Not Happy With Casino Royale after Allure Trip

[janetmojo]

So I'm pretty familiar with Casino Royale's program on rccl.  We have taken quite a few discounted and free cruises from them and usually I'm pretty pleased with how it all works.  Not so on our most recent cruise a couple weeks ago on Allure.

Oddly we got nothing from the host in our room for the first 4-5 days of the trip (I had even mentioned to the host on day 2 that we didn't even get a welcome letter and was brushed off.  I am a Prime  member.) 

By day 5 of a 7 day cruise I stopped in to check my current points played and mentioned again not hearing anything from any of the casino folks all week.  No one came to check on us, I couldn't even get a drink playing at the machines.   By the end of the day they brought all kinds of stuff from the casino to the room, ha ha!

What really gets me is this.  End of cruise and I get my "free ocean view room" certificate.  Half of the eligible cruises on the list were already passed???  The host then tells me the list is "old" and they don't have the new list but if I call Casino Royale when I get home they will send me the new list.  Even telling me to play more because I will have more options than what is on that list. 

Turns out no.  So I can either travel in the next 5 months or so (when we already have 3 cruises booked) or I have to trade my certificate for just $750 credit.  Not happy.

[janetmojo]

We changed rooms about 6 weeks before we cruised?  I didn't mean we needed like constant attention or anything but a nice like hi my name is, if you need anything let us know kind of thing?

[sandebeach]

I was on Harmony last week and received a letter in my cabin (I am Prime) but that was it. I did not meet the casino host until the last night, when I went to her desk to turn in my husband's card to get his points turned in for a certificate. I am also not happy about the list of free cruises. I called Club Royale yesterday to see if I could use my free certificate for a cruise in May and was told no. I was also told that there will not be a new list until next March. I cruise again on Sunday, I am wondering, what is the point of gambling when I can not use the certificate? We already have four cruises booked through next March, using casino certificates.

[mk-ultra]

It seems like points for table game players have been absolutely gutted.  I'm Prime, and usually play blackjack at $30-$50 a hand for at least 4 hours a day, with some incidental slot play when I'm taking a break from the tables.  I just got off of Oasis yesterday, and spent 80% of my time playing two spots (so $60-$100 each deal).  Played my usual amount (which usually lands me a $750 cert in my cabin on the last night, and perks like champagne and strawberries from the casino host in my cabin).  Nada this time.

 

When I didn't see a cert on the last night I popped in to check with the casino host.  She did have a record of my table play -- but for the entire cruise I had ~300 points (which coincides with my slot play only).  Essentially no points whatsoever for playing blackjack.  I'm sorely tempted to try ratholing some black chips on my December cruise to see if they give more points for being a loser. 

Edited October 22, 2018 by mk-ultra

[CMurph]

I wonder why things have changed so much for table game players?  We haven't received a certificate on any of our cruises this year.  That would be ok, if we were to continue being Prime level.  But based on what I am reading, we won't qualify for that next year, even with 4 or 5 cruises under our belt.   I don't gamble just for the perks, but it is disappointing to receive them for so long and then suddenly they stop.

[lazydayz]

OP, we received no gifts from the casino on Allure in September and I earned enough points for a balcony certificate. And we did not change rooms. I figured the hosts were just being cheap. To add insult, when I booked with the certificate, all that was available was a balcony guaranty unless I paid $300 to upgrade to a regular balcony. No thanks. Assigned an adjoining balcony the next day and called and was moved to a hump cabin with a bigger balcony.  Same category so no extra charge. 

[gaylemh]

On 10/17/2018 at 10:36 PM, sandebeach said:

I was on Harmony last week and received a letter in my cabin (I am Prime) but that was it. I did not meet the casino host until the last night, when I went to her desk to turn in my husband's card to get his points turned in for a certificate. I am also not happy about the list of free cruises. I called Club Royale yesterday to see if I could use my free certificate for a cruise in May and was told no. I was also told that there will not be a new list until next March. I cruise again on Sunday, I am wondering, what is the point of gambling when I can not use the certificate? We already have four cruises booked through next March, using casino certificates.

I was told on Anthem last week that the new certificates would be out the end of November.

 

[lonig]

I received an oceanview certificate in October while on a cruise.  I had booked a cruise for June of 2019 while on the cruise.  Called the casino royale line after I got home and they allowed me to take the $500 off and the $100 my daughter received.  Then I received a mailer two weeks ago for a free cruise.  Booked a Cuba cruise in February 2019 for free.  So now I have a free 2019 Cuba cruise, a free Bahama that I received from a June 2018 cruise and a discount on a June 2019 Caribbean cruise.  I am not complaining.  The free cruise mailer I got was for close in cruises until April and mostly 5 day trips.  Wonder if RCCL is going to use these mail offers until the new program gets in place.  Not sure if I will qualify for prime after March 2019.

[abonarek]

I was pretty unhappy with Casino Royale after my last trip too. I was in India for work and decided to extend my stay by taking a 5-day out of Singapore using a casino offer.  I'm a Prime member too, and while I didn't have a completely comped trip (being out of Michigan, my offers are not Asia-based), I had no attention from the hosts at all. None. No welcome letter, nothing. 

This was an odd cruise in that the casino was open limited hours - one port day was 7 am to 11pm, so the casino didn't even open until after midnight - and one sea day. I probably didn't gamble my usual amount as  result, but I was shocked at how few points my typical $65/hand on UTH earned. 

The last day when I went to inquire with a host about my status, she actually raised her voice at me - I had to file a complaint. That was interesting, they were all over themselves apologizing.

So a very odd trip. Although Singapore and Thailand were amazing!

[mk-ultra]

Just got off Allure last week.  This was my 2nd data point (first was Oasis in October) to see if the points for table gaming are as gutted as I suspected from my last cruise.

 

They are.  Played BJ ~4 hours a day, $50-$100 per hand at the $25+ tables.  My points at the end of the cruise?  ~300.  All of that appears to be my incidental slot play.  I don't think I earned a single point from table play.  I had a lot of play-through at the table, but in the end they only took me for $700 over the cruise.

 

Got a (chuckle) $200 off certificate from CR.  That's essentially less than worthless, since I'd have to give up my suite OBC to use it.

Edited December 22, 2018 by mk-ultra

[gaylemh]

16 minutes ago, mk-ultra said:

Just got off Allure last week.  This was my 2nd data point (first was Oasis in October) to see if the points for table gaming are as gutted as I suspected from my last cruise.

 

They are.  Played BJ ~4 hours a day, $50-$100 per hand at the $25+ tables.  My points at the end of the cruise?  ~300.  All of that appears to be my incidental slot play.  I don't think I earned a single point from table play.  I had a lot of play-through at the table, but in the end they only took me for $700 over the cruise.

 

Got a (chuckle) $200 off certificate from CR.  That's essentially less than worthless, since I'd have to give up my suite OBC to use it.

I've never lost my OBC when applying a dollars off certificate from booking on board.

[OHCruisinDad]

11 hours ago, gaylemh said:

I've never lost my OBC when applying a dollars off certificate from booking on board.

 

Do you normally book onboard for the OBC and then call CR to apply a certificate or convert to a fully comped cruise?

[gaylemh]

2 minutes ago, OHCruisinDad said:

 

Do you normally book onboard for the OBC and then call CR to apply a certificate or convert to a fully comped cruise?

I book on board and then apply a dollar off certificate.  If I have a fully comped cruise, it's not worth it to book on board.  You lose your OBC from booking on board. 

Edited December 23, 2018 by gaylemh

[Garmy4]

I am just off Adventure and had a very nice time.  I play video poker who plays near perfect strategy and have been mildly successful in the past.  This time however I was not as fortunate having only totaled about 1200 points while injuring a substantial loss.  My question is what types of machines or tables do most people play to max points vs. losses?

[sellwingri]

My last certificate was issued on 11/16 and it had the best list of cruises I’ve ever received.  The list has cruises with sail dates up to 12/1/2019.  I booked a 7 day cruise for next November on Anthem out of NJ as my free cruise.  Upgraded balcony to Grand suite for under $1000.

Edited December 23, 2018 by sellwingri

[gaylemh]

33 minutes ago, sellwingri said:

My last certificate was issued on 11/16 and it had the best list of cruises I’ve ever received.  The list has cruises with sail dates up to 12/1/2019.  I booked a 7 day cruise for next November on Anthem out of NJ as my free cruise.  Upgraded balcony to Grand suite for under $1000.

I had the inside certificate for a free cruise. I had already booked the 11/16/19 cruise on board, and had received $200 OBC.  It actually came out cheaper for me to use the $500 off instead of using the certificate and upgrading to a balcony cabin.  When you are sailing solo and have the 150% rate with OBC from booking on board it's sometimes better to just use the dollars off.  When I consider the $200 OBC it only cost me $203 for a full size balcony cabin, including taxes and port charges.  It was about $150 more using the certificate as a free inside, losing my OBC.

[OHCruisinDad]

22 hours ago, gaylemh said:

I book on board and then apply a dollar off certificate.  If I have a fully comped cruise, it's not worth it to book on board.  You lose your OBC from booking on board. 

 

Thanks for the response and info.  That makes sense.

[nvance724]

I wasnt aware you could use a casino certificate on board. I thought you could only use them through the casino office.  I have a 300$ cert from last cruise and it doesnt expire while Im on board in 2 weeks. Can I book onboard and use it then?

[EZ1]

4 hours ago, nvance724 said:

I wasnt aware you could use a casino certificate on board. I thought you could only use them through the casino office.  I have a 300$ cert from last cruise and it doesnt expire while Im on board in 2 weeks. Can I book onboard and use it then?

Yes, you can go to Next Cruise on the next ship & book it with them.

But, you can only get the onboard credit from NextCruise, if you book while still on the original ship where you got the certificate from.

We tried to do exactly that. We were on allure & 1 week later on the Majesty. I used the cert. on the  majesty,(on the 2nd day of the cruise-no lines) that we got from the allure. On both ships, the NextCruise staff thought we would be able to get the OBC.  They didnt know, they dont work with casino people that often. After creating the booking on the Majesty, I had to call casino royale(they let me at guest services) so they could enter the correct amount for the booking with the certificate. The NextCruise guy isnt allowed to call them. That's when I found out it has to be booked on the same cruise you get it from , to get the OBC-oh well. But we get the certificate on the last day or so, when it is so crowded at Next Cruise & also at guest services where you have to call casino royale & then wait on the phone for them , & then go back to the NextCruise office-not really worth it to get some OBC.  Still was good to do it on the ship, & they give you the confirmation right there. But not good, holding on for 30 min, waiting for casino royale to  pick up.