Cheers and "Drinks On Us"

[JAGR]

Hi:

 

On most of our cruises, we have bought Cheers. My wife gambles enough so she gets "Drinks On Us" from the Casino when we board the ship. On the last cruise, it was a freebie for the wife for her gambling, so we didn't do Cheers and she did most of her drinking in the casino. I've now heard that Carnival has combined the 15-drink limit to the two programs. I my wife had, say, nine drinks on Cheers and then went to the casino, she would be cut-off after six "Drinks On Us" beverages. Can anyone confirm that? If true, it would probably be better to not buy Cheers and just let her use the "Drinks on Us" card. Thanks for anyone with experience on this.

[Leasmanjr]

It is true we always buy cheers but the people next to us in our last cruise were voicing their annoyance quite loudly to the casino host that their drinks on us in the casino should not count towards theirs cheers cards as in cruises passed. To which the manager replied it was a new policy. But inthe fine print of your cheers program people do not always see that if you reach your limit you can still purchase drinks as long as a bartender does not or has not cut you off... Personally I reached my limit with cheers on the Magic but was still well in control of myself so I was allowed to purchase per drink after 15.. But on same hand I have seen people be cut off after 4 drinks on the cheers program(same Magic cruise)

[okgirl]

It is true we always buy cheers but the people next to us in our last cruise were voicing their annoyance quite loudly to the casino host that their drinks on us in the casino should not count towards theirs cheers cards as in cruises passed. To which the manager replied it was a new policy. But inthe fine print of your cheers program people do not always see that if you reach your limit you can still purchase drinks as long as a bartender does not or has not cut you off... Personally I reached my limit with cheers on the Magic but was still well in control of myself so I was allowed to purchase per drink after 15.. But on same hand I have seen people be cut off after 4 drinks on the cheers program(same Magic cruise)

 

 

That wasn't my experience last month on the Magic. I too had the DOU card from day one and was told of the new policy of combining it with the Cheers program.

 

I hit my limit one night and though I wasn't very impaired, I was told at the casino bar that I couldn't purchase anything else.

 

The only way around this is to purchase the wine package, which doesn't count against the 15, or to order a drink over the $10 limit before you get to 15.

[Cruisegirl6]

When did this rule come into effect, in May on the Valor they did not combine the drinks on us drinks and the cheers package drinks.

[mickide]

When did this rule come into effect, in May on the Valor they did not combine the drinks on us drinks and the cheers package drinks.

 

I believe it was sometime in May. We were just on the Miracle and we knew it was combined but still bought Cheers as we aren't in the casino as much as we are in other areas. The benefit to Cheers is that you can get drinks anywhere. The benefit to the DOU card is that it's free and you can also get bottled water and coffee. The downfall to the DOU card is that it can only be used in the casino and technically only while you are actively playing, that said we have been served at the casino bar using our DOU card.

On the Miracle, we were also told (at the time of purchase) that we would NOT be allowed to buy any drinks after we reach the 15 drink limit.

[Cruisegirl6]

We were on the Valor in May and they didn't have this rule, can anybody else comment on their experiences?

[Namelocg]

I was on the Glory in September. I had the DOU card and did not buy cheers as I really don't drink enough to make the cost worth it. One night I was playing blackjack and the "gentleman" sitting next to me ordered something on his DOU card. He also had Cheers. When the waiter returned from the bar he told the man that he had reached his 15 drink limit and could not serve him anything else. The guy went ballistic and had to be escorted from the casino by security. I don't know what happened after that but I didn't see him again for 2 days and he was gambling big money.

Edited October 29, 2015 by Namelocg

[Cruisegirl6]

I am not seeing any rules that say this is true....

 

Can anybody else comment about whether their drinks on us drinks apply to their Cheers program.

 

If this is the case then they should give a discount for those who purchase the Cheers program when they also get the drinks on us card.

[RHilla619]

I had Cheers and a DUO card on Splendor in August, the 15 drink policy was enforced which kind of defeated any benefit of me earning the card. Luckily I broke even gambling so the DUO cost me nothing, I'm also surprised they enforce this rule, figured they'd want you drinking for "free" as much as you want to keep you at the tables/slots and making poor decisions.

[Cruisegirl6]

I agree but I wonder if you get to know a bartender and tip him/her well whether they actually report giving you the drink???

[mickide]

Since their computer won't let them add another drink, they would be doing it without accounting for the pour and potentially risking their job. Do you really want them to do that?

[Cruisegirl6]

im not positive that the free drinks on us are placed in the computer.

[mickide]

Every drink is supposed to be put in the computer. That is how they track inventory. It just shows as no charge, just like cheers but the receipt says DOU.

[ryanpatricksmom]

It states very clearly in the new rules that the 15 drink limit will be enforced, and that Drinks on Us is combined with Cheers. We get Drinks on Us every cruise, but we decided a couple of cruises ago to get Cheers because it's ultimately cheaper. I cannot tell you how many times I've sat at a losing machine waiting 30 minutes for a drink. I could move, of course, but that's inconsiderate to the other pax who are also waiting for their drink while the server hunts me down. I could sit and not play, but that's sort of boring. We finally came to the conclusion that having the option to get up and get a drink from the bar of our choice (which also expands the drink choice) is worth it. So many people have Drinks on Us by day 2 that getting a drink becomes a total PITA.

 

I do think that sometimes the drinks aren't recorded in the Casino, but I'm just speculating on that based on what I've seen. I can't say that the servers haven't gone back and rung up the transaction later.

 

If you anyone really thinks that they will want more than 15 drinks in a day, you always have the option of buying thru Bon Voyage and keeping a bottle in the room. With Cheers and Drinks on Us both, soft drinks would be unlimited.

Edited October 30, 2015 by ryanpatricksmom

[Cruisegirl6]

Honestly, this just helps the other cruise lines casino's....others don't offer the Drinks on Us Program, we always purchase the Cheers but my other half always gets the Drink on Us card also, due to his points, its a nice thing that Carnival has done, even though we don't go through 15 drinks a day, its nice knowing they giving an incentive and recognizing the better players in the casino....NOW....its another slap in the face, we get nothing if they count the drinks from he drinks on us card to the Cheers program. There is no sense not to purchase the Cheers program because its nice to get a drink whatever it is even if it were juice or soda at the other places besides just in the casino.

 

As a result, Carnival is no longer going to be our first choice when we want to go on a trip to the Casino. We just booked up the Fascination this week not knowing this, if we knew this before booking, we would of chosen a RC ship instead, but I always chose Carnival due to their giving incentives out to the players and feel they deserve our business, now things have changed.

 

What I feel they should do is give a discount off the Cheers program to those who do get the Drinks on Us Card that also want to purchase the Cheers program.

[winddawn]

Hi:

 

On most of our cruises, we have bought Cheers. My wife gambles enough so she gets "Drinks On Us" from the Casino when we board the ship. On the last cruise, it was a freebie for the wife for her gambling, so we didn't do Cheers and she did most of her drinking in the casino. I've now heard that Carnival has combined the 15-drink limit to the two programs. I my wife had, say, nine drinks on Cheers and then went to the casino, she would be cut-off after six "Drinks On Us" beverages. Can anyone confirm that? If true, it would probably be better to not buy Cheers and just let her use the "Drinks on Us" card. Thanks for anyone with experience on this.

I used to always buy Cheers too, but don't anymore. I usually have DOU in the casino, and just don't think it is worthwhile to buy Cheers. Instead, I usually buy liquor from the Fun Shop prior to my cruise. I find that combined with DOU is a better deal than combining DOU with Cheers.

[sunshine002]

I find it interesting that even though you can only get your drinks in the casino with the DOU, it can be any drink. Whereas with the cheers programs there is a dollar cut off on what you can order (or have to pay additional for)

 

I enjoy the DOU program, but don't drink enough to use the cheers program. I bring a bottle of wine when I board and then normally have a drink or 2 a day.

[Jillbu]

I have not sailed since this new rule took effect. I have heard from multiple people that if u BEGIN paying for drinks BEFORE you hit# 14 they will continue to serve you. Wonder if that still works. It does suck that you spend money in the casino gambling and the drinks on us Card, like a little bonus. I certainly don't gamble for the card but it's supposed to be like a reward is not something that away from another program.