Caesar's Total Rewards Offer - Free NCL Cruise - Any perks?

[Stlcardsfan79]

And what kind of cabin were you booked into and what perks did you get?

[kellygirl67]

And what kind of cabin were you booked into and what perks did you get?

Interior Cabin 11th deck On the Breakway and no perks on the ship at all, basically just the two comped nights at Harrahs. It seemed like a good price.(was $614 total for us both), $100 less than our last CAS cruise in 2017 that we booked direct with NCL CAS, although I realize its not a true comparison as that was a diff. Itinerary (both 7 day cruises though)

Edited October 6, 2018 by kellygirl67

[kellygirl67]

Hi. I believe you're correct. The drink card is only given to people who reach Sapphire or above on the NCL Players Club. However, Caesars certificate bookings through CAS get to dodge that requirement, and will get a drink card no matter what their NCL Players Club level.

 

It sounds like you made your booking through a junket host. A junket host does not work for the properties/cruises they book, but are independent operators who get commissions for booking gamblers. They sometimes have access to better deals than you'd normally get from the casino/cruise, but they also lack power to fix anything if something goes wrong.

 

I am curious how you got a "better deal" through the junket host. Can you describe what your Caesars offer was, how much it would cost out of pocket (including admin fees, taxes, etc), and compare that to what you got from the junket host?

 

Your best bet is to call the Miami CAS office and ask them about your booking. Ask if it was actually booked with your Caesars certificate, and if you will get the drink card. Do not ask the junket host, as she probably doesn't know.

 

If you did lose the drink card, and if you really didn't get much of a "better deal", you might want to explain to CAS what happened, and that the junket host misled you regarding the drink card. They can probably negate what she did (without affecting your New Orleans reservation) and put you back on the certificate.

 

Good luck.

Thanks for the feedback. The total ended up being $614 total for us both in an interior cabin, 11th deck on the Breakaway,but no perks or anything. Our only benefit was the comped rooms pre and post cruise at Harrahs NO. I'll contact CAS with my reservation number and see what they say about it... i'm pretty bummed that the company did that, we've been going on their AC bus trips regularly for several years now, and I'm sure they probably knew we wouldnt get the drink card by going through them, but stayed mum.....

Edited October 6, 2018 by kellygirl67

[rtkenmore]

(Sorry, long story, hoping someone in the know will have the patience to read through this and reply!)

I think I may have screwed up our CAS cruise certificate offer by allowing a third party Travel Agent/Host Service to book the cruise for us. This is my husband's third CAS certificate, and we decided on a cruise going out of New Orleans and figured we'd stay at Harrahs the day before and the day after the cruise to sight-see, as we are going with another couple who've never been to NO before (and who also got the CAS certificate). my husband and I frequently go to Atlantic City on a monthly bus trip (weekend stay at Harrahs) sponsered by a Travel Agency/host company that has an affiliation with Caesers entertainment.

In the past we used this company to book a comped room in Vegas when we went there for a convention. So my husband checks his Total Rewards offers online to look for reduced room rates at Harrahs NO and of course, doesn't see any this time, even though he frequently saw them offered in the past. He tells me to email our contact at this company (which by the way appears as his 'host' in the Total Rewards App. On his phone) and I ask if she could get us a reduced room rate at Harrahs NO. She was able to and then asks us why we suddenly decided to go there when we usually just go to AC, so we tell her about the cruise certificate. She says "oh my I wish you'd contacted us first to book it because we can get you better rates than calling the NCL CAS # on the certificate', so I explained we hadn't called yet to book the cruise.

She asks for the certificate # and says not to worry, they'll book for us and get us the best rate. I asked twice, "will booking through you negate the (casino) drink card he got on the last two CAS cruises?". She said she'd ask them and now today she sends us the reservation info. and when I asked again, she said, "they said to tell you to see the casino host when you get on board the ship", which to me sounds like they arent going to give it to him. anybody else experience something like this happening? ( our friends havent booked yet, (and dont go with us on the AC bus trips/don't use this company) so I'm very curious to see if when they book directly through the NCL CAS # if they automatically get it or not.

My husband is now VERY unhappy at the thought of not getting the card (hes a big gambler AND drinker....) but he can'tblame this one on me because it was HIS idea for me to call the Travel Agent about the pre and post cruise hotel room.

 

 

 

I’m Diamond with Caesar’s and book through the casino booking line every time... we always get the drink card for the casino.

 

 

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[Stlcardsfan79]

Wow you should have been able to choose a perk. Have you logged onto the NCL website and view your summary? Our last 2 cruises have been through land base casino offers, 1st one Carnival 4 years ago and I don't remember if there was a perk but last Feb went on NCL we upgraded from inside to oceanview. Received the UBP as our perk. We are going again in Jan, 10 day. Just booked the inside didn't upgrade, will bid if offered. Received UBP as perk. And as I said earlier in this thread they gave us a $50 shore excursions credit for each port plus phone calls and 250 wifi minutes. On our last cruise when we got to our room there were drink cards for the casino for both my husband and myself, didn't really need it due to UBP.

[kellygirl67]

I’m Diamond with Caesar’s and book through the casino booking line every time... we always get the drink card for the casino.

 

 

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Thanks for the feedback, he's just platinum, we used to be diamond till they upped the tier levels...

[Socalev]

Thru CAS, I paid less than you did for an inside comped cabin with one perk. Plus casino drink card.

 

It is not a NO cruise but the costs are probably close to the same.

 

On my next trip through New Orleans (November) , I booked rooms at Harrahs and was comped 3 nights prior to cruise. I booked this myself through the TR site.

 

I think you can get a drink card by earning1500 points.

[pokerpro5]

Thanks for the feedback. The total ended up being $614 total for us both in an interior cabin, 11th deck on the Breakaway,but no perks or anything. Our only benefit was the comped rooms pre and post cruise at Harrahs NO. I'll contact CAS with my reservation number and see what they say about it... i'm pretty bummed that the company did that, we've been going on their AC bus trips regularly for several years now, and I'm sure they probably knew we wouldnt get the drink card by going through them, but stayed mum.....

 

It sounds like they didn't do anything for you. I think the $614 total was probably the admin fee and taxes, which varies from cruise to cruise. Probably would have been the same $614 using the Caesars certificate. You should ask CAS about that, too.

 

Not only are you missing the drink card (most likely), but you're also missing the interior cabin perks (not wonderful, but still worth something).

 

Basically, with a Caesars offer, you are entitled to whatever booking promo is going at the time. So whatever they are giving right now for an interior cabin booking on ncl.com for that cruise (you can look this up by doing a mock booking), you would get that with your Caesars offer PLUS the drink card.

 

You also might want to ask CAS what they can do for you, based upon your husband's play onboard last time. You might get something even better.

 

If you change this to your certificate (or another CAS booking unrelated to this junket host), I wouldn't tell her. Just do it. You'll probably still get to keep the NO rooms, as they're unrelated.

 

BTW, the drink card entitles you to bottled water too (sparkling and flat), which is nice to have because of NCL's no-water-brought-onboard policy. But you do have to go to the casino bar to get it (you can get one bottle per card per visit to the bar, but you can bring both cards at the same time and get two that way).

[KarimaJ]

I’m not sure they always follow that “Sapphire” drink card rule. On our first comped cruise we were only Jade and the card was left in it room and we had it when we arrived. Never even asked for it. So I bet you can get it if you ask.

 

 

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[kellygirl67]

It sounds like they didn't do anything for you. I think the $614 total was probably the admin fee and taxes, which varies from cruise to cruise. Probably would have been the same $614 using the Caesars certificate. You should ask CAS about that, too.

 

Not only are you missing the drink card (most likely), but you're also missing the interior cabin perks (not wonderful, but still worth something).

 

Basically, with a Caesars offer, you are entitled to whatever booking promo is going at the time. So whatever they are giving right now for an interior cabin booking on ncl.com for that cruise (you can look this up by doing a mock booking), you would get that with your Caesars offer PLUS the drink card.

 

You also might want to ask CAS what they can do for you, based upon your husband's play onboard last time. You might get something even better.

 

If you change this to your certificate (or another CAS booking unrelated to this junket host), I wouldn't tell her. Just do it. You'll probably still get to keep the NO rooms, as they're unrelated.

 

BTW, the drink card entitles you to bottled water too (sparkling and flat), which is nice to have because of NCL's no-water-brought-onboard policy. But you do have to go to the casino bar to get it (you can get one bottle per card per visit to the bar, but you can bring both cards at the same time and get two that way).

 

Thanks again for the suggestions. yes,, I knew about the bottled water using the drink card in the casino. Every night I schlepped water bottles back from the casino to our cabin on our last two cruises so we'd have water to take ashore for our excursions. I probably drank more water than I got in free drinks. I'm a light weight drinker, probably 2-3 a day max., hubs on the other hand, easily Has 12-15 daily (beer and cocktails mixed).....so you see why he is QUITE concerned about possibly not getting the drink card. i'll keep you posted what I find out from NCL CAS!

[Stlcardsfan79]

Was your certificate from a land based casino like Harrah's or was it from the ship's casino?

[rtkenmore]

Wow you should have been able to choose a perk. Have you logged onto the NCL website and view your summary? Our last 2 cruises have been through land base casino offers, 1st one Carnival 4 years ago and I don't remember if there was a perk but last Feb went on NCL we upgraded from inside to oceanview. Received the UBP as our perk. We are going again in Jan, 10 day. Just booked the inside didn't upgrade, will bid if offered. Received UBP as perk. And as I said earlier in this thread they gave us a $50 shore excursions credit for each port plus phone calls and 250 wifi minutes. On our last cruise when we got to our room there were drink cards for the casino for both my husband and myself, didn't really need it due to UBP.

 

Which 10 day in January are you on?

[rtkenmore]

Thanks for the feedback, he's just platinum, we used to be diamond till they upped the tier levels...

 

Want to be Diamond again without the excessive gambling? Message me... Know a great way that comes with some additional perks to that may interest you.

[Stlcardsfan79]

Jan 17th out of NOLA.

[pokerpro5]

Thanks again for the suggestions. yes,, I knew about the bottled water using the drink card in the casino. Every night I schlepped water bottles back from the casino to our cabin on our last two cruises so we'd have water to take ashore for our excursions. I probably drank more water than I got in free drinks. I'm a light weight drinker, probably 2-3 a day max., hubs on the other hand, easily Has 12-15 daily (beer and cocktails mixed).....so you see why he is QUITE concerned about possibly not getting the drink card. i'll keep you posted what I find out from NCL CAS!

 

Ah, I know all about schlepping water to the cabin!

 

On my last cruise, I refused to pay for water. I used to always bring my own aboard, but their obnoxious policy now makes that impossible.

 

So I dutifully carried both cards around, and whenever I passed the casino bar, I would stop and get two. I probably picked up about 30-40 waters during the cruise. Like you, I would take them on excursions ashore, and also would keep it in the room to drink when I wanted it.

 

Looking forward to hearing how your story turns out!

[pokerpro5]

Want to be Diamond again without the excessive gambling? Message me... Know a great way that comes with some additional perks to that may interest you.

 

Being Diamond through non-gambling means will NOT get you NCL offers (or any offers, for that matter).

 

You will get to skip lines and avoid resort fees, but that's pretty much it.

[rtkenmore]

Being Diamond through non-gambling means will NOT get you NCL offers (or any offers, for that matter).

 

You will get to skip lines and avoid resort fees, but that's pretty much it.

 

It'll get you 20% off cruise fares if you don't have a free certificate.. And also gets you the drink card as well... Among some other perks outside Caesar's and NCL.

[pokerpro5]

It'll get you 20% off cruise fares if you don't have a free certificate.. And also gets you the drink card as well... Among some other perks outside Caesar's and NCL.

 

Yes, you're correct about the drink card.

 

However, the "20% off" isn't a real 20% off, because it doesn't include taxes or the admin fee. So let's take a cruise priced at $700. The admin portion is $140, so you would subtract $140 from that before the 20%. So you'd only be getting a discount of 20% of $560, which would be $112. Then the taxes are added on top of that, and are not discounted. Let's say the taxes are $160, for example.

 

So in this case, instead of paying $860 for your cruise ($700+$160), you'd be paying $748, which only comes out to a 13% discount.

 

Anyway, my point is that the non-casino-play Diamond still isn't worth that much, unless you're planning upon going to Caesars properties for a number of nights. I think you're referring to "buying" Diamond through a different card for purchase, where Caesars Diamond is included in the benefits. I believe that card is $495, so that wouldn't be worth it for someone mainly looking for a drink card and a small discount on their cruise.

[rtkenmore]

Yes, you're correct about the drink card.

 

However, the "20% off" isn't a real 20% off, because it doesn't include taxes or the admin fee. So let's take a cruise priced at $700. The admin portion is $140, so you would subtract $140 from that before the 20%. So you'd only be getting a discount of 20% of $560, which would be $112. Then the taxes are added on top of that, and are not discounted. Let's say the taxes are $160, for example.

 

So in this case, instead of paying $860 for your cruise ($700+$160), you'd be paying $748, which only comes out to a 13% discount.

 

Anyway, my point is that the non-casino-play Diamond still isn't worth that much, unless you're planning upon going to Caesars properties for a number of nights. I think you're referring to "buying" Diamond through a different card for purchase, where Caesars Diamond is included in the benefits. I believe that card is $495, so that wouldn't be worth it for someone mainly looking for a drink card and a small discount on their cruise.

 

 

You should probably research more exactly what Diamond gets with Caesars to make it more worth than just the 20%. Not to mention, if you pay attention to cruises as much as some people do and pricing/sales/etc., you can save way more than what you're calculating. Our cruise on Encore next year, we're saving over a $1100 because in addition to the 20%, we booked it during tax free weekend so we aren't paying port taxes/fees/etc. Just on the cruise fare alone, we're saving over $300/person. Throw in the casino drink card, no need to choose UBP as a perk either unless we want the convenience of drinking anywhere on board.

 

Now multiple that by two essentially because we're on a second cruise in January that we're saving just over $400 on. So two cruises next year, our savings by being Diamond is over $1500 and that's before I get into any of the other perks/savings/freebies/etc. that come along with the membership you're referring to (such as instant Diamond at Wyndham Hotels via status match which is a big benefit for upgrades/etc.). Not to mention, again, all the ongoing benefits of Diamond with Caesars (especially for someone who may visit monthly or every few months)... Free show tickets, complimentary access to things, room discounts and guarantees, $100 dining credit, comped resort fees and more.

 

And to me, one of the biggest perks right now, the comped 4-day stay at Atlantis which is easily worth $1,000 or more depending on what time of year you go. And still haven't even gotten into the other discounts/memberships/etc. that the original membership card gets you. The AT&T discount alone pays for my membership... Everything else is just gravy. To me, I did the research and figured out that it's well worth the annual fee for me (and no, I'm not paying $495/year as you mentioned). Maybe you don't think it's worth for you... But for people who sail NCL 2 or 3 or more times a year.. It could easily be worth their time to investigate.

[NMLady]

Want to be Diamond again without the excessive gambling? Message me... Know a great way that comes with some additional perks to that may interest you.

 

No way to message since CC doesn't have it.

[kellygirl67]

Was your certificate from a land based casino like Harrah's or was it from the ship's casino?

 

It was from Harrahs.

[Stlcardsfan79]

It was from Harrahs.

I would call NCL and ask them about a perk.

[luvcruzing]

Was your certificate from a land based casino like Harrah's or was it from the ship's casino?

 

Never heard of a certificate from an NCL ship’s casino.

[luvcruzing]

Ah, I know all about schlepping water to the cabin!

 

On my last cruise, I refused to pay for water. I used to always bring my own aboard, but their obnoxious policy now makes that impossible.

 

So I dutifully carried both cards around, and whenever I passed the casino bar, I would stop and get two. I probably picked up about 30-40 waters during the cruise. Like you, I would take them on excursions ashore, and also would keep it in the room to drink when I wanted it.

 

Looking forward to hearing how your story turns out!

 

Drives me crazy when someone brags about grabbing water every chance they get with the casino drink card. Won’t be long and NCL will remove water from the drink card.

[Stlcardsfan79]

Never heard of a certificate from an NCL ship’s casino.

 

I don't know if it is an actual certificate but I know people get offers for free cruises thru NCL casino.