Casino card/free drinks

[MrMike45]

We were on the breakaway last year, and both myself and the wife got Casino cards and earned enough points for the free drink card while in the casino.

 

Same boat...but not sure how it works. Are our cards/points/free drink cards still valid? Or do we have to start over and get new ones when we leave Sunday on the Breakaway

[Fishbait17]

We were on the breakaway last year, and both myself and the wife got Casino cards and earned enough points for the free drink card while in the casino.

 

Same boat...but not sure how it works. Are our cards/points/free drink cards still valid? Or do we have to start over and get new ones when we leave Sunday on the Breakaway

 

Did you book thru CAS? Exactly when and how many points did you earn on your last sailing? Drink cards are only valid for one specific sailing.

 

If you are CAS Hot level or higher http://www.ncl.com/freestyle-cruise/casinos-at-sea/players-club you will have the drink card for the level you have achieved. If you got the cards last time from earning 1500 points each, and did not earn at least 5001 points in the last year, you will be lucky level and will have to earn it again on your sailing (leftover points do not count for the 1500 points needed for the card). If you did not cash in your points last trip, have them pulled forward (although it seems automatic on the Breakaway from past BA sailings) and top them off to have at least 2500 points to cash in at end of sailing (see note above about leftover points and the drink card though).

 

Robin

Edited May 2, 2014 by Fishbait17

[hbk597]

We were on the breakaway last year, and both myself and the wife got Casino cards and earned enough points for the free drink card while in the casino.

 

Same boat...but not sure how it works. Are our cards/points/free drink cards still valid? Or do we have to start over and get new ones when we leave Sunday on the Breakaway

 

Your points from the last cruise do not carry over.

 

The first time my wife and I cruised with NCL (on the Epic) we also got enough points (JUST enough, with approx 1600) for a free drink card, for drinks in the casino only of course. When we went to book our 2nd cruise, we phoned the "Casinos at Sea" department of NCL and booked our cruise through there. They offered us 20% off the regular cruise price in addition to a free drink card for both of us delivered to our room upon arrival.

 

If you don't / didn't book through Casinos at Sea, I am thinking you will have to rake up enough points again on your cruise before you can get a free drink card.

[MrMike45]

thanks...but wow, I didn't even thing to book thru Casinos at Sea, just went directly thur NCL and personal cruise consultant. Think it's too late (we leave in 2 days) to call and ask about the free drink card? I think I had around 3000 pts and my wife 2000

[hbk597]

Likely too late yes; however, never hurts to try! The CAS phone number is 1-877-PLAY-NCL or 1-877-752-9625...

[CasinoCruzGirl]

I went on BA this past march through a land based casino comp and got drink cards upon my arrival. Booked the BA again for this coming November booked through CAS. Offered a oceanview comp but upgraded and told I will have drink cards again upon arrival. I got approximately 2,000 pts on my last cruise. I asked several times to confirm about the drink cards and told absolutely will get them.

[MrMike45]

gonna give it a shot...thanks all

[skeeter195]

Some points do carryover. I always cash in my points as early as possible the last night. Anything you earn after the cashout will then be carried over to your next cruise. The past 2 cruises I took, I carried over 2200 and 1850. That way you have a nice jump start to your earned points for your next cruise. It helps you to get to the next level that much faster.

[hpecorari]

Some points do carryover. I always cash in my points as early as possible the last night. Anything you earn after the cashout will then be carried over to your next cruise. The past 2 cruises I took, I carried over 2200 and 1850. That way you have a nice jump start to your earned points for your next cruise. It helps you to get to the next level that much faster.

 

My understanding is that points carried over from one cruise to another does not count towards your drink card points required in the current cruise you are on.

 

Harriet

[skeeter195]

Harriet, you may be right. Look at it like this way though. When I carry over say 2000 points, I am already at Hot or Golden level and will have a drink card. Now on my last cruise in March I carried over 1850. April 1st started a new earning year. My Golden status will be good for this year, but my comps are determined from cruise to cruise. So if I do not gamble much on this upcoming cruise, I will only need 3150 to get 5000(usually the number needed for a comped cruise next time). Anyway, I knew that I would not make VIP on my last cruise so that is why I elected to cash out and carryover the 1850 that I earned from 6-11pm the last night.

[CasinoCruzGirl]

Harriet, you may be right. Look at it like this way though. When I carry over say 2000 points, I am already at Hot or Golden level and will have a drink card. Now on my last cruise in March I carried over 1850. April 1st started a new earning year. My Golden status will be good for this year, but my comps are determined from cruise to cruise. So if I do not gamble much on this upcoming cruise, I will only need 3150 to get 5000(usually the number needed for a comped cruise next time). Anyway, I knew that I would not make VIP on my last cruise so that is why I elected to cash out and carryover the 1850 that I earned from 6-11pm the last night.

 

 

I'm a little confused. You say you need 5000 pts for a comp cruise. I only had a little over 2000 I think and received a comp oceanview for my next cruise on the BA. For a shorter trip it would be a balcony cabin that is comped

[skeeter195]

Wow, 2000 points got you a comped oceanview, that's awsome, who do you talk to when you call? I can only get mini-suites with 18,000 points. I was told that 5000 would get me an inside on some cruises. I guess I need to call my rep back and push for the suite that I really want.

[MrMike45]

So here's the update. What turned into a what the heck, let me try has now turned into me being fairly pissed off.

 

- I earned nearly 4000 pts last cruise. My wife a little over 2000.

- As this is not a "new booking" there is nothing they can do for us in terms of drink cards or perks

- If I earn 1000 pts, I will be able to move up to the next tier and earn a free drink card. But that drink card will not go into effect this cruise, it will only go into effect our next one. We each still need to earn 1500 pts this cruise for free drinks.

- Our next cruise is in October on the gem. The next tier/free drink card will not transfer as we have not been on the gem/gambled in their casino in 2 years.

 

I kindly told them that this is horse*****. That when you go to a land casino, you get free drinks for gambling. Further more, the cruises we take are 7-9-12 days...when we go to AC it's like 1-2 days. We spend WAY more in NCL casinos than AC casinos, yet we get comped free suites at the Borgata and Harrahs. So since this isn't a new booking...let's forgot this cruise. Our October one, we only have a deposit down. If I cancel today, and book thru Casinos at Sea, what type of deal could they give us.

 

"We can give you a free upgrade from an oceanview to a balcony room" was their response.

 

I kindly told them that's great, but we have a mini-suite booked. So can they give us a discount or another upgrade?

 

"No sir, sorry"

 

Can we atleast be guaranteed free drink cards?

 

"No sir, sorry. You haven't gambled on the gem in 2 years"

 

SMH...terrible

[skeeter195]

MrMike, when you get on the Gem have the host call and get your points transferred form the Breakaway to the Gem. I did the exact same thing this year. I supposedly had no points until the call was made. Just ask the guys on the Gem, they are great, Breakaway not so much.

[CasinoCruzGirl]

Wow, 2000 points got you a comped oceanview, that's awsome, who do you talk to when you call? I can only get mini-suites with 18,000 points. I was told that 5000 would get me an inside on some cruises. I guess I need to call my rep back and push for the suite that I really want.

 

 

18,000 pts and you get an inside? Wow. I don't know maybe has to do with how much time I spent in the casino. I was I. There a lot maybe not playing as much $$$$ as you but maybe a lot more time? Maybe that's part of it.

[MrMike45]

MrMike, when you get on the Gem have the host call and get your points transferred form the Breakaway to the Gem. I did the exact same thing this year. I supposedly had no points until the call was made. Just ask the guys on the Gem, they are great, Breakaway not so much.

 

Thanks for the tip...will try that on the Gem

[Fishbait17]

So here's the update. What turned into a what the heck, let me try has now turned into me being fairly pissed off.

 

- I earned nearly 4000 pts last cruise. My wife a little over 2000.

- As this is not a "new booking" there is nothing they can do for us in terms of drink cards or perks

- If I earn 1000 pts, I will be able to move up to the next tier and earn a free drink card. But that drink card will not go into effect this cruise, it will only go into effect our next one. We each still need to earn 1500 pts this cruise for free drinks.

- Our next cruise is in October on the gem. The next tier/free drink card will not transfer as we have not been on the gem/gambled in their casino in 2 years.

 

I kindly told them that this is horse*****. That when you go to a land casino, you get free drinks for gambling. Further more, the cruises we take are 7-9-12 days...when we go to AC it's like 1-2 days. We spend WAY more in NCL casinos than AC casinos, yet we get comped free suites at the Borgata and Harrahs. So since this isn't a new booking...let's forgot this cruise. Our October one, we only have a deposit down. If I cancel today, and book thru Casinos at Sea, what type of deal could they give us.

 

"We can give you a free upgrade from an oceanview to a balcony room" was their response.

 

I kindly told them that's great, but we have a mini-suite booked. So can they give us a discount or another upgrade?

 

"No sir, sorry"

 

Can we atleast be guaranteed free drink cards?

 

"No sir, sorry. You haven't gambled on the gem in 2 years"

 

SMH...terrible

 

What you were told (or understood) is partially correct, partially not.. I know the program pretty well, and agree completely with what they told you about your cruise leaving in two days. Had you originally booked it with CAS (or transferred the booking to them much earlier), things might be different, but you did not (and really cannot do much at this late date). Moving up tiers in CAS isnt supposed to count on the current cruise - although you can ask the casino manager on board, they *may* issue you the drink card once you pass 5001 points - they have done this in the past on occasion.

 

As for your NEXT sailing on the Gem in October, something isn't right here. The way to handle this would be to cold-call CAS and inquire about a new booking for your current dates for your same category. Once you get a price (likely 20% discount as I believe it is a long sailing over 7 days, correct?), then book it and cancel the old reservation, or, if you originally booked directly through NCL, have it transferred over to CAS and price adjusted. Simple. By cold-calling for price, they don't know you are already booked until after you price it. The rest of what he said about the upgrade, etc, is general hogwash - either you get a discount, or a BOGO deal on a specific category, or a comped room in a specific category (you can pay to upgrade either a BOGO or comp).

 

As for the rest of it (haven't gambled on the Gem in two years) - absolute hogwash. I just spoke to my CAS agent this morning, and currently have 26,000+ points earned in the last year on the Breakaway and the Gem, and I am Golden level. I was Golden in March when I sailed on the Gem, and had NEVER sailed that ship before. The rules of the CAS program are clearly outlined on the page I quoted above and the dates are clearly listed - as long as your play on any NCL ship falls within those dates, it is accumulated in one account, it does not matter which NCL ship(s) you earned them on. Someone here misunderstood what was being asked. http://www.ncl.com/freestyle-cruise/casinos-at-sea/players-club

 

CAS is pretty phenomenal, but sometimes you need to call back and get a different agent (just like regular NCL). Try again.

 

Robin

[skeeter195]

18000 got me a mini-suite. I was told that the baseline for most cruises was 5000 for an inside. Your points are determined by time and average bet. Slots are computerized, but tables are still manually entered by the floor or sometimes dealers.

 

Your welcome MrMike. The guys on the Gem seem to want to take care of you. The Breakaway hosts seemed like I was bothering them.

[skeeter195]

Sorry to stray a liitel here, but I have question for Robin. You seem to be in the know. I am right around your play level it seems. 14000 points on the Breakaway in Oct and 13000 on the Gem in Feb, plus the added points. If you don't mind me asking what are you being comped? I get Mini's, and the cost to upgrade to a 2 bedroom suite is $800 person, I was told on the Gem that I should have no problem getting comped a suite, but when I called, no go.

[MrMike45]

@Fishbait & @Skeeter

 

Thank you both again for your help and tips. We're psyched for this cruise so will take your advice when we get back and try to get a discounted/comped rate for the Gem cruise (yes it's a 9 day Robin) and if so, cancel our booking thru NCL. And am putting a note in my phone calendar (since I will likely forget) to ask to transfer points once on the Gem.

 

Either way, it's not like we're not going to gamble on this cruise...just used to casinos giving you some type of perk for us giving them money. So was a little peeved when the agent I spoke to basically said "sorry, tough" to me.

 

Thanks again, Mike

[CasinoCruzGirl]

Robin sure does seem to know the ropes. I'm not gonna look a gift horse in the mouth (or however the saying goes lol) how I'm getting such good deals I have no idea. The only thing I can think of is how much time I spend in the casino.

[Fishbait17]

Wow, 2000 points got you a comped oceanview, that's awsome, who do you talk to when you call? I can only get mini-suites with 18,000 points. I was told that 5000 would get me an inside on some cruises. I guess I need to call my rep back and push for the suite that I really want.

 

18,000 pts and you get an inside? Wow. I don't know maybe has to do with how much time I spent in the casino. I was I. There a lot maybe not playing as much $$$$ as you but maybe a lot more time? Maybe that's part of it.

 

There is much more to comps than points. First, it's how many points you earn per cruise day, not in the whole year. Second, it's not actually the points earned but your theoretical loss per cruise day that really counts. Then there are differences in length if cruises taken, length of cruises you are trying to book, destinations of the sailings you want (Bermuda and Alaska get less comp value), etc. Then there are special sailings where you get more bang for your buck (like getting high level suites on a CTN, etc). That's why it varies so much from person to person.

 

For example, on a cruise to nowhere on the BA in January, I earned 5293 points. My theoretical loss (calculated by CAS based on game played, avg bet, time played) was $3723. My actual losses were less than that. Now, CTNs are treated differently than longer cruises, and they expect much more play per day on a CTN than on a seven day sailing, but you can see the difference between theoretical and points. Theoretical losses vary hugely by game played. On a normal seven day sailing, I generally earn about 10,000 points on slots, but my theoretical loss is only about $7000 (my actual losses vary but very roughly average the theoretical loss). That brings my theoretical loss to about $1000 per day. For that, I am offered mini suites on most 7-9 day sailings, occasionally a balcony in Alaska or Bermuda, sometimes a suite on special sailings. The CAS threshhold for getting a suite comped for my next seven day cruise is about $1200 per day in theoretical loss, or $8500 on a seven day cruise. If I bumped up my play a bit, I can qualify for comped suites.

 

Points/CAS levels have little to do with comps. Easiest to compare two people who let's say sail the same trips year to year (not the same as each other, just the same as they did themselves the year before). I have 26,000 points for the year, meaning I am Golden. I earned these on two regular sailings and a CTN. but someone else could have that amount after taking 12 cruises in the same year, running through the same amount of $$$ over the year. So, we have BOTH earned the perks that come with Golden status. BUT, comparing the same two people, I have earned those points sailing 16 days, the other may have earned them over 84 days. So, would they expect to get the same comped cabin for 84 days as I do for 16 days? No, can't work that way - no casino will comp them for 84 days free on a ship at the same level as someone who contributed the same amount and is only getting comped 16 days on the ship. Hope that makes sense.

 

Skeeter, if you earned 18,000 points in one seven day sailing, and were only comped a mini suite for your next seven day sailing, you must be playing a game with a VERY low house edge. I suspect that the 18,000 points was for more than seven days of play (or more than one sailing). Maybe you are looking at sailing to Bermuda or Alaska? or maybe you are looking to book a longer sailing? If not, call CAS and ask them what your theoretical loss was on that one seven day sailing, as I think you would be over the $1200 theo per day limit to be comped a suite on a "normal" seven day sailing.

 

Robin

[Fishbait17]

Sorry to stray a liitel here, but I have question for Robin. You seem to be in the know. I am right around your play level it seems. 14000 points on the Breakaway in Oct and 13000 on the Gem in Feb, plus the added points. If you don't mind me asking what are you being comped? I get Mini's, and the cost to upgrade to a 2 bedroom suite is $800 person, I was told on the Gem that I should have no problem getting comped a suite, but when I called, no go.

 

Just saw this after I posted... I am comped (7-9 day sailings) mostly mini suites, balcony cabins for Bermuda and Alaska. Since your last sailing was on the Gem, I am guessing it was a nine day sailing? Do you earn your points on slots or on tables or a combination?

 

They comp your next sailing based on the last sailing you took. So, Based on rough calculations by guessing that the Gem was nine days and you play slots, I would average your theoretical loss as ~$1015 per day.. $1200 daily theoretical loss per day would earn you a suite. You are pretty much exactly at the same level of play as me.

 

If by some chance, you play tables, your theoretical loss could be much lower, based on house edge.

 

I am curious as to how close my calculations are. Call CAS and ask them your theoretical for the last sailing! :D

 

Robin

[CasinoCruzGirl]

There is much more to comps than points. First, it's how many points you earn per cruise day, not in the whole year. Second, it's not actually the points earned but your theoretical loss per cruise day that really counts. Then there are differences in length if cruises taken, length of cruises you are trying to book, destinations of the sailings you want (Bermuda and Alaska get less comp value), etc. Then there are special sailings where you get more bang for your buck (like getting high level suites on a CTN, etc). That's why it varies so much from person to person.

 

For example, on a cruise to nowhere on the BA in January, I earned 5293 points. My theoretical loss (calculated by CAS based on game played, avg bet, time played) was $3723. My actual losses were less than that. Now, CTNs are treated differently than longer cruises, and they expect much more play per day on a CTN than on a seven day sailing, but you can see the difference between theoretical and points. Theoretical losses vary hugely by game played. On a normal seven day sailing, I generally earn about 10,000 points on slots, but my theoretical loss is only about $7000 (my actual losses vary but very roughly average the theoretical loss). That brings my theoretical loss to about $1000 per day. For that, I am offered mini suites on most 7-9 day sailings, occasionally a balcony in Alaska or Bermuda, sometimes a suite on special sailings. The CAS threshhold for getting a suite comped for my next seven day cruise is about $1200 per day in theoretical loss, or $8500 on a seven day cruise. If I bumped up my play a bit, I can qualify for comped suites.

 

Points/CAS levels have little to do with comps. Easiest to compare two people who let's say sail the same trips year to year (not the same as each other, just the same as they did themselves the year before). I have 26,000 points for the year, meaning I am Golden. I earned these on two regular sailings and a CTN. but someone else could have that amount after taking 12 cruises in the same year, running through the same amount of $$$ over the year. So, we have BOTH earned the perks that come with Golden status. BUT, comparing the same two people, I have earned those points sailing 16 days, the other may have earned them over 84 days. So, would they expect to get the same comped cabin for 84 days as I do for 16 days? No, can't work that way - no casino will comp them for 84 days free on a ship at the same level as someone who contributed the same amount and is only getting comped 16 days on the ship. Hope that makes sense.

 

Skeeter, if you earned 18,000 points in one seven day sailing, and were only comped a mini suite for your next seven day sailing, you must be playing a game with a VERY low house edge. I suspect that the 18,000 points was for more than seven days of play (or more than one sailing). Maybe you are looking at sailing to Bermuda or Alaska? or maybe you are looking to book a longer sailing? If not, call CAS and ask them what your theoretical loss was on that one seven day sailing, as I think you would be over the $1200 theo per day limit to be comped a suite on a "normal" seven day sailing.

 

Robin

 

Boy your good lol

[Fishbait17]

I'm a little confused. You say you need 5000 pts for a comp cruise. I only had a little over 2000 I think and received a comp oceanview for my next cruise on the BA. For a shorter trip it would be a balcony cabin that is comped

 

Part of this is "fresh meat" syndrome played by CAS. They see that your play is promising, and are hedging their bets (pun intended ;)) that by comping you, you will play more and keep you coming back. Also, the BA in November is the Bahamas sailing, correct? This is a sailing that generally gets you better comps than some others, as it's off-season and generally a sailing that people will gamble more on (one of my favorite getaways for a gambling cruise too!). Also, not sure what you play, but your theoretical losses could be pretty high. Still a great comp for the points!

 

Robin