MGM Resorts MLife Platinum / RC cruise TR

[sandystx]

Hi. I just completed 8 day Navigator cruise. I booked this cruise using the MGM MLife / RC partnership offer. When I was researching before booking I could not find a ton of information or details on this perk so I thought I would share a few things.

 

I am a Platinum MLife member.

 

I did all my usual research prior to booking and found the ship, itinerary, room and date that I wanted. I did a mock booking online to get the current price for comparison. This was during a 30% off promotion.

 

To book the cruise I called the dedicated RC MLife phone number. I gave the agent all the details including my MLife number. She was able to immediately see information on my account and told me I was eligible for either a free 5 night cruise or $750 off any cruise. This perk ranges from a free 3 day to a free 5 day or a discount of either $375 or $750. It is available to all MLife Platinum members and varies depending on your play history, and how you acquired the Platinum status. I obtained my status through gaming and MGM Resorts properties (as opposed to a partner match w/Hyatt) and I think that is why I was eligible for the highest amount.

 

I chose the $750 discount off the 8 day cruise which was applied directly to the current 30% promo discounted price. So it was $750 off the current best price – not $750 off rack rate. This resulted in an amazing price :-) She also reviewed some of the additional perks I would receive once onboard including 10 FREE drinks, FREE Specialty Dinner for 2, FREE 30 minutes internet, waived cash advance fee and FREE Entertainment tour.

 

Once onboard I expected to have additional information waiting in my cabin – this was not the case. So once we set sail I phoned the Casino Host. As soon as I gave her my name she immediately knew of my status, etc, apologized for not having contacted me and asked for me to meet her in the Casino which I did.

 

She added the MLife sticker to my Seacard; she gave me 15 drink coupons; she gave me a code to enter for 30 minutes of internet (had to be used in one sitting); she asked me which restaurant and which night I would like to Specialty dine which she booked for me; and she gave me the available time options for a backstage tour, which I declined.

 

It was all extremely easy. I used all the drink coupons during the week and just tipped a couple dollars each time. The only issue was they could only be used in the Casino bar but this turned out not to be a problem at all as it was always easy to just pass through on the way to somewhere.

 

We dined in Giovani’s which was fantastic and turned out even better than I thought. When we arrived and were seated, I thought it might be awkward to mention but wanted to make sure the cover charge was in fact covered. The Server sent the manager over who said not only was the cover charge taken care of but all my drinks during dinner were also complimentary. (I had 2 glassed of nice champagne).

 

On day 2 we arrived back to our cabin to find a plate of desserts, 2 soda cups and a nice note from the Casino host.

 

This trip was with my son (a preteen) so I did not spend any real time in the Casino. There was no expectation of certain level of play in order to receive the comps.

 

Happy to provide any other info if you have any questions. It is a nice perk to use.

Thanks. Happy Sailing!

[Clarea]

Thanks for the info. That $750 off a cruise is a nice perk. Is that a one time shot, or something like once a year?

Edited March 17, 2016 by clarea

[sandystx]

The offer is good once a year but as long as you maintain your MLife status you can use the perk year after year. yah, that $750 was nice for sure. While the drinks and stuff are nice, I like the hits straight off the bottom line.

[Clarea]

The offer is good once a year but as long as you maintain your MLife status you can use the perk year after year. yah, that $750 was nice for sure. While the drinks and stuff are nice, I like the hits straight off the bottom line.

Thanks, not a bad perk. You've got to maintain some significant level of play to maintain Platinum, right?

[Cruise Raider]

Thank you for the info! We only have our Gold Status through M-life, also earned through play during our stays down in Las Vegas. We were able to add this to our reservation on our last Celebrity cruise and hopefully have it added to our upcoming Celebrity cruise as well as our upcoming RCCL cruise.

Celebrity was able to provide the discount to our cruise immediately even though it was for a cruise in 2017. When I called Royal Caribbean, they stated it was only good through cruises for April 2016 and I should call back. I called back and I only got a quarterly offer and nothing for fall of 2016. She stated some people got an annual offer but I was not one of them. This might be related to my M-life status being lower than platinum (we are gold) but then again, it didn't seem to make any difference with Celebrity.

No matter -- I still got a decent price on my RCCL cruise.

 

I was able to add my number to my last Celebrity cruise and also got the free specialty dinner and they threw in the corkage fee as well. We were also able to withdraw money in the casino without the 5% fee. We had a lot of onboard credit and used all of it in the casino so they definitely got it back. We were sent a bottle of wine and chocolate covered strawberries to our room....more than once, it seemed. We also got a stack of drink coupons for the casino....maybe something else but cannot think of it.

 

It was such a great treat ... hope I get the same on my upcoming cruises with Celebrity, but especially with Royal Caribbean, as we have the beverage package with Celebrity already. The specialty dinner is really the big plus on both of these lines.

Plus, the play from the onboard casinos does add to our credits on our Mlife card....something like that.

[sandystx]

Thanks, not a bad perk. You've got to maintain some significant level of play to maintain Platinum, right?

 

I guess its a subjective opinion on what is significant or not - but for me i travel the LV about once a month so between a bit of play and the other property spends I accrue I have maintained platinum for a few years now. When they rolled out the RC perk - that was a nice surprise for sure. I hope to use it every year!

[rvazquez45]

To book the cruise I called the dedicated RC MLife phone number. I gave the agent all the details including my MLife number. She was able to immediately see information on my account and told me I was eligible for either a free 5 night cruise or $750 off any cruise. This perk ranges from a free 3 day to a free 5 day or a discount of either $375 or $750. It is available to all MLife Platinum members and varies depending on your play history, and how you acquired the Platinum status. I obtained my status through gaming and MGM Resorts properties (as opposed to a partner match w/Hyatt) and I think that is why I was eligible for the highest amount.

 

Hi.* I am also a MLife Platinum Member and just booked a 7-day cruise in the Allure of the Seas in November.* They offered me the $375 discount.* Did you get the $750 because you booked a 8-day cruise?** Just wondering.

[TrojanUSC]

One thing to keep in mind with the MLife stuff is you can't double dip. Meaning, the benefits you can get via Royal often surpass what you get via MLife. However, the minute you add your MLife number in, Royal no longer cares about your play.

[rvazquez45]

One thing to keep in mind with the MLife stuff is you can't double dip. Meaning, the benefits you can get via Royal often surpass what you get via MLife. However, the minute you add your MLife number in, Royal no longer cares about your play.

 

I understand, however, I get to enjoy some VIP benefits while accumulating Cruise Points and getting closer to the next Tier Level at a cheaper cruise price. :)

[sandystx]

Hi.* I am also a MLife Platinum Member and just booked a 7-day cruise in the Allure of the Seas in November.* They offered me the $375 discount.* Did you get the $750 because you booked a 8-day cruise?** Just wondering.

 

Hi. I am not really sure if it had to do with the length of the cruise or not. I think it might be related to the "level" of platinum actually - meaning I am true platinum because I earned it through actual spend in gambling in the properties and not through a partner match or other dollars spent. But I am only guessing that is part of the logic. But if you happen to figure it out I would be interested in hearing!

 

enjoy your cruise.

[sandystx]

One thing to keep in mind with the MLife stuff is you can't double dip. Meaning, the benefits you can get via Royal often surpass what you get via MLife. However, the minute you add your MLife number in, Royal no longer cares about your play.

 

yes understood. but for me the perks of Mlife are better for me. And the straight cash discount off the bottom line of the cruise, plus the added real time perks at sailing, that is a better benefit for me that play rating on the ship. I want all my play rating in the mgm properties so this is a great perk for a platinum mlife.

[gottogocruisin]

Now I need help with my Gold status with M Life. We were able to get some perks on our last cruise and when I read that you should let RCL know to put it on your reservation I became excited!!! Then I looked at our Gold M Life cards and it says Sep 2016 and our next cruise is in 2017. Does that mean that I no longer will be eligible for any Gold benefits on RCI? It was probably last September that we got our Gold cards. Any info at this point will help. Love CC.

[Cruise Raider]

Now I need help with my Gold status with M Life. We were able to get some perks on our last cruise and when I read that you should let RCL know to put it on your reservation I became excited!!! Then I looked at our Gold M Life cards and it says Sep 2016 and our next cruise is in 2017. Does that mean that I no longer will be eligible for any Gold benefits on RCI? It was probably last September that we got our Gold cards. Any info at this point will help. Love CC.

 

Your status with M-life is determined by your play from Oct - Sept of every year so it does expire at the end of Sept unless you've gambled a lot throughout that previous year.

The pricing for the cruise will depend on your status when you book the cruise. Your onboard perks, however, will be determined by the status you're at when you cruise. That is my understanding of it.

It's just too bad that Celebrity had allowed us to book a 2017 cruise back about a year ago at a reduced price but Royal would not. Like I said, we got a fabulous price on our Royal cruise about a year ago. It couldn't be matched or beaten ... glad our next Royal cruise is before our gold status expires, too. It is so hard to tell what they are going to set us at in October with M-Life. There is probably a way to figure it out ... but it does take a significant amount of play to get to platinum status ..... and even more to maintain it. I will just be happy to maintain gold.

[gottogocruisin]

Thanks Cruise Raider. We have not been back to Vegas this year as we have cruised instead. Guess I won't get the perks I did on our last cruise. We don't sail again until Sept 2017.

[rvazquez45]

Hi.* I am also a MLife Platinum Member and just booked a 7-day cruise in the Allure of the Seas in November.* They offered me the $375 discount.* Did you get the $750 because you booked a 8-day cruise?** Just wondering.

 

Hi. I am not really sure if it had to do with the length of the cruise or not. I think it might be related to the "level" of platinum actually - meaning I am true platinum because I earned it through actual spend in gambling in the properties and not through a partner match or other dollars spent. But I am only guessing that is part of the logic. But if you happen to figure it out I would be interested in hearing!QUOTE]

 

Thanks. I also earned my Platinum Level from gambling in Las Vegas MLife properties. I'll let you know if I figure out the true reason. ;)

[Cruise Raider]

Thanks Cruise Raider. We have not been back to Vegas this year as we have cruised instead. Guess I won't get the perks I did on our last cruise. We don't sail again until Sept 2017.

 

Oh....it doesn't hurt to try but you probably are right ... those perks will most likely be expired unless there is a reason M-life renews your gold status.

[PhillyRomantic]

I booked a cruise on RCL using M-Life. We are Noir. I booked a five day from Cape Liberty, NJ to Bermuda. The total cost of the cruise (with travel insurance and gratuties) for a oceanview balcony for two was $622.00. The cruise fare was complimentary. We are looking forward to the trip!