Disappointed with CAS

[sjbdtz]

I'm SO disappointed with CAS right now.

 

I had booked a 14 day cruise for Sept 2014, and was offered a comp. balcony. I upgraded to an SJ suite, and held it with a Future Cruise Certificate.

 

As the time for booking airfare using points is fast approaching, I call CAS to see if they could improve on the offer, based on my more recent play.

 

 

They checked one ship's play, and said I could save $435 over what I currently had.

 

Then, they checked my play from Breakaway July'13, and said I could have the SJ as a comp (taxes & fees extra). Of course, I jumped at this, paid the taxes in full (as required), and started booking my airfare.

 

 

Several hours later, I got a phone call saying that I could only have the comp SJ for 7 day cruise, not 14.... needless to say, I was seriously disappointed. My afternoon 'high' was completely deflated.

 

So I said: "I'm not ready to full commit to the upgrade price, so just revert the booking to the 'hold' I previously had, and refund the taxes/fees.... and I'll continue considering whether it's something I want to invest in."

 

So...what happened?

 

 

They cancelled the entire cruise. Even went so far as to send me a wonderful cancellation notice.... 1.5 hours after their call center closed.

 

 

Usually I take 4 x 1 week vacations....next year I only had 2 planned, but they were both 2 week trips. Now I only have one.

 

Maybe this is my signal to jump-ship, as it were... :mad:

 

 

 

Stephen

 

P.S. I've written to Kevin & to Crane. Hopefully one of them will respond. It's my 4th email to Kevin without any response....so fingers crossed.

 

 

 

.

[DMH15]

Fingers crossed for you.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

[hpecorari]

I was interested on an Epic cruise and when I called CAS told me I qualified from my last Breakaway cruise for a Penthouse. I told them I'd get back to them. After checking with my SIL who travels with me we decided to go on the Pearl instead. Called them back and was told only a Mini Suite. I asked why when I was told a Penthouse. They said that the Penthouse was only for a 7 day cruise and since the Pearl was an 11 day cruise it could only be a Mini Suite. What I don't get is on the 11 day they'll be getting much more play from me than on a 7 day.

 

Makes no sense to me.

 

Harriet

[herdingdogmom]

Sorry to hear about the disappointment. We were just on the similar itinerary and for the Star you really do want a suite. We've been in a mini and a SJ on the Star and the SJ is worth every $ extra.

 

The Star is showing more wear and tear than the Dawn we sailed with you on last year. The guest entertainment was incredible. I don't go to the casino, but it was always packed when I walked by.

 

On this cruise, the Oslo and Helsingborg ports were great, but I know you wanted Ireland and Scotland. The Faroe Islands were fantastic. The Shetlands port was difficult because of immigration (they want to check every person and passport), tendering and the weather. Being in a suite really helped with the immigration and tendering.

 

I hope it all works out the best for you - I bet it will!

 

Beverly

[sjbdtz]

Thanks for the kind words. I'll have to call them again tomorrow when i'm back from this biz trip.

 

I'll update.

 

 

Stephen

 

 

.

[jingle5616]

Schadenfreude.

[Blondie008]

Excuse my "cruise talk" lingo - but what is CAS?

[Alliezona09]

Excuse my "cruise talk" lingo - but what is CAS?

 

Casinos At Sea~

http://www.ncl.com/freestyle-cruise/casinos-at-sea/overview

[johnsak123]

I am always amazed how friends of mine, who are high rollers and book thru CAS end up paying more than I do when I book thru CAS and I do not gamble anywhere close to them

I think dealing with CAS is the role of the dice. Friends and I booked the gem in dec thru CAS. Both in the Haven

I got a $300 OBC and they didn't. I didn't even ask for it and it showed up. She called CAS and they said she wasn't entitled to it. We both booked at same time.

I just don't how they figure things out.

Believe me I am not complaining since I travel single and seem to get a nice rate.

[jaja]

I wish you good luck !! Fingers crossed...

 

PS--I am fed up with CAS...(esp. as a "low roller")....good deals not so good anymore. no more drink card for booking ..inconsistencies with customer service replies, etc...and they have made their system so complicated not sure it will ever be worth my while again to book with them...:(

[Blondie008]

Casinos At Sea~

http://www.ncl.com/freestyle-cruise/casinos-at-sea/overview

 

aaah thanks for that - I had no idea:rolleyes:

[Fishbait17]

I am always amazed how friends of mine, who are high rollers and book thru CAS end up paying more than I do when I book thru CAS and I do not gamble anywhere close to them

I think dealing with CAS is the role of the dice. Friends and I booked the gem in dec thru CAS. Both in the Haven

I got a $300 OBC and they didn't. I didn't even ask for it and it showed up. She called CAS and they said she wasn't entitled to it. We both booked at same time.

I just don't how they figure things out.

Believe me I am not complaining since I travel single and seem to get a nice rate.

 

Sometimes, the lower level player discounts are better than the higher level comped rooms, especially when you're booking suites. Since you got the OBC and your friend didn't, I suspect it's because you used the discount, and your friend used a comp and upgraded to the Haven (comps are not combinable with most OBC, but discounts are).. And, like I said, your "discount" may have made your Haven room cheaper than them applying a comp cabin..

 

For example, I recently booked the Garden Villa on the Jewel for next May. I am eligible for a comp mini-suite on this sailing. I priced out the GV two ways, using my mini-suite comp and paying the upgrade to the GV, and also just booking the GV with the "low roller" flat 20% discount. The CAS rep was hesitant to do this, saying there was "no way" the discount was better than the comp. I pressed, and sure enough, I ended up using the discount - paying more than $1000 less than using the comp, PLUS getting $550 OBC that the comp cabin was ineligible for.

 

It's important to try the booking both ways, especially when booking the highest level suites. You might be surprised..

 

Also, there's a big difference in perception of play rating, depending on the games you play. People will often think a BJ player laying down $100 a hand is a "high roller" while a penny slot player is a "low roller". The fact if the matter is, with time being equal, the max bet penny slot player will pretty much always come out way ahead in comps (not cash) than the $100/hand BJ player, because of the odds and avg bet per hour. And, the max bet penny slot player will almost always lose more money per hour than the $100 BJ player, because the odds are pretty abysmal.

 

Plus, it's also a matter of how "valuable" you appear to CAS. For example, if you have sailed a few times, earning 1000 points your first sailing, 2000 points your second, 3000 points your third, etc, you will be perceived to be more valuable than a player who consistently earns 3000 points per sailing. Odds are, you will continue to increase your play as time goes on as has happened historically, so enticing you back more often is important. This is why CAS will often send out mailings for free sailings for lower level players - they are betting that YOUR betting will increase. It's pretty amazing when I "under-produce" on an odd sailing, my offers get better - they want me back...

 

So, there's a whole lot of variables as to why some players seem to be getting a better deal than others. None of these may apply to you, or that you don't already know these things, but you'd be surprised how many people don't realize how it works..

 

Robin

[jaja]

Sometimes, the lower level player discounts are better than the higher level comped rooms, especially when you're booking suites. Since you got the OBC and your friend didn't, I suspect it's because you used the discount, and your friend used a comp and upgraded to the Haven (comps are not combinable with most OBC, but discounts are).. And, like I said, your "discount" may have made your Haven room cheaper than them applying a comp cabin..

 

For example, I recently booked the Garden Villa on the Jewel for next May. I am eligible for a comp mini-suite on this sailing. I priced out the GV two ways, using my mini-suite comp and paying the upgrade to the GV, and also just booking the GV with the "low roller" flat 20% discount. The CAS rep was hesitant to do this, saying there was "no way" the discount was better than the comp. I pressed, and sure enough, I ended up using the discount - paying more than $1000 less than using the comp, PLUS getting $550 OBC that the comp cabin was ineligible for.

 

It's important to try the booking both ways, especially when booking the highest level suites. You might be surprised..

 

Also, there's a big difference in perception of play rating, depending on the games you play. People will often think a BJ player laying down $100 a hand is a "high roller" while a penny slot player is a "low roller". The fact if the matter is, with time being equal, the max bet penny slot player will pretty much always come out way ahead in comps (not cash) than the $100/hand BJ player, because of the odds and avg bet per hour. And, the max bet penny slot player will almost always lose more money per hour than the $100 BJ player, because the odds are pretty abysmal.

 

Plus, it's also a matter of how "valuable" you appear to CAS. For example, if you have sailed a few times, earning 1000 points your first sailing, 2000 points your second, 3000 points your third, etc, you will be perceived to be more valuable than a player who consistently earns 3000 points per sailing. Odds are, you will continue to increase your play as time goes on as has happened historically, so enticing you back more often is important. This is why CAS will often send out mailings for free sailings for lower level players - they are betting that YOUR betting will increase. It's pretty amazing when I "under-produce" on an odd sailing, my offers get better - they want me back...

 

So, there's a whole lot of variables as to why some players seem to be getting a better deal than others. None of these may apply to you, or that you don't already know these things, but you'd be surprised how many people don't realize how it works..

 

Robin

 

 

Thanks Robin...you always explain things so well...;)

[whenisthemidnightbuffet?]

Thanks for the kind words. I'll have to call them again tomorrow when i'm back from this biz trip.

 

I'll update.

 

 

Stephen

 

 

.

 

Good luck to you Stephen, hope it all works out.

 

Phyllis

[Sabiney]

Thanks Robin...you always explain things so well...;)

 

I agree. :)

 

Pat

[coaster]

This is my honest take on all of this. Don't rely on gambling to save you money in the future. Don't gamble and pay whatever the going rate is for your cruise. Book during the shoulder seasons in the fall and before and after the winter holidays when rates are lower. You will save money and won't need to book through a frequent gambler program to try to justify what you have donated to the house in the past.

[sjbdtz]

Okay... I'm back in the exact same spot I was in 3 days ago... before I tried to improve.

 

So that's a relief.

 

I'm still hoping that they make some type of gesture....the stress of the last 24 hours has been un-fun.

 

Right now I'm hoping that my upcoming BA cruise will earn enough to cover the Star....and then I guess at some point in the future, I have a 7 day SJ comp waiting to be used.

 

 

But...interestingly...not a word of apology, just a 'here's why she made the mistake'.

 

 

Oh well.

 

 

Stephen

[coaster]

Again, just book at the regular rate outside of CAS. No stress, you just book at the price listed. No complications. Price is too high? Fares might be lower closer to sailing. No need to gamble real money to save some on future bookings. You will just pay more in the long run by gambling onboard.

[hladygirl]

Again, just book at the regular rate outside of CAS. No stress, you just book at the price listed. No complications. Price is too high? Fares might be lower closer to sailing. No need to gamble real money to save some on future bookings. You will just pay more in the long run by gambling onboard.

but you won't have as much fun!

[sdmike]

Again, just book at the regular rate outside of CAS. No stress, you just book at the price listed. No complications. Price is too high? Fares might be lower closer to sailing. No need to gamble real money to save some on future bookings. You will just pay more in the long run by gambling onboard.

 

:rolleyes:

 

I doubt people are gambling a lot in order to get lower fares, but getting lower fares because they gamble a lot. Your comments assume the former, which anyone who passed basic math in high schools knows isn't the most cost effective way of getting a good deal on a cruise