How do you get a complimentary casino cruise

[Nashna]

On our June 2019 Allure sailing, we met folks who were on a complimentary cruise they earned from their casino.  When sailing on MSC's Divina in the Yacht Club, we met several people who were sailing complimentary due to their casino credits.  I know our particular 11-day sailing was always sold out.  Both of these passengers had booked four and five months in advance.  This was not their first experience In the YC and they had future MSC cruises booked as well...in the Yacht Club.  We are not gamblers, so we will never attain casino status.  However, I am curious as to how this program operates.     

[Paphillyguy]

We received our cruise from a local casino.  My partner received an inside room free and I received an oceanview.  You then have the option to upgrade for a fee.  They allowed us to combine to get a balcnoy for free and on the cruise we selected the upgrade to the YC was extremely affordable so we did it without question.  The certificate you receive from the local casino is based on your level of play at that the local casino and is not available to just anyone.  We had to pick up on a certain day and the certificate was good for any cruise up to 10 nights for a year period.  I have received certificate for other cruiselines but the MSC was better because unlike NCL or other lines you did not have to pay port fees and taxes and the booking fees.  Their selling point is free means free.  So if we did not select to pay to upgrade we have recieved a balcony room for free.  They reason they offer this is that they target people that gamble regularly and they know they will be in a casino during the trip. 

[Nashna]

Great explanation.  Thank you.  So you are not obligated to gamble onboard?

[puglady12]

Me and my husband both won free cruises from Mohegan Sun. We paid to upgrade from an interior room to a balcony.  We went last May and going again in 3 weeks. 
We usually only go to the casino a couple of times a year and we bring about $300 each. I have no idea how we won two cruises! We always insert our loyalty card into the machine when we play.  
And we get free drinks in the casino on the ship.  

[megaelch]

MSC Casino has two tiers of comps :

 

When you reach 1500 table / slot play points they will give you a certificate for 30% off any cruise and add OBC for higher point levels reached, for example i got 150 USD OBC on top for 2700 points.

For 10.000 points you get a free cruise , cannot comment of the choice of cruises, my play is not that high.

10.000 points equals 50.000,- USD slot play or  approx. 20 hours of 100 USD per hand table play as far as i could see it on my last cruises. hope that helps.

[Nashna]

This is fascinating.  I just assumed that passengers sailing on cruise credits would have to gamble onboard to continue to sail in the future.   Now, it appears that there are several different ways to get free or greatly reduced cruises.  If someone sails on MSC on credits earned at a land casino, are they obligated to gamble a certain amount in the ship's casino?  

[Paphillyguy]

I do not believe there is a certain gambling level you need to hit during the cruise.  I have gambled during my trips so never had an issue.  I know a lot of casino offers do have the fine print that failure to gamble may affect future offers,