beta98beta

Not sure if they keep track of how much you lose. I don't think they do. .

They are supposed to so you can request win loss statements for the IRS at the end of the year. You need those loss statements to lower your tax burden and offset any big winnings you may have had from the lottery or other stateside casinos during the year.

Do you guys that are getting comp cabins, play slots, table games, both? Where is the majority of your time spent?

 

I hate to whine but I spent lots of time in casino. Late night after dw goes to bed. I usually close the casino late night. And I've never gotten any comps. :(. But I only play blackjack or three card! I wonder if that makes a difference. My gut tells me they are not that good at tracking table players yet.

I usually close the casino too, most night they come tell me I have to leave, LOL, but I only play penny slots. I limit myself to $100 a day of my own money, if I win can I can play off the money I win as long as I feel comfortable doing so. Since I mostly do 7 day cruises, I have to make sure I stay under $800 out of pocket. On longer cruises I will lower to $40 of my own and just hope I win some to play longer. Last year I left with enough winnings to cover the cost of my cruise so perhaps they want it back...

It's true that you must jump on these offers as soon as you get them. We got an extended balcony midship on the Legend and only have a 20-25 minute drive to the port. My wife waited a couple of days before calling so we will never know what might have been available had she called sooner.

Seem like the Legend is a popular one. I took the Sunshine out of New Orleans but all they head remaining was inside cabins on the floor below Lido deck. It will be my 1st time in an inside cabin (always do aft extended balconies) but hey it was FREE so I'm not complaining. I needed New Orleans to avoid travel costs (can drive) and the time of year (week before Christmas) worked well work wise. So I'm happy but would have loved a balcony since that is what I normally roll with. But as my roommate said, how much time do we spend in the cabin and she is right. Last year we had our normal balcony aft cabin and used it twice for about 30 minutes each time. I think the hard part will be not knowing what the weather is like when I get up in the morning, but can always turn on the tv and look at the ship's camera for that.

Like the others on my cruise last year I did enough to get the drink card by the second night, won decent the 3rd night and played off of those winnings my last 4 nights on penny slots. No big spender here either. However I do always use the casino on every cruise, always use my card, always call the players club before I go to make sure they know I will be on board, and usually allow myself a $40 - $100 a day limit.... depending on if I'm winning. For example, if I win $800 I may give $200 back in play that day.

Forgot to mention port charges / taxes were $89 PP for the 7 day cruise to Jamaica, Mexico and Grand Cayman... really you can't beat that for any type of cabin..

It doesn't matter to me but there are differences. I did FTTF this past October and loved it and then went on another cruise in Dec as a platinum. With FTTF you don't get to go to the VIP lounge before boarding which I thought was very nice. You also don't get free laundry or the chocolate strawberries delieved to you cabin or the gift. Loved FTTF but like being platinum even better......

If you spend a lot gambling in the casino you get these things too.. well at least at the New Orleans port. On my last cruise my cabin mate was shocked at the perks we got. Every night some other gift was delivered from chocolate strawberries (delivered twice) to free spirits in the casino (all can get this after so many points on the slot machinces) to badge holder, free picture coupons, etc. The last night they found me in the casino (how they knew I was in there was beyond me... goes to show they see everything on those ships) and gave me a 40% off my next cruise coupon. One lady gambled so much they gave her a FREE cruise, I'm thinking she must have been gambling thousands a day and probably had paid for that cruise many times over, LOL.

Anyway a lot people don't know about the gamblers perks so just thought I would mention it. You have to join the Ocean Players club before your cruise to get the most benefit of it all. you can google it.

Carnival Destiny, 1995... to this day I STILL feel it was the best cruise we have ever been on. Perhaps the Panama Canal on HAL will surpass... we will see. So much has changed since the 90's... I wish some things that cruiselines used to do would come back in vogue but I know some never will due to security reasons, for instance bon voyage parties with none cruising guests.