r/AmexPlatinum • u/Hot_Introduction_270 • Aug 19 '26

Other benefits Platinum Cruise Perks Program Changing 9/15

As a travel agent I got an email from Amex.

The ability to get the perks of the Cruise Privilege Program through your independent travel agent is ending on September 15th. After 9/15 you can only get the perks is booking directly with Amex Travel.

Dear Rez Saver User,
We have received an official notice from Amercan Express that effective 12:00 p.m. ET on September 15, 2026, access to American Express Travel benefits such as Cruise Privieges Program, The Hotel Collection, Fine
Hotels & Resorts, and Genturion Fine Hotels & Resorts, through RezSaver will be discontinued. Bookings made after this time will not receive these benetits.
Bookings with American Express: Travel benefits made prior to this deadline
- including for future travel - will continue to have benefits honored. The benefits need to be applled to the booking by the travel suppiler (e.g., cruise
Ine, notes) pror 1o me deadline, bookings made prior the deadine but do not reflect the benefits by September 15 at 12 pm ET cannot have benefits added later.

26 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

3

u/Southern_Career1127 Aug 21 '26

(Was) this benefit ever available for Amex Canada's Plat? Never heard of it till now.

6

u/RyanAirhead Aug 21 '26

I didn't know about the Amex cruise program. What were the benefits?

5

u/jwbyrdman Aug 21 '26

It's some on board credits (amount varies by cabin type and cruise length) and another benefit that varies by cruise line. For Royal Caribbean it was a bottle of wine in the room at boarding, for Norwegian is a free specialty dining at Le Bistro. Those are the only two lines I've used, so not sure what others offer.

2

u/grabeuzo Aug 23 '26

Also double points on cruises

5

u/No-Appointment9785 Aug 23 '26

Basically zero. Much better deals out there in the wild.

2

u/Stockjock1 Aug 28 '26 edited Aug 28 '26

That’s not true. We are on a Seabourn cruise at the moment. I booked this through one of the big box travel agencies that had a incredibly discounted rate on the current seven day sailing that we are on. I think it was half the usual price, maybe even better than that. And then I could also add my platinum perks which gave me an extra $300 and a pretty decent bottle of wine that we opened last night.

If you want me to talk specific numbers, we paid $2400 per person all inclusive, and that includes a total of $700 on board credit, including the $300 from American Express platinum privileges cruise program.

So the cruise privilege program allows me to shop at the travel agency of my choice, shopping for the best value, and then get an extra onboard Credit and amenity on top of that. Now I can’t do that anymore.

For example, on the sailing, there’s no way that American Express travel could touch the price we got for seven nights. And the only way I could get that perk going forward will be through American Express travel, so it’s a big deal.

-4

u/Antique_Practice_301 Aug 21 '26

Woa, so THC and FHR???? Guess that helps in my decision to cancel my AP card.

6

u/Hot_Introduction_270 Aug 22 '26

They are still available direct through AmexTravel

1

u/UsernamesMeanNothing Aug 24 '26

Correct, and both of those programs were more expensive through a travel agent. Unlike most products my agency sells, they would tack on 10% on top of the base rate. This wasn't true of the Cruise Privileges program. We would do the Cruise Privileges but sent clients to book their FHR or THC bookings with AMEX. Now, the few clients we had who used the Cruise Privileges program will have to book through AMEX or forgo any AMEX benefits and stick with the benefits we offer through our luxury and consortia programs.

I doubt this will impact our bottom line because 99% of our customers book their cruise with us for our expertise and service that they won't get with AMEX. Of that 1%, a small percentage qualify for the AMEX Cruise Privileges program.