American Express Platinum revisited

[surfersgirl]

Most do apply in Australia.

 

https://www.iplatinum.americanexpress.com/prospect/australia/FrontServlet?request_type=BoardLuxuryLiner

 

However, Seabourn is not listed though Regent, Seadream, Silversea etc are.

Despite using amex plats own office in Sydney for the last 56 day cruise booking there is not a OBC for the aussie card for Seabourn. We use a different TA for cruises now.

 

Jean

[turtlemichael]

Despite using amex plats own office in Sydney for the last 56 day cruise booking there is not a OBC for the aussie card for Seabourn. We use a different TA for cruises now.

 

Jean

 

I understand it does not apply to Seabourn currently. However, it is worth keeping an eye on the list I linked to as it can change. Seabourn has been on in the past I recall. I still use Amex TA in Sydney for cruise bookings though their efficiency sometimes make me wonder why I do :rolleyes: Of course, Amex Plat OBC's are available through any TA here in theory provided they'll accept payment with the Amex card.

[surfersgirl]

Hi,

I will keep an eye on the link. I must dmit we only use the TA in Syd for airfares and occasional hotel bookings now. After they rang us to see if we wanted to take up a waitlist on a cruise that left a week after the Spirit when we had already fully paid for the Spirit a month prior was their demise as far as cruise bookings went. We have been able to pay for our cruise with Amex Plat for a few years now but have never managed to get any OBC. It looks as if we will have to buy some Carnival shares to make sure we do. Thanks for all the info.

Jean

[jam52]

Miss Pinkie

Sorry for the confusion but "partnered AmEx Platinum cards" was the term Seabourn Reservations used in denying my onboard credit and Delta in denying me access to the Crown Room. In my case, it was a Delta SkyMiles AmEx Platinum card. My TA has had similar responses to Costco AmEx Platinum cards as well.

 

I need to find out what the annual fees are for an AmEx Platinum card and weigh that with the value of shipboard credits, complimentary airport lounge access, etc. and maybe get one (in addition to my Delta SkyMiles AmEx Platinum card).

I think the platinum AMEX card is $450 for the first card and $150 for up to three additional cards. I hoped the international airline program would prove to be a value but it isn't. It provides one free business or first class ticket with the purchase of one unrestricted business class or first class fare. The problem is you can usually find a business class or first class fare for much less than half the price of the one unrestricted fare. The platinum card but not companion platinum amex cards like Delta Platinum amex do not have any of these benefits. The platinum card will get you in Delta, Nortwest, continental, and American clubs and probably also their code share partners. They will not get you in a USair or United club. With the platinum card you must be traveling that day on one of the eligible airlines unlike purchasing the club cards which will admit you without a boarding pass.

[JennAngel9]

First, for those considering getting an Amex Platinum Charge Card (the partnered cards are credit cards) for cruise purposes-- be aware that we were recently denied the AmEx perks. Our TA told us that she argued with the cruise line (a sister line to seabourn) and AmEx but they basically said our far was so low they wouldn't honor the credit. It was a great deal-- but it did not include any other types of OBC. Anyway, I hope this is an abberation and not a sign of things to come-- but with so many cruises discounting heavily, I wouldn't be surprised if it becomes more difficult to combine the credit with sales promotions.

 

Secondly, am I correct in understanding that (so long as the cruise line isn't refusing to accept amex plat privileges at all) we can book with our Starwood Amex and still get our platinum privileges, so long as we have the platinum card?

[PeaSea8ch]

jam52 and JennAngel9 — thank you both for posting this information.

 

JennAngel9 — generally speaking, low fares are not the norm on Seabourn. ;) However, to answer your question, any platinum AmEx card partnered or linked to an airline, hotel or cash-back rewards are not eligible for the shipboard credit. In addition, you must pay for the cruise with your eligible, and not lnked to other travel service providers, Platinum AmEx card to get the $300 shipboard credit.

 

I need to check with my TA to find out if the total amount of the cruise has to be paid or if they allow the deposit (or a maximum percentage of the total cruise fare) to paid from another card. Right now, I am on the fence about getting the Platinum card. I may have to wait until 2010 to decide as my deposit for my next cruise this October was about half the cruise fare and was paid with an ineligible platinum AmEx card.

[JennAngel9]

Paul, we have in the past been told that the deposit can be made on any card so long as the final payment is made with the AmEx plat... so you should be able to wait until next year to get the card.

 

My understanding was the same as yours until someone noted (I believe it was host dan) that it was possible to receive the platinum charge card perks while booking with a different AmEx card-- which would have been lovely, since the membership rewards points on the plat card are pretty terrible compared with other rewards programs.

 

As far as "low fares" go, we still paid over $2k per person, but we were specifically told that AmEx denied the OBC because it was so far below the "retail" price of the cruise-- we'd never had a problem with this before, even when booking cheaper (shorter) cruises on other lines-- so I think the determination (assuming this wasn't a total fluke) is made on the relative price of the cruise rather than the total price.

[WesW]

Host Dan can chime in, but as I understand AMX-P program, and just verifed in early Jan for the SS Spirit TA in Jan 2010, you must deposit with AMX-P and then pay the balance

with any AMX card as long as u own the AMX-P card...r/wes

[Missabby]

Carnival shareholder credit (minimum 100 shares):

 

Onboard credit per stateroom on sailings of 14 days or longer: US $250.

Onboard credit per stateroom on sailings of 7 to 13 days+: US $100.

Onboard credit per stateroom on sailings of 6 days or less: US $ 50.

 

Website: http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=140690&p=irol-sharebenefit

 

Send your letter and proof of shares to:

 

The Yachts of Seabourn

Guest Services

6100 Blue Lagoon Drive

Suite 400

Miami, FL 33126

Tel 800-929-9391

Fax 305-463-3055

[cruisr]

Host Dan can chime in, but as I understand AMX-P program, and just verifed in early Jan for the SS Spirit TA in Jan 2010, you must deposit with AMX-P and then pay the balance

with any AMX card as long as u own the AMX-P card...r/wes

 

YES.both the deposit AND the final payment must be paid for with the Amex. PLatinum or Centurion. Centurion (the Black Card) is invitation only and gets you $500. in OBC. If you pay with another card and then get an Amex PLatinum or Centurion you can have the original deposit refunded to the original credit card (as long as not in penalty) and put the deposit on the Amex. PLatinum.

 

I was going to use my Amex PLatinum for HAL but was told it was ONLY available for OBC for suites and above.

[Host Dan]

YES.both the deposit AND the final payment must be paid for with the Amex. PLatinum or Centurion. Centurion (the Black Card) is invitation only and gets you $500. in OBC. If you pay with another card and then get an Amex PLatinum or Centurion you can have the original deposit refunded to the original credit card (as long as not in penalty) and put the deposit on the Amex. PLatinum.

 

I was going to use my Amex PLatinum for HAL but was told it was ONLY available for OBC for suites and above.

This is taken from the Amex site:

The 2008 Cruise Privileges program (CPP) is only valid on voyages of 6 days or longer, and may not be combinable with group promotions depending on the cruise line. CPP may not be combined with other American Express® Card offers, including American Express Mariner Club. Blackout dates, category and fare restrictions may apply. CPP is a special benefit for U.S. Platinum Card® members. Certain Platinum Cards are not eligible for certain benefits and services. The $300 ($150 per person, double occupancy) shipboard credit cannot be used in the casino or for payment of gratuities, is non-transferable, cannot be redeemed for cash or credit and cannot be combined with other shipboard credit offers. Benefits are one per stateroom. One of the travelers must be a U.S. Platinum Card member and there is a three-stateroom limit per Card member, per sailing. Payment must be made with an American Express Card in the Platinum Card member's name. Book through Platinum Travel Service (PTS) or refer your U.S. travel agency to PTS. Bookings made directly with the cruise lines are not eligible for CPP benefits. To receive CPP benefits, travel agencies are responsible for following CPP bookings guidelines provided by Agency Services Desk (ASD): 800-443-7672, prompt 5. Program valid for sailings completed by 12/31/10. Partners and benefits are subject to change without notice. Ships' registries: Crystal Cruises: Bahamas; Cunard Line: Great Britain; Holland America Line: Netherlands & Bahamas; Princess Cruises: Bermuda; Regent Seven Seas Cruises: Bahamas, Bermuda; Seabourn Cruise Line: Bahamas; Silversea Cruises: Bahamas; Windstar Cruises: Bahamas. The partner and benefits described herein are accurate at time of printing and are subject to change or cancellation without notice. American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. acts solely as sales agent for travel suppliers and is not liable for the acts or inactions of such suppliers. CST# 1022318-10; ML# 1192; Washington UBI# 600-469-694; TA# 002 - Registered Iowa Travel Agency; NV# 2001-0126. ©2008 American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. All rights reserved.

 

Host Dan

[WesW]

Host Dan, as usual, spot-on, thanks..r/wes

[MarciAnn]

The deposit must be on the Platinum card. I just had this experience and my TA wound up crediting my deposit back to the original card and then put it on the Platinum card. By the way there are a few other perks. If you use the Platinum card through the program you also get a once a year $150 credit to your credit card for an eligible vacation (which if I recall had to exceed $4000). At times Platinum also gives bonus rewards points. I believe we got 25,000 last time we cruised Seabourn.

[Host Dan]

Strange, I had no problem with deposit, and paying balance with another AMEX card, but had to reference the platinum. Maybe things have changed in the last month??

 

Host Dan

[Pam]

Not on Seabourn (I'm reading here as a potential sailer)

 

But, we got in on a 60% off discount on Regent, and still got the Amex OBC. We were warned that we might not get it, but it did go through.

 

Dan, our experience has been that as long as you possess an Amex Plat charge card, it doesn't matter which Amex you pay with.

[Host Dan]

Not on Seabourn (I'm reading here as a potential sailer)

 

But, we got in on a 60% off discount on Regent, and still got the Amex OBC. We were warned that we might not get it, but it did go through.

 

Dan, our experience has been that as long as you possess an Amex Plat charge card, it doesn't matter which Amex you pay with.

This has always been my experience as well! Thanks for cofirming what I knew!

 

Host Dan

[Constance331]

Has anyone received the Amex Plat OBC when the booking is directly with SB?

[Pam]

I am neither expert or travel agent, but I don't see how you could get the Amex credit without using a travel agent. There are several "hoops" that agents have to jump through, in order to get the credit for their clients. Amex would like for everybody to think that only their in-house agents can give the credits.

[RVSkald]

In the past, Carnival denied our requests for the on board shareholder credit because they would not allow us to combine that with our AMEX Platinum $300 credit. Has this changed for 2009?