Info on Am. Exp. White Glove

[bennett]

I have heard so many different things on this board about the Am. Exp. White Glove -I was confused- called Disney myself today since we are getting down to the wire as far as full payment goes-(I booked cruise through my own TA) I was told you can get the $250 on board credit but would have to call my TA to find out the cost. The cost depended on when we were cruising. I called my TA-she knew nothing about the Am Exp deal-so she called Disney--then called me back with great news--We are cruising 7 day-June 15--our cost was only $87.00!!!-Couldn't believe it--there are some dates that it is not available-I am sure glad I didn't stop investigating when my TA told me she didn't know about it--she plans to start coming on this board to get educated. :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[cruisnfamily]

$87 for what? I assume you have to have an amex card. I will get one if there is some great deal to be had. Please share!

[bennett]

You need to pay for the cruise with your Am Exp. card-they add $87 to our total cruise price in turn we get $250. credit on board-plus a trading pin, beach chair cover, advance Palo reservations and a few other things-

[Kajunswty]

I am wondering if you put your deposit with the Amex card? I am not cruising until '03 and since the discounts are not available yet my TA doesn't know if Amex will have a special. I have another card that I've been acumulating (spell?) points so I can't decide which card to use for the deposit. I want to make use of every $$ I spend!

Happy Sailing!
Jon

2/03 All Star Movies ~ can't wait :)
3/03 Disney Wonder
3/03 All Star Movies

[Otisp]

Wow, bennett that is great news. I'll try your strategy with my TA (Costco) tomorrow and will report what happens (our Land/Sea starts June 27).

[npall]

WOW that's really great! Had you put your deposit on Amex ? I just emailed Donna from Dreams to ask about it for my cruise date but I didn't put my deposit on Amex. If it's as good of a deal for me I want to do it. Do you think they will let me change my deposit to Amex and pay in full with that instead ?

Congrats on your wonderful deal!

Naomi

[TnRobin]

The white glove package only includes 10% off merchandise totalling $75 or more at Treasure Ketch and 10% of non-motorized sports equipment at Castaway Cay. They use to offer a bridge tour, but that has been suspended since 9/11 for security reason.

Now there are Amex packages that can booked that may or may not include shipboard credit. Currently these packages are not available in 2003 yet.

Hope this clarify the issue for you guys.

[my3kids]

I just called about this after the great post above, but there are conditions that we don't meet. The White Glove package is only the discounts in the stores and non motorized equipment art CC and the 10% off at Treasure Ketch is only after the first $75. The other program was called the "AMEX Caribbean Cruise Package" which did have the $250 on board credit, Palo booking, and all the other great things. For that the entire booking must be paid with Am Ex(but no problem if the deposit wasn't....they will re charge it to Am Ex then recredit your visa or whatever you paid it with initially), you have to be booked in a category 7 through 4. They couldn't even pull up a price because we aren't in one of those categories. Sounds like a great deal for people in those categoies, especially since Costco membership entitlies you to a no fee Am Ex card. We were not interested in upgrading though, so no Caribbean Cruise Package for us.

[Kajunswty]

how would one get a Cost Co. AMEX card if you don't have to be a member??

thanks in advance for all the money I'll save! lol :)

Jon

[Otisp]

my3kids:
That's exactly what we just found out (seconds ago). The $250 onboard credit only comes with the Cat. 4-7. My Costco TA even found a terrific upgrade rate to a Cat. 6 (a cancellation this morning), but we're going to stay put in our Cat. 10. (She did add the 1st-time cruising "REF" code to our ressies for a $50 onboard credit). We've already been blessed with a free upgrade to the Dophin and a secret porthole room, so it's tough to complain!!!

[my3kids]

Kajunswty....No, you DO have to be a member of Costco to get the no fee Am Ex card. The information was on a brochure I picked up in the store. We also have our cruise booked with Costco, but the travel booking is totally seperate from the member's American Express card program.

Otisp....we have the secret porthole rooms also. I said I did not want to upgrade because I'm so happy feeling like I got a little something extra for the price I paid!

[Kajunswty]

we have one of the secret rooms too!

happy sailing,
Jon

[dwest]

Good news for you--bad news for us. We are booked for the May 25, 2002 western cruise. We heard about the AE deal here on the boards. We had booked our cruise thru DU and used our American Express card for both the deposit and the final payment. I contact Donna at DU who in turn called Disney, however, she e-mailed us back saying that our cruise date was a black-out date and we could not get this great deal. What a bummer!!!!!

[DeeB]

The Caribbean cruise package, can this be applied with the CC shipboard credit? I have e-mailed my TA to see if my cruise is eligible.

[vacationqueen]

:wave: I LOVE THESE BOARDS!!! Thanks for the information on the $250 shipboard credit. I just received ours for the June 8th cruise. I had to pay $54 for a $250 credit but hey...............that's $196 to help pay for excursions!!!! The TA knew nothing of it but I explained what I had read on these boards. She called me back within the hour with our credit. It did not apply to our friends that booked a category three , just 4-7. Hope it helps everyone else. May 25th is a blackout date. Guess it is Memorial Day weekend.

Thanks again.....................

[dis4me]

DeeB Donna from dreams told me that I had to chose on or the other.Castaway Club or AE Carribean. Castaway Club is free and you get 200.AE costs 59 and it gives you 250 so it would actually give $191. I'd lose $9.Oh Well It wouldhave been nice to have $450 shipboard credit plus theother perks. Let me know if you here otherwise.

[cruisnfamily]

I didn't get any castaway club credit for my cruise. DCL said it wasn't applicable. What do you have to do besides be a repeat cruiser to get this?

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Originally posted by Sonya Francisco

I didn't get any castaway club credit for my cruise. DCL said it wasn't applicable. What do you have to do besides be a repeat cruiser to get this?

They used to offer the Castaway Club credit if you booked your next cruise within 90 days of your cruise and the cruise date was within 18 months of your last cruise. But I believe they're doing away with this offer. In fact, I couldn't find any mention of it when I checked DCL's site a moment ago.

[Leigha]

I'm sorry I'm totally lost but what exactly are you paying for? I assumed if you had a Cat 4-7, you got the credit automatically. Do you have to join something? Is this the amount it cost to upgrade to a cat 7? Please explain as it might could apply to me! :)

[Otisp]

Gosh, I hope I don't get you more lost, but here goes. If you're talking about the White Gloves deal with the $250 onboard credit, my TA said that it is automatic if you booked a "White Glove Ports and Parks Adventure Package" from AMEX (in cat. 4-7). It is an add-on called the "AMEX Caribbean Cruise Package" if you just booked a "regular" cruise in cat 4-7, and the add-on amount is dependent on the sailing date. There are even some dates that are blacked out, and in all cases you need to have paid for your cruise with an AMEX card. Oh, and the add-on does not include whatever cost there is to upgrade to a cat. 7+.

It seems the bottom line is that you should call your TA to see if the correct code is on your ressies. And, as a couple of us discovered, your TA might have to call DCL to get more info about the options for your cruising date.

[Jeannie]

I just booked a 3 day cruise in August (cat 5). The deposit was put on my AmEx card. Would I be eligible for the Caribbean Cruise Package, or is it only for 7 day?

thanks,
Jeannie

[Leigha]

I could be wrong but I believe it is for 7 day or 7 day land/sea. Check the American Express site to be sure.:)

[Kajunswty]

Since I just booked yesterday - I checked out all the options. I had two things going against me my "secret" cat 10 and 4 day only!

oh well - I saving soooo much money doing it that way :)

[Minnee]

I was wondering the same thing about combining the $250.00 American Express credit and the $200.00 Castaway Credit. So I called Disney - Castaway club #, talked to Emma (Very Nice)(had just talked directly with American Express and they were VERY rude) she said that you CAN combine both to have the $450.00 Credit!!!!
Now if anyone has anyother info, please let me know.
Thanks

[dis4me]

Minnee
Hi Did you book through DCL. I booked through Dreams Unlimited and Donna told me that it could not be combined as per DCL.I hope she is wrong. I pay with American Express anyway but I would really likethe credit. The two offers really have nothing to do with each other.

[DeeB]

DU emailed me back and said the package can not be used if you got the springsaver rate, which I did so no package for me.

[Minnee]

I did book thru DU, just yesterday. I didn't ask them yet, because it was so late yesterday when I did my reservations. But.....Yesterday before I booked with DU, I called Disney, the Castaway Club #, just to get prices, and asked them about some info about the American Express pkg. She gave me some info, but said to check with AE directly, because our cruise is 5/03, and they had no info about 2003. So... I called AE, bad experience... 2 different girls both told be that the only way I could get Any Kind of AE pkg. was if I booked ONLY with AE. Now I kinda thought this wasn't right, and they both were SOooO Rude, that I hung up and called Disney. This girl (Emma) gave me Lots of info. I asked her twice "Can I have the $250.00 AE room credit, if I already have the CC $200.00 room credit. " And she said, "Yes, it says it right here that this offer Can be in Combination with the CC offer. Now I don't know anything about a springsaver rate. Are they even out yet for 2003? I really hope Emma's info is correct. $450.00 in room credits would be soooo nice!!!
Please let me know if you find out any different.
Thanks for your info !

[dis4me]

Minnie
I emailed Donna to try it again.Hopefully it will work.It is definately worth a try.Thanks for the info.We are traveling in August so spring saver does not apply to me and they are not doing fall fantasy so that wouldn't apply either.
Originally Misti told me it had to be booked through American Express in order to get the package but that is not true.My first cruise I got this package it cost me $200 but I got 250 shipboard credit free raft and tube rental,free hour of bike rental and priority seating at Palo booked before we boarded.IT was defiately worth it.
I'll let you know what Donna says .Let me know if you find out anything from your agent.

[vacationqueen]

Okay. Now that I am SO happy I have my $250 credit I need additional info. What is this Castaway club credit everyone is talking about? We sailed in 98 so if it is the rebooking in 18 months we surely do not get it. Is that what the CC credit is? Have you noticed also that we have all paid a different rate for this AMEX package. I've seen 54-89 dollars so far.

[Kristaia]

I too have booked with AMEX and would have never known about this great tip were it not for the nice people on the boards.
I e-mailed Donna at DU and she is working up the price for me (calling AMEX). Let you all know tomorrow.
Thanks again, I am so glad we are all looking out for each other.
Good cruising to you all,
Krista

[Minnee]

I just received an email from Donna w/DU, she said that the AMEX package is not combinable with the Castaway Club credit.

:(

[dis4me]

Me too It was worth a try though.

[Kristaia]

Donna at DU let us know that the AMEX Caribbean Cruise Package was available to us on the Oct.19 sailing for just $58.
Now there is a great bargain!
For all of you thinking that this trip had no "bargains" voila!
I won't ever pass up $250 free dollars for just $58.
Just reporting in.
krista

[Flik]

To receive the shipboard credit, we were told any Platinum AMEX card would do. You don't need the Costco AMEX card. A big however: the Costco AMEX card is FREE !!!

As with any promotion, there are restrictions; so check with your TA first.

Happy saving!

[Kajunswty]

I thought mine would work but I don't think it will -

when I called amex they said since it was a platinum optima amex that it wouldn't.

if anyone knows otherwise - - please tell!

[bennett]

I used our platinum card and was able to get it-I would call Disney directly to find out what you can from them then go to your TA-

[Diamond_Girls]

After seeing this Amex thread, I called Amex and applied for the regular optima card (no annual fee). The rep told me it would work for the cruise. Instead I got the Hilton's Honor Amex card (also no annual fee) which works just like the optima but earns points for Hilton stays. Donna was able to get me the package today for $59! It includes $250 onboard credit, photo, beach chair cover and advance Palo ressies. Yay!!!! Keep trying, it may work!

[rgionet]

I booked with my Platinum Delta Skymiles Amex card. There is another package available for Platinum Amex card holders that offers a $300 shipboard credit along with the other perks (10% non motorized excursions at Castaway Cay, 10% of Treasure Ketch purchases over $75, etc). The Amex White Glove packages are combinable according to Disney (depending on sailing date).
I hope this can help someone!

Renee
:)

[DawnL]

I didn't meet the criteria for the AmEx Carribean cruise package, but I new my sister-in-law did so I e'mailed DU to see if she could get the package added. DU e'mailed me back within an hour and said yes she did qualify ($58) and would have it added to her package. Thank you for the great info and thanks DU for the great service!!!