Princess Players Club Free Interior Stateroom and Tournament Entry - My Experience So Far

[dgosho]

Last week, I received flyer from Princess "Princess Players Club Free Interior Stateroom and Tournament Entry." Three cruise options are listed for February and March of 2022. This is the first time I have received something like this.

 

We went on a Princess cruise in August and my casino budget is quite small (~$100/day) and I nearly broke even. I was surprised to get an offer like this given how little they made from my time in the casino. I doubted its legitimacy. 

I called my travel advisor and found it that it was, in fact, a valid offer so we went ahead and started making plans. I am very grateful for our travel advisor who did all the calling to the casino, waited on hold (hours), and managed all the details. I work days and would not have been able to do any of that.

Here are the details so far:

1. They require a $200 deposit per person that will be credited back to us "as onboard credit." My travel advisor says she that will be casino credit, but the flyer doesn't specify.

2. We have to pay the Taxes, Fees, and Port Expenses (TFPE) of $150/ea

3. We opted to upgrade to a standard balcony which cost $245/pp in categories BB-BF.

4. They charged our credit card for the full amount of the stateroom and say they will refund $525/pp "in a few days from Princess Casino"

5. We purchased the Princess Plus package for $280/ea.

6. We had future cruise credit (FCC) which could not be used for the deposit in #1 nor could it be used for the TFPE, or Princess Plus, but it could be used for the upgraded stateroom. Princess failed to apply the credit when they ran our credit card and said they will credit our card back "in a few days."

7. Our total, including everything, came to $1400/pp. We'll receive back $525/pp on our credit card and $200/pp in OBC.

8. (Assuming we will get the credits promised) for $675 each we are getting a standard balcony on the Regal Princess with Princess Plus (gratuities paid, premier beverages, and Wi-Fi). Realistically, we could have opted for just the interior room without Princess Plus and we would have ended up paying $251.50/each (TFPE plus daily gratuities).

 

A couple of questions:

If you've used an offer like this, did you have to pay the full price up front and how long did it take to get the money back?

If the $200/ea is in casino credit, how does that work? Can I use it at the craps table? Can I use my wife's credit (she doesn't gamble)?

 

 

[Jadn13]

The $200 deposit is OBC and if you don’t use it, it’s refundable.  It’s not casino credit.

 

if you have free play  you get that from the casino and it’s loaded into your casino bank as free-play. 

[Shelly97060]

My experience with the Casino free cabin offers  is that you pay taxes and port fees ( non-refundable) and you pay the $200 pp deposit which is immediately available as OBC when you board.  The Casino pays the remainder of any of the fare that is due (perhaps this is what your TA is referring to).  I have only booked these through the casino department ( which a TA can do for you if they have your credit card info when they call the casino to book on your behalf) so there has never been an issue of waiting for a refund. 
 

[triple7tahoe]

Of the 13 cruises we have booked for the next 12 months, 8 are (were) casino cruises. Depending on the offer you may get an inside up to a mini suite and pay $200 for each person as a non-refundable deposit. That is returned as OBC. Each offer also includes a differing amount of Casino Credit that is given in the casino as free play. We just got off the Regal and when booked it included $100 Casino Credit. There was a problem with the computers and  the casino was not able to put credit on our Medallions first night. The next day they were able to load it and gave me $250. The biggest problem I have encountered is the Casino not blocking the bookings and Princess may start to hassle you about non payment. I have had three threatened cancellations from Princess and needed to call Casino folks to get them reinstated. I have two of the tourney cruises booked which include on board activities and added prizes-Both in the future so will wait and see just how those go 🙂

 

[suekel]

I've never had to pay more than port fees and taxes.  Depending on what we get offered, we may choose to upgrade our cabin so we pay that up front too.  It's very recent that you could upgrade using FCC so I took advantage of that this week. The one thing to remember is to call the casino for your flights if you plan to use EZ Air otherwise they can cancel on you which can take you by surprise!   If you do call and make changes, make sure you ask them to protect your cruise. You can do your own excursions and packages online.  You may or not be able to use your $200 OBC as casino credit.  That seems to vary.  

[CineGraphic]

1 hour ago, dgosho said:

We went on a Princess cruise in August and my casino budget is quite small (~$100/day) and I nearly broke even. I was surprised to get an offer like this given how little they made from my time in the casino.

 

Folks are afraid to sail, so the offers are more then generous right now.

I'm signed up for the 2/12/22 slot tournament.....sailing solo for the first time as my wife couldn't get any additional days off of work.

 

 

 

[pathi]

Cinegraphic, if you are on the Sky I am sailing with you. On a casino offer also.

[CineGraphic]

29 minutes ago, pathi said:

Cinegraphic, if you are on the Sky I am sailing with you. On a casino offer also.

 

I'll be on the Regal.

My first time on her since her inaugural season back in 2016.

Have fun on the Sky!

[dgosho]

I made a mistake in my op. 

I misunderstood something on the invoice. They did NOT charge the full amount for the stateroom. They only charged the upgrade amount which was $245/pp.

Reading everyone's responses who said they didn't get charged, I reviewed my invoice.

What my TA actually said was that the remaining balance owed would get paid "in a few days from Princess Casino."

 

(I couldn't find a way to edit my original post - is there a way for me to do that?)

 

17 hours ago, dgosho said:

 

4. They charged our credit card for the full amount of the stateroom and say they will refund $525/pp "in a few days from Princess Casino"

 

 

 

 

[franktown]

I have never gotten so many Casino offers.  It seems I get a new one almost every week.  Obviously trying to generate some revenue from half empty cruises.

[mina]

We get the offers as well. However, unless it’s a real expensive cruise, recent inside room offers are actually more expensive then if we just use the 35 percent off Casino rate.  For Mexico cruises we would have had to pay the balcony upgrade and the princess plus for each day. That was more expensive then booking at the casino rate under their current promotion.  Plus it is a real hassle to deal with flight bookings and getting in touch with the casino dept every time the airfare goes down. You also have to pay your airfare in full.   You can’t wait till 45 days in advance.  

[memoak]

My next casino cruise is in April and it gave us a free balcony and $500 free play. We automatically get a percentage off all regular cruises with casino rates and on some of them we also get free play. Seems to   be random

[JF - retired RRT]

3 hours ago, dgosho said:

(I couldn't find a way to edit my original post - is there a way for me to do that?)

 

Only if you're quick. There's a time limit (5 minutes??), then it's locked in.

If you're within the time, click on the upper right corner and choose "edit".

[roxievegas]

The $200 per person deposit is put back to your cabin as OBC for each individual.  When you play in the casino and "charge to your room" when you load your slot machine, the money goes to your room charge and they reduce your charges.

We are booked for the BlackJack tournament in March - don't know how to play, but it is a free cruise (except port charges and vacation protection)

[lbfluffy]

My husband plays blackjack. He does not play a lot, but has received casino discounts and some casino credit, $100 this last cruise. We asked the casino host how he could get a free cruise. He said they look at the slot players more so than the table players. You have to be at the table for a long time. 

[cr8tiv1]

I have never received a casino offer in 15 years.  I dabble at the slots.  Could that be the reason?  I always have an active booking.  Is that the reason?

[caribill]

11 hours ago, JF - retired RRT said:

Only if you're quick. There's a time limit (5 minutes??), then it's locked in.

If you're within the time, click on the upper right corner and choose "edit".

 

It is about 20 minutes.

[caribill]

8 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

I have never received a casino offer in 15 years.  I dabble at the slots.  Could that be the reason?  I always have an active booking.  Is that the reason?

Probably not.

 

There have been posts by people saying they dabble at slots and have received the casino offers. Also it happened whether or not they already had a cruise booked.

[dgosho]

 

9 hours ago, lbfluffy said:

My husband plays blackjack. He does not play a lot, but has received casino discounts and some casino credit, $100 this last cruise. We asked the casino host how he could get a free cruise. He said they look at the slot players more so than the table players. You have to be at the table for a long time. 

I don't spend any money in slots. I only played craps and I got this offer. I'm a conservative player and I have a low daily bankroll.

I know. It's anecdotal but, I still got this offer. 🙂

[dgosho]

12 hours ago, roxievegas said:

We are booked for the BlackJack tournament in March - don't know how to play, but it is a free cruise (except port charges and vacation protection)

That's the one I wanted to go on, but I'm going to Vegas the week before. Good luck with the cards!

[dgosho]

On 12/23/2021 at 7:37 PM, CineGraphic said:

 

I'll be on the Regal.

My first time on her since her inaugural season back in 2016.

Have fun on the Sky!

That's the same cruise in on! Maybe I'll see you onboard.

[disneyochem]

14 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

I have never received a casino offer in 15 years.  I dabble at the slots.  Could that be the reason?  I always have an active booking.  Is that the reason?

I am also a dabbler at the slots—always play the lowest bet on a machine and a $100 limit per cruise.  A more seasoned traveler told me if I wanted to get casino offers, I needed to dabble every day.

 

on our first cruise back in October 2021, I spread out my playing over six days (still staying within my $100 budget.  Took home $250).  Once off that cruise, I have received numerous casino offers.  I know that they are desperate for cruisers and we did benefit!  I received a free interior cabin offer (with Princess Plus), $500 free play and an slot tournament entry!  Also got offers for free play and % off cruise fare on a number of sailings.   Rebooked three cruises using the casino rate and saved $$$!
 

Now I just have to figure out how to spend $500 free play on a 5 night cruise!  Might have to up the amounts on my slot play!

 

[dgosho]

1 hour ago, disneyochem said:

Now I just have to figure out how to spend $500 free play on a 5 night cruise!  Might have to up the amounts on my slot play!

 

Maybe throw some dice? 😎

[Luckiestmanonearth]

Is there minimum amount you need to spend at the casino to get this deal ?

[roxievegas]

I have used my FCC to book my cruise using the casino offer (free cabin).  But I deal directly with the casino department