NCL Breakaway Casino - March 6 Cruise

[NYFirstTimeCruiser]

I thought of sharing this one because in the years I've been reading cruise critic forum, I've never seen a post about anyone winning more than once or twice on slots. This is by no means bragging… there's actually a CAS story to this.

 

This is my 4th cruise on the Breakaway. This luck happened to me on my first cruise but I wasn't able to take pics coz I was in shock that it really was happening. Anyway, 4 years ago, I won quite a few times similar to the attached screenshots. I earned 3000 points. I asked CAS what do I get for it (I was looking for a free cruise. They wouldn't give me a free 7 day cruise since the free ones start at 4500 points. The two next cruises, I didn't win like this. On this cruise, for casino slot players…...I hit Royal Flush twice for $1000 each, Quick hit for $1300 and a couple of small $250 (4 Deuces) wins. To top it off, my wife, who never wins anything in the past 4 years, won the slot tournament. A good trip I say :) .

 

A few days after I got home, I called CAS. I said I hit 4800 points thinking maybe this time, I'll get a free cruise. They said I don't qualify for one. I said but awhile back, I was told it starts at 4500. They said they increased the threshold 3 months ago….. that I need a "theoretical LOSS", yes loss of 2500. Being that I won, my theorical loss was only in the 200 range.

 

To summarize, if you win, keep your winnings. Do not expect to get anything from CAS. If you loose, maybe you get some. Of course this applies to small gamblers like me. People who spend 10,000 on cruises get their cruises paid for.

 

So now, I'm paying for my next one. Maybe I'll try my luck on Anthem of the Seas. Anyone know if RCL Casino is any better?

[ncklhaus]

On our last cruise, Breakaway January 3rd, I hit a few times. Once for around $650 and another around $1100. Both were on the slots. I also hit a bunch of other times for around $100. I didn't think anything of it, but after reading about Casinos at Sea I sent an email to see if I qualified for anything. They replied that they would comp me an Inside stateroom and to let them know when I wanted to sail again.

 

This is the email I received back:

Good Morning,

 

We are glad to assist you in your inquiry, based on your play history we can extend you a comp Inside Cabin. However, you need to provide me with a ship and a sailing date of your interest so I may better assist you with pricing information.

 

Best Regards,

[CasinoCruzGirl]

I have been on the BA several times and never had a hand pay. I was on the 3 day Anthem a few weeks ago and hit a Royal but I still like the BA casino better. And also the 4500 points is incorrect. It's 2800.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[CasinoCruzGirl]

 

This was on the Royal a few weeks ago

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[NYFirstTimeCruiser]

On our last cruise, Breakaway January 3rd, I hit a few times. Once for around $650 and another around $1100. Both were on the slots. I also hit a bunch of other times for around $100. I didn't think anything of it, but after reading about Casinos at Sea I sent an email to see if I qualified for anything. They replied that they would comp me an Inside stateroom and to let them know when I wanted to sail again.

 

This is the email I received back:

Good Morning,

 

We are glad to assist you in your inquiry, based on your play history we can extend you a comp Inside Cabin. However, you need to provide me with a ship and a sailing date of your interest so I may better assist you with pricing information.

 

Best Regards,

 

If you mind sharing the name of the person who sent you the email, I'll try calling. I won't mention cruise critic. I normally don't on the calls. I was told I can probably get an inside on a 3 day cruise but do not qualify on a 7 day cruise. Your play is probably a lot more than mine. Did you have over 5000 points?

[NYFirstTimeCruiser]

I have been on the BA several times and never had a hand pay. I was on the 3 day Anthem a few weeks ago and hit a Royal but I still like the BA casino better. And also the 4500 points is incorrect. It's 2800.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

 

Did you ever get a free cruise when you reached over 2800? I had 4500 points and they said the computation now is based on theoretical loss and not on total points. I guess it's different based on who you talk to. I'll try calling again.

[CasinoCruzGirl]

If you mind sharing the name of the person who sent you the email, I'll try calling. I won't mention cruise critic. I normally don't on the calls. I was told I can probably get an inside on a 3 day cruise but do not qualify on a 7 day cruise. Your play is probably a lot more than mine. Did you have over 5000 points?

 

 

Someone is giving u wrong information

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[paharfme]

Last March we were on the Gem and this March on the Getaway - I am by no means a high dollar player, I play only slots and my comfort zone is the $1- $1.20 a spin ... I never really paid any attention to the CAS program as i figured it was for high rollers only. I did manage to scrape up enough points (1500) to get the free drink card basically for the last day. I think i ended this cruise on the Getaway right around 2K points. Two days after i got off the ship i received an email from CAS offering me a free inside cabin for May or June of this year. Certainly not peak time but a free cabin sounded nice to me! I've since read that the CAS year is March to March so all i can assume is that between the last 2 i managed enough points to receive the offer. I never had a 'big win', but i had a decent comeback last cruise and left the boat with slightly more than i stepped on, with the accumulation of the points to boot. I'm jumping on the Escape in June due to this offer from CAS I received, fully expecting to give back what the Getaway gave me the last 2 days, and will just be pleasantly surprised if i dont! :)

[spidybabe]

14 comped CAS cruises -insides to balcony (including aft), and after our last cruise ( winning) and achieving Hot level again, we were told by CAS that we could only get 20% off cruise fare. Thanks-we get that already from being a Harrah's Diamond Level. They said in not so many words, that because we won we wouldn't be comped a free cabin. Even spoke to supervisor .

Our next 2 booked cruises are with land based casino certificates

Safe sailing

Edited March 23, 2016 by spidybabe

[NYFirstTimeCruiser]

14 comped CAS cruises- insides to balcony (including aft), and after our last sailing (winning) and achieving HOt level again, we were told by CAS that we can only get 20% off cruise fare. Thanks - our Harrahs Diamond gets us that. They said in not so many words, that because we won, no more free cruise. Even spoke to supervisor.

Safe sailing

 

Interesting. Somewhat similar to what I was told. Because I won, I would only receive 20%. They said a theoretical loss of 2500 points (that's $12,500 coin in) to get a comp. I'll take the winnings over the free room if that's the case.

 

Thanks for the input.

[Sand and Seas]

I was told it was based on theoretical or actual loss. And like someone else said, it doesn't hurt to call back and speak with a different agent at CAS. Most of them are very nice and don't seem to mind answering questions.

[TraJon9]

Hmmm so strange. We started out with free inside comped room from Harrahs. We played for enjoyment not points but we do like slots. We moved over to CAS by calling the number on the back of the cards.

 

One host on the Breakaway told us in a roundabout way. Almost like they had been scolded about poaching customers from Harrahs. One host would not deal with us at all. Said they would notify Harrahs. I never met a casino that did not want your business.

 

Depending on the cruise we want. We can get anything from a ocean view to balcony. Like Carribean on Getaway balcony. Bermuda prime season comped ocean view. Asked about Alaska, ocean view.

 

We won on our last cruise, so we came home up. We have had anything from 2700 points to 6000. I would bet average is 4500.. There has never been talk of loss more of a point talk. We take what the cruise would cost us.

[ncklhaus]

If you mind sharing the name of the person who sent you the email, I'll try calling. I won't mention cruise critic. I normally don't on the calls. I was told I can probably get an inside on a 3 day cruise but do not qualify on a 7 day cruise. Your play is probably a lot more than mine. Did you have over 5000 points?

 

I got the email address from the NCL website:

 

casinoinquiries@ncl.com

 

 

When they responded I got this:

 

Christos Meletis |Casino Group Coordinator

305.468.2434 | Fax 305.468.2122

cmeletis@ncl.com| http://www.ncl.com

Norwegian Cruise Line

7665 Corporate Center Drive | Miami FL 33126

 

 

There's no way I had over 5000 points, probably closer to 3000 at best. But I would change them in for the few dollars in slot play that they added up to so at the end of the cruise I MAY have had 100 points left on my CAS card.

[Keith1010]

Thanks for your post.

 

Keith

[KirkNC]

Thanks for your report.

[Froggitt]

They said I don't qualify for one. I said but awhile back, I was told it starts at 4500. They said they increased the threshold 3 months ago….. that I need a "theoretical LOSS", yes loss of 2500. Being that I won, my theorical loss was only in the 200 range.

Your theoretical loss remains the same whether you actually won or lost.

[CasinoCruzGirl]

Did you ever get a free cruise when you reached over 2800? I had 4500 points and they said the computation now is based on theoretical loss and not on total points. I guess it's different based on who you talk to. I'll try calling again.

 

 

Yes but I have also never ever won on NCL

[VideoTech]

..............

To summarize, if you win, keep your winnings. Do not expect to get anything from CAS. If you loose, maybe you get some. Of course this applies to small gamblers like me. People who spend 10,000 on cruises get their cruises paid for.

 

So now, I'm paying for my next one. Maybe I'll try my luck on Anthem of the Seas. Anyone know if RCL Casino is any better?

 

First of all, there's nothing unusual about this. Casinos comp their gamblers based on the amount of money they put at risk, not on what they win. This applies to land and ship casino programs.

 

NCL's CAS is actually one of the best ship's casino programs around. We have played on Carnival, Celebrity and RCI, and they didn't come close to rewarding their players the way CAS does. Yes, it does definitely depend on what you are willing to put at risk. I do not think you'll find RCI to be any different in this regard.

[jusstice]

First of all, there's nothing unusual about this. Casinos comp their gamblers based on the amount of money they put at risk, not on what they win. This applies to land and ship casino programs.

 

NCL's CAS is actually one of the best ship's casino programs around. We have played on Carnival, Celebrity and RCI, and they didn't come close to rewarding their players the way CAS does. Yes, it does definitely depend on what you are willing to put at risk. I do not think you'll find RCI to be any different in this regard.

 

I'm think NCL might be better than RCL. Just did the three day Anthem with hubby. I played more than hubby (time wise). I got more points than hubby. They have him losing more than me. He can get a comped balcony on a cruise, while I was offered a 20% discount.

[Clarea]

... Maybe I'll try my luck on Anthem of the Seas. Anyone know if RCL Casino is any better?

Royal's player's program is up in the air now. They have been trying to come up with a new program for about a year now, but it's still not released.

[ricruise]

Did the casino remain open when you docked in Florida and the private island?

[NYFirstTimeCruiser]

Did the casino remain open when you docked in Florida and the private island?

 

Closed in florida/bahamas. Open in stirrup cay

[davis9267]

Thanks for the report! Did you see anyone else winning in the casino? Or were the slots pretty tight?

[NYFirstTimeCruiser]

Thanks for the report! Did you see anyone else winning in the casino? Or were the slots pretty tight?

 

slots are really tight. I play video poker mostly since that's combo skill level play and random number generator. Slots are purely RNG and really tight. They announce if it's over 2k slot hit and they probably announce 1 a day. I heard them announce only 2 times during my cruise so they are tighter than land casinos.

[proll267]

The Breakaway Casino took a lot of my money last week lol. I did have fun playing roulette though! Slots were rough.