Casinos at Sea Program

[wallygator21015]

Just returned from the NCL Getaway. April 11 - 18, 2015.

I have been a member of CAS for five years. Two years at the Hot level.

Two major changes: the CAS free drink card can only get you a drink valued at five dollars or less. My wife & I both had the Free drink cards but were unable to find anything that was very tasteful. We ended up getting bottles of water to drink in the casino:(

Another big change in the CAS program is the free dinner for two in the specialty restaurant no longer includes drinks or a bottle of wine. We ordered a bottle of wine anyway and had to pay an additional 18% connivence fee:(

Not happy with all of the cutbacks and additional fees on NCL!

[Casino Comp Chick]

That is INSANE, even looking at Gambee's price list from last year the lowest price beer is $5.25, fruity tootie drinks of the day are $6.95. Looks like the only thing you can order is coffee and water, very silly in my opinion since if I am having a few drinks I am more apt to sit and gamble, if all I get are sodas I will spend more time by the pool/maltings. It will not affect most of my cruises because of the beverage packages included in my bookings but it would make me think twice about throwing a hundred dollar bill into a machine while I wait for a drink.

Clear case of penny-wise, dollar-stupid.

[Coastalbreezes]

I had read of these cutbacks elsewhere on the boards and will be interested to see what -- if any -- perks are cut back for VIP level players (I've been VIP for my last five cruises).

 

I'll report back after my May 16th Getaway cruise but will be disappointed if I can't get a decent drink while playing!

 

Any VIP players out there with recent cruises that can provide updates?

 

Tracy

[Son of a son of a ...]

From another thread, someone posted this about the CAS program:

 

At the minimum to maintain Hot you need to gamble $25,000 through the machines for the year, Golden is $75,000 and VIP is $175,000. That is each and every year to maintain those levels.

 

If you are running at this level of play, then you are either spending a lot of time in the casino, playing aggressive, very lucky, or a little of both. Why wouldn't the casino want you to have free drinks? Beverage costs are pennies in the big picture.

Edited April 20, 2015 by Son of a son of a ...
Typos

[spidybabe]

Wow...that drink card was basically the only thing that kept us from trying other lines. We really like the NCL product. We have received free cruise certificates from land based casinos to sail on Carnival....but when we learnt no drink cards....no thank you. But now if NCL won't give "rated/returning" customers drinks while playing.....

We do not understand the reason for this....usually those drinks turn into $$ put into machine while waiting, and even if ordering at the casino bar, my DH can't resist putting $$ into machine behind us. That's a lot if extra $$ that won't be going into machines. Plus the fact it is easier to loosen up your bankroll...after you are loosened up a bit.

[Casino Comp Chick]

Wow...that drink card was basically the only thing that kept us from trying other lines. We really like the NCL product. We have received free cruise certificates from land based casinos to sail on Carnival....but when we learnt no drink cards....no thank you. But now if NCL won't give "rated/returning" customers drinks while playing.....

We do not understand the reason for this....usually those drinks turn into $$ put into machine while waiting, and even if ordering at the casino bar, my DH can't resist putting $$ into machine behind us. That's a lot if extra $$ that won't be going into machines. Plus the fact it is easier to loosen up your bankroll...after you are loosened up a bit.

 

I totally agree, do you know how many times it cost be a hundred bucks for a "free drink" too many to count lol

Edited April 20, 2015 by iimmie

[Froggitt]

Why doesn't the Vegas model, i.e. free drinks for all while gambling in the casino, work on cruise ships? Presumably they assume that they make more on a punter in an hour from gambling than the $20 or so in alcohol consumed in that hour.

[jusstice]

I have had some pretty pricey cups of coffee in the NCL casinos, but even my lattes would be above the $5.

 

I wonder if they still let you "pay-up" the difference? I was Golden traveling with someone who had the basic card last July on the BA. Whenever she wanted something above her card level, like a shot of Bailey's, the charged her a small fee.

 

If I can't even get a latte, let alone a small drink, what is the purpose of even trying to stay Hot anymore? The dinner doesn't include drinks now, and the dinner is the only real perk for Hot now. I won't bother for Golden anymore because the only remaining perk of true value is the convenience fee being waived.

 

Why are they decimating this program?

[NLH Arizona]

Why doesn't the Vegas model, i.e. free drinks for all while gambling in the casino, work on cruise ships? Presumably they assume that they make more on a punter in an hour from gambling than the $20 or so in alcohol consumed in that hour.

The difference is that when one goes to a land based casino, they go their to gamble, but when one goes on a ship there are other things to do. I would guess a lot of folks, who would be looking for free drinks, would just walk into the casino, sit down like they are playing, get their free drinks and go on about their way with their free drink. At least in land based casinos, there are enough servers to notice this behavior, but on a ship's casino, not so much.

[hpecorari]

Just returned from the NCL Getaway. April 11 - 18, 2015.

I have been a member of CAS for five years. Two years at the Hot level.

Two major changes: the CAS free drink card can only get you a drink valued at five dollars or less. My wife & I both had the Free drink cards but were unable to find anything that was very tasteful. We ended up getting bottles of water to drink in the casino:(

Another big change in the CAS program is the free dinner for two in the specialty restaurant no longer includes drinks or a bottle of wine. We ordered a bottle of wine anyway and had to pay an additional 18% connivence fee:(

Not happy with all of the cutbacks and additional fees on NCL!

 

What level were you on this cruise? I know they have different drink cards dependent on your level......so I'm wondering if your level determined the cost of drinks permitted you. I'm also wondering if they've stopped ALL cocktails and a bottle of wine for everyone of if they've linked that perk to your CAS tier level as well. And that....is why.....I ask what level you were on that cruise?

 

Thanks!

 

Harriet

[hpecorari]

I had read of these cutbacks elsewhere on the boards and will be interested to see what -- if any -- perks are cut back for VIP level players (I've been VIP for my last five cruises).

 

I'll report back after my May 16th Getaway cruise but will be disappointed if I can't get a decent drink while playing!

 

Any VIP players out there with recent cruises that can provide updates?

 

Tracy

 

I'm VIP or was before Alpril 1st so I was told I still would be come April 1st....I'll know for sure when I take my June cruise but am very interested in your report when you return!

 

Harriet

[wallygator21015]

What level were you on this cruise? I know they have different drink cards dependent on your level......so I'm wondering if your level determined the cost of drinks permitted you. I'm also wondering if they've stopped ALL cocktails and a bottle of wine for everyone of if they've linked that perk to your CAS tier level as well. And that....is why.....I ask what level you were on that cruise?

 

Thanks!

 

Harriet

I am at the HOT LEVEL. I don't know what changes if any are at the higher levels?

 

Also, please note that I purchased a bottle of wine for $29. In the specialty restaurant when I used my casino voucher for dinner for two; I had to pay an additional 18% on the cost of the wine.

[1smudslide]

I have had the basic drink card for all my cruises. The first cruise through CAS a few years back, I never paid for any drink. This last one, I had an upcharge on everything I ordered; bahama mama, pina colada, frozen mudslide and mimosas. I couldn't find a drink that wasn't charged except for my bottle of water.

[jaja]

WOW....this really stinks..:eek: Not much reason for a low level gambler to book via CAS or play much in the casino ....

[hpecorari]

CAS really NEEDS to update their website so we all know what's going on!

 

Harriet

[CasinoCruzGirl]

I have the breakaway casino hosts Card gonna see if I can contact her and see what the story is. Her name is Grace Frias

 

Geri

Edited April 20, 2015 by FootballParent

[hpecorari]

I have the breakaway casino hosts Card gonna see if I can contact her and see what the story is. Her name is Grace Frias

 

Geri

 

Report back, thanks!

 

Harriet

[CasinoCruzGirl]

Wrong information yet again. It's $7.25 not $5

[hpecorari]

Wrong information yet again. It's $7.25 not $5

 

That $7.95 is for Lucky or Hot.....just to be clear.

 

Harriet

[CasinoCruzGirl]

That $7.95 is for Lucky or Hot.....just to be clear.

 

Harriet

 

It's $7.25 for your basic lucky card. She said there would be no point in. Even giving out the card if it was $5

Edited April 20, 2015 by FootballParent

[hpecorari]

It's $7.25 for your basic lucky card

 

And you just called CAS or your CAS Casino Host that you have a card from?

Just trying to get all the facts.

 

Harriet

[CasinoCruzGirl]

And you just called CAS or your CAS Casino Host that you have a card from?

Just trying to get all the facts.

 

Harriet

 

 

I called the casino host. It wasn't her but someone else in Miami

[hpecorari]

I called the casino host. It wasn't her but someone else in Miami

 

You forgot to ask about the free bottle of wine....if that's for all tiers or if it goes by tiers and has been taken off the table all together.

 

Harriet

[1smudslide]

There used to be a list of liquors that you could get for basic. Is that still listed anywhere? I like sweet drinks and every drink cost me between $3-$5. In the breakaway, I wasn't charged for Mimosas or bahama mamas, but on the Dawn, I was.

[wallygator21015]

Wrong information yet again. It's $7.25 not $5

 

Hello Football Parent

This information was absolutely 100% correct as of last week on the NCL Getaway. We have the HOT LEVEL CARD and were informed that it only covered drinks for $5. or less.

 

What is your source?