Two interesting observations from booking a casino deal.

[DaveOKC]

I just booked a casino offer (not a free cabin but only $199 for an Inside) and found two interesting items (IMO):

 

First, in the recent past it was difficult to book a specific cabin rather than take a guarantee.  This time we were finally able (even online) to select our own cabin.  Of course we had to pay a bit more for this, but the end fare was very good and not that much more than the guarantee rate.

 

Second, I booked an aft view balcony cabin for LESS than I would have paid for using Club Orange to upgrade the guarantee, by about $45 pp.  In the past, purchasing Club Orange was the way to go as it would save me $100 or more per person. Since the ship was not a Pinnacle class one, the value to me was minimal for Club Orange.

 

It seems that HAL has made some good changes in how they are handling casino bookings and I am happy to see this.  Still needs some work, but its improved fro prior cruises.

 

[AryMay]

We just booked a B2B cruise using a casino rate...our first time for getting an offer. Not sure why we even got the offer since we are never in the casino.

 

I was a little annoyed that even though I have documentation showing we should get both the AARP and Educator credits that our PCC said he couldn't see that they were available. He spoke to a supervisor and called me back and said there was a "glitch" in the system. He asked me to send in proof that we qualify and he will "work on it". 

 

Does using a casino rate disqualify us from other offers? 

[cwd79]

8 minutes ago, DaveOKC said:

I just booked a casino offer (not a free cabin but only $199 for an Inside) and found two interesting items (IMO):

 

First, in the recent past it was difficult to book a specific cabin rather than take a guarantee.  This time we were finally able (even online) to select our own cabin.  Of course we had to pay a bit more for this, but the end fare was very good and not that much more than the guarantee rate.

 

Second, I booked an aft view balcony cabin for LESS than I would have paid for using Club Orange to upgrade the guarantee, by about $45 pp.  In the past, purchasing Club Orange was the way to go as it would save me $100 or more per person. Since the ship was not a Pinnacle class one, the value to me was minimal for Club Orange.

 

It seems that HAL has made some good changes in how they are handling casino bookings and I am happy to see this.  Still needs some work, but its improved fro prior cruises.

 

That is very interesting and good to know. Was this a new offer you received in email or a casino rate you found under your mariner number while searching for cruises?

[REOVA]

5 minutes ago, AryMay said:

We just booked a B2B cruise using a casino rate...our first time for getting an offer. Not sure why we even got the offer since we are never in the casino.

 

I was a little annoyed that even though I have documentation showing we should get both the AARP and Educator credits that our PCC said he couldn't see that they were available. He spoke to a supervisor and called me back and said there was a "glitch" in the system. He asked me to send in proof that we qualify and he will "work on it". 

 

Does using a casino rate disqualify us from other offers? 

I thought other credits (AARP, Stock, Military, Educator, etc) could not be combined for the Casino offers. 🤔 

[DaveOKC]

5 minutes ago, AryMay said:

We just booked a B2B cruise using a casino rate...our first time for getting an offer. Not sure why we even got the offer since we are never in the casino.

 

I was a little annoyed that even though I have documentation showing we should get both the AARP and Educator credits that our PCC said he couldn't see that they were available. He spoke to a supervisor and called me back and said there was a "glitch" in the system. He asked me to send in proof that we qualify and he will "work on it". 

 

Does using a casino rate disqualify us from other offers? 

 

2 minutes ago, cwd79 said:

That is very interesting and good to know. Was this a new offer you received in email or a casino rate you found under your mariner number while searching for cruises?

I just received this from my PCC about the AARP credit:

"It does not combine with the casino rates."

 

We received the offer on August 1, but passed on it as we were considering another cruise at the same time.  I had forgotten about it, but saw it online when doing a search on our account and since the alternative one had fallen through decided to book this one.  To answer the question - it was BOTH!

 

[AryMay]

I had gotten an email with "Private Fares" for both of the cruises we booked which gave us a lower rate. Then when I added my DH's name & Mariner number to the booking, the price dropped even more to the casino rate. 

 

Our friends are traveling with us and were able to take advantage of our private fare, but not the casino rate. Not sure if the AARP & Educator credits can be applied to a private fare but if so we would be better off getting the OBC and not taking the additional casino discount (since it wasn't all that much.)

 

 

[DaveOKC]

6 minutes ago, AryMay said:

I had gotten an email with "Private Fares" for both of the cruises we booked which gave us a lower rate. Then when I added my DH's name & Mariner number to the booking, the price dropped even more to the casino rate. 

 

Our friends are traveling with us and were able to take advantage of our private fare, but not the casino rate. Not sure if the AARP & Educator credits can be applied to a private fare but if so we would be better off getting the OBC and not taking the additional casino discount (since it wasn't all that much.)

 

 

In the past I have been able to apply these credits to casino rates and Private sales.  When I book the deeply discounted casino rates (or free cabins) I was refused the credit.  SO, I would check but I bet you can get the credits.

 

[Mary229]

37 minutes ago, AryMay said:

We just booked a B2B cruise using a casino rate...our first time for getting an offer. Not sure why we even got the offer since we are never in the casino.

 

I was a little annoyed that even though I have documentation showing we should get both the AARP and Educator credits that our PCC said he couldn't see that they were available. He spoke to a supervisor and called me back and said there was a "glitch" in the system. He asked me to send in proof that we qualify and he will "work on it". 

 

Does using a casino rate disqualify us from other offers? 

Depending on how large the discount yes it is excluded. If it is a small discount you usually will still get the OBC

[Banditswife]

We have 100+ shares of CCL stock, hubby is a veteran.  When we have booked these casino offers, the shareholder OBC has been denied, but I think we got the military credit.  I do know that you have to have everything documented-military, educator, 1st responder, etc.

[sambamama]

I've booked casino rates, not deeply discounted, and never got my Amex Platinum credit. I have always gotten my shareholder credit, even on my one free cruise. I was told casino rates stop other credits.However, it was a long time ago, and 7 canceled cruises before.

[OlsSalt]

How much money does the casino pull in that supports all these "free cruises"? How much is just from the routine slots etc, and how much is high stakes going on somewhere less obvious?

[Mary229]

6 minutes ago, OlsSalt said:

How much money does the casino pull in that supports all these "free cruises"? How much is just from the routine slots etc, and how much is high stakes going on somewhere less obvious?

I don’t know.  I guess we could read the casino provider’s annual reports, if they are public companies.  I assume they profit  a lot.  I have met people who spend thousands of dollars a night on the ship.  Many luxury lines do not have casinos and so there are many very wealthy, gambling clients on HAL and other mass market ships.
 

I think some of this inventory is given to past cruisers for a variety of reasons outside of gambling.  I am a very limited gambler, on my last 35 day cruise my entire gambling charges were less than $250.  I think my complimentary “casino” rate is for a problem I encountered.  DH, on the other hand, thoroughly enjoys the casino and gets frequent discounts, not so many freebies tho.  

Edited September 6, 2023 by Mary229

[DaveOKC]

1 hour ago, OlsSalt said:

How much money does the casino pull in that supports all these "free cruises"? How much is just from the routine slots etc, and how much is high stakes going on somewhere less obvious?

Of course none of us gambling cruisers know the profitability of the casino and how they can give away all these free cruises.  However, remember that it costs HAL little to fill up a "slow selling" cruise with people who likely will spend freely in the casino and on other ship board items (an empty cabin generates no dollars). 

 

Further, while some people report that they spend small amounts in the casino and still get free or deeply discounted cabins, IMO there are many more people who spend ALOT in the casino and more than pay for their "free cruise".  Its just that you seldom hear about this side of the equation!  As they say about Vegas, "these casinos were not built by people winning".

[retiredyoungLV]

I'm not a slots player, but I'd play some if I thought it would get me a casino deal. Does anyone have any information on what I'd need to spend?

 

[DaveOKC]

18 minutes ago, retiredyoungLV said:

I'm not a slots player, but I'd play some if I thought it would get me a casino deal. Does anyone have any information on what I'd need to spend?

 

No one can give you an exact idea on this, but it is likely more than you think.  It is based on your "play" not how much you win or lose - its how much money you put through the machines.  IMO, you should never play the slots (or any gambling) in order to earn "comps" like free cabins.  If you enjoy the gambling for its entertainment value and stay within your entertainment budget, fine.  If you get an offer later, consider it a bonus.  

[Real NHDOC]

In a slap in the face to all of us who worked to earn priority boarding through the mariner program or who pay for a neptune suite it now seems like casino guests are given priority boarding in addition to their steeply discounted or free fares! This was at our embarkation today in Copenhagen and resulted in combining the typical priority boarding with Casino guests in one line for check in. 

Edited September 6, 2023 by Real NHDOC

[Tampa Girl]

16 hours ago, AryMay said:

We just booked a B2B cruise using a casino rate...our first time for getting an offer. Not sure why we even got the offer since we are never in the casino.

 

I was a little annoyed that even though I have documentation showing we should get both the AARP and Educator credits that our PCC said he couldn't see that they were available. He spoke to a supervisor and called me back and said there was a "glitch" in the system. He asked me to send in proof that we qualify and he will "work on it". 

 

Does using a casino rate disqualify us from other offers? 

 

It is my understanding, from having booked three "special rate, i.e. casino, etc.) cruises, that you cannot combine additional discounts such as Carnival, Veterans,  Educator, etc.  Considering that those discounts are usually only $100 each and the special rate is worth considerable more, the loss of the discounts is worth it.

[DaveOKC]

18 minutes ago, Tampa Girl said:

 

It is my understanding, from having booked three "special rate, i.e. casino, etc.) cruises, that you cannot combine additional discounts such as Carnival, Veterans,  Educator, etc.  Considering that those discounts are usually only $100 each and the special rate is worth considerable more, the loss of the discounts is worth it.

Normally this is correct, but sometimes its a close deal.  Depends alot on the cabin category and the length of the cruise.  We tend to book the higher priced categories with these casino deals so our savings easily offset the missing OBCs.

[AryMay]

35 minutes ago, Tampa Girl said:

 

It is my understanding, from having booked three "special rate, i.e. casino, etc.) cruises, that you cannot combine additional discounts such as Carnival, Veterans,  Educator, etc.  Considering that those discounts are usually only $100 each and the special rate is worth considerable more, the loss of the discounts is worth it.

In our case we booked an obstructed ocean view cabin under a private fare offer (which we have done in the past and gotten extra OBC…educator and shareholder.) The casino discount then lowered the price another 15%. Since the fare was pretty low to start with, the extra 15% savings was less than what the OBC would have been. 

And doing a mock online booking said the AARP credit was applied to the reservation. Not sure why our PCC can’t add it when he handled the actual booking. 

 

[Banditswife]

We don't spend a bunch in the casino, but get the "free guarantee inside" offers.  I think it is a matter of filling the ships.  We still pay port fees, taxes, gratuities, shore x, & beverages on the ship.  We rarely make complaints & are good revenue source due to our onboard spending.  The inside cabins are probably harder to fill, & they might be hoping we upgrade the cabin for a fee.  We do spend time in the casino & get to know the casino hosts. Most of the offers are for unpopular cruises, like 7 day Caribbean or Mexico.  I was truly shocked that we got an offer for a holiday cruise this year-16 days.

Keep in mind, we still need to purchase airfare & incur other expenses.  All these offers have required us to make full payment at time of booking.

As long as they send the offers, we will continue to book them.

 

[OlsSalt]

3 hours ago, Real NHDOC said:

In a slap in the face to all of us who worked to earn priority boarding through the mariner program or who pay for a neptune suite it now seems like casino guests are given priority boarding in addition to their steeply discounted or free fares! This was at our embarkation today in Copenhagen and resulted in combining the typical priority boarding with Casino guests in one line for check in. 

 

Looks like they are competing with the Chinese passenger gambling ships - big business in the Far East. Malaysian Star Cruise lines built their own docks and port attractions.

[Laminator]

4 hours ago, Real NHDOC said:

In a slap in the face to all of us who worked to earn priority boarding through the mariner program or who pay for a neptune suite it now seems like casino guests are given priority boarding in addition to their steeply discounted or free fares! This was at our embarkation today in Copenhagen and resulted in combining the typical priority boarding with Casino guests in one line for check in. 

These are only used for special casino event cruises like a slot tournament cruise. 

[Laminator]

16 hours ago, OlsSalt said:

How much money does the casino pull in that supports all these "free cruises"? How much is just from the routine slots etc, and how much is high stakes going on somewhere less obvious?

Obviously quite a bit as they will be expanding the casino on the NS at drydock and they are also in the process of offering sports betting. 

[horseymike]

14 hours ago, retiredyoungLV said:

I'm not a slots player, but I'd play some if I thought it would get me a casino deal. Does anyone have any information on what I'd need to spend?

 

Everything you have 🤣

only kidding.

hope you land a good deal on a great cruise.

[horseymike]

4 hours ago, Real NHDOC said:

In a slap in the face to all of us who worked to earn priority boarding through the mariner program or who pay for a neptune suite it now seems like casino guests are given priority boarding in addition to their steeply discounted or free fares! This was at our embarkation today in Copenhagen and resulted in combining the typical priority boarding with Casino guests in one line for check in. 

Follow the $$$$$$$