New Blue Chip Club Tier Levels

I have another question relating to an on board amenity that I can't find listed in material or maybe I missed it. As a previously non tiered member ( I just assumed I wasn't the lowest or highest) I have always received THE sticker signifying comped drinks in the casino. Is this still available and if so what basis eg. level, discretion, particular cruise etc Thanx

Hi all Just heading out the door - public holiday here in Aust to honour Anzacs. Will reply to questions tomorrow when back at work. Cheers

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Celebrity should notice that the casino is only crowded when they are giving something away, or last few nights when people are using obc that can be used. Those of us that play regularly, can see this quite clearly. I will see what happens in June, on Summit. In any event, they should not lessen in any way the benefits that we receive in advance, or perks we are offered by hosts while onboard. Or for sure, it will turn us away. We will see

Hi all, Following up on questions regarding the new Blue Chips program. One thing I will mention is that I think I get a good deal on comped cruises as a lot of the offers are with such short notice and believe they do realize not possible to just jump on a plane from Aust and head over to FL or such for a 7 night cruise with a couple of weeks notice. In saying this I normally just email Blue Chip and inquire as to what they can do for comping when I do find a cruise I like and have my holiday leave organized. This is how thing are with Club Royale also. Both programs have changed the $$ rebate which I'm not really happy about as always rec'd very good cash back.

Fastandfurious - didn't discuss future cruise deals mainly as per stated above. Have a few cruises booked thru to Feb 2019 and will see if something else comes up and go from there. I do find they are quite obliging with comping cruises and if not comped very generous discounts. No more stickers on card for drinks. They have the packages loaded onto card as per new tier levels - standard, classic and premium.

KK99 - credits not loaded up on card. Actually my card was supposed to reflect sapphire status which it didn't. Host did say will be on future cards as the program kicks in full swing. Specialty restaurant - the casino host does the booking and you don't see a bill at all. Given I was traveling solo I very cheekily told him I would like to do 2 dinners (didn't feel like entertaining the host at a dinner LOL). There was wine included but I am a red wine snob and so took my own from Aust. No corkage charged in lieu of not using drink value from casino. SPA charge up to $100. I don't like the SPA after a very bad experience years ago so purchased moisturizer and foot oil. Actually cost $125 and they wiped off the full charge. Just gave the bill to host and he took care of it. Laundry I don't do and not sure how the billing is done. Internet is set up with the host as he has the access code. Welcome gift - fruit platter- and not yummy chocolate covered strawberries like RCCL & P & O.

As I have previously stated I would still gamble even if there wasn't a loyalty program. Have been very spoilt with various programs over the years and the bounce back $$ is the real miss for me. All other benefits are fluff to me. I will be pushing for the VIP tender tickets for my NZ and Antartica cruises as I really need to be on 1st tender for some awesome tours.

Hope this answers your questions and will share any further info that I receive.

Cheers,

neenee61, Thanks so much for the reply. I agree that a lot of the new perks are fluff, but will still gamble for enjoyment. I do hope that they rethink the fruit as the welcome stateroom amenity. I never thought about buying spa products instead of services for the credit so that is a nice use of the perk.

I also agree that the loss of bounce back cash is a move to bring the club in line with other cruise casino programs. With the club open as it should be to anyone earning a point from their play, lots of new members but the only real perks are in the top two tiers.

FYI, you can always get your included priority tender tickets from the concierge in Michael's Club if the casino host does not already have them for you on your upcoming trips. Sounds like you have some amazing trips coming up, and the priority tenders really help if you need to get off to catch your excursion.

Good luck on your next sailing.

Thanx Neenee61 change is hard;p

neenee61, Thanks so much for the reply. I agree that a lot of the new perks are fluff, but will still gamble for enjoyment. I do hope that they rethink the fruit as the welcome stateroom amenity. I never thought about buying spa products instead of services for the credit so that is a nice use of the perk.

 

I also agree that the loss of bounce back cash is a move to bring the club in line with other cruise casino programs. With the club open as it should be to anyone earning a point from their play, lots of new members but the only real perks are in the top two tiers.

 

FYI, you can always get your included priority tender tickets from the concierge in Michael's Club if the casino host does not already have them for you on your upcoming trips. Sounds like you have some amazing trips coming up, and the priority tenders really help if you need to get off to catch your excursion.

Good luck on your next sailing.

Hi KK99 I was thinking Michaels for tender tickets also. I think the tester will be on NZ cruise in March 2018 and that will be my first visit to sort them out. Antartica is the real concern with getting off fast for 2 ports. Life is good with so many wonderful places to visit. It's funny people always ask me where is the best place I have been to in my 40 cruises....always same answer 'everywhere'. Feel very lucky to be able to cruise and enjoy life with the way the wold is at the moment. I was really tickled last week on South Pacific cruise when I ran into a couple I met 4 years ago on Infinity - Panama cruise. It really is a small world when it comes to cruising.

KK99 Have you ever got the tender tickets from Michaels?? The other couple that we will be doing excursions with sail in suites so they will have no problems. Would think I could get 4 tickets if I get in early enough. Cheers,

Thanx Neenee61 change is hard;p

Really I'm not that concerned. At the end of the day you get nothing over here in Aust for gambling unless you go to the major casinos in each state. Then these casinos are very very tight and really don't give away too much unless you are a really high roller on the tables (as in OS imports). I only ever play slots or as we call them here in Aust - pokies. You won't even get a free drink - not like Vegas, and drinks are top $$. So really the bonus on cruise ships are pretty good and not to mention the free cruises which I have really been spoilt with over the years. Cheers

Hi neenee61,

Yes, I got priority tender tickets from the Michaels Club concierge on a few cruises this past year when our connections for private tours were tight due to a delay in clearing the ship by the port authority. You could get them even if not staying in a suite or being a Zenith member if you had access to MC due to Blue Chip or asking your casino host to have the tickets sent there. I have never had a problem getting the tickets for those in my cabin or picking them up for our friends who are in suites. Just ask the MC concierge a day or two before your excursion. The bartenders in Michael's are very gracious, and may have a bottle of a good red they will serve you when you are next there. I have had wonderful experiences with all of the MC concierges, and it is a very nice perk.

Thanks KK99. I did go to Michaels a few times and they did hunt down a somewhat OK aussie red for me. The tender tickets will be the biggie for me so that bit of fluff is good LOL. Happy cruising and you never know we may cross paths down the track. Cheers

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This is a super relevant thread and I am grateful for the OP for bringing it up, and for everyone's input.

I emailed BCC to ask a question about my rebate from my last cruise and the reply was, "As you know we have implemented a new system so there is no rebate."

Hunh?

I have three cruises coming up in the next six months - I am always able to afford the next cruise because I apply my cash rebate to the cost. But not anymore. And the $1000 free play is nowhere near the amount I was previously getting back. The incidentals that are on offer hardly make up for the monetary loss.

So I briefly considered changing to a different cruise line with better perks. What am I thinking?! Celebrity is the best and BCC has been very good to me over the years. There have been some wonderful people working in their office and I have a good relationship with my rep. Not sure why I never get their emails ... but I am going to fix that tomorrow!

One thing I just learned on my last cruise (The host was Angel and he was by far the best yet): at the end of the cruise speak to the host and ask him what of the items purchased on-board can be comped based on your play? I had bought some t-shirts and advil and a couple last minute excursions ... he comped them right then and there in his office. He was surprised when I told him I had never asked - he said, "you shouldn't have to. All the hosts ought to bring this to your attention on the last night."

If I am Platinum level at MGM do I get the beverage package on X ? In the past they put a sticker on my sea card. I do not play much on X but do go to Vegas twice a year and comp`d at MGM properties.

Maggie because the new program is.....well new, I would recommend calling the Blue Chip folks and asking them directly for a reliable/authoritative answer.

This is a super relevant thread and I am grateful for the OP for bringing it up, and for everyone's input.

I emailed BCC to ask a question about my rebate from my last cruise and the reply was, "As you know we have implemented a new system so there is no rebate."

Hunh?

I have three cruises coming up in the next six months - I am always able to afford the next cruise because I apply my cash rebate to the cost. But not anymore. And the $1000 free play is nowhere near the amount I was previously getting back. The incidentals that are on offer hardly make up for the monetary loss.

So I briefly considered changing to a different cruise line with better perks. What am I thinking?! Celebrity is the best and BCC has been very good to me over the years. There have been some wonderful people working in their office and I have a good relationship with my rep. Not sure why I never get their emails ... but I am going to fix that tomorrow!

 

One thing I just learned on my last cruise (The host was Angel and he was by far the best yet): at the end of the cruise speak to the host and ask him what of the items purchased on-board can be comped based on your play? I had bought some t-shirts and advil and a couple last minute excursions ... he comped them right then and there in his office. He was surprised when I told him I had never asked - he said, "you shouldn't have to. All the hosts ought to bring this to your attention on the last night."

Someone else posted further up this thread that if you earned an incentive prior to the changes you could still apply that to a future cruise. So what's the story here?

Hi WonderMan3,

I had two cruises this year prior to the implementation of the new program. Blue Chip at my request applied my earned bounce back cash to the balance on my next two cruises booked through Blue Chip for later this year.

I was told I had to apply the bounce back rebate money either to my next sailings within a year of the announcement of the new program to the cost of the cabin, or pick it up in free play on the next two sailings or lose it. I have received updated invoices showing the bounce back credits against my next two cruises have been applied.

For any cruise taken after the change, there is no more bounce back rebates , just your tier benefits on the chart. You can also call Blue Chip and find out how many points you have ( since it is a cumulative score starting out), and how many points you would need to earn to advance to the next tier level during the evaluation time period of the program if you are interested. I was also told that the casino hosts have some flexibility in small onboard comp credits to your bill at the end of the cruise after seeing your play above the published chart. I was also told there would be more Blue Chip junket sailings being released in the fall for early 2018 sailings.

I hope as more players sail in the near future, they report back as to their experience with the new program.

Hi WonderMan3,

 

I had two cruises this year prior to the implementation of the new program. Blue Chip at my request applied my earned bounce back cash to the balance on my next two cruises booked through Blue Chip for later this year.

 

I was told I had to apply the bounce back rebate money either to my next sailings within a year of the announcement of the new program to the cost of the cabin, or pick it up in free play on the next two sailings or lose it. I have received updated invoices showing the bounce back credits against my next two cruises have been applied.

 

 

 

For any cruise taken after the change, there is no more bounce back rebates , just your tier benefits on the chart. You can also call Blue Chip and find out how many points you have ( since it is a cumulative score starting out), and how many points you would need to earn to advance to the next tier level during the evaluation time period of the program if you are interested. I was also told that the casino hosts have some flexibility in small onboard comp credits to your bill at the end of the cruise after seeing your play above the published chart. I was also told there would be more Blue Chip junket sailings being released in the fall for early 2018 sailings.

 

 

 

I hope as more players sail in the near future, they report back as to their experience with the new program.

Thank you! We took a sailing in January and have an earned incentive due that we wanted to apply to our next January cruise. When I called at the end of February it wasn't ready yet and then I have been too busy to call them back. Will have to follow up in a few weeks when I get back from my Constellation cruise. I'm not sure if I will be able to accurately measure the new program on this cruise I'm about to go on as it was booked in conjunction with a land-based casino and I was told that no Blue Chip incentives could be applied to or earned from it. But that was when the old program was in effect. So we'll see...

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