Blue Chip Club bookings - No service charge on room charge of chips?

[NutsAboutGolf]

3 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

I've stayed at that hotel many a time using Hyatt points, especially pre-cruise. It was a steal. Unfortunately starting the end of next  month The Confidante is being revalued as a Tier 5 property,the same as the Hyatt Centric South Beach,which I also stay often on points  if I specifically want to be in South Beach.

Yup, the great de-valuation.  While that does affect the cat 1-4 free certs, it doesn’t affect points 

[josh1324342]

I'm new to this, so I called Celebrity and they basically said there's no benefit from having MGM Gold status unless I booked the cruise through the special casino number.  Since my upcoming cruises were booked from a TA, I'll have to wait until next year to try this out.  Thanks for the help.

[NutsAboutGolf]

30 minutes ago, josh1324342 said:

I'm new to this, so I called Celebrity and they basically said there's no benefit from having MGM Gold status unless I booked the cruise through the special casino number.  Since my upcoming cruises were booked from a TA, I'll have to wait until next year to try this out.  Thanks for the help.

That’s accurate; until the summer they let you add on the mgm perks to any sailing then a memo went out.

 

A lot of people forget that employees on their own (from all cruise lines) monitor these boards, not to help customers but to advance their career with “new” company friendly ideas.  If they see a loophole on here they’ll reach out to their leadership and claim they have a money saving idea.

 

MGM benefits could be added to existing bookings for years, there was a post about it here this past summer then the next day, several posted that when they called in, their reps stated they can no longer add the benefits as a memo went out.

 

 

[josh1324342]

10 minutes ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

That’s accurate; until the summer they let you add on the mgm perks to any sailing then a memo went out.

...

 

 

Thanks.  I was hoping to get a little on board credit, but it's no big deal.  For my next cruise I'll see if the member number saves me any money on the room versus my TA.

[kwokpot]

8 hours ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

Yup, the great de-valuation.  While that does affect the cat 1-4 free certs, it doesn’t affect points 

Sure it does. The points are determined by the category of level,and whether it's off peak, standard or peak. The Confidante will now cost 17,000 - 20,000 or 23,000/nt of points depending on the season.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Sapphire card is on it's way (it's amazing how sometimes you need to get past the first few people to get to someone who's "aware")!

 

Hopefully it'll be here prior to our Reflection sailing next Saturday - so, if nothing else, I'll have a bit less hesitation asking for another pile of chips on my ship card !!  🙂

 

Tom 

[JFontaine]

On 2/17/2022 at 12:50 PM, josh1324342 said:

I'm new to this, so I called Celebrity and they basically said there's no benefit from having MGM Gold status unless I booked the cruise through the special casino number.  Since my upcoming cruises were booked from a TA, I'll have to wait until next year to try this out.  Thanks for the help.

If you play at a certain level on your first cruise the casino manager has the ability to comp you specialty dining, spa, etc.  I can't tell you what that amount is, but I'd ask about being rated on the first night of your first cruise. They probably won't tell you much until close to the end of the cruise, but you might be pleasantly surprised.  

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

13 hours ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

Sapphire card is on it's ...

 

ITS --- darn it!

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

10 hours ago, JFontaine said:

If you play at a certain level on your first cruise the casino manager has the ability to comp you specialty dining, spa, etc.  I can't tell you what that amount is, but I'd ask about being rated on the first night of your first cruise. They probably won't tell you much until close to the end of the cruise, but you might be pleasantly surprised.  

 

I recall the last night of one NCL sailing, the host asked me over to his desk and started scrolling through his computer. I was told I have $150 cash back coming my way. I tried to look appreciative, and didn't want to question things, but playing steady black chip level for the week I had assumed I was more "valued" than that!

Is it only me, or does it seem that the rating process (at least with analog technology) is like this: The pit boss comes by and makes some notes. Shortly after that you start pushing bigger stacks onto the felt. Then 10 minutes later, after the reality of bad timing hits you in your face, you pull back to your starting levels, and here comes the pit boss again, rating you at a fraction of what you've averaged!

 

For nostalgia sakes... this was at least 10 years ago. Dealer was showing a 5. I was thinking this was "easy" money. Could not split beyond the 4 hands, doubling a couple of them as well - ending up with lackluster hands. And, you know what the dealer managed to do... yes, you do !!  😉 

 

(dealer's ghostly hand seen below, waving off the camera -- I HAD to snap this photo)

 

 

 

Tom

[CalTexCruiser]

3 hours ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

I recall the last night of one NCL sailing, the host asked me over to his desk and started scrolling through his computer. I was told I have $150 cash back coming my way. I tried to look appreciative, and didn't want to question things, but playing steady black chip level for the week I had assumed I was more "valued" than that!

Is it only me, or does it seem that the rating process (at least with analog technology) is like this: The pit boss comes by and makes some notes. Shortly after that you start pushing bigger stacks onto the felt. Then 10 minutes later, after the reality of bad timing hits you in your face, you pull back to your starting levels, and here comes the pit boss again, rating you at a fraction of what you've averaged!

 

For nostalgia sakes... this was at least 10 years ago. Dealer was showing a 5. I was thinking this was "easy" money. Could not split beyond the 4 hands, doubling a couple of them as well - ending up with lackluster hands. And, you know what the dealer managed to do... yes, you do !!  😉 

 

(dealer's ghostly hand seen below, waving off the camera -- I HAD to snap this photo)

 

 

 

 

Tom

 

Ah yes.  Splitting 7s.  The bane of my existence.

 

I can't even remember the last time I won when I split 7s.

 

[CalTexCruiser]

17 hours ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

Sapphire card is on it's way (it's amazing how sometimes you need to get past the first few people to get to someone who's "aware")!

 

Hopefully it'll be here prior to our Reflection sailing next Saturday - so, if nothing else, I'll have a bit less hesitation asking for another pile of chips on my ship card !!  🙂

 

Tom 

 

Hopefully you got the Sapphire Reserved (not the Sapphire Preferred).  Reserved has a higher annual fee but you get a lot more bang for your buck.

 

 

 

Edited February 19, 2022 by CalTexCruiser

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

2 hours ago, CalTexCruiser said:

 

Hopefully you got the Sapphire Reserved (not the Sapphire Preferred).  Reserved has a higher annual fee but you get a lot more bang for your buck.

 

 

 

 

Yep - Reserve. I'm going to "work the system" as best I can. 🙂

 

Tom

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

I was starting to go through some of the fine print at Chase regarding earning points for travel (3x) and came across this:

 

Merchants in the travel category include airlines, hotels, motels, timeshares, car rental agencies, cruise lines, travel agencies, discount travel sites, campgrounds and operators of passenger trains, buses, taxis, limousines, ferries, toll bridges and highways, and parking lots and garages. Some merchants that provide transportation and travel-related services are not included in this category; for example, real estate agents, educational merchants arranging travel, in-flight goods and services, on-board cruise line goods and services, sightseeing activities, excursions, tourist attractions, RV and boat rentals, merchants within hotels and airports, public campgrounds and merchants that rent vehicles for the purpose of hauling. Purchases from gift card merchants or merchants that sell points or miles will not qualify in the travel category.

 

This would seem to imply that onboard purchases are excluded. From what I've gathered on here, that does not seem to be the case (or is it)?

 

THANKS,

 

Tom

[wrk2cruise]

I just looked up my onboard balance for my January Constellation sailing.   The transaction was from Celebrity Constellation (not Celebrity Cruises) and was awarded 3x points.

 

I know the Amex "deals" with $150 back on $500 does exclude onboard purchases as my Nov Summit onboard balance didn't trigger it.  So for my next sailing I bought $500 of refundable OBC prior to my January sailing and did get the $150 statement credit.

 

Playing the system can be complicated😀

Edited February 22, 2022 by wrk2cruise

[CalTexCruiser]

2 hours ago, wrk2cruise said:

I just looked up my onboard balance for my January Constellation sailing.   The transaction was from Celebrity Constellation (not Celebrity Cruises) and was awarded 3x points.

 

I know the Amex "deals" with $150 back on $500 does exclude onboard purchases as my Nov Summit onboard balance didn't trigger it.  So for my next sailing I bought $500 of refundable OBC prior to my January sailing and did get the $150 statement credit.

 

Playing the system can be complicated😀

 

How do you purchase refundable OBC?  on their website?

[CalTexCruiser]

3 hours ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

I was starting to go through some of the fine print at Chase regarding earning points for travel (3x) and came across this:

 

Merchants in the travel category include airlines, hotels, motels, timeshares, car rental agencies, cruise lines, travel agencies, discount travel sites, campgrounds and operators of passenger trains, buses, taxis, limousines, ferries, toll bridges and highways, and parking lots and garages. Some merchants that provide transportation and travel-related services are not included in this category; for example, real estate agents, educational merchants arranging travel, in-flight goods and services, on-board cruise line goods and services, sightseeing activities, excursions, tourist attractions, RV and boat rentals, merchants within hotels and airports, public campgrounds and merchants that rent vehicles for the purpose of hauling. Purchases from gift card merchants or merchants that sell points or miles will not qualify in the travel category.

 

This would seem to imply that onboard purchases are excluded. From what I've gathered on here, that does not seem to be the case (or is it)?

 

THANKS,

 

Tom

 

LOL...you're gonna make me go back to my September statement to see if I was awarded 3x...I just assumed I was and never bothered to look at the fine print.

[wrk2cruise]

25 minutes ago, CalTexCruiser said:

 

How do you purchase refundable OBC?  on their website?

 

https://www.celebritycruises.com/cruise-gifts/items-results?category=ONBDCR&collection=ONBDCR

 

There may be a limit on how many you can buy on the website.  I just called Captains Club and bought $500 worth.

[kwokpot]

4 hours ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

I was starting to go through some of the fine print at Chase regarding earning points for travel (3x) and came across this:

 

Merchants in the travel category include airlines, hotels, motels, timeshares, car rental agencies, cruise lines, travel agencies, discount travel sites, campgrounds and operators of passenger trains, buses, taxis, limousines, ferries, toll bridges and highways, and parking lots and garages. Some merchants that provide transportation and travel-related services are not included in this category; for example, real estate agents, educational merchants arranging travel, in-flight goods and services, on-board cruise line goods and services, sightseeing activities, excursions, tourist attractions, RV and boat rentals, merchants within hotels and airports, public campgrounds and merchants that rent vehicles for the purpose of hauling. Purchases from gift card merchants or merchants that sell points or miles will not qualify in the travel category.

 

This would seem to imply that onboard purchases are excluded. From what I've gathered on here, that does not seem to be the case (or is it)?

 

THANKS,

 

Tom

Our on-board charges from all three Celebrity cruises since the restart have received 3X Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

Edit: Hope to meet you on the Reflection this weekend!

Edited February 22, 2022 by kwokpot

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

6 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

Our on-board charges from all three Celebrity cruises since the restart have received 3X Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

Edit: Hope to meet you on the Reflection this weekend!

 

Thanks - good to know.

 

Hope to see you as well - I'll at least be in the casino "a bit". I picked up $700 in table play chips (used up our OBC, getting an extra 10% in bonus chips in the process), so I'll burn through those first. What am I saying, why am I being such a pessimist? That will be all I need, the springboard! 

 

Does anyone know if they still deal the $25+ BJ games from a shoe? Hand shuffled? 3:2 for BJ ?

 

Thanks,

 

Tom

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

I heard back from the shoreside concierge regarding my question (service charges for chips on your ship card).

 

I was able to confirm with the supervisor for our casino team she was unware of a service charge being charged for onboard chip purchases.

 

Just not sure if this supervisor was referring to chip purchases in general (anyone with a ship card), to those with Blue Chip Club bookings, or to those in RS or higher categories. It's as clear as mud!

 

If nothing else, I'll know in three days. It would have been nice to get this cleared up before having that discussion at the table (if I'm entitled to a waiving of the fee, I'd like to know that ahead of time)!

 

Tom

[CalTexCruiser]

1 hour ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

I heard back from the shoreside concierge regarding my question (service charges for chips on your ship card).

 

I was able to confirm with the supervisor for our casino team she was unware of a service charge being charged for onboard chip purchases.

 

Just not sure if this supervisor was referring to chip purchases in general (anyone with a ship card), to those with Blue Chip Club bookings, or to those in RS or higher categories. It's as clear as mud!

 

If nothing else, I'll know in three days. It would have been nice to get this cleared up before having that discussion at the table (if I'm entitled to a waiving of the fee, I'd like to know that ahead of time)!

 

Tom

 

That statement is incorrect if applied to everyone.  I was at the table when another player tried to purchase chips using their seapass, and that player was informed they will be charged a service fee.

 

I on the other hand was told no charge when I purchased, because either 1) I was Onyx or higher, OR 2) I was in a suite (it was a Sky suite by the way).

 

I will also be buying chips on my seapass in 4 days, this time staying in an Edge Villa so hopefully if they are requiring a high level suite now to waive the service charge I would satisfy that.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

1 minute ago, CalTexCruiser said:

 

That statement is incorrect if applied to everyone.  I was at the table when another player tried to purchase chips using their seapass, and that player was informed they will be charged a service fee.

 

I on the other hand was told no charge when I purchased, because either 1) I was Onyx or higher, OR 2) I was in a suite (it was a Sky suite by the way).

 

I will also be buying chips on my seapass in 4 days, this time staying in an Edge Villa so hopefully if they are requiring a high level suite now to waive the service charge I would satisfy that.

 

I just heard back (with some requested clarification) - so:

 

After reviewing the terms of the casino with the shipboard staff. I was able to confirm guest booked in the Royal Suite do not get charged the 5% transaction fee, as it is a benefit of that suite.

 

Tom

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Confirmed - signed for chips last night 3 times, and no service fee was charged. 

 

It's early in the cruise yet, but I still have all the chips, and then some, on hand after a few hours of play ($25 - 3:2 BJ table) - so that should earn $120 in points with the Chase card. 

 

Will probably take tonight off, but I'll go ahead and purchase chips again upon my return to the tables. 🙂

 

Tom

[blueskadoo]

Just off Edge and my husband was able to purchase chips many times without a service fee of any sort, and he is Onyx (I don't know what he is after this trip- I wish they made it easier to get point info). We were on a MGM "platinum/noir annual benefit" cruise, but it was never acknowledged, so I kind of doubt it was dependent on that. On another note....I thought there was a daily limit of how much one could purchase for chips? For some reason, 3,000 seems like a number I recall. They allowed him to get out a wide variety of amounts throughout the course of the day which added up to to 3000, and then amounts that went above that in a single transaction. Does the host have that kind of discretion to allow bigger hits or was it a flaw in the system? It would change how he approaches the casino and if he wants to fool with a credit line or packing cash. 

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

On 2/28/2022 at 2:12 PM, blueskadoo said:

... On another note....I thought there was a daily limit of how much one could purchase for chips? For some reason, 3,000 seems like a number I recall. They allowed him to get out a wide variety of amounts throughout the course of the day which added up to to 3000, and then amounts that went above that in a single transaction. Does the host have that kind of discretion to allow bigger hits or was it a flaw in the system? It would change how he approaches the casino and if he wants to fool with a credit line or packing cash. 

 

During the evening on day four I signed for $5,000 (1+2+2) without question/issue. I had ups/downs during the week, but ended up taking a couple nice purple stacks to the cage and got back everything I had signed for. I decided not to take the cash to guest relations, and instead leave it on my account because:

 

Darned if CHASE isn't on their game - final charge was posted to my account this morning, and received the full 3%.    THANKS to you guys on this thread !

 

After the first three nights (down $4k) I sought out the host on the next morning. I wanted to see how things tallied up. I was told that I had earned about 8,000 tier credits/points, based on theoretical. 

 

Oh - I did see a casino credit of $60 on my final account statement... not very impressive IMO, but I'd rather have that and all the cash I came with vs. the alternative !!  

 

I did not return to the casino on nights 5, 6, or 7 --- deciding not to tempt fate!  😉 

 

On the third night (as I recall) the couple which had been playing first base most of the time we were there ended up winning a drawing in the casino for a suite upgrade. I later learned that around 1 am that night they moved them into a Celebrity Suite... not too shabby !!  I saw their happy faces in Luminae each time we went in there after that. 🙂 

 

Tom