Celebrity MBNA American Express Card

[HeatherInFlorida]

I love it. I got mine only a couple of months ago. Immediately I had 5000 points which is $50 shipboard credit. I then charged a few things as well as our final payment for our cruise next month.

 

I went to MBNA rewards.com and had a ton of choices of ways to use my 20,000 points including shipboard credits which is the most value for the $$. I could even get cash, but would lose money doing that.

 

So I clicked on "add to basket" a $50 and a $150 shipboard credit, got my "Order #", called Captain's Club and she applied it. I then got in touch with my TA and they sent me a confirmation showing the shipboard credit.

 

Piece of cake. If nothing else it's worth it to get this card for a one shot deal! If you have a cruise coming up that you haven't made the final payment, get the card and get 5000 points. Put your balance on it and the next thing you know you have a nice shipboard credit. Cancel after that if you don't like it. At this point between that $200 and my $250 for owning 100 shares of RCI stock, we have $450 waiting for us onboard. How can you beat that???

 

I can understand that people have problems with MBNA. You can have problems with any number of these banks. But I pay all my credit cards in full every month and I do it in plenty of time and that works for me.

[AFT_LOVER]

so $30K would be 30K points, unless $15K is Celebrity cruise charges then that is double points for 30K points for $15K on Celebrity.

 

Hope that helps.....

 

Thanks for the info. So if I charge $30,000.00 on this card in a year how many points will I earn? It looks like you get about 1% onboard credit from the points earned but I don't know how you accrue the points. Joan

[AFT_LOVER]

As I understand it, the $50 or $250 is for onboard credits. The higher amounts are for upgrades or for a free cruise. I was told they do not apply to the ptrice of the cruise. So take the onboard credit, get the cash from the casino for free to zero out your account & then depsoit in youchekcing account when you get home so it is like money off the cruise price.

[HeatherInFlorida]

.............. So take the onboard credit, get the cash from the casino for free to zero out your account & then depsoit in youchekcing account when you get home so it is like money off the cruise price.

 

Macop, forgive my stupidity, but are you saying that you can go to the casino and get the shipboard credit as cash????

[Reese1717]

He is just saying that if you ever want quick cash go to the casino and take it off of your card. There is no fee to do this.

 

Last year we got a $500. shipboard credit that is what we did. That way we did not feel obligated to spend $500 on the ship. It is a way around the system.

[HeatherInFlorida]

I like it!!! Thanks, Reese, for explaining that. I didn't realize you could do that. On the other hand, over a 2 week period I doubt we'll have much trouble using the $450:)

[AFT_LOVER]

from our 75+ tablemates who husband was a BJ king in NC. He goes to the cage & gets $100 to play with & she goes to the cage for $200 to shop with. No charge to get the cash as other cruise lines charge 3%. 2nd to last night we check our account on the TV & see how much money we got, cash it out & put it into envelopes for tips. The rest in DH's wallet as his tip for letting me have fun. I was told if you forget to take all your shipboard money, you lose it.......

The gal.guy at the casino thinks you are playing with it. The tourneys that you enter with him/her at the cage is deducted from the cash.

 

Macop, forgive my stupidity, but are you saying that you can go to the casino and get the shipboard credit as cash????

[gracecarmo]

and I want to know how long it will be before you actually receive the card in the mail? I want to use the card to put a down payment on a future cruise that my TA is holding space for me (family of 15) and the down payment is due the end of Sept. If the card does not actually come in the mail, is there a number I can call to get my new amex number? I sure want those points!

 

Grace

[joeyanddavid]

Glad to hear about the ship board credit....... Thats cool

 

Grace, I would not think that you could get any information on an account that has not been activated( you normally have to call an 800 to activate a new credit card and then peel off that thingy)yet, mainly in an effort to fight identity theft.

 

I got my card in about 3 weeks so you may be fine.

[AFT_LOVER]

and tell them that you need the card ASAP to pay for your cruise. They will send it overnight NDA UPS to you.

 

and I want to know how long it will be before you actually receive the card in the mail? I want to use the card to put a down payment on a future cruise that my TA is holding space for me (family of 15) and the down payment is due the end of Sept. If the card does not actually come in the mail, is there a number I can call to get my new amex number? I sure want those points!

 

Grace

[HeatherInFlorida]

Yes, I think I got my card in 2 to 3 weeks as well. But it can't hurt to "squeak" a little and see if they'll rush it to you.

 

Macop, thanks so much. I was going to use the credit for tips, but I'd prefer cashing it in and do my own envelopes. I still like to personally give our tips. Can't tell you how much I appreciate that info!! Many thanks.

[AFT_LOVER]

as we feel like we are stiffin them on that last night since they do not give you a card or anything to give them. Seemed very strange to say " we have prepaid for you".

 

I make cute thank you cards before the cruise for waiter, steward, asst waiter, and others termed "my new good friend". These are for folks who went out of their way for us more than once that we feel deserve something. Then when I get home I have my list of greats from the cruise & not so goods that I write a letter to "X" or RCCL telling them who was fabulous, so they get read at their meeting what I said about them & for those who were not interested in working during our cruise, we name them also. I always get a great letter back telling me who I asisted in making "X" or RCCL #1.

 

Husband loves to shake hands & pass the envelope with a smile & a thank you.

 

And as many here are sickened by the large number of folks that do not dine in the dining room last night, for them I hope never to cruise with them again.

[Holly2]

How do you apply?

[AFT_LOVER]

Just goto www.celebrity.com, then specials, at the bottom is credit cards & click on one to apply or use the phone number to call to apply.

[MsBWing]

Went on the Millenium July 16 - 29 cruise and the ship charged my account for both my onboard charges as well as my friend's . It was broken down separately on the receipt showing Passenger #1 and Passenger #2 charges. We gave separate charge card numbers for them to use to split the charges. They charged my account for both charges. The charge card company will not credit my account until I send them proof that my friend was charged for their portion. That should be Celebrities responsibility . . .not mine.

Celebrity won't credit my account unless I send in my friend's charge card number to them which they should already have from the registration but they are too lazy to go back and look up the information. I've never had this kind of problem with a credit card company before. I sent them proof of my expenses and my friend's expenses and they still refuse to credit me until I prove they've charged the other account.

I say credit my account and let Celebrity deal with their error. I should not have to do their work for them.

[Reese1717]

I know it is a pain but can you have your friend write you a check for his/her expenses?

[MsBWing]

I could also just pay the whole thing and let it go . . .BUT . . ..

Since this is a posting about the MBNA card, my experience was put out there to let people know that there is lack of service after the sale. User beware. I think the BBB would find this practice unethical and I will be asking them that question today.

[lusochic]

Seems like it is a great idea to get this card & save all the $$ on buying stock! :)

[HeatherInFlorida]

MsbWing, just an observation, but in general the credit card companies do not take on that level of customer service anymore. I spoke with a few recently in this regard and unless it was a service that I did not receive, or an item that was not delivered, they will not credit my account. Instead they tell me I must take the issue to the vendor.

 

I honestly think your argument is with Celebrity, not MBNA. It was Celebrity that charged your account in error and it is their responsibility to correct that. Your friend needs to call Celebrity and ask them to charge her for the amount.

 

You definitely have an issue, but MBNA got the charge from Celebrity and it doesn't fall on them to follow up with Celebrity. These banks are too big now with far too many customers and they simply don't provide that little extra service that used to be the norm. JMO.

 

Lusochic, you're right. If you cruise Celebrity with any regularity at all ... or even only once ... the stock is definitely worth the credit. Heck, you can sell it when you get back if you want! And personally I think the credit card is a great deal as well. Obviously, you can have problems with any bank (who hasn't?), but in our case $450 total is nothing to sneeze at!;)

[AFT_LOVER]

unlike dividends, the shipboard credits for being a stockholder are well worth holding on it it. Then the credit from the VISA or AMEX, and the board purchase credit too.

 

Gosh we can feel like millionairres!!!

[kay0522]

Just finished paying for our Dec cruise with the Am Ex Celebrity card. With a recent airfare charge and the double points thru December, we've already qualified for a $100 shipboard credit. Can't bet that!

[lusochic]

unlike dividends, the shipboard credits for being a stockholder are well worth holding on it it. Then the credit from the VISA or AMEX, and the board purchase credit too.

 

Gosh we can feel like millionairres!!!

 

I would like to be able to buy stock now, but can't afford to choke up $4K for a couple of $100 credits (we usually only sail 7 night itineraries).

 

The credit card on the other hand is FREE, so a much easier route to cruise credits! :D

[ingrid295]

Didn't MBNA credit card division recently get bought out by Bank of America?

[roboref]

It's reward is 3%. $30,000 = $1000 toward a cruise. Granted it is on NCL, which I was skeptical of, bot the cruise we went on in January for free with a balcony cabin was outstanding. Almost as good as X, and in some ways better. Plus I get a free cruise sooner. 1 free cruise a year or if I go inside cabin, both passengers are FREE!

[lusochic]

Didn't MBNA credit card division recently get bought out by Bank of America?

 

As stated on their website under Acquisition news:

 

MBNA has agreed to become part of Bank of America. This combination, which should close by year-end, will provide you with access to the nationwide convenience and resources of two leading financial institutions- more products and services..