Celebrity Credit Card- worth it?

[octoberdana]

We currently have a Princess cruises credit card and they give pretty good rewards. We were able to take about $1400 off our cruise with 95,000 points. However Barclay's system is awful and the customer service has not been great. I see that Celebrity rewards are a little lower but it appears that they give some good perks to card holders. Those who have both cards any thoughts? Is the Celebrity credit card worth looking into?

[WALKER1313]

You can easily get 2 percent cash back on a card. If you try you might find even a better deal.

 

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[easyboy]

You may also want to check the review by Money Crashers on travel rewards credit cards.

[zebra36]

B of A has been offering a Celebrity affinity card with no fee and decent promo rewards. Not a bad deal but I would not get the card for an annual fee, just me. BTW, redeeming rewards on the B of A website was very simple and painless.

[dszrew]

it's all about the rewards from the credit card. 2% through Celebrity is better than what my main credit card normally gives me. but recently I got another card that gives me 3% back on travel purchases, making it a better card than the Celebrity visa. so I'm likely to drop the Celebrity visa completely.

[wallie5446]

We have had the RCCL and then the Celebrity Visa for years. Always got 2/1 points when spent with either.

 

Ex-Host Andy told us, on another thread, that the Costco card now gives 3/1! On travel, so we switched.

 

Ok, we get the statement credit instead of OBC, same difference. Sams, ie: Walmart, is doing the same now.

 

So spend 5K, get $100 OBC with the Celebrity Visa,

Or get a $150 statement credit with either of the others.

Not much thought needed is there.

[Orator]

Not to me. Get a better deal with Costco card and receive a check for rebate that I can spend as I like.

[cruisin lady ca]

Not to me. Get a better deal with Costco card and receive a check for rebate that I can spend as I like.

 

Plus you a cash back card for booking through them. Also works for reservations transferred to them.

[octoberdana]

We have the Costco Visa and the Chase Sapphire Visa. The problem for us with Costco is that the money only comes once a year... so if we take a cruise in August we have to wait clear till February to get the money back. We've found that airfare and cruise prices are much higher using the Sapphire rewards discounts than they are booking through airlines/cruise lines directly. Therefore nullifying the bonus--- cause I'm paying more.

 

We were just looking into this card as we have a both a RCCL and Celebrity Cruise coming up. Thought it might be worth it.

[miched]

Give me the money.

 

I have seen too many rewards for cards that became useless as people start earning too many points so the benefits get reduced.

 

Example is the CC for air lines to earn points. We were in the NW miles Club. Even though it wasn't connected to a CC at the time the points needed for a flight or upgrade kept going up. It them also became hard to redeem as too many people had too many points and now you can earn points with a CC. A casino that we use to frequent also tied a CC into their reward card. The status level and benefits have also changed because people are "earning" too many points.

 

Another example is the Captain Club. They had to make another top level and change the point system because too many were becoming Elite.

 

Give me the cash so I can spend it where and how I want with no restrictions.

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌞

[eandj]

We've found that airfare and cruise prices are much higher using the Sapphire rewards discounts than they are booking through airlines/cruise lines directly. Therefore nullifying the bonus--- cause I'm paying more.

 

We were just looking into this card as we have a both a RCCL and Celebrity Cruise coming up. Thought it might be worth it.

 

We use Chase Sapphire and like it. We book hotels and cars thru their agent getting good rates. Cruises I book with our unmatchable TA. And flights, most often with S.W. which matches points/miles.

But the biggie for us is the travel insurance included. We travel every quarter and Chase saves us hundreds every trip for that cancellation coverage.

[wallie5446]

 

Another example is the Captain Club. They had to make another top level and change the point system because too many were becoming Elite.

 

Happy cruising

Celebrity made it a lot easier and quicker to attain the needed points for the Elite level.

 

When we joined in 1994 you had to cruise 10 times regardless of cabin type, or length. ( ie: 5/7/10 or 14 days, all the same ) With the change the more you spend on your cabin choice, and longer the cruise, the more points you receive and climb the ladder.

 

A few14 day cruises in a suite and presto you can get your 300 points.

[Jade13]

Celebrity made it a lot easier and quicker to attain the needed points for the Elite level.

 

When we joined in 1994 you had to cruise 10 times regardless of cabin type, or length. ( ie: 5/7/10 or 14 days, all the same ) With the change the more you spend on your cabin choice, and longer the cruise, the more points you receive and climb the ladder.

 

A few14 day cruises in a suite and presto you can get your 300 points.

 

 

 

You used to be able to attain elite level after 5 cruises that earned 2 points each.

 

 

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[Jade13]

We use American Express card with SPG. Lots of options but can transfer points to most airlines with 1:1 points, plus if you transfer 20,000 points you get a 5,0000 bonus. Can't beat that.

 

 

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[rhblake]

If you belong to AAA, they have a credit card that offers 3 points for each dollar spent on travel (airplanes, cruises, hotels).

[EatonDoolittle]

If you belong to AAA, they have a credit card that offers 3 points for each dollar spent on travel (airplanes, cruises, hotels).

 

This is the one I have, it's great. Once I reached and redeemed award levels on each cruise line affinity credit card (I had them all, RCCL -Celebrity, Princess, HAL), I transitioned to the AAA one exclusively for travel.

 

Along with the travel bonus you mentioned, they give 2% on gas and groceries. 1% on everything else. I suppose you could consider the AAA membership an annual fee, but I have been an AAA member for years, so it was a no brainer for me. Plus, your membership dues and auto/homeowner insurance (if you have it through them) get 3%.

 

For the "everything else", I have a card with my local bank, which gives me 1.75%

[Gracie115]

We use Chase Sapphire and like it. We book hotels and cars thru their agent getting good rates. Cruises I book with our unmatchable TA. And flights, most often with S.W. which matches points/miles.

But the biggie for us is the travel insurance included. We travel every quarter and Chase saves us hundreds every trip for that cancellation coverage.

 

 

This is why we got the Sapphire card too...saves hundreds in travel insurance policies....

[miched]

Celebrity made it a lot easier and quicker to attain the needed points for the Elite level.

 

When we joined in 1994 you had to cruise 10 times regardless of cabin type, or length. ( ie: 5/7/10 or 14 days, all the same ) With the change the more you spend on your cabin choice, and longer the cruise, the more points you receive and climb the ladder.

 

A few14 day cruises in a suite and presto you can get your 300 points.

 

Not really. Under the old system it was based only on cruises with an extra point for sailing in CC or above and another if the cruise was over I think 12 days so you could get a max of 3 points per cruise. You needed 10 points for Elite. Many people in FL would sail ten 4 or 5 night cruises in a inside, OV or veranda cabin and get to Elite. Cost those cruises were about $299 It was possible to get to Elite by sailing 40 days. If you were in CC or above it would take 5 cruises. So it could have been done in 20 sea days. That is why there are so many elites and higher today.

 

I just booked a 4 night cruise in Oct 2018 in AQ for $549 with one perk and inside is available for $299. A veranda is $489 including one perk. It would be very cheap under the old system to gain Elite. At that rate I could get to Elite for under $3000 sailing in AQ for 5 cruises or about the same cost sailing in a inside for 10 cruises. Not possible today.

 

Now someone always sailing a inside or OV get 2 points per day so they would need 150 cruise days.

 

Veranda would need 100 sea days at 3/ day

 

AQ and CC would need 60 seas days at 5/ day.

 

There are a lot more passengers sailing in the classes lower than suites so it now takes them longer to get to Elite or Elite Plus.

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌞

Edited August 13, 2017 by miched

[rucruisn2]

I carry 2 credit cards. AE gold and Celebrity Visa thru BoA. When we have a cruise on Celebrity, which we do now, I charge everything on that card. Gives us a fully refundable obc. All other time I use AE.

[lodinayr]

I really wanted to like the Celebrity Card, but they have some really weird points redemption rules.

 

I tried to redeem points for OBC on an Azamara cruise but they told me I couldn't because I was on a "special fare". Worse, they never actually told me this. I found out once I was onboard. Worst yet, they didn't have a way to get the points back to me. It was kind of crazy.

 

When I finally got the points back, they told me I could not redeem them for a Celebrity Cruise (even though I was in a suite for which I paid almost $10k) because, AGAIN, it was a "special fare".

 

I think the card is a big scam, and not worth the money.

 

 

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[Livin Life]

This is why we got the Sapphire card too...saves hundreds in travel insurance policies....

 

 

eandj and Gracie115, could you please provide clarification on your insurance savings with the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card? I also have that card and feel it is great for travel, but my understanding of its Insurance coverage is for Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption up to $10,000 and is excess to all other plans. What are you doing about medical coverage or evacuation coverage for unforeseen emergency medical expenses out of the US?

 

Thanks in advance.

[neverbeenhere]

eandj and Gracie115, could you please provide clarification on your insurance savings with the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card? I also have that card and feel it is great for travel, but my understanding of its Insurance coverage is for Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption up to $10,000 and is excess to all other plans. What are you doing about medical coverage or evacuation coverage for unforeseen emergency medical expenses out of the US?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

 

see here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=635

[octoberdana]

My problem with the Sapphire card is that their prices are higher. For example, a recent plane ticket was $60 per person higher than on the airlines website. I don't want to pay $120 more to use rewards...

 

 

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[eandj]

My problem with the Sapphire card is that their prices are higher. For example, a recent plane ticket was $60 per person higher than on the airlines website. I don't want to pay $120 more to use rewards...

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Remember that if you use their travel site, you use 25% fewer points. A $200 hotel will use 175 in earned points. Check too which airlines programs let you transfer points from Chase to theirs. We use Southwest when we can.

Chase's car rentals are way lower than anywhere else. I always shop around with discounts in hand. We rent for our two week FL stay in Feb. each year and save at minimum $200...this year a lot more.

Edited August 14, 2017 by eandj

[eandj]

eandj and Gracie115, could you please provide clarification on your insurance savings with the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card? I also have that card and feel it is great for travel, but my understanding of its Insurance coverage is for Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption up to $10,000 and is excess to all other plans. What are you doing about medical coverage or evacuation coverage for unforeseen emergency medical expenses out of the US?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Yes, the limit is 10,000 per trip. That's fine for us. (We would self insure on any overage.) That 10,000 generally would cover any prepaid, nonrefundable expenses for DH and me.

We have a medicare advantage health plan that covers us out of the country. If you didn't you can get medical coverage plans. We buy a yearly evac plan, mostly for while we cruise the carib. We aren't confident with the care available on the ship or islands.

The value of Chase's travel coverage is indeed dependent on what you personally have and want. For us, it is a big plus. And hopefully won't need to use it. Altho...we have friends that needed it and had no trouble getting the refunds.

Edited August 14, 2017 by eandj