Casino offers - be sure to check the website!

[kit125]

I had prompt and cheerful waitstaff in the casino this summer on the Oosterdam.  They even gave me a "free" bottle of wine to take back to my cabin!

[cwd79]

On the Rotterdam for first time. Slots in casino are not friendly but still having a great time. Hubby has had a lot more success playing Craps on this cruise. Haven’t received any casino offers thru email in awhile so hoping we might get some soon if the casino fairies deem us worthy. 

[rodndonna]

11 hours ago, cwd79 said:

On the Rotterdam for first time. Slots in casino are not friendly but still having a great time. Hubby has had a lot more success playing Craps on this cruise. Haven’t received any casino offers thru email in awhile so hoping we might get some soon if the casino fairies deem us worthy. 

 

We were very lucky and were able to grab 2 'free' cabin offers from last year (when they were really generous in them). We have played the Casino more on those 2 cruises than previously, but alas, no more email offers.

We are not surprised, as we are still not the sort of players that ever expected to get them. That being said, we do received what I would consider to a 'good' discount on many cruises that I don't get emails about, and only seem to see the pricing when I log in and follow through a booking (the discount does not show up on the initial pricing for me).  Worth looking at if you don't get an email 'free' cabin offers.

[FlorenceItaly]

We sailed on the Nieuw Statendam Nov 5-12 on a casino deal.  We purchased the HIA about a week before leaving for $50pp.  I was unsure of drink availability in casino.  I will tell you the servers were constant.  Still no regrets in purchasing package.  I hit a $500 jackpot on a 25cent machine and a $200 on a dollar.  With my $200 OBC I came close to even on spending versus winning.  On the last night someone hit $14,000 on a penny slot.  I know this for a fact as I was speaking with the husband at the casino bar.  On the last day of the cruise I received an offer for $250 OBC on my next cruise.  I did not receive a complimentary cruise offer.  All staff, entertainment, food, etc were wonderful on the cruise.  With that said, we have decided cruising is no longer a good fit for us.  We've been cruising since the 80's with about 70 plus cruises so it has been a good run.  We came home and cancelled all cruises except for our complimentary TA cruise in May.  Our DS and DIL live in the Netherlands.

[DaveOKC]

After booking/taking several "free" cabin offers I just booked one without the "free" deal. 

 

What I figured out is that sometimes the "free" cabin deal is not the best (for me anyway) approach.  When you book with the free cabin deal you generally cannot also get other offers, such as stockholder credit, Thank you for Sailing, Black Friday deal, Early booking promo and casino freeplay (from a different deal).  But you can get these and other perks when you book using the casino "rate".  Plus, with the free cabin you can only book a guarantee, even if you pay more to upgrade your booking.  

 

Just something to consider, and of course this varies depending on the various offers, the ship you are sailing, and the fares involved.

 

[FlorenceItaly]

10 minutes ago, DaveOKC said:

After booking/taking several "free" cabin offers I just booked one without the "free" deal. 

 

What I figured out is that sometimes the "free" cabin deal is not the best (for me anyway) approach.  When you book with the free cabin deal you generally cannot also get other offers, such as stockholder credit, Thank you for Sailing, Black Friday deal, Early booking promo and casino freeplay (from a different deal).  But you can get these and other perks when you book using the casino "rate".  Plus, with the free cabin you can only book a guarantee, even if you pay more to upgrade your booking.  

 

Just something to consider, and of course this varies depending on the various offers, the ship you are sailing, and the fares involved.

 

I agree!  But, for my upcoming cruise it is absolutely the best deal with the complimentary casino deal.  This is a 16 day cruise in a complimentary balcony($$$$) and the price continues to climb.  Also, inexpensive insurance.  I am thankful.  We planned to take QM2 back, but cancelled and booked business class(Polaris) air with HAL.  It was less than $1400pp.  We have already been ticketed.  I was required to pay in full at time of booking due to casino deal.  I then asked for it to be ticketed.  It has been.  

Edited November 23, 2022 by FlorenceItaly

[highscar]

@DaveOKC   Disagree on the guarantee cabin.  Twice I have got the cabin of my choice. I upgraded to balcony.   

[electro]

47 minutes ago, FlorenceItaly said:

We sailed on the Nieuw Statendam Nov 5-12 on a casino deal.  We purchased the HIA about a week before leaving for $50pp.  I was unsure of drink availability in casino.  I will tell you the servers were constant.  Still no regrets in purchasing package.  I hit a $500 jackpot on a 25cent machine and a $200 on a dollar.  With my $200 OBC I came close to even on spending versus winning.  On the last night someone hit $14,000 on a penny slot.  I know this for a fact as I was speaking with the husband at the casino bar.  On the last day of the cruise I received an offer for $250 OBC on my next cruise.  I did not receive a complimentary cruise offer.  All staff, entertainment, food, etc were wonderful on the cruise.  With that said, we have decided cruising is no longer a good fit for us.  We've been cruising since the 80's with about 70 plus cruises so it has been a good run.  We came home and cancelled all cruises except for our complimentary TA cruise in May.  Our DS and DIL live in the Netherlands.

The the "free drinks in the casino" count towards the 15 a day limit of the signature package?

[FlorenceItaly]

4 minutes ago, electro said:

The the "free drinks in the casino" count towards the 15 a day limit of the signature package?

I am guessing not as I never observed anyone's card being taken.  Since I had the drink package I did not bother with complimentary casino drinks.  Also, there was not an ideal spot to keep the drink.

[DaveOKC]

51 minutes ago, highscar said:

@DaveOKC   Disagree on the guarantee cabin.  Twice I have got the cabin of my choice. I upgraded to balcony.   

I upgrade twice to Neptune and HAL would only give me guarantee!  Ended up with great location anyway though.

 

[IamHungry]

I got a casino free play offer on the 2nd day before my disembarkation. They dropped a postcard on my bed giving me $400 for casino if I book next cruise within 30 days after disembarkation. But I will wait for free stateroom deal though. Wonder if anyone got casino deal during their cruise days as well?

[cwd79]

Hubby and I also got free play offer, last week. We were hoping for a free cruise offer but got free play instead. Beggars can't be choosers. Still happy we got something. I got $600 free play and hubby got $400. We booked another cruise this morning and got those added to the new cruise. 

[DaveOKC]

1 hour ago, IamHungry said:

I got a casino free play offer on the 2nd day before my disembarkation. They dropped a postcard on my bed giving me $400 for casino if I book next cruise within 30 days after disembarkation. But I will wait for free stateroom deal though. Wonder if anyone got casino deal during their cruise days as well?

My DW gets them on most cruises.  Last two were for $400 in free play.  Most times we cannot use them, as you cannot combine it with the free cabin offers.  This time we booked with it as we found a well priced cruise with LOTS of perks (many of which could not be used with free cabin offer).  You really have to put a pencil to these various options and consider all the issues.

 

[blueexpedition29]

IF you spend any reasonable amount of time in the casino over the course of your sailing, you are likely to receive a casino cash offer towards the end of the sailing.  The $$$ amount of the offer will likely be somewhat commensurate with the time and $$$ you spent in the casino for that cruise.  IT is not clear to me that that relates directly to any future "free cruise" offer you may receive. 

[IamHungry]

1 hour ago, blueexpedition29 said:

IF you spend any reasonable amount of time in the casino over the course of your sailing, you are likely to receive a casino cash offer towards the end of the sailing.  The $$$ amount of the offer will likely be somewhat commensurate with the time and $$$ you spent in the casino for that cruise.  IT is not clear to me that that relates directly to any future "free cruise" offer you may receive. 

I will try my luck. I would rather book a free stateroom deal than the feeling that I am going on the next cruise just for mainly maximizing casino freeplay.

[cwd79]

This was the first cruise in about four cruises where we didn't get a free stateroom casino offer at the end of the cruise and only got free play casino offer. I will say I spent more time and money in the casino on this B2B cruise we were on than any other cruise. I know it's a mystery as to what triggers what but we are glad we got something, so that was nice. We cruise again on Dec 20th, and not going to spend as much time and money in the casino this time so we will see happens. 

[IamHungry]

9 minutes ago, cwd79 said:

This was the first cruise in about four cruises where we didn't get a free stateroom casino offer at the end of the cruise and only got free play casino offer. I will say I spent more time and money in the casino on this B2B cruise we were on than any other cruise. I know it's a mystery as to what triggers what but we are glad we got something, so that was nice. We cruise again on Dec 20th, and not going to spend as much time and money in the casino this time so we will see happens. 

What kind of free stateroom do you usually get in your offer?

[cwd79]

4 minutes ago, IamHungry said:

What kind of free stateroom do you usually get in your offer?

We first started getting interior and as of recent were getting ocean view. 

[DaveOKC]

56 minutes ago, IamHungry said:

I will try my luck. I would rather book a free stateroom deal than the feeling that I am going on the next cruise just for mainly maximizing casino freeplay.

 As I mentioned previously, the value equation really depends.  You have to look at all the perks you are foregoing by taking the free cabin, including the free play, and compare to what it would cost you to just book a cabin (remember you likely will qualify for a casino discount on your cabin (we generally get 20%) and this discount still allows us to book with other promotions (stockholder credit, thank you for sailing, etc) AND lets us book a specific cabin.  The free cabin generally is just for a guarantee, which I do not care for.

 

[cwd79]

6 minutes ago, DaveOKC said:

 As I mentioned previously, the value equation really depends.  You have to look at all the perks you are foregoing by taking the free cabin, including the free play, and compare to what it would cost you to just book a cabin (remember you likely will qualify for a casino discount on your cabin (we generally get 20%) and this discount still allows us to book with other promotions (stockholder credit, thank you for sailing, etc) AND lets us book a specific cabin.  The free cabin generally is just for a guarantee, which I do not care for.

 

You are correct that the free cabin generally is just for a guarantee. Although the most recent free stateroom offer we received we were able to choose our room at no extra charge, we prefer interior or ocean view rooms mid ship on a lower deck. But I am sure that is not something that happens often. 

[DaveOKC]

1 minute ago, cwd79 said:

You are correct that the free cabin generally is just for a guarantee. Although the most recent free stateroom offer we received we were able to choose our room at no extra charge, we prefer interior or ocean view rooms mid ship on a lower deck. But I am sure that is not something that happens often. 

Yes, HAL is not consistent on many things.  Last week I booked a specific Signature cabin but this week the same category is now guarantee only.  This seems to happen more frequently if you are booking far in advance.

[HELENPSL]

3 hours ago, cwd79 said:

You are correct that the free cabin generally is just for a guarantee. Although the most recent free stateroom offer we received we were able to choose our room at no extra charge, we prefer interior or ocean view rooms mid ship on a lower deck. But I am sure that is not something that happens often. 

We always receive a “come back and sail” offer when we disembark for a certain dollar amount in free play.  We usually get free cabin offers via email.

Helen

[IamHungry]

Also about the freeplay...if they offer you $400 in free play. Does it mean you have to play all of $400 and whatever is over $400 you can cash out?  Or you can just cash out however and whenever you like?

[kangforpres]

1 hour ago, IamHungry said:

Also about the freeplay...if they offer you $400 in free play. Does it mean you have to play all of $400 and whatever is over $400 you can cash out?  Or you can just cash out however and whenever you like?

Your card counts down your free play bets on machines. Once you get to 0, you can then cash out your cash balance on what you have won from the free play.  Remember it's $400 in free play, not $400 cash.

[electro]

Casino discount offers:

I have an email for casino insider discount, it says I will see the discounted price on the summary page.

I have tried several cruises and non of them show a discount in summary.

Is there a way to see what cruises will have a discount without going into each cruise and selecting a cabin catagory to get to the summary page?

Yes, I am logged in when I do the search.

Thanks