FYI for Gamblers - It could be lucrative!

[SLOTheta]

Hi there -

After weeks of trying to figure out what to do, I booked our group cruise today with a HAL PCC. We didn’t get the OBC offered by our big box membership store. But, for now, it’s worth it to me to deal with HAL directly.

 

I wanted to let all the gamblers know that it may be worth your while to continue to gamble while cruising. I’ve only taken one cruise on HAL, a 12 Day Mediterranean cruise on the Eurodam. I gambled every night and had various levels of success. On average, I gambled roughly $250 a day. I was up a lot, then down quite a bit. It has been awhile, but I believe ended up losing a few hundred dollars at the end of the trip. I also participated in promotions in the casino that included buying a package that gave me lotto tickets, a free drink and a deck of cards. I also won a dinner for 2 at Canaletto.

 

When we were first quoted our cruise, it was $5958. After our PCC applied the casino discount, it was $5232. A savings of $726.

 

 

 

 

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[Krazy Kruizers]

Congratulations on your savings. But was it really a savings? You say that you spend $250 a night in the casino -- that equals $3000. You also bought a package and got free lotto tickets, etc. -- how much did that cost? Great you won free Canaletto dinners. Did you ever actually figure out how much you won in comparison to what you spent? But I wonder how much you really spent to save $726?

[SLOTheta]

I gambled every night, never expecting to win. I gamble to have fun, not to make money. At the end of 12 days, I lost maybe $200 to $300 dollars. I loose $200 in Vegas in a few hours. So, for 11 nights of fun gambling with my friends, losing $200 was a steal.

 

I don’t recall for much the lotto package was, but it was maybe $10 or $15 above the price of a drink. Since the package included a free drink and a deck of cards, paying an extra $10 or $15 was worth it to me. I included this figure in my $250 a day gambling.

 

So, I spent a total of $200 to $300 to gain 11 nights of fun and $726 savings. I met really nice people chatting at the tables and played for hours each night.

 

 

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[DaveOKC]

Many cruisers have reported on this board that HAL is pretty generous with the casino rate and deals, even though they are not big gamblers (yes, I know that gamblers seldom tell you the truth about how much they lose).

 

I know of a couple of people who get the "gamblers email" offering some sweet deals on select cruises, but you REALLY have to jump on them fast, as they sell out quickly. Some of these offers are for FREE Inside cabins with Neptunes being around $1000 pp, even for 14 day cruises. Generally speaking, these deals are for cruises less than 3-4 months out (or less).

 

We are small time gamblers (IMO) and generally lose less than $200 per cruise per person. So I was really surprised about a month ago when my new booking showed a "casino rate", which amounted to a 10% discount (saved us $350 pp). I rebooked another cruise for the same 10% off. One of these cruises is about 9 months way, so it seems that this 10% rate applies to almost any HAL cruise (not the Coastals I have discovered).

 

While this deal almost seems too good to be true, based on the numerous reports on this board, it does seem to be a good deal, so "get it while you can!".

[tv24]

I too like to play cards and cannot claim to be a big time gambler. And I have limited days on board on HAL. Still, when our TA recently re-booked our upcoming 18-day HAL crossing, we were surprised to get a very generous casino rate. Very happy surprise. We would have gone anyway, but now maybe HAL is making me a better customer?

[KroozNut]

DW likes to pull a few handles in our Indian casinos here in San Diego now and then. I usually hear about it when she 'wins', but never when she loses (imagine that). :o

 

Whenever she excitedly tells me how much she 'won', I have to ask her how much she put in to 'win' that amount. Bottom line is usually that she put in more than she 'won' for a negative net value.. (i.e., she actually lost);) :eek:

[Sea42]

When we transferred our booking from HAL to our TA the casino rate went with us. I don't know about the big box TA but the one we used honored that rate and offered their own OBC in addition.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Glad some of you have made out on the Casino rates.

We don't gamble as we know the odds are against us. We used to play the slot machines but then the smoke got too much for us. Even with the limited smoking there now, I can still smell it.

[Sea42]

Glad some of you have made out on the Casino rates.

We don't gamble as we know the odds are against us. We used to play the slot machines but then the smoke got too much for us. Even with the limited smoking there now, I can still smell it.

The only reason I visited the casino was to have a cigarette. As I haven't smoked in years I probably won't be visiting it again. After this next cruise no more casino rate for us but I think by not spending on cigarettes or gambling we'll come out ahead;p

[Arzeena]

Congratulations on your savings. But was it really a savings? You say that you spend $250 a night in the casino -- that equals $3000. You also bought a package and got free lotto tickets, etc. -- how much did that cost? Great you won free Canaletto dinners. Did you ever actually figure out how much you won in comparison to what you spent? But I wonder how much you really spent to save $726?

 

My exact thoughts!

[cb at sea]

It's not about how much you win or lose...it's how much you play.....they don't care if you win and certainly don't care if you lose! If you're going to gamble, might as well get "rated" and see if you can get something for that play!

 

We aren't "big" gamblers, but even in Vegas, we get some perks that are nice.....free fancy dinners, or room discounts....nothing we count on, but it's a nice surprise! We will play about 4-6 hours a day (if the cards are with us!) and it's really length of play they are looking at....I seldom play more than $10-15 per hand...but we still get stuff. Ship's are much tighter, and usually require more minimum play. I don't do slots, except to "kill time"....the odds are awful!

[KroozNut]

Even with the limited smoking there now, I can still smell it.

 

Curious, are you 'allergic' as so many folks claim to be, when the reality is that they just don't like smoking?:confused:

[KroozNut]

It's not about how much you win or lose...it's how much you play.....they don't care if you win and certainly don't care if you lose!

They're hoping that you lose, which is in the house's favor.

 

 

If you're going to gamble, might as well get "rated" and see if you can get something for that play!

Like what?

 

 

We aren't "big" gamblers, but even in Vegas, we get some perks that are nice.....free fancy dinners, or room discounts....nothing we count on, but it's a nice surprise!

 

Hello... I'm sure you know that those 'perks' are not 'free'. You paid for them with your gambling losses. The casinos are happy to toss you a 'free' room or meal based on how much you've lost in their casino.They're in business to make a profit, not to lose money on your perks.

 

 

 

We will play about 4-6 hours a day (if the cards are with us!) and it's really length of play they are looking at....I seldom play more than $10-15 per hand...but we still get stuff. Ship's are much tighter, and usually require more minimum play. I don't do slots, except to "kill time"....the odds are awful!

 

Hint: The cards are never with you. and the 'odds' are not with you anywhere, whether in Vegas or on a ship.

[SLOTheta]

 

I know of a couple of people who get the "gamblers email" offering some sweet deals on select cruises, but you REALLY have to jump on them fast, as they sell out quickly. Some of these offers are for FREE Inside cabins with Neptunes being around $1000 pp, even for 14 day cruises. Generally speaking, these deals are for cruises less than 3-4 months out (or less).

 

While this deal almost seems too good to be true, based on the numerous reports on this board, it does seem to be a good deal, so "get it while you can!".

 

 

I’ve never received an email or a letter advertising a casino rate. I only knew to ask about it because of this board. I wonder if you have to be flagged to get these emails and letters. Maybe I’m not gambling enough!

 

 

 

 

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[DaveOKC]

DW likes to pull a few handles in our Indian casinos here in San Diego now and then. I usually hear about it when she 'wins', but never when she loses (imagine that). :o

 

Whenever she excitedly tells me how much she 'won', I have to ask her how much she put in to 'win' that amount. Bottom line is usually that she put in more than she 'won' for a negative net value.. (i.e., she actually lost);) :eek:

 

 

THIS IS EXACTLY what my DW does on Bingo! I call it Bingo Math. I must be rich from playing poker with this logic!

[DaveOKC]

I’ve never received an email or a letter advertising a casino rate. I only knew to ask about it because of this board. I wonder if you have to be flagged to get these emails and letters. Maybe I’m not gambling enough!

 

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We did not get this rate until about our 20th cruise, even though we gambled on each one. Based on our experience, I think you have to earn at least 1000 credits (which are based on "coin in") and likely more on the cruise before you get their attention. I even emailed the company that runs the casino a couple of years ago and they responded that our play was not enough to qualify. Last Dec we were on a cruise with alot of sea days, so we finally got over the 1000 mark - maybe that helped, I do not know for certain, but we did just start getting the casino rate.

 

My theory is that slots earn these points the quickest (like they do in Vegas) as the casino wants you to play them due to the high "hold" percentage for them. Also, play the machines that have smaller jackpots, as they tend to have more smaller 'wins" which keeps you earning a bit of cash to keep playing on. In Vegas, video poker is a great way to do this, as there are many small wins and you thus end up with more "coin in". However on the cruise ships, video poker odds are much lower than in Vegas and your cash goes much quicker.

[Lady Arwen]

I've been playing the slots on our cruises for many years. My slot budget for each cruise is $300.00, which I usually lose. However, sometimes I break even (not often) and once that I can remember I took home an extra $200.00. Not a big gambler for sure. We've been blessed with the casino rate for our last 4 HAL cruises. Our discount casino rate is usually about 30-35% (Canadian). We just booked Koningsdam for 2019 and we saved $1600.00 total for both of us. For us, the casino rate is fantastic!

[SLOTheta]

We did not get this rate until about our 20th cruise, even though we gambled on each one. Based on our experience, I think you have to earn at least 1000 credits (which are based on "coin in") and likely more on the cruise before you get their attention. I even emailed the company that runs the casino a couple of years ago and they responded that our play was not enough to qualify. Last Dec we were on a cruise with alot of sea days, so we finally got over the 1000 mark - maybe that helped, I do not know for certain, but we did just start getting the casino rate.

 

 

 

My theory is that slots earn these points the quickest (like they do in Vegas) as the casino wants you to play them due to the high "hold" percentage for them. Also, play the machines that have smaller jackpots, as they tend to have more smaller 'wins" which keeps you earning a bit of cash to keep playing on. In Vegas, video poker is a great way to do this, as there are many small wins and you thus end up with more "coin in". However on the cruise ships, video poker odds are much lower than in Vegas and your cash goes much quicker.

 

 

 

Thanks for the tips. I’m a table player, black jack, craps and roulette. We had a large group sailing and there were about 15 of us who enjoyed gambling together each night. When I gamble, I take out a certain amount I’m willing to lose. I see it as my entertainment fund - instead of spending money on extra dinners or spa visits (we a dinner each of the specially restaurants once), I’d rather use my fun money to gamble with my friends. I wonder if it was my husband’s slot playing which accumulated the points quickly. He gambled about a $100 a night, would typically come back to the room pretty close to even. At the end of 11 nights, he said he lost less than $100, but was consistently running through at least $100 each night through the machine. I’m not a big slot person since I gamble for the social aspects of gambling - hanging out with my friends and meeting new people.

 

We are going on our cruise with 3 other couples who enjoy a little casino time next summer, we will be racking up a few more points!

 

 

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[SLOTheta]

They're hoping that you lose, which is in the house's favor

 

 

I would agree, most casinos stack the odds so you are not likely to win. If you play games with low house odds, the casino still has the advantage, but not as much of one. I like to play all the table games, but if there’s a good vibe at the black jack tables or poker, or play those. In poker, the casino only gets a rake.

 

 

 

 

 

Like what?

 

I’ve received: countless dinners at some of the best restaurants in Vegas and Lake Tahoe, ski passes, concert tickets, home electronics, hundreds of hotel nights, purses, thousands of drinks and now a discount off my cruise. The last offer I received from a casino was a $100,000 poker tournament entry and hotel stay for the weekend. I made it to the final round, I was paid out and had 2 days of fun. I gambled outside the tournament and won a nice sum. Yes, I’ve left a casino a loser many times, but I enjoyed my self. I always take out a specific sum of money to play with, I never take out more. I expect to lose it all, but that rarely happens. I usually come out even, or maybe a few hundred up or down. I’ve never sustained big losses. I see it as buying a $200 ticket to watch Cirque Du Soleil (which I’ve also received discounted tickets to from gambling).

 

 

 

 

 

Hello... I'm sure you know that those 'perks' are not 'free'. You paid for them with your gambling losses. The casinos are happy to toss you a 'free' room or meal based on how much you've lost in their casino.They're in business to make a profit, not to lose money on your perks.

 

 

 

Hint: The cards are never with you. and the 'odds' are not with you anywhere, whether in Vegas or on a ship.

 

 

Most gamblers understand that perks aren’t free. I enjoy gambling, even if they didn’t give me all the perks, I would still do it. The perks are a nice bonus after you’ve spent a weekend gambling and enjoying yourself. Some people like to spend thousands on cruises, I like to spend thousands gambling. If I get a free trip out of it, some shows and dinners, I’m a happy camper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[mustgo]

Up until now we have been able to use onboard credit for slot machines. Someone commented recently that their account was charged separately and the onboard credit was not used. Has anyone else had this problem recently?

[SLOTheta]

Up until now we have been able to use onboard credit for slot machines. Someone commented recently that their account was charged separately and the onboard credit was not used. Has anyone else had this problem recently?

 

 

I haven’t been on a cruise since our first cruise 2 years ago. But, my PCC told me yesterday that I could not use the OBC I received with my future cruise credit OBC in the casino. I won’t know until I try, but we spent our last OBC on drinks [emoji51] and brought cash to the casino.

 

 

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[mustgo]

Thanks. I know they always tell you that, but in practice, using it in the slots worked. I am hoping it still does because on our next cruise, we could never spend it all on board and the cruise only has 2 port stops so cannot use it there. It would be a shame to lose it.

[tommy]

You dont have to lose money to get casino deals,We actually won just over 800 dollars an d received a great discount on our next cruise.

[DaveOKC]

Up until now we have been able to use onboard credit for slot machines. Someone commented recently that their account was charged separately and the onboard credit was not used. Has anyone else had this problem recently?

 

I was the one that reported it. Happened on a cruise that ended April 1, 2018 (not an April Fools joke!). The night before our departure I pulled a copy of my bill and it was a small bill of $6.64. I had charged $110 in the casino to my account. But when I got the final bill the next morning it showed a charge of $64.50 for PROMO CREDITS (unused promo credits). My net bill was now $71.14. So, clearly HAL must have not allowed all of my casino charges (the totals above do not match exactly since I also had some port fee credits applied).

 

I have never had this happen before.

[expectGREATthings]

I would agree, most casinos stack the odds so you are not likely to win. If you play games with low house odds, the casino still has the advantage, but not as much of one. I like to play all the table games, but if there’s a good vibe at the black jack tables or poker, or play those. In poker, the casino only gets a rake.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ve received: countless dinners at some of the best restaurants in Vegas and Lake Tahoe, ski passes, concert tickets, home electronics, hundreds of hotel nights, purses, thousands of drinks and now a discount off my cruise. The last offer I received from a casino was a $100,000 poker tournament entry and hotel stay for the weekend. I made it to the final round, I was paid out and had 2 days of fun. I gambled outside the tournament and won a nice sum. Yes, I’ve left a casino a loser many times, but I enjoyed my self. I always take out a specific sum of money to play with, I never take out more. I expect to lose it all, but that rarely happens. I usually come out even, or maybe a few hundred up or down. I’ve never sustained big losses. I see it as buying a $200 ticket to watch Cirque Du Soleil (which I’ve also received discounted tickets to from gambling).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most gamblers understand that perks aren’t free. I enjoy gambling, even if they didn’t give me all the perks, I would still do it. The perks are a nice bonus after you’ve spent a weekend gambling and enjoying yourself. Some people like to spend thousands on cruises, I like to spend thousands gambling. If I get a free trip out of it, some shows and dinners, I’m a happy camper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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All very well said and my feelings to the T.

When our family goes to Disney World we have a blast and it costs a ton of money.

I know I'll never get any of it back and Disney won't give me anything for the spend.

When I gamble it's entertainment and I have a blast as well. However I also have a chance to win some money, and I get some perks.

The casino be it on land or at sea rates me on my play and gives me comps accordingly.

Thanks and see you in the casino,

Michael