Casino Cruises/Premier Questions

[Cruisegirl6]

Well, my other half got a free cruise that we have to take by September 30th only that we went away in April and just got back from the Valor on May 8th cruise and have a land based trip to Aruba booked in July not sure if we take the free cruise, my question is, if we don't take the cruise would we have a high probablity getting a special casino deal for future time? If we do take the cruise has anybody taken the free casino cruise offer and still received another free cruise on that one? Just curious how this works, and if we don't take it is it possible we never received such offers again? We are booked but not sure if we want to take another vacation this soon.

[lottsomom]

We get offers for premier cruises about every month and a half. My husband gets a free inside offer and cash, I get a reduced rate and cash, so we usually take his free (sometimes upgrade) and I still get my cash. There has been times that we don't take any offer due to work, but we have taken 2 cruises this year so far in March, April, coming up next week and June. We still get offers if we don't take any when they are offered.

Edited May 17, 2015 by lottsomom

[Border Granny]

We had received numerous premiere cruise offers before we were finally able to go on one. My husband and I both received free future cruises the last night of the cruise from the casino host, which we ended up not using due to timing. We continue to get the Premier offers very often.

[BigB0882]

We had a bounce back offer that we weren't able to take advantage of and within a month or two we got the Pack and Play offer. It wasn't a free room but was practically the same since we got a balcony for $120 per person. So I would say the odds are good you will get future offers. Keep looking, I check my VIFP offers constantly. I don't think we will be cruising for a year as we save and prepare for our European cruise but you never know when a free cruise offer may pop up and you can get away for super cheap.

[Cruisegirl6]

Thank you so very much everybody truly appreciate your help here.

 

Would you say if we used the bounce back we wouldn't get the pack and play offer?

Edited May 18, 2015 by lyndamr

[Cruisegirl6]

Thank you for all that info! My other half got 14k points on our last cruise. We will wait for another offer, thanks a bunch!

[NCTribeFan]

I've long suspected that I don't get "good" casino offers because I always have at least one more cruise booked when I sail.

 

I'm going on my 2nd Premier cruise next Sunday. Not free (and since I'm solo, it isn't all that cheap for an inside and I only get $300 cash).

 

Doesn't seem to matter how many points I have, I don't get a bounce back offer.

 

Makes me wonder if I should cancel all my future cruises tomorrow and use all those deposits (almost $2k since all booked solo) for my playing funds.

 

Except I can't do that because the Bermuda cruise is insanely expensive (have had it booked for over a year) and if I cancel, I won't be able to re-book it.

 

:mad:

[JennyD1]

The premier offers are different from bounce back offers. Bounce backs are based solely on your play in the casino. You accumulate a certain number of points by the second last night, and you receive an offer depending on the level reached.

 

5000 points on the slots gets you an inside for two, free

19,999 gets you an ocean view with cash

 

etc etc

 

Premier cruise offers are a dime a dozen, and if you dont take this one you will continue to receive. my sons last cruise was three years ago on which he played very little, and he receives offers all the time.

 

Myself and my partner havent paid for our last 7 cruises, we had four bounce backs ( and no, points accumulated do not represent money spent, it represents how often you click the button. i walked away from my last two free cruises up 4500 on one and 1200 on the last)

 

We had bounce back and i noted, and we had three premier cruises. One we paid 120 and received 250 cash, one we paid 300 and received 1000 cash, the other we paid 50 and received 50 cash.

 

offers and endless, and we have not accepted all of ours.. but continue to receive.

 

I just got off 11 night Hawaii, on May 6, and received a bounce back for ocean view with 300 cash. Thats the one i left 1200 up after the cruise.

 

When you accumulate points like that on your cruises, not only do you get a bounce back but you also get a drink on us card as soon as you start the cruise, you dont have to ' earn it\

 

the only way you do not get a bounce back even if you have accumulated the points, is if you already have a cruise booked. They wont automatically give you a bounce back if you had a cruise alrady booked, however myself and others have stated our case and received the offer even though we had a booking already...

 

depends on the casino host how they handle that part...

I too am always told by the casino host on the ship, that they dont give you the bounceback letter, if you have another cruise pending. They say to call the casino dept and they will tell you what you are entitled to, which I do and I always get a free cruise and sometimes cash too. I always have to book within two weeks of the last cruise and cruise within two months. I just got off the Sunshine today ( I had over 10,000 points) and the host gave me a letter with a bounceback offer code of BBC7. It doesnt state anywhere that I have to book within two weeks, it just says to call to verify your complimentaries. Has anyone gotten a BBC7 offer? Just wondering before I call them.

[nhraformula00]

My brother-inlaw 2 years ago won 2,700 on the second to the last night of our 7 day cruise. The casino offered them 25% off on a future cruise but had to book within 2 weeks. They did not go on another cruise. Now for the past month they have been notified 2 times by phone that they could get an inside cabin for free, or upgrade and get a 399 dollar discount for both of them if they prefer to upgrade on a 7 day cruise. They still have not booked one

[winddawn]

Thank you so very much everybody truly appreciate your help here.

 

Would you say if we used the bounce back we wouldn't get the pack and play offer?

I got a bounce back offer under my cabin door the last night of my last Carnival cruise and then received a pack and play offer for a free cruise about 6 weeks or so later. At the time that I received the pack and play offer I had not used the bounce back offer.

 

I decided to use the pack and play offer but not the bounce back offer since it was the better deal. Carnival picks up the cost of port charges for the pack and play offer, but not with the bounce back offer. So bounce back requires paying the taxes and port charges but the pack and play requires paying only the taxes. The pack and play also offered the option to upgrade the free cruise offer to a balcony for a small fee, which I did. My bounce back offer did not have the upgrade-for-a-fee option.

[cruzn buckeye]

i have received numerous pack and play and premier offers since last November. However, we have a girls cruise planned, the date was picked by the first ones booked, and the offers i have did not include it. Now I have the cruise booked and haven't received any of the new pack and play offers... i am wondering if i will no longer receive them, since i am booked...

[NCTribeFan]

Have had multiple casino offers for just a slightly-discounted rate. Have had several Premier Offers (not free, as already noted).

 

Have never received either a bounce-back OR pack-and-play offer.

 

Why should I have to call the casino when I get back if I'm entitled to something?

 

But then, I'll never, ever have 10,000 points. I like to spend time in the casino, but I also like to actually do other things. After all, I'm on a cruise. If it were just about gambling, I'd be taking land vacations in the Caribbean and staying at hotels with a casino. San Juan sounds good to me! ;)

 

I'm seriously considering only spending enough time in the casino this upcoming cruise to get my free drinks (Premier cruise). I might not even spend the casino cash in there. They don't seem to value my contributions so why shouldn't I just take the drinks and money? I mean, it's not like they're going to give me anything except maybe another not-cheap offer, if that!

[Cruisegirl6]

From what I hear, its very possible that we will receive the pack and play offer, I hope so! It be nice to take a cruise in december. Guess I wait and see. I am going to book the Fascination for next May but heard if I have a cruise booked I may not be able to get any offers so I just wait and see what happens, thank you. :rolleyes:

Edited May 25, 2015 by lyndamr

[gupebreedr]

I had the good fortune of winning a seat in the Blackjack finals tournament to be held on the Breeze November 1st. When I called to make the reservations for this cruise I was told I had a free offer but it could not be extended to me as I have two other cruises booked. I guess in the future I should not book cruises 2 years in advance.... I will say they offered me a $399.00 rate for an outside cabin, $299.00 inside for the tournament cruise.

[Cruisegirl6]

So now we know not to book a carnival cruise ahead of time and lets hope more offers lol. I just cancelled two Carnival cruises because I don't want to make that mistake should we receive another offer.

Edited May 25, 2015 by lyndamr

[urbanhawk]

I got a bounce back offer under my cabin door the last night of my last Carnival cruise and then received a pack and play offer for a free cruise about 6 weeks or so later. At the time that I received the pack and play offer I had not used the bounce back offer.

 

I decided to use the pack and play offer but not the bounce back offer since it was the better deal. Carnival picks up the cost of port charges for the pack and play offer, but not with the bounce back offer. So bounce back requires paying the taxes and port charges but the pack and play requires paying only the taxes. The pack and play also offered the option to upgrade the free cruise offer to a balcony for a small fee, which I did. My bounce back offer did not have the upgrade-for-a-fee option.

 

Like you, I received a bounce back offer on my recent cruise, but I was unable to use it. Earlier this month, I booked a pack and play offer-at least I thought it was! I was able to book an interior for $50, and receive $50 as on board credit (well, actually $100, as I'm traveling solo); I did have to pay for the port charges/taxes, so maybe it wasn't a pack and play, unless there are different promotional codes? Lastly, since these promotions are casino related, is one still eligible to receive the drinks on us card, as one receives on a premier casino cruise? (I had accrued 5000+ points)

 

Thanks in advance for any help with these questions, that you or others may have the answers to.

[Katfncy]

I just had a Premier Cruise offer show up for me. What is strange it states that I must book by 7/15/2015 but when I click on it to show me the offer it then states must book by 5/19. That's in the past. Ok that's really strange since it just showed up today. Anybody else have this same issue?

[volmoma]

The premier offers are different from bounce back offers. Bounce backs are based solely on your play in the casino. You accumulate a certain number of points by the second last night, and you receive an offer depending on the level reached.

 

 

 

5000 points on the slots gets you an inside for two, free

 

19,999 gets you an ocean view with cash

 

 

 

etc etc

 

 

 

Premier cruise offers are a dime a dozen, and if you dont take this one you will continue to receive. my sons last cruise was three years ago on which he played very little, and he receives offers all the time.

 

 

 

Myself and my partner havent paid for our last 7 cruises, we had four bounce backs ( and no, points accumulated do not represent money spent, it represents how often you click the button. i walked away from my last two free cruises up 4500 on one and 1200 on the last)

 

 

 

We had bounce back and i noted, and we had three premier cruises. One we paid 120 and received 250 cash, one we paid 300 and received 1000 cash, the other we paid 50 and received 50 cash.

 

 

 

offers and endless, and we have not accepted all of ours.. but continue to receive.

 

 

 

I just got off 11 night Hawaii, on May 6, and received a bounce back for ocean view with 300 cash. Thats the one i left 1200 up after the cruise.

 

 

 

When you accumulate points like that on your cruises, not only do you get a bounce back but you also get a drink on us card as soon as you start the cruise, you dont have to ' earn it\

 

 

 

the only way you do not get a bounce back even if you have accumulated the points, is if you already have a cruise booked. They wont automatically give you a bounce back if you had a cruise alrady booked, however myself and others have stated our case and received the offer even though we had a booking already...

 

 

 

depends on the casino host how they handle that part...

 

 

Please explain this to me...I used to gamble A LOT when I first started cruising, never got anything....now I've just stopped going in the casino all together. Please explain to me how casino play gets you free cruises...I've cruises 20+ cruise. Just curious, what do I need to do?? How much $$$ do I need to win or loose which ever. Just like. To. Thanks!!

Edited May 26, 2015 by volmoma

[Hawaiifrank]

Please explain this to me...I used to gamble A LOT when I first started cruising, never got anything....now I've just stopped going in the casino all together. Please explain to me how casino play gets you free cruises...I've cruises 20+ cruise. Just curious, what do I need to do?? How much $$$ do I need to win or loose which ever. Just like. To. Thanks!!

 

I spend very little time in the casino, but the answer is contained within these posts. A point is a dollar played on a table or in the machine, 1pt=$1.

 

If you put in $100 and pull the lever 100 times @$1/play, you just earned 100 points. Did you win or lose? It doesn't matter as far as point count goes. You may have hit a jackpot every other pull or you may have nothing to show, but probably something in between.

 

Points for table players are based on average bet size and time at the table, e.g. $10 bet every 2 min = 30 hands/hr x $10 =$300 (or 300 points) per hour of play time. It's actually probably more like 45 or 50 hands, or spins, or dice throughs) per hour. You get the idea.

 

Those folks EARN that free cruise by spending hours and hours in the casino. They also PAY for that free cruise with their losses, large or small. I guess some might even win, someone has to win, after all. Lucky son of a gun if they win every time though.

[Hawaiifrank]

The people here are talking about earning 5,000, 10,000, even 20,000 points on a cruise.* If you figure 90% payback for slots (very high for a cruise ship, IMHO) it means they recycle their winnings through the machine,* adding cash as necessary,* till they have the points they need.* Hard to beat those machines. Over the long haul, they get that percentage. Ten thousand points ON AVERAGE will cost $1000 IF the slot has a 90% payback (probably the PB is more like 80%).

 

Table play may be closer to even odds and a good player can hit a streak, but the best odds are about 1.5% against the player.* A good player could earn 10,000 points for a loss of as little as $150 at craps, again on average.* If he played perfectly.**

 

At any given time, either the slot or table players could be $100s in the hole so there is an element of risk.* It's possible to loose your you-know-what or you could be a winner - winner - chicken - dinner.* It's playing that gets the points,* win or lose. Of course,* if you DO win they want you back for another try at you.

[cruzn buckeye]

I just had a Premier Cruise offer show up for me. What is strange it states that I must book by 7/15/2015 but when I click on it to show me the offer it then states must book by 5/19. That's in the past. Ok that's really strange since it just showed up today. Anybody else have this same issue?

It's a glitch in the system they have had for a long time. The 5/19 is from the last offer. You now have the new offer good through 7/15. I can't get my list but if i do mock bookings, i find them. Just look at the ones that show special offer.

[cruzn buckeye]

So now we know not to book a carnival cruise ahead of time and lets hope more offers lol. I just cancelled two Carnival cruises because I don't want to make that mistake should we receive another offer.

I have a cruise booked under the casino rate (early saver tho). I just received new premieroffers. So, maybe you didn't have to cancel... i also thought i wouldn't get any offers since i am booked. I haven't gotten the last pack and play offers...

i am disappointed though, not with CCL,with myself. There is a Premier offer on the same date as the cruise we have booked. For less. But, i can't change it because it is a girls cruise with my daughter and a total of 11 of us in three cabins.. and airfare is booked.. dang.. wish they would have picked one that ended up being premier... probably won't be able to go one of these as i have limited vacation time.

[NCTribeFan]

The Journeys cruise I have booked for 11/29 (11 nights) that I booked under the VIFP rate (includes $100 OBC) is now showing up as a Premier cruise for $120 less than my rate as a solo.

 

So, I'm $20 ahead PLUS I'm assuming I'll also get some casino cash. My Premier cruise offers have always been PC4 and I've always gotten $300 casino cash. Would be nice to receive more since this is 11 nights compared to 7 or 8, but I'll take it.

 

It's 8 ports in 11 nights so I'd be spending very little time in the casino. In fact, I'm surprised they do this as a Premier cruise since we'll be in port most of the time and the casino won't even be open. I know I won't be staying up until the wee hours of the morning just to lose money. Not when I'll have excursions planned every day.

 

I don't usually book ES and especially not on these 1-time sailings as they tend to sell well. So far, my casino rates have always stayed lower, even if only by a few dollars.

 

So, lowest rate, drinks while gambling, casino cash, chance to win a drawing (yeah, right!). Guess I'd better email my PVP and have him switch me over.

[Davey Wavey]

Please explain to me how casino play gets you free cruises...I've cruises 20+ cruise. Just curious, what do I need to do?? How much $$$ do I need to win or loose which ever.

 

Here is a previous post I made:

 

 

Originally Posted by sassy5683 [so if i'm doing my math right you have to spend $12,500 to get 5000 points to get offered a "free" cruise???]

 

Yes, correct!!!!

 

BUT, that $12,500 is $12,500 PLAYED, not necessarily LOST. Let's do some casino math for the shocked and awed crowd. I'll use roulette since that is what I am most familiar, and this will be some loose math based on average statistics.

 

Carnival's roulette wheel (zero and double zero) has a house edge of 5.26%, meaning for every $100 I bet (using the 1 in 38 chance to win) the casino will end up with $5. According to endless gambling research, people play 5 times the amount they start with at a sitting. So, if I start with $100 playing $10 per spin and keep replaying my winnings I should play $500 and end up with $75 left. If I keep playing my $75 I should play $375 and end up with $56. If I keep playing my $56 I should play $280 and end up with $42...and on and on. If I keep playing until my original $100 is all gone, I should have played $1835.

 

Based on that, to reach $12,500 of PLAY, I should have spent $700. So, in this example a 5000 point free cruise is NOT $12,500 of cash out your pocket, but $700 (assuming you get the average number of wins and losses). So it is entirely possible for people to say they only had $100 and ended up $200 ahead and still got a free cruise. It's also possible for someone to play $10,000 and be horribly horribly unfortunate and lose every time and not get a free cruise. It's not the win and loss that the casino counts but the amount of PLAY.

 

Please note this is based on a bunch of established averages and individual results WILL vary.

[cruzn buckeye]

The Journeys cruise I have booked for 11/29 (11 nights) that I booked under the VIFP rate (includes $100 OBC) is now showing up as a Premier cruise for $120 less than my rate as a solo.

 

So, I'm $20 ahead PLUS I'm assuming I'll also get some casino cash. My Premier cruise offers have always been PC4 and I've always gotten $300 casino cash. Would be nice to receive more since this is 11 nights compared to 7 or 8, but I'll take it.

 

It's 8 ports in 11 nights so I'd be spending very little time in the casino. In fact, I'm surprised they do this as a Premier cruise since we'll be in port most of the time and the casino won't even be open. I know I won't be staying up until the wee hours of the morning just to lose money. Not when I'll have excursions planned every day.

 

I don't usually book ES and especially not on these 1-time sailings as they tend to sell well. So far, my casino rates have always stayed lower, even if only by a few dollars.

 

So, lowest rate, drinks while gambling, casino cash, chance to win a drawing (yeah, right!). Guess I'd better email my PVP and have him switch me over.

I got my offers too, in my offers when you look at details, it shows cannot be used on previously booked cruises. Now, from what i have read hear, you can price match with your ES to the premier rate, but you will not get the cash or other perks of the premier cruise...