Free drinks while playing in the casino question

[uCruiser]

How is this enforced? ? Do you have to actually sit at a table or a machine and will only get drinks served to you while gambling, or can you go to the casino bar and get drinks?

[MT_Sea_Cruisers]

Based on my personal experience,it varies from ship-to-ship and also by server.  I would cont on having to be sitting at a table or machine and actively playing.  With that said, I will say that we have been on cruises where it was strictly enforced and had to be sitting ant a machine actively playing, but we have also been on cruises, where we were able to just walk up to the bar and order.  

[ALWAYS CRUZIN]

I do slots. Once you qualify you can get drinks while playing. If I order and I am not at a machine, I am asked where will I be. They need to know where to bring it. I have never went to the bar for a free drink. If I want to take a drink out. I order and wait till it is brought to me and then leave.

[Bases5]

It is really hit and miss,  last cruise on the Horizon I tipped this one waiter fairly well and he always had drinks for me  It didn't matter if I was playing or not. He took care of my DW also and she didn't have DOU.  This was the best waiter I have ever had.

 I have been on cruises where the bar tender at the bar refused the DOU saying we had to be actively playing.  No more tips for him

[urbanhawk]

As MT_Sea_Cruisers mentioned, in essence, it's a  roll of the dice😉! I  only play the  slots. I find that if I tip really well, the servers come around fairly often, whether I  am playing or not. Happy cruising! 

[Sean_B]

I didn't realize this was a thing. How much do you have to spend before they start handing them out?

[ALWAYS CRUZIN]

8 minutes ago, Sean_B said:

I didn't realize this was a thing. How much do you have to spend before they start handing them out?

Trying to recall. I think 1500 points if you do the Casino cruise and 3500 points if a regular cruise. I am sure someone can get the correct count. It takes a lot of playing for the 3500.

[Chelle621]

I have always wondered about the drinks!  But I guess I don't play enough to qualify for anything

[klfrodo]

It's amount of money PLAYED. Not how much you've won or lost.

 

Example

You put in $100 and win $1000, then continue playing and lose it all. 

You've lost $100

You played $1100 

However, it is based on a point system (1500 points for a DOU card) Not sure but lets say $2 played = 1 point) So, $3000 played would give you 1500 points.

The above is based on slot machines.

I haven't a clue how points are earned on table games. You do get rated but man, it never seems to work for me on table games. I can sit there forever payed $10, $20 a hand and never earn enough points. My wife on the other hand....

 

FWIW, it seems as though once you earn your DOU card, next cruise, it's automatic.

[Bases5]

No one has a clue how table games are rated

1,500 on 6 day or longer  1,000 points on 5 day or less

$2.50 played equal 1 point.

[uCruiser]

32 minutes ago, Chelle621 said:

I have always wondered about the drinks!  But I guess I don't play enough to qualify for anything

 

I don't play much either. It was a special cruise offer listed within my Carnival account.

[bmar808]

17 minutes ago, klfrodo said:

 

FWIW, it seems as though once you earn your DOU card, next cruise, it's automatic.

Do they tell you if you get it when you book or before you board?  On my first cruise, I hit DOU.  On my second cruise, I did not get DOU automatically, but played enough by the end of the cruise to get it.  I'm wondering if I will get it on my 3rd cruise?

 

[klfrodo]

11 minutes ago, bmar808 said:

Do they tell you if you get it when you book or before you board?  On my first cruise, I hit DOU.  On my second cruise, I did not get DOU automatically, but played enough by the end of the cruise to get it.  I'm wondering if I will get it on my 3rd cruise?

 

No, they don't tell you.

I've had luck meeting with the casino host when I get on board. They went in back, looked up my play history and came back out with my DOU card.

[bmar808]

27 minutes ago, klfrodo said:

No, they don't tell you.

I've had luck meeting with the casino host when I get on board. They went in back, looked up my play history and came back out with my DOU card.

Awesome, thank you! I would never have thought to do that but I will definitely try it.  I figure no harm, no loss. Thank you again!

[Elaine5715]

1 hour ago, uCruiser said:

 

I don't play much either. It was a special cruise offer listed within my Carnival account.

There is different ways to get one.  Since they changed up the player's club, they have more offers that include the DOU card.  You can still earn it based on points once on board.  

Once you get it, whichever way, you are supposed to be actively playing. As always, your experience will vary based on both your behavior and the drink crew.  

[DallasGuy75219]

5 hours ago, Bases5 said:

No one has a clue how table games are rated

1,500 on 6 day or longer  1,000 points on 5 day or less

$2.50 played equal 1 point.

$2.50 played on slots or $5.00 played on video poker equals 1 point.

[thesmiths]

18 hours ago, Bases5 said:

 I have been on cruises where the bar tender at the bar refused the DOU saying we had to be actively playing.  No more tips for him

Is that policy? To be actively playing?

 

 

[evandbob]

49 minutes ago, thesmiths said:

Is that policy? To be actively playing?

 

 

 That is the policy.  Do the servers always enforce it?  NO.

 

One can be just sitting at a machine or sometimes just standing behind one and order from a roving server.  If you have treated the servers well by tipping, they usually bring drinks anytime you are in the casino.  But you cannot be served at the bar.

 

BTW, one can have a DOU card at the start of a premier casino cruise if that was the fare you booked.  And if you order a drink, you can leave the casino with it and go anywhere else on the ship, like to dinner, with it.

[klfrodo]

53 minutes ago, thesmiths said:

Is that policy? To be actively playing?

 

 

That's the policy. You must be actively playing.

[PhillyFan33579]

On 9/20/2019 at 1:28 PM, Bases5 said:

It is really hit and miss,  last cruise on the Horizon I tipped this one waiter fairly well and he always had drinks for me  It didn't matter if I was playing or not. He took care of my DW also and she didn't have DOU.  This was the best waiter I have ever had.

 I have been on cruises where the bar tender at the bar refused the DOU saying we had to be actively playing.  No more tips for him

 

So you tip bartenders/servers who don’t follow the rules but don’t tip bartenders/servers who follow the rules?

Edited September 21, 2019 by PhillyFan33579

[ccruisequeen]

On 9/20/2019 at 11:28 AM, uCruiser said:

 

I don't play much either. It was a special cruise offer listed within my Carnival account.

Yes next week I get $100 casino cash and  DOU card before I start spinning those slots!  I wish the casino was open in port. Evenings don't give me enough time to drink. 

[Elaine5715]

3 hours ago, ccruisequeen said:

Yes next week I get $100 casino cash and  DOU card before I start spinning those slots!  I wish the casino was open in port. Evenings don't give me enough time to drink. 

It is open when in Grand Turk

[Bases5]

11 hours ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

 

So you tip bartenders/servers who don’t follow the rules but don’t tip bartenders/servers who follow the rules?

  Absolutely    I follow the rules,  I tip everyone and I tip extra for those that go the extra mile.  I guess I should have said no more extra tips for him.