and excludes Platinum Credit Card Members such as Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Card Members who are not also U.S Platinum Charge Card Members or U.S. Centurion® Members. Card Member must travel on itinerary booked. Benefits listed require double occupancy and are non-transferable. Program benefits may not be available to residents outside of the contiguous United States. Card Members receive $100 USD shipboard credit for inside and outside staterooms; $200 USD shipboard credit for balcony, verandah, and mini-suite staterooms; and $300 USD shipboard credit for suites on Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, and Royal Caribbean International. Card Members receive $300 USD shipboard credit for all Queen Mary oceanview staterooms category EF or higher, and Queen Victoria/ Queen Elizabeth oceanview staterooms category FA or higher on Cunard Line. Card Members receive $300 USD shipboard credit for all stateroom categories on Ama Waterways, Oceania, Regent, Azamara, Seabourn, Crystal, Silversea, Uniworld, and Windstar. Centurion Members receive an additional $200 ($500 total) USD shipboard credit on Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Seabourn, and Silversea. All shipboard credits will be credited to the guest's stateroom folio upon checkout. Shipboard credit amounts in international jurisdictions may vary due to foreign exchange rates and timing of application. Shipboard credits are subject to cruise line policies. Credits cannot be used for casino charges and gratuities. Unused portion of credit is non-refundable and is not redeemable for cash. Other restrictions may apply, see onboard cashier for details. Additional amenity not available on the Silversea Expedition Fleet: Silver Explorer, Silver Galapagos, and Silver Discoverer. The Cruise Privileges Program benefits (shipboard credits and additional amenities) are not available on Celebrity Cruises Galapagos Sailings. Limit one benefit package per stateroom; three-stateroom limit per Card Member, per sailing. To obtain benefits, travel agents must visit americanexpress.com/asdonline. Participating providers and benefits subject to change.
Dec 22, 2018, 11:25 am
#111
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Springfield, MA
Programs: HH Diamond, IHG Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 434
I have used this benefit for years and I have always used it through my TA. Look for a travel agency that says it provides AMEX benefits. I have used other AMEX cards with no issue so far. I only did that because of doubling up with AMEX cruise offers. Now that you can only get one offer for all cards, I may change. However, the AMEX offer for $ and the offer for points are different and both can be used. If your cruise is far enough away, you can use it multiple times and you can overpay and the balance can be used for shipboard credit. Or at least it has worked that way for me on HAL.
Dec 22, 2018, 6:05 pm
#112
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,750
Our cruise agent belongs to the American Express Travel Consortium - i.e. she carries the AMEX brand but not necessary AMEX Travel. She told me a special code needs to enter the system but I dont need to use the Plat card to pay. However the Princess cruise we checked on the benefits, she actually had another agency's rate that was far better than the rate qualifies the AMEX Plat benefit. Needless to say we did not use the Plat benefit but went for her agency special because it was several hundreds better than the OBC benefit. My understanding is, she is top volume agent (among all the mass market lines) and has agency incentives that she can pass to her customers.
Jan 21, 2019, 9:40 am
#113
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: DTW - Rochester Hills, MI
Programs: Cathay MPC, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Domestic Airline Nobody
Posts: 715
AMEX Travel vs. AMEX Platinum Travel (Cruises)
So I had a bit of a bummer experience with AMEX.
We will be joining a group on a cruise. So I logged into my American Express online account and followed the links to explore cruises. The website kinda sucked so I needed to call. I followed the numbers on the website. Booked the cruise, gave the deposit, and was told the balance would autocharge in about a month.
A little over a month later I was reviewing my statement and didn't see the balance charged. I checked my reservation at Royal Caribbean and was shocked/panicked that reservation was gone! After frantic calls to AMEX, and a TON of runaround, it finally got cleared-up (Some sort of internal snafu that didn't show it as confirmed. They eventually fixed it, and it would appear we have a slightly upgraded cabin now, like a higher deck or something.)
Anyway, what I learned during the process of trying to fix this is that there is an "Online Amex Travel", and there is a completely separate Amex Platinum travel. You are not automatically routed to the Platinum service even if you are a Platinum member. I even paid with my Platinum card, but was not notified that there was a separate service for Platinum members. The only benefit I got in going through AMEX was double membership miles. I have no idea what Platinum perks I lost out on. Bummer.
Anway, thought I'd share to help others avoid the disappointment.
We will be joining a group on a cruise. So I logged into my American Express online account and followed the links to explore cruises. The website kinda sucked so I needed to call. I followed the numbers on the website. Booked the cruise, gave the deposit, and was told the balance would autocharge in about a month.
A little over a month later I was reviewing my statement and didn't see the balance charged. I checked my reservation at Royal Caribbean and was shocked/panicked that reservation was gone! After frantic calls to AMEX, and a TON of runaround, it finally got cleared-up (Some sort of internal snafu that didn't show it as confirmed. They eventually fixed it, and it would appear we have a slightly upgraded cabin now, like a higher deck or something.)
Anyway, what I learned during the process of trying to fix this is that there is an "Online Amex Travel", and there is a completely separate Amex Platinum travel. You are not automatically routed to the Platinum service even if you are a Platinum member. I even paid with my Platinum card, but was not notified that there was a separate service for Platinum members. The only benefit I got in going through AMEX was double membership miles. I have no idea what Platinum perks I lost out on. Bummer.
Anway, thought I'd share to help others avoid the disappointment.
Jan 21, 2019, 1:51 pm
#114
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,750
So I had a bit of a bummer experience with AMEX.
We will be joining a group on a cruise. So I logged into my American Express online account and followed the links to explore cruises. The website kinda sucked so I needed to call. I followed the numbers on the website. Booked the cruise, gave the deposit, and was told the balance would autocharge in about a month.
A little over a month later I was reviewing my statement and didn't see the balance charged. I checked my reservation at Royal Caribbean and was shocked/panicked that reservation was gone! After frantic calls to AMEX, and a TON of runaround, it finally got cleared-up (Some sort of internal snafu that didn't show it as confirmed. They eventually fixed it, and it would appear we have a slightly upgraded cabin now, like a higher deck or something.)
Anyway, what I learned during the process of trying to fix this is that there is an "Online Amex Travel", and there is a completely separate Amex Platinum travel. You are not automatically routed to the Platinum service even if you are a Platinum member. I even paid with my Platinum card, but was not notified that there was a separate service for Platinum members. The only benefit I got in going through AMEX was double membership miles. I have no idea what Platinum perks I lost out on. Bummer.
Anway, thought I'd share to help others avoid the disappointment.
We will be joining a group on a cruise. So I logged into my American Express online account and followed the links to explore cruises. The website kinda sucked so I needed to call. I followed the numbers on the website. Booked the cruise, gave the deposit, and was told the balance would autocharge in about a month.
A little over a month later I was reviewing my statement and didn't see the balance charged. I checked my reservation at Royal Caribbean and was shocked/panicked that reservation was gone! After frantic calls to AMEX, and a TON of runaround, it finally got cleared-up (Some sort of internal snafu that didn't show it as confirmed. They eventually fixed it, and it would appear we have a slightly upgraded cabin now, like a higher deck or something.)
Anyway, what I learned during the process of trying to fix this is that there is an "Online Amex Travel", and there is a completely separate Amex Platinum travel. You are not automatically routed to the Platinum service even if you are a Platinum member. I even paid with my Platinum card, but was not notified that there was a separate service for Platinum members. The only benefit I got in going through AMEX was double membership miles. I have no idea what Platinum perks I lost out on. Bummer.
Anway, thought I'd share to help others avoid the disappointment.
You lost the shipboard credit that Plat cards enjoy. The amount of the Dollars caries depending on several factors - the line, the sailing, the length of the sailing, and the cabin category, among the most common.
All in all if one has a regular cruise agent, it pays to always check the prices first before using the Plat benefits. AMEX offers also can mean a couple hundreds of additional savings like there is one for 4 brands owned by Carnival, $100 statement credit for $500 booked, expired 3/31/19. There was a very similar one for NCL but it disappeared very quickly. RCL does not seem to participate to AMEX OFFER though. At least I dont remember seeing it the past 2 or 3 years.
Feb 5, 2019, 6:36 am
#115
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Springfield, MA
Programs: HH Diamond, IHG Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 434
There are AMEX platinum cruise benefits for Royal Caribbean. I would book through a travel agency that states on their website they handle AMEX platinum bookings. That is fiiferent from AMEX offers. I don't know if there have been AMEX offers for RC as I don't sail on that line.
Aug 5, 2019, 9:26 am
#116
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Mexico City
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, Marriot Gold, IHG Silver, Choice Platinum, Wyndham Gold
Posts: 3,845
AMEX Travel Program (Cruises)
Anyone use the AMEX Travel Program for a Cruise? If so, do the final documents, like boarding cards etc come directly from the cruise line or from American Express? My cruise is next year, so not expecting anything until then, but just wondering in the meantime.
I only chose AMEX Travel so that I would have some possible leverage in the event there's any problems, or maybe they could help with price reduction credits, etc.
Any input would be appreciated.
Edit: Just noticed my post was moved to the correct forum. Disregard my question. I'll just read all previous postings. Thanks!
I only chose AMEX Travel so that I would have some possible leverage in the event there's any problems, or maybe they could help with price reduction credits, etc.
Any input would be appreciated.
Edit: Just noticed my post was moved to the correct forum. Disregard my question. I'll just read all previous postings. Thanks!
Last edited by Global Adventurer; Aug 5, 2019 at 11:07 am
Aug 5, 2019, 12:10 pm
#117
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Mexico City
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, Marriot Gold, IHG Silver, Choice Platinum, Wyndham Gold
Posts: 3,845
So I had a bit of a bummer experience with AMEX.
We will be joining a group on a cruise. So I logged into my American Express online account and followed the links to explore cruises. The website kinda sucked so I needed to call. I followed the numbers on the website. Booked the cruise, gave the deposit, and was told the balance would autocharge in about a month.
A little over a month later I was reviewing my statement and didn't see the balance charged. I checked my reservation at Royal Caribbean and was shocked/panicked that reservation was gone! After frantic calls to AMEX, and a TON of runaround, it finally got cleared-up (Some sort of internal snafu that didn't show it as confirmed. They eventually fixed it, and it would appear we have a slightly upgraded cabin now, like a higher deck or something.)
Anyway, what I learned during the process of trying to fix this is that there is an "Online Amex Travel", and there is a completely separate Amex Platinum travel. You are not automatically routed to the Platinum service even if you are a Platinum member. I even paid with my Platinum card, but was not notified that there was a separate service for Platinum members. The only benefit I got in going through AMEX was double membership miles. I have no idea what Platinum perks I lost out on. Bummer.
Anway, thought I'd share to help others avoid the disappointment.
We will be joining a group on a cruise. So I logged into my American Express online account and followed the links to explore cruises. The website kinda sucked so I needed to call. I followed the numbers on the website. Booked the cruise, gave the deposit, and was told the balance would autocharge in about a month.
A little over a month later I was reviewing my statement and didn't see the balance charged. I checked my reservation at Royal Caribbean and was shocked/panicked that reservation was gone! After frantic calls to AMEX, and a TON of runaround, it finally got cleared-up (Some sort of internal snafu that didn't show it as confirmed. They eventually fixed it, and it would appear we have a slightly upgraded cabin now, like a higher deck or something.)
Anyway, what I learned during the process of trying to fix this is that there is an "Online Amex Travel", and there is a completely separate Amex Platinum travel. You are not automatically routed to the Platinum service even if you are a Platinum member. I even paid with my Platinum card, but was not notified that there was a separate service for Platinum members. The only benefit I got in going through AMEX was double membership miles. I have no idea what Platinum perks I lost out on. Bummer.
Anway, thought I'd share to help others avoid the disappointment.
Aug 13, 2019, 7:34 pm
#118
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Mexico City
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, Marriot Gold, IHG Silver, Choice Platinum, Wyndham Gold
Posts: 3,845
In addition to the first cruise that I booked through American Express travel online, today I checked platinum card cruises and didn't find anything I wanted. So, I checked the actual cruise line website and went back to amex travel site and the price was almost $50 higher. I called AMEX travel (non-platinum line) and they couldn't reduce the price any lower.
So, I booked directly with the cruise line. Even though I would have gotten double points and 1000 bonus points it was still cheaper to book with the cruise ship because I was still getting 1x points for the purchase and almost $50 ofg. I would not have gotten 5000 points ($50) from Amex. So, I don't really see the purpose in using Amex on lower budget cruises when you can get a better discount going direct. The first time I used them the prices were the same, so it was worth it.
So, I booked directly with the cruise line. Even though I would have gotten double points and 1000 bonus points it was still cheaper to book with the cruise ship because I was still getting 1x points for the purchase and almost $50 ofg. I would not have gotten 5000 points ($50) from Amex. So, I don't really see the purpose in using Amex on lower budget cruises when you can get a better discount going direct. The first time I used them the prices were the same, so it was worth it.
Aug 18, 2019, 10:41 pm
#119
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Highland PArk,IL,USA -- AA Lifetime Platinum, IHG Plat, UA Silver, Hilton Gold, Radisson Gold, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 2,366
Our cruise agent belongs to the American Express Travel Consortium - i.e. she carries the AMEX brand but not necessary AMEX Travel. She told me a special code needs to enter the system but I dont need to use the Plat card to pay. However the Princess cruise we checked on the benefits, she actually had another agency's rate that was far better than the rate qualifies the AMEX Plat benefit. Needless to say we did not use the Plat benefit but went for her agency special because it was several hundreds better than the OBC benefit. My understanding is, she is top volume agent (among all the mass market lines) and has agency incentives that she can pass to her customers.
What you've written here says I can have UR person call Amex and apply code to get $200 OBC for balcony, which I did last time. Soda package would not be included but if $200 OBC does would be great. If connections loyalty (I think that is Chase TA) is a member of AMex Travel group.
Last edited by thepla; Aug 19, 2019 at 12:46 am
Aug 18, 2019, 10:43 pm
#120
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Highland PArk,IL,USA -- AA Lifetime Platinum, IHG Plat, UA Silver, Hilton Gold, Radisson Gold, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 2,366
In addition to the first cruise that I booked through American Express travel online, today I checked platinum card cruises and didn't find anything I wanted. So, I checked the actual cruise line website and went back to amex travel site and the price was almost $50 higher. I called AMEX travel (non-platinum line) and they couldn't reduce the price any lower.
So, I booked directly with the cruise line. Even though I would have gotten double points and 1000 bonus points it was still cheaper to book with the cruise ship because I was still getting 1x points for the purchase and almost $50 ofg. I would not have gotten 5000 points ($50) from Amex. So, I don't really see the purpose in using Amex on lower budget cruises when you can get a better discount going direct. The first time I used them the prices were the same, so it was worth it.
So, I booked directly with the cruise line. Even though I would have gotten double points and 1000 bonus points it was still cheaper to book with the cruise ship because I was still getting 1x points for the purchase and almost $50 ofg. I would not have gotten 5000 points ($50) from Amex. So, I don't really see the purpose in using Amex on lower budget cruises when you can get a better discount going direct. The first time I used them the prices were the same, so it was worth it.