Offers received from Club Royale (Royal Caribbean)

[slotmomma3]

Were they more than $1200.00 each??

 

Also on NCL they did not withhold anything, but I did get a W2-G

[BEENSAILING]

I have hit a couple of good ones lately and all they did was give me the IRS form, no withholding.

 

Nick, I was also on the Majesty this week and did not have anything on my card except the C&A status, guess I should have checked this post and talked to the host. I know I am in the system we always leave the ship with a balcony cert so I am losing enough money. I will send the host an email on the majesty and see what he can tell us. He should know something if they put it on your card.

 

My error on wording. I should have said with an over certain amount win, you are given a form for the IRS. Many people who enjoy casinos liked the ability to win on a cruise ship casino without tax ramifications as were in land based casinos. But that has all changed now. And if you win big, you need to give casino on the ship your drivers license or state id - photo id with address. Many don't carry around that type of i.d. when on the ship (they have it in safe in state room). If you don't have it when you hit big on a slot, they give you plenty of time to go to your stateroom and ger it. I started carrying my license with me in anticipation....:)

[lazydayz]

Were they more than $1200.00 each??

 

One was $1400 and other was $3400. On the last sea day, I received a tax form showing $4800 in winnings.

[cruisejess]

Just home from nine nights on the Grandeur. Upon arrival there was a letter from the casino host in our stateroom welcoming me and stating that "to align with the rest of the fleet" the casino would not be open the first night at all. They would open the next morning at 7AM for slot play. The casino was closed at 5:30 on the last night. I found the situation unacceptable and I think they shop notify the Club Royal players that book that ship. The new policy has been in effect for the last two cruises.

Edited November 21, 2016 by cruisejess

[nancronin]

WOW - what other ships are they aligning with? We've been on a lot of ships and they've never been closed on any night while at sea.:eek:

[maryjaden]

I am just back from the Adventure and the casino opened within 30 minutes of sail away and was open until 2 am in the evenings.

[OTownNick]

Just home from nine nights on the Grandeur. Upon arrival there was a letter from the casino host in our stateroom welcoming me and stating that "to align with the rest of the fleet" the casino would not be open the first night at all. They would open the next morning at 7AM for slot play. The casino was closed at 5:30 on the last night. I found the situation unacceptable and I think they shop notify the Club Royal players that book that ship. The new policy has been in effect for the last two cruises.

 

Probably why they are pulling Grandeur out of Baltimore- low onboard spending and hardly any gambling. How crowded was the casino when they WERE open?

 

They're not aligning with ANY ships in the fleet

[Robinhill]

Probably why they are pulling Grandeur out of Baltimore- low onboard spending and hardly any gambling. How crowded was the casino when they WERE open?

 

They're not aligning with ANY ships in the fleet

 

Pretty sure that they are NOT pulling Grandeur out of Baltimore- it is a very busy port and people love sailing out of Baltimore. I have a cruise booked for December 2017 and have not heard anything about them pulling out. But you are correct that gambling numbers are very low on Grandeur and i was quite disappointed that they closed the casino so early on my last cruise on her. Like 12:30 or 1am or something which was quite disappointing. Now to hear they are cutting out the first night and the last night, I mean- how are the Club Royale members supposed to be able to "live up to" what is expected of us in terms of our gambling for reduced cost cruising?

[Daghis]

I've not sailed on Grandeur of the Seas, so I may be saying something completely false.

 

I thought that the issue was due to the length of time that it takes her to get out into international waters from Baltimore and down the Chesapeake Bay. Until she's fully out of the US, the casino can't be open.

 

This would apply to returning to the US as well since she's likely to approach US waters late on the last evening.

[Robinhill]

I've not sailed on Grandeur of the Seas, so I may be saying something completely false.

 

I thought that the issue was due to the length of time that it takes her to get out into international waters from Baltimore and down the Chesapeake Bay. Until she's fully out of the US, the casino can't be open.

 

This would apply to returning to the US as well since she's likely to approach US waters late on the last evening.

 

On my many prior cruises on the Grandeur out of Baltimore the casino has opened the first night at 9pm.

[cruisejess]

The casino was never crowded. I have friends currently on the Carnival Pride and the casino onboard was open by 6:30 the first night. We have been sailing out of Baltimore for years and the casino has always been open. It is very hard to earn points because most days the casino didn't open until around 7. On a nine night cruise there were two nonsmoking nights, so I didn't play then. We have cruised a lot this year and I probably have 28000 points, but with the new silly system I will be punished for my point total on this cruise.

[poodlephish]

Probably why they are pulling Grandeur out of Baltimore- low onboard spending and hardly any gambling

 

This is published where?????

[OTownNick]

This is published where?????

 

It's not published anywhere. A hotel director and I were talking g about this and those were his comments..RCCL looks closely at onboard spending as a favor in making decisions on where they sail from. So it's not official but I wouldn't be surprised if they make changes

[sellwingri]

I was on Grandeur in August and spent almost all my free time in the casino. The dealers and casino hosts were the best I've ever experienced on Royal Caribbean. It also was very busy every night.

 

Although Granduer is actually one of the smaller ships, the casino is larger than a lot of their other ships. I'd love to spend time on her again some day.

[somerandomidiot]

are they still waiving the 5% fee?

 

I have a B2B coming up next week and I don't want carry a large wad of cash onboard.

[maryjaden]

are they still waiving the 5% fee?

 

I have a B2B coming up next week and I don't want carry a large wad of cash onboard.

 

Yes, it was waived as of last week yet.

[somerandomidiot]

Yes, it was waived as of last week yet.

 

Thanks.

[tomko2]

Yes, it was waived as of last week yet.

 

Mary, were you booked through Club Royale? Wondering how it works for those of us who had Club Royale cards prior to the program change and have booked a cruise outside of the Club Royale program.

 

Question is how do they recognize you at the Cashier's Desk?

 

Thanks

Kathy

[Daghis]

If you booked your cruise outside Club Royale, you can still call Club Royale to let them know about your upcoming sailing so they can note your booking and let the casino host onboard know that you'll be there.

 

If that fails to work, you can also talk with the casino host when you're onboard and they'll be able to look you up in their system. They'll then put a sticker on your SeaPass card which should also waive the 5% fee.

[tomko2]

If you booked your cruise outside Club Royale, you can still call Club Royale to let them know about your upcoming sailing so they can note your booking and let the casino host onboard know that you'll be there.

 

If that fails to work, you can also talk with the casino host when you're onboard and they'll be able to look you up in their system. They'll then put a sticker on your SeaPass card which should also waive the 5% fee.

 

Thank you Marc.

Kathy

[maryjaden]

Marc is correct. I have booked outside the casino once (years ago) after I was a Casino Royale VIP and they had a list at the casino. The fee was waived. This was before I knew the casino rates were so much better.

 

FYI on new program. I do not like it. I played as much as I usually do, spent about the same. My casino credit was the lowest I have ever received.

[tomko2]

Marc is correct. I have booked outside the casino once (years ago) after I was a Casino Royale VIP and they had a list at the casino. The fee was waived. This was before I knew the casino rates were so much better.

 

FYI on new program. I do not like it. I played as much as I usually do, spent about the same. My casino credit was the lowest I have ever received.

 

I definitely don't like the new program either. We (snowbirds) go on three cruises in the winter months which we book 18 - 24 months in advance (and watch for price drops). With the cash rebate program we could apply it to an upcoming cruise or take it in cash onboard the next cruise (which I did each time). I received a $400. offer on our cruise last April but it had to be used by Sept. so it was useless. By the time I factor in current cruise prices, remove the Diamond Plus discount which is not combinable with the Club Royale offer then I would end up paying more. Too bad. Really liked the previous program.

 

All I can say is that we must be addicted to cruising since prices keep going up, new food menus have dropped some of the good items (slow roasted prime rib, roast duck, rack of lamb,...) and the Casino program no longer offers cash rebates yet we still have 9 RCL cruises booked.

Edited November 29, 2016 by tomko2

[jshyoda]

I agree the new program offers far less incentive to keep playing once you are up more than $1k at the tables. The CR Rep after my sailing in early November told me that you are no longer grandfathered into the program. You must requalify on each sailing for benefits for your next sailing. That qualification will also be applied to what casino rates you may be offered for future sailings as well as any additional discounts. So if you take multiple cruises a year and play in the casino the average of play does not count. Your play only counts from your last sailing. The certificates they hand out on the cruise are pretty much useless for me. The maximum value is $1k that can be applied to a future booking if you are unable to use the cert on one of their published cruises, and that is why I mentioned the threshold above. I will say that my level of play (dollar wise and time wise) has not changed from what I have been doing the last several years, but the level of comps/discounts/incentives surely has decreased. Benefits that I know have been removed are rebates, extra cabin casino rates for traveling friends/family members, onboard comps, extra discounts on cabin based on play now require the room to be repriced at the current room rate verses rate the existing booking was at. At this point, I am unable to name one positive feature of the new program for existing players.

[RFerrington]

You must requalify on each sailing for benefits for your next sailing <This contradicts what I was told last week on the phone with CR. They told me that your "qualification" is good for 18 months...but the separate "bonus" amount will vary based solely on your last cruise history>. That qualification will also be applied to what casino rates you may be offered for future sailings <another discrepancy. Was told that casino rates are all the same for everyone and are set by the revenue dept., not CR> as well as any additional discounts. So if you take multiple cruises a year and play in the casino the average of play does not count <I think this is correct. No average...just the "rating" that is good for 18 months. The CR rep did tell me that if you fail to sail within 18 months, you are basically put back to -0- and have to requalify.>. Your play only counts from your last sailing. <What counts from your last sailing is the extra "bonus" (for which they have no name, BTW.> The certificates they hand out on the cruise are pretty much useless for me <I have found the FCC to be extremely valuable. Not only can you apply them to cruises that have already been booked, but they are "stackable". Both of us receive the FCCs and we have been able to apply both of our certificates to the same cruise for a "double discount" on cruises we had booked long ago. They don't like advertising it, but you CAN use them on existing bookings. They are not just for new bookings, regardless of what the language on the certificate says>. The maximum value is $1k that can be applied to a future booking if you are unable to use the cert on one of their published cruises, and that is why I mentioned the threshold above. now require the room to be repriced at the current room rate verses rate the existing booking was at <It has always been this way, as far as I know. Any time you rebook a cruise you will pay the prevailing rate. I've never known it to be any different.>. At this point, I am unable to name one positive feature of the new program for existing players.

 

I guess I must be the only one who is ok with the changes. Despite losing the cash rebates, the values of the FCC's have more than outweighed what I used to get in cash rebates so I'm good with that. I would much rather have $2000 off an upcoming cruise than the $200 - $500 that we got in cash rebates, previously and a dinner at Giovanni's.

 

We are still getting the same 42 - 50% off (full cruise fare) that we always got with the CR rate. I haven't seen that change at all. I am still getting free drinks in the casino and I am still getting the 5% convenience fee waived. I am not feeling any downside. Maybe I will.

[Daghis]

I just found out that Club Royale applied the $500 certificate I received on my last cruise toward my cruise in late October next year. They're bending three rules on the certificate:

• It must be applied to a new booking.
  
• It must be applied within thirty days of issuance.
  
• It must be applied to a sailing within a year of issuance.
  

 

I wasn't expecting them to do that. I had figured that the certificate was going to be of no value to me. Color me quite surprised!