Conference abbott::cruise_travel

538.0. "1996 Holland America / Amex Platinum Card upgrade deal" by SYSMGT::HALLYB (Chocolate when the will failed) Fri Sep 29 1995 14:17

    If you charge your 1996 Holland America cruise to your American Express
    Platinum Card, you will receive a 2-category upgrade for free.
    
    This offer is very new, good for the 1996 season, and may not yet be
    known by all travel agents. It might only be offered through certain
    HAL-affiliated agents. I've seen similar offers in the past, but this
    time I get to take advantage of it!
    
    My wife and I made reservations for a cruise next August. After looking
    around the net ( rec.travel.cruises ) I phoned Ray at Lighthouse Travel
    (800-719-9917) since he said he offered special pricing. If you read
    the HAL brochure they say they give you a 25% discount for booking
    early. Ray gets a 28% discount, so we booked through him.
    
    The next day Ray called back and said "You know that Platinum card you
    used to charge your deposit?" "Yes." (Though *I* didn't tell him
    anything other than the number and date) "Well, AMEX and HAL are going
    to offer a 2-category upgrade special next year. You can upgrade your
    "B" room to a suite at no charge; let me know which suite you want." 
    So we did, and he reserved the suite we asked for. Comes with free
    bathrobes and stationery, free laundry, free video rentals, fresh fruit
    and champagne, cocktails with the Captain, a Bridge tour, special
    debarkation (i.e., at the end you get off the ship whenever you want),
    and breakfast room service from the full menu, not the usual limited menu.
    I'm going to have trouble getting my wife out of the suite to see the
    Mendenhall Glacier :-)
    
    There is a school of thought that says hey, pick any old cheap room
    'cause you're not going to be spending much time in it anyhow. This may
    hold for a lot of people, but my wife and I do like the ability to 
    zone out in our little corner of the world. This way we get to see 
    the coastline through floor-to-ceiling windows, or from our verandah
    if the weather permits.
    
    So if you have a Platinum card and are thinking of an Alaska cruise,
    1996 may be the year to go!
    
      John

    This is a great deal!  I hoped that Crystal cruises was offering the
    same since we have a cruise booked with them for 96, but unfortunately
    that is not the case.  I told Crystal they should have this program. 
    They said they'd see what they can do.  So, I'm keeping my fingers
    crossed.
    
    Have a great time!
    

    Rumor has it Visa Gold is offering the same deal.
    
    I've got a HAL Alaska promo tape if anybody in ZKO wants to have a look.
    It's about a half an hour long.
    
      John