Casino at Sea..-Free Cruise

[1smudslide]

I called cas to see if it would be worth to switch my upcoming cruise to the new promotion. I then asked about a September cruise. She asked if I had a certificate for that one. When I told her I didn't, she gave me full price.

I did move up from lucky to the next level during my last cruise and had $150 taken off my bill.

[hpecorari]

There are three numbers for NCL - some get confused as to what number to call:

 

NCL - normal everyday bookings: 1-866-234-7351

 

NCL - For certificate award reservations: 1-888-785-8259

 

NCL CAS - For casino information and reservations: 1-877-752-9625

They are only open Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

 

Harriet

Edited November 15, 2014 by hpecorari

[Mikkar]

My comp cruise from land based casino, in April, I racked up about 3000 points, and this past one in September, I racked up over 4000 points. I'm picking up a certificate from Foxwoods tomorrow. I wanted to avoid going since I have so much to do for the holiday. I called last Sunday and asked for a price for an inside on the cruise I plan on booking with my certificate. They told be full price. I really don't get it. I'll just pick up the certificate and call back to book. I will be booking the Dawn in September to Bermuda again. Maybe it's too popular, I don't know.

 

My first 2 cruises were with certificates from Foxwoods. I don't remember how many points I racked up on the first cruise on the Epic last December but I think I must have been close to the "Hot" level. After the second cruise on the Breakaway in March, I reached the "Hot" level and I was close to the "Golden" level (somewhere around 13,000 points). I called CAS for a rate on a cruise on the Breakaway in October and they comped me a balcony cabin. I also received some postcard offers and booked the Breakaway on Nov. 30th with a comped mini-suite and $200.00 in free play.

I'm really surprised that they didn't offer to comp you something. Maybe you should try to call again. When I called after the cruise in March, they offered me an oceanview cabin and when I called back the next day, they offered me a balcony. At the very least, you will have the certificate from Foxwoods that you can use and enjoy the perks you earned (the best one is the free dinner in a specialty restaurant; they don't mention it on the website but it also includes a bottle of wine).

[sjbdtz]

There are three numbers for NCL - some get confused as to what number to call:

 

NCL - normal everyday bookings: 1-866-234-7351

 

NCL - For certificate award reservations: 1-888-785-8259

 

NCL CAS - For casino information and reservations: 1-877-752-9625

They are only open Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

 

Harriet

 

 

 

Precisely. If you called the 2nd one, they won't be able to offer you anything, they can only redeem the certificate or you pay full price....BUT if you call that third number, you may find a comp cabin without needing the certificate at all.

 

 

Certificates are fine, but they usually have black-out dates. Comp cabins from the CAS dept. don't.

 

 

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[1smudslide]

Thanks, I'll try that.

[CasinoCruzGirl]

Definitely call the third number. I had less pts than you and receive comp cabins via CAS. No need for certificates anymore.

[TeamPants]

Yes.....Next time let them take some charges off your bill, you get much more that way.

 

I was just on the Getaway on a free CAS cruise from a land based casino. It was my first trip. On the last day I asked the person at the players club if I had any comps available. They said no because I had been playing my earned comps. I asked how many points I had earned and what comps I might have earned if I hadn't used them in the machine, he said $35. When I checked my final bill I had a $200 on board credit?? Are the CAS comps different from the players club?

[Ruthk]

There are three numbers for NCL - some get confused as to what number to call:

 

NCL - normal everyday bookings: 1-866-234-7351

 

NCL - For certificate award reservations: 1-888-785-8259

 

NCL CAS - For casino information and reservations: 1-877-752-9625

They are only open Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

 

Harriet

 

I am new to all of this. My recent free offer from Atlantic City had a list of 10 different NCL ships for me to sail with, but the number I had to call was 877-742-9521 - you didn't list this number, and now I am confused??? What number were we given?

(We booked the Getaway.)

[soaringfalcon]

I'm going to guess your first language is not English? My husband's first language is Italian and 35 years ago I used to have to decipher what he was saying. Let me try here.....

 

Nice try but nope he's a triple grade A American as he claims in his lengthy, non decipherable signature. I finally had to put him on ignore as it takes up half the page and it never makes any sense to me.

[garycarla]

Nice try but nope he's a triple grade A American as he claims in his lengthy, non decipherable signature. I finally had to put him on ignore as it takes up half the page and it never makes any sense to me.

 

Somebody, maybe we will figure out where he/she is coming from.

 

Troll maybe?

[DevonianCruiser]

I think CAS is completely pot luck and there isn't a lot you can do about it.

 

On a two week cruise this summer my dad and me played quite a bit. He played a bit more in terms of hours but at far lower play. When we came to the end he had around 10,000 points from memory the (they doubled his!) and mine were around 2,000. We both spoke to the casino host as my average was $150 a hand and his $50 to $60. Even though he played say 3 to 4 hours a day and mine was say 2 to 3 hours, it didn't seem right. The host wasn't interested at all and that was the impression many passengers had all cruise.

 

I realise land based is different but every month the Wynn in Vegas emails me a free stay offer in a Encore Suite whenever I want it. When there they comp all my meals as well. Sometimes I win, sometimes I loose, yet i'm always treated the same.

 

This summer I left the Jade $4k up and I wonder whether that had something to do with it! Who knows eh?

[garycarla]

Getting the pit critter to rate a table player correctly is a real challenge. It sounds like they just rated him better.

[DevonianCruiser]

Getting the pit critter to rate a table player correctly is a real challenge. It sounds like they just rated him better.

 

I think you're right Gary, my dad is always asking where I don't really bother. Probably a good thing though as I'd end up getting a cheap or free cruise and loosing a load in the casino :eek:

[sjbdtz]

I think CAS is completely pot luck and there isn't a lot you can do about it.

 

On a two week cruise this summer my dad and me played quite a bit. He played a bit more in terms of hours but at far lower play. When we came to the end he had around 10,000 points from memory the (they doubled his!) and mine were around 2,000. We both spoke to the casino host as my average was $150 a hand and his $50 to $60. Even though he played say 3 to 4 hours a day and mine was say 2 to 3 hours, it didn't seem right. The host wasn't interested at all and that was the impression many passengers had all cruise.

 

 

This summer I left the Jade $4k up and I wonder whether that had something to do with it! Who knows eh?

 

 

I can help with this a little bit.

 

If your dad had 10,000 points, only 5,000 of them were 'earned'. The other 5,000 points (worth effectively $50) were a bonus for moving from one tier, to the next. So when he went from Lucky to Hot, they accorded him 5,000 bonus points.

 

You get 10,000 bonus points when you go from Hot to Golden (here's a tip.... if you're close to tier, but not going to need the next tier's VIP stuff...say you're already travelling in a suite for instance.... better to stay at the lower tier, and then move up on day 1 of the next cruise. You'll get the better drink card right away, plus the $100 value bonus points).

 

Your play on the Jade had nothing to do with anything. It isn't the casino host who does the rating, it's the pit boss.

 

Were you & your dad playing the same game? Was your $150 AVERAGE bet, or periodic? Was that the bet you played when the pit supervisor initially rated you?

 

And, it's been said here before... the casino is FAR more interested in how long you stay, because statistically THAT is where they get you....slowly, and over time. So time matters. If you played 1/2 as much (2 hours vs 4 hours), then it makes sense that you had 1/2 as many points 2,000 vs 5,000 (ish).

 

 

 

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[DevonianCruiser]

I can help with this a little bit.

 

If your dad had 10,000 points, only 5,000 of them were 'earned'. The other 5,000 points (worth effectively $50) were a bonus for moving from one tier, to the next. So when he went from Lucky to Hot, they accorded him 5,000 bonus points.

 

You get 10,000 bonus points when you go from Hot to Golden (here's a tip.... if you're close to tier, but not going to need the next tier's VIP stuff...say you're already travelling in a suite for instance.... better to stay at the lower tier, and then move up on day 1 of the next cruise. You'll get the better drink card right away, plus the $100 value bonus points).

 

Your play on the Jade had nothing to do with anything. It isn't the casino host who does the rating, it's the pit boss.

 

Were you & your dad playing the same game? Was your $150 AVERAGE bet, or periodic? Was that the bet you played when the pit supervisor initially rated you?

 

And, it's been said here before... the casino is FAR more interested in how long you stay, because statistically THAT is where they get you....slowly, and over time. So time matters. If you played 1/2 as much (2 hours vs 4 hours), then it makes sense that you had 1/2 as many points 2,000 vs 5,000 (ish).

 

 

 

.

 

Thanks that makes a lot of sense. My average was $150 at least. We play all the games, I'm mainly black jack though and dad mainly 3 card poker and roulette.

[clcjdn]

Thanks that makes a lot of sense. My average was $150 at least. We play all the games, I'm mainly black jack though and dad mainly 3 card poker and roulette.

 

That could be the other missing piece.....both of those games have higher statistical loss %s than black jack when figuring theoretical loss.

[sjbdtz]

Thanks that makes a lot of sense. My average was $150 at least. We play all the games, I'm mainly black jack though and dad mainly 3 card poker and roulette.

 

 

There's the other part of the equation!

 

http://wizardofodds.com/gambling/house-edge/

 

Blackjack is house advantage of 0.28% whereas 3 card & roulette are 7.28 and 5.26% respectively.

 

The casino makes a LOT more money on your dad's play, than on yours.

 

 

 

Stephen

 

 

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[DevonianCruiser]

Thanks guys, one of the reasons I play BJ is that I know there's more chance of winning than on the other games.

 

Or should I say I've more chance of loosing less :p

[Mikkar]

I can help with this a little bit.

 

If your dad had 10,000 points, only 5,000 of them were 'earned'. The other 5,000 points (worth effectively $50) were a bonus for moving from one tier, to the next. So when he went from Lucky to Hot, they accorded him 5,000 bonus points.

 

You get 10,000 bonus points when you go from Hot to Golden (here's a tip.... if you're close to tier, but not going to need the next tier's VIP stuff...say you're already travelling in a suite for instance.... better to stay at the lower tier, and then move up on day 1 of the next cruise. You'll get the better drink card right away, plus the $100 value bonus points).

 

Do you know how many bonus points you get when you go from Golden to VIP?

[CantSwim63]

There's the other part of the equation!

 

http://wizardofodds.com/gambling/house-edge/

 

Blackjack is house advantage of 0.28% whereas 3 card & roulette are 7.28 and 5.26% respectively.

 

The casino makes a LOT more money on your dad's play, than on yours.

 

 

 

Stephen

 

 

.

Just a stats note that if NCL's blackjack payout is 6/5 rather than 3/2 or has restricted split or double down rules the house/ship edge changes dramatically. And the 0.28 is for perfect play with "liberal" vegas rules. LOL, only relevant to OP if 6/5 or restrictions but still given points under 3/2.

[sjbdtz]

 

Do you know how many bonus points you get when you go from Golden to VIP?

 

I'm due to do this at the end of January, so I can let you know in Feb...

 

Stephen

 

 

.

[Mikkar]

I'm due to do this at the end of January, so I can let you know in Feb...

 

Stephen

 

 

.

 

We leave on the Breakaway in 2 weeks and I think I have approx. 28.000 points. If the slots are good to me, I might make it to VIP this time but I'm not pushing it because the perks for VIP are not much better than Golden. If I do make it, I'll try to figure out how many bonus points they give me and I'll let you know.

[hpecorari]

 

Do you know how many bonus points you get when you go from Golden to VIP?

 

When I went from Golden to VIP it was 50,000. Not sure if it's changed since a bit over a year ago.

 

Harriet

Edited November 17, 2014 by hpecorari
corrected 5,000 to 50,000

[hpecorari]

 

When I went from Golden to VIP it was 50,000. Not sure if it's changed since a bit over a year ago.

 

Harriet

 

Oh, forgot to add.....

 

I was told the 'moving up bonus points' don't go towards your tier.

 

Harriet

[sjbdtz]

 

Oh, forgot to add.....

 

I was told the 'moving up bonus points' don't go towards your tier.

 

Harriet

 

 

True....but 50,000 bonus points is $500 OBC.... guess I'm going to the spa! :)

 

 

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