1st time taking a Casino Premier Cruise

[sbc234]

I am taking my first Premier Cruise on the Carnival Pride.  Do you have any suggestions or advice? I don't want to miss out on any opportunities :)  Is there anything written about what goes on? I haven't been able to find anything past the lanyards and welcome aboard party.

 

Thank you!

[cfralc]

Me too...I'm not hijacking your thread, just interested! LOL

[sc4125]

I've been on several and have another one booked.  You will get a "package" when you get to your cabin and it will list all of things going on in the Casino.  There will be a lot of games and drawings that are open to Premier guests only.  In my experience, there have been a bunch of Premier guests - so you can expect the casino to be much more crowded than during a non-casino cruise. 

 

Also, all Premier & their guest will have the Drinks On Us card, so getting a drink will take quite a bit of time.  People say that as long as you tip your bar waiter, you won't have much of a wait.  I always tip at least $2 every time they bring me a drink - but depending on the # of people with the DOU card, that doesn't help much because each waiter can have 10 drink orders or more.  No matter how much $$ you give them, a bartender can only make drinks so fast.

 

I will say that if you tip and it isn't super busy, your waiter will come around and ask you what you would like to drink & go get it right away, but if he's stopped by 10 people on his way to the bar, he has to take those orders.

 

I really like the Premier cruises, but it does get really busy and at times it's difficult to find a slot machine (that you like) to play.  You do have to be patient - but it's also a lot of fun.

[Anyislandwilldo]

We were premier on the Dream in Feb.  sc4125 did a nice recap of what to expect.  I found the machines looser on the first night and then really tight the rest of the cruise.  Pay attention to the all the special promos the casino has for premier guests.  I won $500 cash in a fireball raffle in the casino.  They call your name and you have 60 seconds to find the casino host to claim the prize.  You have to be in the casino to win.  

[cfralc]

So, will my guest get gifts in cabin and entries into the special drawings etc. in the casino and at the cocktail party?  Also, where is the welcome aboard cocktail party usually held (I'll be on the Splendor)  

[bambidrummer]

I am wondering if my mom or my sister is going to be upset if they cant go the party with me.  

[Elaine5715]

8 minutes ago, bambidrummer said:

I am wondering if my mom or my sister is going to be upset if they cant go the party with me.  

If they are in your cabin, they can go to the casino party.

[bambidrummer]

That's awesome.  All three of us get the benefit of the Primier  Casion stuff.  I am so ready for this cruise.

[Midwestern Cruiser]

Have a couple of questions I'd appreciate feedback on if you've experienced anything similar.

I'm booked on a casino offer cruise in September.  Can't complete check in til June (90 days) and nothing in the online "booking  & order details" indicates it's a casino offer cruise.  Will that change once I can complete the online check-in?
I'm also curious how well CCL tracks bookings modifications.  Read on and you'll see why...

I originally booked us under the Dealer's Choice offer, but a few days later I received an email for the Premier offer (including our cruise as eligible), so I went through the booking process, saw that the upcharge was minimal and called to ask that my booking be changed.  They agreed and the added cost was included.  Next, I received a visit from the upgrade fairy and they offered to change our cove balconies to spa balconies for a flat fee per cabin.  Before making the change, I was assured that the Premier Cruise extras would still be included.  So, if the booking shows as a casino offer booking once I check in, will it also show at what level (Premier vs Dealer's Choice)?
And...final question (for now haha) I'm sailing with my daughter and her family in two cabins.  We put her kids in mine, but now I'm wondering: would they let me move her into mine and one of the kids in with dad, so that we can both get a DOU card?

Thanks in advance!

[Elaine5715]

2 hours ago, MidwesternCruiser2 said:

Have a couple of questions I'd appreciate feedback on if you've experienced anything similar.

I'm booked on a casino offer cruise in September.  Can't complete check in til June (90 days) and nothing in the online "booking  & order details" indicates it's a casino offer cruise.  Will that change once I can complete the online check-in?
I'm also curious how well CCL tracks bookings modifications.  Read on and you'll see why...

I originally booked us under the Dealer's Choice offer, but a few days later I received an email for the Premier offer (including our cruise as eligible), so I went through the booking process, saw that the upcharge was minimal and called to ask that my booking be changed.  They agreed and the added cost was included.  Next, I received a visit from the upgrade fairy and they offered to change our cove balconies to spa balconies for a flat fee per cabin.  Before making the change, I was assured that the Premier Cruise extras would still be included.  So, if the booking shows as a casino offer booking once I check in, will it also show at what level (Premier vs Dealer's Choice)?
And...final question (for now haha) I'm sailing with my daughter and her family in two cabins.  We put her kids in mine, but now I'm wondering: would they let me move her into mine and one of the kids in with dad, so that we can both get a DOU card?

Thanks in advance!

It never shows on your documents.  The upgrade offer does not affect Premier slot.  Don't know if they allow name changes on Premiers.  

[4133raw]

We also booked a Premier cruise for Feb. 2020. Only our 2nd Carnival cruise. I also did not see anything saying it was a Premier cruise after I booked online myself, so I called Carnival to make sure. They transferred me to casino dept. who looked up our booking number and confirmed. Also if I click "print documents" then it shows priority on document and on luggage tags. That is the only reason we would have priority boarding. Hope that helps...

[lazydayz]

OP, should not be a problem to switch out one kid for your daughter. I would call the casino department and have them handle it. 

[cfralc]

Where is the Premier party located on the ship?? (Splendor)  also, will both adults in the cabin get the gifts??  Entered into the drawings?

Edited April 28, 2019 by cfralc

[GLCM GUY]

• Premier Party on Splendor is in the El Morocco Lounge.  Lido deck aft.  My wife was the Premier guest (March cruise) and she got the gifts.  I did get a DOU card however.  Lots of fun and energy in the casino.  Enjoy!

[Midwestern Cruiser]

12 hours ago, 4133raw said:

We also booked a Premier cruise for Feb. 2020. Only our 2nd Carnival cruise. I also did not see anything saying it was a Premier cruise after I booked online myself, so I called Carnival to make sure. They transferred me to casino dept. who looked up our booking number and confirmed. Also if I click "print documents" then it shows priority on document and on luggage tags. That is the only reason we would have priority boarding. Hope that helps...

I will probably call after I'm able to check in online...thought it best to wait to see what my docs show.

Am wondering, are you able to "print documents" because your booking is paid in full?  I can't access anything yet, as it won't allow me to check in until June.

Thanks!

[Midwestern Cruiser]

11 hours ago, lazydayz said:

OP, should not be a problem to switch out one kid for your daughter. I would call the casino department and have them handle it. 

 

Am definitely going to do that...just wonder if I should wait til I can check in online (and see what the booking details are then).

Thanks!

 

[AAAAmerican]

CASINO Rate is wonderful, not only for the large OBC.

 

Ask your Professional ASTA Travel Agent more for your questions and needs. Ours is phenominal.

[sbc234]

Thank you to everyone who posted info on the premier cruise! I am ready for July to get here already.

[NightOne]

On 4/26/2019 at 10:03 AM, sbc234 said:

I am taking my first Premier Cruise on the Carnival Pride.  Do you have any suggestions or advice? I don't want to miss out on any opportunities 🙂 Is there anything written about what goes on? I haven't been able to find anything past the lanyards and welcome aboard party.

 

Thank you!

 

Just got off our first premier cruise and was not impressed. The priority boarding was great but everything else not so much.

 

Casino was crowded and we couldn't get on certain machines all week long. My wife had high expectations of the free gifts and giveaways but I did not and even I ended up a little disappointed. One of the gifts was 2 bottles of water. When I seen one of the casino hosts later I asked her if that was some kind of joke and she said it was not. Outside of that we got blankets, string backpacks, cookies, and chocolate covered strawberries. 

 

Of course we lost big in the casino being stuck on the less than stellar machines. All the premier events were designed to keep you in the casino the entire cruise and were not much fun. I had to miss the premier slot tournament because it was at the same time as the Behind the Fun tour. 😞

 

I wouldn't go out of my way to try to get on a premier cruise in the future, In fact I might actually avoid them.

[Midwestern Cruiser]

Made the passenger/cabin room switch today and they were happy to help (confirming that the move didn't impact any of the Premier benefits).  Thanks Elaine5715 and lazydayz for the encouragement!

Not too worried about the gifts (though I like cookies and chocolate covered strawberries...and maybe we can buy fewer bottles of water too 👍), but the onboard cash and free drinks are nice and we paid a really reasonable rate for our spa balconies, so I think -- in the end -- this will be a win 🎲🎲

[NightOne]

24 minutes ago, MidwesternCruiser2 said:

Made the passenger/cabin room switch today and they were happy to help (confirming that the move didn't impact any of the Premier benefits).  Thanks Elaine5715 and lazydayz for the encouragement!

Not too worried about the gifts (though I like cookies and chocolate covered strawberries...and maybe we can buy fewer bottles of water too 👍), but the onboard cash and free drinks are nice and we paid a really reasonable rate for our spa balconies, so I think -- in the end -- this will be a win 🎲🎲

 

The free drinks were tough to get because of the demand. Waiters were much more scarce that "regular" cruises because they are being worked to the bone. 😞

[Midwestern Cruiser]

43 minutes ago, NightOne said:

 

The free drinks were tough to get because of the demand. Waiters were much more scarce that "regular" cruises because they are being worked to the bone. 😞

Not going to worry about it. Still a great rate, cash, reception & gifts...and maybe I'll get lucky 😁🎲🃏

[bambidrummer]

How was the reception?

[Elaine5715]

1 hour ago, NightOne said:

 

The free drinks were tough to get because of the demand. Waiters were much more scarce that "regular" cruises because they are being worked to the bone. 😞

This is where tipping and staying put after ordering a drink pays off. 

[NightOne]

19 hours ago, Elaine5715 said:

This is where tipping and staying put after ordering a drink pays off. 

 

I'm a great tipper and I don't roam off if I order a drink. It was just hard to get drinks on this cruise in the casino. 😉

 

Waiters I did see had full trays of drinks all the time.

 

Go and find out for yourself and don't take my word for it. LOL 🙂