Major Blue Chip Club changes?

[rM3panno]

Just returned home from 12 nights on the Solstice and called this morning to get a price on a June 2025 sailing. When I got through to BCC they priced the cruise and only offered the discount based on most recent play. I asked repeatedly about the casino rate which for me is usually 40% off with the casino suites discount line applied. The agent had no clue what I was talking about. I hung up and called back to get a new person who at least was seasoned enough to know what I was referring to and told me that casino rates aren’t available any longer and now can only book with a specific offer? 
 

This a major change and will greatly impact my future bookings if true. Did any BCC members get notice of this? I am firmly in the Sapphire level and have been since 2 years ago but I fear the extended earning period diluted my worth to BCC. Sitting right between Sapphire and Sapphire plus with no chance to move up based on my play. What’s frustrating is we always book suites since we have 2 kids with us and the existing offers are not very conducive to booking with more than 2 guests. It also appears Patrick is no longer VP of BCC and I’m struggling to find a new contact there.

[dleahy4444]

3 hours ago, rM3panno said:

Just returned home from 12 nights on the Solstice and called this morning to get a price on a June 2025 sailing. When I got through to BCC they priced the cruise and only offered the discount based on most recent play. I asked repeatedly about the casino rate which for me is usually 40% off with the casino suites discount line applied. The agent had no clue what I was talking about. I hung up and called back to get a new person who at least was seasoned enough to know what I was referring to and told me that casino rates aren’t available any longer and now can only book with a specific offer? 
 

This a major change and will greatly impact my future bookings if true. Did any BCC members get notice of this? I am firmly in the Sapphire level and have been since 2 years ago but I fear the extended earning period diluted my worth to BCC. Sitting right between Sapphire and Sapphire plus with no chance to move up based on my play. What’s frustrating is we always book suites since we have 2 kids with us and the existing offers are not very conducive to booking with more than 2 guests. It also appears Patrick is no longer VP of BCC and I’m struggling to find a new contact there.

I have had the same experience! I’ve been getting comped veranda for years based on my play. Earlier this year I started receiving offers with offer codes either via email or regular mail. They suddenly stopped with no explanation. No one at Blue Chip could explain why. Without an offer code they would only offer me a 10% discount despite my being Amethyst   

[Fly and Sail]

19 minutes ago, dleahy4444 said:

I have had the same experience! I’ve been getting comped veranda for years based on my play. Earlier this year I started receiving offers with offer codes either via email or regular mail. They suddenly stopped with no explanation. No one at Blue Chip could explain why. Without an offer code they would only offer me a 10% discount despite my being Amethyst   

 

Same. Well, no more offers means no more high-volume play for me. I'm Elite Plus now after all my free trips, so I will start to book the cheapest offers, no extras such as drink packages.

[jmdlv1]

About a year ago my discount on suites went from about 40% to about $40.

I was booking through an independent rep who worked through BCC.

When I called him ,he said "Don't shoot the messenger."

He said Celebrity does not want to discount suites like they used to.

 

So I booked my last 3 trips through a regular travel agent. No pressure to play.

 

[Ex-Airbalancer]

Ships are sailing filled , Celebrity doesn’t have to the cabins away anymore 😁

[jmdlv1]

7 minutes ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

Ships are sailing filled , Celebrity doesn’t have to the cabins away anymore 😁

I understand and completely agree.

Just got off the Ascent and I did play in the casino but did not feel like I had to log hours at the craps or BJ tables.

The discounts were nice but I can go to Vegas for free rooms and pay for my cruises from now on. 

[Fly and Sail]

8 minutes ago, jmdlv1 said:

I understand and completely agree.

Just got off the Ascent and I did play in the casino but did not feel like I had to log hours at the craps or BJ tables.

The discounts were nice but I can go to Vegas for free rooms and pay for my cruises from now on. 

 

Agree 100% plus it costs me a fortune to fly to North America (7-10,000 USD for Business Class), where all my comp offers are. Can just as well pay cash for a good deal.

[rM3panno]

38 minutes ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

Ships are sailing filled , Celebrity doesn’t have to the cabins away anymore 😁

They were giving the suites discount before Covid. 

[Ex-Airbalancer]

1 minute ago, rM3panno said:

They were giving the suites discount before Covid. 

Anything before Covid just forget about it 😁

[rM3panno]

2 minutes ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

Anything before Covid just forget about it 😁

Yea, it was more of a reference to the fact that bookings were strong pre Covid yet they still offered some discount. Now the benefit is limited to only sailings they target in the mailers.

[Smmessineo]

Not much info on it yet, but according to cruise bloggers who have already sailed and used a new program, as well as urcomped, ( are links allowed? )  Celebrity is right now adding a similar program to Royal Caribbean, where a certain amount of points on your current cruise is guaranteed to get you a free cruise, you get the certificate right there onboard.

This is a different point system then the tiers, which is rumored to be changing in January of 2024.

The points used for an automatic free cruise are $5 in slot equal 1 point. And 1500 points gets you an inside with a list of cruises to choose from. The state room category goes up with points from there.

I am hoping this is an improvement over gamble and hope they offer you something.

 

Edited December 4, 2023 by Smmessineo

[rM3panno]

12 minutes ago, Smmessineo said:

Not much info on it yet, but according to cruise bloggers who have already sailed and used a new program, as well as urcomped, ( are links allowed? )  Celebrity is right now adding a similar program to Royal Caribbean, where a certain amount of points on your current cruise is guaranteed to get you a free cruise, you get the certificate right there onboard.

This is a different point system then the tiers, which is rumored to be changing in January of 2024.

The points used for an automatic free cruise are $5 in slot equal 1 point. And 1500 points gets you an inside with a list of cruises to choose from. The state room category goes up with points from there.

I am hoping this is an improvement over gamble and hope they offer you something.

 

I saw some other info that echos that with a rollout of the future cruise voucher at the end of a sailing. I just got off the Solstice and earned 36,000 points which would have qualified for a sky suite based on what I saw in another place. Based on that I would always qualify for a sky suite but somehow my offers in the mailer are always only a CC or Aqua. 
 

I hate calling them because no one ever seems to have a clue what their policy is.

[sixpackeddie]

33 minutes ago, rM3panno said:

They were giving the suites discount before Covid. 

Yep we got a comped sky suite and did a move up to a edge villa for $1700pp best deal ever!

[sixpackeddie]

6 minutes ago, rM3panno said:

I saw some other info that echos that with a rollout of the future cruise voucher at the end of a sailing. I just got off the Solstice and earned 36,000 points which would have qualified for a sky suite based on what I saw in another place. Based on that I would always qualify for a sky suite but somehow my offers in the mailer are always only a CC or Aqua. 
 

I hate calling them because no one ever seems to have a clue what their policy is.

Yes, I got an ocean view cabin voucher on Saturday while we were on the Apex. It was for selected sailings after playing over 20 hours with an average bet well over $100. 
https://www.celebritycruises.com/content/dam/celebrity/resources/pdf/casino/offers/231204 V3.pdf

[Smmessineo]

I had actually given up gambling on Celebrity due to the unclear nature of offers. But if they are now making it a definite "this equals this" , and you get the certificate at your state room the next to last night, I'll start bringing my casino fund .  if the certificate doesn't show up , you can go to the casino host and say...I have this many points, please issue my cert.  It's logical. 

If they keep the tier levels, too, then there's two ways to earn. Sounds like an improvement😁 

[rM3panno]

6 minutes ago, sixpackeddie said:

Yes, I got an ocean view cabin voucher on Saturday while we were on the Apex. It was for selected sailings after playing over 20 hours with an average bet well over $100. 
https://www.celebritycruises.com/content/dam/celebrity/resources/pdf/casino/offers/231204 V3.pdf

That’s not a very good promo. That’s link didn’t work for me but is it the voucher based on points earned chart?

[sixpackeddie]

3 minutes ago, rM3panno said:

That’s not a very good promo. That’s link didn’t work for me but is it the voucher based on points earned chart?

Yes, lousy promotion. Here is a screenshot.

[rM3panno]

1 minute ago, sixpackeddie said:

Yes, lousy promotion. Here is a screenshot.

Wow, and only on those 5 sailings?

[sixpackeddie]

1 minute ago, rM3panno said:

Wow, and only on those 5 sailings?

Yes or you can use a $750 credit towards another cruise. Here is a copy of the voucher you received at the end of the cruise.

 

[Fly and Sail]

15 hours ago, sixpackeddie said:

Yes or you can use a $750 credit towards another cruise. Here is a copy of the voucher you received at the end of the cruise.

 

 

How much did you play in order to receive this? Tables or slots?

[sixpackeddie]

2 hours ago, Fly and Sail said:

 

How much did you play in order to receive this? Tables or slots? 
Only tables. I had over 24 hours of time at the tables. On day 5 the Pit Boss told me I had 21 hours of gambling and average bet was $120 per hand. The last night of the cruise I saw the casino host and she told me I had 14.2 hours of gambling and average bet was $80 per hand?Total BS. Really watch how they are tracking you.  The icing on the cake was I asked to try to get some specialty dining charges comped, not a penny. The Host told me I didn’t reach enough points, whatever that meant. I have another cruise end of December, I’m taking my $500 in free play chips and not spending a penny more in that Casino.

[PTC DAWG]

3 minutes ago, sixpackeddie said:

2 hours ago, Fly and Sail said:

 

How much did you play in order to receive this? Tables or slots? 
Only tables. I had over 24 hours of time at the tables. On day 5 the Pit Boss told me I had 21 hours of gambling and average bet was $120 per hand. The last night of the cruise I saw the casino host and she told me I had 14.2 hours of gambling and average bet was $80 per hand?Total BS. Really watch how they are tracking you.  The icing on the cake was I asked to try to get some specialty dining charges comped, not a penny. The Host told me I didn’t reach enough points, whatever that meant. I have another cruise end of December, I’m taking my $500 in free play chips and not spending a penny more in that Casino.

So the Pit Boss and the Host can't communicate to figure out who is actually correct?  The Pit Boss is actually watching the Pit...confusing to say the least.  

[NutsAboutGolf]

10 minutes ago, PTC DAWG said:

So the Pit Boss and the Host can't communicate to figure out who is actually correct?  The Pit Boss is actually watching the Pit...confusing to say the least.  

 

The host will have zero direct knowledge of ratings including betting amounts, all rated play is sent over electronically

[sixpackeddie]

18 minutes ago, PTC DAWG said:

So the Pit Boss and the Host can't communicate to figure out who is actually correct?  The Pit Boss is actually watching the Pit...confusing to say the least.  

Yes. When I saw the host at her desk the last night of the cruise she said she can only go by what her computer showed her. She told me I should go and see what Pit Boss gave me the information. So I walked over and he was on his lunch. So I went back to the host and explained he was not there. She said not to worry she would speak to him when he gets back from his break and would update the play in the “system”. We left the Casino about 730pm and went back at 1030pm to follow up. We went to the host desk and she was not there. So walked to the cage, asked where Emily was and they replied the host desk is only opened from 7-10pm. 
So p’ed off. Just left, so done with this. 
I have been calling Blue Chip about this offer and they have no record of my play yet? Then you call back and get a different story. I called this morning and they said my play is loaded in the system but since I did not pay the deposit with future cruises I can not get upgraded to veranda stateroom. So confusing. 
They emailed me this new list of sailings showing if you book a cabin with future cruises on board you will get a veranda cabin.

I explained when I went to see the host on my last nights cruise to evaluate my play I did not realize I needed to book on board to get veranda. 
Please see below. I am beyond confused and very frustrated.

[NutsAboutGolf]

3 minutes ago, sixpackeddie said:

Yes. When I saw the host at her desk the last night of the cruise she said she can only go by what her computer showed her. She told me I should go and see what Pit Boss gave me the information. So I walked over and he was on his lunch. So I went back to the host and explained he was not there. She said not to worry she would speak to him when he gets back from his break and would update the play in the “system”. We left the Casino about 730pm and went back at 1030pm to follow up. We went to the host desk and she was not there. So walked to the cage, asked where Emily was and they replied the host desk is only opened from 7-10pm. 
So p’ed off. Just left, so done with this. 
I have been calling Blue Chip about this offer and they have no record of my play yet? Then you call back and get a different story. I called this morning and they said my play is loaded in the system but since I did not pay the deposit with future cruises I can not get upgraded to veranda stateroom. So confusing. 
They emailed me this new list of sailings showing if you book a cabin with future cruises on board you will get a veranda cabin.

I explained when I went to see the host on my last nights cruise to evaluate my play I did not realize I needed to book on board to get veranda. 
Please see below. I am beyond confused and very frustrated.

 

What a cluster.  On most land-based casinos, you play at a table, and within a few minutes of ending your play session, your tier points are added to your account.  On X, why is the host involved with the rating process at all if they're unable to adjust the ratings sent over to them electronically?

 

I know X removed the ability to use BCC deals at FCV and that FCV wasn't happy about that, sounds like X relented a little by letting some with offers book again which adds to the confusion