Casino Discount explained to me by HAL

Yes, you can put in cash but I thought you needed to use the card to cash out? Do they still print the receipt to take to the cashier? I have been using my card the last couple of cruises for all the slots I have played.

Yes, there is a printed receipt to take to the cashier to cash out. One time DH forgot to cash out at the end of the cruise (we obviously weren't on the winning side of the ledger), and a month later received a cheque in the mail for $12.

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

I must be losing my mind! I cannot remember getting a ticket, just left everything on my card (account) anbased casid then cashed out on the last day. I honestly thought that there were no tickets. Obviously, I've missed something.

I have never seen receipts on HAL ships either. Just downloaded credits to my cabin card and take that to cashier. Land based casinos do have receipts.

We received a 30% discount last week on the HAL website, after entering our mariner numbers, on a cruise I have been watching. It was already an excellent price and I was planning to proceed in the near future so the so called casino discount prompted me to act immediately. Perhaps that was the goal. I played the slots on an Alaskan cruise last summer with $20 and won back $16 so it was hardly a 'win' for HAL.

It has been confirmed to me now that waiting to within six weeks of the sail date is worth it in most situations. But we're not fussy about which cabin, so I think that makes a difference to some.

I may have been asked for my card at the tables but I don't really recall it happening; I think I would have remembered. Will pay more attention next time.

We don't even wait to be asked anymore. Once the cash goes on the table, our card goes right on top. This ensures 'registration' of our play every time.

Inasmuch as bingo is charged to the casino and doesn't qualify toward mariner days sailed, do you get casino credit for playing bingo (We play bingo most sea days)? Although not close to daily, we've been known to drop a few into the slots, tables, and poker tournaments. Our next cruise is 40 days so it would be prohibitive to hit the casino daily, but a 30% discount on a cruise would be oh so nice.

Our Casino credit came on a cruise I had checked on the HAL site a few times (after logging in). Maybe the computer bots pick up that we're interested. Also, I saw that a week later all categories of cabins were sold out so perhaps it's something that is done to sell out the rest at time for the cruise nears (4 weeks now)

Inasmuch as bingo is charged to the casino and doesn't qualify toward mariner days sailed, do you get casino credit for playing bingo (We play bingo most sea days)? Although not close to daily, we've been known to drop a few into the slots, tables, and poker tournaments. Our next cruise is 40 days so it would be prohibitive to hit the casino daily, but a 30% discount on a cruise would be oh so nice.

Now that is an interesting question. I play Bingo too but also do the casino. If it does count as a casino charge, I wonder if it counts? Whenever the charge has been on my account it just says "Bingo" so I didn't know if it was a casino charge or not?

I want to add that there is another reason you want your card inserted. IF you win enough to have to pay taxes on it you would probably want HALs win-lost statement.

Posting disclaimer: never ever EVER have I've seen a jackpot hit on a cruise. But, apparently jackpots, just like skittle pooping unicorns, must exist somewhere in our universe.

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Inasmuch as bingo is charged to the casino and doesn't qualify toward mariner days sailed, do you get casino credit for playing bingo (We play bingo most sea days)? Although not close to daily, we've been known to drop a few into the slots, tables, and poker tournaments. Our next cruise is 40 days so it would be prohibitive to hit the casino daily, but a 30% discount on a cruise would be oh so nice.

Hey Ed! How are you and your lovely wife? As you know, I tend to play bingo but I don't play in the casino. I don't think that bingo is charged to the casino. In our experience, bingo does count towards cruise day credits. When we were close to 4 Star status, I carefully calculated our costs so that we would get enough credits to get the required 200 days. Bingo on sea days factored into that calculation, and it worked.

Hey Ed! How are you and your lovely wife? As you know, I tend to play bingo but I don't play in the casino. I don't think that bingo is charged to the casino. In our experience, bingo does count towards cruise day credits. When we were close to 4 Star status, I carefully calculated our costs so that we would get enough credits to get the required 200 days. Bingo on sea days factored into that calculation, and it worked.

I wonder if slot play does too?

I wonder if slot play does too?

According to the HAL website:

Are any onboard charges excluded from the onboard purchases bonus?

All casino charges, cash advances, Future Cruise deposits, and associated fees are excluded. All other onboard purchases, for example, Hotel Service Charge, Beverage Service Charge, taxes, shore excursions and all gift items purchased online or through Ship Services count towards bonus Cruise Day credits.

According to the HAL website:

 

 

Are any onboard charges excluded from the onboard purchases bonus?

 

All casino charges, cash advances, Future Cruise deposits, and associated fees are excluded. All other onboard purchases, for example, Hotel Service Charge, Beverage Service Charge, taxes, shore excursions and all gift items purchased online or through Ship Services count towards bonus Cruise Day credits.

Got it. So I shall purchase my casino $$ with a gift item. Thank you!

Got it. So I shall purchase my casino $$ with a gift item. Thank you!

Not sure if that would work, but you can always try it and report back afterwards to all of us on this board.

I’m currently having a bizarre experience with one of my own casino offers. I received a casino-rate email with great offers including a $249 (interior) for a 17-day Circle Hawaii on Eurodam on September 30, embarking in Seattle and disembarking in Vancouver, BC. Since I live north of Seattle (one of the ONLY coastal cities without mass transit) I actually prefer to cruise out of Vancouver. Believe it or not it’s actually cheaper and easier for me to get to Vancouver than it is for me to get to the Smith Cove terminal in Seattle. But I digress.

The truth is that after departing Seattle, Eurodam stops in Vancouver to BEGIN the 16-day Circle Hawaii cruise. The Seattle-to-Vancouver portion at the start of the cruise that I was offered is just a little 1-day segment, presumably a booze-cruise junket for corporate folks.

Well, in addition to the fact that I prefer to cruise out of Vancouver, I really ** HATE ** segmented cruises for many of the reasons mentioned by folks on other threads here.

So I called my terrific HAL PCC and told him that I’d like to do that cruise but wanted to embark in Vancouver. I’d actually be voluntarily shortening my cruise by one day, essentially donating an extra cabin for a corporate soul who might want to do the junket.

But my PCC told me that if I wanted to embark in Vancouver I’d have to pay the full price that is published on the site (which already has my “normal” casino discount plugged in). But the special casino offers that arrive via email are to be used EXACTLY as they are printed and my PCC says that he is powerless to change them.

Doesn’t make any sense, does it? The 16-day cruise would cost me about $1400 MORE than the 17-day cruise (I'm solo and have to pay the supplement). Whatever, my PCC says he’ll try to do some calling around at corporate and see if there’s any way it can be modified but he doesn’t hold out much hope.

Not sure if that would work, but you can always try it and report back afterwards to all of us on this board.

I would suspect that since your ID# is connected to the casino rate program, that any purchase of a gift relating to the casino would not work. But DaveOKC says it is worth a try and hope you would report back.:confused:

Most of the responses here have been from CCers who have be relatively lucky, but keep in mind these offers of perks to land Casino's or on a ship, none of them would be offered if there weren't more than enough gamblers who were donating to make the offers profitable for the Casino. Sooner or later then figure you will donate. I am a discouraged gambler, unfortunately (fortunately actually) I have donated most often but not enough for them to offer me any perks. So I think I am even.

I’m currently having a bizarre experience with one of my own casino offers. I received a casino-rate email with great offers including a $249 (interior) for a 17-day Circle Hawaii on Eurodam on September 30, embarking in Seattle and disembarking in Vancouver, BC. Since I live north of Seattle (one of the ONLY coastal cities without mass transit) I actually prefer to cruise out of Vancouver. Believe it or not it’s actually cheaper and easier for me to get to Vancouver than it is for me to get to the Smith Cove terminal in Seattle. But I digress.

 

The truth is that after departing Seattle, Eurodam stops in Vancouver to BEGIN the 16-day Circle Hawaii cruise. The Seattle-to-Vancouver portion at the start of the cruise that I was offered is just a little 1-day segment, presumably a booze-cruise junket for corporate folks.

 

Well, in addition to the fact that I prefer to cruise out of Vancouver, I really ** HATE ** segmented cruises for many of the reasons mentioned by folks on other threads here.

 

So I called my terrific HAL PCC and told him that I’d like to do that cruise but wanted to embark in Vancouver. I’d actually be voluntarily shortening my cruise by one day, essentially donating an extra cabin for a corporate soul who might want to do the junket.

 

But my PCC told me that if I wanted to embark in Vancouver I’d have to pay the full price that is published on the site (which already has my “normal” casino discount plugged in). But the special casino offers that arrive via email are to be used EXACTLY as they are printed and my PCC says that he is powerless to change them.

 

Doesn’t make any sense, does it? The 16-day cruise would cost me about $1400 MORE than the 17-day cruise (I'm solo and have to pay the supplement). Whatever, my PCC says he’ll try to do some calling around at corporate and see if there’s any way it can be modified but he doesn’t hold out much hope.

Casino rate offers are for limited sailings.

Even the discounts don't always apply on all cruises.

Doesn't always make sense, but that's the way it is as I understand it.

Not sure if that would work, but you can always try it and report back afterwards to all of us on this board.

Will do!

I would suspect that since your ID# is connected to the casino rate program, that any purchase of a gift relating to the casino would not work. But DaveOKC says it is worth a try and hope you would report back.:confused:

Hmm. Good point. Maybe I'll just buy OBC and see if that works. I'll let you know!

I’m currently having a bizarre experience with one of my own casino offers. I received a casino-rate email with great offers including a $249 (interior) for a 17-day Circle Hawaii on Eurodam on September 30, embarking in Seattle and disembarking in Vancouver, BC. Since I live north of Seattle (one of the ONLY coastal cities without mass transit) I actually prefer to cruise out of Vancouver. Believe it or not it’s actually cheaper and easier for me to get to Vancouver than it is for me to get to the Smith Cove terminal in Seattle. But I digress.

 

The truth is that after departing Seattle, Eurodam stops in Vancouver to BEGIN the 16-day Circle Hawaii cruise. The Seattle-to-Vancouver portion at the start of the cruise that I was offered is just a little 1-day segment, presumably a booze-cruise junket for corporate folks.

 

Well, in addition to the fact that I prefer to cruise out of Vancouver, I really ** HATE ** segmented cruises for many of the reasons mentioned by folks on other threads here.

 

So I called my terrific HAL PCC and told him that I’d like to do that cruise but wanted to embark in Vancouver. I’d actually be voluntarily shortening my cruise by one day, essentially donating an extra cabin for a corporate soul who might want to do the junket.

 

But my PCC told me that if I wanted to embark in Vancouver I’d have to pay the full price that is published on the site (which already has my “normal” casino discount plugged in). But the special casino offers that arrive via email are to be used EXACTLY as they are printed and my PCC says that he is powerless to change them.

 

Doesn’t make any sense, does it? The 16-day cruise would cost me about $1400 MORE than the 17-day cruise (I'm solo and have to pay the supplement). Whatever, my PCC says he’ll try to do some calling around at corporate and see if there’s any way it can be modified but he doesn’t hold out much hope.

I totally get why you'd prefer to embark in Vancouver. Let us know if they let you modify it!

Hey Ed! How are you and your lovely wife? As you know, I tend to play bingo but I don't play in the casino. I don't think that bingo is charged to the casino. In our experience, bingo does count towards cruise day credits. When we were close to 4 Star status, I carefully calculated our costs so that we would get enough credits to get the required 200 days. Bingo on sea days factored into that calculation, and it worked.

I guess this is another example of HAL inconsistency. We used the same strategy a few cruises ago. When we got home we noticed that we did not get cruise day credits for our bingo expenditures which would have boosted us to**** . A call to Holland (I believe Mariner Society) told us that bingo expenditures were considered casino spending and therefore did not qualify toward sea days. A plus was that "had" to book another cruise to get to that level (the last one that we were on together). I'm glad that you were able to get the credit, but I guess any excuse for another cruise works. Take care and hope to meet up on another dam ship with you and mom.

I think my experiment may have worked to generate casino pricing! I am logged into the HAL site and happened to see "**This special pricing is not available to the general public." For those who are familiar with these rates.... is this what you see when you are logged in, or does it specifically state that it's a casino rate?

Mind you, it could just be part of the special pricing mailings I randomly receive.

And I sincerely wish auto-correct would stop changing my words.

I think my experiment may have worked to generate casino pricing! I am logged into the HAL site and happened to see "**This special pricing is not available to the general public." For those who are familiar with these rates.... is this what you see when you are logged in, or does it specifically state that it's a casino rate?

 

Mind you, it could just be part of the special pricing mailings I randomly receive.

 

And I sincerely wish auto-correct would stop changing my words.

I have seen this wording on "private sales" from HAL - I do not get casino rates.

I have seen this wording on "private sales" from HAL - I do not get casino rates.

Darn. But I still have hope. There are issues with the mariner credits posting from the sailing so I will check again once they finally appear. Thanks Dave.