Casinos at Sea Program

[spidybabe]

Totally agree with Rochelle

They should just inform us of all changes at once.... not in small doses...rip the bandaid off fast!!

[OvaDaTop]

I was on the Getaway March 28th as an invited CAS player with a green lucky card and a "house" drink card. While in the casino or at Bar 21 you can get ANY bottled beer you wanted FREE, HOUSE Wine which sucks, HOUSE Well drinks which is the bottom tiered liquors. If you mix them they are not bad. Any NAMED better quality liquors they will give you a $5 credit. A Grey Goose would normally be $9.50 plus 20% gratuity. With the card in the casino it is $4.50 plus gratuity based on $4.50. I think it was $5.31 total. Still a great price for a top shelf pour. This is where the $5.00 price must have come into play but its a discount not the amount of what you are allowed. BOTTLED WATER and SODA is also included. Now, while playing at the $100 Blackjack table I was treated to premium and Ultra premium expecting to pay the difference but they were comped.

[rochelle_s]

Now, while playing at the $100 Blackjack table I was treated to premium and Ultra premium expecting to pay the difference but they were comped.

 

 

I would hope so! :D

 

 

Rochelle

[CasinoCruzGirl]

I was on the Getaway March 28th as an invited CAS player with a green lucky card and a "house" drink card. While in the casino or at Bar 21 you can get ANY bottled beer you wanted FREE, HOUSE Wine which sucks, HOUSE Well drinks which is the bottom tiered liquors. If you mix them they are not bad. Any NAMED better quality liquors they will give you a $5 credit. A Grey Goose would normally be $9.50 plus 20% gratuity. With the card in the casino it is $4.50 plus gratuity based on $4.50. I think it was $5.31 total. Still a great price for a top shelf pour. This is where the $5.00 price must have come into play but its a discount not the amount of what you are allowed. BOTTLED WATER and SODA is also included. Now, while playing at the $100 Blackjack table I was treated to premium and Ultra premium expecting to pay the difference but they were comped.

 

Thank you is should clarify everything

[wichitastatecruiser]

If they are going to base everything on your on board play then there really is no perks with the tier system, certainly not at the HOT level. I thought the dinner for two with the bottle of wine was a perk and therefore a thank you for previous play. Now they will give me dinner but I have to earn the drinks to go with it? That sounds awful cheap to me.

 

 

And why come out with these changes now? People have been booking cruises under the Wave promos since December. Many of those CAS players who did make bookings might have chosen a promo other than UBP because they were under the impression they would have drinks free in the casino. Now depending on what their drink of choice is they may only have a card that acts like a discount coupon. If they had had all the correct information when they booked they might have chosen the UBP.

 

When will all this changing nonsense with NCL stop? Make all your changes at once. We can have a big old bitchfest about it and it will be done with. Then we can get back to being informed, booking and enjoying our cruises and knowing exactly what to expect once we board the ship. We have not had a week go by in the last two months where there has not been something. Enough already NCL!!

 

 

Rochelle

 

I think NCL is playing "catch up" with other lines with fees and programs. They have noticed that other mines don't have as good of Casino programs as them so they figure they can cut it, keep it slightly better than the other lines and still retain a majority of the players. Their DSC is in line with the other lines now along with the on board gratuities. Next 3-6 months will probably see some adjustments but I don't foresee any other major changes.

[rochelle_s]

I think NCL is playing "catch up" with other lines with fees and programs. They have noticed that other mines don't have as good of Casino programs as them so they figure they can cut it, keep it slightly better than the other lines and still retain a majority of the players. Their DSC is in line with the other lines now along with the on board gratuities. Next 3-6 months will probably see some adjustments but I don't foresee any other major changes.

 

And here I was thinking they wanted to be the leader in on board casino programs.

 

I truly believe that if they cut too much of the program they will lose a fair number of players. I am Golden for this year but all the cuts to the program have left me no incentive to maintain that level. I can still receive free cruise offers at the HOT level so that is all I need to play for. No reason at all for the extra $50,000 (minimum) in play to maintain Golden or more to move higher.

 

I think the real changes to numbers of people at the various tier levels will not be seen until after April 1, 2016. All lot of people have already booked for the coming year. What happens when they try to book and offers are less? As for seeing any more changes in the immediate future...what's left they can take?

 

 

Rochelle

[NLH Arizona]

What's a call brand

A call brand or house brand is usually the least expensive brand of that liquor that they serve.

[wichitastatecruiser]

And here I was thinking they wanted to be the leader in on board casino programs.

 

I truly believe that if they cut too much of the program they will lose a fair number of players. I am Golden for this year but all the cuts to the program have left me no incentive to maintain that level. I can still receive free cruise offers at the HOT level so that is all I need to play for. No reason at all for the extra $50,000 (minimum) in play to maintain Golden or more to move higher.

 

I think the real changes to numbers of people at the various tier levels will not be seen until after April 1, 2016. All lot of people have already booked for the coming year. What happens when they try to book and offers are less? As for seeing any more changes in the immediate future...what's left they can take?

 

 

Rochelle

 

Their still the leader in on board casinos. Carnival as far as I know doesn't have a rewards program for frequent players. Royal does have a players club. At Gold level you only get drink vouchers, 5-15 depending on your status. The other thing about Royal is that you only get points on slots and video poker, no points for table games.

 

NCL know that people who enjoy cruising and gambling will stay with them and continue their usual gambling habits. There might be a few people that don't cruise as often and opt for a land based casino instead or quit cruising altogether but that percentage is probably going to be very low.

[alexspepa]

A call brand or house brand is usually the least expensive brand of that liquor that they serve.

 

back in my bartending days - a while ago to be honest - house or well brands were the off brands kept in the well in front of the bartender - if you just ordered a scotch and water that is what you got.

 

next in order were call brands - if the customer ordered a Dewars and water, then they were charged a higher price.

 

then premium - Chivas or Glenlivit and water...still higher.

[CasinoCruzGirl]

Just heard back from a CAS rep. I asked about a glass of white Zinfandel. It's a premium drink of $7.95 so a no go for lucky and hot without paying the difference. How ridiculous. Why even bother.

[jaja]

A call brand or house brand is usually the least expensive brand of that liquor that they serve.

 

And the last time I was onboard...the vodka was Gibneys .....and it was swill !

(I did manage to get them to let me have Smirnoff...hope I will still be able to get that :confused:)

[hpecorari]

I was on the Getaway March 28th as an invited CAS player with a green lucky card and a "house" drink card. While in the casino or at Bar 21 you can get ANY bottled beer you wanted FREE, HOUSE Wine which sucks, HOUSE Well drinks which is the bottom tiered liquors. If you mix them they are not bad. Any NAMED better quality liquors they will give you a $5 credit. A Grey Goose would normally be $9.50 plus 20% gratuity. With the card in the casino it is $4.50 plus gratuity based on $4.50. I think it was $5.31 total. Still a great price for a top shelf pour. This is where the $5.00 price must have come into play but its a discount not the amount of what you are allowed. BOTTLED WATER and SODA is also included. Now, while playing at the $100 Blackjack table I was treated to premium and Ultra premium expecting to pay the difference but they were comped.

 

So, even in the Casino with a card if you want a drink and pay the upcharge after the $5.00 credit you pay the upcharge fee and the gratuity on that upcharge fee?

 

I would think CAS would at least take care of the 18% gratuity....not that it amounts to much.

 

Harriet

[Solararc]

I for one can't wait to get more suite perks thanks to the cut backs In the CAS program[emoji6] just kidding you folks have had a rough go

 

 

*Living Large*

Edited April 20, 2015 by Solararc

[NLH Arizona]

And the last time I was onboard...the vodka was Gibneys .....and it was swill !

(I did manage to get them to let me have Smirnoff...hope I will still be able to get that :confused:)

If we are ever on a cruise at the same time, maybe we can combine our cards and get you Smirnoff and me a diet Pepsi LOL!

[Abear2]

I have been VIP the last three cruises. One in November, one in December and one a month ago. I have never paid for any drink and I know some were $11.00. Is this something new that just happened, about charging the extra amount for a drink? Also, I was given comped meals and always got a bottle of wine through the casino! I hope they don't take that away!!! :o NCL really does have the best rewards program! I spent just as much on Royal Caribbean and got free drinks, but only after I reached 1500 points! I will be back on the Breakaway in July, but I am in the Haven, so I will automatically get the free drinks, but I will ask about this new pricing for sure! :rolleyes:

[hpecorari]

I have been VIP the last three cruises. One in November, one in December and one a month ago. I have never paid for any drink and I know some were $11.00. Is this something new that just happened, about charging the extra amount for a drink? Also, I was given comped meals and always got a bottle of wine through the casino! I hope they don't take that away!!! :o NCL really does have the best rewards program! I spent just as much on Royal Caribbean and got free drinks, but only after I reached 1500 points! I will be back on the Breakaway in July, but I am in the Haven, so I will automatically get the free drinks, but I will ask about this new pricing for sure! :rolleyes:

 

VIP never had a problem getting whatever drinks they wanted. And, even though the rules seemed to have changed this April 1st, I'm sure VIP's will still get whatever they want.

 

Harriet

[monkeybone]

Jenn??????

 

Thanks for caring :)

[CasinoCruzGirl]

Thanks for caring :)

 

 

Muuuahhhhh

[skeeter195]

We are all upset with these changes. I was one of the unlucky ones that after calling CAS on Jan 28th about my cruise on Jan 31st and was told that all of my Golden perks would be there(esp Cagneys), I was so mad that I almost walked off the ship after finding out that the perks had been cut that day.

 

Anyway, I believe that when it is all said and done, how much will NCL actually lose from this, not that much if any. I myself have 2 cruises booked in suites coming up. After that I think I will be done. I play craps and BJ mostly. I play BJ at a $50-200 minimum table and only once for 10 minutes did I have someone else playing with me the entire 10 days(50 plus hours). So, yes they may miss me, but will make it up with the lower level players. Sure I will put ten times the amount of money in play than most players but I really don't think NCL cares that much. I don't know.

 

NCL really needs to understand how a gambler thinks. It doesn't really bother me to spend a $100 on a bottle of wine at dinner when I am betting up to $1000 a hand at BJ. But, take my $32 bottle of wine away from my comped dinners that you are already giving me and I am pissed.

[clcjdn]

I wonder how this all plays with the promos that they are running.....if someone gets UBP, it duplicates the On Us card. If someone gets UDP, it duplicates the comp dinner. My personal belief is to get enough action to qualify for an OV comp or better, and hope they keep running these promos....now, it would be nice if they changed the CAS perks to something that isn't being duplicated from the promos, that would be great....not enough time with the program to have an instinct on that front yet......but, if they cut the CAS perks and get rid of the promos, IMO, more people will be exploring other options.......

[wichitastatecruiser]

We are all upset with these changes. I was one of the unlucky ones that after calling CAS on Jan 28th about my cruise on Jan 31st and was told that all of my Golden perks would be there(esp Cagneys), I was so mad that I almost walked off the ship after finding out that the perks had been cut that day.

 

Anyway, I believe that when it is all said and done, how much will NCL actually lose from this, not that much if any. I myself have 2 cruises booked in suites coming up. After that I think I will be done. I play craps and BJ mostly. I play BJ at a $50-200 minimum table and only once for 10 minutes did I have someone else playing with me the entire 10 days(50 plus hours). So, yes they may miss me, but will make it up with the lower level players. Sure I will put ten times the amount of money in play than most players but I really don't think NCL cares that much. I don't know.

 

NCL really needs to understand how a gambler thinks. It doesn't really bother me to spend a $100 on a bottle of wine at dinner when I am betting up to $1000 a hand at BJ. But, take my $32 bottle of wine away from my comped dinners that you are already giving me and I am pissed.

 

Actually I think what they need to understand is that 90% of the time players are losing money or if they walk away up they are either spending the money on board or booking another cruise with it. I'm assuming that they think they can cut down on the overhead by making tiers for the drink part. Their closest competitor Royal only does vouchers starting at gold level. Then you only get 5 vouchers for the entire cruise, top level only gets 15 vouchers so when you compare NCL's tweaked program its still better than Royal, especially since NCL rates on table games and Royal does not.

[fstuff1]

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.

 

this was after the April 2015 downgrades?

 

so you can order higher priced drinks and be credited with $5 because of the 'House' lvl drink card?

 

did you have to pay 18% auto-tip on the upcharge?

[wallygator21015]

Actually I think what they need to understand is that 90% of the time players are losing money or if they walk away up they are either spending the money on board or booking another cruise with it. I'm assuming that they think they can cut down on the overhead by making tiers for the drink part. Their closest competitor Royal only does vouchers starting at gold level. Then you only get 5 vouchers for the entire cruise, top level only gets 15 vouchers so when you compare NCL's tweaked program its still better than Royal, especially since NCL rates on table games and Royal does not.

 

Actually, the Blue Chip Club on Celebrity Cruise Lines has the best deal. If you display your Blue Chip Card while playing in their casino the player may order any drink they like and there isn't any upcharge. If you talk to the casino host, often they will give you a Free meal for two, including wine in their specialty restaurant.:)

[rochelle_s]

We are all upset with these changes. I was one of the unlucky ones that after calling CAS on Jan 28th about my cruise on Jan 31st and was told that all of my Golden perks would be there(esp Cagneys), I was so mad that I almost walked off the ship after finding out that the perks had been cut that day.

 

Anyway, I believe that when it is all said and done, how much will NCL actually lose from this, not that much if any. I myself have 2 cruises booked in suites coming up. After that I think I will be done. I play craps and BJ mostly. I play BJ at a $50-200 minimum table and only once for 10 minutes did I have someone else playing with me the entire 10 days(50 plus hours). So, yes they may miss me, but will make it up with the lower level players. Sure I will put ten times the amount of money in play than most players but I really don't think NCL cares that much. I don't know.

 

NCL really needs to understand how a gambler thinks. It doesn't really bother me to spend a $100 on a bottle of wine at dinner when I am betting up to $1000 a hand at BJ. But, take my $32 bottle of wine away from my comped dinners that you are already giving me and I am pissed.

 

 

Yes I agree with you.

 

We here on CC have a bit of an advantage because we know when things are coming. Had I not been on here keeping up with things I too would have been perturbed to find out as I am boarding that;

 

• there is no VIP boarding for CAS
  
• smaller box of chocolates from Latitudes
  
• small plate of strawberries from Latitudes
  
• drink prices have increased (7%)
  
• the gratuity on drinks has increased (3%)
  
• no Cagney's breakfast for Golden & VIP
  
• no Cagney's lunch for Golden & VIP
  
• only the lowest level of comp drinks allowed in the casino
  
• no bottle of wine with CAS comped dinner
  
• extra specialty restaurant, booked and paid by guest now incurs an 18% auto gratuity
  
• depending on ship, room services orders now incur a $7.95 service charge
  
• ordering anything at the coffee bar incurs an 18% gratuity
  
• ordering anything from Carlos bakery incurs an 18% gratuity
  
• ordering sushi incurs an 18% gratuity
  
• ordering OceanBlue on the Waterfront incurs an 18% gratuity
  
• more points required in regards to getting future comped cruises
  
• CAS no longer discounts suites
  

 

I know a lot of the items are minor but when looked at all together it adds up and would be a lot to take in for someone who is only finding out about them after having boarded the ship.

 

I completely understand the gambler mentality especially when it comes to the perks. The tier level perks are rewards for previous play. Almost as a thank you for our prior patronage. When they take it away, it's like saying they do not appreciate us. Which is a slap in the face. It's like they are saying, "You've earned your dinner for two but lets see if you can earn a drink to go with it." The same will be felt by players at the Hot level inside the casino. Those folks have played a minimum of $25,000 up to $74,999 in the casino in the past year and to now ask them to pay a sub charge on simple drinks like a glass of White Zinfandel is insulting to the player and frankly cheap on behalf of the casino.

 

Increases have been made across the board to all passengers. Cut backs have been made to loyal Latitudes and Casino players. The least affected passengers are those who have booked in the last 5 months and are suite passengers. They have only experienced the increase to the DSC. But there is only a limited number of suite passengers. What is NCL doing to keep the majority of passengers happy? Those are the folks who make sure the ship sails full and they are the ones who they will need to keep all the new builds sailing full too.

 

Time will tell...

 

 

Rochelle

[jaja]

Yes I agree with you.

 

We here on CC have a bit of an advantage because we know when things are coming. Had I not been on here keeping up with things I too would have been perturbed to find out as I am boarding that;

 

• there is no VIP boarding for CAS
  
• smaller box of chocolates from Latitudes
  
• small plate of strawberries from Latitudes
  
• drink prices have increased (7%)
  
• the gratuity on drinks has increased (3%)
  
• no Cagney's breakfast for Golden & VIP
  
• no Cagney's lunch for Golden & VIP
  
• only the lowest level of comp drinks allowed in the casino
  
• no bottle of wine with CAS comped dinner
  
• extra specialty restaurant, booked and paid by guest now incurs an 18% auto gratuity
  
• depending on ship, room services orders now incur a $7.95 service charge
  
• ordering anything at the coffee bar incurs an 18% gratuity
  
• ordering anything from Carlos bakery incurs an 18% gratuity
  
• ordering sushi incurs an 18% gratuity
  
• ordering OceanBlue on the Waterfront incurs an 18% gratuity
  
• more points required in regards to getting future comped cruises
  
• CAS no longer discounts suites
  

 

I know a lot of the items are minor but when looked at all together it adds up and would be a lot to take in for someone who is only finding out about them after having boarded the ship.

 

I completely understand the gambler mentality especially when it comes to the perks. The tier level perks are rewards for previous play. Almost as a thank you for our prior patronage. When they take it away, it's like saying they do not appreciate us. Which is a slap in the face. It's like they are saying, "You've earned your dinner for two but lets see if you can earn a drink to go with it." The same will be felt by players at the Hot level inside the casino. Those folks have played a minimum of $25,000 up to $74,999 in the casino in the past year and to now ask them to pay a sub charge on simple drinks like a glass of White Zinfandel is insulting to the player and frankly cheap on behalf of the casino.

 

Increases have been made across the board to all passengers. Cut backs have been made to loyal Latitudes and Casino players. The least affected passengers are those who have booked in the last 5 months and are suite passengers. They have only experienced the increase to the DSC. But there is only a limited number of suite passengers. What is NCL doing to keep the majority of passengers happy? Those are the folks who make sure the ship sails full and they are the ones who they will need to keep all the new builds sailing full too.

 

Time will tell...

 

 

Rochelle

 

I want a LIKE BUTTON ;)