Casino Offers

[JazzyInRI]

I want to book a cruise but I’m not sure which offer is better. My Plan Now Play later offer is:

• Exclusive Casino offer - Plan Now Play Later
• $250 in FunPlay Credits
• Free Drinks on Us! while playing in the casino. Terms apply
• Reserve your cruise for $200 per person and get $400 to spend onboard

 

and here is the Ultra offer:

• Exclusive Casino offer Ultra Cruises
• Premier Check-in
• Free Drinks on Us! while playing in the casino. Terms apply.
• $200 in FunPlay
• A chance at more than $100,000 in Free Play, cash and prizes
• Reserve your cruise with a non -refundable deposit of $99 per person

 

The Ultra is $88 more but I think people like them more. I’ve personally never been on an Ultra but I love the prizes people talk about. Let me know your thoughts if you’ve booked the Plan Now Play Later or been on an Ultra cruise before! 🛳⚓️🛳🏝🛳⚖️🛳

[firefly333]

I accidentally was on a ultra offer and wouldn't do it again if I could avoid it. To get prizes you had to check in every 3 hours for the drawings. People were up all night trying to find open slot machines. We had over 800 people getting priority check in, people were everywhere. 1/3 of the ship was priority. Get priority on shuttle to Belize,  well on of the earlier shuttles, but not priority to me.

 

Priority meant little. Yes people won stuff, but they missed the cruise itself being in a smoke filled casino all the time, waiting for machines, waiting for drawings form prizes. .. all night and all day.

 

Priority disembark same zoo.

[Bowman1]

We have never gambled on a Carnival Ship

 

How much do you need to play before you start receiving Casino Fare Offers (I looked on the Carnival Players Club site but it did not say)

[RWolver672]

Wife and I only cruise every other year.  We limit ourselves to $100 each per night in the casino.  We get the offers all of the time.  Son on the other hand hasn't cruised since 2015 and he gets the same ones that we do.  

[JazzyInRI]

I’ve seen some people blow through thousands a day!! I don’t have that kind of money lol. Depending on the length we limit ourselves to a couple hundred a day. You win and lose but as long as you set limits and leave when done you can still get offers. I wouldn’t say we are low rollers but we definitely get noticed with our playing. 

[JazzyInRI]

12 hours ago, firefly333 said:

I accidentally was on a ultra offer and wouldn't do it again if I could avoid it. To get prizes you had to check in every 3 hours for the drawings. People were up all night trying to find open slot machines. We had over 800 people getting priority check in, people were everywhere. 1/3 of the ship was priority. Get priority on shuttle to Belize,  well on of the earlier shuttles, but not priority to me.

 

Priority meant little. Yes people won stuff, but they missed the cruise itself being in a smoke filled casino all the time, waiting for machines, waiting for drawings form prizes. .. all night and all day.

 

Priority disembark same zoo.

 

Interesting!! I would have thought Ultra had less people.
 

When we did a Premiere it felt like a zoo and we had to keep searching for slots and tables. Drink service was also really spotty and sometimes took a half hour. The servers even knew it was taking too long and would bring two at once to make up for it. 

[firefly333]

1 minute ago, JazzyInRI said:

 

Interesting!! I would have thought Ultra had less people.
 

When we did a Premiere it felt like a zoo and we had to keep searching for slots and tables. Drink service was also really spotty and sometimes took a half hour. The servers even knew it was taking too long and would bring two at once to make up for it. 

Maybe they both are a zoo. Personally I'd prefer to avoid casino deal cruises. 

 

We were just along not for the casino but my friend wanted to gamble and found it hard to find cheaper slot machines. We meet some casino folks and the one lady was all excited about the every 3 hour drawing. Was setting her alarm saying maybe her chances were better during the night. I will say she won several nice prizes... I'm just not sure I'd be will to attend a drawing every 3 hours. I already avoid them elsewhere, dont like crowds... and that was before the virus I was avoiding crowds. 

[Elaine5715]

21 minutes ago, JazzyInRI said:

 

Interesting!! I would have thought Ultra had less people.
 

When we did a Premiere it felt like a zoo and we had to keep searching for slots and tables. Drink service was also really spotty and sometimes took a half hour. The servers even knew it was taking too long and would bring two at once to make up for it. 

It has less invited Ultra guests but there is no limit on Platinum and Diamond members.  

[Elaine5715]

10 hours ago, Bowman1 said:

We have never gambled on a Carnival Ship

 

How much do you need to play before you start receiving Casino Fare Offers (I looked on the Carnival Players Club site but it did not say)

$1  

The more you play, the better the offers but spending any money will put you on the mailing list.

[Elaine5715]

12 hours ago, firefly333 said:

I accidentally was on a ultra offer and wouldn't do it again if I could avoid it. To get prizes you had to check in every 3 hours for the drawings. People were up all night trying to find open slot machines. We had over 800 people getting priority check in, people were everywhere. 1/3 of the ship was priority. Get priority on shuttle to Belize,  well on of the earlier shuttles, but not priority to me.

 

Priority meant little. Yes people won stuff, but they missed the cruise itself being in a smoke filled casino all the time, waiting for machines, waiting for drawings form prizes. .. all night and all day.

 

Priority disembark same zoo.

 

27 minutes ago, JazzyInRI said:

 

Interesting!! I would have thought Ultra had less people.
 

When we did a Premiere it felt like a zoo and we had to keep searching for slots and tables. Drink service was also really spotty and sometimes took a half hour. The servers even knew it was taking too long and would bring two at once to make up for it. 

 

21 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

Maybe they both are a zoo. Personally I'd prefer to avoid casino deal cruises. 

 

We were just along not for the casino but my friend wanted to gamble and found it hard to find cheaper slot machines. We meet some casino folks and the one lady was all excited about the every 3 hour drawing. Was setting her alarm saying maybe her chances were better during the night. I will say she won several nice prizes... I'm just not sure I'd be will to attend a drawing every 3 hours. I already avoid them elsewhere, dont like crowds... and that was before the virus I was avoiding crowds. 

So you weren't an Ultra guest?  Ultra guests are given a  time for the big drawing.  Premiers have multiple drawings where you need to be present to win.  

[evandbob]

I've done maybe 8 premier and 2 ultra cruises.  My premier cruises have seen the cash drawings lessen in prize money and have the drawings at 11PM every night instead of at 8pm or earlier.  My "cash back went from $300 cash to 300 casino cash to 100 casino cash.  The actual cabin fare for my offers is now only about $50pp less than early saver fares.

 

I've won an IPad and a Microsoft tablet on the scheduled ultra spin the wheel.  Both resulted in getting a gambling statement W2G requiring reporting and taxes.

 

I was on one 10 day Celebrity cruise last year and was offered a free infinity midship balcony cabin, taxes and port charges on the Edge, their new ship.  Princess, which I sailed twice, 8 and 3 years ago, sends me offers for free cabins.  NCL offers me heavily discounted casino fares. Carnival casino offers that I receive can't match these other lines, and I've sailed and gambled on over 40 Carnival cruises.

[JazzyInRI]

2 hours ago, evandbob said:

I've done maybe 8 premier and 2 ultra cruises.  My premier cruises have seen the cash drawings lessen in prize money and have the drawings at 11PM every night instead of at 8pm or earlier.  My "cash back went from $300 cash to 300 casino cash to 100 casino cash.  The actual cabin fare for my offers is now only about $50pp less than early saver fares.

 

I've won an IPad and a Microsoft tablet on the scheduled ultra spin the wheel.  Both resulted in getting a gambling statement W2G requiring reporting and taxes.

 

I was on one 10 day Celebrity cruise last year and was offered a free infinity midship balcony cabin, taxes and port charges on the Edge, their new ship.  Princess, which I sailed twice, 8 and 3 years ago, sends me offers for free cabins.  NCL offers me heavily discounted casino fares. Carnival casino offers that I receive can't match these other lines, and I've sailed and gambled on over 40 Carnival cruises.

You are my inspiration lol. How was your Ultra experience? Less people playing, service for drinks, prize and game options. I always see people posting cool videos of games and it looks fun!

[JazzyInRI]

2 hours ago, firefly333 said:

Maybe they both are a zoo. Personally I'd prefer to avoid casino deal cruises. 

 

We were just along not for the casino but my friend wanted to gamble and found it hard to find cheaper slot machines. We meet some casino folks and the one lady was all excited about the every 3 hour drawing. Was setting her alarm saying maybe her chances were better during the night. I will say she won several nice prizes... I'm just not sure I'd be will to attend a drawing every 3 hours. I already avoid them elsewhere, dont like crowds... and that was before the virus I was avoiding crowds. 

It’s a really thin line so I get it. On the last cruise it felt like if we didn’t go to an event we might miss a chance to win. Some days I just want to go to bed early and wake up to start the day fresh. Honestly, it’s why Ultra sounds better. The idea that you are guaranteed one, good value, prize and can cruise at your leisure. 

[dallasdan]

I have been on 1 Celebrity Cruise and my wife and I both received a free Veranda room that we used for a 12 day cruise in November.  We didn't gamble any more or less than we have on the 14 Carnival Cruises and I don't even get the Ultra or Premiere.  I love Carnival and have 1 booked in September, but I may never cruise Carnival again if we keep receiving free cruise offers from Celebrity.

[Tutontow]

2 hours ago, evandbob said:

I've done maybe 8 premier and 2 ultra cruises.  My premier cruises have seen the cash drawings lessen in prize money and have the drawings at 11PM every night instead of at 8pm or earlier.  My "cash back went from $300 cash to 300 casino cash to 100 casino cash.  The actual cabin fare for my offers is now only about $50pp less than early saver fares.

 

I've won an IPad and a Microsoft tablet on the scheduled ultra spin the wheel.  Both resulted in getting a gambling statement W2G requiring reporting and taxes.

 

I was on one 10 day Celebrity cruise last year and was offered a free infinity midship balcony cabin, taxes and port charges on the Edge, their new ship.  Princess, which I sailed twice, 8 and 3 years ago, sends me offers for free cabins.  NCL offers me heavily discounted casino fares. Carnival casino offers that I receive can't match these other lines, and I've sailed and gambled on over 40 Carnival cruises.

It is hard to beat NCL when it comes to gambling cruises.  My wife and I limit ourselves to a thousand a day and NCL give me a free inside anytime, anywhere we want to go.  Fortunately we are actually ahead on NCL.  The plus with Carnival is when you get a free cabin it really is free, no admin fees.

[JazzyInRI]

5 hours ago, dallasdan said:

I have been on 1 Celebrity Cruise and my wife and I both received a free Veranda room that we used for a 12 day cruise in November.  We didn't gamble any more or less than we have on the 14 Carnival Cruises and I don't even get the Ultra or Premiere.  I love Carnival and have 1 booked in September, but I may never cruise Carnival again if we keep receiving free cruise offers from Celebrity.

Makes sense! What a great deal!!

[JazzyInRI]

Decided on the Plan Now Play Later. Hopefully this will keep me out of the casino and experience more on the cruise without having to rush back for a raffle!

[evandbob]

6 hours ago, JazzyInRI said:

You are my inspiration lol. How was your Ultra experience? Less people playing, service for drinks, prize and game options. I always see people posting cool videos of games and it looks fun!

 

 The 1st ultra was less crowded and had more drawings/activities at "reasonable" hours.  The other difference with the 2nd ultra was that the casino was pretty empty during day time hours, except for the smokers.

 

If either was a 1st casino cruise for a new fare, they could have enjoyed either one.  Being on 2 different ultras gives reason to compare and rate one better or worse than the other.

 

Enjoy yours and good luck!

[wannagonow123]

Last year the Ultra was way different. Instead of spinning a wheel for you big prize, you were assigned a time, and you went to a lounge for drinks, and chose an envelope out of a barrel. Instead of hanging around the casino for 2 hours waiting for your namw to be called. Very low key. Took about 20 minutes tops. Prizes really lower quality. Yes, there were the iPhone and iPad, but gone was the TV's, and the specialty watches. ( They did have the Apple watches though). Most of the prizes were free play. I will say, it is difficult to earn your "tier points" when you get large amounts of free play. 

 

Drawings for Ultra players were really reduced, and gone are the Snowball raffles. Prizes for the games have been reduced. 

[Elaine5715]

16 minutes ago, wannagonow123 said:

Last year the Ultra was way different. Instead of spinning a wheel for you big prize, you were assigned a time, and you went to a lounge for drinks, and chose an envelope out of a barrel. Instead of hanging around the casino for 2 hours waiting for your namw to be called. Very low key. Took about 20 minutes tops. Prizes really lower quality. Yes, there were the iPhone and iPad, but gone was the TV's, and the specialty watches. ( They did have the Apple watches though). Most of the prizes were free play. I will say, it is difficult to earn your "tier points" when you get large amounts of free play. 

 

Drawings for Ultra players were really reduced, and gone are the Snowball raffles. Prizes for the games have been reduced. 

Snowballs were gone on the last Premiers also