For (casino) players, Carnival has been upping their game of late!

[Elaine515]

Yup Tom, just got off the Carnival Breeze on 8/18 with a letter and although I have always been treated really nice in the casino, this is the first time I can remember the Casino Manager and Casino Host both offering me free drinks (until I got my Drinks On Us card the 3rd day) immediately upon meeting me. Last cruise I had the Drinks On Us Card waiting for me, this cruise no but wasn't necessary as they were very generous with the free drinks offer until I got the 1500 points.

 

Additionally, this is the first time I can remember being asked for my Sign N Sail card at the table when sitting down and exchanging money for chips... Never before (including this past January same ship) has anyone asked me for my sign n sail card at any table game. As info, I only play 3 Card Poker...

 

I got a letter handed to me the last night by the Casino Host Mercy, but I haven't even read it... guess I better do so when I get home tonight (might be a time limited one!!).... Already booked for the Carnival Sunshine 2/2014 so better check :)

 

Do you remember years ago when they would give us free drinks/pens/Carnival Players Club watches/bags/hats/shirts and so much more... ??? Maybe they are changing their ways...

[mikel24m]

Yup Tom, just got off the Carnival Breeze on 8/18 with a letter and although I have always been treated really nice in the casino, this is the first time I can remember the Casino Manager and Casino Host both offering me free drinks (until I got my Drinks On Us card the 3rd day) immediately upon meeting me. Last cruise I had the Drinks On Us Card waiting for me, this cruise no but wasn't necessary as they were very generous with the free drinks offer until I got the 1500 points.

 

Additionally, this is the first time I can remember being asked for my Sign N Sail card at the table when sitting down and exchanging money for chips... Never before (including this past January same ship) has anyone asked me for my sign n sail card at any table game. As info, I only play 3 Card Poker...

 

I got a letter handed to me the last night by the Casino Host Mercy, but I haven't even read it... guess I better do so when I get home tonight (might be a time limited one!!).... Already booked for the Carnival Sunshine 2/2014 so better check :)

 

Do you remember years ago when they would give us free drinks/pens/Carnival Players Club watches/bags/hats/shirts and so much more... ??? Maybe they are changing their ways...

 

We are going on a short cruise in 2 weeks and we weren't going to play very much because the comping is usually horrible,now all of you guys have me thinking of playing a little more :)

 

I usually get drinks from the pit boss/casino manager and casino host once I introduce myself and play for awhile.Not sure if it matters much but I also almost always bet for the dealers too

[mikel24m]

Yup Tom, just got off the Carnival Breeze on 8/18 with a letter and although I have always been treated really nice in the casino, this is the first time I can remember the Casino Manager and Casino Host both offering me free drinks (until I got my Drinks On Us card the 3rd day) immediately upon meeting me. Last cruise I had the Drinks On Us Card waiting for me, this cruise no but wasn't necessary as they were very generous with the free drinks offer until I got the 1500 points.

 

Additionally, this is the first time I can remember being asked for my Sign N Sail card at the table when sitting down and exchanging money for chips... Never before (including this past January same ship) has anyone asked me for my sign n sail card at any table game. As info, I only play 3 Card Poker...

 

I got a letter handed to me the last night by the Casino Host Mercy, but I haven't even read it... guess I better do so when I get home tonight (might be a time limited one!!).... Already booked for the Carnival Sunshine 2/2014 so better check :)

 

Do you remember years ago when they would give us free drinks/pens/Carnival Players Club watches/bags/hats/shirts and so much more... ??? Maybe they are changing their ways...

 

My wife had her carnival players club t shirt on last night :)

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

I love horseradish too. My wife knows whatever im eating is good when im sweating and crying lol

 

When those vapors make their way into your sinuses it can feel like your hair is on fire. Yep... bliss... :D

 

...

 

I got a letter handed to me the last night by the Casino Host Mercy, but I haven't even read it... guess I better do so when I get home tonight (might be a time limited one!!).... Already booked for the Carnival Sunshine 2/2014 so better check :)

...

 

Post back after you read it - I'm guessing you'll have two weeks from the date it was given to you to make a booking (at some reduced, or free, rate). :)

 

Tom

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

..

Additionally, this is the first time I can remember being asked for my Sign N Sail card at the table when sitting down and exchanging money for chips... Never before (including this past January same ship) has anyone asked me for my sign n sail card at any table game. As info, I only play 3 Card Poker...

...

 

They have been doing that much more regularly our last couple of cruises. Almost like they're trying to keep track of play !! :)

 

Tom

[Chmie]

Seems like there is no consistency with Carnivals response to one's play in the casino. Wife and I played quarter slots for about 4-5 hr per day on our 2 prevoius cruises and received nothing from Carnival. I emailed Carnival and just got a response to call (800)522-7466. I'll call later but they do not seem to have any kind of policy on comps. :confused:

[mikel24m]

Seems like there is no consistency with Carnivals response to one's play in the casino. Wife and I played quarter slots for about 4-5 hr per day on our 2 prevoius cruises and received nothing from Carnival. I emailed Carnival and just got a response to call (800)522-7466. I'll call later but they do not seem to have any kind of policy on comps. :confused:

 

I emailed too for our cruise coming up and was told to call too

 

When I called I was told we qualified for the cruise cash but anything else has to come from the casino host or casino manager

[Jimmy Geegitz]

That's a nice looking Prime Rib!!

[Elaine515]

Yup Tom, just got off the Carnival Breeze on 8/18 with a letter and although I have always been treated really nice in the casino, this is the first time I can remember the Casino Manager and Casino Host both offering me free drinks (until I got my Drinks On Us card the 3rd day) immediately upon meeting me. Last cruise I had the Drinks On Us Card waiting for me, this cruise no but wasn't necessary as they were very generous with the free drinks offer until I got the 1500 points.

 

Additionally, this is the first time I can remember being asked for my Sign N Sail card at the table when sitting down and exchanging money for chips... Never before (including this past January same ship) has anyone asked me for my sign n sail card at any table game. As info, I only play 3 Card Poker...

 

I got a letter handed to me the last night by the Casino Host Mercy, but I haven't even read it... guess I better do so when I get home tonight (might be a time limited one!!).... Already booked for the Carnival Sunshine 2/2014 so better check :)

 

Do you remember years ago when they would give us free drinks/pens/Carnival Players Club watches/bags/hats/shirts and so much more... ??? Maybe they are changing their ways...

 

When those vapors make their way into your sinuses it can feel like your hair is on fire. Yep... bliss... :D

 

 

 

Post back after you read it - I'm guessing you'll have two weeks from the date it was given to you to make a booking (at some reduced, or free, rate). :)

 

Tom

 

 

 

 

Have the letter in front of me.. It reads..

 

 

We sincerely hope you've been enjoying your time on board the Carnival Breeze. I know we have certainly enjoyed meeting and hosting you in the casino during this cruise. We're excited that you've already made plans for another Carnival Cruise in the near future and wish you a "bon voyage" when you set sail.

 

Here's some great news for you before you go... because you are a valued member of the Carnival Players Club, you may already have valuable complimentaries or amenities available to you on your next cruise. So, whats your best bet for great casino action when you're cruising? Don't gamble on that answer! Give one of our friendly Casino VIP Services Coordinators a call at 1-800-5-CASINO and mention offer code BBC.

 

In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions regarding your current cruise, future offers or your upcoming Carnival cruise. I will be happy to assit you any way possible. Thank you again for sailing with us. We can't wait to welcome you on board again!

 

Sincerly,

 

Carlos Lopez, Casino Host

Carnival Breeze

 

 

So, any idea what code BBC means ??? I'll try to call tomorrow and find out what this really means !!! lol

[DaveRRT]

Booked Breeze cruise?

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

...

So, any idea what code BBC means ??? I'll try to call tomorrow and find out what this really means !!! lol

 

I'm guessing we'll all know soon (good luck)!!

 

Hoping it's more than just a promise of a fruit basket and a couple bottles of water!

 

Tom

[Elaine515]

I'm guessing we'll all know soon (good luck)!!

 

Hoping it's more than just a promise of a fruit basket and a couple bottles of water!

 

Tom

 

 

 

Well if it is, you can bet I will accidentally on purpose forget to call them prior to my next cruise... I can do without both !!!

 

I'll try to call tomorrow and update again...

[hartskys]

My husband and I always play the tables in the casino and spend a lot of time and $$ but have never been asked for our cards at the tables and we have never received comps or letters? How do you receive points if you're not playing the slots? We are going on a cruise in a couple of weeks, I guess I will try calling the players club but I still don't get how they know how much you play when they don't even know who you are when you are playing?

[DaveRRT]

dont wait to be asked for it, just put it out with the money, Be friendly and not a jerk, and place a few bets for the dealers. Good things may happen

[CruisingSoon88]

I got that same letter at the end of our last cruise. We don't sail again until November so I've been dying to know what that BBC code will get me. I'm excited to hear what they tell you!:D

[MIZZ_K]

Since our first Carnival cruise I've spent an inordinate amount of time (just ask Cheryl) and money (again, you know who to ask ;)) in the casino. The staff in there has almost without exception been very friendly and accommodating... yet something was, in my mind, missing.

 

In 2008 we took our first Celebrity cruise - a 4 night sailing on the Century. I played the way I had been for years on Carnival (green and black chip betting at blackjack) and managed to "donate" close to four grand. That level of loss (or win) and then some had occurred many times on Carnival, where they took no notice. By that I am simply comparing the response to my play with that which occurs out in Vegas, Atlantic City, or Biloxi. Not fair comparisons admittedly - when at sea, there is little competition - indeed little need for them to "comp" much at all!

Well, a couple/few months following that Valentine's Day Century sailing I received an email from the Blue Chip Club (the casino division of Celebrity). They offered me a FREE (less port fees/taxes) ten night Thanksgiving sailing on the Constellation in a Concierge Class balcony cabin. Did I take them up on that? YOU BET !

 

A good portion of our ten Celebrity sailings have been thanks to the Blue Chip Club. We've had some very good cruises with them. But, as I seem to recall, none of those cruises ended up being "free", owing to lady luck not coming along for the ride... :eek: (good "bet" on the part of Celebrity)!

 

We've had similar experiences on NCL - after our first sailing with them (3 night Sky in 2010) I was able to get something like $2,000 off our next cruise with them. After that sailing, I managed $3,000 off our return trip (on the Epic). Our next cruise with them, on the Breakaway next month represents the "best" deal we've had yet. We're in an aft corner penthouse (which go for 6-7 grand) paying only port fees/taxes.

 

So - I've been the recipient of many good offers from a couple of Carnival's big competitors after very few times on their ships, and Carnival is "nowhere to be seen".

 

Fast forward to our Legend sailing last fall. On the last night of the cruise (I think my 52nd with Carnival) I was given a letter in the casino which was good for a FREE cruise and $300 in cash. I had two weeks to pick a sailing that left within the following six months. A 3-5 night cruise would be in a suite, 6 nights or more would earn a balcony. We opted for a 6 night sailing on the Breeze in March of this year.

 

I'll be the first to admit that the decor change on the Breeze was a breath of fresh air, but it was not a "great cruise", and I never see us returning to the Breeze - but that's another (previous) thread! I put in a good amount of play time in the casino and thought that was probably all there was to that (no letter on the last night this time)!

 

Within a couple of months I received something from their casino department (players club) in the mail. Several dates were listed from which to pick a "Premier Casino Cruise". Included with that was $1,000 in cage cash (actually ended up a bit sweeter than that), drinks cards for the two of us, a cocktail reception for those booking the deal, daily drawings, special gifts, etc.

 

We picked the Freedom for 8/10/13, and just returned on Sunday. We had a VERY good time on that ship. The first night in the casino I was up several thousand... just the way I like to start! The level of my play, since it was "their" money (I know, that's the gambler in me talking) was higher than it had historically been, now black and purple, and the casino staff was taking notice - unusual for Carnival I thought! The luck continued as well as multiple steakhouse meals comped, bottles of wine each evening ($50 range), a day where Cheryl could receive any treatment in the spa -- they were really not holding back! Their generosity was most appreciated, and I kept giving them strong play. In retrospect, I wish I had NOT gone back to the casino the last 3/4 days of that 8 night cruise, as I manged to give a fair percentage of my winnings back. Still, I left a "winner" - enough to pay off our S&S card and plenty more.

 

Also, on that last night, another letter found its way to me. So... at this point the two week clock is ticking to find a cruise over the next six months.

 

Though I really enjoyed the "fun" associated with the Premier sailing, if I can't swing another one of those, there are plenty of others - even if just a weekend - that I'd be happy to enjoy on their dime. I know that their goal is to have me be a loser in the long run, and they'll likely get their wish. I do at least though really appreciate the fact that they've finally stepped back and taken notice of myself and others who help out their bottom line. It seems that many people are getting offers now - plenty even for lower level ($50-100/day) play. I think that's great! Not sure if they'll be able to continue being that generous across the board as time passes, but there's no telling. My guess is that they're giving this a close look and will be fine tuning things over time.

 

Thanks Carnival - you arrived late to "the game" but you're doing an admirable job of "catch up"! :)

 

Tom

 

btw - Cheryl should be boarding the Sensation right about now -- leaving me behind for the weekend to enjoy a "girls' cruise. I can almost bet (there I go again) that she won't spend any money in the casino... save, perhaps, $25 to use her BOGO tournament entry so that they can press the spin button like crazy in the slot tournament. Maybe she can bring home a trophy! :)

 

Hi Tom, sorry I didn't get to meet you on our Freedom cruise, I just booked another premier casino cruise on The Breeze for November 9th, this will make me platinum, I wasn't sure if I could squeeze one more in before the end of the year to reach platinum, but I did it :)

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Hi Tom, sorry I didn't get to meet you on our Freedom cruise, I just booked another premier casino cruise on The Breeze for November 9th, this will make me platinum, I wasn't sure if I could squeeze one more in before the end of the year to reach platinum, but I did it :)

 

Congrats!

 

Any luck in the casino for you this trip, and how was that second leg - less activity in the casino??

 

Tom

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

...

btw - Cheryl should be boarding the Sensation right about now -- leaving me behind for the weekend to enjoy a "girls' cruise. I can almost bet (there I go again) that she won't spend any money in the casino... save, perhaps, $25 to use her BOGO tournament entry so that they can press the spin button like crazy in the slot tournament. Maybe she can bring home a trophy! :)

 

Well, she ended up not playing in the slot tournament - but to my surprise actually played in the blackjack tournament (the qualifying rounds)... making it to the 4th/5th hand before becoming "chipless"! I asked her, if the dealer got a blackjack and wiped everyone out - she replied YES. Sounds very familiar to me! :D

 

I wish I could have been a fly on the wall -- watching Cheryl play blackjack without me there (don't think that's ever occurred before). Though as many HUNDREDS and HUNDREDS of hours as she's sat by my side watching me play, I'd imagine just a little bit of my strategy has soaked in!

 

She did get the BOGO tournament entry... and brought both of them home to me (paying outright the $25 entry fee when she played in the tournament). That way I'll have two entries right out of the gate on our next Carnival cruise!! :D

 

Tom

[JaniceB]

They do, though its "potency" tends to vary widely. We like to bring something that we know will have a KICK!

 

We'll add it to the cocktail sauce that comes with shrimp as well. :)

 

Tom

 

What a great idea, the cocktail sauce does need a kick. Another item to add to the packing list!:eek:

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

What a great idea, the cocktail sauce does need a kick. Another item to add to the packing list!:eek:

 

This is what we bring along - it's not the strongest I've had, but it's easy enough to regret (time and time again :D) using too much!

 

 

Tom

[ryanpatricksmom]

We've had similar experiences of late. Our last 3 cruises were "free" with assorted amounts of cage cash offered. While in the casino we received stellar service....comped steakhouse dining, spa treatments, freebies in the cabin, and more. I just received the VIP premium offer, but we can't take advantage of it, as we already have a freebie scheduled for the end of October. The premium offer is the week before, so a back-to-back would be very tempting. Unfortunately, we still have one kiddo left to worry about and jobs that would suffer....not to mention that fact that our "free" cruise could put us in the poor house if it lasted two weeks straight, lol!

[dmet0225]

During our cruise on the Freedom in May, my wife was provided a free bottle of wine on the last night of the cruise based on her play in the casino that week.

 

We just got off the Triumph where she spent almost double what she spent on the Freedom in half the time, and we heard nothing from the casino.

Edited August 27, 2013 by dmet0225

[med9114u]

My husband and I always play the tables in the casino and spend a lot of time and $$ but have never been asked for our cards at the tables and we have never received comps or letters? How do you receive points if you're not playing the slots? We are going on a cruise in a couple of weeks, I guess I will try calling the players club but I still don't get how they know how much you play when they don't even know who you are when you are playing?

 

I am a table player also and until the recent changes, table play did not get a fair share of the rating system in my opinion. Now, every time you put money on the table to buy chips for whatever you are playing be sure to put your S&S card with it. On my last cruise, I got the drinks on us card the 3rd night and now have $100 waiting for me in the casino on my upcoming cruise....and I did not play more than I normally do.

[MIZZ_K]

Congrats!

 

Any luck in the casino for you this trip, and how was that second leg - less activity in the casino??

 

Tom

 

On the first day of the second leg I hit a jackpot for $1600 :D it did seem like the casino was less crowded on the second leg, also I got the drinks on us card automatically because I accumulated over 5000 points on the first leg.

[JustCruiseMe]

ohhh love the horseradish, will definitely pack it.

 

Also we enjoy casino play (usually vegas) but I hate the smoke so much I hope that we can find a less smokey spot or I won't play.