CAS report and new points redemption system

[VideoTech]

DW and I have not cruised since the new CAS system was put in place, and so we were interested to see what had changed when we did our 7 day on the Jewel over New Years.

 

First of all, we wondered if we'd have to start all over again at the bottom tier due to the new system, even though we had cruised during the last rating period under the old system. We were pleasantly surprised to find out that we had kept our levels from the old system and did not have to start at the bottom tier again.

 

As on past cruises, our CAS cards and free drink cards were waiting for us in our cabin when we boarded, so no change there. However, one new change also waited in our cabin: a letter for each of us from the Casino staff offering comp'd dinners for two at a specialty restaurant. In the past, we would have expected to have had to gamble for a day or two before being offered a comp'd dinner - this was a very nice change.

 

Regarding the dinners: In the past, the wine list offered with comp'd dinners was very small and did not offer much of a selection. I was pleased to find a much larger and more diverse list in use on this cruise. Hopefully this is a fleet-wide change.

 

The casino operation itself wasn't any different than on past cruises. Points still accumulate at the same rate in the slots: $5 for every point on regular slots, $10 for every point on Video Poker.

 

The casino had the usual mix of old and new machines, and some VP uprights & slant-tops. On the new side, quite a few of the “Asian Dragon” themed machines, and a bank of new WMS machines that were so tight they rarely got much play. The other usual suspects: Banana Kings, different kinds of mechanical and electronic three-reelers, a large bank of Hi-5 IGT machines, and a small bank of Wheel of Fortune. One craps table, two roulette wheels, and the usual assortment of blackjack, baccarat, let it ride, and so on.

 

Returns about average for ship casinos, which is to say not much. A few jackpots here and there, but the payback percentages were all obviously set low, as is to be expected.

 

Now the bad news: The casino now cashes out your points on the night before the last night of your cruise. When they announced this, I went to discuss it with the casino manager, and was told this was a new procedure as of about a month ago. The reasoning is that most people seem to forget to cash out their points until quit late, and apparently then create problem for the ship's bookeeping when they're trying to get credit on the disembarkation day, or perhaps even after they've left the ship. I also go the feeling that the casinos were getting a lot of requests to transfer points to other ships, and didn't want to be bothered with this.

 

I pointed out to them that by cashing everyone out the day before the last day, they were depriving their loyal, high-playing CAS customers of the points they could earn on the last day of the cruise; a day which is generally a full sea day and would see lots of time spend in the casino. The casino manager agreed this was true, and offered to wait and cash us out on the last day of the cruise, but I got the definite feeling this was as “one time” thing and we wouldn't be able to expect it in future.

 

Personally, I think this new policy is short-sighted on the part of CAS. If they stick to it, it simply means we'll be less likely to gamble on the last day of the cruise, since about the only real return on gambling in the ship's casino is for the points, and the resulting credit against the final bill. I hope they'll consider changing this back to the old system of cashing you out on the last night of the cruise.

Edited January 6, 2014 by VideoTech

[pokerpro5]

I mentioned this in my Jewel review, but the ship's policy of raking over 50% from the blackjack tournament prize pool is shameful, even by cruise casino standards.

 

They also tried to cover it up when I asked about it, and just kept repeating, "Our first prize is $500 for only a $15 entry!"

 

In reality they took in $1080 worth of entry fees and paid out $500. Yuck.

[che5904]

Thanks Videotech for the update.

 

I agree that is completely stoopid (sp on purpose) to have to cash in your points that much before the end of the cruise. Our last day is a sea day and we usually spend a fair amount of time in the casino on sea days.

 

The rest unfortunately does not apply to me because I go 2 years between cruises and 18 month is the cut off. So each time I get to start as "lucky" :( Therefore, I will never be able to get the extra perks of moving up tier levels. The nice thing is I book with certificates from land casinos so I at least get my drink card without having to wait until I earn my 1500 points.

[VideoTech]

Thanks Videotech for the update.

 

I agree that is completely stoopid (sp on purpose) to have to cash in your points that much before the end of the cruise. Our last day is a sea day and we usually spend a fair amount of time in the casino on sea days.

 

The rest unfortunately does not apply to me because I go 2 years between cruises and 18 month is the cut off. So each time I get to start as "lucky" :( Therefore, I will never be able to get the extra perks of moving up tier levels. The nice thing is I book with certificates from land casinos so I at least get my drink card without having to wait until I earn my 1500 points.

 

I think it's going to take a lot of us CAS customers complaining about this to get it changed back to the old way.

[che5904]

I think it's going to take a lot of us CAS customers complaining about this to get it changed back to the old way.

 

I'm on the Dawn in 33 days, and I'm pretty good at complaining when I want to ;) I'll make sure to express my opinion as well on my cruise.

[cruise4kicks]

I'm on the Dawn in 33 days, and I'm pretty good at complaining when I want to ;) I'll make sure to express my opinion as well on my cruise.

 

Good luck. I brought up the issue to the executive host, and was given the party line the OP reiterated. Not even an offer to hold off to cash out my points. I did point out to her that this provides NO incentive for players to play on the last sea day, but her response was basically, "That's the way it is."

[che5904]

Good luck. I brought up the issue to the executive host, and was given the party line the OP reiterated. Not even an offer to hold off to cash out my points. I did point out to her that this provides NO incentive for players to play on the last sea day, but her response was basically, "That's the way it is."

 

Thanks for the good luck Becky.

 

First I don't expect to get anywhere with my complaint, just following videotech's request to have as many CAS players complain.

 

Second I have no intention on going to the host but directly to the casino manager. I haven't had much use so far for NCL casino hosts and even in land based casinos hosts have no pull, they are just PR reps.

 

Also when I get back I plan to send a letter or email directly to CAS, expressing my displeasure with this part of the new system.

 

You, I and Videotech are just 3 tiny voices in a sea of CAS players. But the more they hear it, the more they may rethink that part of their new system.

 

I can imagine when left until late the last night, it was a nightmare for the front desk staff to credit that many bills. But a nice compromise would be better than shutting it down the night before a full sea day. Considering the casino isn't even open during port stops so that is cutting in on at least 8 hrs of their earning time. Maybe 7pm on the last night of the cruise, that would give the front desk time to process things before the bills were sent to the cabins in the middle of the night.

 

BTW I doubt this was CAS' decision, I'm assuming because of the nightmare it was probably making for the front desk, that it actually came from NCL themselves.

[spidybabe]

Wow-thanks for the news. Now we gonna have to find something new to do on the last day!

Safe sailing

[3DBeach]

Thanks for doing a review. They did the same thing as far as cashing in our points on the Epic in December and I found it strange. However they did cash in more of our points on the last night once they realized my DH had some too.

[che5904]

Now the bad news: The casino now cashes out your points on the night before the last night of your cruise. When they announced this, I went to discuss it with the casino manager, and was told this was a new procedure as of about a month ago. The reasoning is that most people seem to forget to cash out their points until quit late, and apparently then create problem for the ship's bookeeping when they're trying to get credit on the disembarkation day, or perhaps even after they've left the ship. I also go the feeling that the casinos were getting a lot of requests to transfer points to other ships, and didn't want to be bothered with this.

 

I pointed out to them that by cashing everyone out the day before the last day, they were depriving their loyal, high-playing CAS customers of the points they could earn on the last day of the cruise; a day which is generally a full sea day and would see lots of time spend in the casino. The casino manager agreed this was true, and offered to wait and cash us out on the last day of the cruise, but I got the definite feeling this was as “one time” thing and we wouldn't be able to expect it in future.

 

Personally, I think this new policy is short-sighted on the part of CAS. If they stick to it, it simply means we'll be less likely to gamble on the last day of the cruise, since about the only real return on gambling in the ship's casino is for the points, and the resulting credit against the final bill. I hope they'll consider changing this back to the old system of cashing you out on the last night of the cruise.

 

Had a bit of a search to find this thread with the search function down but wanted to update this information.

 

Well your complaints must have been heard. Just got off the Dawn on Sunday, Points were cashed in 6pm the night before disembarkation.

Edited February 20, 2014 by che5904

[McCutie]

Yes, just wanted to add too that on the Breakaway last week the points redemption was the last night from 4-7pm so hopefully it will remain that way and not switch back again.

[sjbdtz]

Emailed my friend and heard:

 

 

- the TEST to see about cashing-out points T-1 night is over due to complaints...but even while it was running was only about Comp value, and not about Tier value.

 

- The fact that it's back to last night now, does not guarantee it won't return to 2nd-last night in the future.

 

- It was reverted to last night due to written complaints

 

- There may be some overall changes coming to the Tier Program, but they remain unknown at the moment.

 

 

My contact is well-placed to be aware of things, and is somebody I've known for several years.

 

So it will be interesting to see what revisions they come up with...hopefully they lower some of the tier goals. They've got about a month to do it before the 2014 - 2015 tiers kick in.

 

 

Stephen

 

 

.

[Ilovesailing]

Why even gamble when u know the odds are against u on board. Actually No go ahead and gamble as it will keep cruise price's down!

Edited February 21, 2014 by Ilovesailing

[sjbdtz]

Why even gamble when u know the odds are against u on board. Actually No go ahead and gamble as it will keep cruise price's down!

 

Yes. It keeps them down to zero, for many of us. What's your point?

[Ilovesailing]

Who do you think your kidding! The odds are and always have been against you on cruise ships.

[Casino Comp Chick]

Emailed my friend and heard:

 

 

- the TEST to see about cashing-out points T-1 night is over due to complaints...but even while it was running was only about Comp value, and not about Tier value.

 

- The fact that it's back to last night now, does not guarantee it won't return to 2nd-last night in the future.

 

- It was reverted to last night due to written complaints

 

- There may be some overall changes coming to the Tier Program, but they remain unknown at the moment.

 

 

My contact is well-placed to be aware of things, and is somebody I've known for several years.

 

So it will be interesting to see what revisions they come up with...hopefully they lower some of the tier goals. They've got about a month to do it before the 2014 - 2015 tiers kick in.

 

 

Stephen

 

 

.

 

Sheesh they will probably take away everything I just earned lol

Say it ain't so..........

[che5904]

Why even gamble when u know the odds are against u on board. Actually No go ahead and gamble as it will keep cruise price's down!

 

This has to be one of the most funniest statements/questions I've read on these boards for a while.

 

The odds are against you in any casino, the casino wouldn't make money and be able to stay open and in business if the odds were against the casino :confused:

[sjbdtz]

Who do you think your kidding! The odds are and always have been against you on cruise ships.

 

I'm not kidding anybody. I get free cruises, free drinks, free shore excursions, free spa treatments, free specialty dinners, free merchandise from the onboard stores, and lots of entertainment at the casino tables.... and sometimes I win, sometimes I lose.

 

I still don't understand what your point is.

 

 

 

 

.

[garycarla]

I'm not kidding anybody. I get free drinks....

 

Yea, the free drinks on our last cruise came to about $20 a glass!

 

LOL!!!

[che5904]

Yea, the free drinks on our last cruise came to about $20 a glass!

 

LOL!!!

 

I had the same thought :D, although if I was going to play anyway, it's nice to get some perks along the way.

Edited February 21, 2014 by che5904

[Ilovesailing]

I'm not kidding anybody. I get free cruises, free drinks, free shore excursions, free spa treatments, free specialty dinners, free merchandise from the onboard stores, and lots of entertainment at the casino tables.... and sometimes I win, sometimes I lose.

 

I still don't understand what your point is.

 

 

 

 

.

 

 

Nothing is free my friend, you may get all the freebies you list but you end up paying with your loses your not fooling anybody.

Casinos are in it to win and so are the cruise lines and even more so.

So you just go a head and enjoy your freebies as I stand around the tables and watch all people lose bundles. Great entertainment!

Edited February 21, 2014 by Ilovesailing

[cherylroslyn]

Nothing is free my friend, you may get all the freebies you list but you end up paying with your loses your not fooling anybody.

Casinos are in it to win and so are the cruise lines and even more so.

So you just go a head and enjoy your freebies as I stand around the tables and watch all people lose bundles. Great entertainment!

Why post here, just to aggravate?

 

Do we post that we like to "sit around the buffet and watch you stuff your face and gain weight"?

 

Do we post that we like to "sit in the pool area and watch you get a sunburn"?

 

Do we post that we like to "go to the gym and watch people sweat and have heart attacks"?

 

Why do you think it is ok to go onto a thread that is about CAS members and geared toward gamblers and mock gamblers? Did we ask you for a loan or something?

 

Leave us alone, we like to gamble, we will do it with or without comps, we do it with our own money, we have plenty of discretionary income.......

 

I don't pay for my cruises, drinks, spa treatments, or specialty dinners....

 

I have won a jackpot on almost every cruise I have taken......but I am certainly not "ahead" in that department.....

 

Don't mock us and we won't mock you.......its disrespectful

[refugeeathome]

Why post here, just to aggravate?

 

Do we post that we like to "sit around the buffet and watch you stuff your face and gain weight"?

 

Do we post that we like to "sit in the pool area and watch you get a sunburn"?

 

Do we post that we like to "go to the gym and watch people sweat and have heart attacks"?

 

Why do you think it is ok to go onto a thread that is about CAS members and geared toward gamblers and mock gamblers? Did we ask you for a loan or something?

 

Leave us alone, we like to gamble, we will do it with or without comps, we do it with our own money, we have plenty of discretionary income.......

 

I don't pay for my cruises, drinks, spa treatments, or specialty dinners....

 

I have won a jackpot on almost every cruise I have taken......but I am certainly not "ahead" in that department.....

 

Don't mock us and we won't mock you.......its disrespectful

 

 

You are so right! My DH and I love to gamble and can afford to lose what we do. As I like to say, "If I want to make money I'll go to work!"

Lighten up!

[Ilovesailing]

Why post here, just to aggravate?

 

Do we post that we like to "sit around the buffet and watch you stuff your face and gain weight"?

 

Do we post that we like to "sit in the pool area and watch you get a sunburn"?

 

Do we post that we like to "go to the gym and watch people sweat and have heart attacks"?

 

Why do you think it is ok to go onto a thread that is about CAS members and geared toward gamblers and mock gamblers? Did we ask you for a loan or something?

 

Leave us alone, we like to gamble, we will do it with or without comps, we do it with our own money, we have plenty of discretionary income.......

 

I don't pay for my cruises, drinks, spa treatments, or specialty dinners....

 

I have won a jackpot on almost every cruise I have taken......but I am certainly not "ahead" in that department.....

 

Don't mock us and we won't mock you.......its disrespectful

 

You may call it aggravating I call it the truth, if you have problem so be it! Some just can't stand the facts and/or thier addiction which of course is none of my business. Just stating the facts.

Edited February 21, 2014 by Ilovesailing

[Fishbait17]

Why post here, just to aggravate?

 

Do we post that we like to "sit around the buffet and watch you stuff your face and gain weight"?

 

Do we post that we like to "sit in the pool area and watch you get a sunburn"?

 

Do we post that we like to "go to the gym and watch people sweat and have heart attacks"?

 

Why do you think it is ok to go onto a thread that is about CAS members and geared toward gamblers and mock gamblers? Did we ask you for a loan or something?

 

Leave us alone, we like to gamble, we will do it with or without comps, we do it with our own money, we have plenty of discretionary income.......

 

I don't pay for my cruises, drinks, spa treatments, or specialty dinners....

 

I have won a jackpot on almost every cruise I have taken......but I am certainly not "ahead" in that department.....

 

Don't mock us and we won't mock you.......its disrespectful

 

This.. Thank you.. Unfortunately, some people are so blinded by their myopic view of their own absolute perfection that they can't see that they are actually placating themselves by insulting others.. Disrespectful is a kind word, I might have chosen another...

 

Robin

Edited February 21, 2014 by Fishbait17