Blue chip email? Is it a scam?

[kristinp36]

Email received and booked. Covers 2 people. We upgraded to Aqua for $140 for the week.

 

Only Pearl level with 2 Celebrity cruises under out belt. Last one in 2018.

 

 

Edited July 30, 2022 by kristinp36

[Fly and Sail]

9 hours ago, techteach said:

Newbie to Celebrity questions regarding gambling:

 

1 - I assume I can’t play with cash.

2 - I think I read you have to use a credit card and it is billed as a cash advance. That’s bad because it generates fees/transaction charge.

3 - Can I use a debit card to avoid the fees?

4 - Is the casino connected to any of the Vegas casinos?

 

Many thanks and congrats on getting free cruises. I guess it isn’t that different from free rooms in Vegas!

 

1. You can pay with cash and the casino currency is USD no matter where the cruise departs from.

2. You can charge casino funds to your room account and it will post as a travel charge. However, non suite and non-casino tier guests will incur a fee of 5% I believe.

3. No

4. Yes Celebrity has a cooperation with MGM Rewards. If you have status there you might be able to get benefits such as waived fees and for Platinum/NOIR a free cruise.

[Fly and Sail]

5 hours ago, kristinp36 said:

Email received and booked. Covers 2 people. We upgraded to Aqua for $140 for the week.

 

Only Pearl level with 2 Celebrity cruises under out belt. Last one in 2018.

 

 

 

That's their standard upcharge for Aqua Class and a steal. I do this every single time.

[Fly and Sail]

17 hours ago, overlake7 said:

I got the offer and was able to upgrade from free veranda cabin to Concierge  for $20 per person per night plus taxes. All total $444 for a week great deal!

 

Call back and ask for Aqua Class which should be $140. Much better deal.

 

For those who ask "How did I get to Pearl status?", as soon as you play slots for even $1 that will earn you 1 tier point and you're automatically Pearl after the cruise (points take a few days to post to the BCC account).

 

I have it on good accounts that the Mexican Riviera cruises on Solstice aren't selling very well, hence why they maybe use BCC to push "free cruises" as those usually generate revenue downstream as they don't come with Always Included. Guests have to pay gratuities, drinks and wifi.

Edited July 30, 2022 by Fly and Sail

[tonit964]

2 hours ago, Fly and Sail said:

 

I have it on good accounts that the Mexican Riviera cruises on Solstice aren't selling very well, hence why they maybe use BCC to push "free cruises" as those usually generate revenue downstream as they don't come with Always Included. Guests have to pay gratuities, drinks and wifi.

Do you happen to know why that is?

I'm looking at booking my very first X cruise on Solstice with this itinerary for one of the dates in Oct and there are many, many cabins still available and the price is really good.

 

[bjahil47]

Sounds like I’m one of the few who did not get the email!😢😢. We do gamble in casino slots but not a lot.  An almost free cruise would have been nice since I did not win Mega Million Lottery last night!

[mahdnc]

3 hours ago, Fly and Sail said:

For those who ask "How did I get to Pearl status?", as soon as you play slots for even $1 that will earn you 1 tier point and you're automatically Pearl after the cruise (points take a few days to post to the BCC account).

 

I think we are asking, "why did lowly Pearl status rate a complimentary cruise?" followed by, "when will Celebrity call me to tell me it was all a big mistake and that they are sorry?".

Edited July 30, 2022 by mahdnc

[sdnich]

Has anybody received this offer that is not your name my father-in-law received one and it came to my email is there a way I can use his offer???

[Fly and Sail]

52 minutes ago, mahdnc said:

 

I think we are asking, "why did lowly Pearl status rate a complimentary cruise?" followed by, "when will Celebrity call me to tell me it was all a big mistake and that they are sorry?".

 

Well they have you on record as someone who at least isn't adverse to gambling and *might* go to the casino. If you look up the price of the Mexican Riviera cruises they aren't very expensive and they even come with Always included.

 

The Casino offers will have everything extra. Tips, Drinks, Wifi, Port Tax plus whatever else the pax spends (incl possible gambling losses). It's a good marketing ploy to get you on board.

[Fly and Sail]

4 minutes ago, sdnich said:

Has anybody received this offer that is not your name my father-in-law received one and it came to my email is there a way I can use his offer???

 

You could book for two (three) people and then the lead passenger suddenly gets Covid or misses his flight on day of departure. Stranger things have happened. 😉

[mahdnc]

5 minutes ago, Fly and Sail said:

 

Well they have you on record as someone who at least isn't adverse to gambling and *might* go to the casino. If you look up the price of the Mexican Riviera cruises they aren't very expensive and they even come with Always included.

 

The Casino offers will have everything extra. Tips, Drinks, Wifi, Port Tax plus whatever else the pax spends (incl possible gambling losses). It's a good marketing ploy to get you on board.

 

They should set up a desk in Las Vegas and hand out free cruise (only) offers.

[Charles4515]

22 hours ago, PTC DAWG said:

I’m sure it’s legit, they base these offers on past gambling etc…they do not demand you gamble a certain amount on offered cruise…if you choose not to gamble, you may not receive any more offers. 
 

possibly low capacity on this cruise itinerary is driving the offers. 

I got the email and I have never gambled on a cruise.

[Fly and Sail]

4 minutes ago, mahdnc said:

 

They should set up a desk in Las Vegas and hand out free cruise (only) offers.

 

They do for MGM Platinum (5 Night cruise) & NOIR (7 Night cruise). Other than that, Vegas Hotels giving away free rooms is the local equivalent. Same concept, reel the suckers in with something "free" and then hope then spend more and lose in the casino on top of it all.

[mahdnc]

1 minute ago, Fly and Sail said:

 

They do for MGM Platinum (5 Night cruise) & NOIR (7 Night cruise). Other than that, Vegas Hotels giving away free rooms is the local equivalent. Same concept, reel the suckers in with something "free" and then hope then spend more and lose in the casino on top of it all.

 

No, I am talking about handing out free cruises to those that *might* go to a casino.

[sdnich]

1 hour ago, Fly and Sail said:

 

You could book for two (three) people and then the lead passenger suddenly gets Covid or misses his flight on day of departure. Stranger things have happened. 😉

I  just sent the form in and replaced my father in laws info for mine !There was also the place that asked if you were a blue chip member and I did answer no ? We usually do some gambling each cruise but I don't remember signing up but definitely on our Sept. cruise. We will see what happens ! 

[kathynorth]

50 minutes ago, sdnich said:

I  just sent the form in and replaced my father in laws info for mine !There was also the place that asked if you were a blue chip member and I did answer no ? We usually do some gambling each cruise but I don't remember signing up but definitely on our Sept. cruise. We will see what happens ! 

You can call the Blue Chip Club 866-461-7170, give them your Captain's Club # and they will tell you what your Blue Chip Club # is or will sign you up if you don't have a #. They will also let you know if you are eligible for any casino rates even if you didn't receive an offer. We called a bunch of months ago out of curiosity and found out my DH was eligible for 50% off any cruise, so we booked 2 very expensive cruises. We called a couple of months later to book another cruise and found out that offer had expired. I've called a couple of times to service our current reservations and then ask if my DH or I have any active offers. There were times when we had 10% off, then 20% off and we both received the current free veranda with no perks offer. It will be interesting to see if your request goes through via the form. Let us know how it works out!

[sdnich]

22 minutes ago, kathynorth said:

You can call the Blue Chip Club 866-461-7170, give them your Captain's Club # and they will tell you what your Blue Chip Club # is or will sign you up if you don't have a #. They will also let you know if you are eligible for any casino rates even if you didn't receive an offer. We called a bunch of months ago out of curiosity and found out my DH was eligible for 50% off any cruise, so we booked 2 very expensive cruises. We called a couple of months later to book another cruise and found out that offer had expired. I've called a couple of times to service our current reservations and then ask if my DH or I have any active offers. There were times when we had 10% off, then 20% off and we both received the current free veranda with no perks offer. It will be interesting to see if your request goes through via the form. Let us know how it works out!

Thanks for the info !!I called earlier and was on hold for 45 min and had to go somewhere but just called and again and will start the hold process over again !! I will post outcome !

Edited July 30, 2022 by sdnich

[phoenix_dream]

So am I the only one who paid good $$ for one of these cruises, never got the email even though I cruise regularly and gamble enough to be Onyx (which I know is not too high a level), and is more than a little unhappy that others are getting the same cruise for free?!??  Note, I am not mad at those taking advantage of the offer. I would as well.  Just seems very unfair to those who paid for the cruise.  If someone earned it by playing,  fine. But just randomly giving away free cabins? 

[JJean]

We got the email yesterday and called and were able to book for March for two people

and just pay the taxes and fees.  A great deal and I was very concerned but it showed

up right away on our celebrity account.  Never heard of this before.

 

[omeinv]

7 minutes ago, phoenix_dream said:

So am I the only one who paid good $$ for one of these cruises, never got the email even though I cruise regularly and gamble enough to be Onyx (which I know is not too high a level), and is more than a little unhappy that others are getting the same cruise for free?!??  Note, I am not mad at those taking advantage of the offer. I would as well.  Just seems very unfair to those who paid for the cruise.  If someone earned it by playing,  fine. But just randomly giving away free cabins? 

Rather than be sad, I would call and try to get either the week before or week after your currently booked cruise as a freebie. That way you get a back to back for the price of one. 
 

Harris

Denver, CO

[phoenix_dream]

Just now, omeinv said:

Rather than be sad, I would call and try to get either the week before or week after your currently booked cruise as a freebie. That way you get a back to back for the price of one. 
 

Harris

Denver, CO

I may try that. 

[luv2cruisemore]

I’ve been on hold for 1 hour and 55 minutes so far so be prepared to wait and listen to the same recording over and over and over and……

[sdnich]

13 minutes ago, luv2cruisemore said:

I’ve been on hold for 1 hour and 55 minutes so far so be prepared to wait and listen to the same recording over and over and over and……

I have been on hold 1 hour 52 min  :)))

I think I have recording memorized!

Edited July 30, 2022 by sdnich

[OceanDreaming2]

Interesting!  An email was sent to my email address, but it was for my husband.  He's never gambled on Celebrity, but I have played slots a few times.

 

I wish these dates would've worked out for us.  What a deal for those who can take advantage of it. 🤑

[Chase101]

I got the email & called this morning. I was on hold for 45 minutes & then my call failed. Started over again & it took 2 more hours to get through. The rep asked if I was calling about the Mexican Riviera & I said yes. He asked the dates I was looking at & then said it didn’t show I had an email sent to me with the offer! He sent me an email so I could forward the email from Blue Chip to him to prove that I did get it. All was good, but when I inquired about upgrading to Aqua, he said it would be another $3k! Uh, no thanks, I’ll just take the veranda cabin! Just happy to get a balcony for $278! 
Barbara