Getting More WITHOUT Paying for it

[Jade13]

Less of a savings is available on HAL which offers has a discount drink card BUT it is still a per drink price, only you have prepaid. Whether this is a good value for you depends on your consumption rate---for me it is not a good value.

 

My understanding is that HAL did away with their discount drink cards (which only offered a 5% discount).

 

They still have the Cola card which is $25.00 for 22 cola's, but apparently most ships are only pouring from the soda fountain instead of cans.

[miched]

There are many ways to be cheap, get perks and beat the system that I have learned. Problem is if I tell my secrets that they will either be eliminated because the cruise line now knows where it is losing money or others will now beat me to them. :eek:

 

Never could understand people disclosing stuff on here that informs the cruise line about how they take advantage or "beat" the system. :confused:

 

 

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:D

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[Jade13]

And in the case of the 9th cruise we paid for a Veranda but got access to full Suite amenities throughout the ship while sleeping in a standard size veranda cabin.

 

All of these free cabin upgrades strategies I will share in a later installment in a few days. I am out of time now and I have gone on far too long and want to hear from others who have their own “victories” to share

 

How did you do this?

 

A full Suite Amenity would include a butler.

[Minoushka]

I agree with most companies if you ask nicelytheu willaccomodate you .I have found this to be true with Princess Hal,NCLBut not with Celebrity .All i did was suggest or ask ..and was responded to positively .i agree that complaining does not help but explaining lacks in a polite manner does .i find writing about a problem after the fact if unresolved helps too.Princess. Was terrific inthat dept . Celebrity never responded

 

Michele

[We're The Groupnors]

At the risk of being flamed for "getting something for nothing", I have always found being polite and genuine, and going out of one's way to recognize the best offorts of other often, in turn, gets recognized. Some examples (and all of these are travel examples, while not all are cruising examples):

 

On our Soltice cruise in early 2011 we had a very good waiter, but a *stellar* assistant waiter. He was so good we couldn't understand why he was not yet a waiter, so I decided not to wait for the end of cruise comment card and wrote a letter, mid-cruise, to the department head. The next day I returned to my cabin in the late afternoon to find a bottle of wine and a response from the MDR Head Waiter thanking me for what I wrote and advising me that the assistant waiter in question was being promoted to waiter for the next sailing. The gesture of the bottle of wine was much appreciated, but certainly not expected.

 

On departing for the following cruise on the Eclipse in summer 2011, the airline we were flying had a ground crew strike, and as a result management were stepping in to check people in, tag luggage, and board passengers. The gate was mayhem at boarding, but clearly the management staff assigned were trying very hard and doing their best to get people boarded in a timely, efficient manner. The group in front of my husband and I were being particularly rude to the staff, to the point where the airline employees were visibly upset. When it was our turn to have our boarding passes scanned, my husband said to the gentleman serving us, "Don't worry about what they just said; you're doing a great job". The man thanked us, and promptly upgraded us to Business Class, which was delightful given it was an overnight tranatlantic flight. Once again, my husband didn't compliment to try to get something, but his kindness was rewarded.

 

We have also had similar experiences with kindness being rewarded with inclusion in a Bridge Tour for which we were not eligible, a complimentary drink here or there in various bars we had frequented on a particular cruise, and complimentary specialty dining. None of it ever expected, nor consistent, but much appreciated when it is received.

 

Happy New Year and Happy Cruising!

[Orator]

The best way to get "free" things is to take enough cruises to be a "top cruiser". As top cruiser you receive a comp.dinner in the Specialty Restaurant of choice. DW receives roses and you receive a bottle of wine. Sometimes more than one party gets the benefits. It's "free" after you spend enough to qualify. You need to make sure that people like Arno, RMSeadog, and a few others are not on your cruise.

[C 2 C]

The best way to get "free" things is to take enough cruises to be a "top cruiser".

 

And an (almost) free cruise at 100 and then again at 200 cruise points.. :D

[Orator]

And an (almost) free cruise at 100 and then again at 200 cruise points.. :D

 

I'll be on Connie on Monday. Will I see you there?

[parallax]

The main concern that I have with manipulating the system or taking advantage of the gray areas on some of these free benefits is that eventually the cruise line will become wise to these manipulations and take actions that are more harmful than good. This means the flexibility that cruise staff have might be taken away. Accordingly, the person who wrote a nice note about the assistant waiter, with the expectation of receiving nothing, may never receive a bottle of wine because of problems with people gaming the system.

[flames9]

Nice post!! There are a lot of things people are not aware of when purchasing stuff that can save them $$$$ or get extra stuff. Such as using ebates (.com) for purchasing stuff online and getting a certain % back...If u booked thru expedia, could get 5% back....or using a site such as retailmenot(.com) to find added discounts one is not aware of.

 

We have only cruised twice--3rd time will be this May on the Silhouette, but it seems one gets a better deal when going through a Travel agent vice directly with Celebrity.

[C 2 C]

I'll be on Connie on Monday. Will I see you there?

 

Unfortunately the Connie did not offer consecutive cruising possibilities so we'll be heading to a different ocean condo. Enjoy and please post a brief Spotlight on the officers. Have a great 2013 sailing season.

[Arubamoose]

We were recently on the Allure and did our first happy hour at the English Pub on the Promenade. We made friends with the waitress and tipped her nicely for her terrific service. We made sure we got her again the next night and chatted with her about her family and shipboard life. The third night we came back again. It was also the Captain's reception and it seemed everytime we took a sip from our complementary champagne she put another glass on our table!! We didn't ask for it and were very happy with our good fortune.

 

Make friends with a good bartender or waitress, tip nicely and they will take care of you.

[kitty9]

I have never heard of this and always pay with AmX. This sounds like a travel agent perk.

 

Do you mean booking through an agent affiliated with American Express?

 

I was just on Holland and booked my cruise through an Am Ex Plat agent. I did get a $300 on board credit and a free dinner at Pinnacle Grill.

[slp123]

Ok, where the rest of the story!

I want know the secrets , need to finish booking my TA:D

 

I promise to get to it tonight....swamped at work today. Will post by 11 pm ET

[slp123]

I was just on Holland and booked my cruise through an Am Ex Plat agent. I did get a $300 on board credit and a free dinner at Pinnacle Grill.

 

The AMEX perk is a cardholder or member benefit---but there are different benefits depending if you have a Gold, Platinum or Corporate card. Will set the details I know are still in place tonight when I get home from work after 8 pm

[slp123]

But, was this when the cabin price went down so you could have had a price adjustment instead?

 

No this was after all payment was due and had been made and most was non-refundable. (How we have to look up what is refundable , if any, when you are within 30 days of departure)

 

I want to be totally accurate so need my notes which are at home. Promise to update tonight.

[slp123]

There are many ways to be cheap, get perks and beat the system that I have learned. Problem is if I tell my secrets that they will either be eliminated because the cruise line now knows where it is losing money or others will now beat me to them. :eek:

 

Never could understand people disclosing stuff on here that informs the cruise line about how they take advantage or "beat" the system. :confused:

 

 

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:D

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There is merit in what you say but in creating this thread I knew that I would make a distinction between approved cruise line policy that is not publicized or is not actually published publicly and you can only find out if you ask. Also no secret is promised to work forever. So what I write as true today may be changed a month from now. But as of the date of publication the secret "works" and is either approved policy or not seen as contrary to existing policies---for example the free upgrades I get I have to ask for and they require a supervisor to sign off---which takes about an hour to get back to you. I also have found that even if you have a TA, it may not work unless you call yourself directly.

 

But I would not disclose free upgrade availability on a particular cruise, especially if I am working on it and have not gotten my upgrade yet--but I would tell everyone on that cruise 5 minutes after my confirmation came through---===that will be your responsibility to look into--I will just tell you how you can find out without going on the cruise line site every day and pricing your cabin. I think that's how most people would act and expect others would act.

 

What I am not going to ever share on these boards are things I do legitimately to get upgrades and and free amenities which I know are exceptions to the rule because staff at various management levels have the authority to make an exception to a rule if they think it is in the interest of good customer care or resolves a prior mistake. But I know if everyone starts asking for this exception, management may think the exception is being abused or is becoming costly and they prohibit further exceptions. This mostly applies to requests made of on board hotel management executives made during a cruise. In this area, I only feel it is ethical to ask someone who would have authority in the area they manage to make such a decision or grant an exception and I am sure to thank them with a note, even when they could not accommodate me. Ask once only, make your best case politely, and accept their answer; NEVER beg or make a repeat request on the same cruise. AND NEVER ASK SOMEONE WHO YOU KNOW does not have discretion and is going to to endanger his position or compensation because you are dangling money in front of them. We all know the difference between a bribe and a tip.

 

Nor am I going to share the "secret perks" given to certain elite members of a frequent flyer or other affinity program at their highest tier, a tier which sometimes is not even acknowledged to exist. That's just bragging because I can't share those "secret perks" unless we travel together on the same cruise or flight or unless we are married. But I would tell you, if I knew it were true (which I do not) that there is a higher Captain's Club level than "Elite" but you have to both qualify and apply for it. If you are an upper level elite member on any major airline, then you probably know that there are levels higher than Platinum or Diamond or whatever the highest level that is publicly published. Having traveled almost weekly on business from 1984-2005 I have such a status at one of the legacy domestic Airlines, but I never knew about it until the Captain on a flight to LA came back into the cabin and handed me an envelope, shook my hand and then the Purser delivered 3 bottles of Champagne (a bottle for each million miles I had earned in their FF program)---which I happily shared with fellow passengers seated in first class. And by the way this is why I am not much help when it comes to secrets on cheap fares and free airline upgrades. I just use miles.

 

Ok Cabin Upgrades by 11 tonight.

[Ozzmund]

I promise to get to it tonight....swamped at work today. Will post by 11 pm ET

 

Don't you just hate it when work gets in the way!:cool:

[cruisestitch]

" But I would tell you, if I knew it were true (which I do not) that there is a higher Captain's Club level than "Elite" but you have to both qualify and apply for it. "

 

The top Celebrity cruisers, and many others not far behind, often post here. If there is such a level, it has never been mentioned, nor even hinted about. Doubt very much if such a thing exists.

 

There is a Blue Chip club for those who gamble at the highest levels, but that is run by the Casino operator, not by Celebrity

[Jade13]

 

 

What I am not going to ever share on these boards are things I do legitimately to get upgrades and and free amenities which I know are exceptions to the rule because staff at various management levels have the authority to make an exception to a rule if they think it is in the interest of good customer care or resolves a prior mistake.Ok Cabin Upgrades by 11 tonight.

 

So, what was the point of this thread?

[ghstudio]

We've been taking advantage of the AmX Platinum card cruise privileges program for years and the benefits can be quite good. It should be noted, however, that Celebrity places limits on those perks and no longer permits them to be combined with Celebrity sales, future cruise certificates or other perx or specials that may be offered by the cruise line from time to time. In other words, you can no longer "double dip" and instead have to choose between getting Platinum privileges or Celebrity perks, not both.

 

It has nothing to do with double dipping...it has to do with a secret agreement between amex and celebrity that is not disclosed anywhere.

 

Offers from TA's where the TA pays for the perk and other credit card special offers (visa/mc) are independent of anything Celebrity offers, discounts, etc.

 

The AmEx perk is like a TA telling you that they are paying for the OBC's when in fact celebrity is paying for it....in other words, not exactly straight forward in my book and it's one reason I choose not to do business with AmEx.

[Orator]

" But I would tell you, if I knew it were true (which I do not) that there is a higher Captain's Club level than "Elite" but you have to both qualify and apply for it. "

 

The top Celebrity cruisers, and many others not far behind, often post here. If there is such a level, it has never been mentioned, nor even hinted about. Doubt very much if such a thing exists.

 

There is a Blue Chip club for those who gamble at the highest levels, but that is run by the Casino operator, not by Celebrity

 

No higher level at this time, but I know from personal experience that some get "added" benefits. Some of these benefits include 2 for 1 dinners at specialty restaurants, a free drink or two when dining , invitations to Captain's Table and "special" snacks delivered to their cabin. Those who receive them tend to be very frequent cruisers who have developed relationships with staff. These relationships are based on mutual respect and trust. Complainers and those demanding special treatment are excluded from this tier.

[ghstudio]

No higher level at this time, but I know from personal experience that some get "added" benefits. Some of these benefits include 2 for 1 dinners at specialty restaurants, a free drink or two when dining , invitations to Captain's Table and "special" snacks delivered to their cabin. Those who receive them tend to be very frequent cruisers who have developed relationships with staff. These relationships are based on mutual respect and trust. Complainers and those demanding special treatment are excluded from this tier.

 

Darn! From my posts here, it's obvious I will never make it to this tier :)

[slp123]

" But I would tell you, if I knew it were true (which I do not) that there is a higher Captain's Club level than "Elite" but you have to both qualify and apply for it. "

 

The top Celebrity cruisers, and many others not far behind, often post here. If there is such a level, it has never been mentioned, nor even hinted about. Doubt very much if such a thing exists.

 

There is a Blue Chip club for those who gamble at the highest levels, but that is run by the Casino operator, not by Celebrity

 

As previously stated, I have no evidence nor heard any rumor that some secret ultra level exists.

[slp123]

So, what was the point of this thread?

 

Again, my point is to share and have others share as well, benefits, free amenities, discounts, free upgrades that are available, but which are usually not published or well publicized or which generally are believed not to be available but for the ability of middle and senior management to make exceptions to existing policy or decisions where no policy exists or the policy is not clear.

 

Let me give you a non-cruise example. At one time, for 2 years, I traveled out of Miami airport at least once a week, 80% of the time on American. On occasion I arrived very late at the airport, less than 45 minutes before departure. Getting through security in time was problematic. The first time that happened the ticket agent offered to walk me through security to get me to the plane on time. Before leaving the check-in desk she radioed the plane to hold the door beyond the usual closing time for an on-time take off. I made the flight and thanked her profusely. 7 months later I was in the same situation and "I asked if the could 'walk me through security' and radio the pilot to hold the door. The agent did not know me and looked at me as if I just had arrived from Mars. She then checked my reservation and departure time and looked up, smiled, and said sure I will get you an agent and a golf cart to get you to the gate.

 

I had never seen the service offered to anyone who read anywhere in the Elite status privileges that such a service was offered. But apparently, if your were an Executive Platinum member, it was AA's policy to provide the service. Now if you qualified for this Elite level, won't you be happy to know about this life saver. And your knowing about it, doesn't jeopardize my future use of it. Only I can jeopardize my use of it, should I request the service too frequently.

 

I have to confess that I am beginning to regret having started this thread. First I am flamed for being a dishonest grifter cheating the system. Then people question why would I offer up "secrets" that would diminish my own ability to use my own tips. And finally people question whether what I am offering is of any value because it is available to anyone or they already know a specific secret tip.

 

Over the years people contributing to discussion groups here have told me things that have been of value to me, made for a better cruise or were merely just interesting and entertaining . And I am happy if I can return the favor. Why is such an undertaking so hard for some to find creditable that they feel the need to prejudge, especially when a lot of the content I plan to contribute has not yet been posted.

 

I am not being sarcastic; I am sincerely asking why all this negativity. Not only on this thread but I see it on may other threads as well. What is the cause of all this sophomoric behavior among members? I have been using cruise critic for 4 years but only am here with any regularity only for the two months before a booked cruise. So I have not been around much for the first 10 months of 2012. Have things changed here so much in a year.

 

I am going to give myself a 24 hour time out an think. I honestly need to give some thought to posting my secrets--for the last thing I want is being taken to task by anyone who is unable to make a tip work for them, or accuses me of being a liar if policy changes or worse using a tip while being abusive or arrogant---exactly the wrong way to use these secrets. These are not random tips, these ideas, contacts tips etc. have been collected and recorded in a notebook given to me by my Grandfather over 44 years ago. From the age of 5 I was in love with liners and cruise ships and life on board. And when, at the age of 14 my Grandmother took me across the Atlantic on a ship, my grandfather gave me the notebook to keep a diary so I could tell him what he missed as he was unable to go, having a large case currently on trial. So in May 1969 on board QE2's maiden eastbound crossing I had my first exposure to life on board a great liner and how one behaves and how one treats staff.

 

I wonder if I can keep my promise to share some secrets while avoiding the risks discussed above?