Casino Rate - What is it and what are the pros and cons if you qualify?

[Ken the cruiser]

What exactly is a "Casino Rate" cruise fare? I've been curious about this for awhile now as I periodically see references made to them on CC forums and really don't have a clue as to what it is. More specifically, what exactly is it, how do you qualify for one and what are its pros and cons? I can't seem to find any reference to it on the Princess site? 

[c-boy]

Ken my Crimson Tide fan. I'm thinkin'  your cruise personalizer should have the info. 

[jennybenny]

It's a discounted fare. We've gotten emails from Princess offering casino rates, but have never had the opportunity to book one. Sometimes they are for a specific cruise at a lower rate, or they will send something that says up to 35% off cruise fares.  Things like that.  

[voljeep]

do you need to 'register' with Princess / someone else ? - or just use you card/OM when in the casino 

 

 

[Ken the cruiser]

1 minute ago, jennybenny said:

It's a discounted fare. We've gotten emails from Princess offering casino rates, but have never had the opportunity to book one. Sometimes they are for a specific cruise at a lower rate, or they will send something that says up to 35% off cruise fares.  Things like that.  

Did you have to do some significant gambling on your previous cruise in order to get the email offers? My guess is these discounted offers are probably associated with cruises usually 7 days or less in an inside or window cabin. In other words, you probably wouldn't see Princess offer Casino Rate discounts on mini-suites on 14+ day cruises.

[Ken the cruiser]

21 minutes ago, c-boy said:

Ken "my Auburn War Eagle fan 😁".  I'm thinkin'  your cruise personalizer should have the info. 

I did a search there on "Casino Rate Fares", but no luck.

[c-boy]

huh, well give me a minute or two and I'll get back to this, My wife and I book on that rate when offered.

[jennybenny]

1 minute ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Did you have to do some significant gambling on your previous cruise in order to get the email offers? My guess is these discounted offers are probably associated with cruises usually 7 days or less in an inside or window cabin. In other words, you probably wouldn't see Princess offer Casino Rate discounts on mini-suites on 14+ day cruises.

It's been a lot of gambling at the black jack tables, it wasn't me gambling so I don't know how much was spent.  I don't recall ever seeing the deals on longer cruises. We prefer 15 day cruises and have never done a B2B.  

[voljeep]

3 minutes ago, c-boy said:

huh, well give me a minute or two and I'll get back to this, My wife and I book on that rate when offered.

boy, c-boy - baccarat high player … and arm candy for the lovely J

[Ken the cruiser]

4 minutes ago, jennybenny said:

It's been a lot of gambling at the black jack tables, it wasn't me gambling so I don't know how much was spent.  I don't recall ever seeing the deals on longer cruises. We prefer 15 day cruises and have never done a B2B.  

We know the feeling. For us a cruise needs to be around 3-5 weeks for us to really get excited about one anymore. 

Edited April 20, 2020 by Ken the cruiser

[c-boy]

6 minutes ago, voljeep said:

boy, c-boy - baccarat high player … and arm candy for the lovely J

[dog]

I got offered casino rate for 4 day Sky last Dec saved $400 per cabin. Previous cruise had bought casino credit to cashh out into US dollars and used some in casino. I assumed why I got offer on phone, not by email. 

[Cruise Raider]

There are different casino offers given to people based on their play in the casino on previous cruises.  No, you don't sign up for it, it is just added to your captain's club number in the background.  You will not see it in your personalizer.  It is not always combinable with all promotions.  I know it has never been combinable with the sip and sail package in the past.  Not sure we will see that promo in the future, though.  

For the casino discount itself, some cruises are excluded but for the most part, if you've been informed you have the ability to use this discount, you can get a discount your booking, both directly through Princess or through your TA.  

The discount is up to 35% off the cruise fare (not off the total price), which can be applied for an inside cabin.  The discount goes down incrementally based on the category of room ... full suites are discounted by 5%.   In the middle is the discount on a balcony for 25% of the cruise fare.  Sometimes, again, based on play from previous cruises, there will be some spending money for the casino added onto your offer.  Recently, there was a promo where everybody got $50 free play with their casino discount.  Those that gamble a lot more in the Casinos at Sea oftentimes get a substantial amount of free play.  If you think you might be in that category, you can always check with the casino host while onboard.  

The only way you know if you qualify for the discount is if they send you a flier or email with the offer or call directly down to Princess reservations.  Casino play is required from previous cruises so, if you haven't stepped foot in there, my best guess is you won't have it.  

As above, depending on your play from previous cruises, there are different offers up to free cruises and a large amount of free play (as well as other gifts sent to your cabin).  

Princess really doesn't have a relationship with any land based casinos that I could find.  

[susancruzs]

I've gotten a % off a cruise in the past, and I don't take short cruises.  I cruise once a year, 20+ days usually, Grand Adventures, never to the Caribbean.  I play the slots in the casino, and after I cruise I get an email from Princess.  Most of the time, they are for Caribbean deals, I don't care what the price is, not going.  I did get a discount on a cruise I booked and cancelled because of the virus, it was a transatlantic.  I'm re-booking the Med portion but no discount this time.

[Ken the cruiser]

40 minutes ago, Cruise Raider said:

There are different casino offers given to people based on their play in the casino on previous cruises.  No, you don't sign up for it, it is just added to your captain's club number in the background.  You will not see it in your personalizer.  It is not always combinable with all promotions.  I know it has never been combinable with the sip and sail package in the past.  Not sure we will see that promo in the future, though.  

For the casino discount itself, some cruises are excluded but for the most part, if you've been informed you have the ability to use this discount, you can get a discount your booking, both directly through Princess or through your TA.  

The discount is up to 35% off the cruise fare (not off the total price), which can be applied for an inside cabin.  The discount goes down incrementally based on the category of room ... full suites are discounted by 5%.   In the middle is the discount on a balcony for 25% of the cruise fare.  Sometimes, again, based on play from previous cruises, there will be some spending money for the casino added onto your offer.  Recently, there was a promo where everybody got $50 free play with their casino discount.  Those that gamble a lot more in the Casinos at Sea oftentimes get a substantial amount of free play.  If you think you might be in that category, you can always check with the casino host while onboard.  

The only way you know if you qualify for the discount is if they send you a flier or email with the offer or call directly down to Princess reservations.  Casino play is required from previous cruises so, if you haven't stepped foot in there, my best guess is you won't have it.  

As above, depending on your play from previous cruises, there are different offers up to free cruises and a large amount of free play (as well as other gifts sent to your cabin).  

Princess really doesn't have a relationship with any land based casinos that I could find.  

Thanks Cruise Raider for taking the time to explain it so thoroughly. I gave up casino gambling long ago, but was curious about the details of this much discussed promotion.

[roxievegas]

if you gamble in the casino and it is sufficient enough to qualify you for offers,  you can get the gambling money on your next cruise (their is a time limit - usually you have to go within 8 months) - and you get a discount: 35% off inside, 30% off oceanview, 25% off balcony - except Alaska the inside discount is only 20%.

 

we currently will receive $300 for hubby and $200 for me that will be put on our acct once we check in at the casino.  The credit has to be gambled.

 

 

[brisalta]

3 hours ago, c-boy said:

 

If I remember correctly of the 3 variants he preferred "baccarat chemin de fer"

Can any one name 2 other variants of baccarat.

[brisalta]

According to a high stake gambler I met on the Grand Princess several years back he was comped his passage. He claimed he just enjoyed gambling and would occasionally end up losing more money than the comped fare would have been if he had paid for that in cash.

No accounting for people and no accounting if what he told me is true.

[suekel]

We gamble quite a bit on our cruises but have come out ahead the last 2 years!  Other years, not so much.    I get a casino discount on every cruise but it's not as much now since they have the new all inclusive package.  it varies by cruise.  On my upcoming TA, should it happen, I got a window suite on the enchanted for not much more than an inside cabin.  Even my travel agent was surprised.  For the 2 cruises I booked after the new deal, I get $400-500 off the listed fare.  Plus I usually get free money to gamble with.  I get emails about VIP cruises but haven't been able to fit them into my schedule.  

I didn't know such a thing existed until a few years ago.  I read about it on here, called my PVP and he said yes, I qualify.  If you book through a travel agent, they can get it for you also.  

[azbirdmom]

I had gotten something in email years ago indicating that I had qualified for casino discounts.  I thought that it had expired other than for the "VIP" cruises specified on mailers.  But just for grins a couple years ago I asked my TA to put in the CASINO code and sure enough, it was still valid.  I don't play enough to qualify for free cruises but I have enjoyed being able to get these discounts over the years.  Sure hope it is continued when they continue cruising.  I've copied the discounts below - they vary by destination.

 

Up to 35% off applies only to Interior staterooms for Caribbean, Mexico, California Coast, Australia & New Zealand, Asia, South Pacific, South America, & Africa voyages. Discounts for other stateroom categories on the foregoing voyages are as follows: 30% off Oceanview staterooms, 25% off Balcony staterooms, 20% off Mini-Suites, and 15% off Suites. For Panama Canal, Europe, Alaska, Japan, Hawaii, Canada, & New England voyages: up to 25% off Interior staterooms, 20% off Oceanview staterooms, 15% off Balcony staterooms, 10% off Mini-Suites, and 5% off Suites. Savings applies to cruise fare only, is based on destination and stateroom category on a space-available basis at time of booking and does not apply to voyages longer than 20 days. World Cruise voyages and segments are excluded.

[Papa Yoda]

 

I made a copy of the matrix - this is for the above mentioned offer code:

 

[Thrak]

3 hours ago, brisalta said:

 

If I remember correctly of the 3 variants he preferred "baccarat chemin de fer"

Can any one name 2 other variants of baccarat.

 

That is the correct answer. When I was quite young my mom "caught me" reading one of her James Bond books. She thought I might be too young for them but I told her I had already read most of them so... 🙄

[brisalta]

1 hour ago, Thrak said:

 

That is the correct answer. When I was quite young my mom "caught me" reading one of her James Bond books. She thought I might be too young for them but I told her I had already read most of them so... 🙄

 

Oh that is too funny. She was probably worried you would ask her to explain the  Japanese pillow books that are mentioned, in passing, in "You Only Live Twice"

Edited April 21, 2020 by brisalta

[famski740]

The other two forms of baccarat are: Baccarat Banque and Punto Banco (or North American Baccarat)

[Cuedon]

Other prominent forms are Midi, Mini, or EZ, with a plethora of sidebets. (Not that I've ever actually seen a traditional Baccarat table anywhere in the last fifteen years, Singapore included.)

 

The highest comped voyage I've seen was Suites on specific voyages, and 14-day mini-suite in pretty much any region except South America, Australia, Trans-Atlantic, and Asia.