Blue chip email? Is it a scam?

[CaroleSS]

We have a cruise coming up. Our same cruise is being offered through BCC, so I did some "gazindas" to compare their offer with what we currently have.

 

First I tallied the Classic beverage, basic wifi, gratuities and $20 for Aqua. I then multiplied by 8 (number of nights), then multiplied by 2 (cuz DH is coming along), then added in port fees and taxes. I then added the OBC we got from our TA so I could compare "apples with apples".

 

What I found was that the "free" cruise only saved us $160 (total). If I booked a cruise through BCC, I doubt I'd book the wifi as I don't care about communicating with the outside world on vacation, so that would add back $200.

 

Me, I think I will casually watch and think about future cruises with BCC, but I think you can find some great deals if you watch which rival a "free" cruise.

[retird]

20 minutes ago, CaroleSS said:

We have a cruise coming up. Our same cruise is being offered through BCC, so I did some "gazindas" to compare their offer with what we currently have.

 

First I tallied the Classic beverage, basic wifi, gratuities and $20 for Aqua. I then multiplied by 8 (number of nights), then multiplied by 2 (cuz DH is coming along), then added in port fees and taxes. I then added the OBC we got from our TA so I could compare "apples with apples".

 

What I found was that the "free" cruise only saved us $160 (total). If I booked a cruise through BCC, I doubt I'd book the wifi as I don't care about communicating with the outside world on vacation, so that would add back $200.

 

Me, I think I will casually watch and think about future cruises with BCC, but I think you can find some great deals if you watch which rival a "free" cruise.

If you are talking about the current offer of 10% off you are correct.    But the previous cruises i was offered were “free verandah”. In that case you would be saving whatever the cost is for that veranda as you only pay port taxes

[schmidlapp]

Just spent  almost 3 hrs on hold,

First agent that came on didn't know much. She transferred me to a dedicated blue chip rep.

He gave us many choices for the date we wanted. Free balcony or small upgrade charge for Aqua. We ultimately paid the moderate upgrade cost for a sky suite. 

He mentioned we wouldn't get the "free perks" at the price we paid. 

So we pay tips, wifi and bev packages if we want them in addition. 

Since we are elite we still get the elite perks which include the daily cocktail hour,  discounted wifi and bev packages if we want them. 

 

I'm assuming we will still be able dine in luminae or blu. Can anyone confirm this as we didn't get an official answer?

 

[kwokpot]

6 minutes ago, schmidlapp said:

Just spent  almost 3 hrs on hold,

First agent that came on didn't know much. She transferred me to a dedicated blue chip rep.

He gave us many choices for the date we wanted. Free balcony or small upgrade charge for Aqua. We ultimately paid the moderate upgrade cost for a sky suite. 

He mentioned we wouldn't get the "free perks" at the price we paid. 

So we pay tips, wifi and bev packages if we want them in addition. 

Since we are elite we still get the elite perks which include the daily cocktail hour,  discounted wifi and bev packages if we want them. 

 

I'm assuming we will still be able dine in luminae or blu. Can anyone confirm this as we didn't get an official answer?

 

Yes, the dining options are still available, as is complimentary drinks in the Retreat Lounge. If you're on a ship with a Retreat sundeck non-alcoholic drinks are complementary when ordered at the Retreat sundeck but alcoholic drinks will be charged. Confirm with you butler what beverages will be complementary or charged at the in-room minibar. It seems each butler does things differently, but GENERALLY all bottled water, including premium, sodas, and beer will be complementary in the in-room mini bar, but Wine and spirits are charged. You will get an welcome bottle of sparking wine which usually can be changed out for red or white.

Premium coffee in the dining rooms will be charged (except at breakfast) unless you're Elite+ 

[sdnich]

21 minutes ago, schmidlapp said:

Just spent  almost 3 hrs on hold,

First agent that came on didn't know much. She transferred me to a dedicated blue chip rep.

He gave us many choices for the date we wanted. Free balcony or small upgrade charge for Aqua. We ultimately paid the moderate upgrade cost for a sky suite. 

He mentioned we wouldn't get the "free perks" at the price we paid. 

So we pay tips, wifi and bev packages if we want them in addition. 

Since we are elite we still get the elite perks which include the daily cocktail hour,  discounted wifi and bev packages if we want them. 

 

I'm assuming we will still be able dine in luminae or blu. Can anyone confirm this as we didn't get an official answer?

 

That’s great! Can I ask what you paid for your upgrade to the sky suite! 
I asked about it but they said we would be able to book a sky suite at 60% off.

which is a good deal but we decided to take it Sunset veranda for free (almost) 

Edited December 23, 2022 by sdnich

[kwokpot]

1 hour ago, CaroleSS said:

We have a cruise coming up. Our same cruise is being offered through BCC, so I did some "gazindas" to compare their offer with what we currently have.

 

First I tallied the Classic beverage, basic wifi, gratuities and $20 for Aqua. I then multiplied by 8 (number of nights), then multiplied by 2 (cuz DH is coming along), then added in port fees and taxes. I then added the OBC we got from our TA so I could compare "apples with apples".

 

What I found was that the "free" cruise only saved us $160 (total). If I booked a cruise through BCC, I doubt I'd book the wifi as I don't care about communicating with the outside world on vacation, so that would add back $200.

 

Me, I think I will casually watch and think about future cruises with BCC, but I think you can find some great deals if you watch which rival a "free" cruise.

Your math is a bit fuzzy. How much was the OBC from your TA? 

[CaroleSS]

2 hours ago, kwokpot said:

Your math is a bit fuzzy. How much was the OBC from your TA? 

So we have an A1 room (purchased an A2, but got automatic upgrade). 8-night cruise cost includes AI (grats, basic Wi-Fi and classic beverage). That is my "baseline"

(Edited to accommodate our CC benefits - we are "this" cruise away from elite, so only get Select benefits)

attempt to clear up fuzzy math:
"free" cruise costs per day:
Aqua upgrade = 20

Gratuities = 18

Classic beverage (current prices) = 80.99 (10% off, so 72.89)

Basic wifi = 16.99 (25% off, so 12.74)

For a total of $135.98 pp/day for the room upgrade + AI "perks" (123.63)

 

135.98 * 8 (days) * 2 (people) + 226.56 (port fees and taxes - which I got from my invoice) = 2402.24 (123.63*8*2+226.56=2204.70)

we received 525 OBC (which I would not get with a free cruise) which I added to the cost =  2927.24

we paid 3088.56 for the cruise

 

3088.56 - 2927.24 = 161.32

3088.56 - 2729.70 = 358.86

 

All Aqua and suites for our sailing are gone now, but if I had booked the "free" cruise, I would have only saved $161.32 (358.86). It just doesn't seem like such a great deal to me. Now, if I "had" booked the free cruise, I would not have purchased wifi, so I would have saved an additional $271.84, but I was trying to compare "apples to apples". For those that are Elite and will only drink at the HH, that would save an additional chunk of change.

 

Yes, you only pay port fees and taxes, but X expects to make that money back with onboard purchases.....which, for us, almost equals the price we paid for a "non-free" cruise.

Edited December 23, 2022 by CaroleSS

[CaroleSS]

3 hours ago, retird said:

If you are talking about the current offer of 10% off you are correct.    But the previous cruises i was offered were “free verandah”. In that case you would be saving whatever the cost is for that veranda as you only pay port taxes

See math above......

[CalTexCruiser]

14 minutes ago, CaroleSS said:

So we have an A1 room (purchased an A2, but got automatic upgrade). 8-night cruise cost includes AI (grats, basic Wi-Fi and classic beverage). That is my "baseline"

(Edited to accommodate our CC benefits - we are "this" cruise away from elite, so only get Select benefits)

attempt to clear up fuzzy math:
"free" cruise costs per day:
Aqua upgrade = 20

Gratuities = 18

Classic beverage (current prices) = 80.99 (10% off, so 72.89)

Basic wifi = 16.99 (25% off, so 12.74)

For a total of $135.98 pp/day for the room upgrade + AI "perks" (123.63)

 

135.98 * 8 (days) * 2 (people) + 226.56 (port fees and taxes - which I got from my invoice) = 2402.24 (123.63*8*2+226.56=2204.70)

we received 525 OBC (which I would not get with a free cruise) which I added to the cost =  2927.24

we paid 3088.56 for the cruise

 

3088.56 - 2927.24 = 161.32

3088.56 - 2729.70 = 358.86

 

All Aqua and suites for our sailing are gone now, but if I had booked the "free" cruise, I would have only saved $161.32 (358.86). It just doesn't seem like such a great deal to me. Now, if I "had" booked the free cruise, I would not have purchased wifi, so I would have saved an additional $271.84, but I was trying to compare "apples to apples". For those that are Elite and will only drink at the HH, that would save an additional chunk of change.

 

Yes, you only pay port fees and taxes, but X expects to make that money back with onboard purchases.....which, for us, almost equals the price we paid for a "non-free" cruise.

 

So these free rooms are not so free after all, it would appear.

 

 

[CaroleSS]

2 minutes ago, CalTexCruiser said:

 

So these free rooms are not so free after all, it would appear.

 

 

I guess it all depends on what your CC status is and what you are willing to "give up" to get a free cruise.

 

If you are Elite and are only willing to drink at the HH and don't want to buy the wifi package, then you only have to pay gratuities.

 

If you take the free veranda, add port taxes and fees and $17.50pp/day for grats, you can get an 8-night cruise for $506.56. Which is a GREAT deal. I just think that X expects you to think you are getting a free cruise, so are willing to purchase the add-ons......which means you are basically paying for the cruise.

[kwokpot]

14 minutes ago, CaroleSS said:

I guess it all depends on what your CC status is and what you are willing to "give up" to get a free cruise.

 

If you are Elite and are only willing to drink at the HH and don't want to buy the wifi package, then you only have to pay gratuities.

 

If you take the free veranda, add port taxes and fees and $17.50pp/day for grats, you can get an 8-night cruise for $506.56. Which is a GREAT deal. I just think that X expects you to think you are getting a free cruise, so are willing to purchase the add-ons......which means you are basically paying for the cruise.

exactly

[kwokpot]

26 minutes ago, CalTexCruiser said:

 

So these free rooms are not so free after all, it would appear.

 

 

I challenge you to debate how my most recent Casino comped cruise wasn't a deal and you could have gotten this cruise for about the same price if you paid for it. 

 

Edited December 23, 2022 by kwokpot

[CaroleSS]

9 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

I challenge you to debate how my most recent Casino comped cruise wasn't a deal and you could have gotten this cruise for about the same price if you paid for it. 

 

Where are the charges for gratuities? Did you buy drinks? When you checked out on the last day, what was your bill?

 

plus, how much did you have to lose gambling to get your "comped" cruise?

Edited December 23, 2022 by CaroleSS

[kwokpot]

3 minutes ago, CaroleSS said:

Where are the charges for gratuities? Did you buy drinks? When you checked out on the last day, what was your bill?

It was an Always Included offering, so I didn't have to pay for any of those things. 

[SFCAcruiser]

18 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

It was an Always Included offering, so I didn't have to pay for any of those things. 

 

Please correct me if I am wrong, but as I understand your situation, you and partner have been getting the "real" BCC offers for true gamblers. The bulk of the discussions on these multiple threads has been about the free verandah that has been offered to us small-time ("Pearl") gamblers. The "real" BCC comped cruises are more generous than the no-frills offers the rest of us have gotten.

 

Is that a reasonable summary?

[kwokpot]

20 minutes ago, CaroleSS said:

plus, how much did you have to lose gambling to get your "comped" cruise?

Are you a regular gambler? If you then you understand the whole symbiotic relationship of casinos and their patrons. Gamblers ENJOY gambling at casinos and also EXPECT a certain amount of complementaries returned from the casinos for gambling there. My husband is a regular gambler, so whether we pay for a cruise or a hotel room in a casino, he would be gambling the same amount of money. GENERALLY, for a fully comped cruise, yes you're going to be CYCLING THROUGH the cost of the cruise. But a gambler is going to do that whether you paid for the cruise of not, so why not take the comped cruise and put the money that would have gone to pay for the cruise as your gambling budget? 

 

[schmidlapp]

4 hours ago, sdnich said:

That’s great! Can I ask what you paid for your upgrade to the sky suite! 
I asked about it but they said we would be able to book a sky suite at 60% off.

which is a good deal but we decided to take it Sunset veranda for free (almost) 

Edited 4 hours ago by sdnich

We paid about 2k total for 2 of us plus

Tax and gratuities 

[CalTexCruiser]

1 hour ago, CaroleSS said:

I guess it all depends on what your CC status is and what you are willing to "give up" to get a free cruise.

 

If you are Elite and are only willing to drink at the HH and don't want to buy the wifi package, then you only have to pay gratuities.

 

If you take the free veranda, add port taxes and fees and $17.50pp/day for grats, you can get an 8-night cruise for $506.56. Which is a GREAT deal. I just think that X expects you to think you are getting a free cruise, so are willing to purchase the add-ons......which means you are basically paying for the cruise.

 

Definitely true.  In fact, we are trying this out on our April Solstice cruise to the Mexican Riviera, where we only pay for:

1. port fees/taxes,

2. grats,

3. 1 streaming Wifi package.

 

We'll be relying on our Elite status to grab as many drinks as we can during HH.

 

This Solstice cruise will follow our Feb Eclipse AU/NZ cruise when we'll be in a Royal Suite, so we'll have a chance to contrast and compare ... LOL

[CalTexCruiser]

43 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

It was an Always Included offering, so I didn't have to pay for any of those things. 

 

Then that is a truly good deal.  My deals are room only.

[kwokpot]

Just now, SFCAcruiser said:

 

Please correct me if I am wrong, but as I understand your situation, you and partner have been getting the "real" BCC offers for true gamblers. The bulk of the discussions on these multiple threads has been about the free verandah that has been offered to us small-time ("Pearl") gamblers. The "real" BCC comped cruises are more generous than the no-frills offers the rest of us have gotten.

 

Is that a reasonable summary?

Yes. I'll answer you question though with another example. As you have noted and I have freely divulged my husband is the gambler in the family. In the recent BCC offerings to non gamblers I was offered a free veranda cruise on one of the Solstice Mexican Riviera cruises. We took advantage of it, and with my husband also receiving the offer for the first time we have two comped cabins and will be taking my sister and her husband with us in February.  I Just did the 'math' for my comped Veranda which didn't come with anything extra.If we sticked with just room only, the savings from the comped cabin vs if I paid for the cabin is $2,150. If you wanted to add in the always included extras the savings drops to $1,557. But that's still a savings of over $1,500.The more you keep adding extras the more the savings go down, but it's still a savings. 

 

The whole casino comps rewards system is a huge business and and it works for alot of people but it's not meant for everyone. It's no different than the grocery couponing rewards systems or the travel industry and credit card industry points rewards system. we are one of those people that travel almost exclusively on points; we made it work, and we are far from being tops in this. On the other hand I don't get into the grocery couponing rewards system game and it's astonishing what some people can do with that. 

 

Having said all this we are going to Atlantic City tomorrow for Christmas and treating the whole family - 9 people in all, with comped rooms, and meals for three days.  

Happy holidays to everyone. 

[retird]

1 hour ago, CaroleSS said:

So we have an A1 room (purchased an A2, but got automatic upgrade). 8-night cruise cost includes AI (grats, basic Wi-Fi and classic beverage). That is my "baseline"

(Edited to accommodate our CC benefits - we are "this" cruise away from elite, so only get Select benefits)

attempt to clear up fuzzy math:
"free" cruise costs per day:
Aqua upgrade = 20

Gratuities = 18

Classic beverage (current prices) = 80.99 (10% off, so 72.89)

Basic wifi = 16.99 (25% off, so 12.74)

For a total of $135.98 pp/day for the room upgrade + AI "perks" (123.63)

 

135.98 * 8 (days) * 2 (people) + 226.56 (port fees and taxes - which I got from my invoice) = 2402.24 (123.63*8*2+226.56=2204.70)

we received 525 OBC (which I would not get with a free cruise) which I added to the cost =  2927.24

we paid 3088.56 for the cruise

 

3088.56 - 2927.24 = 161.32

3088.56 - 2729.70 = 358.86

 

All Aqua and suites for our sailing are gone now, but if I had booked the "free" cruise, I would have only saved $161.32 (358.86). It just doesn't seem like such a great deal to me. Now, if I "had" booked the free cruise, I would not have purchased wifi, so I would have saved an additional $271.84, but I was trying to compare "apples to apples". For those that are Elite and will only drink at the HH, that would save an additional chunk of change.

 

Yes, you only pay port fees and taxes, but X expects to make that money back with onboard purchases.....which, for us, almost equals the price we paid for a "non-free" cruise.

Your calculations do not take into account the base fair for a veranda stateroom.  Before you can pay for your $3000 add ons you had to first start with a stateroom that needs to be paid for.    In my case the base cost of the veranda was $3250. Per person.   That was free in the offer.  I paid for the other items as add ons.   But in the end I saved $6500.    And the BCC does not offer it as free cruise.  The offer is for a free veranda.    It states that the guest is responsible for port tax(297.00 in my case) and gratuities (<300.00 in my case).   I was also responsible for paying any other add ons I might purchase.    This year, i have received three BCC offers for free veranda and I took advantage of them all.   I checked the prices for the veranda stateroom and the cruise only fare for three cruises totalled $13,500 Cdn.    I paid in taxes , grats and wifi a total of $2500 Cdn.   So my savings was $11,000.    I did play slots a little and did shore excursions.  But I would have done all that even if I had purchased the cruises on my own.   So I guess everyone has their own definition of free.  In my case I like to call it a savings and in my case a $13500 savings

Edited December 23, 2022 by retird

[kwokpot]

10 minutes ago, retird said:

Your calculations do not take into account the base fair for a veranda stateroom.  Before you can pay for your $3000 add ons you had to first start with a stateroom that needs to be paid for.    In my case the base cost of the veranda was $3250. Per person.   That was free in the offer.  I paid for the other items as add ons.   But in the end I saved $6500.    And the BCC does not offer it as free cruise.  The offer is for a free veranda.    It states that the guest is responsible for port tax(297.00 in my case) and gratuities (<300.00 in my case).   I was also responsible for paying any other add ons I might purchase. 

EXACTLY!!!! That's why the math was fuzzy. 

Edited December 23, 2022 by kwokpot

[kwokpot]

Some interesting articles and links:

 

https://thepointsguy.com/guide/free-casino-cruise/

 

 

 

 

https://www.gamblingsitesonline.org/casino/articles/casino-comps/

 

 

 

[CaroleSS]

1 hour ago, retird said:

Your calculations do not take into account the base fair for a veranda stateroom.  Before you can pay for your $3000 add ons you had to first start with a stateroom that needs to be paid for.    In my case the base cost of the veranda was $3250. Per person.   That was free in the offer.  I paid for the other items as add ons.   But in the end I saved $6500.    And the BCC does not offer it as free cruise.  The offer is for a free veranda.    It states that the guest is responsible for port tax(297.00 in my case) and gratuities (<300.00 in my case).   I was also responsible for paying any other add ons I might purchase.    This year, i have received three BCC offers for free veranda and I took advantage of them all.   I checked the prices for the veranda stateroom and the cruise only fare for three cruises totalled $13,500 Cdn.    I paid in taxes , grats and wifi a total of $2500 Cdn.   So my savings was $11,000.    I did play slots a little and did shore excursions.  But I would have done all that even if I had purchased the cruises on my own.   So I guess everyone has their own definition of free.  In my case I like to call it a savings and in my case a $13500 savings

I am not understanding your comments and don't view the math as "fuzzy". I showed you the calculations and feel everything was in order.if you can point to where I made  mistake, I would appreciate it. I DID include the base cost of the cabins in the price for the cabin I PAID for, so I'm not understanding how you think I didn't. What you don't seem to understand is that I'm comparing a "paid for" cruise (AI) with a "free cruise" where I have to add on those items included with the AI package......"apples to apples".

 

I am not disputing that the BCC offer can be done for the "bare bones" (grats and taxes) on the cheap. It is a great deal.....but if you include all the add-ones you get with the AI packages, it comes out a wash.
 

The cruise line hopes to lure you aboard with a "free" cabin, hoping you will purchase alcohol, Wi-Fi and the like.....which is where they make their profit anyway.....not on the "base fare" of the cabin......and that was the point I was trying to make.

[kwokpot]

25 minutes ago, CaroleSS said:

I am not disputing that the BCC offer can be done for the "bare bones" (grats and taxes) on the cheap. It is a great deal.....but if you include all the add-ones you get with the AI packages, it comes out a wash

Not always true. As I stated earlier when doing the math on my February Solstice cruise if you take the comped veranda and add in always included components and compare the cost of the same cabin with always included you're saving over $1,500.