Paulras

First, are you sure it's from Blue Chip or actually from a 3rd party casino host/travel agent? Blue Chip has been notorious (my opinion) about checking to see if you actually got an offer from them on a specific cruise rather than any cruise. And I've found that by the time you actually get the postcard, their comp cruises specified in the offer are already sold out. 

Now if it's a 3rd party casino host that looks at your play and gets you comp cruises from the Cruiselines. If so, they would probably be able to get something for you. You'd know if it's from a 3rd party if their contact name/number to call is the agent, not actually Blue Chip. 

If you're Amethyst or above in BlueChip based on past play, they should be able to take a certain dollar amount off of your cruise reservation for any cruise. But that dollar amount is based on how much you played on your last Celebrity cruise. You'll also get a rebate of free play on your next cruise. Again, only if Amethyst or above. 

Probably best to get them dry cleaned instead. 

About 5 years ago, they offered an extra 25 points if you booked an AQ cabin during a certain time period. But we were both credited when we had. 

Other thing I can think of is if one of you booked air through Celebrity but the other didn't and it was during a promo for bonus points if you booked flights with them. 

Looks like they needed to be on a pay line rather than scattered. Did you take a picture of the rules too? 

Edited after looking again. It does say scatter at the top right. The only thing I could think is maybe you needed to bet max to be eligible? Either way, if I'm reading correctly, you should have gotten paid 5 cents. Is the hassle worth a nickel? 

7 hours ago, fragilek said:

please tell me the pools are all drained and scrubbed to within an inch of their lifes after this- I go on very soon after the last of these. I can't go in the pools due to treatment for leukemia but my family will.  In fact someone just tell me everything is scrubbed raw please!

I'd be more concerned about germs from kids in the pools. I've seen the pool closed for cleaning many times because of an "accident" from a small child. These cruises are adults only and honestly, whether you're naked or naked under a swimsuit, your germs are floating around. 

On 3/20/2019 at 11:26 PM, fstuff1 said:

 

do i have to book the cruise through Blue chip to get the $100/day discount?

or can i book through a travel agent with some better perks?

 

I book through an agency and get the extra perks, then call up Blue Chip within 6 months of sailing and they apply the discount behind the scenes. Have done that for the past 3 cruises but I've read some people are told the travel agent must call Blue Chip which becomes mass confusion. Maybe that's changed recently. 

Does your guest also get to participate in any Ultra prize giveaways? 

17 minutes ago, fstuff1 said:

 

wow.. you made 3x more points than me per cruise but only got double the discount? 😞

the scaling sucks.

 

and ugg about 300 points short.

thats the problem i have with Blue Chip: if im playing tables, i have no idea what my tier points are.

 

luckily you are already sapphire.

i would have been pissed off  if im Amethyst and left the ship 300 points short.

thats because i wont get the Sapphire benefits till the cruise AFTER i make Sapphire.

 

That's another annoying thing. You can reach the next tier on day 1 and you don't get any of its benefits until the next time you cruise. And if that's not until after a certain 18 month period, you lose it

I still find there's confusion whenever I call BlueChip but $100/day is good. I'm Sapphire and only got $190/day off of our upcoming 7 day Bermuda cruise. That's after earning 99,700 points on Silhouette at Christmas. Yes, they really left me needing 300 more points to maintain Sapphire! Like seriously?? A land casino host would have just added the small amount of points to get me to 100k. I'll probably earn that in 10 minutes this summer. 

I try to do the math. If they sell only 1000 internet packages (1 package for every 3 people) on a 1 week cruise times the approx $200 per package, that's $200k per week, per ship. Over $10 million per year. How much did it cost to install? A couple million? How much to keep it up and running? Another couple million a year? They keep the rest. Huge profit on each ship and yet the speed is like something from 15 years ago.

Bottom line is that it's too good for their bottom line to make it free. 

Oh, and the crew pay for the usage too. Though it's a tiny fraction (like pennies per minute) of what we pay but still more revenue for Celebrity. 

Eww. I never use the glasses. I've seen what some people use them for and I've seen hotel maids just rinse them in the sink. I don't even like them in sight

Only been in MC on S class ships but going on Constellation in December (for the first time in about 13 years). What makes it better on M class versus S? 

We've made a 9:45 flight and two 10:10 flights in Ft Lauderdale without a problem and walked off a little after 8 (always shoot to be off by 8 but that never happens). And we don't do self debarkation. We just make sure we ask for the lowest number possible for luggage. That being said, Ft Lauderdale is much more organized than Miami and the airport is closer. But I think you're fine (assuming no mobility issues) as long as you do the self debarkation as soon as they allow you to walk off.  There are always stories of unusual debarkations where they were delayed 2 or 3 hours, but then even if you had an 11:30am flight, you'd have issues. So I wouldn't worry about a 10:30 flight as long as you walk your own luggage off as soon as you can. Enjoy! 

Kelly Hoppen just published a new book "Open Shelving and the Downfall of All Cruiselines in the 21st Century". Check it out on Amazon

Wonder what Virgin's first report will look like next year. Not only a new ship but a new cruise line. 

In June on Reflection, 3 of us had 3 different menus showing for the same day. We all had Android phones and all had the same version of the app. That happened a few times that cruise. 

I got an email from Shoreside Concierge in June 2 weeks before hand while in a Sky Suite. Wasn't Sapphire in the casino until after that cruise. So may be inconsistent. 

16 minutes ago, Gordoncruickshank said:

You would have had Cranston in Michael’s. He would do what he could to look after all guests. We had him a few years ago and met him the next cruise. My wife asked him for Bacardi. He left Michael’s and returned with a bottle of Lemon Bacardi which was what she had on the previous cruise.

Cranston was great at Christmas. Loved his singing! Always had champagne chilled for us before dinner and 20-year port for us after dinner

And that's why I stopped playing after the first time. Around $150 wasted between the 2 of us. 

Only time Bingo ever paid off for us is on NCL where they would give away an upgrade for the rest of the cruise in what ever suite they had unsold. We won and the only suite they had was the Garden Villa, 4700 sq ft with 3 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, 2 levels, private full hot tub and steam room, indoor and outdoor dining rooms, player piano, huge living room, foyer, hammock and 2 sun decks. Only two of us. Was ridiculously huge. We'd spend 5 minutes just trying to find each other!

When someone posts this same question, which seems like every week (and almost always from the UK), can we just say "No, you can't do that" and hope no one else admits we're lying?? 

53 minutes ago, bogofman said:

This was my thought put 5 on red and 5 on black, use two match plays, walk away 10 up

Or am I missing something?

Not sure if they let you use 2 match plays at the same time. But that's an interesting theory if they do. You'd meet the minimum and only ever lose if zeros come out. 

Though now I forget if they pay you $5 for the match win and convert the match bet to $5. I know land casinos I've been to only pay you the winning but they don't convert the coupon to cash, they just take it.  So if I bet $10 plus a $5 coupon, I get paid $15 for the win and I keep my $10 bet but the coupon gets taken. So I only end up with $25, not $30.

1 hour ago, bogofman said:

i've never used ours yet, unsure how,

i assumed if i put $5 on they match with $5 to make it the $10 bet is that not the case?

 

 

Technically no. You get paid as if you have $10 but it's really a $5 bet and $5 match. For example, if you want to split your hand, you can do it by putting up only $5 and the match stays on your first hand. Or you can actually split with $10 of your own money and now make each hand $10 (but the match is on the first hand with your $5). 

For the record, I cringe when someone walks up to the table I'm playing at and wants to only use their match play coupons. They usually have no idea how to play, hold up the game (arguing over $5) and screw up the cards just to play a couple hands and leave. Very frustrating and usually makes those of us with real bets lose. 

3 hours ago, compman9 said:

 

this is pretty much what the put boss said, but this was not a land based casino, this was a celebrity ship's casino and a celebrity offer

 

an offer they have adhered to on every celebrity cruise i have been on until this one

 

Were you at a $5 minimum table in the past? 

3 hours ago, NantahalaCruiser said:

Not sure, but the OP's problem might have been having to bet a minimum of $10 with only a $5 "match" play - not really a match!

Yes, you'd match $5 of your bet (not your entire bet} but your bet still has to be at least the table minimum. 

2 hours ago, Orator said:

The Persian Gardens on S Class ships are one of least relaxing places on the ship. The door is always slamming when people enter or leave and sometimes the talking is at a very loud level. 

 

Thank you! I always say the same thing. Never understood the fascination with the Persian Garden. I either get bored or frustrated by that door and rude people talking. Been in AQ many times but have only used the PG maybe 3 times and left within 15 minutes.