CAS free cruise offer question?

[friskat]

Hi all I am hoping someone out there has dealt with this scenario. I recently booked a cruise on Jan 6th on the Dawn. I just got in the mail a free inside cabin through CAS (I booked my Dawn cruise through CAS also). Does anyone know if I can use my free inside offer to upgrade my current cruise on the Dawn that I have booked. I am very excited to get a free cruise offer, but can't take two right now as I am going to graduate school in the fall.

 

Any help/tips/suggestions would be greatly appreciated :D

[callmebetty]

The offer I just got was only valid for certain dates and the cruise we have booked through cas isn't one of them. I gave it a shot and called, but they said I couldnt combine them. Call and see what they say...it doesn't hurt to try!

[SuiteCruiser]

That's right, if your sailing isn't on the freebee list, then you can't combine.

 

My sailing was, luckily, so I called CAS and they refunded me the difference between what I paid for a studio and what they would have covered for an inside. I'm on a transatlantic and have been excited about trying a studio, so didn't want to switch to an inside.

 

My next cruise (i upgraded to a suite from a comped balcony) was a regular comp from them, so the extra one for the Epic was definitely a bonus :)

[VideoTech]

If your booked cruise fits in the date/ship/itinerary of the offer, I'd call CAS and see what they say. If all that fits, you ought to be able to use the free cruise offer as a basis, then spend the money you originally would have spent on an upgrade.

[lexanna02]

So, what is CAS?

[SuiteCruiser]

So, what is CAS?

 

Casinos at Sea

[lexanna02]

LOL....so I guess if I have to ask, I'm not a member, huh? Thanks for the swift reply!

[SuiteCruiser]

LOL....so I guess if I have to ask, I'm not a member, huh? Thanks for the swift reply!

 

If you like to gamble, it's a great set up. Make sure you get a card for the casino and use it all cruise. When you're ready to book your next cruise, you call them, they look up your play and offer you a discount (may be small or could be a free cruise) and when you board, you new casino card is waiting in the cabin with aother card that gives you free drinks when you're in the casino. :)

[friskat]

I doubt that I am going to get much from this offer. It is not for my sailing date. The offer is for some November and December 2012 sailings, my booking is Jan 6th. The sucky thing is it's the same ship and same itinerary and a less popular sailing.

[lexanna02]

Well, since my idea of gambling is riding in a taxi in Mexico, I probably don't qualify! LOL! Thanks for the info though!

[francina]

So, how much do you have to gamble to get this free cruise or discount?

Oh, you can mail me the certificate if you are not going to use it. I can fit it in my adgenda I am more than sure:D

[VideoTech]

So, how much do you have to gamble to get this free cruise or discount?

Oh, you can mail me the certificate if you are not going to use it. I can fit it in my adgenda I am more than sure:D

 

There's no fixed guide, but look at it this way: $5 put in play gets you 1 point from CAS. 1500 points gets you a free drink card. 2500 points makes you eligible for some amount of credit from the casino against your final cruise bill.

 

If you gamble at those levels or higher, you will probably receive some kind of offer after you return from the cruise. The more money you put in play, the better the offer you'll receive. But getting the offers also depends on what ships and cruises NCL is trying to fill. You'll get more offers for "out of season" cruises than "in season" cruises, and you'll get more offers for the less popular ships & itineraries.

[BayouGirlUSA]

My sister just received a postcard from CAS for a complimentary cruise for the dates stated in the posts above. I also joined CAS on the our last cruise as did my sister. I know I probably didn't gamble as much as she did but she says she knows she spent less than $1,000. I told her I find it very odd they would give a complimentary cruise for less than $1,000 gambled. I did not receive a complimentary cruise postcard. :confused:

 

What say ye?

[SuiteCruiser]

My sister just received a postcard from CAS for a complimentary cruise for the dates stated in the posts above. I also joined CAS on the our last cruise as did my sister. I know I probably didn't gamble as much as she did but she says she knows she spent less than $1,000. I told her I find it very odd they would give a complimentary cruise for less than $1,000 gambled. I did not receive a complimentary cruise postcard. :confused:

 

What say ye?

 

It also has a lot to do with how much time you spend in the casino. We spend a lot of time there, though we dont bet high, and it's paid off for me. I'm booked on 2 comps coming up and am also in another now that my friend got, we're doing a girl's weekend, so 3 cruises and what you pay is the port charges, taxes and a small fee. The best part of the deal is the free drink card. My last girl's weekend cruise I left with a $95 bill including services charges, a dinner at Le Bistro and a bottle of wine, and a few drinks outside of the casino.

[HouNew2Cruise]

My sister just received a postcard from CAS for a complimentary cruise for the dates stated in the posts above. I also joined CAS on the our last cruise as did my sister. I know I probably didn't gamble as much as she did but she says she knows she spent less than $1,000. I told her I find it very odd they would give a complimentary cruise for less than $1,000 gambled. I did not receive a complimentary cruise postcard. :confused:

 

What say ye?

 

She could have lost 950 on the trip. While she was gambling won a bunch of less than taxable wins and cycled those through as well. The cycling of the money is key. That is what earns the points. It is possible. Just keeping even cycling could have done it.

 

She could also not want to tell you the real details, as it is none of your business.

 

Hard to say.

[garycarla]

In all casinos, they measure how much you play/bet. Win or lose is NOT the normal measurement.

 

You could walk into the casino with $20, and after a few spins, hit some nice wins. And keep playing, and playing and playing. Maybe even cycle a few thousand through. They measure how many bets you make.

 

You could also walk into a casino with $1,000 and never win a single thing and stop after that is gone, and appear to only put $1,000 in to play.

 

In reality, you will be somewhere between the above two examples.

[VideoTech]

My sister just received a postcard from CAS for a complimentary cruise for the dates stated in the posts above. I also joined CAS on the our last cruise as did my sister. I know I probably didn't gamble as much as she did but she says she knows she spent less than $1,000. I told her I find it very odd they would give a complimentary cruise for less than $1,000 gambled. I did not receive a complimentary cruise postcard. :confused:

 

What say ye?

 

Well, casual gamblers generally under-estimate the amount of money they spend in a casino, but in any case, it's not the amount you spend, it's the amount you put at risk (which can be loosely related to the amount of time you spend in the casino).

 

Here's an example: You wager $5 in a slot machine. That gets you 1 point from CAS. You win $10, and wager it all again. 2 more points. You win $10 again, and wager it all again. 2 more points. Now you stop, and take your winnings and go to the pool. You've actually spent only $5 of your money, but you've earned 5 CAS points.

 

This is why there can be no hard and fast answer for the question "how much money do you have to spend to earn a free cruise."

[GirlWriter]

My husband got the free cruise postcard also. It must be based on a variety of factors, as he neither spent nor risked anywhere near $1000 during our cruise. I hope they send him another free offer next year, as we can't take advantage of the ones for this year.

[VideoTech]

My husband got the free cruise postcard also. It must be based on a variety of factors, as he neither spent nor risked anywhere near $1000 during our cruise. I hope they send him another free offer next year, as we can't take advantage of the ones for this year.

 

There are, indeed, many factors that go into receiving an offer. First of all, there's whatever deal NCL CAS is working in your area at the time, often with the assistance of an area casino. For instance, they may be trying to increase the load rates on a ship that sails from a port in your area, or on a ship that's less used in port that's not nearby. Or you may be a cruiser on another line, and they're trying to win you over to NCL. Or...or...or

 

Secondly, there's the amount of interest you showed in gambling on board, as expressed in either or both of the amount of time you spent in the casino (either land based or on a previous cruise), and the amount of money you put at risk.

 

Finally, you might get an offer even if you only spent a little time/money in the casino, if you match the profile of what they know to be a frequent cruiser, or someone who might well become a frequent cruiser.

 

Remember, in this internet & data mining age, there's all kinds of ways for your name to come up for a possible offer. The offer itself costs them only the money it takes to print, address, and send. They'll send out as many of them as necessary to get whatever percentage of takers they need.

 

You may continue to get offers, but if you do not take advantage of them every now and again, eventually they will drop you from the "possible" list.

[garycarla]

A few answers.

 

1 - Offers are non transferable. They are meant to bring back a specific gambler,with cash of course.

 

2 - Combining offers. Not gonna happen. If the new offer is better than the old one, then cancel the first one and go with the new one.

 

3 - Weeks? Yep, they can sometimes do more for you on a some weeks vs others. All based on current load factors. If ship is getting full, then less deals. Ship is not booking well, then they offer more.

 

4 - How much do you have to gamble to get a cabin? Not an easy answer, but realize they do not give out cabins because they like you. They do it to make a profit. Personally, not sure we can afford any more "free" cruises.

[BayouGirlUSA]

Well, casual gamblers generally under-estimate the amount of money they spend in a casino, but in any case, it's not the amount you spend, it's the amount you put at risk (which can be loosely related to the amount of time you spend in the casino).

 

Here's an example: You wager $5 in a slot machine. That gets you 1 point from CAS. You win $10, and wager it all again. 2 more points. You win $10 again, and wager it all again. 2 more points. Now you stop, and take your winnings and go to the pool. You've actually spent only $5 of your money, but you've earned 5 CAS points.

 

This is why there can be no hard and fast answer for the question "how much money do you have to spend to earn a free cruise."

 

This makes a LOT of sense to me now! She did win a few times and I'm sure she recycled these winnings; whereas I was not as lucky as she and didn't have as much "recycling" money! This was short and to the point and made all the sense in the world to me. Thanks for your answer unlike another poster who decided to analyze me and my sister's relationship and tell me that it was none of my business :rolleyes: !!! Now I know why there are some people who are hesitant to post on these boards!!!!

[BayouGirlUSA]

She could have lost 950 on the trip. While she was gambling won a bunch of less than taxable wins and cycled those through as well. The cycling of the money is key. That is what earns the points. It is possible. Just keeping even cycling could have done it.

 

She could also not want to tell you the real details, as it is none of your business.

 

Hard to say.

 

The first part of your answer would have been sufficient and to the point. However, I didn't ask for your opinion on the relationship analysis between my sister and myself...just saying!!!!:confused:

[AnitaVacation]

I don't think there is any set $$ amount to spend in the casino to get a CAS offer....we took advantage of this offer last year, and just rec'd another one for this year (and booked)....

 

These postcards come directed at my husband....he plays black-jack...I play slots....but we will spend a few hours in the casino daily/nightly....

 

I think these offers have more to do with time spent and amount of wager....

 

Last year, I played in the casino EVERYDAY....and overall, was down less than $100....overall, I think my husband lost $150.....

 

Still made the cruise offer a great deal!! (especially when you add in the free drinks!!):D

[Rochesterboatingdotcom]

A few answers.

 

Personally, not sure we can afford any more "free" cruises.

 

Same here! This year I have been bombarded by NCL with free tournament cruises - slots, blackjack, even a golf tournament! If I were to take them up on 5% of what they have offered I would be in the poor house.

 

We are taking an 11 day cruise on the Sun in October compliments of CAS which I am sure we will thoroughly enjoy (and spend too much money on!)

[VideoTech]

I don't think there is any set $$ amount to spend in the casino to get a CAS offer....we took advantage of this offer last year, and just rec'd another one for this year (and booked)....

 

These postcards come directed at my husband....he plays black-jack...I play slots....but we will spend a few hours in the casino daily/nightly....

 

I think these offers have more to do with time spent and amount of wager....

 

Last year, I played in the casino EVERYDAY....and overall, was down less than $100....overall, I think my husband lost $150.....

 

Still made the cruise offer a great deal!! (especially when you add in the free drinks!!):D

 

It's not the amount of money you *lose* in the casino, it's the amount of money you put at risk, and that includes "re-investing" money you win as you play.

 

You did exactly what CAS likes; you played regularly and for several hours at a time, all through the cruise. That's the kind of customer they like, because they get their % each time you press that play button or push a bet forward on the table, regardless of whether you win or loose on that bet.