No more casino bar on the Vista and Horizon.

[Donniss]

So, dumb question from someone who hasn't been on a ship yet -

When I go to casinos around New England, there are always waitresses walking around offering complimentary drinks from one of the bars on the floor. Will there be complimentary drinks offered if I gamble long enough? Or does the removal of the casino bar make that impossible?

 

[SCBarker]

10 minutes ago, Donniss said:

So, dumb question from someone who hasn't been on a ship yet -

When I go to casinos around New England, there are always waitresses walking around offering complimentary drinks from one of the bars on the floor. Will there be complimentary drinks offered if I gamble long enough? Or does the removal of the casino bar make that impossible?

 

There will be waitress delivering drinks while you gamble.  They won't be complimentary though.  At least not until the casino notices that you have put enough money into their pockets.  Then you may get bestowed a "drinks on us" card that allows complimentary while gaming.

[cruisingguy007]

1 hour ago, Donniss said:

So, dumb question from someone who hasn't been on a ship yet -

When I go to casinos around New England, there are always waitresses walking around offering complimentary drinks from one of the bars on the floor. Will there be complimentary drinks offered if I gamble long enough? Or does the removal of the casino bar make that impossible?

 

 

It's nothing like Vegas or what you describe. No wondering cocktail waitresses/waiters comping drinks. If you enjoy a tipple, it's best to just buy your own or purchase the cheers package. Just minus it from your gambling budget. Generally, on the ship casinos, if you're getting something for "free", it's because you've essentially already paid for it many times over and it helps motivate people to stay in the spend cycle and keep up their status/perks. Spending a bunch of money to get something "free" that you could easily pay for, at a much reduced rate, isn't fiscally prudent. If you're a degenerate gambler type then capitalizing on all the "freebies" can make more sense, logically anyway. 

[Wanna_Cruize]

4 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

 

Well, I'll report back on Panorama on our August 21st cruise. 

[Wanna_Cruize]

2 hours ago, Donniss said:

So, dumb question from someone who hasn't been on a ship yet -

When I go to casinos around New England, there are always waitresses walking around offering complimentary drinks from one of the bars on the floor. Will there be complimentary drinks offered if I gamble long enough? Or does the removal of the casino bar make that impossible?

 

 

We have had the boss call the server over and offer us a free drink occasionally. I think that's because my DH is a compulsive tipper (Think Rodney Dangerfield in Back To School). He plays chips for the dealer on many hands and they end up way ahead of where he ends up. He enjoys it, and we all have a good time, and the boss appreciates it. We do get casino offers sometimes, some better than others, but that's just our experience. 

[BrotherCraig]

54 minutes ago, cruisingguy007 said:

 

It's nothing like Vegas or what you describe. No wondering cocktail waitresses/waiters comping drinks. If you enjoy a tipple, it's best to just buy your own or purchase the cheers package. Just minus it from your gambling budget. Generally, on the ship casinos, if you're getting something for "free", it's because you've essentially already paid for it many times over and it helps motivate people to stay in the spend cycle and keep up their status/perks. Spending a bunch of money to get something "free" that you could easily pay for, at a much reduced rate, isn't fiscally prudent. If you're a degenerate gambler type then capitalizing on all the "freebies" can make more sense, logically anyway. 

 

Exactly.  I am in the casino quite a bit and never seen a server in there once.  Vegas - they are everywhere.

[cruisingguy007]

4 minutes ago, BrotherCraig said:

 

Exactly.  I am in the casino quite a bit and never seen a server in there once.  Vegas - they are everywhere.

 

They come around to the table games, I've gotten a few playing craps but I had cheers.  

[IntrepidFromDC]

42 minutes ago, BrotherCraig said:

Exactly.  I am in the casino quite a bit and never seen a server in there once.  Vegas - they are everywhere.

Every Carnival cruise I've been on have multiple servers taking drink orders at both the table games and slots.  Sometimes they even bring around free pizza slices late at night.

[BrotherCraig]

41 minutes ago, cruisingguy007 said:

 

They come around to the table games, I've gotten a few playing craps but I had cheers.  

 

Good to know.  I stick to the roulette and blackjack.  Never seen them once after all of my cruises.  I always had to leave the table to get a drink.  Hated that because seats are scarce.

Edited July 1, 2021 by BrotherCraig

[BrotherCraig]

4 minutes ago, IntrepidFromDC said:

Every Carnival cruise I've been on have multiple servers taking drink orders at both the table games and slots.  Sometimes they even bring around free pizza slices late at night.

 

 

Yeah.  Never seen it on any of my cruises and I spend 3 hours a night in there.  I always had to get up and go get a drink from the bar.

[Wanna_Cruize]

1 minute ago, BrotherCraig said:

 

Good to know.  I stick to the roulette and blackjack.  Never seen them once after all of my cruises.  I always had to leave the table to get a drink.  Hated that because seats are scarce.

While you're at the table, just ask the dealer (or the Boss if they are around) to call a server over because you'd like to order a drink. Easy-peasy

[BrotherCraig]

7 minutes ago, Wanna_Cruize said:

While you're at the table, just ask the dealer (or the Boss if they are around) to call a server over because you'd like to order a drink. Easy-peasy

 

 

I will try that again.  Thanks.

[IntrepidFromDC]

14 minutes ago, BrotherCraig said:

Yeah.  Never seen it on any of my cruises and I spend 3 hours a night in there.  I always had to get up and go get a drink from the bar.

I wonder if it's just been so long since we cruised that you're forgetting, maybe?  They always wear a vest and nametag like the casino card dealers, and carry a large round platter to serve drinks from...

[IntrepidFromDC]

Just now, IntrepidFromDC said:

If she's serving the guy in the white and blue shirt a beer, why isn't it full?  Stealing sips?

[BrotherCraig]

2 minutes ago, IntrepidFromDC said:

I wonder if it's just been so long since we cruised that you're forgetting, maybe?  They always wear a vest and nametag like the casino card dealers, and carry a large round platter to serve drinks from...

 

 

Honestly, never seen those people in the casinos when I am playing at the tables.  Seen them in the theater and other places though.   I have not forgotten either.

[Cruise Related]

2 minutes ago, IntrepidFromDC said:

If she's serving the guy in the white and blue shirt a beer, why isn't it full?  Stealing sips?

That’s actually pretty funny! She brought him a lite beer, so he’s giving it back!

[Wanna_Cruize]

I have a strategy for our casino play. I always get $$ at the table on my card. Yes, they charge 3%, but I'm not a huge player, so it's only a couple of dollars, and I am using my Gift Cards I bought at 10-12% discount to pay it off, so I'm still ahead. 

 

I find the benefit of that is we get face-time with the boss - they have to come over and sign the slip, etc. It's a nice way to see them, and after a day or two, they instantly recognize you when you sit down. I try and stash chips as I get ahead, so I usually end up about even for the night with my secret stash. However, to the Boss and the casino, all they see is my money is all gone. I get up from the table and go to the cashier cage and cash in my chips, take that money and stick it in the safe. The next night, rinse and repeat. 

 

The boss sees that I'm brining in in ew ash every day, and leaving pretty empty. I put out $1 bets often for the dealers, because they really appreciate it, and I want them to have skin in the game, and feel bad when I lose a hand, because they lose too. We all bond that way. 

 

Anyway, this strategy works for us. We get some nice casino offers, and if we don't have a DOU card for that trip, we often have the boss order a free drink or two for us. Win-Win!

[ohioNCLcruiser]

Doing a nice tip the first day to one or two servers saying "thanks in advance, please keep an eye out for me and I'll have more of this the final night" always works well. In my experience they can be slammed with people in a different part of the casino but if they see you they come right over to make sure you don't need anything. 

[BrotherCraig]

2 minutes ago, ohioNCLcruiser said:

Doing a nice tip the first day to one or two servers saying "thanks in advance, please keep an eye out for me and I'll have more of this the final night" always works well. In my experience they can be slammed with people in a different part of the casino but if they see you they come right over to make sure you don't need anything. 

 

 

Good way to be.  I do that every bar I go to.  Works almost every time.  

[BlerkOne]

1 hour ago, Wanna_Cruize said:

 

 

I find the benefit of that is we get face-time with the boss - they have to come over and sign the slip, etc. It's a nice way to see them, and after a day or two, they instantly recognize you when you sit down. I try and stash chips as I get ahead, so I usually end up about even for the night with my secret stash. However, to the Boss and the casino, all they see is my money is all gone. I get up from the table and go to the cashier cage and cash in my chips, take that money and stick it in the safe. The next night, rinse and repeat. 

 

 

You don't think the casino cameras see you?

[kwokpot]

1 hour ago, BrotherCraig said:

 

 

Honestly, never seen those people in the casinos when I am playing at the tables.  Seen them in the theater and other places though.   I have not forgotten either.

Then you're not paying attention. If you accumulate enough points for free drinks while playing and/or you're on a casino promo cruise fare that includes Free drinks in the casino while playing you MUST ORDER THE DRINKS FROM A SERVER IN THE CASINO.  You cannot go to the casino bar, show your room card that you have free drinks while playing, and expect to get the drink comped. You will either be told to go sit at a machine or table game and wait for a server or you will have to pay for your drink. This is fleetwide. Granted, on most ships there aren't many  drink servers in the casino but they are there.

If I'm on a Drinks while gambling and I want to bring a (comped) glass of wine with me to dinner many a time it was a PITA having to wait at a slot machine with $20 in the machine and occasionally playing .50 spins. It would have been better use of my time(and money) just to pay for a glass of wine in the Dining room!

Edited July 1, 2021 by kwokpot

[BrotherCraig]

1 hour ago, kwokpot said:

Then you're not paying attention. If you accumulate enough points for free drinks while playing and/or you're on a casino promo cruise fare that includes Free drinks in the casino while playing you MUST ORDER THE DRINKS FROM A SERVER IN THE CASINO.  You cannot go to the casino bar, show your room card that you have free drinks while playing, and expect to get the drink comped. You will either be told to go sit at a machine or table game and wait for a server or you will have to pay for your drink. This is fleetwide. Granted, on most ships there aren't many  drink servers in the casino but they are there.

If I'm on a Drinks while gambling and I want to bring a (comped) glass of wine with me to dinner many a time it was a PITA having to wait at a slot machine with $20 in the machine and occasionally playing .50 spins. It would have been better use of my time(and money) just to pay for a glass of wine in the Dining room!

 

I pay attention.  I keep looking for one - every time.  I don't like getting up from the table to go get a drink so I do pay attention and look.  I have never gotten any offers -- free drinks - or any deals.  Ever.  I will hope that I get some after my next cruise in November.  I only spend between $2K in there on average so maybe why.  Not a high roller.

[kwokpot]

51 minutes ago, BrotherCraig said:

 

I pay attention.  I keep looking for one - every time.  I don't like getting up from the table to go get a drink so I do pay attention and look.  I have never gotten any offers -- free drinks - or any deals.  Ever.  I will hope that I get some after my next cruise in November.  I only spend between $2K in there on average so maybe why.  Not a high roller.

Do you give them your room card when you get chips? If Not, that's why you're not getting any casino offers, they have no way of tracking you. If you're spending 2K in the casino per cruise, you should most definitely be receiving casino offers. $2,000/cruise is not inconsequential, $200, no you're not going to get any offers. 

[kwokpot]

56 minutes ago, BrotherCraig said:

 

I pay attention.  I keep looking for one - every time.  I don't like getting up from the table to go get a drink so I do pay attention and look.  I have never gotten any offers -- free drinks - or any deals.  Ever.  I will hope that I get some after my next cruise in November.  I only spend between $2K in there on average so maybe why.  Not a high roller.

https://www.cclpromos.com/carnivalplayersclub/

[LidoLife]

I think eliminating that great, centrally located bar is a big mistake.  Always happy, laughing people there and super convenient for grabbing a drink on your way to shows, late night, or on way back to cabin.  Never been a smoker, but smoke at that bar never bothered me.  If the move was meant to protect the health of their passengers, I think putting a daily limit on trips to the buffet would have a greater positive impact on overall passenger health. Hope Carnival rethinks the plan before eliminating more casino bars.  Looking forward to cruising again!