Changes for 2006 Amex Plat and Crystal.

(1) For Crystal, PTS (amex Plat card agency) also gives a shore excursion credit along with the $300 for using the Platinum card. They upped it to $250 per stateroom from $100 for 2006. When we didn't get the higher amount, they told me that it started if you had booked in 2006, not just for a 2006 cruise, so that since we booked in 2005, we didn't get the extra amount.

(2) In addition, in the past when we booked through PTS and there was a PTS-sponsored group (G375) on board, we were added to the group and we got $250 per person in addition to the $300 and the shore excursion credit. Now they are saying that a Platinum Card holder using PTS can get one of the other -- the $300 + shore excursion $250 or the $250 per person for a G375 group not both.

Our on board credit problems for the last two cruises:
(1) For our cruise four months ago, we finally got our Plat on board credit ($300) after I spoke to the chief accountant. It had fallen through the cracks -- they said someone didn't code it properly with Amex.

(2)The second time we had the problem (last month), the extra on board credit offer was in the PTS mailing from Amex and was for our booking a certain cruise within a certain time frame. We did that, and Amex marketing dropped the ball on that one, but I had the letter to prove it, and the chief accountant got it for us.

As I said, my problem wasn't with our agent, it was the agency. We are no longer booking with them. I sure wish Ngaire booked Crystal.