BIG changes to Blue Chip coming

[sixpackeddie]

Just called Blue Chip and spoke to my regular contact who books all my Casino bookings.

I needed to make a change on a future booking and was looking to modify the date. This was never a problem in the past but now no changes are permitted unless you want to move the sailing date closer.

In the past after completing a cruise I would call Blue Chip Club to see what offers I qualify for based on my last play. I would usually get at minimum a compted concierge class or Aqua Class and once a Sky Suite.

If I needed to make a change prior to sailing it was never a issue until today.

We have 6 Blue Chip Cruises booked in the future and will likely have to cancel if the dates don’t work.
Blue Chip is currently transitioning to merge with the Casino Royal program. 

I was also told in the near future no offers will be made by calling Blue Chip Club, all offers will be made via email only. This makes total sense based on the cost cutting measures we are seeing with Celebrity.

Edited August 30, 2023 by sixpackeddie

[kwokpot]

3 minutes ago, sixpackeddie said:

Just called Blue Chip and spoke to my regular contact who books all my Casino bookings.

I needed to make a change on a future booking and was looking to modify the date. This was never a problem in the past but now no changes are permitted unless you want to move the sailing date closer.

In the past after completing a cruise I would call Blue Chip Club to see what offers I qualify for based on my last play. I would usually get at minimum a compted concierge class or Aqua Class and once a Sky Suite.

If I needed to make a change prior to sailing it was never a issue until today.

We have 6 Blue Chip Cruises booked in the future and will likely have to cancel if the dates don’t work.
Blue Chip is currently transitioning to merge with the Casino Royal program. 

I was also told in the near future no offers will be made by calling Blue Chip Club, all offers will be made via email only. This makes total sense based on the cost cutting measures we are seeing with Celebrity.

Very interesting news and I can't say I'm surprised. TBH this could be a good thing, IF a combined Casino program between Celebrity and Royal brings about a Players Club status that bridges both lines, allowing a greater pool of cruise choices for the gambling one does. 

[micruiser2002]

24 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

Very interesting news and I can't say I'm surprised. TBH this could be a good thing, IF a combined Casino program between Celebrity and Royal brings about a Players Club status that bridges both lines, allowing a greater pool of cruise choices for the gambling one does. 

I do not think they are actually Merging the 2 programs.  What I had heard was they are going to use the same departments, IT, technology.  

[kwokpot]

9 minutes ago, micruiser2002 said:

I do not think they are actually Merging the 2 programs.  What I had heard was they are going to use the same departments, IT, technology.  

That seems leaving synergistic savings on the table. 

[ymncruise]

I like that you can see your point balance and offers online with Royal without having to call and wait on hold. 

[poffles]

26 minutes ago, ymncruise said:

I like that you can see your point balance and offers online with Royal without having to call and wait on hold. 

 

This ...!  I would welcome not having to call to find out what you would never otherwise know.  I have received nothing via email for a while now but call and they have something so this could be a welcome change. Guess time will tell.

[NutsAboutGolf]

The writing was on the wall once they started offering inside rooms as even earlier this year, you were either offered a comped balcony or a % off, no OVs or insides.

 

FYI with RCI, they give you comped offers based on the current sailings play, so if you get an offer it'll be on the last night and you do have a few months to book.  X has always been based on the previous sailings play and while Future cruise may leave a stop by for a free cruise letter, it was based on your previous sailings play

 

Yet IDK, I've seen the BCC evolve over time and its getting to the point where requirements are simply too high to get a free room offer.  As I said before, $50/hand for 12 total hours on a 9 night sailing only gave me a % off

[zdad59]

I get the not getting offers when calling.    Recently islets pretty random and a function of who you end up talking to.    We booked an ABCs cruise on Reflection recently.    When I called all I was “eligible for” was the 20% discount.    I booked it anyway.    I called a couple days later with a question and the agent told me she can update my booking to a net 60 sailing with all included.  It lowered my cruise cost by over $2000 on a plain old veranda room booking. 
 

They need to work towards consistency, for their sake and ours.  

[micruiser2002]

9 minutes ago, zdad59 said:

I get the not getting offers when calling.    Recently islets pretty random and a function of who you end up talking to.    We booked an ABCs cruise on Reflection recently.    When I called all I was “eligible for” was the 20% discount.    I booked it anyway.    I called a couple days later with a question and the agent told me she can update my booking to a net 60 sailing with all included.  It lowered my cruise cost by over $2000 on a plain old veranda room booking. 
 

They need to work towards consistency, for their sake and ours.  

How recent did you call and get the NET60?  I keep getting the same only NET20 is available and in the past have always gotten NET60.

[zdad59]

5 minutes ago, micruiser2002 said:

How recent did you call and get the NET60?  I keep getting the same only NET20 is available and in the past have always gotten NET60.

This happened about a month ago.   The booking call and the second call were within days of each other.  

[cheeseheads4ever]

Ok let me try to ask a question that may not make sense. With Celebrity and Royal being the same company. There is Celebrity’s Blue Chip Casino and Royals Casino  Royal.
SO….. if I book on Royal cruise does the status on Celebrity transfer status over? 
sorry if I’m not getting this but please help me out to understand,

[kwokpot]

4 minutes ago, cheeseheads4ever said:

Ok let me try to ask a question that may not make sense. With Celebrity and Royal being the same company. There is Celebrity’s Blue Chip Casino and Royals Casino  Royal.
SO….. if I book on Royal cruise does the status on Celebrity transfer status over? 
sorry if I’m not getting this but please help me out to understand,

The casino program status isn't reciprocating, only the cruiseline loyalty program is. 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/celebrity-azamara-loyalty-points

Edited September 3, 2023 by kwokpot

[NutsAboutGolf]

4 minutes ago, cheeseheads4ever said:

Ok let me try to ask a question that may not make sense. With Celebrity and Royal being the same company. There is Celebrity’s Blue Chip Casino and Royals Casino  Royal.
SO….. if I book on Royal cruise does the status on Celebrity transfer status over? 
sorry if I’m not getting this but please help me out to understand,

CASINO status: You must re-qualify annually (they’ve had some exceptions due to the pandemic).  At this point and time, RCI and X do not share status but that could be coming in the very near future 

LOYALTY status: The capt club loyalty status with celebrity, that doesn’t change and will get you loyalty status on RCI

Edited September 3, 2023 by NutsAboutGolf

[sixpackeddie]

On 9/1/2023 at 9:19 AM, zdad59 said:

I get the not getting offers when calling.    Recently islets pretty random and a function of who you end up talking to.    We booked an ABCs cruise on Reflection recently.    When I called all I was “eligible for” was the 20% discount.    I booked it anyway.    I called a couple days later with a question and the agent told me she can update my booking to a net 60 sailing with all included.  It lowered my cruise cost by over $2000 on a plain old veranda room booking. 
 

They need to work towards consistency, for their sake and ours.  

Wow, that’s great. Yes I agree there is lots of inconsistency when talking to various agents from the Blue Chip Club.

[cheeseheads4ever]

So bottom line it pays to keep calling! Congrats!

[cheeseheads4ever]

One more… so the loyalty status transfer going from Celebrity to Royal. You just have to call Royal to find out.we are elite on cCelebrity think that brings its to Diamond on Royal. Any idea of current discount or perks with Diamond on Royal?

Thank you in advance.

[kwokpot]

1 hour ago, cheeseheads4ever said:

One more… so the loyalty status transfer going from Celebrity to Royal. You just have to call Royal to find out.we are elite on cCelebrity think that brings its to Diamond on Royal. Any idea of current discount or perks with Diamond on Royal?

Thank you in advance.

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/crown-anchor-society

[poffles]

Merging the programs would be nice but looking at the difference in how the tier points are earned I would likely never move past the bottom with Casino Royale 😋

 

Just comparing slots play, Blue Chip $1 a point, Club Royale $5 a point.  The points required to qualify up the levels remain similar (2,500, 25,000, 100.000) so much harder to move up levels with Club Royale unless I'm missing something.