Ultra cruise worth the extra $ ??

[vbscoot]

Have and Ultra offer from the casino.   Haven't been able to find any recent posts about what kind of gifts anyone has received.  We have another casino offer that is $150 pp cheaper and also with DOU in the casino.  For those of you that have booked an Ultra cruise,  do the gifts make up for $300 difference ?  I realize that there may be a couple extra parties involved,  but that wouldn't really figure into our decision making.

Thanks 

[Virga]

Transportation was the only detailed thing that might be worth a dollar value for me - I'm interested to hear about the gifts to see what dollar value might be assigned for those.  

[kwokpot]

34 minutes ago, Virga said:

Transportation was the only detailed thing that might be worth a dollar value for me - I'm interested to hear about the gifts to see what dollar value might be assigned for those.  

Transportation isn't part of an Ultra Casino cruise. You're thinking of an Elite Casino cruise offer which among other benefits offers Private port transfers or parking, and Drinks Everywhere for 2. Those are the best benefits. Also lower tier internet for 2 and a shore excursion or spa credit for 2.

Edited April 24, 2022 by kwokpot

[sgttami]

I've never paid for an Ultra, other than taxes and port charges.  One gift was an IPad.  I had DOU everywhere and there was a party or two along with cash drawings up to $20,000. (I didn't win..).  $1,000 Fun Play was included.

 

Transportation was never included in Ultra.  That would be on Elite cruises.

 

The regular casino offers are fine for me.  I really have no need for a bunch of gifts (I give them all away) and the DOU anywhere is nice too.  Fun Play varies with each offer but is usually at least $200.

[audcc77]

How many points do you spend in the casino for offers of Ultra or Premier?  
All I get is Australia 🙄 so apparently what I’m doing is not enough. 

[CruiseesiurC]

Same. All I get are Australia offers and it’s so annoying because flight costs to Australia makes the cruise impossible. My husband spent the exact same amount of money but he gets a few other offers. 

[sgttami]

37 minutes ago, audcc77 said:

How many points do you spend in the casino for offers of Ultra or Premier?  
All I get is Australia 🙄 so apparently what I’m doing is not enough. 

There is no concrete answer on how many points you need.  I've had between 5000 and 20000 on different cruises and the offers still vary.  I haven't cruised in over 2 years and I'm getting different  offers every day.

Casino hosts have told me that it's all about how much time you spend in the casino, not necessarily how much you spend or how many points you have.

 

[Virga]

1 hour ago, kwokpot said:

Transportation isn't part of an Ultra Casino cruise. You're thinking of an Elite Casino cruise offer which among other benefits offers Private port transfers or parking, and Drinks Everywhere for 2. Those are the best benefits. Also lower tier internet for 2 and a shore excursion or spa credit for 2.

 

You are, of course, correct - I have only recently started getting Player's Club offers and am apparently getting the inclusions mixed up.  Glad you caught me so quickly!

[audcc77]

9 minutes ago, sgttami said:

Casino hosts have told me that it's all about how much time you spend in the casino, not necessarily how much you spend or how many points you have.

I have heard that as well.  I try to wait 5-15 seconds between each spin now.  

[icft]

There was another thread asking about Ultra cruises. No one ever answered about the big prize drawing who had been on an Ultra since reopening. Surely someone has been on one. What is the situation with the big drawing. Do they still guarantee a gift worth at least $300? Are most gifts still worth more?

 

I haven't been on a Ultra since reopening because I've been getting other, much better, offers. 

[May1cruiser]

Was on an Ultra in August of 2021. Mardi Gras. Gifts were worth around the prices stated. We took the casino cash instead since the actual gifts were duplicates of items we already have. I believe the lowest was $300. We hit for $500 and $800. Did not seem much more unique than a premier. It was okay and casino was busy. We do have another ultra booked for jan 2023 just because. 

 

[Port of Tampa]

I have two Ultra’s and in my opinion they are not worth the perks because they oversell them as with the Premiers. The casino is packed making difficult to get on desired tables and slots. 

[icft]

1 minute ago, Port of Tampa said:

I have two Ultra’s and in my opinion they are not worth the perks because they oversell them as with the Premiers. The casino is packed making difficult to get on desired tables and slots. 

You have a valid point about the size of the casino crowd. From a casino point of view the worst cruise we ever took was a big deal hundred thousand dollar slot tournament cruise. I won that cruise the one and only time I entered the slot tournament on a regular Premier cruise. It seems like everyone on the ship was a slot addict. You had to wait till almost midnight to find open machines.

 

Since that time I avoid slot tournament cruises. What I want is a big Southern Baptist convention cruise.

[csm5986142]

1 hour ago, Port of Tampa said:

I have two Ultra’s and in my opinion they are not worth the perks because they oversell them as with the Premiers. The casino is packed making difficult to get on desired tables and slots. 

 

Exactly!  I was on Mardi Gras for the Ultra in Aug and April and it made the casino so incredibly crowded both times. 

I was not booked under the Ultra offer.  I wish I would have taken a picture of the big display/sign listing all the potential prizes because I commented to my travel companions that aside from the free play, I didn't think any of the others were anything I'd want.  They did do some additional drawings (for games like "spin the wheel/roll the giant dice" etc. for just the Ultra participants (where they won free play).

[chriscec2012]

4 hours ago, csm5986142 said:

 

Exactly!  I was on Mardi Gras for the Ultra in Aug and April and it made the casino so incredibly crowded both times. 

I was not booked under the Ultra offer.  I wish I would have taken a picture of the big display/sign listing all the potential prizes because I commented to my travel companions that aside from the free play, I didn't think any of the others were anything I'd want.  They did do some additional drawings (for games like "spin the wheel/roll the giant dice" etc. for just the Ultra participants (where they won free play).

I believe this is the current ultra prizes and free play. 

[pe4all]

I get premier and ultra cruise offers.  They are definitely more expensive than the other casino offers I get, while giving slightly higher obc and "gifts."   I do not book them because the casino is sooo busy it is not worth fighting the crowds, imho.

[Matco]

is there a list of these getaway, premier, ultra, and elite casino cruises? I play in the casino and get getaway and premier offers but don't book them as others have said I get better casino offers anyways and I hate a packed casino

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

On 4/24/2022 at 4:35 PM, audcc77 said:

I have heard that as well.  I try to wait 5-15 seconds between each spin now.  

 

That approach is probably not that effective with slots. They are probably more interested in "coin in" (how much you have put at risk), and they know that figure down to the penny.

 

With table games, it's average bet and time. Here intentionally slowing down the game might have a slight impact. I was playing Sunday night on the Liberty and had a couple of very fast BJ dealers. Then a third dealer rotated in and it was like I could have been dealing (slow/methodical). Perhaps they wanted to slow down/interrupt the streak the guy next to me was on -- playing between 1-3 spots at table max ($2,500/spot). They had to refill the tray 3 times, bringing in $60,000 in purple chips. It's like with boats, there's always someone with a bigger boat!

 

(EDIT - I'll add that this guy played by his own rules, deviating on several occasions from basic strategy. But, there was no way I was going to speak up to give him pointers!!)

 

 

Tom

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

2 hours ago, pe4all said:

I get premier and ultra cruise offers.  They are definitely more expensive than the other casino offers I get, while giving slightly higher obc and "gifts."   I do not book them because the casino is sooo busy it is not worth fighting the crowds, imho.

 

I agree - while it was nice to get a few hundred in free play, and another (grand?) after spinning the wheel, if I'm going to play, I'd prefer not to be at a full table, or have to stand around and wait to get a seat. Ideally, one or two others at the table would be my preference.

 

Tom

[chriscec2012]

I was Ultra on Mardi Gras last week, the photo I posted of prizes is correct. There was nearly 300 ultra guests on this sailing so you were lucky just to see your name go around on the drawings much less win anything but the casino will be very busy if you like that type of vibe. Overall well run and the gifts were a beach chair, beach hat and straws. 

[AnitaVacation]

On 4/25/2022 at 11:40 PM, chriscec2012 said:

I believe this is the current ultra prizes and free play. 

So, does everyone that is sailing under the 'Ultra' deal get one of these prizes? And how are prizes chosen?? 

[May1cruiser]

last august, we had a time to meet and a reservation card, we went to the meeting location, verified and then given the chance to draw an envelope from several. We opened the envelope and one of the letters of ULTRA was enclosed. We were served champagne while waiting for the host to process the prize. We could choose the gift or fun play cash. Took about 20 minutes

 

[nlktx49]

On 4/24/2022 at 1:20 PM, vbscoot said:

Have and Ultra offer from the casino.   Haven't been able to find any recent posts about what kind of gifts anyone has received.  We have another casino offer that is $150 pp cheaper and also with DOU in the casino.  For those of you that have booked an Ultra cruise,  do the gifts make up for $300 difference ?  I realize that there may be a couple extra parties involved,  but that wouldn't really figure into our decision making.

Thanks 

Before the shutdown, yes. After, no. Ultra cruise before shutdown was great, good gifts, special drawings  in the casino, special party. One after shutdown was total crap. "Gifts" in cabin were things like ball caps with "Premier" on them, other Premier branded  cheap stuff, guess they were cleaning out the warehouse. Big prize giveaway depended on which card you drew, guess we got bottom of the barrel. Choice was a Dyson fan or $300 casino cash. What????? Maybe they've improved since them, wait to hear from someone who has been on one recently.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

7 minutes ago, nlktx49 said:

Before the shutdown, yes. After, no. Ultra cruise before shutdown was great, good gifts, special drawings  in the casino, special party. One after shutdown was total crap. "Gifts" in cabin were things like ball caps with "Premier" on them, other Premier branded  cheap stuff, guess they were cleaning out the warehouse. Big prize giveaway depended on which card you drew, guess we got bottom of the barrel. Choice was a Dyson fan or $300 casino cash. What????? Maybe they've improved since them, wait to hear from someone who has been on one recently.

 

My "prized' possession from our Mardi Gras Ultra cruise --- a cool magnet!  😄 

 

 

Tom

[AnitaVacation]

So, apparently, the Legend is on an ULTRA sailing right now and I am trying to get information regarding the latest give-aways... 

 

When do they usually do the envelope draw?  First night? 5th night? Last night??