pcakes122

This has always been one my favorite Haven perks. 😊

I literally just saw these tipping guidelines quoted on a FB group this week in response to a question about Haven tipping. Even if the intention is not to state them as official guidelines, some people don't fully read the posts and just see the word "guidelines" and run with it (all over the internet lol.)

For three people, according to the posted "guidelines" for a 15-day cruise, you seriously undertipped. Butler = $15 pp/per day = $675 Room Steward = $10 pp/per day = $450 Concierge ($10) & Assistant Concierge ($5) = $15 pp/per day = $675 That's $1,800 in tips WITHOUT restaurant or bar. I actually think your tips were fine, but that's my point about these "guidelines." They are not realistic. (Although i'm sure the crew would love it! Imagine the butler getting that tip from all twelve rooms they service - $8,100 cash ($675 x 12) for 15 days is great!)

The new/potential Haven guest is, specifically, the reason I am even mentioning it. Some folks (perhaps just reading but not posting) may look at these threads when they are considering putting in an upgrade bid. When they think of the amount of $$ they have to bid and then they see here they need to expect to pay $1K or more in tips, they may be discouraged from even bidding. And, to your point about treats, I have had great butlers who have offered anything I'd like in treats (and the casino likes to send stuff, too) but even when traveling with family I have never seen tables filled edge to edge with candy and treats. That is NOT the norm (and I don't begrudge anyone who wants and enjoys having all those treats - but anyone ordering all that stuff and having it replenished is definitely not using their butler an "average" amount.) Again, everyone is welcome to enjoy themselves anyway they'd like and tip alll they want, but my issue is with puporting that to be the "typical" experience and "expected" gratuities.

So based on the "guidelines" an average family of 3 should expect to tip $840 just to butler/room steward/concierge(s) BEFORE restaurant and bar tips? I don't believe that is the average tip that folks are leaving (just ask the staff), and I don't think people should be led to believe that is what is expected of them. Personally, I tip ALOT more than the guidelines to my butler, but I utilize their services ALOT. That said, I wouldn't tell anybody that they are expected to tip what I tip.

With all due respect, Bird (you frequently add alot of value to this forum and thank you for that), it makes me laugh every time you post this in response to ANY Haven tipping question. It is very misleading at minimum. First, the OP stated right up front that they don't anticipate using their butler very frequently. You, on the other hand, have posted dozens of pictures multiple times of more Haven food and treats than I've ever seen. (I am not sure how you eat all that without gaining weight because I think I gain five pounds every time I see your photos lol) You clearly use your butler ALOT. I use my butler alot, too (maybe even more than you), but that's why I don't post what I tip - because people are looking for an "average" and that's not me -- OR you. I only call it out because I believe that you (as a seasoned poster who people look to for guidance) scare people away from the Haven with your tipping guidelines (especially people with kids), because by your standards a family of four could price themselves out of the Haven in excessive tips. Your guidelines are absolutely not the norm for folks who really don't take advantage of their butler (and overly generous even for some that do.)

I'm not sure since I didn't earn one, although if I didn't earn 5K points I'd be surprised - but I always play my points as I go. I asked the host about the CASNext when I was finalizing my folio credit - and here's what he said that makes me think you shouldn't play your points. He said, "if you had 5K points at the end of the cruise, that's worth $50 - but now we can offer you 5x that in a CASNext certificate towards a future cruise. Same with 10K - we can give you 5x the $100 in a certificate." I'd used/spent all my points by then, so I just assumed that's why I didn't get one (and was in a rush so didn't even question it.) Thanks for the good wishes! 😊

Yes, you can use them just like CruiseNext certificates. And thanks! 😊

No, the CASNext certificates don't replace the comp cruises (I've booked 2 comp cruises while I've been onboard.) But my comps used to be Haven, and now all I am offered is Club Balconies. I'm not gambling $10K for a "free" Club Balcony. My Celebrity offer was for The Retreat (their version of the Haven.) I'd rather give them my gambling money at this point 😊.

I'm still cruising, but I did confirm that the CASNext certificates are $250 off a future cruise if you earn 5K points during the cruise, and $500 off for 10K points. The cruise isn't over, but I stopped playing after losing $5K due to all the CAS changes. Sorry, NCL, I am going to add what else I would have played to my gambling $$$ for my June Celebrity cruise (Blue Chip has been good to me although I've heard others have been having issues with them, too!) Btw, the folio comp on my $5K loss is going to be $200 per the host. I hope these new policies work out for NCL lol

The travel agent doesn't make any money from this. Transferring does not benefit the travel agent in any way, it only benefits the traveler. The travel agent has to be part of the American Express travel network (not just any travel agent.) The booking has to be owned by an American Express travel agent to get the perks. CAS is not part of the American Express travel network. (Also, the perks come with the Platinum American Express card only, to my knowledge, so you need to check whether or not this is a benefit of your Delta card.) I stopped doing it only because my American Express travel agent retired and I don't know another one.

People transfer their CAS reservations to travel agents that are part of the American Express system so they can get their American Express platinum perks on the cruise (onboard credit up to $300 and free dinner for two at LeBistro.)

I have done this in the past but not in a long while! Here is the form that I used at the time. PS Let me know if you are able to download! ( I'm trying to do it as a PDF but having technical difficulties lol) NCL Casino Guest Transfer Form.docx

I'll definitely report back! I can say already since the CAS changes, I am no longer being offered Haven comps. I'd been getting regular Haven comps for at least 2 years before the pandemic (cruising 4-6 times a year) and during the pandemic I had received/booked several more. My December Getaway B2B cruises were my last Haven comps (ever, probably.) 😭 My play has not changed but my "certificate offers" are all for mini-suites. My usual folio comps are anywhere from $600-$1,200 so I'm very curious to see what I'm offered. My play IS going to change if the program continues in this direction. My 2023 cruises are mostly Oceania (2), Celebrity (1) FULL Retreat comp and (1) MSC Yacht Club (had to pay to upgrade that one.) NCL will be seeing alot less of me.

I hear you and I agree. I just don't want folks to be afraid to try the Haven or bid on the Haven because they think they are required to pay an additional $1,000 in tips to everyone who works in the Haven. For example, I never tip the Haven Restaurant maitre d' or waitstaff because I never eat in the Haven Restaurant (I'm disabled so I have meals delivered to my cabin.) That said, I utilize my butlers very much and so lately I've been tipping them an average of $50 per day (and I'm alone. ) So it's all very individual, in my opinion.

Just bear in mind that the "suggested" amount is the recommendation of one individual CC poster, not NCL or even a travel agent. You should also factor in how often you utilize the services of each of these people and adjust accordingly (up or down.) Also, for example, a butler services about 12 cabins. At $15 per person/per day with an average cabin occupancy of 3 people, for a 7-day cruise that would mean a single butler gets tipped $3,780 per week in addition to their salary. That is not happening. So again, bear in mind that what you are reading here are just suggestions, not guidelines.

New CAS perk for 2023 (or so we are hearing!) What I have heard is that if you earn 5K points on a single cruise you will earn a $250 CasinoNext certificate at the end of the cruise to be used on a future cruise. If you earn 10K points, you will earn a $500 certificate. I was asking here because I really don't know more about it but I will find out in 2 weeks when I cruise. I'm curious if this certificate will replace the normal folio comps that are usually earned at the ends of the cruise. 🤷‍♀️

I did hear that you could get a $500 CasinoNext for 10K points. I'm cruising in a couple of weeks so I will find out all the info& report back! 😊

The "certificate" is the new CAS system. It's not from a land casino or another company. It's the result of a huge restructure at CAS (which is under new leadership.) They have tried to develop a less manual process that can be accomplished with less-skilled (i.e., lower- paid) team members. The CAS certificates are "pre-approved offers" that do not require the representative to do any calculating or decision making. That's why they must use any pre-approved offer/certificate (that an algorithm has calculated automatically and assigned to your account) if you have one on your account before your play could be considered. If you don't have a pre-approved offer (or "certificate", then they have to consult a supervisor to do the manual review.) The goal is that very few comps will require manual intervention and review. The whole system is an attempt to automate and get rid of people. They let go several seasoned CAS reps in December. ( I may have gotten this information from one of those former reps 😉.) On another note, has anyone used a CasinoNext certificate yet? That sounds like a pretty good deal however I wonder how it is affecting folio comps at the end of the cruise?

Here's 15114 from the Getaway compared to 15100 from the Breakaway (exact dimensions/layout to Getaway.) I can't say whether the balcony goes all the way across in 15100, but I can say that in the accessible cabin it does NOT (it is just a ceiling to floor window.)

Based on your Casinos at Sea tier level you get automatic onboard credit from the casino on every single cruise. Pearl level is $100, Sapphire is $200, Ruby is $400 and Elite is $1,000. Casino OBC is carried forward on B2B cruises. In addition to the automatic OBC, the casino host has the discretion to offer additional onboard credit based on your play and losses during the cruise. I'm not a super high roller by any means, but I do spend significant money in the casino and I usually get around $1K additional OBC at the end of a 7-day cruise. For this, you would have to speak to the casino host on the last cruise day.

Someone else mentioned this but I second the motion. RESELL!! I also get that casino credit plus more at the end of the cruise based on losses. After years of scouring the gift shops for things I might want, I finally got smart and go straight for digital cameras, fine jewelry (e.g., 14K gold, diamonds, etc.) The EFFY brand sold on the ships is widely overpriced but sells great on eBay! I literally just shipped a pair of diamond earrings I got on my December Getaway cruise to an eBay buyer yesterday. Then I take that money and buy something I really want! 😁 PS A tip for the jewelry store. Just go in and say I have OBC from the casino I need to burn and I don't want to pay a cent over the amount. They are very willing to negotiate. On my last cruise I walked in and I had $1280 in OBC to spend. I saw a pair of earrings marked $3K and was offered the shop "sale price" 😉 of $1550. I had told the sales person I didn't want to go over the $1280 so I said sorry no can do and started to walk away. He said wait let me speak with my manager and....you guessed it...mine for $1280. Just sold them on eBay for $1K in real money. (They were on the EFFY website "on sale" (cough) for $1299 so they went fast on eBay.)

Thanks so much! Happy New Year! 🎊🎉😊

Does anyone know if there is a standard upgrade to Yacht Club for MSC casino offers? For example, Inside to YC = $XXXX, Oceanview to Yacht Club = $XXXX, etc. I know on NCL, Celebrity and Royal upgrades to suites are based on the price of the particular cruise, but I'd heard MSC had a standard upgrade fee based on original comp offer? Is this true? Thanks in advance!

People are responding as if you are asking what a CAS offer is, but if I am reading correctly, I don't think that's your question. The answer is yes and no lol. For example, you can book a CAS cruise with NCL and still get American Express Platinum benefits, and you can also transfer your CAS booking to your travel agent (there's a form for that) who may or may not offer additional perks based on your relationship with them (they don't make commission on your CAS booking.) However, you can't say book an NCL casino comp through another site.