SoFlaAtty

Apologies, but my account was affected, so had to create this one. Same South Florida Attorney. Just a name change.

Which holiday event? The Jingle and Mingle?

I am going to it but on December 14th, onboard the Independence OTS. From what I hear, there will be a white elephant gift party for CR members.

Royal Caribbean Dude,

I am curious as to whether you can provide some clarification as to how the casino deals with providing OBC or free play to players earning a lot of points in a specific cruise.

For example, I have read posts where players had different experiences earning points toward Prime/Signature/Masters levels, and being contacted by (or asking) the casino host for OBC for say 5000 points. Some received $20 OBC/free play per 1000 points, others got more, less or nothing.

Tyia!!!

seasidemama,

Thanks. I understand. I could not expect to be able to double dip, and use points a second time.

However, say you opt after the first night to use 5,000 points for free play, and then earn another 5000+ points on subsequent nights. Those are separately and independently eligible for use as OBC or free play?

Finally, did you have to raise this issue to the casino host, or did he/she approach you?

Thank you.

EDIT: I just saw your comment regarding this conversation with the casino host. Sorry I missed it before.

31 minutes ago, seasidemama said:

 

When I went up to the host on the last night of the cruise for my certificate - they told me I am eligible for OBC at a rate of $20/1000 points.  The points remained for purposes of calculating my tier and instant certificate.  They did not zero out my points in order for me to cash out the OBC.

 

I also mentioned that you can convert them to either OBC or freeplay - I chose OBC. 

 

Maybe we're talking about two different things?

seasidemama,

So that I am 100% following you, you kept all accrued points, but the casino host “additionally” provided you OBC at the rate of $20 per 1000 points earned?

The points were not forfeited, nor reduced?

Did you approach the host to inquire, or did they notify you?

Tyia!!!

10 minutes ago, pcakes122 said:

I love the fact that Royal is very upfront about what you need to earn a free cruise certificate (NCL doesn't have certificates) AND they keep sending offers by mail/email AND they have the website where you can see all your offers in one place!  They are doing all those things right!

 

I prefer NCL right now because I usually cruise solo and I can only sail out of NY due to mobility issues.  Royal's offers don't have many options out of the Northeast, and although the offers have trade-in values, Royal still charges DOUBLE for solos even for casino players.  (NCL at the top levels does not charge any solo supplement for players.) Also, NCL has alot more cruise options out of NYC.

 

I would love to book more Royal cruises - but those issues are holding me back!

pcakes122,

While RCCL surcharges solo cruisers, the same does not hold true for comped cruise offers. I have a few booked solo, as my DW cannot leave work at those times. No additional charges, and I save on second passengers port fees/taxes, and no prepaid gratuities for her.

Food for your thought

1 minute ago, seasidemama said:

 

Well, compared to others on this forum I am definitely a NOOB to the whole system - so take what I say with a grain of salt.  I have been reading up on the program a lot and have made several inquiries to Club Royal via phone and email about other issues I've been having and am sharing information that I pretty much summarized from all the inquiries... I have been told specifically by Club Royale reps both phone and email that offers take time to update and what I am seeing now is not yet reflective of my cruise from a month ago.  The system has a lag. As far as upping your DW's points - you can only take advantage of it on the same sailing if you use her certificate/offer on the same cruise to upgrade 1 category or take dollars off and only if you are booking on the same offer.  

 

On our next cruise DH will be playing too for the same reason - last cruise he barely got 200 points and that was just because he was bored watching me play all the time and decided to play for an hour on the last night 😉.  We figure next cruise he'll just play a bit every night and get whatever he needs to hit prime so that we have more options going forward.  We don't cruise as often as you - 3 a year, 4 if we're lucky.  Work/kids school schedules and being in the NE = don't have the luxury of hopping on a weekend cruise unfortunately.

 

If you have that many booked - and you are able to get 4,800 per cruise which is NOT easy if you stick to BJ given you do 3 nighters - you will at least get the balcony certificate each time so you could keep cruising in balconies forever (or as long as you can keep it up) 😆

 

Did you get your OBC based on your play? 5,000 points will get you $100 off your bill automatically ($20/every 1,000 points) but you have to ask for it.

Grew up in Boston suburb. Moved to South Florida after completed school. Been here for 30+ years. Still practicing law, some day I will figure it out, stop practicing, retire, and book even more cruises since we live so close to the Port of Miami and Port Everglades.

I only accrued so many points in the last cruise because I was willing to see what points could be accrued playing slots. But it cost. Slots provide more points than blackjack and craps for a reason.

I did not know about earning OBC based upon your ADT (which determines your earned points?).

Please elaborate how you discern your total points during a cruise, and how to best approach the casino host re: OBC.

Also, does using the OBC reduce your points earned?

Tyia!

6 minutes ago, seasidemama said:

 

 

Only thing I would figure is that they are just now sending you offers based on your June/July cruises.  I don't think their system updates all that often for monthly/seasonal offers.  Personally, I would hold off on booking more for a month or two and wait and see if the offers improve.  Slots are easier to earn points as you saw, but play what you like. I would still call and ask.  On your last cruise you earned in 1 night more than the total of each of your previous two cruises - logically offers should improve - but I don't know if there is any logic to it... only thought is lag in system updating.

seasidemama,

I would refrain from any more bookings for awhile, but we have 15 sailings (not all with my DW, 1 with BIL, several solo) starting this Friday, 9/20/19, continuing through the end of March 2020.

DW played slots for the first time this past cruise. Earned 400 points. She is planning on playing slots this coming weekend to earn points, and I may play using her card as well to bump up her points, make Prime, and enhance our future offers and our annual cruise. I should get to Signature with this many sailings before the end of the CR year in March 2020.

Any additional advice for us combined re: CR points and Prime/Signature status is appreciated.

14 minutes ago, seasidemama said:

 

Wow, that DOES sound very inconsistent with what everyone else has been posting, although some people insist there really isn’t any rhyme or reason behind what offers are sent out.  Might you be getting offers based on an earlier sailing because it could be the case that whatever play you had  3.5 weeks ago has not yet factored into whatever offers you are seeing right now as those might have been generated prior to your Club Royale/casino marketing data (or whatever dept. sends these out) being updated from the ship with most recent play?

 

I would call the casino dept. and inquire and specifically mention adt and relatively high point accrual for short cruise... 

seasidemama,

First RCCL cruise since 2015, was 4/21/19 sailing in Quantum (Shanghai). Just under 4300 points on 5 night cruise playing blackjack. Free cruise certificate (interior/$500) and Prime status. Offers followed starting nearly 3-3.5 weeks later, mainly oceanview cabins, some balconies.

Second cruise, Navigator (Miami), 6/21/19, 3 nights weekend cruise, only 2100 points playing blackjack. Offers continued but mixed oceanview and balconies, some junior suites, but cannot sail 7+ days due to work.

Next cruise, Navigator, 7/29/19, 4 nights, just under 3800 points, playing blackjack. Offers now primarily balconies, some oceanview cabins and a few junior suites.

Most recent cruise, onboard Navigator, 8/23/19, 3 nights, weekend, blackjack, craps and Dancing Drums slot machine. 5600+ points. Offers declined to primarily Interior cabins, some oceanview (no balconies nor junior suites).

I truly cannot figure out the pattern, or if there is one.

That’s why I am seeking information from others here.

seasidemama,

Thank you for your feedback.

Unfortunately, after our last cruise 3.5 weeks ago, the offers received from CR have gone from balconies and junior suites, to solely interior and oceanview. This despite my earning 4000+ points on last night on slot machine, and 1800+ points the prior 2 nights on blackjack and craps.

I am thoroughly confused as to why my offers went downward in quality when I earned over 5800 points on a 3 night, weekend cruise.

54 minutes ago, seasidemama said:

 

I know this was directed at another poster, but just to throw theoreticals around, if you're looking at most cruises being 7 nights and taking that as a base, if you would aim at hitting signature on a 7 night for an ADT that would get you noticed then the math would be as follows:

 

25,000/7 = 3,572 points per night

 

I don't work for the casino dept, but I think that if you're hitting 4,000 points/night regardless of the length of the cruise you should be getting GS comps easily. (not the instant certificate  on the short sailing but future offers.)

 

Now the experts will chime in 😉

7 hours ago, pcakes122 said:

Not true at all.  Offers are made based on ADT, not level.  I am Signature and my offers are very different from other Signature players.  We've compared notes on other forums.

pcakes122,

Do you mainly play tables games? If so, which ones, and how much per hand? Hours per day?

Slots? If so, at $5+ per round? How long?

I am trying to wrap my head around how to maximize offers. I am Prime status. I was primarily (and before this last cruise, solely was) playing blackjack ($100+) per hand, then tried craps last cruise ($25/30 place bets min, up to $100/$120 when pushing).

Finally played Dancing Drums the last night of that cruise. I won 1 $1,400+ handpay, but ended feeding a net $2,500 to the casino for craps plays. However, got over 4,000 points that night for slot play.

I ask your games and levels, solely for informational purposes. I hope that I am not offending you.

I am heading back for a weekend cruise this coming weekend, and would like to process this information, to optimize my expected CR points/offers results.

I would kill for $1,400 and $1,500 TIV’s!!!

At 15,800+ points, but received $500 and $600 TIV’s on those 2 most recent offers. 

PS - My holiday offers carried a $750 TIV.

5 hours ago, seasidemama said:

that $1,500 is nice! Strange how it shows the junior suite as $1,250 and then Balcony at $1,400...

Nearly every offer has different cabin categories, and trade-in values all over the map, from $0 to $1,500 (+???).

discru,

Was hoping to meet up with some other CC posters onboard the 9/1 (oops, now 9/4) Allure OTS sailing, but alas poor Dorian.... Cancelled reservation this past Friday. Nephew could not make this cruise (comped by Club Royale).  

Best regards from Broward County, FL.