Blue Chip Club changes

Thanks for the call and thanks for posting. I figured I'd give them a few days & then give them a call. I imagine the lines are lighting up right now!

Karen

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Surprisingly they answered within a minute. When you call, can you also ask if the casino hosts will still look at your play at the end of the cruise to determine what to take off your bill? I forgot to ask but that better still be in place.

 

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Oddly enough, I didn't really realize "taking charges off the bill" was something they did.

We got off the ship on the 14th. I noticed on our online CC statement today Equinox charged us $254.

I know for a fact it should have been in the $600+ area. There is a larger "pending charge", from before we disembarked. It will go poof soon.

I guess, now that you mention it...the host is the only person I could think of who might adjust charges; but I've never asked. Interesting.

Karen

I printed out the old benefits and am bringing them in two weeks. I've found that casino hosts have some on board authority. My bad luck is the last couple of cruises there was no casino host - they were on vacation. A dealer technically filled in, but didn't know anything and didn't try at all. In one case, she wouldn't come out of her office to meet us .

Well, whoever you talked to at BC mislead you. I just got my tier level email with the "new" benefits. Kinda disappointed.

 

We booked a b2b next year excited to get our Sapphire benefits on both cruise.

 

 

 

Sapphire Benefits went from 17 to 13. NO guarantee $1000 free play anymore. Now it based on your previous cruise play. Small print from email:

 

 

 

"* Free play and promo chip benefits are based on gaming and tier: Ruby level guests, the greater of $2,500 or 15% of the previous sailing's gaming activity. Sapphire level guests, the greater of $500 or 10% of the previous sailing's gaming activity. Amethyst level guests, the greater of $100 or 5% of the previous sailing's gaming activity. Free play and promo chip benefits are capped at $10,000 in value per sailing. Annual cruise benefits are based on play. All benefits are for the account holder only and subject to availability. Additional restrictions may apply, and benefits are not transferrable. Management reserves the right to suspend, withhold, or cancel the loyalty program at any time. Reel and video slot machine points: $1 coin in equals one tier point. Video poker and video roulette points: $2 coin in equals one tier point. Table games: $8 table theoretical equals one tier point. For full details, call Blue Chip Club at 1-866-461-7170 or visit celebrity.com/casino. "

 

 

 

Hopefully our previous play will give "greater" than the $500! As Uncle Gordon used to say "Better then a poke in the eye with a sharp stick"!!

 

 

No more Specialty restaurant for 2. :(

 

No more Friends & family 20% cruise discount.

 

No more laundry credit. Was REALLY excited about that combined with our elite laundry perks on our B2B in Europe next year. :(

 

No more Stateroom amenities/welcome gift. No biggie as we've never received them!

 

No more $100 Spa Credit.

 

 

Amethyst is basically the same except for no Specialty Restaurant.

 

 

Definitely changes!

 

Biggest bummer is the small print about how Free Play is now figured. I'm not sure what they will do on a B2B since leg 2 will be based on leg 1's play.

 

We sure will miss our Specialty restaurant meals,too.

 

 

 

 

Perhaps at the host's discretion, a couple of specialty meals will be offered on board...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m just going on what I was told. Maybe the reps were told there were going to be no changes and then Celebrity decided to change it after all. Neither my husband or I have gotten this email but I can’t remember the last time I got an email from Blue Chip so who knows if I’ll get this one. It really sucks though. Not sure why they say no one was using the incentives as we always used the specialty restaurants and the spa credits. Laundry credit we only used partially or not at all so that one I could’ve seen go away.

Our next cruise is on Edge in December and only in a Sky Suite so now we’ll have to pay for the specialty restaurants and all of our spa visit which is a bummer. Internet and drink package are irrelevant as we always have either Go Best in a Sky Suite or stay in one of the upper suites with everything included. Thankfully we have a $550 onboard credit. It will be interesting to see how much free play they give us onboard. I think I racked up around 8000 points (the redeemable points, not tier points) on my last cruise which at $5 play per point means I played through around $40K. Not sure if they will calculate the 10% based on that but probably not. It will also be interesting to see how the post-cruise incentive plays out after we complete the next cruise and if they take any charges off our bill like they have the last few cruises. If any of those last few items prove to be generous then these changes aren’t too bad in the end but I’m not getting my hopes up.

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I printed out the old benefits and am bringing them in two weeks. I've found that casino hosts have some on board authority. My bad luck is the last couple of cruises there was no casino host - they were on vacation. A dealer technically filled in, but didn't know anything and didn't try at all. In one case, she wouldn't come out of her office to meet us .

Can you post the old benefits. I thought I had a copy and cant find it. Thanks...Susan

We cruise in September. Does this start immediately or do you get what you were promised when you booked? I would hope Celebrity would at least give you what you had earned at time of booking. Thanks

I’m sure this is effective going forward. The new tier accumulation period started on July 1st. The only people who may have still gotten the old tier benefits were those who cruised earlier this month.

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I wonder if the Michael's Club access benefit will apply to the Retreat Lounge on Edge and soon to be refurbished ships when they replace Michael's with it.

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I wonder if the Michael's Club access benefit will apply to the Retreat Lounge on Edge and soon to be refurbished ships when they replace Michael's with it.

 

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It should since people have reported that Zenith members who had access to Michael’s Club will now have access to The Retreat Lounge in place of that.

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I received the email as well and never even knew about Blue Chip. Since I have earned enough points per the email, does the benefits show on your cabin card or do I need to do something else to get benefits?

I received the email as well and never even knew about Blue Chip. Since I have earned enough points per the email, does the benefits show on your cabin card or do I need to do something else to get benefits?

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Sailing August 6 on British Isles cruise. Disappointed to lose the spa credit and dinner for two. I would think letting guests enjoy these two benefits would encourage bookings on their own during the cruise. I know I've never left the spa for less than $100. And given the jacked up prices will probably not use it without the casino credit. My last cruise in April, I put a great deal more money in slots than I took out. I'm Sapphire, interested to see what I get.

I received the email as well and never even knew about Blue Chip. Since I have earned enough points per the email, does the benefits show on your cabin card or do I need to do something else to get benefits?

If you have a drink package reward you'll need to go to the cashier desk in the casino when it opens so your sea pass card can be stickered with appropriate package.

Sailing August 6 on British Isles cruise. Disappointed to lose the spa credit and dinner for two. I would think letting guests enjoy these two benefits would encourage bookings on their own during the cruise. I know I've never left the spa for less than $100. And given the jacked up prices will probably not use it without the casino credit. My last cruise in April, I put a great deal more money in slots than I took out. I'm Sapphire, interested to see what I get.

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Boarded Equinox yesterday , new tier program already started all tier free play cut in half no spa credit, no laundry credit, and no speciality dinner for 2. The email that everyone received said starting in August, but it already started

Also no more friends and family discounts.

If you have a drink package reward you'll need to go to the cashier desk in the casino when it opens so your sea pass card can be stickered with appropriate package.

We boarded the Equinox on July 7th. We had an invite to a Host's Party on same day. Drinks. Munchies. Meet the hosts. Get your drink stickers if it wasn't on your card, etc.

I see one of the new "benefits" is a "Casino host event". I'm assuming that was it. He answered a LOT of questions and informed us when the casino opened and what to do to get our free play, etc.

My card did not have Sapphire on it; but the drink package was on it.

Hubby's had Sapphire on it and drink package. Pretty sure I've not sailed with a card that actually had my Tier listed yet!!

I always get them to give me a Player's Card so I don't have to take my room key out to give them for drinks. Don't want to lose those points, ya know?!

I'm sure folks who are new to the Blue Chip Club are ecstatic over the new benefits. :rolleyes:

I got my new email over the weekend (I was on a cruise lol). I was upgraded to Sapphire (which was a long time coming actually) so I'm pleased. I also have a cruise coming up on Sept 1 so I'll be happy to report back. I'm bunking with my parents so I hadn't purchased beverage or internet yet so I'm happy.

A couple of questions-

Can we upgrade the bev package to premium onboard? (or ahead of time)

For the Annual cruise benefit-do you just call and ask? How do you know what you might be allowed?

Thanks!

I got my new email over the weekend (I was on a cruise lol). I was upgraded to Sapphire (which was a long time coming actually) so I'm pleased. I also have a cruise coming up on Sept 1 so I'll be happy to report back. I'm bunking with my parents so I hadn't purchased beverage or internet yet so I'm happy.

 

 

A couple of questions-

 

 

Can we upgrade the bev package to premium onboard? (or ahead of time)

For the Annual cruise benefit-do you just call and ask? How do you know what you might be allowed?

Thanks!

I upgraded my drink pkg to Premium onboard in July. Found out it has gone from $10 more a day to $14 a day...but max drink price has gone to $15 from $13.

Interesting that at the end of the cruise...that (plus some cash we withdrew at the casino) were not in full charged to our CC. As they don't leave bills at the cabin anymore; I'm not sure what happened. I can only assume the host took some of those charges off. At least $400 worth. I never ask; but evidently hosts do things behind the scenes. :)

No clue about future benefits. I just call and tell them a cruise I want and they take 20% off (and in the past the earned day credit) and book it for me!

I guess I'll ask next time I call.

Also, in the past I've gotten an email for a free cruise. President's Cruise on Equinox last fall was the last one. I'd say I'm due another. ;):D

I got my new email over the weekend (I was on a cruise lol). I was upgraded to Sapphire (which was a long time coming actually) so I'm pleased. I also have a cruise coming up on Sept 1 so I'll be happy to report back. I'm bunking with my parents so I hadn't purchased beverage or internet yet so I'm happy.

 

 

A couple of questions-

 

 

Can we upgrade the bev package to premium onboard? (or ahead of time)

For the Annual cruise benefit-do you just call and ask? How do you know what you might be allowed?

 

 

Thanks!

For the beverage upgrade, when I asked this question to Blue Chip I was told you have to upgrade once you get onboard, you can’t do it in advance.

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Dealing with the Blue Chip Club is almost as bad as the website! I have emailed them 3 times waiting for them to figure out our status since the last cruise we took had so many issues that in their eyes we really weren’t even on the ship! They first tried telling me we weren’t on the cruise which is understandable since we had a message from Celebrity once we returned to Miami asking if we were going to make it....as I’m standing in our cabin :o.

Long story short they keep telling me that they are waiting for a supervisor to figure this out. It has been a couple of months since my initial email to them. Wondering if I should just call Captains Club. They seem to be the only ones that can figure things out!

I just called Blue Chip to get clarity on all the changes being discussed here as we have yet to receive the email. I also wanted to find out what our free play incentive might be for our next cruise. Was very disappointed to find out as Sapphire that I will only be eligible for $606 in free play. (That is based on me playing through almost $40K on my last cruise; total play, not my out of pocket). Now while this is $106 more than the new minimum of $500 it is also $394 less than the old tier benefit. Then add in the loss of the spa credit of $100, the laundry credit of $50 and the the loss of the specialty meal for two (let’s estimate at $110) and I’m down $654 in value. Definitely not happy. The rep did say that the host has final say onboard though as to what free play amount you will be entitled to though. When I asked him if the hosts use the same calculation that Blue Chip corporate does he essentially said they do but kept reiterating that they have final say and anything Blue Chip tells you is an estimate only. So who knows what that means but it almost definitely does not mean I will get anything more than $606. He did keep emphasizing that the hosts still have the ability to offer free things to players throughout the cruise and could remove things from your bill by cruise end. We have been lucky with that our past two cruises so hopefully that continues. I have little faith with the hosts though as on our last two cruises they have been pretty non-existent with almost zero interaction with players beyond their required theme nights.

Another note about changes to the post-cruise incentive. They are not able to apply any incentive discount to your next cruise until within 6 months of sailing date. So if you complete a cruise next month and want to book another for August of 2019, they can’t apply a discount based on your prior cruise play until February. It used to be you had a 12 month window but they have now reduced that. He explained that the reason they did away with the hosts giving onboard certificates was because hosts were complaining that they were being “harassed” by customers wondering what incentive they were going to get. Perhaps that was because the hosts are very difficult to track down and not great with customer interaction? Kind of an offensive non-customer-oriented reasoning they are giving there.

The person I spoke to said that the 20% discount off of suites still remains and it sounds like that can be done at any time.

I expressed my displeasure with the changes. The rep I spoke to was very pleasant and very open to receiving feedback and said he encouraged everyone who has an issue with these changes to let them know as they can’t know that people are unhappy unless we tell them. He said that none of the people at Blue Chip even knew about all these changes to the tiers until about an hour before the emails started going out to customers; it all came down from corporate above them. Having worked in a corporate environment for a travel company before I totally believe that.

We have two cruises coming up in December and January which luckily we already had incentives applied to from before the changes were made. We’ll see how those go, what they offer us onboard and post-cruise for a future cruise incentive and then decide if we want to start looking at other cruise lines or possibly just start doing more land-based vacations instead.

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I called in today to cancel a trip for next summer and decided to ask about my tier level and some changes since I haven’t received anything via USPS or email.

I am still Sapphire but they did advise on the loss of laundry, spa, and specialty dinner credit. They proceed an estimate based on a tool they have of the free play I have available on my next sailing which because of significant play (and losses) on my last trip turns out to better that the old guaranteed $1,000. I hope they keep the play available for any wager unlike vegas where free play is only eligible for even odds.

I also asked about access to the Retreat on the Edge and they advised that they do not yet have a definitive answer from Celebrity corporate. Zenith is a captains club level and awarded by Celebrity whereas Blue Chip is a revenue center treated much like a 3rd party travel agent. I think they are still negotiating. Honesty, I will be most disappointed if we lose access on the Edge class ships over any other benefit as we use that access significantly. My, wife, 3 year old, and myself take advantage of that space on a regular basis. While we normally book suites and get access either way, the Edge suite prices just don’t make sense compared to other sailings and other cruise lines.

As usual, this will likely all change by the time we board in December.

I called in today to cancel a trip for next summer and decided to ask about my tier level and some changes since I haven’t received anything via USPS or email.

 

I am still Sapphire but they did advise on the loss of laundry, spa, and specialty dinner credit. They proceed an estimate based on a tool they have of the free play I have available on my next sailing which because of significant play (and losses) on my last trip turns out to better that the old guaranteed $1,000. I hope they keep the play available for any wager unlike vegas where free play is only eligible for even odds.

 

I also asked about access to the Retreat on the Edge and they advised that they do not yet have a definitive answer from Celebrity corporate. Zenith is a captains club level and awarded by Celebrity whereas Blue Chip is a revenue center treated much like a 3rd party travel agent. I think they are still negotiating. Honesty, I will be most disappointed if we lose access on the Edge class ships over any other benefit as we use that access significantly. My, wife, 3 year old, and myself take advantage of that space on a regular basis. While we normally book suites and get access either way, the Edge suite prices just don’t make sense compared to other sailings and other cruise lines.

 

As usual, this will likely all change by the time we board in December.

If they granted access it would only be to the Retreat Lounge not the Sundeck with the pool. It has already been posted elsewhere here on CC that Zenith members will get access to the Retreat Lounge only so I don’t see Blue Chip players getting something better than them.

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I receive offers all of the time for Vegas, cruises etc.  I signed up for a Black Jack tournament through blue chip for the Celebrity Equinox .  I arrived and there was no invitation in my room for the tournament.  I tried speaking with the host and left 7 messages and also tried the so called manager.  No response in 3 days.  Needless to say I didn’t get to participate.  I tried the host again and finally got her in person.  She said I wasn’t on the list?  When in port I called their blue chip headquarters who assured me that I was suppose to be in the tournament.  She contacted her supervisor who is suppose to contact the ship but again it’s to late for the tournament.  Their manager and host are just nasty rude people.  If you cruise and enjoy the casino don’t go on this cruise until their host and manager are replaced.

This is the strangest story I've ever heard about the Blue Chip Club.