I found this on rssc.com:
Notice that it can't be added to Amex Platinum benefits. So, anyone with a free Amex card is getting $200 while we have the honor of paying $320 or more for a $300 benefit. Also, new bookings only. :mad:

Am I the only one irritated by this? We are sailing the Mariner on one of the inlcuded sailings; should I try to argue?

thanks,

Well, I'm personally a little irked, but that's because I was told that if I switched my booking to my Amex Blue card I'd get a $100 shipboard credit. So I did that, and then they told me that it's only for Platinum cards, which I don't have. And now they're saying they'll do it for ALL Amex cards? My cruise falls within the ones that are getting it, but it has to be a new booking! So no shipboard credit for me. Oh well.

I dunno Marc, you are still getting other perks with your card that they aren't, the express check-in, the bottle of wine, the cocktail party, etc.
I know that doesn't add up to $320 but at least this special isn't on every sailing.
Let us know if you call AMEX and discuss it with them.

I thought you would be more upset when you saw the "kids sail free" specials ;)

Karen:

In the cruises that have had an Amex line for checkin, it has always been faster to go regular line. Amex doesn't give bottle of wine anymore. I usually skip the Amex cocktail party as last two have been before lunch. I will have my TA check but I don't think I will get anywhere.

As for kids sail free, I have already harped on that. Radisson is looking for the cross over dresser.....er, I mean traveller. Most of us have crossed over from mainstream lines. I did not notice any problem on Navigator with free kids last year and had minimal problems on Diamond.

edited to add:

The Mariner 2006 Grand Pacific voyage is now on the website; much pricier than our 2005 trip. There is still room on our trip this October if anyone wants to join us. :)

What is this about kids sailing free? Which cruises? If this is on our next trip, we will probably cancel as kids are not our cup of tea. Been there, done that. No more. Got hit once on a Costa cruise and it was very not pleasant.

Mckeever, click here for the Kids sail free special.

They say that kids cruise free as 3rd and 4th passenger. Does the Navigator have any cabins that accomodate 4 persons ?
Maybe they have to bring their sleeping bags ;) !

I'm sure glad my sailing is not included in this "special".

Certain cabins have a fold-out couch in the living area that doubles as a bed. No sleeping bags required! When my kids were at that young age, I could never have enjoyed this kind of cruise, because they wouldn't, not enough activity for the most part. We had family vacations, and couple's vacations. For the kids, we always went to kid centered places (Disney), or stayed at grandparents extra condo in Fla. when it wasn't rented out.

Taking a well-behaved infant or baby is fine. They sleep so much anyway, and you can go to dinner after they are down for the night. After that, it is difficult, unless you want to do room service every night, or are blessed with the kind of perfect children I never had.

Maria
I am not the one to really answer this having never sailed with kids, but I have overheard others on board say their kids sleep on the sofa which makes into a bed. That is why the parents like that room divider curtain. The kids watch TV, the parents go to bed. I know there are some 3 person cabins but I don't have any idea how those work.

Marc, I agree that it is irksome for AMX holders. We paid for our upcoming Sydney-Auckland (S-A) cruise with a Delta AMX card, but since it is a previous booking, we're not eligible either according to your information. However, what I find much more troublesome (and you mentioned this) is the fact that the base price on the RSSC site for the 2005 14-day S-A cruise is now shown as $5913 and the price for the corresponding 2006 15-day cruise is $8396--a 42% increase! With some trepidation, I'm waiting to see what the 2006 PG cruises will be priced at. We're seriously thinking of going back to Tahiti while the PG is still there this winter. I'm now hearing from Radisson that PG prices will be out at the beginning of May.

Dreps

I must be dense, but I'm not sure how to edit a previous post. Anyway, I didn't read the fine print, which is not obvious on the RSSC site. But when I clicked on the Best Fare, for the 2006 Sydney-Auckland cruise, it stated that all the Grand Circle Pacific segments included complimentary air. Given that in 2005 the air credit was $1400, that's still a fare increase of about $1000, i think, though the cruise is an extra day.

Dreps

Am I understanding this correctly? This only applies to new bookings? I was under the impression that if any incentives were added to a previously booked cruise, Radisson would honor the additional savings.

Olivia,

I guess then the sofa bed is a double bed?

I'm like you. I can't see my kids in a Radisson cruise, I think they would get bored. My daughter( age 10) loves Princess and RCI because of their kids club. The facilities and activities for kids are really great. We have cruised with the kids in the past in the mega ships but now the grandparents take them :D ( My husband Bob refuses to cruise on these ships).

Dreps, to edit a post, click on the pencil icon on the top right hand side of your post.

Master Suites can sleep four. I don't know of any other cabins.

This was same deal that was on Bermuda cruise last summer; I don't remember any kids onboard.

Younger kids love the mega lines. There is something for everyone on all the cruiselines, but kids seems to love what is offered on larger lines and Disneyworld, which offeres a combo of land and cruise ship. A partner in my firm has done this, and while he says "oh i wish" when he hears about my cruises, thinks this is the best for a family vacation with all the characters coming to meals, etc. Maria, you might want to look into this.

What is a FREE Amex Card... never heard of that ne

My husband got a few days ago one of those pre-approved deals for a blue Amex card with no fee.
We threw it out. Now I regret doing it. Heck, as long as it's Free it doesn't hurt to have one more card .

I think Amex blue is free. Fidelity account holders can get a free amex gold. Delta Skymiles often have promotion of first year free.

But are they accepted for cruise deals ? I never heard that a Blue was good for credits? Isn't that sort of on level with saying you have Amex when it's Costco Platinum? lol
Why are we paying for 'real " Plat in that case?

My card is Blue, and yes, it is free (no annual fee). It's also one of the best APR's out there, especially for a no-fee card. That's why I got it. But it wasn't good for shipboard credits when I booked. I'm really bummed -- I was going to use mine for a massage. Otherwise, I just won't do it. (I can get a massage free at home -- my insurance covers them, due to my back problems.) I was really looking forward to that onboard massage!

I think the credits etc. that come with the Amex offer are actually provided by the cruise line, not American Express. Amex uses the agreement as a marketing tool. Different lines offer different perks and they can not be combined with other offers.

I'm guessing RSSC is trying to reach a new customer beyond the Plat card holders.

Just what I wanted to hear. Our next cruise, August 30, is one of these kids sail free deals.

While I have young children, I would never carry them on Radisson. I just do not feel it has enough to do to keep them entertained without creating havoc for others.

I guess I will discuss this with my wonderful TA when she returns. If there is a way to find out how many kids, and there are alot, we may be cancelling this cruise.

Anthony

Anthony, I don't think you need to worry, August 30 is way late in the summer for bringing onboard the types of kids who cause problems to other guests (10-16) with all their running around, making noise at pool, playing elevator games, etc. (For MUSH, I think this was a consideration in choosing our date!) They are usually starting school around the beginning of September. And besides, Marc said he didn't see any kids and it was the same deal last summer. If you want to avoid the really younger ones, just eat a little later when they have come and gone!

Editing to address the original point of this thread...I am lucky enough to cruise several times a year, and so I "make money" on that Platinum card. If I cruise 3 times a year or even 2, I come out ahead. For MUSH, I have booked three cabins under my card (will be reimbursed by family) for $600 in cabin credits extra, and I get all the miles as well! For 007 I got an extra $300 credit for my son and wife. Platinum is best for me. Besides, I don't want to be limited to cruising only when they tell me I get a credit for a new booking only on the free card. I am sticking with that Platinum card because of economics, and because when I book through Amex Platinum for a pre or post cruise (after comparing rates from their listed hotels), I get an upgraded room if available, which happened in Singapore, late checkout, and an extra amenity.

claudia, while I'm not familiar with a Costco platinum, I do have a Delta Skymiles Platinum Amex, which has a lower annual fee than the regular Platinum amex. Does this not qualify me for the on-board credit? (I booked before 4/18, so don't qualify for the new promo.)

That is what I was saying.. /comparing..I do not think that Delta platinum is looked upon as the Amex Plat by ships that give credits for upgrades to cabins ( as Rad does, and/or good for the shipboard credit).. if they do.. then my question is why do we pay $395 a year for Amex plat when a Blue Amex fee free, a delta Plat etc. would qualify for same upgrades.. I am sure they don't..
we need Ngaire to answer..

The difference that I'm seeing from Marc's OP is that the credit offered with the regular Amex is only offered on certain cruise dates and is for $100 - 200. But the Plat AMEX benefit is good on all RSSC cruises and is $300.

Masaki

This is from Ngaire's website:

AMERICAN EXPRESS PLATINUM/CENTURION PROGRAM
If you have an American Express Platinum card - the one that costs $395 a year you can receive the following benefits. NO OTHER AMERICAN EXPRESS PLATINUM AFFILIATED CARD WILL WORK. No Delta, Optima, Costco, Hilton, etc - affiliated Platinum cards.
$150 on board credit per person up to $300 per cabin

$225 on board credit if single occupancy cabin

Special Check in and early boarding

American Express cocktail party with the Captain.

On board credit can be used for any expense on the ship except the casino.

CENTURION CARDS RECEIVE $250 PER PERSON UP TO $500 A CABIN AND $375 FOR SINGLES.

DETAILS ON THE PROGRAM
The cardholder MUST be one of the people traveling on the cruise
.Up to THREE cabins can have the benefits added if all the charges are on an AMX card and the Platinum card holder uses his Platinum card number to apply for the credit.
It is NOT necessary to use the Platinum card to pay for the cruise to acquire the credit. However the entire cruise must be paid on an AMX card of some kind. No Visa, MC or any other card.
There are many Platinum AMX cards, Delta, Hilton, Optima etc these DO NOT QUALIFY it must be the unaffiliated $395 Platinum card to qualify. All cards are approved and checked by American Express to ensure they are qualified.
Please be sure to tell Brown and Keene if you have an American Express qualifying Platinum card. This is not an automatic process and steps must be taken in order to receive the benefits.
On back to back voyages or the World Cruise voyages only ONE AMX credit will be applied.

HOW IT WORKS PRIOR TO THE CRUISE AND ON THE SHIP

There will be nothing in your tickets that identify the credit
Once on board you receive a letter in your cabin notifying you of the credit
If this letter is not in your cabin check immediately with reception to see if you have the credit on your account
If there is any problem please email Brown and Keene immediately. Unfortunately this credit can "fall through the cracks if the special authorization code (tracking number) is not forwarded by Radisson to the ship. This is easily fixed. I can contact Radisson for you and ensure that (a) the number is in their records and (b) instruct them to contact the ship and confirm the credit.
This MUST BE applied to your onboard account. If you wait until the end of the cruise to fix this error you will not receive the credit.

Olivia,

Thanks for the info. After I wrote that, I realized that it is awfully close to school start times (at least in the south). I wasn't sure when things get rolling in NY, where I suspect most of the kids would hail from anyway.

Anthony

The Fidelity Platnium Card, which costs $320 per year (because Fidelity applies the $75. cost of the Gold card they pay for account holders with some minimum balance - $50K or less - toward the $395. annual cost of the Platnium card) qualifies for all Platnium benefits. We're happy with Fidelity's Premium Service and with the AMEX Platnium services and "rewards", and have been for several years. :)