Amex Platinum perk

One of the perks for paying for a Celebrity Cruise with an American Express Platinum card is one night free dining in a specialty restaurant. When we've done this on Princess, it is always for the first night of the cruise only. But there is no indication of a specific night for Celebrity. Does anyone know what the "rule" is? We're boarding the Eclipse in a couple of days and would appreciate any feedback.

In the past when I have used this perk, they have applied the credit to my account for any night.

Diane

Do you get the perk if you use a travel agent-or do you need to book directly with the cruise line

Do you get the perk if you use a travel agent-or do you need to book directly with the cruise line

You can do it either way, but it is not automatic. If you use a travel agent, he or she will know how to call the Celebrity Amex desk after securing a special tracking number for your booking. If you book directly with the cruise line, I guess they act as your agent, so tell them to get all the Amex Platinum perks for you. There's also an OBC. This is an American Express Platinum card (not, for example, a Delta Platinum American Express card). If you cruise with Princess or Celebrity a couple of times a year and take airline flights a couple of times a year, the hefty membership fee pays for itself.

In the past when I have used this perk, they have applied the credit to my account for any night.

 

Diane

Thank you.

Hi

No-one at Amex UK seems to know anything about this,

Can anyone provide a link so I can find some info

Thanks

One of the perks for paying for a Celebrity Cruise with an American Express Platinum card is one night free dining in a specialty restaurant. When we've done this on Princess, it is always for the first night of the cruise only. But there is no indication of a specific night for Celebrity. Does anyone know what the "rule" is? We're boarding the Eclipse in a couple of days and would appreciate any feedback.

You didn't really have to use it the first night on Princess. In about 25 Princess cruises we've just made the reservation for whatever night we wanted and told them to use our "credit" and it's never been a problem . ;)

But I do have a question regarding this - does it count for ALL specialty restaurants ? I know that Murano is more than the others and wondered whether we could use it for eating there.

You do not have to dine the first night in a specialty restaurant to receive this benefit.

You also do not have to use an Am/Ex agency. That said, you must make sure your travel agent knows of this. . .if they don't offer it, tell them about it, and/or find a TA who understands it.

This is what I've posted in the past for this very question. Note, this was two years ago, so I imagine by now the credit for the specialty restaurant is $80. I'll know soon enough--we will be on the Reflection crossing in little over a week and booked with our great agent, using the platinum card. We did choose the 2 category upgrade rather than the Am/Ex OBC, and in addition, we will get the benefits shown below:

Since I had booked with my AmEx platinum card we were told that we would receive a premium bottle of champagne. I was delighted, when instead of the champagne, there was this notice in the room:

I called and ordered a bottle of Cakebread chardonnay (one of my favs) and we took it to the MDR, where of course, there was no corkage fee since it was provided by Celebrity (and AmEx).

Also, of note, even though the above notice stated that we received a $70 shipboard credit valid for only specialty dining, I saw that the credit was posted to our account on the second day. I asked at the front desk if it had to be used for specialty dining, and she told me that as soon as it is posted to the account, it can be used for anything (other than the casino).

We also received a 2 category upgrade via the AmEx Platinum program. Caution: Don't just depend on your TA to know and offer these things. Always do your own research and know what each program offers.

And finally, the above was a copy and paste from a thread I started a while back following a Solstice cruise. Here is the actual thread with some questions and answers about the AmEx Platinum benefits.

Thanks for this information. I frequent these boards a lot and had never read about this perk before. My travel agent is going to learn something too!

Hi

No-one at Amex UK seems to know anything about this,

Can anyone provide a link so I can find some info

Thanks

It is a perk dealing directly with American Express Platinum travel only- You have to book the trip with them. If you book directly with celebrity, you can transfer the reservation to Amex Platinum Travel. We do this as it allows us to get the perks from Celebrity as well as Amex. Not sure about UK and suggest you call the number on your ID card.

Good Luck

If, you booked on board,and gave them a Visa Debit Card Deposit, but, have not paid for the sailing, can you still pay with your AMEX Platium Card and receive the AMEX Platium Card Benefits?

I transferred my booking to a well known internet TA with whom I've had a 10+year relationship.

If, I pay with my AMEX Platium Card for the cost of the cruise, which isn't due until Jan 13,will I still get the benefits?

Actually, you don't have to book through a specific Am/Ex agency. You do, however, need to make sure your TA KNOWS that you expect the Am/Ex benefits. If they can't provide it, then take your biz elsewhere.

My experience has been that ANY TA (at least any TA worth their weight) will get you the Am/Ex Platinum benefits IN ADDITION to whatever their agency gives you (and if you do your homework, what your TA gives you should equal to at least 10% of your cruise cost either in OBC, rebate, prepaid gratuities etc).

This is taken directly from AmEx Platinum:

♦ Double Membership Rewards points

♦ Two-category upgrade or up to $300 per stateroom shipboard credit (depending on ship and category booked). BTW, we just booked a C3 on a transatlantic crossing and received a 2 category upgrade to a C1 aft!. If we had just taken the onboard credit it was going to be about $100.

♦ Complimentary dinner for two in a specialty restaurant

♦ Bottle of premium champagne or wine

The only thing I have found is that a non-Am/Ex agency has problems getting you the double points. Still, my current TA provides enough to compensate for that.

I also don't think you can combine Celebrity shareholder benefits with AmEx Platinum.

Do your homework. That is, unless you have $ to burn.

If, you booked on board,and gave them a Visa Debit Card Deposit, but, have not paid for the sailing, can you still pay with your AMEX Platium Card and receive the AMEX Platium Card Benefits?

I transferred my booking to a well known internet TA with whom I've had a 10+year relationship.

If, I pay with my AMEX Platium Card for the cost of the cruise, which isn't due until Jan 13,will I still get the benefits?

Celebrity won't let you combine ANYTHING!

We bought a Passages certificate and booked the first half of a B2B with it. So for the first cruise we couldn't get the Platinum benefits. (The cruise is long so the $300 OBC we're supposed to get from the Passages Certificate more than makes up for it, though)

We got the benefits for the 2nd half.

I don't know if booking while on board counts as booking with a Passges certificate or not but I wouldn't hold my breath.

BTW- Princess lets you combine most benefits.

Wow, I learn something new everyday on these Boards! I loved the idea of getting Amex Perks for our upcoming Cruise and because I have Amex Platinum Aeroplanplus card I thought I would be eligible to get those. But like so many things that are unequal between Canada and US, the ONLY Amex Platinum card issuded in Canada eligibe for Cruise Privileges is their original Platinum Charge card with a heft fee of $699, ouch! I was told that because my Amex is affiliated with Aeroplan Rewards program, I wasn't eligible for Cruise Priviliges program. Bummer...

Wow, I learn something new everyday on these Boards! I loved the idea of getting Amex Perks for our upcoming Cruise and because I have Amex Platinum Aeroplanplus card I thought I would be eligible to get those. But like so many things that are unequal between Canada and US, the ONLY Amex Platinum card issuded in Canada eligibe for Cruise Privileges is their original Platinum Charge card with a heft fee of $699, ouch! I was told that because my Amex is affiliated with Aeroplan Rewards program, I wasn't eligible for Cruise Priviliges program. Bummer...

WOW!!!!!!!! :(

And I thought the US charge for the card was high! :(

Oh - in case those of you that have the card didn't know it - you get emergency evacuation coverage on all of your trips. I thought you had to book the trip on the Amex but have recently called Amex to verify and found out that you just have to own the card.

Hi

No-one at Amex UK seems to know anything about this,

Can anyone provide a link so I can find some info

Thanks

Yes please, same question from me. Our next cruise was paid for with Amex Platinum, but the (formerly) free version not the one with the crazy annual fee.

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Yes please, same question from me. Our next cruise was paid for with Amex Platinum, but the (formerly) free version not the one with the crazy annual fee.

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We do not have a "free" Amex Platinum that I am aware of. The cost isn't really hefty if you use all of the perks. We use the airline $250 per year back for any luggage or ancillary charge. We enjoy access to the first class lounges at many airports. We also get good perks for other travel related services as we use the service to book most of our trips. In addition we have access to purchasing tickets for broadway shows and venues that might be booked up.

I know that their are other benefits and it does pay for us as it works out to really not cost us anything. If you take advantage of the benefits it works for many. If not, then yes it is expensive.

You must book through a travel agent and not directly through Celebrity. The AMEX perks are SEPARATE of any other perk you would get, even from your travel agent. The travel agent does not need to be an AMEX travel agent.

For our upcoming suite we received a $350 OBC, free bottle of wine/champagne, complimentary dinner in specialty. This is IN ADDITION to the free bottle of champagne and complimnetary dinner we alredy get for booking the suite.

It cannot be a co-branded or affiliated AmEx Platinum (such as Costco, Delta, yada, yada), it must be the AmEx "pure" Platinum (with the hefty fee).

And it is correct that Celebrity doesn't like you combine many "deals", whereas When we've cruised Regent or Crystal, they let you combine it all.

We only keep the AmEx Platinum because it more than pays for itself and then some with our travel habits, otherwise, no way would I pay the hefty fee.

You just have to be aware of all the benefits and then do your math. Educate yourself and do the math, then and only then will you make sure you haven't left money on the table.

Oh, and Chicago Boy--why so rude?:(

I have Am.Ex Plat. that we pay for every year. My travel agent called them today to see if I can get perx for my upcoming cruise on the Equinox TA Nov.26th. They told her only cruises booked through Am. Ex. agents recieved benefits. We did pay with our AmEx Plat. card. Does anyone have a number my agent can call to someone in the know at Amer. Ex. I have called and they only want to deal with agent.

Once you have used an agent (or transferred to an agent) you can no longer deal directly with Celebrity. And it is not true that you have to use an Am/Ex agent to get such benefits! I only used an Am/Ex agent once, years ago for a very expensive land vacation. As I became more educated, I found that I could have done far better with other non-Am/Ex agents.

Research. I've said it many different ways, but bottom line, no one will watch out for your $ better than you.

I am not an agent, but I do know that any agent worth anything knows how to get the Am/Ex benefits. I think they have to establish a routing number or some such thing (it's not difficult--never run into an agent who didn't do it once I let them know that I KNOW about such things).

Shame on your agent for not knowing. . .worse yet, for not finding out ON YOUR BEHALF. Insist that your agent accomplish this for you. It is his or her job.

If you don't get satisfaction, run, don't walk, to a better qualified and hungry agent.

Celebrity won't let you combine ANYTHING!

We bought a Passages certificate and booked the first half of a B2B with it. So for the first cruise we couldn't get the Platinum benefits. (The cruise is long so the $300 OBC we're supposed to get from the Passages Certificate more than makes up for it, though)

We got the benefits for the 2nd half.

 

I don't know if booking while on board counts as booking with a Passges certificate or not but I wouldn't hold my breath.

 

BTW- Princess lets you combine most benefits.

Did you book your passages with Celebrity or a TA? From what I am reading in the thread, people with TA have gotten some perks plus Platinum benefits. Maybe the on board perks but not the OBC or cabin category upgrade?

Since I've thought about upgrading to Platinum I am trying to figure out if it is cost effective.

Did you book your passages with Celebrity or a TA? From what I am reading in the thread, people with TA have gotten some perks plus Platinum benefits. Maybe the on board perks but not the OBC or cabin category upgrade?

 

Since I've thought about upgrading to Platinum I am trying to figure out if it is cost effective.

We always get OBC using platinum including for example paying a rate for A2 for an A1 cabin Perks vary per the arrnagement Amex has with each cruise line. As previously mentioned typically the dinner at a speciality restaurant and bottle of wine and shipboard credit, etc.

Celebrity won't let you combine ANYTHING!

We bought a Passages certificate and booked the first half of a B2B with it. So for the first cruise we couldn't get the Platinum benefits. (The cruise is long so the $300 OBC we're supposed to get from the Passages Certificate more than makes up for it, though)

We got the benefits for the 2nd half.

 

I don't know if booking while on board counts as booking with a Passges certificate or not but I wouldn't hold my breath.

 

BTW- Princess lets you combine most benefits.

I wanted to underscore this. I have used Platinum Card to book Princess and X cruises and X in my mind was very inflexible at combining anything with the Platinum benefits. I had attempted to use an X mailing coupon with Platinum and was denied even though the AMEX agent said it would apply. This was at the discretion of X and I was quite upset about it. While we like X and Aqua Class we have moved on to Princess and NCL and have been satisfied cruisers. Would certainly go back to X but the experience did put a bad taste in my mouth.

My travel agent did talk to X and Am.Ex.Plat. and was told that you can not combine perx`s if on a special fare. We were on Suite GTY and they said no. I think most of us are on some type of special as no one pays full list price.