Casinos At Sea Ruby / Elite Tier Questions

Any NCL Ruby, Elite or (otherwise very informed :)) players here? I have a few questions about their program; just trying to get a hold on if the program is worth devoting some play to, when that play would otherwise go to land based operations (with much less enticing reward programs).

• I've seen that the OBC for Ruby is $400, but I can't find any info about the OBC for Elite.
  
• If two players share a stateroom, does the OBC apply twice?
  

• Can OBC be used on a shorter 3 or 4 day sailing? For example, if two Ruby players went on a weekend sailing, would they have $800 to spend freely over those 3 days? Is there a limit to how many times you can take advantage of this perk?
  
• Is the free internet package usable across multiple devices?
  
• Are the waived service charges for elite applicable to only the $14 per day gratuity, or are UBP and UDP service charges also waived?
  
• What is the difference between a "Premium" drink and a "Ultra" drink? Can you order these at the casino bar, or must you be playing at the time you order a drink?
  
• Has anyone of Ruby or Elite status been offered a complimentary or highly discounted Haven room?
  

I just returned from a cruise as a Sapphire level so I can't answer all of these questions but I've tried on a couple of them. As Sapphire I received $200 non-refundable OBC plus had another couple hundred of my other charges for food/gift shop purchases comped by CAS at the end of the cruise.

Ultra drinks in the casino covered drinks like Mudslides when we didn't have the UBP. (Normal drink cards are for 'well drinks'.) I was also able to get cans of un-opened diet Pepsi to take to our cabin. We never asked for any 'top-shelf' drinks but perhaps others will have information for you.

As for getting a Haven type room comped, your offered cabin has more to do with what they believe you will gamble on a single cruise. (Actual loss or theoretical loss.) If someone reaches a higher status in 4 cruises over the earning period they will probably be offered a lower cabin type than someone who qualified for that tier on one cruise. For example, I reached Sapphire while cruising four times in the year. When I returned from each of those cruises I was offered oceanview (1) and balconies (3 times).

NCL's internet usage works on more than one device, but I would guess only one device would be logged on at a time. We don't really use much while on a cruise but do have a 60 minutes each as Plat Plus. (Perhaps someone else has tried it?) For the internet Ruby or Elite benefit, you can see the

information below the chart on this page for #6:

https://www.ncl.com/why-cruise-norwegian/casino-cruise/players-club

Any NCL Ruby, Elite or (otherwise very informed :)) players here? I have a few questions about their program; just trying to get a hold on if the program is worth devoting some play to, when that play would otherwise go to land based operations (with much less enticing reward programs).

 

 

• I've seen that the OBC for Ruby is $400, but I can't find any info about the OBC for Elite. I am not sure
  
• If two players share a stateroom, does the OBC apply twice? Yes players get their own perks/OBC
  

• Can OBC be used on a shorter 3 or 4 day sailing? For example, if two Ruby players went on a weekend sailing, would they have $800 to spend freely over those 3 days? Is there a limit to how many times you can take advantage of this perk? Yes you both receive your tier perks on every cruise during the period of April 1 - March 30 that they have the associated tier
  
• Is the free internet package usable across multiple devices? You can only be logged into 1 device at a time
  
• Are the waived service charges for elite applicable to only the $14 per day gratuity, or are UBP and UDP service charges also waived? No you are confused on the "Service charges". The only ones that are waived are you taking money from your room card or from the cage. It does not apply to Daily service/UDP/UBP service charges.
  
• What is the difference between a "Premium" drink and a "Ultra" drink? Can you order these at the casino bar, or must you be playing at the time you order a drink? The brands. Also I have been given drinks while watching other players/waiting for a machine or a seat, I tip every drink so I get offered drinks every 5 minutes lol
  
• Has anyone of Ruby or Elite status been offered a complimentary or highly discounted Haven room? Yes I have been comped Haven cabins when Golden/Saphhire
  

Answers above.

I just returned from a cruise as a Sapphire level so I can't answer all of these questions but I've tried on a couple of them. As Sapphire I received $200 non-refundable OBC plus had another couple hundred of my other charges for food/gift shop purchases comped by CAS at the end of the cruise.

 

Ultra drinks in the casino covered drinks like Mudslides when we didn't have the UBP. (Normal drink cards are for 'well drinks'.) I was also able to get cans of un-opened diet Pepsi to take to our cabin. We never asked for any 'top-shelf' drinks but perhaps others will have information for you.

 

As for getting a Haven type room comped, your offered cabin has more to do with what they believe you will gamble on a single cruise. (Actual loss or theoretical loss.) If someone reaches a higher status in 4 cruises over the earning period they will probably be offered a lower cabin type than someone who qualified for that tier on one cruise. For example, I reached Sapphire while cruising four times in the year. When I returned from each of those cruises I was offered oceanview (1) and balconies (3 times).

 

NCL's internet usage works on more than one device, but I would guess only one device would be logged on at a time. We don't really use much while on a cruise but do have a 60 minutes each as Plat Plus. (Perhaps someone else has tried it?) For the internet Ruby or Elite benefit, you can see the

information below the chart on this page for #6:

https://www.ncl.com/why-cruise-norwegian/casino-cruise/players-club

Thanks Sand and Seas. Regarding the OBC, do you happen to know if it is usable in the on-board liquor store? If both cruise guests have Sapphire or Ruby, it seems like that'd be an excellent way to stock up on a home liquor collection with a short 3-day cruise.

As for the ADT vs. Actual loss, I wonder if cruise lines are similar to land based casinos in that they look at ADT based on how many days you played, or if they have a different metric, that divides the total amount of play by the total duration of the cruise in days. So for example, if in a single day you play 20,000 coin in at 5% house edge = $1,000 expected loss = $143 "ADT" based on a 7 day cruise duration. We might need an insider to answer this one, because if the standard ADT applies, I'd definitely focus all of my play into the days at sea, and not play at all on port / embark days.

Answers above.

Casino Comp Chick, thank you for your insight.

Regarding the service charges for Elite, it seems the way they word it on the perks list is a bit confusing. They state:

"Service charges waived for 1st and 2nd guest on sailings up to 12 days."

It's seems a bit odd that they'd waive the room key funding charges only up to 12 day sailings, and for 2 guests, not just the guest with status.

There are also other perks titled:

Convenience Fee Waived

Cash Advance Fees Waived

Which are more appropriately titled for that type of charge.

To my knowledge, the non-refundable OBC is good for everything except paying your DSC. I used mine for restaurants and gift shop so I would think buying liquor wouldn't be a problem. Excursions and Photos would work too.

I don't think it's like ADT regarding days played. Rather its based on your Actual or Theoretical loss during the entire cruise. When we go to Vegas, we plan our play being aware they are looking at ADT.

I had a pretty good conversation with one of the CAS agents two years ago and came up with the following regarding one week cruises from my notes. Of course it also depends on the popularity of a certain ship/cruise/season:

Actual or Theo loss of

Inside Cabin- 2500 to 3000

OceanView- 3000 to 3500

Balcony - 3500 to 7000 (so many types of balconies!)

MiniSuite - 7000 and up

Suite- starting at 8000 and up

Based on this, I've tried playing differently my last couple of cruises. I used to play all video poker, but as we all know you get less points plus the play-tables/odds on the ship are the worst. Now I've started playing more slots and my points per cruise are much higher and apparently my theoretical has dramatically increased (in relation to $$ played). I'm now getting offered balconies instead of Insides/Ocean-views. Last two cruises playing mostly slots I've earned about 10,000 points per cruise. When I played all video poker I would earn about 5000 or 6000 points per cruise.

To my knowledge, the non-refundable OBC is good for everything except paying your DSC. I used mine for restaurants and gift shop so I would think buying liquor wouldn't be a problem. Excursions and Photos would work too.

 

I don't think it's like ADT regarding days played. Rather its based on your Actual or Theoretical loss during the entire cruise. When we go to Vegas, we plan our play being aware they are looking at ADT.

 

I had a pretty good conversation with one of the CAS agents two years ago and came up with the following regarding one week cruises from my notes. Of course it also depends on the popularity of a certain ship/cruise/season:

Actual or Theo loss of

Inside Cabin- 2500 to 3000

OceanView- 3000 to 3500

Balcony - 3500 to 7000 (so many types of balconies!)

MiniSuite - 7000 and up

Suite- starting at 8000 and up

 

Based on this, I've tried playing differently my last couple of cruises. I used to play all video poker, but as we all know you get less points plus the play-tables/odds on the ship are the worst. Now I've started playing more slots and my points per cruise are much higher and apparently my theoretical has dramatically increased (in relation to $$ played). I'm now getting offered balconies instead of Insides/Ocean-views. Last two cruises playing mostly slots I've earned about 10,000 points per cruise. When I played all video poker I would earn about 5000 or 6000 points per cruise.

Great insider tips there from your conversation w/the CAS agent. I'm pretty much an exclusive blackjack player, so I'd imagine it'll be extremely tough for me to rack up anywhere near the 10,000 points you get per cruise via slots. I have a cruise port very close to me, so I'm mainly hoping for return sailing offers, but having some guaranteed on board credit from the Sapphire or Ruby tiers would certainly be nice.

I wonder, do they ever run promotions that give you "bonus" tier points?

I've been cruising with CAS for several years now and haven't heard about any bonus tier offers. I would think they look at offers for table players differently, but you are at the mercy of their tracking system.

The hosts on board are able to comp you some of your on-board charges at the end of the cruise but you have no idea until that last night. I've had some friendly hosts that check in with you several times during the cruise and then others that don't seem to care.....even if I've earned several thousand points:confused: Guess which ones were more generous!

Best advice I've ever gotten here was to call CAS a few days after I've returned from a cruise to get an idea of what they can offer me. Be ready to ask about a certain ship and cruise date and see what they say they can do for you. Might just be a discount on price or could be a comped Inside or Balcony or better. You can also pay upgrade from what they offer you. You don't have to book at that time but it does give you an idea of how they viewed your play. And if you get someone that isn't too friendly to talk to just say thank you, then call back another day to get a someone else.

We have found it a much better deal to take the gambling money we would have played in Vegas to pick up a CET certificate and play those dollars directly on the ship. I still go to Vegas and we maintain SevenStar status with CET but go there less often. I have diverted more of my gambling budget directly to CAS and cruise four times a year. What I might gamble in two days at Vegas I spread out over a seven day cruise. We track what CET gives us each year (including two trips with airfare) and track what CAS gives us. Its possible I'll move up to Ruby with CAS but I won't spend extra dollars to do it. Just finding they give me more Theo per dollar at slots than Video Poker and that is easily giving me the extra points per cruise so far.

Perhaps some other table player with more insight on CAS will chime in and give you particulars on their BlackJack tracking.