What changed
American Express is changing access to its Cruise Privileges Program. Travel Market Report reports that, effective September 15, the onboard credit and shipboard amenity will apply only when an eligible cruise is booked through American Express Travel. Independent travel advisors, online agencies and other third-party channels will no longer qualify for that card benefit.
The American Society of Travel Advisors has asked American Express to postpone the change and meet with the association. No postponement had been announced when this alert was published.
Who is affected
The direct market is the United States: advisors serving eligible US Platinum and Centurion cardmembers who value the Cruise Privileges Program when choosing how to book. American Express lists onboard credits from $100 to $300 per stateroom, depending on the cruise line, plus an additional shipboard amenity on eligible sailings.
The financial exposure
The client benefit at issue is measurable; the advisor loss is not. If a client moves the full cruise booking to American Express Travel to preserve the card perk, the independent advisor may lose the entire cruise commission and related servicing revenue. The aggregate loss cannot be estimated from the published terms.
Existing bookings should be checked individually. The available announcement does not establish that every previously booked file automatically loses the benefit, so advisors should confirm the application status rather than make assumptions.
What to do today
Identify Platinum and Centurion clients with active or pending cruise files. Verify whether the benefit has already been applied, document every promised onboard credit and amenity, and compare the value with any consortium or agency amenities. For bookings made on or after September 15, do not promise the Amex Cruise Privileges Program benefit unless the reservation is made through the eligible Amex Travel channel.