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Considering Leaving NCL for another line


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I've been putting on 4000 - 6000 points a cruise and they've been giving me a balcony each cruise. I book through my NCM Caesars host, so I don't know if that makes a difference. Next time, I should try CAS directly and see what they offer.

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I've been putting on 4000 - 6000 points a cruise and they've been giving me a balcony each cruise. I book through my NCM Caesars host, so I don't know if that makes a difference. Next time, I should try CAS directly and see what they offer.

 

Are you SevenStars with Caesars? CET offers me balcony cruises but of course I have to go to Vegas and play for a couple of days to pick them up.

 

That's why I've been thinking it's 'cheaper' to just use my free play offers at Vegas and book my cruises directly from CAS.....even if they are OceanView or insides. I'm just rearranging where my gambling $$ go.

Edited by Sand and Seas
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I only play video poker and if it's like Vegas, we just don't get the comps that slot players get. And I don't play the same $$ per day on board that I play in Vegas. At CET I'm SevenStar. Not sure why Vegas CET offers me Balcony cruises and New Orleans offers me Ocean view or Inside.

 

I'm not going to leave NCL (at least for now) as we enjoy their cruises. The most I've ever lost on board is $3000 and that got me the Ocean View offer. When I've won, I'm happy enough with an inside offer (which I might not book.) Cruising four or five times a year with NCL at the present. I'm guessing they are looking at my past couple of cruises when they decide on my cabin level. Thanks to all here for sharing their experiences. It is very confusing!

 

I don't believe it has anything to do with what you play. Like you, I'm mostly a VP player but also play the slots just to run the points up...and since the VP paytables are so bad. The are only two differences for VP players: First, you have to play twice as much to get the same number of points, and second, you're regarded as an "advantage" player since you can calculate the payback on your machine.

 

IMO, it has everything to do with whether you book through CAS or use Casino certificates. The casino certificates are programs that CAS negotiates with the land based casinos. Those are most likely set for a certain cabin level. You're always better off calling CAS directly, and negotiating with them. Since you're Seven Stars, you should easily be able to get better offers than what you're getting through your land based casino.

 

And yes, of course CAS is looking at your play history when they make their offers. The other things that affect what you're offered are how popular the cruise itinerary is, and the dates of the cruise.

 

CAS works like airline "miles" seats. They get a certain number of cabins from NCL one each cruise to use as comps, and if the cruise is a popular one, at good dates, then - just like airline miles seats - the number and type of cabins available to CAS goes down.

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About a year ago, one of the CAS agents told me cabins offered were based on your actual or theoretical loss.

 

He said Inside cabins were $2000 to $2900 loss; Ocean View $2900 to 3500; and Balcony was above $3500. (I didn't ask above that.)

 

Do you think they have changed this? If so, have you been told new numbers?

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I have thought about switching to another cruise line but I would have to pay for the first cruise and the cost can really add up when you factor in airfare and hotel. I've been Golden for the past couple of years on NCL and I usually get decent offers from CAS for balcony or mini suites and some with slot tournaments or other incentives. My last offer is for a European cruise that includes airfare, hotel and transfers. It's only an inside cabin but I was pleasantly surprised that I got the offer at all. We're thinking about upgrading to a balcony but that would cost more than the cruise itself. We also got the UBP and free internet. All in it cost us $483.00 pp. including the gratuities for the beverage plan. This offer was too good to pass up, so I'll be sticking with NCL as long as they keep sending offers like this one.

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I've been putting on 4000 - 6000 points a cruise and they've been giving me a balcony each cruise. I book through my NCM Caesars host, so I don't know if that makes a difference. Next time, I should try CAS directly and see what they offer.

 

 

This sharing of Info really DOES help. I am beginning to re-think my Booking ways...... like going to CAS directly to see what my offers are....before getting anymore Cruise vouchers from CET (I'm Diam., mostly VP player, and usually pickup vouchers in Vegas or Tahoe) which have Always been for Inside cabins.

 

Now, I Have gotten some very nice itineraries, like some 15 days, like a couple of you have booked......but we have Not been able to book those long stints, YET.

 

In the meantime, think I will have to call NCL CAS directly. (although I HATE calling them, its usually 45 min Wait time, IF they ever pickup?)

 

If there is a good day or time to get someone to Answer their phone in under 45 mins? Please share.:confused:

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I call CAS first thing in the morning thinking Eastern Time. Haven't had to wait too long unless it's the last day of a promo, etc.

 

And I totally agree! This sharing of info is making me rethink the way I will approach booking a cruise with CAS. Thanks everyone!

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About a year ago, one of the CAS agents told me cabins offered were based on your actual or theoretical loss.

 

He said Inside cabins were $2000 to $2900 loss; Ocean View $2900 to 3500; and Balcony was above $3500. (I didn't ask above that.)

 

Do you think they have changed this? If so, have you been told new numbers?

 

That is what I was quoted this past year as well. Prior to that, I think it was all about $500 less per level, they ratcheted up slightly. And yes, they take the better number for you between theo and actual. The only thing that gets me is how they treat it when you have a W2G. They consider that their money, so even when you play it back, they take it off the top on the actual calculation. Only casino I play at where they give you less incentive to gamble your winnings back. I have been lucky enough on the last few to get multiple W2Gs, but I sincerely believe that the W2G is the trigger. Last trip I had without any tax forms was the Breakaway where we had lots of winners between 500-1000, but gambled them all back. Our actual came out astronomical, but that was the best offer we received.

 

Based on how we believe the W2Gs are treated, we now pocket those any time we get them, and just stick to our normal gambling budget. I figure if we want a suite, we can pay the upgrade fee with that money. :)

Edited by clcjdn
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About a year ago, one of the CAS agents told me cabins offered were based on your actual or theoretical loss.

 

He said Inside cabins were $2000 to $2900 loss; Ocean View $2900 to 3500; and Balcony was above $3500. (I didn't ask above that.)

 

Do you think they have changed this? If so, have you been told new numbers?

 

Those numbers seem generally about right from our experience. Of course the cabin offers are based on what you put at risk. That's the whole point for them. And of course you'll get better (or at least more) offers after a cruise with higher actual loss. They like that - and that's exactly how most land based casinos work too.

 

It's also worth reminding everyone that your play at any land based casino has *nothing* to do with what NCL/CAS offers you. There is no direct relationship between CAS and any other casino system, including CET.

 

Walking in cold to CAS, the best that your CET status will get you is a 20% discount on the cabin of your choice. If you book through a CET marketing rep, there is some advantage as the CET rep can offer CAS information about your status with CET and perhaps generally discuss the kind of player you are. But the bottom line is that you are an unknown quantity to CAS until you take your first cruise and establish a history of play with them.

 

If you're already cruising with CAS, have a history of play, and you're not happy with the offers you're getting from CAS (not from your casino), then the simple answer is that you're not putting enough at risk for them to offer you more. Do not judge by the cruise offers you're getting from your land based casinos. Those are large scale marketing programs, often actually run by your land based casino and not CAS, who purchases blocks of rooms from NCL/CAS to use in the promotion. The land offers often have nothing to do with your play. You are simply selected for those because you are a player who might want to take a cruise.

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And yes, of course CAS is looking at your play history when they make their offers. The other things that affect what you're offered are how popular the cruise itinerary is, and the dates of the cruise.

 

CAS works like airline "miles" seats. They get a certain number of cabins from NCL one each cruise to use as comps, and if the cruise is a popular one, at good dates, then - just like airline miles seats - the number and type of cabins available to CAS goes down.

 

Excellent advice here, and throughout this thread from all of you!

 

The 'airline miles seats' correlation to the number/type of CAS cabins available makes sense. Before we 'early' retired, I've just called and asked to book for a certain ship and date a year out. Now that we are free to travel whenever I'll be ready to ask them about closer 'non-peak' dates and a couple of ships.

 

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences:D

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Are you SevenStars with Caesars? CET offers me balcony cruises but of course I have to go to Vegas and play for a couple of days to pick them up.

 

That's why I've been thinking it's 'cheaper' to just use my free play offers at Vegas and book my cruises directly from CAS.....even if they are OceanView or insides. I'm just rearranging where my gambling $$ go.

 

I'm Seven Stars - I haven't bothered picking up cruise certificates at land casinos because I've been able to get a balcony whenever I've wanted to go on a cruise. The gal that's my NCM host is always very helpful so I don't know if I'm getting the balcony because of her input or if it's based on my cruise history with NCL. I'm assuming NCL would not be giving me a balcony if I didn't meet with whatever criteria they have.

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BTW, I'm also a VP player - gag at the paytables on the ships, though:(

 

Those pay-tables are horrid:eek:

 

I've always considered playing on board 'just for fun' and it keeps me at low denoms. When I go to Vegas I play more seriously and we really enjoy what SevenStar with CET gets us. Now that I want more comped cruises from CAS I have to make adjustments and figure out the best/cheapest way to get what we want with NCL.

 

We do love NCL compared to the cruise-lines we used to go on, so for now I'm glad we are helping each other figure it out!

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I figure those low paytables are the price of doing business....get worse paytables but get to go to lots of places or get better paytables but stick to going to Vegas. I try to do Vegas one to three times a year (depending on play results) and one to three cruises a year (depending on time off from work). We play with a set budget divided up into sessions either way, so for me it is about the same, especially since we get UBP now.

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I figure those low paytables are the price of doing business....get worse paytables but get to go to lots of places or get better paytables but stick to going to Vegas. I try to do Vegas one to three times a year (depending on play results) and one to three cruises a year (depending on time off from work). We play with a set budget divided up into sessions either way, so for me it is about the same, especially since we get UBP now.

 

Agree about the pay tables. Since they're not much better in land based casinos, and since I'm going to play anyway, I'd rather cruise and play than sit in Vegas or Laughlin or wherever and play.

 

As with all things related to gambling and comps, it's an entertainment choice you make. If you really looked at the true cost of getting the comps by gambling, you'd never wager a penny. You'd just pay for the cruise.

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  • 4 weeks later...

I agree with most of what everyone is saying except the land based offers. We're only diamond with CET, but have been for years now. Our best offers from them have come immediately after a big win. We usually just get regular rooms or small suites, maybe a show or dinner, a little paying money. After big wins, it's penthouse suites, shows, much bigger gambling money. I always assumed they wanted to make sure we spent those winnings with them. I will say that doesn't appear to be the case with CAS though.

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I agree with most of what everyone is saying except the land based offers. We're only diamond with CET, but have been for years now. Our best offers from them have come immediately after a big win. We usually just get regular rooms or small suites, maybe a show or dinner, a little paying money. After big wins, it's penthouse suites, shows, much bigger gambling money. I always assumed they wanted to make sure we spent those winnings with them. I will say that doesn't appear to be the case with CAS though.

 

We have been SevenStar with CET for years. Always good rooms and welcome backs even after winning trips. As many of us have noted, if you have a winning...or break even:rolleyes: trip with CAS, your offer of your next cabin goes down.

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We have been SevenStar with CET for years. Always good rooms and welcome backs even after winning trips. As many of us have noted, if you have a winning...or break even:rolleyes: trip with CAS, your offer of your next cabin goes down.

 

I play slots. Hubby plays craps. We have received free cruise offers in the mail but so far at time we could not use. I've enjoyed reading these posts but must admit ignorance not knowing was CAS and CET stand for. We generally cruise Princess but have never met a casino manager or hostess. What are we doing wrong:confused:

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I play slots. Hubby plays craps. We have received free cruise offers in the mail but so far at time we could not use. I've enjoyed reading these posts but must admit ignorance not knowing was CAS and CET stand for. We generally cruise Princess but have never met a casino manager or hostess. What are we doing wrong:confused:

 

 

CAS = Casinos At Sea ( Norwegian )

CET = Caeser's Entertainment (Harrahs, Caesers, etc)

 

As for what you are doing wrong, can't answer that! I just know what the abbreviations were! :)

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What kind of comps do you get from the casino at the end of your CAS cruise? What stuff do they pay for off your bill? And do they always do this or just if you lose a lot? Do the casino drink cards only cover water, soda, beer, and wine? Any other perks one can expect?

 

I'm taking my first comped CAS cruise this December and want to know what to look forward to.

 

Thanks!

 

~ Nancy : )

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What kind of comps do you get from the casino at the end of your CAS cruise? What stuff do they pay for off your bill? And do they always do this or just if you lose a lot? Do the casino drink cards only cover water, soda, beer, and wine? Any other perks one can expect?

 

I'm taking my first comped CAS cruise this December and want to know what to look forward to.

 

Thanks!

 

~ Nancy : )

 

They can cover charges off your bill for specialty dinners, spa, shore excursions, drinks outside the casino, and once they comped my gift shop purchases for small items like T-shirts and cosmetics. There is no guarantee though! If you happen to 'win' you won't see as much in comps as when you lose.

 

Your drink card in the casino covers 'well' drinks, bottled water and energy drinks. If you get enough points during the year you can earn higher categories of drinks plus food & spa credit.

 

After you have a couple days of play you could always talk with a casino host and ask if you will be eligible for comps.

 

Have fun!

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After you have a couple days of play you could always talk with a casino host and ask if you will be eligible for comps.

 

Have fun!

 

The magic number of points to start talking to hosts is 2500 for the cruise. I have been Hot or Golden since my first trip, and every time I try to ask questions before I get to 2500 points I get the brush off for the most part.

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The magic number of points to start talking to hosts is 2500 for the cruise. I have been Hot or Golden since my first trip, and every time I try to ask questions before I get to 2500 points I get the brush off for the most part.

 

Brush off or not the points will roll over for 18 months so you do not lose them though if under 2500 points that will greatly affect your next comp as insides generally start around 2700-2800 points, though if you travel with another gambler they will take that into account.

I like you have always been hot or golden but I have never felt like I gotten the brush off from any of the hosts from the moment I walk in the casino. They will check on me multiple times a day to see if I need anything. When close to tiering back up they will come and let me know how short I am so I can make sure to bank the points. I find the hosts very attentive, especially on the BA.

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