BETSY DOLL Posted January 27, 2023 #1 Share Posted January 27, 2023 FYI, from my recent 5 day on the Freedom- they did everything possible to avoid giving Casino players any drinks. There were 2 waiters for the entire Casino. They needed at least 6-8. I finally complained to the Casino manager who snapped his fingers at a bar waiter. I got the drink after an hour wait and tipped him $5. every night was the same gig, no service. I don’t think you can go to the Casino bar as you have to be playing. Last night at the roulette table we challenged the waiter with $5 tips if he came back every 5 minutes. He did!!! I happily paid the tip and we had great service! Next time I will start off with the big money tips!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KristiK Posted January 27, 2023 #2 Share Posted January 27, 2023 Same thing from my Pride cruise last week. Only 1 or 2 wait staff max for whole casino. Some slot areas never saw a waiter walk by for hours. And the bartender confirmed that the Drinks on Us was only free from a waiter...had to pay if from the bar directly. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ultrafighter Posted January 27, 2023 #3 Share Posted January 27, 2023 My last cruise had a smoke-free casino annex, and I had pretty good luck in there with being able to flag down a server and get drinks in a more timely manner. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colorado Beach Bum Posted January 27, 2023 #4 Share Posted January 27, 2023 Surprised to hear this. We’ve never had a problem getting a server in the casino especially for slots. Some issues while on table games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mic101680 Posted January 27, 2023 #5 Share Posted January 27, 2023 I just did a B2B on the Paradise and think I saw waitstaff in the casino maybe 2 or 3 times in 9 days. Granted, I don't spend hours and hours at a time in there, but still, it would have been annoying if I had the casino drink package and had to hunt them down to use it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BETSY DOLL Posted January 28, 2023 Author #6 Share Posted January 28, 2023 It’s really annoying that I get this offer but cannot use it due to short staffing! the next time I will get with the Casino manager from day one. I’m a Platinum guest working towards Diamond. I still support Carnival but don’t give me perks that are useless! Thanks 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon2 Posted January 28, 2023 #7 Share Posted January 28, 2023 I only do the roulette table and went up to the bar and said I was heading the table and can I please have my "included" drink. The bartender gave me my drink but hinted that he would do it just this time. During the week I was able to get my drink at the bar before sitting down 3 or 4 more times, no problem. I always feared that I would go through my self-disciplined money at the table before my drink was delivered if I ordered from wait staff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mz-s Posted January 28, 2023 #8 Share Posted January 28, 2023 4 minutes ago, Cinnamon2 said: I only do the roulette table and went up to the bar and said I was heading the table and can I please have my "included" drink. The bartender gave me my drink but hinted that he would do it just this time. During the week I was able to get my drink at the bar before sitting down 3 or 4 more times, no problem. I always feared that I would go through my self-disciplined money at the table before my drink was delivered if I ordered from wait staff. Why do you think "actively playing" doesn't apply to you? The entire point of the program is for you to spend more money playing while they're getting your drink. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare EngIceDave Posted January 28, 2023 #9 Share Posted January 28, 2023 A smile, being nice and a healthy cash tip early on will help with improved service. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elaine5715 Posted January 28, 2023 #10 Share Posted January 28, 2023 2 hours ago, EngIceDave said: A smile, being nice and a healthy cash tip early on will help with improved service. Funny how when I look around I see little of that and worse when people order a drink and change machines. Servers look and look for people who barely glance at them, only sign their name and continue playing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlmonday Posted January 28, 2023 #11 Share Posted January 28, 2023 I don't tip a lot, $2 to $3 a drink but it gets me in trouble in the casino as sometimes I have 3 drinks in front of me due to the wait staff trying to get those tips. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icft Posted January 28, 2023 #12 Share Posted January 28, 2023 Post-covid getting drinks from the servers was darn good, until about December 2022 (we cruise about once a month in the fall, winter and early spring months). Since then service has been terrible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samiam0403 Posted January 28, 2023 #13 Share Posted January 28, 2023 That's crazy, OP - they had to have been seriously understaffed for some reason. Even on my terribly over-crowded 3-day cruise in September, I had casino drink servers tripping over each other to get me drinks. I tip $1 per drink. I couldn't walk through the packed casino without at least 2 of them offering to bring me a drink immediately, and most times they would just bring me a drink as soon as they saw me. Then again, maybe that's just a commentary on how much time I spend in the casino and we shouldn't examine that too closely. 🤣 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audcc77 Posted January 28, 2023 #14 Share Posted January 28, 2023 I had trouble on the MG in December. There seemed to be only 1 person on each side of the casino. What made it more difficult is the fact that I only play 1 slot machine and it’s not in the middle. Half the time, I had to get up, leaving my card in the machine, tip my chair, and go chase down someone. I don’t do cheers and I tip every time so I agree that there’s just not enough staff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare EngIceDave Posted January 28, 2023 #15 Share Posted January 28, 2023 8 hours ago, Elaine5715 said: Funny how when I look around I see little of that and worse when people order a drink and change machines. Servers look and look for people who barely glance at them, only sign their name and continue playing. Never abandon your waitress.....never If you move, you watch for her/him and and grab 'em, let them know you move. 7 hours ago, karlmonday said: I don't tip a lot, $2 to $3 a drink but it gets me in trouble in the casino as sometimes I have 3 drinks in front of me due to the wait staff trying to get those tips. That's generous. I usually start with $5 and go down to $1-$2 after that. What bugs me and people don't think about, your burning a few dollars every minute and you can't drop a dollar or two to the waitress? ***** Bro? I have seen folks in high limit rooms playing $5 and $10+ slots only tip a dollar or nothing at all...think about how sh!++y that looks. Tip well, be nice, smile and even make conversation. Ask them how their day has been. See how much service improves Anyone remember The Golden Rule? 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anyislandwilldo Posted January 28, 2023 #16 Share Posted January 28, 2023 20 hours ago, ultrafighter said: My last cruise had a smoke-free casino annex, and I had pretty good luck in there with being able to flag down a server and get drinks in a more timely manner. Same thing here. I went to the smoke-free annex and there is hardly anyone there playing slots. Had no problem getting service. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon2 Posted January 28, 2023 #17 Share Posted January 28, 2023 (edited) 14 hours ago, mz-s said: Why do you think "actively playing" doesn't apply to you? The entire point of the program is for you to spend more money playing while they're getting your drink. I carried my drink to the table and actively played every time.....if I had waited for wait staff, I might have been finished playing before my drink was delivered. No guilt feelings here . . . . I probably purchased at least $800 in chips and drank about 5 "free" drinks in the casino all week. Edited January 28, 2023 by Cinnamon2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elaine5715 Posted January 28, 2023 #18 Share Posted January 28, 2023 2 hours ago, EngIceDave said: Never abandon your waitress.....never If you move, you watch for her/him and and grab 'em, let them know you move. That's generous. I usually start with $5 and go down to $1-$2 after that. What bugs me and people don't think about, your burning a few dollars every minute and you can't drop a dollar or two to the waitress? ***** Bro? I have seen folks in high limit rooms playing $5 and $10+ slots only tip a dollar or nothing at all...think about how sh!++y that looks. Tip well, be nice, smile and even make conversation. Ask them how their day has been. See how much service improves Anyone remember The Golden Rule? Exactly. If I move machines, it is within sight of the machine I ordered at and I am turned around watching for the server who I can identify by name if needed. I agree about the burning...I see it at all casinos, People feed a $100 into the machine and put out a $1 for a drink. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knagl Posted January 30, 2023 #19 Share Posted January 30, 2023 Drink service on the Spirit in December of 2022 was a little hit or miss at times, but mostly good. I tipped $2 cash on every drink, and a couple of times had a server stop me as I was randomly walking through the casino just to see if I wanted a drink. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mistyinca Posted January 30, 2023 #20 Share Posted January 30, 2023 This will be my first time on a cruise with the free drinks in the casino offer. Can someone please tell me if there are only certain drinks you can get with this offer, or is it anything that is offered at the casino bar? Thanks so much! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mz-s Posted January 30, 2023 #21 Share Posted January 30, 2023 4 minutes ago, mistyinca said: This will be my first time on a cruise with the free drinks in the casino offer. Can someone please tell me if there are only certain drinks you can get with this offer, or is it anything that is offered at the casino bar? Thanks so much! Anything at the casino bar, including sodas etc. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kona_wahine Posted January 30, 2023 #22 Share Posted January 30, 2023 I would walk up to a server who was filling orders at the bar and ask them for a drink and they always helped me. Bartenders always said they weren’t allowed. It is a pain, but it is a free drink! I didn’t use that much the one time I had it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare BlerkOne Posted January 30, 2023 #23 Share Posted January 30, 2023 I often find it cheaper to go buy my own drinks. On my recent cruise, I overheard someone complaining about a lack of service and I was obligated to point out that many servers were busy handing out free drinks at the P/D parties that were going on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firstcruise92 Posted January 30, 2023 #24 Share Posted January 30, 2023 My husband had drinks on us in the casino on our last cruise and didn't get a single drink. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharonna3 Posted January 31, 2023 #25 Share Posted January 31, 2023 Could never get a drink at the slots. Tried the casino bar for the freebie. No luck, ended up buying a drink.. Play the tables..Drinks galore!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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