Platinum Card (Amex) Benefit

[its_my_dime]

NOTE: This is NOT a commercial for or an endorsement of American Express.

 

Potential cruisers should note that, if you have an American Express Platinum Card (cost $395/year) and use it to pay for your booking (following all of the posted rules), Seabourn will give you a $300 PER BOOKING PER CABIN (NOT per person) credit on your shipboard account. Note that a "back-to-back" two week trip is considered a single booking.

 

The credit, plus the miles points for the flight and cruise cost, means that, if you qualify for and receive your Platinum card before making your Seabourn reservation, the first year cost of the card is substantially paid for.

[LaPaloma]

You are correct--I use PTS most of the time unless I have a $500 guest coupon which is not combinable. You may even get a couple nice suprises in your suite from PTS.

[yojimbo]

Does anyone know if using the AMEX Centurion card (the black one) qualifies for the $300 credit.

 

(I don't have the Centurion card, but I have a friend who does)

[LaPaloma]

I'm not sure--I do know in some cases you must use Platinum Travel Service (PTS) to get the credit. I think the only sure way to get the credit is use the Platinum Card and book thru PTS. They also offer at certain times 10,000 to 25,000 travel points for a booking. The points are worth a few bucks!

[wripro]

you can get the credit using any travel agent (maybe any agent registered with amex) as long as you deposit and pay with your amex platinum card. as for centurion card holders the credit goes up to $500.

[cruiseyguy]

There is a small amount of paperwork for a TA to do in order to secure this benefit for the client. Unfortunately, Seabourn's reservationists will not do it nor will certain high-volume agencies. Be sure to specifically ask your TA to do it before giving them your booking;if they refuse (or say they can't) consider finding another TA.

[LaPaloma]

The cruise before last I tried using an American Express authorized agency--I was assured that I would get all that PTS offered--It turned out they couldn't come close--offered $150 per cabin credit--I cancelled and rebooked thru PTS--If you got full credit from and outside agency you had a lot better luck than I did. I wonder if the agent may have given up some fee to make up the credit?

[wripro]

la Paloma,

 

i think you may have just used the wrong TA. i have always received the full $300 credit plus all the other amenities and have never booked thru PTS. and the credit came directly from amex, not the TA. certain agents are just willing to do the extra work it takes. i would insist on it if i were you when you book your next cruise.

[DrSHF]

Centurian Card owners get $500 shipboard credit!

[its_my_dime]

Centurian Card owners get $500 shipboard credit!

 

Yes, but the Centurian card costs (I believe), $2,500/year.

[Host Dan]

Also note, over and above the $300 or $500 SBC, you get a once a year $150 travel credit on your card (if you use an Amex TA, like PTS or Golden Bear, or any affiliated Amex TA) Make sure you remind your agent!

CruiserDan

[BostonBrahmin]

My AMEX PTS booked cruises give me $150 SBC. My travel advisor says it is $300 SBC for Double Occupancy.

 

Since I travel along I only get $150.

 

Has anyone booked as a single and received the full $300????

 

Don

[cruiseyguy]

The amount for singles varies by cruiseline. RSSC, for example, gives $225 to singles. Most, however, give $150. Many cruiselines also give onboard credits to shareholders in the parent company. Celebrity gives $250 per cabin for a 14 day cruise to holders of 100 shares of RCL stock. I believe Carnival has a similar program and Seabourn is part of the Carnival group.

[BostonBrahmin]

Really?

 

I think I should buy some stock

 

Don

[cruiseyguy]

Better hurry. RCL is phasing out their benefit. Don't know if Carnival will follow suit.

[bldsld]

Really?

 

I think I should buy some stock

 

Don

 

Cheaper to buy a Platinum card, and the benefit is higher!!!

 

;-)

 

Denyse

[cruisr]

Hi,

Unfortunatly, Carnival Corp. stopped the shipboard credit for stock holders quite a while ago. It use to be that when you received your annual report their were clip out coupons in the back. If you did not have the AR you could call Carnival Corp and they requested a proof of stock ownership.

 

Those were the good old days. I remember in 1999 I went on the Newport Jazz festival cruise on the QE2. It was a ridiculous price and I received $300. per cabin for Amex, $200. per cabin for being a multi time repeaters (that was when past pax rec'd s/c) and $100 per cabin for both of us being shareholders. From a business standpoint it certainly wasn't profitable when the total cabin fare was less then 2K. (I had booked the Jazz Festival onboard a previous cruise so I received the extra 5% also).

 

I agree, the Amex Platinum is wonderful for its benefits.

Bon voyage

[cruiseyguy]

cruisr-According to several posters on the Celebrity board, the Carnival credit is still available.

[mcboo]

Cruiseguy,

Celeb. is not owned by Carnival Corp. It is part of RCI.

I think they may be mistaken.

mcboo

[venicecruiser]

RCI is phasing out the stockholder credit. To receive it, shareholders of record on 4/15/05 must book their future cruise(s) prior to May 1, 2006. I believe those are the dates I saw........

 

Claudia

[cruiseyguy]

Mcboo-Yes, Celebrity is owned by RCL. But the posters were speaking of Carnival's program vz. RCL's.

[adolfo2]

The Carnival Credit is still available. No coupons in the Annual Report but the credit is mentioned in the first few pages!

[mcboo]

You are so correct. I just took a look at the Carnival Annual Report for 2004 and it is still applicable for shareholders of at least 100 shares.

Glad to learn something new.

Thanks to all.

mcboo:):):)

[yojimbo]

the annual report mentions that the credit is not available to those sailing on a "reduced rate basis."

 

Does anyone know what this means? I can't imagine that the vast majority of us who pay less than brochure prices are not eligible for this credit.

[Margate Cruiser]

The 300.00 ship board credit is really given by seabourn threw am. They use am as advertising. But the money is from seabourn.