Casino Club??? Point System???

[troykahack]

I'm not a Casino Royale member, as far as I know.

 

I do play table games a fair amount in the late evening as long as the smoke doesn't overwhelm me. On Roulette, my typical buy in is $500, $5 and $25 chips.

 

On the recommendation of this site forum, I called the 888 # for Club Royale. Although I am not a invited member, they did recognize my play and gave me a nice discount on my next two cruises. They didn't discount my Jan 16 cruise yet but said to call back after my next cruise to see if I qualify for another discount.

[aubreyc1988]

OK, now I am really confused.

 

I don't cruise very often -- every year or two.

 

I recently cruised in Sept/Oct 2015, 7 days and spent several hours daily in the casino. I played slots exclusively and only pennies/quarters.

 

My budget was maybe $1000 total and I gave them back every bit that I won.

 

No one approached me during the cruise.

 

After I got home, I started receiving offers from Club Royale for discounted rooms and entries into slot tournaments on selected sailings including free tourney entry fees and free drinks in the casino and free cocktail parties.

 

I made another cruise reservation -- not on one of these tournament cruises -- but on a February cruise that worked with my schedule.

 

A few weeks after booking that cruise I got an email from Club Royale with a credit of $125 on that cruise which could be deducted from my balance or used as an OBC once I arrived.

 

Of course I am pleased to receive the credit, but don't really know what I did to deserve it. I didn't spend that much to be considered a VIP.

 

Anyone else have any experience with something like this?

 

if it works anything like land casinos, it partially has to do with your coin-in, aka, amount you play THROUGH, not the amount you solely lose.

[eem0924]

So then even though I didn't have XXX number of points, Club Royale still recognized that I had played at some level and wanted to lure me back with offers of free drinks while playing and a discounted room?

 

Even though I didn't qualify for anything while I was on board?

 

HMMMMMM, interesting!

[aubreyc1988]

So then even though I didn't have XXX number of points, Club Royale still recognized that I had played at some level and wanted to lure me back with offers of free drinks while playing and a discounted room?

 

Even though I didn't qualify for anything while I was on board?

 

HMMMMMM, interesting!

 

I am sure it's like vegas, where the what and why they offer some low entry players comps is a formula no one knows. I DO know in order to get approached for a free cruise you need 2500 points or so.

[troykahack]

So then even though I didn't have XXX number of points, Club Royale still recognized that I had played at some level and wanted to lure me back with offers of free drinks while playing and a discounted room?

 

Even though I didn't qualify for anything while I was on board?

 

HMMMMMM, interesting!

 

I think so.... just by my play.... typically I buy in with at least $500 to begin play... a few times I had to buy in more.....

 

All I got was a nice discount on two upcoming cruises but no discounts yet for cruises in 2016. When I have chips to cash in, they have never asked to see my ID, but I am pretty sure they know how your play goes.

[Lanweaver]

Please try not to post wrong and misleading info, there is no more FREE play cash back with Club Royale....K.O.:rolleyes:

 

I know you really think you might know everything, but it turns out you actually don't. You must be a joy to live with! :rolleyes:

 

Actually you are incorrect. If you turn up to the ship unannounced and check with the host and find you have a redeemable offer they will give you free play as it is too late to apply the OBC.

[Steelergrl41]

I don't know what to do. My husband & I spend a lot of time in the casino when on a cruise. We haven't been on Royal since 2011 but we were on Celebrity in 2014. Would it be worth calling to see if we have any casino offers? We are booked for October/November this year.

 

Thanks, Jane

[canuckcruiselover]

I was invited to be a Club Royale member some years ago immediately after I won $4k on a Royal Flush playing video poker. Since then, I've always received discounts on cruises, including for my upcoming cruise. Recently, I was told by CR that my husband is also a Club Royale member. That was a complete surprise. While he can sit at slot machines for several hours an evening, he only plays penny machines with small bets and limits himself to around $500 for a week.

 

Here's the email I received from them yesterday in regard to their current program:

 

Although the rebate program has now been phased out and guests are no longer able to earn them, we still have ways to reward you for your loyalty to Club Royale. For the interim between now and when our new player program is unveiled, we have introduced exclusive promotions and further expanded our options for where you can earn other rewards instead, such as the possibility of future cruise comps and deep cruise fare discounts - just as our members have come to know and love through the years. These offers will be based upon your onboard play, similar to the current program. Shipboard casino points may still be earned and redeemed for prizes, such as gifts from the cashier’s cage, etc. You will also certainly still have the 5% convenience fee waived for any monies you advance from your SeaPass card at the casino cashier's desk.

 

In addition, we will always offer you our exclusive discounted casino rates on every cruise where they are available. These rates must be booked directly through Club Royale (new bookings only) and are not combinable with any other offers or promotions. If we can assist you with pricing or booking your next cruise reservation, please call us or have your travel agent call us.

 

We continue to review the details of our new player program to ensure we are rewarding our valued casino guest appropriately and to ensure that our offers continue to be beneficial to them. While we do not yet have the specifics of the upcoming and highly anticipated new program, we expect to be able to share those details with you soon.

[Thetrail]

I know you really think you might know everything, but it turns out you actually don't. You must be a joy to live with! :rolleyes:

 

Actually you are incorrect. If you turn up to the ship unannounced and check with the host and find you have a redeemable offer they will give you free play as it is too late to apply the OBC.

Sorry your wrong again, hope your get your meds squared away....:rolleyes::rolleyes:

[RFerrington]

 

Here's the email I received from them yesterday in regard to their current program:

 

Although the rebate program has now been phased out and guests are no longer able to earn them, we still have ways to reward you for your loyalty to Club Royale. For the interim between now and when our new player program is unveiled, we have introduced exclusive promotions and further expanded our options for where you can earn other rewards instead, such as the possibility of future cruise comps and deep cruise fare discounts - just as our members have come to know and love through the years. These offers will be based upon your onboard play, similar to the current program. Shipboard casino points may still be earned and redeemed for prizes, such as gifts from the cashier’s cage, etc. You will also certainly still have the 5% convenience fee waived for any monies you advance from your SeaPass card at the casino cashier's desk.

 

In addition, we will always offer you our exclusive discounted casino rates on every cruise where they are available. These rates must be booked directly through Club Royale (new bookings only) and are not combinable with any other offers or promotions. If we can assist you with pricing or booking your next cruise reservation, please call us or have your travel agent call us.

 

We continue to review the details of our new player program to ensure we are rewarding our valued casino guest appropriately and to ensure that our offers continue to be beneficial to them. While we do not yet have the specifics of the upcoming and highly anticipated new program, we expect to be able to share those details with you soon.

 

Nice that you got an email from them. I rarely get anything from them except for the occasional flyer in the mail despite being a VIP member for many years. UGH.

 

"...we expect to be able to share those details with you soon." HA ! How long overdue is the "new program now " nearly 2 years ??? I'm not holding my breath on that one !

[Daghis]

Nice that you got an email from them. I rarely get anything from them except for the occasional flyer in the mail despite being a VIP member for many years. UGH.

Are you in the same email black hole that I had been for a few years? For a long time, I didn't receive any promotional emails from Royal Caribbean, either for general mailings from RCI or Crown & Anchor, or from Club Royale. I did get the postcard mailings, though, so that was something.

 

Then, something happened in March, and the emails started flowing again. It's wonderful to be able to find out about Club Royale promotions (discounted or even free cruise offers). I usually can't take them, but at least I like knowing that I could. :)

 

"...we expect to be able to share those details with you soon." HA ! How long overdue is the "new program now " nearly 2 years ??? I'm not holding my breath on that one !

I had forgotten that they were originally going to roll out the new program in March 2015.

 

I know I was very lucky to be able to receive a rebate on my March cruise this year, and even qualified to earn credit toward my upcoming cruise in October.

 

So, they're not doing rebates now, but what are they doing? The wording is ambiguous. Let's say I play a lot on my cruise in October and get a free cruise certificate during the cruise. Will Club Royale do anything on top of that, or is that the sole offer now?

 

I have to admit that I'm confused because of my mid-March cruise which straddled the expiration date of the old rebate program. Not only did I get a certificate (which they let me apply as a $1,000 credit toward my cruise in March 2017), but they also applied a credit based on my play (like a rebate) toward my October 2016 cruise. I'm thinking that was a one-time deal because my cruise started before March 15 when the rebate program ended, but it's all so fuzzy and unclear how this stuff is supposed to work now.

[troykahack]

So then even though I didn't have XXX number of points, Club Royale still recognized that I had played at some level and wanted to lure me back with offers of free drinks while playing and a discounted room?

 

Even though I didn't qualify for anything while I was on board?

 

HMMMMMM, interesting!

 

Maybe

[aubreyc1988]

it's killing me that i cant earn mlife points because I booked with a TA in a block of rooms. Pretty dumb rule, imho

[Daghis]

So then even though I didn't have XXX number of points, Club Royale still recognized that I had played at some level and wanted to lure me back with offers of free drinks while playing and a discounted room?

My friend with whom I usually go on cruises isn't much of a gambler. He may earn 250 points during the week.

 

Last fall, he received a few free cruise offers from Club Royale, even though he's far from being a member. It was clear that they were trying to expand their membership.

[canuckcruiselover]

and the first person you speak to does not give you a decent rebate, call again later. It seems that different agents have different criteria for deciding on rebates or it's just arbitrary. On my last cruise, I played and spent very little as I was with my grandson. The first agent told me I would get $300 rebate. The next day I was told I would get $800. Fortunately, I didn't book with the first one!

[RFerrington]

Marc, I had a similar situation to yours. I sailed in Feb. while the "cash rebate period" was still in effect...and they ended up giving both Dan and me a cash rebate in the form of price reductions for our Christmas Navigator cruise PLUS we both received future cruise certificates (FCC) which we applied to the outstanding balance on our Feb 2017 Harmony cruise (stackable - YAY !). But I think you're right. I don't think there will be any more "double dipping" now. I think all we can look forward to are the FCC's - and, of course, the reduced casino rates on the cruise itself.

 

The discussions of arbitrary price reductions on cruises are confusing to me. I have been told, more than once, that Casino rates on a cruise are set by the revenue department and they are what they are - and are the same for everyone (who qualifies for them). So I'm somewhat perplexed by quotes coming from CR for arbitrary price reductions. This is a "perk" with which I am unfamiliar.

 

There must be a new level to this that I have no experience with. Perhaps players who are in CR but not VIP members ? No idea

 

Raye

[svillager]

I am (or was) CR VIP.

 

I have several cruises coming up so I have been on the phone a few times with CR in the past few weeks.

 

I recently got certificates from a July Empress B2B - they no longer had sailings on the certificates, just dollars off. After applying the certificates to existing cruises - which they gave me a rough time with - as the certificates said they had to be used for sailings before 1/1 - and both of my sailings were in January 2017. Finally they applied it.

 

A few weeks later I was interested in possibly booking another cruise in 2017 and asked what they could do with my casino play, that could be applied (I had cruised 5 times already in 2016, with 6 more to sail) - I was told that they no longer give a discount for casino play, only for the certificates.

 

Tami

[RFerrington]

I was told that they no longer give a discount for casino play, only for the certificates.

 

Tami

 

I think this is true. Did they not offer you a casino rate for the cruise you were interested in ?

 

If I were you, I would call back (call Club Royale, which I'm sure you did the first time) and ask them for the casino rate on the sailing that you're interested in.

 

Do you have a VIP account number ? I know they say they're no longer using the VIP account numbers, but they still ask me for mine from time-to-time. If you do, then you should be eligible for the casino rate...at least, as far as I understand the program....

[Daghis]

Just a general comment...

 

Isn't it sad that those of us whom the cruise line probably wants to sail as much as possible are so stymied by the program, such as it is today, that we're seeking information from each other rather than being able to get the answer from what should be the definitive source?

 

I keep thinking about NCL's Casinos at Sea. Their program is well-defined, and they are happy to offer comped cruises to what sens seems like a larger portion of their gambling guests. I have to wonder what business RCI is losing due to the confusion over Club Royale and the benefits it offers its VIP members, if such a classification even exists now. I know that I've sailed NCL once already thanks to a superior offer from Casinos at Sea, and I have another (holiday) cruise booked with them.

 

Edited to add...

 

I hadn't actually checked with Club Royale to see what they might offer, so I just called them to find out what they could do for a comparable cruise.

 

What I've got booked with NCL is Norwegian Getaway (launched in 2014) for a 7-night New Year's cruise on 12/26. The total we're paying for two people is about $940 and that includes the fare, taxes, fees, gratuities, and also their alcoholic beverage package.

 

Club Royale just told me that Freedom of the Seas (launched in 2006) for a 6-night Christmas cruise on 12/24, in a comparable balcony cabin to what we're getting on NCL, the casino rate would be a total price of $2,896 including fare, taxes, fees, and gratuities. I had no special offer available to comp this cruise even partially.

 

This is with comparable play in the casino (based on number of slot points earned over the course of prior cruises) on both cruise lines.

Edited August 25, 2016 by Daghis

[svillager]

I have a CR VIP number. I have been a VIP member for a few years, but nowhere's near as long as others. They did offer me casino rates on the cruises I was interested in, but usually they also will give you an additional discount based on your play. That's what they said was discontinued.

 

I decided to not book and wait as I have several final payments coming up - and see if I can do better.

 

However I also have discovered that sometimes if you call back, you get a totally different answer.

[RFerrington]

Marc are you saying that CR did not offer you a CR rate on the 24 Dec cruise on Freedom or did they offer you a CR but nothing more ?

[Daghis]

Marc are you saying that CR did not offer you a CR rate on the 24 Dec cruise on Freedom or did they offer you a CR but nothing more ?

 

They offered the casino rate and nothing else. They did say that the casino rate was better than the Crown & Anchor (balcony discount) rate.

[RFerrington]

Yeah, unfortunately that's the way it's gonna be now, I think. That and the FCC's is it from what I can tell.

[Lanweaver]

Sorry your wrong again, hope your get your meds squared away....:rolleyes::rolleyes:

 

I'm not going to do the whole back and forth thing, so if you have some kind of factual based response then I will gladly listen.

 

I am speaking from first hand experience from only a couple of weeks ago so until then you're just an idiot who thinks they know it all, but actually doesn't. :rolleyes:

[pepster1]

Was it $5 for 3 spaces plus the bonus space for $15 or each space $15? How long did you play each day?

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums