Just got an e-mail from Blue Chip.....free cruise ??

[zdad59]

I'm only a 1st level (Pearl) part of Blue Chip but I just got an email offering a 5 night or 4 night cruise on Summit, with dates from August to December to choose from.   It's a Veranda room offer too!      DO you think they are having trouble booking rooms?    I'm really kind of surprised.    We're going to put in for a 5 nighter in November and see.

 

This is the second offer in 6 months from Blue Chip.   The other got us 7 nights in a Sky Suite on Apex in April 2022.  Had to pay for that upgrade but less than a Veranda room.

 

I'll gladly take the good fortune but I am wondering hat's up.

Edited June 9, 2021 by zdad59

[kathynorth]

Wow, lucky you! We've never gotten an offer like this. Guess we need to keep our fingers crossed.

[Cdresser]

Must be luck of the draw. I am a pearl member but all I've received recently were 2 offers for 10% off a verandah - which isn't a savings because as far as I could tell it doesn't include "always included" benefits.

[highway180]

 Discounted BC cruises, now come with AI

[booklady26]

5 hours ago, highway180 said:

 Discounted BC cruises, now come with AI

I just got off the phone with BC and they told me that AI was not included. 

[booklady26]

38 minutes ago, booklady26 said:

I just got off the phone with BC and they told me that AI was not included. 

Just to clarify, this is for the Free Verandah offer the the OP was talking about. My husband got the same offer. 

[NutsAboutGolf]

BCC has a partnership with MLife/MGM so if you play enough at MLife last quarter you'll receive BCC offers quarterly.  This is in addition to the annual free cruise entitlement for Plat (up to 5 nights in an Oceanview) and Noir (up to 7 night in a balcony).

 

AI is NOT part of the package but they will offer the drink package at 50% off.

 

If anyone receives an 3-5 night BCC offer it can't hurt to call them with a few 7+ night sailings you have in mind to see if you can get a comped cruise.

Edited June 10, 2021 by NutsAboutGolf

[poffles]

1 hour ago, booklady26 said:

I just got off the phone with BC and they told me that AI was not included. 

 

A free fully comped cruise is not treated the same as discounted cruise.  I also got a comped room offer (recently) and they also confirmed the offer is room only and all other fees are extra cost ... taxes, gratuities, all AI stuff that would be assumed in a normal booking now.  I believe a discounted cruise (ie BC gives you 10% off or something) you get the AI just like any other booking.

 

Never heard of 50% off beverage package being an option ... interesting.

Edited June 10, 2021 by poffles

[poffles]

15 hours ago, Cdresser said:

Must be luck of the draw. I am a pearl member but all I've received recently were 2 offers for 10% off a verandah - which isn't a savings because as far as I could tell it doesn't include "always included" benefits.

 

So the 10% off offer would seem to the one that would/should include AI but the 10% may still not make the cost enticing.

[Projunior]

I am BCC Amethyst (and MLife Gold). I have never, ever received an unsolicited offer from BCC. When I book a Celebrity cruise, I call BCC to see what fare they are offering. But, again, I have never once received a promotional offer from them either by email or snail mail. When I ask BCC about this, I get a figurative shoulder shrug over the phone.

[poffles]

20 minutes ago, Projunior said:

I am BCC Amethyst (and MLife Gold). I have never, ever received an unsolicited offer from BCC. When I book a Celebrity cruise, I call BCC to see what fare they are offering. But, again, I have never once received a promotional offer from them either by email or snail mail. When I ask BCC about this, I get a figurative shoulder shrug over the phone.

 

The 'program' is such a hit/miss.  I am Amethyst too and have received several comped verandah offers recently ... Apex/Greece, Millenium/St. Maarten, Summit/Can't Recall ... and a friend of mine who is Amethyst whom I sail with received only one of the offers and it is a head scratcher.  That said, I agree that they have the information in their system which clearly doesn't get communicated to BCC members for whatever reason.  My offers have been arriving in email.

 

It all makes me sad right now since the tiers are set to roll over this December and knowing I will be knocked back to nothing and having had no opportunity to take them up on recent offers is gut wrenching.  I hold hope that offers will still arrive to me next year.

Edited June 10, 2021 by poffles

[NutsAboutGolf]

Technically, status's do not matter.  If you're the top BCC status, take a comped cruise and don't visit the casino you most likely won't get another cruise Non-MLife offer until you play on another sailing.   Non-MLife BCC offers have been going out during the pandemic.  A lot of people who receive BCC offer do not realize its based on last quarters MLife play and not their BCC status.

[poffles]

9 minutes ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

Technically, status's do not matter.  If you're the top BCC status, take a comped cruise and don't visit the casino you most likely won't get another cruise Non-MLife offer until you play on another sailing.   Non-MLife BCC offers have been going out during the pandemic.  A lot of people who receive BCC offer do not realize its based on last quarters MLife play and not their BCC status.

 

Play in the casino clearly is the key, though the status/tier typically align with that.  I have no MLife play at all, I have a member card from 10 years ago from a Vegas visit but otherwise MLife is not in play for me at all (unless there is something hidden behind the scenes with that?).  I do hope that the last play in their casino (on a ship for me) remains on the books after December and that offers continue for me until I can take them up on one.

[FastandFurious]

On board the Millennium now . Asked the casino people about an extension. They have no information. My last cruise was in December of 2019 and I earned Sapphire. Then the cancellations started. There is no way that many people can practically requalify with the current resumption of cruises starting now.

[NutsAboutGolf]

21 minutes ago, FastandFurious said:

On board the Millennium now . Asked the casino people about an extension. They have no information. My last cruise was in December of 2019 and I earned Sapphire. Then the cancellations started. There is no way that many people can practically requalify with the current resumption of cruises starting now.

 

Mind doing a huge favor, ask them if they're providing drinks while playing for those without an alcoholic packages?  (may vary by ship)

[Alabaster Cruiser]

23 minutes ago, FastandFurious said:

On board the Millennium now . Asked the casino people about an extension. They have no information. My last cruise was in December of 2019 and I earned Sapphire. Then the cancellations started. There is no way that many people can practically requalify with the current resumption of cruises starting now.

Can you share what the table minimums are on the ship at present?  Thanks

[NutsAboutGolf]

Just now, Alabaster Cruiser said:

Can you share what the table minimums are on the ship at present?  Thanks

 

May want to state your game; table game mins greatly fluctuate based on time of day and demand. 

[Alabaster Cruiser]

Just now, NutsAboutGolf said:

 

May want to state your game; table game mins greatly fluctuate based on time of day and demand. 

3 card poker or let it ride(not sure they have it) during day or night.

[winslow050]

1 hour ago, Alabaster Cruiser said:

3 card poker or let it ride(not sure they have it) during day or night.

No let it ride on Celebrity...

[zdad59]

6 hours ago, booklady26 said:

Just to clarify, this is for the Free Verandah offer the the OP was talking about. My husband got the same offer. 

I haven't gotten my return call yet, but that will be something I ask for sure.    It would be cool to take a freebie, but this is not a must.   If the add-ons end up running up the price, then we'll think long and hard about it.     I will post in the thread when I hear from them and the offer is clear.

[poffles]

1 hour ago, zdad59 said:

I haven't gotten my return call yet, but that will be something I ask for sure.    It would be cool to take a freebie, but this is not a must.   If the add-ons end up running up the price, then we'll think long and hard about it.     I will post in the thread when I hear from them and the offer is clear.

 

Interestingly I put in for some dates on one I was offered and I never got a call back ... instead one of the cruises I selected just showed up in my booked cruises.  Guess they didn't need the taxes paid right away, a week or so passed with never a call ... I actually ended up having to call and cancel when I finally knew I would not meet sail requirements 😞

 

Mentioning in case you don't hear right away and want to keep an eye on your online account as you might get a nice surprise.

Edited June 10, 2021 by poffles

[NutsAboutGolf]

I recommend you guys call in, I haven’t had to wait on hold at all.

[bethd]

Anyone get a return call or confirmation email yet?

[NutsAboutGolf]

55 minutes ago, bethd said:

Anyone get a return call or confirmation email yet?

 

I called the phone number on the email, there wasn't any hold at all...I believe they're right right now, give them a call vs waiting on them to call you.

[NutsAboutGolf]

BTW, when making a BCC booking if you're MLife Gold or above, give the booking agent your MLife number as it needs to be added to each sailing to get the OBC.

 

MLife is very generous matching with other casino's loyalty programs and if you're Captain Club Select or higher, MLife will give you Gold, worth reaching out to them because if you can get MLife Gold, X will give you a $125 OBC (for Gold) and will waive the 3% credit card fee