Djptcp Posted January 4, 2018 #1 Share Posted January 4, 2018 On Carnival, I receive free drinks in the casino after reaching 1500 points, usually on the second day. Even though we cruised on HAL a little over a year ago, I honestly can't recall if I received a free drinks card in the casino on the Zuiderdam after reaching a specific number of points. Does this happen on HAL? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kazu Posted January 4, 2018 #2 Share Posted January 4, 2018 On Carnival, I receive free drinks in the casino after reaching 1500 points, usually on the second day. Even though we cruised on HAL a little over a year ago, I honestly can't recall if I received a free drinks card in the casino on the Zuiderdam after reaching a specific number of points. Does this happen on HAL? Thanks. there is a difference between a free drink and a drink card so.... - No fee drinks card, but there can be free drinks. On some ships when you hit x points you are entitled to a free drink. on others, alert casino people offer you a free drink and on some ships, nothing may be offered. the Visa ships (and probably above) have the mechanism to offer a free drink when you get to x points. The smaller ships don't seem to (at least from my experience) but that doesn't mean you are not treated ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tv24 Posted January 4, 2018 #3 Share Posted January 4, 2018 I was recently on the Nieu Amsterdam and spent way too much time at the black jack table in the casino. They tracked my play each time. No free drinks offers. I anticipate that sometime later I will receive email offers for gambling cruises, just like I am getting from Princess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j9inmaui Posted January 5, 2018 #4 Share Posted January 5, 2018 Just off Koningsdam, after the first couple of nights they recognize you as a "regular" and of course track your spending and play, I simply asked for a drink each night from the floor supervisor, easy peasy. You did have to ask though. Even for less frequent players, they are unlikely to say no to an occasional request. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CM1984 Posted June 5, 2018 #5 Share Posted June 5, 2018 On Carnival, I receive free drinks in the casino after reaching 1500 points, usually on the second day. Even though we cruised on HAL a little over a year ago, I honestly can't recall if I received a free drinks card in the casino on the Zuiderdam after reaching a specific number of points. Does this happen on HAL? Thanks. Hello Djptcp: I see you were on the Zuiderdam, can you tell me about the casino? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doublebzz Posted June 5, 2018 #6 Share Posted June 5, 2018 This is no "free lunch" or "free drinks". On my most recent Prinsendam cruise, I was offered a drink each night I played at the craps table. I believe is ended up costing me about $150 a drink. 1 1 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenp123 Posted June 5, 2018 #7 Share Posted June 5, 2018 On every ship I have been on, after a few nights the casino supervisor definitely started buying drinks for the regulars at the tables. If they didn' offer, we would ask and they would save a server over for us. Definitely not free based on cost of play bit a nice gesture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tv24 Posted June 6, 2018 #8 Share Posted June 6, 2018 I was recently on the Nieu Amsterdam and spent way too much time at the black jack table in the casino. They tracked my play each time. No free drinks offers. I anticipate that sometime later I will receive email offers for gambling cruises, just like I am getting from Princess. I can amend my post. Still no free drinks, but...We were booked on an 18-day crossing on HAL and were pleasantly surprised by a price drop related to a gambling discount. Way more valuable than a few free drinks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted June 6, 2018 #9 Share Posted June 6, 2018 there is a difference between a free drink and a drink card so.... - No fee drinks card, but there can be free drinks. On some ships when you hit x points you are entitled to a free drink. on others, alert casino people offer you a free drink and on some ships, nothing may be offered. the Visa ships on the (Vista ships) - how do you think they keep track of points i f there is no card ? (my bold) (and probably above) have the mechanism to offer a free drink when you get to x points. The smaller ships don't seem to (at least from my experience) but that doesn't mean you are not treated ;) ...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a.madruga Posted June 6, 2018 #10 Share Posted June 6, 2018 I was recently on the Nieu Amsterdam and spent way too much time at the black jack table in the casino. They tracked my play each time. No free drinks offers. I anticipate that sometime later I will receive email offers for gambling cruises, just like I am getting from Princess. you'll do better on princess than hal.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyinDEN Posted June 6, 2018 #11 Share Posted June 6, 2018 The drinks are few and far between. I was told for every $1000 I spend then that entitles me to a free drink. Not exactly a welcoming atmosphere. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
familymom05 Posted January 14, 2020 #12 Share Posted January 14, 2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveOKC Posted January 14, 2020 #13 Share Posted January 14, 2020 (edited) On 1/3/2018 at 10:34 PM, tv24 said: I was recently on the Nieu Amsterdam and spent way too much time at the black jack table in the casino. They tracked my play each time. No free drinks offers. I anticipate that sometime later I will receive email offers for gambling cruises, just like I am getting from Princess. You should have received an offer from the casino the last evening, inviting you to come back and offering you $XXX dollars on free play on your next cruise (restrictions apply). My DW just got one on the NA in Dec and she is a light gambler (means she starts gambling when it is light out - just kidding) - she sets a limit of $30 per day and plays penny slots. This 7 day cruise she got $150 in free play for our April cruise. PLUS, the casino rate we get on most cruises saves us alot more than she loses. Edited January 14, 2020 by DaveOKC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kazu Posted January 14, 2020 #14 Share Posted January 14, 2020 Sail, since you posted inside my post, I can’t quote you but to answer what you posted which I have bolded: how do you think they keep track of points i f there is no card ? (my bold) (and probably above) have the mechanism to offer a free drink when you get to x points. The smaller ships don't seem to (at least from my experience) but that doesn't mean you are not treated 😉 It’s very easy for them to keep track of points on the ships. The points register on the slot machines and the crap/card tables know the regular players. The smaller ships keep track just as some of the others do. It depends on the casino manager. Always got drinks by day 4 on the smallest ship in the fleet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doublebzz Posted January 14, 2020 #15 Share Posted January 14, 2020 Just got off the Zuiderdam and the Craps pit boss was more generous with free drinks than I previously experienced. My wife and I play craps and also were offered $150 Casino free play off our next booking. It appears whenever this topic comes up on Cruise Critic, the casino is far more disposed to offering perks to slot players than those who play table games. Understandable of course since slots are nothing more than cash cows for the casinos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrissyCruises Posted January 14, 2020 #16 Share Posted January 14, 2020 I haven't seen that one before from HAL. Did it come on the ship or in the mail? Nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kazu Posted January 14, 2020 #17 Share Posted January 14, 2020 29 minutes ago, KrissyCruises said: I haven't seen that one before from HAL. Did it come on the ship or in the mail? Nice! Usually you get it on the ship or an invite to contact the Casino key people. But your cruise usually has to be in 6 months. Usually doesn’t work for me but it might next time 😉 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brentt_M Posted January 15, 2020 #18 Share Posted January 15, 2020 3 hours ago, familymom05 said: Looks like the exact same mailer I got in the mail just the other day. I have never had an issue getting a free drink on a HAL ship. Honestly, the craps crew kept me very well hydrated on my last cruise. I also had chocolate covered strawberries sent to my room and dinner at tamarind comped. I play craps almost exclusively. Usually just place the 6&8 for $30. I also tip the crew regularly. Last cruise was a very good gambling trip covered all of the costs associated with the Alaskan cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tv24 Posted January 15, 2020 #19 Share Posted January 15, 2020 After our HAL cruise last spring, on the last day, I received an offer similar to what Brentt_M received. I was at first happy, but then I noticed it had a drop dead date to take advantage and since we had no plans to book another HAL cruise, we had to let this offer slip by. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTcruisenut Posted January 15, 2020 #20 Share Posted January 15, 2020 I too, spend time in the Casino. SIGH. it's fun, I usually do pretty well even! 2 years ago I received an offer for a cruise for $100 plus port fees and taxes. So I went! Last year DH and I went on a cruise with friends. The hubby from the other couple and I spend about the same amount of time in the Casino. Spent about the same amount of $$$. I got an offer for a free cruise this year, just port fees and taxes and he got nothing! My experience is I have gotten 1 free drink in the casino and that was this past March on the Oosterdam. Other than that, never been offered a drink at all! Very different from my Casino experience in Montreal where the servers circulate constantly and deliver free beverages of every kind. Regardless, I am going to spend time and $$ in the Casino, but don't do the photos and art auctions. To each his own. It's fun, I meet people, I win, I lose, maybe come out ahead (I actually have several times) would love to play Blackjack or Craps, but I am not that brave! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arubababe52 Posted January 15, 2020 #21 Share Posted January 15, 2020 My husband and I were on the Zuiderdam for Christmas and spent every night after dinner in the casino. We both play table games and the pit bosses were very generous buying drinks for our tables. We received chocolate covered strawberries in our cabin and next to the last night received a COME BACK AND PLAY offer. We both received $350 in Casino Free play. Of course you have to book within 45 days and only good for cruises sailing through June, 2020. Unfortunately we won’t be able to take advantage of the offer. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Djptcp Posted January 15, 2020 Author #22 Share Posted January 15, 2020 We just sailed on a 10-day Koningsdam and I was asked by casino staff a number of times if they could buy me a cocktail. So, no free drink cards like on Carnival, but I don't drink much so no an issue. My Come Back And Play offer was $1,000 in free play. Really hard to pass that up, but we already have several HAL cruises booked within the time frame of the offer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveOKC Posted January 15, 2020 #23 Share Posted January 15, 2020 4 minutes ago, Djptcp said: We just sailed on a 10-day Koningsdam and I was asked by casino staff a number of times if they could buy me a cocktail. So, no free drink cards like on Carnival, but I don't drink much so no an issue. My Come Back And Play offer was $1,000 in free play. Really hard to pass that up, but we already have several HAL cruises booked within the time frame of the offer. Can you cancel and rebook with the free play offer. Also, have your TA check into this - sometimes they will let you add it onto an existing reservation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickadee910 Posted January 16, 2020 #24 Share Posted January 16, 2020 Westerdam last year....hostess bought drinks when I achieved point...off to Panama in 2021 on a casino cruise and do get drinks in the casino with package...can not wait...drink girls are hard to hail down at time so ketch them when you see them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcrcruiser Posted January 16, 2020 #25 Share Posted January 16, 2020 When playing Texas Holdem many times the players are offered free drinks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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