Help me understand the CAS benefits

[jobey]

We sailed for the first time on NCL last year. Although I couldn't imagine that I played enough in the casino, this spring we were invited on a comped cruise, with just a few from which to choose ($200pp admin fee).

 

We chose the Getaway as it was the only FL sailing. The casino issued us new (Lucky) players cards and drink cards. We had the UBP, so we used their drink card mainly for lattes, bottled water, and Red Bull. The slots were super-tight compared to our previous cruise, so we lost almost continuously and didn't reach much of a point count.

 

About a month ago we got another invitation for a comped cruise, this time an OV on the Escape. We will probably still be on the Lucky tier, but drink cards are again part of the plan. We skipped the UBP this time.

 

My question is why are we getting casino drink cards on the Lucky tier when on NCL's site (and everywhere else I've found) it says that the free drinks start with Hot? Is it because of the comped cruise? Are these cards not linked to the players card? Are they limited to well drinks? :confused:

[Sand and Seas]

 

My question is why are we getting casino drink cards on the Lucky tier when on NCL's site (and everywhere else I've found) it says that the free drinks start with Hot? Is it because of the comped cruise? Are these cards not linked to the players card? Are they limited to well drinks? :confused:

 

Everyone who is invited on a CAS 'comped' cruise will get the 'free drinks while playing' card. Plus if you are sailing with someone else in your room over 21 they will get it also. If you get to 'Hot' status during their players club year (April 1st to March 31st) you will be eligible for upgraded drinks in the casino. We used ours for Mudslides and BBCs when we didn't have the UBP.

 

We still like to take the UBP for use everywhere else on the ship even though we aren't big drinkers. And as you noted, we use our CAS card to get the free bottled water or Red Bull in the casino.

[Sand and Seas]

There is a lot of great information at the Cruise Conversations- Casino forum here on Cruise Critic.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=586

[BirdTravels]

Since you are being invited, don't limit yourself to the cruises in the offers. You can always call CAS and request any cruise. They may comp you. Never hurts to ask.

[Casino Comp Chick]

Everyone who is invited on a CAS 'comped' cruise will get the 'free drinks while playing' card. Plus if you are sailing with someone else in your room over 21 they will get it also. If you get to 'Hot' status during their players club year (April 1st to March 31st) you will be eligible for upgraded drinks in the casino. We used ours for Mudslides and BBCs when we didn't have the UBP.

 

We still like to take the UBP for use everywhere else on the ship even though we aren't big drinkers. And as you noted, we use our CAS card to get the free bottled water or Red Bull in the casino.

 

Lucky & Hot tier have the same well drinks. It is only Golden (Premium drinks) & VIP (Ultra Premium drinks) that get upgraded drinks.

Anyone over 21 in your cabin gets the drink card based on your invite no matter how many in your room.

Edited August 5, 2016 by Casino Comp Chick

[jobey]

Since you are being invited, don't limit yourself to the cruises in the offers. You can always call CAS and request any cruise. They may comp you. Never hurts to ask.

 

When I called to book (both times) I asked about other comped cruises and was told I could choose only what was specified on the mailer I received.

[jobey]

Lucky & Hot tier have the same well drinks. It is only Golden (Premium drinks) & VIP (Ultra Premium drinks) that get upgraded drinks.

Anyone over 21 in your cabin gets the drink card based on your invite no matter how many in your room.

 

Per NCL, Lucky tier does not get free drinks.

[NLH Arizona]

When I called to book (both times) I asked about other comped cruises and was told I could choose only what was specified on the mailer I received.

On my second NCL cruise, I booked getting the Harrah's discount and then when I was going to book my third cruise, I saw posts about booking through CAS and called them. Based off my play, I usually get comped a balcony or mini suite and always upgrade to an aft penthouse (stayed in a balcony on my first two cruises and it was just to small and for the extra money, I'd rather have the suite perks versus a mini suite that has none), so even though it cost me the upgrade amount and port charges and taxes, it is still a good deal....not free, but still a great price.

 

After your cruise, call CAS and ask them what price they will give you on a new cruise that you have picked (make sure you have a cruise picked out and know what the going price it is for comparison). I currently have a number of cruises booked with CAS and will book another after I return from my cruise in December.

 

Hope this helps.

[Sand and Seas]

Lucky & Hot tier have the same well drinks. It is only Golden (Premium drinks) & VIP (Ultra Premium drinks) that get upgraded drinks.

Anyone over 21 in your cabin gets the drink card based on your invite no matter how many in your room.

 

Thanks for the correction! I'm pretty sure I was Gold level at the time we got the upgraded drinks. I would like to note that although just being Lucky level doesn't get you the free drinks, if you are in a CAS comped cabin it doesn't matter if it is your first cruise with them....you will get the free drinks. My son took three friends along in his cabin (all over 21) and they all got the free drinks in the casino. The players cards with attached free drink card were waiting for all of them in their cabin. They were all Lucky tier which is the first tier.

[fstuff1]

Everyone who is invited on a CAS 'comped' cruise will get the 'free drinks while playing' card. Plus if you are sailing with someone else in your room over 21 they will get it also. If you get to 'Hot' status during their players club year (April 1st to March 31st) you will be eligible for upgraded drinks in the casino. We used ours for Mudslides and BBCs when we didn't have the UBP.

 

We still like to take the UBP for use everywhere else on the ship even though we aren't big drinkers. And as you noted, we use our CAS card to get the free bottled water or Red Bull in the casino.

thought HOT status for regular passengers got you the same drink card as CAS comped passengers?

 

so CAS passengers who get to HOT get an upgraded drink card??

[NLH Arizona]

Thanks for the correction! I'm pretty sure I was Gold level at the time we got the upgraded drinks. I would like to note that although just being Lucky level doesn't get you the free drinks, if you are in a CAS comped cabin it doesn't matter if it is your first cruise with them....you will get the free drinks. My son took three friends along in his cabin (all over 21) and they all got the free drinks in the casino. The players cards with attached free drink card were waiting for all of them in their cabin. They were all Lucky tier which is the first tier.

I also thought it was if you booked using the Harrah's discount or booked through CAS, you always got the drink card.

[Sand and Seas]

I also thought it was if you booked using the Harrah's discount or booked through CAS, you always got the drink card.

 

I've booked all of our cruises using either a Harrah's comped cabin certificate or getting a comp directly from CAS. I'm not sure if using the Harrah's discount for your tier with them will get you the drink card but I would guess it does. Perhaps someone else here can confirm that for you.

[jobey]

Ok, so a couple more questions.

 

If you sail as Hot or above but not on a CAS-comped cruise, do you get the actual drink card or does the bartender just go by the players card?

 

If you are on a comped cruise, does having the drink card get you any drinks you want, or is it still based on your tier?

 

We had the UBP on the comped cruise, so I'm not sure what would have been covered by the drink card. I'm asking for the experience of those who have sailed on a comped cruise without the UBP.

[NLH Arizona]

Ok, so a couple more questions.

 

If you sail as Hot or above but not on a CAS-comped cruise, do you get the actual drink card or does the bartender just go by the players card? You get a drink card.

If you are on a comped cruise, does having the drink card get you any drinks you want, or is it still based on your tier? Depends on your tier, whether you get house, premium or ultra brands.

 

We had the UBP on the comped cruise, so I'm not sure what would have been covered by the drink card. I'm asking for the experience of those who have sailed on a comped cruise without the UBP. You will get a drink card, but they will use your UBP for most drinks in the casino. If you want water, they will use the CAS drink card. If you don't have the UBP, all drinks in the casino will go under the CAS drink card.

Hope this helps. Edited August 5, 2016 by NLH Arizona

[CruisinHarvey]

Both DW and I are both Hot status. The drink card provides for house drinks, just like Lucky status, in the casino. Any time we book through CAS, whether it's a land casino voucher or a CAS comp, we get the drink card. If we have UBP, we just use it for bottled water, since that's not covered by UBP. We also get $75 each in food and beverage credit each cruise. It used to be one dinner each for HOT, but since the NCL change to a la carte venues, it's easier to give a credit, so the player can choose how to use it.

 

Just an tip - Everything is coded in your room key. So having the players card, when ordering drinks in the casino, is really not needed. When they swipe your room card, it's knows what you have.

[pcakes122]

We still like to take the UBP for use everywhere else on the ship even though we aren't big drinkers.

Not a big drinker either, but I do occasionally have wine with dinner and/or a few cocktails lying in the sun. I always used to get the UBP to cover those as well, but the first time I didn't I noticed that at the end of the cruise the casino picked up all my non-casino drinks as well (this was prior to the flat CAS F&B credit.) So I stopped picking it as a promo, and the casino has continued to cover those non-casino drink charges.

[Sand and Seas]

Not a big drinker either, but I do occasionally have wine with dinner and/or a few cocktails lying in the sun. I always used to get the UBP to cover those as well, but the first time I didn't I noticed that at the end of the cruise the casino picked up all my non-casino drinks as well (this was prior to the flat CAS F&B credit.) So I stopped picking it as a promo, and the casino has continued to cover those non-casino drink charges.

 

If you play enough, the casino will pick up a lot of things you charged to your onboard account, unless you have a winning trip. You can never tell what they might payoff from your account until that last night.

[goldfada]

Just an tip - Everything is coded in your room key. So having the players card, when ordering drinks in the casino, is really not needed. When they swipe your room card, it's knows what you have.

 

While the UBP is coded to your room key, the free drink card is not. More than once, I was billed for drinks that should have been free. (A visit to the Player's Club resulted in the charges being removed.) Coffee and water are free if you show your free drink card, but you will be billed if you show only your room key even if you have the UBP.

[Nola26]

Per NCL, Lucky tier does not get free drinks.

 

In this case OP is Lucky with a comp drink card, so the well drinks apply.

[dporter]

We gamble every day on a cruise, how do we get in on free cruise offers?

[AdoraBelle]

We gamble every day on a cruise, how do we get in on free cruise offers?

 

 

https://www.ncl.com/why-cruise-norwegian/casino-cruise/players-club

[Sand and Seas]

We gamble every day on a cruise, how do we get in on free cruise offers?

 

If you play slots or video poker, make sure you are playing with your card in the machine. You can get a players card at the booth. On some (or all?) ships your room key card will work but I prefer a players card. Then they can track your $$ played and how much time you are playing. From there you will need to check with CAS after your cruise to see if you qualify for reduced cost or 'free' cruises. (You do pay an admin fee, port fees, etc.) You could also talk with a casino host after you have showed some good play to ask them to check on how your play is looking.

 

If you play tables, you'll need to get advice from someone else here. This is basic advice, but if you have particulars about what you play and how many points you earn in a week we could give you more advice.

[dporter]

Thank you! I will make sure I have an active players card in January 2017

[Casino Comp Chick]

Per NCL, Lucky tier does not get free drinks.

 

Yes it does if you have any comped room you get a drink card. If you are not a CAS guest and you go to the casino and get a "new" lucky card then no you do not get free drinks.