HAL Casino program

[nimiq]

Hello all,

 

Does anyone know if they have a Casino points system ? 
 

Do you have to signup with the Casino host ?

 

Thanks 

Sea ya 

Eric 

[Laminator]

6 hours ago, nimiq said:

Hello all,

 

Does anyone know if they have a Casino points system ? 
 

Do you have to signup with the Casino host ?

 

Thanks 

Sea ya 

Eric 

HAL tracks your play on the slot machines by your room card. You need to insert your room card in the slot machine to have your play tracked or to take your money out of the machine. The table supervisors track your play if you are playing tables. 

[DaveOKC]

On our Dec 2019 cruise the casino host told me that they discontinued the cash back for points system (I think you needed at least 1000 points previously).  However, they seem to be more liberal now with free cabin offers based on previous play.

 

Of course, no one knows what the new system post Covid is.

 

[si4444]

On 10/14/2021 at 8:23 AM, DaveOKC said:

On our Dec 2019 cruise the casino host told me that they discontinued the cash back for points system (I think you needed at least 1000 points previously).  However, they seem to be more liberal now with free cabin offers based on previous play.

 

Of course, no one knows what the new system post Covid is.

 

I agree I get tons and tons of comps and there seems to be no booking limit next year I have a 48 day and then fly to another port and have another 28 day from there. Mediterranean and Norway cruises. Plus many in North America. 

[JAM37]

I have seen quite a few posts regarding cabin offers, etc...do you have to spend a lot to get these offers? I like the slots once in a while, but that's about it. Thanks in advance for your answers.

[DaveOKC]

16 minutes ago, JAM37 said:

I have seen quite a few posts regarding cabin offers, etc...do you have to spend a lot to get these offers? I like the slots once in a while, but that's about it. Thanks in advance for your answers.

Most casinos base their "comps" to the player based on how much "play" you give them (think of it as dollars IN to the machine), not whether you won or lost (they know that if you play the slots long enough they will eventually get your money).

 

Dollars IN is basically how much you bet on each spin and how many spins you play.  Thus. if you bet a $1 and play 100 spins your IN is $100.  Now if you bet $5 and only spin twice, your IN is the same $100.  So, IMO, if you want to generate comps/offers, play the machines with smaller jackpots but more frequent pays.  That way you are more likely to have a higher IN as you are churning your money.

 

[Laminator]

17 minutes ago, DaveOKC said:

Most casinos base their "comps" to the player based on how much "play" you give them (think of it as dollars IN to the machine), not whether you won or lost (they know that if you play the slots long enough they will eventually get your money).

 

Dollars IN is basically how much you bet on each spin and how many spins you play.  Thus. if you bet a $1 and play 100 spins your IN is $100.  Now if you bet $5 and only spin twice, your IN is the same $100.  So, IMO, if you want to generate comps/offers, play the machines with smaller jackpots but more frequent pays.  That way you are more likely to have a higher IN as you are churning your money.

 

At $5 you would need 20 spins for your IN to be $100. As an FYI playing video poker does not earn you the same rate of comps as the slots do. 

[NCTribeFan]

Yeah, the casinos aren't going to tell us just what the formula is that they use.

 

I most definitely do NOT spend huge amounts in the casino although I do typically spend some time in there each day.  More on sea days, of course.  I play both slots and Roulette.  Sometimes I blow through my daily gambling allowance quickly.  Other times, I can play for a couple of hours on very little.  Luck, you know?

 

I have 30 cruises on Carnival and while I always have some sort of casino fare, it's usually just a slight discount and maybe some casino chips.  After my 1st sailing on HAL about 10 years ago (as the 3rd pax in a cabin), I started getting offers.  Back then, they came to me via snail mail and by the time I got the mailer, the cheapest cabins were sold out.

 

I'm sailing in a couple of weeks on a "free" offer.  Sure, it's an inside cabin with "only" $100 of casino chips and drinks while gambling, but I'll take it!  I sail in inside cabins most of the time anyway.

 

I just booked a B2B Alaska yesterday.  As long as HAL wants me to cruise virtually for free, I'll go whenever I can fit it in my schedule.

[DaveOKC]

23 minutes ago, Laminator said:

At $5 you would need 20 spins for your IN to be $100. As an FYI playing video poker does not earn you the same rate of comps as the slots do. 

I stand corrected!  Yes, you need 20 spins to get $100 IN with $5 bets.

 

Edited October 28, 2021 by DaveOKC

[Laminator]

56 minutes ago, DaveOKC said:

I stand corrected!  Yes, you need 20 spins to get $100 IN with $5 bets.

 

From previous posts I know you know you know what you are talking about when it comes to casino questions so I knew it was a simple error. 

 

[si4444]

The casino programs vary muchly between companies and land based is also different. And they usually change the point systems and benefits. U need to play for entertainment value and then do some research to maximize your comps and perks. For some people bankroll HAL might be good and some NCL or whatever may be better. If your a heavy player it's worth doing research and figuring out which line is best for you for perks and sailings but if you just play a little bit here and there, try and just enjoy.

 

S

[DaveOKC]

5 minutes ago, si4444 said:

The casino programs vary muchly between companies and land based is also different. And they usually change the point systems and benefits. U need to play for entertainment value and then do some research to maximize your comps and perks. For some people bankroll HAL might be good and some NCL or whatever may be better. If your a heavy player it's worth doing research and figuring out which line is best for you for perks and sailings but if you just play a little bit here and there, try and just enjoy.

 

Certainly things vary by casino and cruiseline, but all I can comment on is our HAL experience.  My DW spends no more than $40/day in the casino.  Sometimes she wins, but most times she loses her budget.  Even with this limited budget, we have been getting casino RATEs on our cruises and this year got our first free cabin OFFER (normally Inside but sometimes Oceanview).  I think this might be due to the light occupancy HAL is experiencing right now, so no telling what the future will bring.

 

I do have to report than while she loses no more than $300 per 7 day cruise, the RATE deal alone saves us $1000 or more on our cruises, so for us it is a good deal.  Of course, the higher priced cabin you book, the more dollars you save, so your experience may vary......

 

[si4444]

4 minutes ago, DaveOKC said:

Certainly things vary by casino and cruiseline, but all I can comment on is our HAL experience.  My DW spends no more than $40/day in the casino.  Sometimes she wins, but most times she loses her budget.  Even with this limited budget, we have been getting casino RATEs on our cruises and this year got our first free cabin OFFER (normally Inside but sometimes Oceanview).  I think this might be due to the light occupancy HAL is experiencing right now, so no telling what the future will bring.

 

I do have to report than while she loses no more than $300 per 7 day cruise, the RATE deal alone saves us $1000 or more on our cruises, so for us it is a good deal.  Of course, the higher priced cabin you book, the more dollars you save, so your experience may vary......

 

That's great value. As I said in my first post I'm very happy with the HAL comps. Happy Your taking advantage of it. :0)

[hbsurfcitycruiser]

I certainly have never considered myself a huge gambler but since covid I have now received many casino offers for HAL and now Carnival. (I understand Carnival owns HAL and what not). My HAL offers are free inside cabins. Where the Carnival ones are like $10-$25 cruises with balconies included, but some are like 4 or 5 day cruises. So that said, I say hit the casino and throw a few bucks at those machines. I think it might be worth it. We have booked three cruises so far with the HAL offers. I would book more but my travel buddy doesn't have unlimited PTO like I do! Ha ha ha...

[kangforpres]

Your table play is also tracked, not just machine play. They no longer have the 1000 points = $10 in free play. I did lose enough on my last cruise to get a decent offer at the end of the cruise. And get free drinks while playing in the casino during the cruise.

 

However you have to book that offer within 30 days of getting it. (the one they give you at the end of the cruise based on your play during the cruise) .Once you are in the system you will get offers via emails also.

 

-Paul

[Laminator]

1 hour ago, kangforpres said:

Your table play is also tracked, not just machine play. They no longer have the 1000 points = $10 in free play. I did lose enough on my last cruise to get a decent offer at the end of the cruise. And get free drinks while playing in the casino during the cruise.

 

However you have to book that offer within 30 days of getting it. (the one they give you at the end of the cruise based on your play during the cruise) .Once you are in the system you will get offers via emails also.

 

-Paul

On my last cruise in 2019 they left me a free cruise offer under my door on the last night. It was for a free veranda and free drinks. Just like your offer it also included free drinks. I would wait as I am quite sure you will receive better offers by email. 

[Sea42]

Many years ago, I would sit and play slots when I wanted to have a cigarette indoors. Bad weather days only and never more than a few times a day. Since then I have always received the casino discount on our cruises and regularly get offers for a free inside cabin. I'm not interested in an inside cabin so have never accepted those offers.

This fall I was offered a free balcony cabin and did take that offer. I think it is more of a reflection on how poorly this sailing was selling than my valued status as a low roller. LOL

[DaveOKC]

10 hours ago, Sea42 said:

Many years ago, I would sit and play slots when I wanted to have a cigarette indoors. Bad weather days only and never more than a few times a day. Since then I have always received the casino discount on our cruises and regularly get offers for a free inside cabin. I'm not interested in an inside cabin so have never accepted those offers.

This fall I was offered a free balcony cabin and did take that offer. I think it is more of a reflection on how poorly this sailing was selling than my valued status as a low roller. LOL

Just FYI - if you get a free Inside offer, you can pay a bit to upsell yourself to a balcony. suite, or ocean view.  We did this for our upcoming cruise and ended up buying a Neptune suite for about $1000 pp, with the "normal" rate being almost $3000 pp.

[hbsurfcitycruiser]

Great point DaveOKC!!

 

I sail in less than a month so I am anxiously waiting to see if they offer anything last minute, like perhaps a balcony for a couple hundred bucks. I will report back here if we have any luck.

[vswan]

4 hours ago, hbsurfcitycruiser said:

Great point DaveOKC!!

 

I sail in less than a month so I am anxiously waiting to see if they offer anything last minute, like perhaps a balcony for a couple hundred bucks. I will report back here if we have any luck.

Same here. Wasn't interested in having HAL hold extra money when I booked, but would be open to upgrading from an inside cabin at this point. Not sure if we will see any options but think Hal could make a few dollars offering this upgrade option now. Who knows, maybe we'll both get lucky and with lower capacity onboard they will just upgrade us, but I won't hold my breath. Room hasn't yet been assigned so who knows.

[wannagonow123]

Just call the casino number listed on the offer and they will tell you the rate for upgrades. If you booked through the casino, you need to call them, not the normal GS number. 

[DaveOKC]

1 hour ago, wannagonow123 said:

Just call the casino number listed on the offer and they will tell you the rate for upgrades. If you booked through the casino, you need to call them, not the normal GS number. 

Also, I just have my HAL PCC get me the rate for the upgrade.

 

Further, when I do a dummy booking and I see the rate of free (or $200 lately) for the free category, I just look at the rate for the higher level category and it shows up.  For example, the PRIVATE FARE for an Inside shows at $200 pp, but for a Neptune it is $1599 pp.  In both cases we get $200 in OBC with this, but no other perks.  So, to upsell yourself to a Neptune it is costing us $1399 pp.  It was $1199 for a Signature (net of $999 pp).

[grest]

Their system is a befuddling thing.   Neither DH or I have ever received casino offers from HAL, though we get them regularly from other cruise lines, spending as much/as little in one ship or another.

[510picker]

I don’t understand their system either, but I’m thankful I’ve received the casino offers for the last several years. I’m not a big gambler and only play the slots. The amount I’ve saved from booking casino rates is far greater than the amount I’ve spent in the casino. 

[Midwestern Cruiser]

It's rare for me to cruise without a casino offer anymore. I like HAL's & CCL's best, but every once in awhile RCI & NCL have good ones too. I believe rewards are based on machine time (I rarely play tables) because I don't play/lose much...but generally the free cabins are insides & ocean views.

And with B2B ability, though they aren't easy to piece together with sailings to different ports, they're great. Have a CCL-HAL-HAL 20-day Caribbean sailing in February with nine stops and am only repeating one port!