difference between ultra and premier cruise

[grimpil]

Received our very first ultra cruise email offer today (well... booking starts april 30). My current premier offers are including $500 casino cash but the ultra is only $200. The other difference is "chance" to win gifts like iphone, ipad etc. Everything else seems the same. DOU for both.  Wondering what your experiences are? I dont see the deal in my offer section, I expect i will april 30, Thanks

[lazydayz]

On my Ultra cruise, every invited guest did win one of the prizes.  They  tell you your assigned time and you have to be in the casino.  I won the big screen smart TV, which was delivered to my home several weeks later.  

 

Ultras are like Premiers, but Premiers don't offer the opportunity to win a big prize. Ultras are more exclusive but still packed. 

[kwokpot]

On an ultra cruise every participate is guaranteed a minimum gift of $300 in casino cash or prizes like Apple computers,iPods,iPhones,iPads, Samsung 65"TV and other gifts.

[grimpil]

wow, i might have to book one, i didnt think that everyone would get a prize, thanks for your responses

[kwokpot]

2 hours ago, grimpil said:

wow, i might have to book one, i didnt think that everyone would get a prize, thanks for your responses

Each person is given a day when their 'prize' will be awarded. This could be several times a day, usually about 20 or so people. When it's your turn you reach into a drum to draw a number. The number corresponds to a number on a big prize board. The prize board number tag will reveal what prize you win. Apple gifts, TV's, Amazon gift cards, etc. Everything is a minimum value of $300. You might win a spin to the CASH WHEEL. The cash wheel is where you will win Casino free play. You spin the wheel and whatever you land on is your freeplay. It varies from $300 to $1000. Funny thing is the CASH WHEEL used to be actual CASH. Then they cheaped out and gave only freeplay. Some ships may still give out real cash from the wheel. Any physical gift you get you will have to pay taxes on (you will fill out a 1040G) even if it's say an Ipad mini worth $300.

[drelana]

How does one get an offer like that?

[lazydayz]

On 4/22/2020 at 1:30 PM, drelana said:

How does one get an offer like that?

 

Play in the casino a lot!  You usually have to amass a certain number of points and take a Premier cruise (though I have been invited without sailing on a Premier).  After that, you may get invited on an Ultra or Elite cruise.  

[samiam0403]

On an Ultra, every invited guest will have an assigned time (there were 2 times on my Ultra last month) to draw an envelope out of a box. Each envelope contains a printed form with either an U, L, T, R, or A printed on it. Our gathering was in the main theater, and drinks and snacks were provided. The prizes were as follows: U = MacBook Pro, Samsung smart tv, or $1500 fun play, L = iPhone 11 Pro, Samsung S10, or $1000 fun play, T = iPhone XR, Galaxy S10e, or $800, R = iRobot Roomba, Sonos Move speaker, or $600 fun play, and A = Apple watch, iPad mini, or $400 fun play. We were told this is the new format all Ultras will take for 2020. 

 

Having done premier, premier special edition, ultra, and elite cruises, the ultra was the most crowded and had the least amount of casino events for invited guests. Also, I may be biased against ultra cruises because I won way more on my premiers and elites both playing in the casino and in drawings. 😀

[Admin]

Hi there.  I received Ultra and Elite invitations in the last few weeks.  That tells me I spend way too much time in the casino.  😉   I may have to book, though, because I like prizes. 

[kwokpot]

On 4/23/2020 at 3:21 PM, samiam0403 said:

On an Ultra, every invited guest will have an assigned time (there were 2 times on my Ultra last month) to draw an envelope out of a box. Each envelope contains a printed form with either an U, L, T, R, or A printed on it. Our gathering was in the main theater, and drinks and snacks were provided. The prizes were as follows: U = MacBook Pro, Samsung smart tv, or $1500 fun play, L = iPhone 11 Pro, Samsung S10, or $1000 fun play, T = iPhone XR, Galaxy S10e, or $800, R = iRobot Roomba, Sonos Move speaker, or $600 fun play, and A = Apple watch, iPad mini, or $400 fun play. We were told this is the new format all Ultras will take for 2020. 

 

Having done premier, premier special edition, ultra, and elite cruises, the ultra was the most crowded and had the least amount of casino events for invited guests. Also, I may be biased against ultra cruises because I won way more on my premiers and elites both playing in the casino and in drawings. 😀

Interesting, they changed the whole prize format. Do you know if you get to choose which prize under each letter? Having it in the theater causes alot less interference with the rest of the casino activity. The way it was previously structured it was done along the walkways which didn't make much sense.

[Caribbean Drifters]

$500 casino cash vs $200 and a prize you have to pay taxes on? pretty easy decision for me.

[samiam0403]

5 hours ago, kwokpot said:

Interesting, they changed the whole prize format. Do you know if you get to choose which prize under each letter? Having it in the theater causes alot less interference with the rest of the casino activity. The way it was previously structured it was done along the walkways which didn't make much sense.

 

Yes, you get to pick which one you want. The hosts said it was based on feedback from previous Ultra cruises - this way you have a choice and don't just get 'stuck' with whatever you get. Based on conversations with other guests, they liked the new format much better. It was my first Ultra, so I didn't have any experience to base it on - other than comparing it to Premiers and Elites.

 

[kwokpot]

1 minute ago, samiam0403 said:

 

Yes, you get to pick which one you want. The hosts said it was based on feedback from previous Ultra cruises - this way you have a choice and don't just get 'stuck' with whatever you get. Based on conversations with other guests, they liked the new format much better. It was my first Ultra, so I didn't have any experience to base it on - other than comparing it to Premiers and Elites.

 

Thanks. As you can see from my post,what I described was how the prizes used to be given out. 

[Cindy Eisenhauer]

I have my first Ultra booked for.  Jan

2024. It is giving me a free balcony room and $1000 casino cash and $200 on board cash.   I'm not sure about the gifts yet.   I have been on 2 Elite cruises and love all the perks.  Ihave been on several Premiere and only got free interior room and $200 casino cash and $200 on-board cash. In my opinion Elite has the best perks.