KC from California Posted November 17, 2006 #1 Share Posted November 17, 2006 The AX Platinum card's cruise priviledge program offers either a 2 category upgrade or $300 shipboard credit. Anyone have used this program and know which offer Princess would give: upgrade or $300 credit or one never knows until on board? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T&J Posted November 17, 2006 #2 Share Posted November 17, 2006 The AX Platinum card's cruise priviledge program offers either a 2 category upgrade or $300 shipboard credit. Anyone have used this program and know which offer Princess would give: upgrade or $300 credit or one never knows until on board? You get a $300.00 onboard credit on Mini-Suites and Full Suites but it varies from ship to ship. Also the two cat upgrade applies to CAT lower than a mini-suite on most ships and on some other ships you could move from a mini-suite CAT AC to AA for example. Thruthfully, this program is so hard to combine with any half decent fare it has happen to me only once being able to use it and it was because Princess made a mistake in allowing it to be applied and had to honour it. You can do much better on a group rate than using this Promo. Tony :cool: :eek: :cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hill6 Posted November 17, 2006 #3 Share Posted November 17, 2006 We used it for our Crown sailing this past summer. We got the 2 category upgrade since we were in a minisuite. Your travel agent decides what is best. If you know you want a particular cabin (say category AA) you pay the AC rate. Which would be about a $400 savings since it averages about $100 per person per category jump. I believe they would get the $300 credit if the savings would be less than $300. You also get a bottle of champagne, dinner first night in premium restaurant, free 6 x 8 picture. We were bundled with a group cruise even though we were not part of it and received $50 shipboard credit. Since you also get a $100 per year credit from the Amex program it was applied to our cruise fare after final payment so we saved another $100 too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spongerob Posted November 17, 2006 #4 Share Posted November 17, 2006 I agree with Tony, the AMEX program is more trouble than it's worth. I was able to take advantage of it a few years ago when things were slow, but found since then I can do better for myself by other means. It's also a limited program. And since it costs about $300 in annual fees just to have "The Card", you don't really get the value out of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankathy Posted November 17, 2006 #5 Share Posted November 17, 2006 I pay 395.00 for my card but annually I receive 900.00 in shipboard credits plus 3 bottles of Champagne and 3 comp dinners at Sabatinis and I can combine them with Future Cruise deposits with additional shipbard credits. To get the credits your T/A must place an call to AMEX who gives the T/A a confirmation number and than the T/A must call Princess with that confirmation number. I think alot of you have lazy T/A's. I have never been declined using my AMEX benefits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostatsea200 Posted November 17, 2006 #6 Share Posted November 17, 2006 Thanks for the info---i will be on my t/a to make sure that i get the credits for my upcoming cruise. i don't always use the amex plat t/a's since my good t/a retired. thanks again.:p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynda90 Posted November 17, 2006 #7 Share Posted November 17, 2006 I pay 395.00 for my card but annually I receive 900.00 in shipboard credits plus 3 bottles of Champagne and 3 comp dinners at Sabatinis and I can combine them with Future Cruise deposits with additional shipbard credits. To get the credits your T/A must place an call to AMEX who gives the T/A a confirmation number and than the T/A must call Princess with that confirmation number. I think alot of you have lazy T/A's. I have never been declined using my AMEX benefits. Is this based on number of people in cabin? What would a single passenger get with this? If they give $900 or even $450 in cabin credit, I'd apply for this card immediately. Just sounds like a huge perk. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliceJ Posted November 17, 2006 #8 Share Posted November 17, 2006 I agree with Tony, the AMEX program is more trouble than it's worth. I was able to take advantage of it a few years ago when things were slow, but found since then I can do better for myself by other means. It's also a limited program. And since it costs about $300 in annual fees just to have "The Card", you don't really get the value out of it. Rob: In the past 2 years or so, AmEx has changed the cruise program so that you can choose any ship/category/cabin. Prices are fair, but as you stated, you can certainly do better with some research. We like using the card as we "pay" for the cruise with reward points. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Coral Posted November 17, 2006 #9 Share Posted November 17, 2006 I know my agent does a lot with this program. As long as you have the card and are paying for the card - you might as well use it and benefit from it. I have also heard some agents made it difficult to use and discouraged it - they must not have wanted to bother with it or didn't understand the program. Obviously one needs to look at how much things would cost with and with out the program but definitely look into it if you have the card. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacqueline Posted November 17, 2006 #10 Share Posted November 17, 2006 Two category upgrade does not sound like much to me... I just got a 13 category upgrade for $91 just by monitoring rates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Coral Posted November 17, 2006 #11 Share Posted November 17, 2006 Two category upgrade does not sound like much to me... I just got a 13 category upgrade for $91 just by monitoring rates. It is the other items that are worthy (shipboard credit, dinner at speciality restaurant, etc..). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JanMD Posted November 17, 2006 #12 Share Posted November 17, 2006 We have the card and after this trip it paid for itself. It is a matter of if you cruise enough it pays for itself and different cruiselines have different promos!!! One more day until I get on the Crown Princess! Jan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KC from California Posted November 17, 2006 Author #13 Share Posted November 17, 2006 I paid with my AX Platinum card for a AE (lowest category) mini-suite on a guaranteed as there were not cabin available to choose at the time of booking. As of today, I do not know my cabin assignment and we sail on Dec 16. I told my TA that I want the $300 credit, and she confirmed that she made the call to AX. I was wondering that sometimes one would get category upgrade on a guaranteed anyway, say from a AE to AC, but still within the mini-suite category. In this case, would Princess considered this as the upgrade offer and not give me the $300 credit, or will my request for the $300 credit through my TA supercede this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryPoppinz Posted November 17, 2006 #14 Share Posted November 17, 2006 If you're looking for a card with pretty good travel benefits (IMO, better than Amex Platinum) you might want to look at the Chairman card from Citi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hill6 Posted November 17, 2006 #15 Share Posted November 17, 2006 When I used the program to stay at the Four Seasons in Las Vegas two years ago we got $70 per night off the rate posted on their website. We also got lunch one day and breakfast all five days. Extensive savings at that time. The price I got through Amex travel is the same as the Princess website. It really is no more of a hassel than using a cruise planner at Princess. The card is a business card and they pay the fee. No money out of my pocket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Coral Posted November 17, 2006 #16 Share Posted November 17, 2006 The price I got through Amex travel is the same as the Princess website. It really is no more of a hassel than using a cruise planner at Princess. There are AMEX agents who do discount. You just need to find the agents who do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J&B in GA Posted November 18, 2006 #17 Share Posted November 18, 2006 Do ALL AMEX Platinum cards qualify, i.e. affinity cards like Delta Airlines Platinum which costs only $130/year ? Also, do you have to use ONLY AMEX Travel TA's, or can you use any Cruise TA, including on-line discounters, that accept the AMEX Card for payment ? If not Coral, how do you locate AMEX agents who will provide discounted cruise rates and provide these perks ? Are these AMEX Perks; OBC, Speciality Dinners, etc., combinable with any other OBC you may be receiving, like for an advanced OBB ? Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Coral Posted November 18, 2006 #18 Share Posted November 18, 2006 Do ALL AMEX Platinum cards qualify, i.e. affinity cards like Delta AirlinesPlatinum which costs only $130/year ? Also, do you have to use ONLY AMEX Travel TA's, or can you use any Cruise TA, including on-line discounters, that accept the AMEX Card for payment ? If not Coral, how do you locate AMEX agents who will provide discounted cruise rates and provide these perks ? Are these AMEX Perks; OBC, Speciality Dinners, etc., combinable with any other OBC you may be receiving, like for an advanced OBB ? Thank you. From what I understand - not all AMEX Platium cards qualify. You need that $3XX one. All I know is my agent is an AMEX agent and discounts. I asked her once about 6 months about the AMEX amenities and she explained them to me - it has been awhile so I don't remember all the details. I decided to not purchase the card as this next year I most likely am not going to sail Princess... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms Understood Posted November 18, 2006 #19 Share Posted November 18, 2006 It is only the Platinum card that costs $395 a year but like others on this board I have used it enuf that it pays for itself every year. In addition to the perks mentioned you also get access to Delta and Continental's lounges at the airports. We got high tea at the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong for free. Most hotels give you late check out and a free meal, lunch or breakfast usually. If you are a traveller its a great card. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julia’s Journey’s Posted November 18, 2006 #20 Share Posted November 18, 2006 I will have to look into this, I have a platinum Amex but don't use any of the perks so maybe switching to this card and using the perks would be better. Anyone have a website with info on the card?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charliesmom Posted November 18, 2006 #21 Share Posted November 18, 2006 For cruising, I have had TAs both good and bad as far as the Amex card is concerned. My current TA is a discount agency (usually not the very cheapest) and she has gotten me the $300 shipboard credit on each cruise I have booked with her. If Amex and Princess or HAL have signed an agreement, I get the credit. One year I called the Amex Platinum Travel service and lucked out. We ended up on an Amex group cruise on HAL. In addition to dinner in the Pinnacle Grill the first night, we had dinner in the Pinnacle grill for a second night. We got the free champagne and two bottles of wine in addition. Amex Platinum Travel service has also gotten us some GREAT hotel rooms, usually with a wonderful amenity like tea or a buffet lunch and you can easily get a late check out, too. Their deal with hotels is that you get a free upgrade if the hotel is not fully booked. We've ended up in suites a couple of times. It has been lovely. You can still get two for one first class or business class seats on international routes. The only problem here is that they are full fare. Lately, there have been some wonderful deals on the airlines on international routes, which have been considerably cheaper for two than one full fare ticket, or we have turned in miles for an upgrade and paid full economy fare. If you have the Amex card, check with your agent before you book to see if you can get the credit. That doesn't always work. I had an agent at one agency promise me the credit. She left the agency and the agency played "Mickey the Dunce" about the credit. I console myself with the fact that I got a really good deal on the price of the tickets. Roberta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KC from California Posted November 18, 2006 Author #22 Share Posted November 18, 2006 For cruising, I have had TAs both good and bad as far as the Amex card is concerned. My current TA is a discount agency (usually not the very cheapest) and she has gotten me the $300 shipboard credit on each cruise I have booked with her. If Amex and Princess or HAL have signed an agreement, I get the credit. One year I called the Amex Platinum Travel service and lucked out. We ended up on an Amex group cruise on HAL. In addition to dinner in the Pinnacle Grill the first night, we had dinner in the Pinnacle grill for a second night. We got the free champagne and two bottles of wine in addition. Amex Platinum Travel service has also gotten us some GREAT hotel rooms, usually with a wonderful amenity like tea or a buffet lunch and you can easily get a late check out, too. Their deal with hotels is that you get a free upgrade if the hotel is not fully booked. We've ended up in suites a couple of times. It has been lovely. You can still get two for one first class or business class seats on international routes. The only problem here is that they are full fare. Lately, there have been some wonderful deals on the airlines on international routes, which have been considerably cheaper for two than one full fare ticket, or we have turned in miles for an upgrade and paid full economy fare. If you have the Amex card, check with your agent before you book to see if you can get the credit. That doesn't always work. I had an agent at one agency promise me the credit. She left the agency and the agency played "Mickey the Dunce" about the credit. I console myself with the fact that I got a really good deal on the price of the tickets. Roberta Hi, Roberta, it appears that you have some experience with the AX Platinum cruise priviledge program, so I will re-post my question to you: I paid with my AX Platinum card for an AE (lowest category) mini-suite on a guaranteed since there were no cabin available to choose at the time of booking. As of today, I do not know my cabin assignment and we sail on Dec 16. I told my TA that I want the $300 credit, and she confirmed that she made the call to AX. I was wondering that the promo says either 2 category upgrade or $300 credit. Since sometimes one would get category upgrade on a guaranteed anyway, say from a AE to AC, but still within the mini-suite category. In this case, would Princess considered this as the upgrade offer and not give me the $300 credit, or will my request for the $300 credit through my TA supercede this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruising Jake Posted November 18, 2006 #23 Share Posted November 18, 2006 1 - According to Amex the $300 credit is only good on FULL suites. Anything less, even mini-suites, gets the 2 category upgrade. Of course, you cannot upgrade from a mini-suite to a full suite. 2 - Am currently on the Coral Princess and the purser's desk told me they stopped honoring the champagne and first night dinner two cruises ago. But we got a certificate for it from our TA so I don't know what the deal really is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankR Posted November 18, 2006 #24 Share Posted November 18, 2006 I cancelled the Platinum card this year Did get some credits over the years but not enough to make up for the $395 yearly Problem is you can not use it with other discounts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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