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Casino Rate Warnings...


Balliett
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Hi. We've cruised HAL on a casino rate twice. I'm talking only about casino offers coming directly from HAL, not offers from other sources.

 

First warning: Make sure the rate offered cannot be bettered by your travel agent or other discount online cruise offers.

 

Second, if your offer includes freeplay, take your offer letter with you. HAL will have no record of it.

 

Interesting info: HAL casinos are run by Century Casinos Inc, which I think is a part of Carnival. If you play slots or VP, points accrue to your room card at a rate of, I think, one point for $5 played. 1000 points will get you $10 free play. No, drinks are not free.

 

If you book at a casino rate, you may still receive an upgrade, lucky you, and/or an upsell offer.

 

Finally, with a HAL casino rate offer, there is no obligation to play at all. If you receive a wonderful offer, feel free to take it but avoid the casino and go listen to classical music.

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Hi. We've cruised HAL on a casino rate twice. I'm talking only about casino offers coming directly from HAL, not offers from other sources.

 

First warning: Make sure the rate offered cannot be bettered by your travel agent or other discount online cruise offers.

 

Second, if your offer includes freeplay, take your offer letter with you. HAL will have no record of it.

 

Interesting info: HAL casinos are run by Century Casinos Inc, which I think is a part of Carnival. If you play slots or VP, points accrue to your room card at a rate of, I think, one point for $5 played. 1000 points will get you $10 free play. No, drinks are not free.

 

If you book at a casino rate, you may still receive an upgrade, lucky you, and/or an upsell offer.

 

Finally, with a HAL casino rate offer, there is no obligation to play at all. If you receive a wonderful offer, feel free to take it but avoid the casino and go listen to classical music.

 

Bolding is mine.

 

I thought that the casino was run by the Ocean Players club? At least that is who I am always told to contact to see about casino credit (for playing in the casino) after a cruise.

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Thanks for the information.

 

A few things to add - 1) some casino deals cannot be combined with all HAL offers, while others can, so check carefully when booking and know all your options.

 

2) There is a difference in casino RATE and casino OFFERS. We get the RATE deals and my friend often gets the OFFERS (much better deals for the larger rollers). The RATE deals are discounts (10-30%) off your fare, while the OFFERS are very low priced (or even FREE) cabin rates. However, when booking, the OFFERS are usually limited to Guarantee cabins, while with the RATE we are still able to select our cabin.

 

3) When booking, be sure the TA/HAL PCC uses all the people in the cabin. We just booked a cruise in which I received a Mariner Rate deal (special mailer) and my DW gets the casino RATE, so we got both.

 

Hope this helps....

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We took advantage of a casino rate last November, and we're doing so again this November. The November 2018 cruise is supposed to include $100 credit in the casino. I plan on taking my letter with me, as I expect it won't be on my account. Anyone had experience with this sort of thing?

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Interesting info: HAL casinos are run by Century Casinos Inc, which I think is a part of Carnival.

 

Bolding is mine.

 

I thought that the casino was run by the Ocean Players club? At least that is who I am always told to contact to see about casino credit (for playing in the casino) after a cruise.

 

Kazu is correct. HAL casinos are run by the OPC which -- to my knowledge -- is actually a CCL subsidiary based, like the parent corporation, in Miami. And, like Kazu, that is who i always contact regarding my rate offers and casino credits.

You can actually see the CCL splash screen (very briefly) when you access the OPC site: https://oceanplayersclub.com/

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We took advantage of a casino rate last November, and we're doing so again this November. The November 2018 cruise is supposed to include $100 credit in the casino. I plan on taking my letter with me, as I expect it won't be on my account. Anyone had experience with this sort of thing?

The only experience, I had was that I had 30 days from my disembarktion to book my next cruise. At the time I did not like the promotions that were going on so I booked 3 months out. I contacted Ocean players club to see if I was eligible for casino cash, the original letter stated $250.00. I was told I was eligible for $150.00 by email from ocean players club but they needed my booking number. Once I emailed the booking number they told me I already received a casino discount on my stateroom so I would not get the casino cash. So now when I get those letters at the end of the cruise, I get rid of them after 30 days because they are useless. You just have to calculate what is the better deal.

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There are casino offers from HAL that do include free drinks in the casino. Like any other casino, your offers are derived from your average wager and time spent playing. I find we get more generous treatment "on land".

Edited by blizzardboy
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We have received three casino rate offers from HAL and sailed on two of them. This post refers only to casino rate offers directly from HAL, not from casino junkets.

 

First, be sure your offer cannot be beat by your TA or an online company. Second, if your offer includes some freeplay, bring the offer letter to the cruise. HAL or the ship's casino will have no record of it otherwise.

 

HAL casinos are run by a Carnival company using the name Casino 21. On board, slots are tight of course. The best video poker is Jacks or Better 5-6, at 50 cents. Yes roulette and blackjack at low stakes. On machines, 1000 points gets you $10 freeplay. If this is your first time at HAL casino, and you are a serious player, DO contact the casino manager to see what he can do. Of course, drinks are not comped.

 

If you sail on a casino offer you may still receive an upgrade ;por upsell offer.

 

One last note, there is no pressure to play at all. Even if you don't play a penny, you may receive future HAL mail offers.

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Took advantage of two cruise in Dec. one 7 day one 11 day. Price quoted for interior was $99.00 each. Other cabins abit more expensive, also received $100.00 free play. If you receive a casino offer be sure to bring the offer with you to get any free play offered. Now if airfare was not so high for the days we are flying, guess it evens out.:)

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We received a casino offer that was a free cabin. It came in my husband’s name. He did not want to go, but my sister did. Because it was in his name, I could not use it without him. I was told that the next time we sailed to speak to the casino manager and request any offers come in my name and mariner number. We will see if that works

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

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We received a casino offer that was a free cabin. It came in my husband’s name. He did not want to go, but my sister did. Because it was in his name, I could not use it without him. I was told that the next time we sailed to speak to the casino manager and request any offers come in my name and mariner number. We will see if that works

 

Much like a land based casino, the best offers go to the spouse who plays the most. In my case, I have to log in on HAL website under my DW's ID to see the casino rate we qualify for.

 

So, to get the best casino deals, one should maximize the play of one person, minimize the other. For example, if a couple is playing together, be sure to use the same card (cabin key) all the time.

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Much like a land based casino, the best offers go to the spouse who plays the most. In my case, I have to log in on HAL website under my DW's ID to see the casino rate we qualify for.

 

 

 

So, to get the best casino deals, one should maximize the play of one person, minimize the other. For example, if a couple is playing together, be sure to use the same card (cabin key) all the time.

 

 

 

Great idea! Thanks!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

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We took advantage of a casino rate last November, and we're doing so again this November. The November 2018 cruise is supposed to include $100 credit in the casino. I plan on taking my letter with me, as I expect it won't be on my account. Anyone had experience with this sort of thing?

 

 

Yes, experience this month. (HAL Rotterdam) We had the $100 freeplay offer. We didn't take the letter on board. Nobody had a record of the $100. Manager showed us that those who brought the letter got the $100. Moral: Take the letter.

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Just a point of interest. We have booked the casino offers a couple of times. I gamble and my husband does not. I don't even think he has put a $20 in a machine on any of our HAL cruises. The offer for the cruise we are taking in November came in HIS name, not mine, according to my PCC. So, I just have to take him with me :D

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Just a point of interest. We have booked the casino offers a couple of times. I gamble and my husband does not. I don't even think he has put a $20 in a machine on any of our HAL cruises. The offer for the cruise we are taking in November came in HIS name, not mine, according to my PCC. So, I just have to take him with me :D

 

I question this. I only get the casino rate if I use my DW's Mariner number. My relatives who get the casino offers (the real good ones) report that they came in the person who gambles the most's name.

 

One thing though, on my upcoming cruise, I booked it though a special Mariner mailing in my name. When I added my DW to the reservation, the price came down (due to her casino rate). When I tried to book the cruise in her name, we only got the casino rate. Confused? I am.

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I question this. I only get the casino rate if I use my DW's Mariner number. My relatives who get the casino offers (the real good ones) report that they came in the person who gambles the most's name.

 

One thing though, on my upcoming cruise, I booked it though a special Mariner mailing in my name. When I added my DW to the reservation, the price came down (due to her casino rate). When I tried to book the cruise in her name, we only got the casino rate. Confused? I am.

 

I also questioned it, but she was very specific that the offer was in his name. I had one at the same time, but his was better. And I am positive that he is not gambling behind my back :p

 

The whole thing is very confusing. I'll just continue to do what I do, and hope for the best.

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  • 3 years later...
8 minutes ago, ChinaShrek said:

I just completed a sailing on the Rotterdam using a Casino Offer. Cruise was free free except for taxes. Do I still receive credit for the nights sailed in the Mariner Program? 

Yes!

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2 minutes ago, ChinaShrek said:

Thanks for the quick response. Great! it's been three days since the cruise but nothing has posted yet. I guess I was getting nervous.

This is from my last casino comped cruise nearly 5 months back.

 

image.thumb.png.a56593abcb7f21c19e379dd040c6e0f9.png

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