Club Royale - Casino VIP ?'s

[troykahack]

To us, other than the discount amount, the value of the certificate is far less than the amount of discount that has been applied to our existing or new booked cruise. Maybe it is our cabin type and timeframe. We stay in GS and pay about the same as a Superior Balcony with our Casino Rate. The more you spend for a cabin, the more discount one receives.

 

I have one Senior Club Royale Rep assigned to me. I call them directly to book cruises and apply discounts. The amount of my last certificate is insignificant nor does the expiration date matter. It just reminds me that I am still an active member in Club Royale VIP.

 

Drinks were mentioned. I get a sticker on my SeaPass the first night of play. I also have the DP/UP. When I order drinks, I request the bartender to us my drink package for drinks. I use to VIP sticker to get money from the Casino Casher without a fee (up to $5000 a day).

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[Gordo]

Noreen,

 

 

 

There has been much discussion about this exact topic on the Royal Caribbean Blog. What we have all found out is Royal has no plan written on paper that they follow. One CAS representative will tell you one thing and the next rep tells you another.

 

 

 

According to a friend who receives three to four FCC's (Future Cruise Credits) a year and discounts of up to 50 to 60% off other cruises, it is not how much you play, how long you play, table games, slot machines. What she and I found out is on slot machines they expect you to play the max bet, if a machine is 30, 60, 90, 120 or 150, you would need to play $1.50 for at least four hours every day. You don't have to stay at the same machine or table but always max bet, 30 cent bets will get you nothing.

 

 

 

Free drinks come with gambling in the casino, usually by the second day onboard, they know who they will give free drinks to because of the money they spent on embarkation day.

 

 

 

Noreen, what you have is known as an FCC can be used on any cruise. Here is a posting from the blog that might or might not answer questions for you.

 

 

 

The FCC are actual certificates that the casino host awards you while you're on the ship. Their wide use is still fairly recent so maybe you just haven't had the opportunity to cruise since they've been doling them out so freely. They range in value from $500 into the thousands (from what I understand. I have ever received one greater than $1000).

 

 

 

You will find that the CR (Casino Royal) rates run about 42 - 46% off full retail price (and, to be fair, nobody pays full retail)....so you will be getting ~15% more off above whatever prevailing promo rates RCCL is usually running. It varies depending upon what promo they are running but you will generally make out best with the CR rates. In all my years of being a CR member, I have only had 1 occasion when the CR rate was NOT the lowest rate and that was last year when they first started running EXTREMELY good C&A rates on Empress.

 

 

 

FCCs are stackable....which means that if you BOTH get an FCC, you can use them together on one cruise. Being a CR VIP is fairly difficult to do these days. They are giving out the FCC's like candy but just because you get an FCC does not mean that they will give you the CR rate on a cruise. You HAVE to be a VIP member to get that big discount. So while anyone can join CR, to be an invited VIP member is very exclusive.

 

 

 

To answer your question, you just have to throw big money around! I don't mean to be flippant about it, but you really do have to make yourself known to the casino host and casino manager.

 

 

 

There are 2 other benefits of being CR VIP. One is that you basically drink for free while you are in the casino but I will warn you - whatever you drink is subtracted from the value of your FCC (if you get one). That's why my FCC is always bigger than my husband's, even though he wagers WAAAAY more money than I do. He drinks his profits away and I do not ! I drink cokes and water and I don't think they subtract anything for those. So...just be aware of that. The other perk is that when you are CR VIP, you do not pay the 5% convenience fee for taking cash against your seapass card. This is the most important perk, for us. We no longer have to carry a big wad of money onto the ship. Now we just play with THEIR money and it costs us nothing. Of course, if you lose, then you have to make it back up but we try not to do that !

 

 

 

To give you an idea of a CR VIP discount, I booked a 9 day in January 2018. I am a solo cruiser so more expensive, the cruise price, only the cruise price, was almost $1,600 with a $634 CR VIP discount, so cruise price dropped to $966. For 9 days that worked out to $100 a day for the cruise, unbelievable rate.

 

 

 

Sorry this is so long but I wanted to give you the information from a couple who have been VIP members from about 10 years and do know what they are talking about when it comes to FCCs.

 

 

 

Candie

 

 

Thank you for taking the time to post all of this information! Very helpful.

[ChinaShrek]

If I receive a cruise discount certificate from the casino, when does it expire? Do I have to book a cruise within a year? Sail within a year? We cruise once a year due to work but may gamble quite a bit on the ship.

[followme2dq]

If I receive a cruise discount certificate from the casino, when does it expire? Do I have to book a cruise within a year? Sail within a year? We cruise once a year due to work but may gamble quite a bit on the ship.

 

Cruise needs to be booked within 30 days of earning the certificate, and valid for one year.

[ChinaShrek]

Cruise needs to be booked within 30 days of earning the certificate, and valid for one year.

 

Can I combine it with a NextCruise Certificate purchased on the ship?

Edited February 14, 2017 by ChinaShrek

[datolim]

For those of us who are recreational gamblers like me here is my 2 cents worth of comments.

I don't have big money to throw around in the casino or choose not to do so.

Being a VIP member is also not important.

From my experience as a regular on the casino cruise ship in the last 10 years I can say the Comps in the casino ship is definitely better than what I see here. The casino do not want to spell out how the Comps are awarded as they want real gamblers and not someone who game their system and get the maximum benefit from them.These are my comments.

1) Always sign up for their CR membership. Your record will stay with them for years.

2) Always play with their CR card. They would have your record in their system. Some VIP member here say they don't have his record as he was playing with their SeaPass card.

3) Always book your cruise through their CR office. You always get a better rate than whatever promotional rate that RCL put on.

4) If you are close to their 400 points already then it pays to buy the extra points from the casino to push you over the 400 mark. You get a $100 discount certificate for every 400 points for you next cruise. Go to the ETG ( electronic table game) and bet on the Roulette game. $5 on zeros and $95 on red and black. You lose $10 every round and repeat this until you are over the 400 mark.

5) If you are playing the lowest table game then you wouldn't be rated. Best to spend say $100 on the slots so that your CS membership is activated.

Edited February 14, 2017 by SG007

[sellwingri]

Unsure what you mean by the "lowest table game". I almost exclusively play 3-card poker or Ultimate Texas Holdem. Depending on how I'm doing, I'll bet the minimum or sometimes double the minimum. On the first day, I ask for the Casino Host and am given a VIP sticker which gives me free cocktails and no fee cash advances.

 

I book all my cruises via Casino Royale and get great prices which is why I have 5 booked right now. To me this means they're doing their job.

 

Someone posted that you should get to know your Casino Host and/or Manager and I totally agree. I didn't get to know them on a recent cruise and only received $500 off a future cruise. When I get to know them, I get a free cruise. (I always upgrade the free outside or balcony offer to a Grand Suite.)

[troykahack]

For those of us who are recreational gamblers like me here is my 2 cents worth of comments.

I don't have big money to throw around in the casino or choose not to do so.

Being a VIP member is also not important.

From my experience as a regular on the casino cruise ship in the last 10 years I can say the Comps in the casino ship is definitely better than what I see here. Club Royale went through changes/phases since April 2016 They did a phase I, II, III, and IV rollout. Jan 1 2017, Phase IV was implemented on all Royal Ships. The comps have been reduced drastically from what they once were. No more free meals (posted) or trinkets. I do know the Casino Host may choose to award players with a bottle of wine and other things onboard. There used to be a paper by the Casino Cashier that listed these things based on points but that listing is no longer present A(it was on Nov/Dec cruise but no longer in Jan. The casino do not want to spell out how the Comps are awarded as they want real gamblers and not someone who game their system and get the maximum benefit from them.These are my comments.

1) Always sign up for their CR membership. Your record will stay with them for years.

2) Always play with their CR card. They would have your record in their system. Some VIP member here say they don't have his record as he was playing with their SeaPass card.

 

Never have seen a Casino only card. We use our SeaPass with a sticker on it from the Casino Host

3) Always book your cruise through their CR office. You always get a better rate than whatever promotional rate that RCL put on.

4) If you are close to their 400 points already then it pays to buy the extra points from the casino to push you over the 400 mark. You get a $100 discount certificate for every 400 points for you next cruise. Go to the ETG ( electronic table game) and bet on the Roulette game. $5 on zeros and $95 on red and black. You lose $10 every round and repeat this until you are over the 400 mark.

 

What happens when 0 or 00 come up? Betting $50+ a hand/roll/spin for 4 hours plus a day will get you max Casino benefits .

5) If you are playing the lowest table game then you wouldn't be rated. Best to spend say $100 on the slots so that your CS membership is activated.

 

See above

[casinostreer]

"Never have seen a Casino only card. We use our SeaPass with a sticker on it from the Casino Host"

 

We have them. They are Royal Blue and just say Casino Royale on them. We used to put them into the machines and then we could give the cocktail server our sea pass for the drinks/package. Then two cruises ago on Freedom - they told us they were not using them any more. We hated having to take our cards out of the machine for drinks - so we asked for duplicate cards. They gave them to us. :-)

[datolim]

This was posted earlier here,

 

"You can just use your SeaPass (room key) in the slot machine to earn points. If desired, you may be able to get a special points-earning card from the casino. I've been given one of those a couple of times."

 

5) If 0 and 00 comes up then you lose $15. Edit $90 on red and black. $50 per hand is above my pay grade.

[Daghis]

Can I combine it with a NextCruise Certificate purchased on the ship?

 

Yes, but you cannot combine Club Royale benefits with the Crown & Anchor benefits like onboard credit from a NextCruise booking. If you've taken the onboard credit on your previous cruise, perhaps it's not an issue, but for my older NextCruise bookings where that wasn't an option, it was either the onboard credit or the casino rate.

 

Maybe you can use the casino certificate at the prevailing rate and get both benefits. I don't know, and it just seems like Royal Caribbean is working on eliminating any sort of double-dipping.

[RFerrington]

1 - Can I apply the value off a current booking made through my normal travel agent? It wasn't booked through the casino team. The sailing isn't until August so we are before final payment. If we don't think any of the sailings on either certificate will work, can we apply the valus from both to our next cruise?

 

Yes, you can apply a certificate to previous booking BUT they will reprice the cruise at the current rate so depending upon the deal you got originally, it may or may not work out to be a savings. The good news is, they will rebook at the prevailing casino rate and then apply the value of your certificates (yes, they are stackable). I recommend you have your TA contact CR and find out what your new rate would be.

 

In the very recent past, CR would allow you to reduce the cost of an existing booking without repricing, but alas, that has changed. Now, any existing bookings will be repriced at the prevailing rates.

[troykahack]

This was posted earlier here,

 

"You can just use your SeaPass (room key) in the slot machine to earn points. If desired, you may be able to get a special points-earning card from the casino. I've been given one of those a couple of times."

 

5) If 0 and 00 comes up then you lose $15. Edit $90 on red and black. $50 per hand is above my pay grade.

 

Don't you lose the $90 as well you used to cover the RED/BLACK?

[troykahack]

Yes, you can apply a certificate to previous booking BUT they will reprice the cruise at the current rate so depending upon the deal you got originally, it may or may not work out to be a savings. The good news is, they will rebook at the prevailing casino rate and then apply the value of your certificates (yes, they are stackable). I recommend you have your TA contact CR and find out what your new rate would be.

 

In the very recent past, CR would allow you to reduce the cost of an existing booking without repricing, but alas, that has changed. Now, any existing bookings will be repriced at the prevailing rates.

 

Maybe I misunderstand what you are saying..... We had cruises already book through NextCruise, more than a year out. We were able to use CR to reduce our rate. Not sure how that applies to repricing and use.

[RFerrington]

2 - How do upgrades work with these letters? If we want to sail in a suite do we just pay the difference from the balcony (his letter) or ocean view (my letter) or is it based on the difference from the value $1000 for his letter and $750 for my letter?

 

If you want a different category of room than the category offered to you for "free" you would simply book whatever category you want and apply the casino rate plus the "cash" value of their certificates. So, you would get the casino rate (generally 42-50 % off full retail price) plus an additional discount of $1750.

[RFerrington]

3 - Do we still earn C&A points for either free cruises or ones we use the value of the certificate?

 

I do not know the correct answer to this one. I have never taken one of the "free" cruises...but it's a great question. Let us know what you find out.

[troykahack]

If you want a different category of room than the category offered to you for "free" you would simply book whatever category you want and apply the casino rate plus the "cash" value of their certificates. So, you would get the casino rate (generally 42-50 % off full retail price) plus an additional discount of $1750.

 

I don't think you can combine a certificate on top of a casino rate on a room. Basically to us, the certificates are worthless. We have our own rep that we can book at anytime with the Casino Rate just as long as we continue to cruise and play.

[RFerrington]

4 - Can I still use my normal travel agent and link her in with the Casino team?

 

Yes, just have your TA contact CR and he/she can work directly with the representatives on your behalf.

 

Let me just add....I always book my original reservations directly with CR and then transfer the booking to my TA. It's just st a holdover thing for me or maybe it's my OCD manifesting.

 

It works either way

[troykahack]

I do not know the correct answer to this one. I have never taken one of the "free" cruises...but it's a great question. Let us know what you find out.

 

There is no "Free" cruise.... you must still pay port fees, taxes, and gratuities. We could upgrade a OV to a JS on Empress for $200 and get double pts. This was for Solo cruiser, me.

[RFerrington]

5 - We have our first sailing on Celebrity next year - does our casino status roll over there as well? Do we need to do anything?

 

Currently, the Royal and X programs are completely autonomous and independent although I have heard some musings that the programs may achieve reciprocity at some future point. Now, you must qualify independently for each program and status is not acknowledged by the other program.

[somerandomidiot]

Maybe I misunderstand what you are saying..... We had cruises already book through NextCruise, more than a year out. We were able to use CR to reduce our rate. Not sure how that applies to repricing and use.

 

I agree with RFerrington and Daghis. If you want to modify an old onboard booking using a casino rate now, they're going to reprice it at current rates and you'll also lose any OBC that might have been applicable initially.

[troykahack]

I agree with RFerrington and Daghis. If you want to modify an old onboard booking using a casino rate now, they're going to reprice it at current rates and you'll also lose any OBC that might have been applicable initially.

 

True, you will lose previous OBC but CR "may" award OBC as well, if you have been a good player. We have NEVER used the Certificates I get from the Casino. Our discounts are much higher than the certificate.

[troykahack]

Also note, the Certificate for play is generally computed sometime around 8pm, the night before last. It DOES NOT count your play the last night. Club Royale may update your points based on the last hours (a full day and a half) if you call them a few days to a week after the cruise.

[RFerrington]

 

I know I can call the casino team and ask all these questions

 

As others have noted, it is entirely possible that you might get conflicting information even from the CR representatives, themselves. As I'm sure you know, the CR program is in the middle of a complete transformation and the misinformation and conflicting information blowing about (even from the program itself) is rampant.

 

My advice is...if you don't get the answer you want the first or even the second time you call, keep calling back until you get formation you are comfortable with. I recommend you advise your TA NOT to accept anything less than the most beneficial "deal" as you understand it. If you have a good TA they will not accept what CR offers unless they know it is accurate and complete. Trust me, I've just been down this rocky road which is why I am relaying the latest information I have.

 

You can pretty much ignore the expiration information on the certificates. You can also request a more current list of "free" cruises if you find that the list they provided on the back of the cert is on the "old" side.

 

While CR is more than willing to extend the various deadlines, it is advisable to start making inquiries about how you cert(s) can be used prior to the expiration date. In other words, the "within 30 day" and "within 1year" dates are negotiable, I recommend initiating contact with CR at some point before 30 days and then let them extend the deadlines. Better safe than sorry.

 

Recent personal negotiation: received 2 certs on Nav over Christmas/NY. Didn't like any of the "free" cruises so booked a Bermuda cruise on Grandeur. With casino rate + combined cents value, final cruise cost was an 85% reduction off of full retail. So don't settle for their "free" cruises unless you see one you really want. These certs will work with an cruise. Will it be "free" ? No, but neither is a free cruise !

[troykahack]

As others have noted, it is entirely possible that you might get conflicting information even from the CR representatives, themselves. As I'm sure you know, the CR program is in the middle of a complete transformation and the misinformation and conflicting information blowing about (even from the program itself) is rampant.

 

My advice is...if you don't get the answer you want the first or even the second time you call, keep calling back until you get formation you are comfortable with. I recommend you advise your TA NOT to accept anything less than the most beneficial "deal" as you understand it. If you have a good TA they will not accept what CR offers unless they know it is accurate and complete. Trust me, I've just been down this rocky road which is why I am relaying the latest information I have.

 

You can pretty much ignore the expiration information on the certificates. You can also request a more current list of "free" cruises if you find that the list they provided on the back of the cert is on the "old" side.

 

While CR is more than willing to extend the various deadlines, it is advisable to start making inquiries about how you cert(s) can be used prior to the expiration date. In other words, the "within 30 day" and "within 1year" dates are negotiable, I recommend initiating contact with CR at some point before 30 days and then let them extend the deadlines. Better safe than sorry.

 

Recent personal negotiation: received 2 certs on Nav over Christmas/NY. Didn't like any of the "free" cruises so booked a Bermuda cruise on Grandeur. With casino rate + combined cents value, final cruise cost was an 85% reduction off of full retail. So don't settle for their "free" cruises unless you see one you really want. These certs will work with an cruise. Will it be "free" ? No, but neither is a free cruise !

 

This is excellent information. If you play enough, you will get your own personal representative within Club Royale and they can swing more things for you.