Drinks on us

[zebraman1]

Two years ago I received the drinks on us reward.   I had no problem going to the casino bar any time during the day to get a drink. It sounds like that may have changed.   I would appreciate hearing from the folks who have recently received the same deal.  Do you now have to be gambling to receive a free drink?  Can u still get a drink at the casino bar without.gambling?

[DallasGuy75219]

1 hour ago, zebraman1 said:

Two years ago I received the drinks on us reward.   I had no problem going to the casino bar any time during the day to get a drink. It sounds like that may have changed.   I would appreciate hearing from the folks who have recently received the same deal.  Do you now have to be gambling to receive a free drink?  Can u still get a drink at the casino bar without.gambling?

You might have lucked out on that cruise, but the fine print for the DOU card is and has always been that you must be gambling (and be served by a server, not at the bar).  Anecdotally, a few people will post on here that they've gotten drinks at the bar, but I wouldn't count on that on any particular ship or sailing.

[comiso13]

I hadn't originally read the DOU card carefully and went to the bar.  The craps table wasn't even open.  That is when I learned I had to be gambling to get the free drink.  But I don't usually drink while gambling.  So DOU wasn't a big deal for me.

[evandbob]

One should be near a machine or table or standing with someone who is playing on either to get free drinks.  Tip the waiter beginning the 1st day and remember his or her name and you will get service while you are in the casino proper.  You generally won't be able to order free drinks at the bar.

 

The rules say you must be actively playing, but my experience on about 15 or so casino fares is that as long as you are near a machine or just sitting in front of one,  the waiters will freely serve you.  Also, you can get a free glass of wine say, and then bring it elsewhere on the ship.  You do not have to imbibe it in the casino.

[zebraman1]

A few years ago, I received enough points to get the DOU card and routinely, throughout the day, I was able to go to the casino bar, show my card with the sticker, order a drink and walk away.   Rules must have changed since then.  

[Shaded Lady]

Not related to the OP's question, but every time I see a thread with this title, I just want to respond, 'Gee thanks! Where shall I meet you onboard?'

[Hoosierpop]

21 hours ago, evandbob said:

One should be near a machine or table or standing with someone who is playing on either to get free drinks.  Tip the waiter beginning the 1st day and remember his or her name and you will get service while you are in the casino proper.  You generally won't be able to order free drinks at the bar.

 

The rules say you must be actively playing, but my experience on about 15 or so casino fares is that as long as you are near a machine or just sitting in front of one,  the waiters will freely serve you.  Also, you can get a free glass of wine say, and then bring it elsewhere on the ship.  You do not have to imbibe it in the casino.

I agree with this 100%.

[MT_Sea_Cruisers]

While the rules say that you must be playing, I think that some ships may be more lenient than others with the policy.  Within the last 12 months, I have been on one cruise where this was strictly enforced, and then another where we could order at the casino bar (prepared to pay) and they took our DOU card instead. 

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

For an "Elite" casino booking I have next year on the Horizon the offer indicated "FREE DRINKS ON US! EVERYWHERE ON BOARD THE SHIP FOR YOU AND ONE TRAVEL COMPANION". I wonder how that works... do they basically give you a Cheers package, or will I have some type of special Drinks on Us card that I'll have to explain to bartenders elsewhere on the ship?

 

Tom

[obx_fintoo]

49 minutes ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

For an "Elite" casino booking I have next year on the Horizon the offer indicated "FREE DRINKS ON US! EVERYWHERE ON BOARD THE SHIP FOR YOU AND ONE TRAVEL COMPANION". I wonder how that works... do they basically give you a Cheers package, or will I have some type of special Drinks on Us card that I'll have to explain to bartenders elsewhere on the ship?

 

Tom

My guess is you will have the card, but in our experience in our last Premier cruise, the computers know.  We ordered a soda while in the casino about 10 minutes before the machines turned on.  There was a charge, but our server backed it out and rang it up again after the computer knew the casino was open.