Free cruises by playing in the casino

[zaccruiser]

So I have briefly talked to a number of casino guests who get loads of free cruises comped by the casino. Obviously they have to play in there, but does anyone know how the plays are tracked? I assume its biased on the amount of play not the amount you win or loose?

 

Any ideas and tips?

[dplusd]

It is the amount played, not won or lost. Slot activity is tracked on your sea pass card. Table games tracked by the dealers...not sure exactly how since I only play slots.

 

I play slots some, accumulating 300-400 points which is enough for a key chain...maybe a hat or t-shirt! There is a point conversion chart at the casino cashier, but I don't have a photo of it to share. I think you may need 2,000 points to earn a free cruise (inside cabin). They are not in the business of giving away free cruises to a casual player.

[cruisemomandson07]

It is the amount played, not won or lost. Slot activity is tracked on your sea pass card. Table games tracked by the dealers...not sure exactly how since I only play slots.

 

 

 

I play slots some, accumulating 300-400 points which is enough for a key chain...maybe a hat or t-shirt! There is a point conversion chart at the casino cashier, but I don't have a photo of it to share. I think you may need 2,000 points to earn a free cruise (inside cabin). They are not in the business of giving away free cruises to a casual player.

 

 

 

How much money spent is 2,000 points??

 

 

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[Retired LEO]

You get 1 point for every $5.00 spent on the slots.

The points awarded are in increments of 400

 

400 points = $100.00 off future cruise

800 points = $200.00 off future cruise

1200 points = $300.00 off future cruise

1600 points = $400.00 off future cruise

2000 points = $500.00 off future cruise

2400 points = Free cruise (inside cabin)

 

I believe it's 4800 points for a free cruise in a balcony cabin

[dplusd]

You get 1 point for every $5.00 spent on the slots.

The points awarded are in increments of 400

 

400 points = $100.00 off future cruise

800 points = $200.00 off future cruise

1200 points = $300.00 off future cruise

1600 points = $400.00 off future cruise

2000 points = $500.00 off future cruise

2400 points = Free cruise (inside cabin)

 

I believe it's 4800 points for a free cruise in a balcony cabin

 

Curious, is the 2,400 points for a free inside cabin for two people or just one berth?

[LeeW]

Cabin. And even if you play a lot less you will start getting emails with offers for discounts on regular cruises or tournament cruises. Only catch on the discount is that like other discounts it can't be combined with other promotions. In our case with smaller discounts the current promotion for booking is better than our discount.

[Retired LEO]

Curious, is the 2,400 points for a free inside cabin for two people or just one berth?

 

It's for 2. Just pay taxes and fees.

[sanmarcosman]

I assume its biased on the amount of play not the amount you win or loose?

Yes, it's biased in favor of the house :D

[zaccruiser]

Great information, thanks so much. I still want to know how they track it at the tables ?

[cb at sea]

When you sit down, ask to be "rated",, and they will track your play. Most games require about $20 per hand for about 4 hours per day...unless you're on a winning streak, that can be an expensive "free" cruise!!

[Ambiverol]

Great information, thanks so much. I still want to know how they track it at the tables ?

Like land based casinos, except your sea pass card acts as your players club card.

 

Sit down. Pass over cash and your sea pass card to dealer. Dealer gives you chips. Pit boss enters your sea pass info into a computer, how much $$ you bought, and periodically types in your bet amounts. Computer tracks. Average bet multiplied by time there determines your comps, win or lose.

[ToothDoc78]

We got the free cruise oceanview cabin certificates last cruise (DH and I each got one). I believe it was 3600 points. Its a free cruise in an oceanview cabin on select sailings (they give you a list) or $750 off (per certificate) any cruise. When you call to book, you call a special number and book through Casino Royale. They often have additional "casino rates" too for some rooms/sailings. We were able to combine our 2 certificates and are sailing on the Brilliance in February (4 night) for free, just paid taxes, fees, and gratuities (about $270 for both of us).

We tend to play 2-3 hours a day in the casino on sea days, usually less on port days. We play some slots but tend to play tables more. You do get rated better for slots than tables, however. Remember points are not based on how much you lose. If you put $20 in a slot, you're getting points for every so many dollars you play, so if you're going up and down on that original $20 for a while, you earn more points then if you keep betting and lose it all right away. The past cruise, we actually walked away just about even on our gambling budget, so I can consider the certificates a bonus. If you lose, obviously you may be paying for your free cruise (and then some!). We have a separate budget for the casino for the week and when it's gone, we don't take out more.

[samiam0403]

For me, the point values for a free cruise weren't the standard. I sailed on Enchantment earlier this year (first Royal cruise - a music charter), and earned just over 1200 points in the 3 days. I received $300 off worth of certificates, but didn't use them. A few months later, I began receiving offers for free cruises. I booked a short 3 day on Majesty in an oceanview (it was all the vacation time I had available at the time) for $81 - taxes and fees. I'm still receiving offers for additional free cruises, entries into slot tourney sailings, etc. Don't know if it's because they're trying to lure me and my gambling degenerate ways away from NCL and CCL, but I'll take whatever they offer! :')

[sellwingri]

I strictly play Ultimate Texas Holdem and Three card Poker and have found that the accumulation of points varies by ship. After being awarded several free cruises (ocean view or balcony) over the past 2 years, the requirements are becoming much more stringent. On my last cruise on Oasis 3 weeks ago, I played, per the casinos tracking, 34 hours with a minimum bet of $30 to $70. On day 6, they gave me a certificate for a free cruise in an inside cabin. After complaining to the Casino Manager and several follow ups, they upgraded it to an Ocean View and then Balcony.

 

The bottom line is that I've actually been cruising too often (6 times in the past 12 months) which is what they want. I've been spending/losing way too much so I'm scaling down. I just used the $1000 off a cruise next year.

[geomancer]

You get 1 point for every $5.00 spent on the slots.

The points awarded are in increments of 400

 

400 points = $100.00 off future cruise

800 points = $200.00 off future cruise

1200 points = $300.00 off future cruise

1600 points = $400.00 off future cruise

2000 points = $500.00 off future cruise

2400 points = Free cruise (inside cabin)

 

I believe it's 4800 points for a free cruise in a balcony cabin

 

2400 x $5 = $12,000

 

...I don't know what kind of inside cabin that is, but there's one too many zeros in that! :eek:

[Kmkub]

2400 x $5 = $12,000

 

...I don't know what kind of inside cabin that is, but there's one too many zeros in that! :eek:

If you come even close to breaking even it's a great deal. You need to be willing to risk though. Not for us, but I saw at least three people with over a thousand I a slot machine

[geomancer]

If you come even close to breaking even it's a great deal. You need to be willing to risk though. Not for us, but I saw at least three people with over a thousand I a slot machine

 

If you think you'll "come even close to breaking even" I've got a casino you should visit here in my swamp ;p

 

Especially since my casino happens to be located outside of the jurisdiction of any gambling commissions...

 

Yes, yes, it can and does happen to some people, but they're very much the exception (especially when taken as a whole, rather than a single night or cruise).

[Tin can]

2400 x $5 = $12,000

 

 

 

...I don't know what kind of inside cabin that is, but there's one too many zeros in that! :eek:

 

 

 

Wow.... I don’t know why I’m so shocked at the amount required to be staked but I am. You would surely have to live at the slots to get through that much on a 7 night cruise.

 

 

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[Kmkub]

If you think you'll "come even close to breaking even" I've got a casino you should visit here in my swamp ;p

I spent a lot of time on the cruise. With just $40, I can continuously play for a couple of hours on the penny slots. I go up to 50, down to 30, up to 60, down to 40,up to 45, down to 25 .... and so it goes.

 

Each of those new bets counts as points, even though I'm still playing on my original $40. So that's a lot of house money I'm using as bets.

 

I'm not saying it's easy, but like I said, I saw people with over $1,000 in their slot machine. Those people definitely have a chance to accumulate points by playing with some house money.

[cruisegirl1]

You have to play a lot or play near or at the slot machine max to get enough points for a free cruise. We played all week, but generally play the min bet which is 30-80 cents per pull and it took all week to get enough points to get $100 off a future cruise certificate (400 points) . Over the week, we lost just under $200. We would have played slots anyway so even though we lost nearly $200, the certificate was somewhat of a bonus.

 

good luck

m

[Ambiverol]

You have to play a lot or play near or at the slot machine max to get enough points for a free cruise. We played all week, but generally play the min bet which is 30-80 cents per pull and it took all week to get enough points to get $100 off a future cruise certificate (400 points) . Over the week, we lost just under $200. We would have played slots anyway so even though we lost nearly $200, the certificate was somewhat of a bonus.

 

good luck

m

This is a very good, real number example of what earning a "free cruise" could look like. I'll multiply your experience by 6, and we'll assume identical results:

 

Played "all week", $1.80-4.80 per pull, earned 2400 points (free inside cabin offer), lost nearly $1200.

 

I'm not saying this is good or bad, just showing what $12,000 coin-in CAN look like. Your trip had about a 90% payout rate on the slot machines, for the time you played, which falls within the standard range. Solid example.