Cheers and Casino Match Play

[bingomamma19]

Anyone think the pit boss will shut this down when he/she figures out what you are doing?

 

 

Not sure its a pit boss's call. If you have to take your receipt to the cashier to get the matchplay card, how will the pit boss know if the person with the matchplay bought the drink or got it from cheers.

 

I never even thought of this idea--maybe an unintended consequence that Carnival did not think of --but I would imagine if they wanted to change it, Carnival would just say you cant get the match play card with a $0 charge receipt. I dont think many people do this, otherwise Carnival certainly would have changed it by now.

 

BUT now that I know--you bet your sweet biddy we will do this on our next cruise (we..as in my sons --they usually get cheers and share their own room) They dont even like to gamble, so I will teach them this technique and they can get some money back each night to help pay for cheers (that is IF Carnival doesnt change it before then:D)

[srjones1]

I'll certainly be trying this weekend on the Sunshine. I'm fairly certain the ones running the casino are smarter than me so they probably know this can be done and most likely won't allow it. Just my opinion. But if they do I'll definitely take advantage of it. Crazy not to.

 

Another spin on this is just skip Cheers all together, buy 2 Classic Cocktails for $10 or so each and go collect my $5. Makes my drinks $7.50 each. Four Long Islands are enough to have a good evening and I can opt out on port days if I choose without "loosing" that days Cheers money.

[FaithfulRaider]

My fiancée and I are cruising in just over a week and I was reconsidering getting the cheers program. $57 each a day is kinda pricey considering we don't drink much. I previously thought maybe I could drink 15 a day but that's a lot! Especially on port days. But this thread got me thinking...

 

Going with 10 Classic drinks using the earlier calculation, the program would cost 64.88 for 2 or 32.44 each a day.

 

Then I got to thinking. Would I spend 32.44 a day in drinks? That's 3 drinks + tip a day. A glass of wine at dinner, one lounging during the day, one at the club or show at night. I can totally see 3 a day. So here's what I thought. I could either flat out buy 3 drinks a day at regular price or I could buy Cheers and use the match play on 10 classic drinks. Both cost about the same. But with cheers I would also get:

Unlimited soda

Unlimited non-alcoholic frozen drinks

10 classic drinks a day (if I want to drink them)

2 other drinks $10 or less a day (if I want them)

If I don't want the other 2 drinks I can use them for more classic drinks!

 

So as I see it.... Using this plan means anyone who would normally buy 3 drinks a day (or any other combo of sodas, bottomless bubbles, frozen non-alcoholic drinks and any alcoholic drinks that total $32 after tips) would be better served with getting the cheers program.

 

And regarding the actual use of the match coupons, yes playing with someone else would guarantee you the above winnings (excluding any time both players would lose as in green hitting in roulette), but it could be done solo as well with only a minimal chance of ending up winning less. Alone, betting on an even money bet on roulette, house advantage is still the same and you'll be playing 10 spins a day over many days. Some days you could win more or less but on average it'll be close to above calculations.

 

As for pit bosses getting upset. I can't imagine why. Just make sure if you and your SO are playing opposite that you each are playing your own chips (ie your own color). I've played opposite friends I've taught how to play craps before (me playing don't pass and them playing pass) and played roulette that way before and never had a dealer ever mention it. If the dealers for some reason didn't allow it because of the match coupons then just play as solo and see above. One playing red and one playing a 50-50 numbers bet... In the end it's all about the same. In a week with 2 people playing 10 spins a day each it's over 100 spins... Chances are you'll still end up pretty even - just like you would playing opposite.

[cd4lsu]

If this is true about the cheers program an the match play, then I will cancel my royal Caribbean cruise set for March right now and book a carnival one.

 

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[FaithfulRaider]

I just got off the Pride Sun. They did not have the $5 match play

 

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This is my concern. I couldn't find anything recent about any changes in policy, or what ships do or do not offer this. All I found was:

 

An official post on the carnival forums 4 years ago stating it is a promo and there were no foreseeable plans to change it (not too helpful since it's so old)

 

A post from 2013 citing an email from VP of casinos for carnival stating cheers program is eligible for the match play (which seems to have been validated lots of times).

 

Since it is a promo I guess it could be cancelled any time or eligible on only certain ships. Fingers crossed its a go next week for me!

[fennessydan]

This is my concern. I couldn't find anything recent about any changes in policy, or what ships do or do not offer this. All I found was:

 

An official post on the carnival forums 4 years ago stating it is a promo and there were no foreseeable plans to change it (not too helpful since it's so old)

 

A post from 2013 citing an email from VP of casinos for carnival stating cheers program is eligible for the match play (which seems to have been validated lots of times).

 

Since it is a promo I guess it could be cancelled any time or eligible on only certain ships. Fingers crossed its a go next week for me!

 

I'm sure there would be quite an uproar on here if it was suddenly cancelled so we should be good. I'm cruising in just under a month and plan to do this a lot in spite of not having the cheers program. Enjoy your cruise!

[angela12345]

Going with 10 Classic drinks using the earlier calculation, the program would cost 64.88 for 2 or 32.44 each a day.

 

Then I got to thinking. Would I spend 32.44 a day in drinks? That's 3 drinks + tip a day. A glass of wine at dinner, one lounging during the day, one at the club or show at night. I can totally see 3 a day. So here's what I thought. I could either flat out buy 3 drinks a day at regular price or I could buy Cheers and use the match play on 10 classic drinks. Both cost about the same. But with cheers I would also get:

Unlimited soda

Unlimited non-alcoholic frozen drinks

10 classic drinks a day (if I want to drink them)

2 other drinks $10 or less a day (if I want them)

If I don't want the other 2 drinks I can use them for more classic drinks!

 

So as I see it.... Using this plan means anyone who would normally buy 3 drinks a day (or any other combo of sodas, bottomless bubbles, frozen non-alcoholic drinks and any alcoholic drinks that total $32 after tips) would be better served with getting the cheers program.

I think you are close in your calculations, but it still depends on what you would be drinking normally.

 

For example, if your normal 3 drinks during the day would be a beer ($5.69-6.61 w/gratuity) by the pool, a glass of the mid-price wine with dinner and another glass at the show ($8.33 each w/gratuity), it would be less expensive to just pay for the individual drinks. Throw in a couple sodas during the day as well, and you are getting closer to break-even, but still not there.

 

This match play idea still works best for the folks who would be drinking/spending more on drinks anyway, and/or those who drink any of the 6 Classic Cocktails it takes to earn the match play (Long Island Iced Tea, Sex on the Beach, Cruiser, Mai Tai, Mojito, Ultimate Margarita) ... As opposed to ordering them to get the match play ticket but not drinking them.

 

This list does not cover all the drinks available, but does give a good idea. Prices in the left column include gratuity. Number of drinks to break-even column is assuming you pay full price for the Cheers package and don't get any back in match play winnings, so isn't necessary valid for this thread.

 

[pbsteve]

I'll certainly be trying this weekend on the Sunshine. I'm fairly certain the ones running the casino are smarter than me so they probably know this can be done and most likely won't allow it. Just my opinion. But if they do I'll definitely take advantage of it. Crazy not to.

 

Another spin on this is just skip Cheers all together, buy 2 Classic Cocktails for $10 or so each and go collect my $5. Makes my drinks $7.50 each. Four Long Islands are enough to have a good evening and I can opt out on port days if I choose without "loosing" that days Cheers money.

 

You are hereby the official tester. We expect a full lab report upon your return..... or we will find you...

[goduckies05]

I will be on the Imagination next Thursday and will report back if the 5 dollar match is still there. And if so I will use it on craps!

 

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[pbsteve]

I will be on the Imagination next Thursday and will report back if the 5 dollar match is still there. And if so I will use it on craps!

 

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Would you be willing to try the roulette idea once for us? Craps is well a crap shoot, if roulette works though... Heeheehee. I have half the cost of cheers in obc already

[goduckies05]

Oh not doing cheers on there. Just going to see if they still give match play.

 

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[splintz]

I just got off the Pride Sun. They did not have the $5 match play

 

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i have been on the pride 3 times and they had the match play. i was on the pride 4 months ago and they had it. i still have some left over.(you can also take them home and use them on another cruise they are the same cards and have no markings like ship or date) did they give a reason why they were not available?

[taz_cruiser]

I agree the Pride had it before it was my 3rd time on the Pride. They had it last time I was on it last Sept. I was on Liberty in May they had it. But not last week. The classic menu also changed. Not sure what the classic menu means since no match play.

 

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[Royals Carol]

Does anyone know if they do this on the Fantasy??? Inquiring mind wants to know..lol

[Cruise, J.D.]

Does anyone know if they do this on the Fantasy??? Inquiring mind wants to know..lol

 

Yes, at least on my cruise earlier this month.

 

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[Royals Carol]

Yes, at least on my cruise earlier this month.

 

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thanks so much!!

[srjones1]

You are hereby the official tester. We expect a full lab report upon your return..... or we will find you...

 

 

Official report... On the Sunshine you are not permitted to use two match plays at once. However, if you give one to your wife...

 

We both got drink cards on the second night so we only did it once.

[pbsteve]

Official report... On the Sunshine you are not permitted to use two match plays at once. However, if you give one to your wife...

 

We both got drink cards on the second night so we only did it once.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a loophole for the system. Thank you for the report. My wife and I will be sure to enjoy it! For you solo cruises... at least there's a chance to win.

[goduckies05]

On the Imagination. Match play is more.

 

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[Kokomos]

Ok I don't play the tables or gamble much. Can I give my match play to someone at the tables?

 

 

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[Out to sea!]

"Classic Cocktails" listed on the bar menus are "Long Island Ice Tea", "The Cruiser", "The Ultimate Margarita", "Mai Tai", "Mojito", and "Sex on the Beach".

 

When you purchase a "Classic Cocktail" you take the receipt (even the $0 receipt for a drink on the "Cheers drink program") to the Casino cage and they will give you a "Match Play" coupon (on the Freedom it was a card about the size of a business card) which you can then take to the tables and use to match a bet of $5, resulting in your bet being a $10 bet.

 

So it's only good for the tables and not for slots? What about roulette??

[Out to sea!]

Anyone think the pit boss will shut this down when he/she figures out what you are doing?

 

Well, you can only do this max 15 times in a day and they don't have to be one after the other.

 

BTW, does the match play have to be done the same day as the drink was ordered or can they be saved up and used later in the cruise?

[Out to sea!]

 

I think the prices on the Imported and Domestic beers are reversed. Domestic is usually cheaper than imported, not more expensive.

[Out to sea!]

Official report... On the Sunshine you are not permitted to use two match plays at once. However, if you give one to your wife...

 

We both got drink cards on the second night so we only did it once.

 

So now you have to get married just to do this??? :eek:

[srjones1]

So it's only good for the tables and not for slots? What about roulette??

 

We used them on Roulette. One on black, one on red. You profit $5 so it knocks off $2.50 per drink overall. Certainly not a huge savings but it's something I guess.