Casino Rate Question

[arpie05]

So after 15 0r so cruises I finally qualified for a casino discount. (My son who just turned 22 started getting them over a year before me)  So fine print is that you get unlimited beverages only in the casino.  Am I better off just going ahead and getting the drinking package? We got our moneys worth this year but I did drink more because we had. I really liked getting Vitamin Waters and powerades during the day. I welcome advice... 

[boomhower]

Not something anyone can answer but you.  If you'll spend more on drinks outside the casino than the package costs then yes you should.  If not pay by the drink.  Clearly they want you in the casino for a reason and it's not because everyone wins.  I have absolutely nothing against gambling, my wife enjoys it very much.  I just don't care for it like she does.  We treat it as entertainment spending.  My entertainment is drinking so I get the drink package and she gambles, works out for us. 

[Elaine5715]

You will still be limited to a total of 15 alcoholic drinks a day, regardless of the fact you have DOU and Cheers,

[cary1306]

wow gone on couple casino discount trips and loved the savings never realizing I could get free drinks in the casino too. thankyou board for bringing it up as I have future cruises.I don't drink a lot but free drinks are great.

[d12j28]

1 hour ago, cary1306 said:

wow gone on couple casino discount trips and loved the savings never realizing I could get free drinks in the casino too. thankyou board for bringing it up as I have future cruises.I don't drink a lot but free drinks are great.

Not every casino offer has the drinks on us card so you will want to check on that.

[mikel24m]

I would not get the drink package if I were you. We've been on many casino cruises with DOU in the casino and many many times we go various times day and night and they will get us a drink playing or not. I'm going to be honest I'm a bartender and take care of the servers pretty well so we are never thirsty. Often I've went down for wine before dinner and took it with us. Save your cheers money for winning some jackpots 😉

[Treyatl2006]

I wouldn't purchase cheers since the casino is usually centrally located and I can easily walk down and get me a drink and bring it to wherever I'm going. Besides...if I really want to get a drink somewhere else and didn't feel like going to the casino to get it.... I will just spend the $7 or $8 and get it... This only happened a handful of times on the cruise and it will be alot cheaper than paying for the cheers package.

[evandbob]

Since you can bring any drink you order in the casino on the DUO card anywhere else on the ship, I'd advise you not to spend $$ on Cheers.  E. g., you can get a glass of wine before dinner, and carry it into the MDR or anywhere else you may be headed.

 

Perhaps this might be inconvenient and not appropriate when you are lounging poolside in your bathing suit, but you can always pay for a drink or two at a bar and still save over the cost of Cheers.

[HawkIVette]

Keep in mind that it is not so easy to just "go to the casino and get a drink".  First, you must be playing and then, to find a waitstaff to take your order and bring it back to you can sometime take up to 30-45 minutes.  If you have to wait that long for one, you might as well order it and be on your way.

In the time you are waiting for your drink to come, you can easily lose $10 or more.

 

Edited October 20, 2018 by HawkIVette

[BlerkOne]

I find cash is king. Tipping additional in the casino decreases my wait time for cocktails.

[Barnes11]

Double check your promo. Most casino promos state you can earn a DOU card after a certain amount of play. If this is your first time earning a promo I doubt you earned a Premier or Ultra promo which do in fact start you out with a DOU card. I just don't want you to be disappointed if this is the case. 

[Elaine5715]

9 hours ago, cary1306 said:

wow gone on couple casino discount trips and loved the savings never realizing I could get free drinks in the casino too. thankyou board for bringing it up as I have future cruises.I don't drink a lot but free drinks are great.

Sailing under a casino offer does not automatically confer the DOU card.  If you are on a Premier (and you would know it is a Premier) comes with a DOU.  If you had enough points on your immediate last cruise, you will get the DOU   at embark.  But many of the "dealer's choice" offers have an * next to the free drinks meaning you need to earn it once on board.

[Treyatl2006]

4 hours ago, HawkIVette said:

Keep in mind that it is not so easy to just "go to the casino and get a drink".  First, you must be playing and then, to find a waitstaff to take your order and bring it back to you can sometime take up to 30-45 minutes.  If you have to wait that long for one, you might as well order it and be on your way.

In the time you are waiting for your drink to come, you can easily lose $10 or more.

 

You can order drinks at the bar in the casino.

[Elaine5715]

10 minutes ago, Treyatl2006 said:

You can order drinks at the bar in the casino.

They aren't supposed to take the DOU card at the bar.

[abby1257]

21 hours ago, Elaine5715 said:

You will still be limited to a total of 15 alcoholic drinks a day, regardless of the fact you have DOU and Cheers,

But will not be limited to 15 drinks if you pay full price for them...but let see....just how much did that 'FREE' 15 drink limit card in the casino actually cost you?   LOL

[InitialD]

It depends. I decided not to get Cheers since I had the DOU casino card. I found it to more than meet my need for drinks. Plus I had brought on the allowed bottle of wine. Only one other time did I buy a drink outside the casino. 

 

I found it was a lot easier to get drinks during the day in the casino. Wasn't very busy at all. Late at night it gets very busy so it could take half an hour to get your drink, so I would order a Fosters as it was the largest beer you could order. 

[mikel24m]

On 10/20/2018 at 7:42 PM, abby1257 said:

But will not be limited to 15 drinks if you pay full price for them...but let see....just how much did that 'FREE' 15 drink limit card in the casino actually cost you?   LOL

I love how now gambler's love to put us down 😉.  Most of us know we likely won't walk away winners and it's our entertainment just like people like to sit at the piano bar we love the casino games. With that being said ....

 

My thoughts on the drinks on us card and the drink package is I'd rather have the $500 or $600 whatever it is now since it went up to gamble with and have a nice head start on our gambling. Sometimes we win and that lasts awhile and we get free drinks. Sure not as convenient as going to any bar or by the pool but when my wife wants a wine it's available. And usually the casino takes care of us as well. Our cruise on the horizon in a few days was $1350 with port fees and taxes. We get $1100 casino cash. Can't beat a $250 cruise 😉

[CruisinCrow]

On 10/19/2018 at 9:07 PM, boomhower said:

My entertainment is drinking so I get the drink package and she gambles, works out for us. 

 

Don't you both have to get the drink package if one gets it?  That's why we never purchase it on Carnival - my husband might be able to make it worth it but I can't.

[mikel24m]

15 minutes ago, CruisinCrow said:

 

Don't you both have to get the drink package if one gets it?  That's why we never purchase it on Carnival - my husband might be able to make it worth it but I can't.

Everyone 21 and older in the room must buy it