NCL CAS Tiers

[BirdTravels]

Just talking with my CAS agent. They said that NCL did not extend tier status due to the pandemic. So, tier status is based on your play April 2020-March 2021. I guess that means zero. And everyone is in the system as Jade players. They have not decided what to do, if anything, with casino players when they restart in July. It didn’t sound like a simple reinstate to pre-pandemic status. 

[Sand and Seas]

That doesn't sound fair.  I hope they re-think that.   

Does it really cost them that much to give me my Ruby status 400 minutes of Wifi?  Are they going to no longer give 'free drinks while playing'?  Seems strange since they like my on-board play enough to let me have four comped cruises booked🤨

 

A while back, someone reported in the thread below that they were told  status would be extended.    Of course we know business decisions can change, but this one just doesn't seem right.  All of the major casino companies extended status and they were only closed for a few months.    Also, I remember reading in other threads that many of the other cruise line casinos were extending status. 

 

I do have to say that the CAS agents have been great to work with through all the cancellations and re-booking.   

 

[si4444]

I love cruising NCL love my Cagneys and Moderno and comp ultra drinks but for me personally this is a big negative. Holland America I have 12 day x4 cruises in a row so 48 days booked just port fees and taxes no daily fees like NCL. HAL lets me book the offers all in a row and they send out offers bi-monthly. So for me personally I may have to stick with HAL and the odd RCI. As platinum plus with NCL I will miss some perks but you can't have it all. Hopefully they change their mind I did get a generic mailer from CAS two days ago.

[Sand and Seas]

I sent an email to CAS a couple of days ago but haven't heard back yet.  (I'm sure they are over-whelmed with the latest cancellations.)   In my email, I asked them to 'verify' my level for my upcoming cruise this fall.

 

I'm hoping that if enough of us ask someone with good business sense might take another look at this for us.  

Edited May 29, 2021 by Sand and Seas

[Coastalbreezes]

Additionally my rep told me that comped cruises no matter your tier status is now limited to five total. In the past as a Ruby level player I've had as many as seven or eight booked.

[drvmywifecrzy]

So no more OBC for tier status earned?

[BirdTravels]

 

On 5/28/2021 at 9:23 PM, Sand and Seas said:

I sent an email to CAS a couple of days ago but haven't heard back yet.  (I'm sure they are over-whelmed with the latest cancellations.)   In my email, I asked them to 'verify' my level for my upcoming cruise this fall. I'm hoping that if enough of us ask someone with good business sense might take another look at this for us.  

Since we are cruising in a few weeks, I emailed CAS and received a response yesterday confirming that they extended tier status through March 31, 2022. Unfortunately, given the limited cruise schedule, that doesn't afford many opportunities to requal. 

[Sand and Seas]

21 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

 

Since we are cruising in a few weeks, I emailed CAS and received a response yesterday confirming that they extended tier status through March 31, 2022. Unfortunately, given the limited cruise schedule, that doesn't afford many opportunities to requal. 

Good to hear!  But you are right, can't see how we  can requalify for Ruby again by April  1st.

 

[BirdTravels]

1 hour ago, Sand and Seas said:

Good to hear!  But you are right, can't see how we  can requalify for Ruby again by April  1st.

Yup. We'll see if the hosts have any additional information (probably not unless there is a corporate host onboard). Based on that, we'll determine if we sail before or after April 1st (after the Encore next month, we don't have anything currently booked until May 2022). For now, one last cruise with some OBC and a black drink card for us. 

 

Also, what the conditions in the casino are like. Hopefully "normal". We cruised last month on Royal and their social distancing rules kept a lot shut down or limited. 

[Sand and Seas]

Yes I wonder what it will be like in the on board  casinos too.  I hope some of our favorite hosts are still  employed with CAS.   If they have rookie hosts it will probably  be harder to get additional  earned comps.  

 

Las Vegas  is going fully masked this Friday but so far won't be turning  every other machine off again.   I hope with 100% vaxed CAS will be able  to keep  everything  open.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sand and Seas]

On 7/28/2021 at 9:53 PM, BirdTravels said:

Yup. We'll see if the hosts have any additional information (probably not unless there is a corporate host onboard). Based on that, we'll determine if we sail before or after April 1st (after the Encore next month, we don't have anything currently booked until May 2022). For now, one last cruise with some OBC and a black drink card for us. 

 

Also, what the conditions in the casino are like. Hopefully "normal". We cruised last month on Royal and their social distancing rules kept a lot shut down or limited. 

Welcome home Bird!  We so enjoyed following your live report on the Encore😊   She was our last cruise before the shutdown.  

 

Just wondering if you have some updated CAS information from the onboard hosts?

[CalLuvsCrusingToo]

Hi SandandSeas,  I used to be a diehard NCL/CET guest up until 2016, when I switched to Princess.

(Got cruise vouchers thru Venetian/Palazzo & Stations, and haven't looked back)

 

I'm Platinum with NCL, but wanted to let you know you DON'T have to put up with

casino Levels on Princess. 

So being Ruby etc, is NOT anything you have to worry about. 

That used to drive me crazy dropping to Lowest levels cuz my cruise dates missed

it by a week, etc.

Princess casinos is soooo much more generous than NCL.  IMO

 

Since 2016 we have been on so many Princess comp cruises we are Elite level.

I get better comps, cabins, and huge Freeplay with Princess that I never got thru NCL.

(my play was about the same)  And my itineraries are Sooooo much better!

 

Plus with Princess, we only pay Taxes + port charges.

No extra $250 pp on booking like NCL charges their casino comp guests.🙄

 

Just throwing it out there for your consideration, since you are a good player,

and seem to be Loyal to NCL...... like I WAS. 

 

Or for anyone else who has a prob with CAS Tiers?  There are better Options out there.

 

 

 

[Sand and Seas]

That is some interesting information to think about CalLuvsCruisingToo.   A few years back we got an offer for Princess through Stations but their cruises didn't interest us at the time.   (We haven't played at Stations in the last couple of years.)

 

We have happily been 'loyal' to CAS.  They have taken very good care of us and we enjoy NCL, but it's always good to look into other options.    Currently have five CAS cruises scheduled and some FCC plus CruiseNext certificates to use in the next couple of years.    

 

After being SevenStar with CZRs for years, we did take advantage of a status match at Wynn/Encore.   We will take a comped trip there in October.  I wonder if they have a relationship with a cruiseline🤔

 

 

[CalLuvsCrusingToo]

S&S,  I don't recall picking up any cruise vouchers from Wynncore.... I did the Status match also.

But if they do?  It might be for Celebrity, RC, or a different line.  To be honest, I don't want to, or need

to, start up with Another cruise line.

You know how it is starting over, when you are used to get so many Perks.

But my perks weren't great with NCL. They kept giving me Insides, and I was annoyed with the extra Fees when booking.  And I didn't like the casino Tiers onboard, which weren't great unless you cruise 2+ per year, at the Correct times.🙄

 

I started Princess thru Palazzo and Stations, and continued to get them.... but once you are on the

radar with the cruise line.... you get better comps from them.  ( I am talking about COMP cruises,

NOT discount cruises)

 

I stopped doing the voucher pickups at the Landbased casinos because we get soooo many good ones directly from Princess.  

Earlier this year NCL reached out to me with an Inside cabin comp, and said I could pay to upgrade.

I gave them the opportunity to pony up similar to Princess, but they didn't.

So I said Thanks but No thanks.

Don't know IF I will ever be on NCL again.....will stay at Platinum indefinately. 😏

 

 

 

[BirdTravels]

9 hours ago, Sand and Seas said:

Welcome home Bird!  We so enjoyed following your live report on the Encore😊   She was our last cruise before the shutdown.  

 

Just wondering if you have some updated CAS information from the onboard hosts?

For now, they have just extended your 2020 tier status through March 31, 2022. At this moment, you are expected to requal by March. I kept rebooking cruises and finally moved all of my FCC bookings out to summer/fall 2022 (beyond the requal window), so I actually don't have any NCL cruises booked before March at the moment.... waiting to see what happens with the Florida stand-off.

 

We were on the first Royal Caribbean North American cruise out of Nassau last month (16+ fully vaccinated). And have a RCCL Miami cruise booked next month (with COVID exploding and unlimited unvaccinated passengers on RCCL cruises from Miami, we may decide to pass on that cruise). There were two fully vaccinated passengers on our cruise that failed COVID tests at check-in,,, but at least they were caught before boarding the ship was running mask-free and no social distancing. 

 

There were only 150 casino guests out of the 2600 passengers. (There are only about 100 this week). 

 

There were only 1 Ambassador and 49 Platinum Plus members out of the 2600. So,,, it was not a very "senior" group of cruisers. 

 

Christina Bicca was the Executive Host. She's back from her corporate gig for a month or two to get the Encore back up and running. Her brother Adrian was the Concierge (also there to ensure a smooth startup and to keep the Harry Sommer and the VIPs happy for the two weeks). 

 

I think I mentioned in the live thread that our last NCL cruise was the inaugural cruise of the Encore out of Miami for Thanksgiving 2019. She only did a few months of passenger service before being shutdown by the pandemic. 

 

[BirdTravels]

On 7/29/2021 at 2:09 AM, Sand and Seas said:

Yes I wonder what it will be like in the on board  casinos too.  I hope some of our favorite hosts are still  employed with CAS.   If they have rookie hosts it will probably  be harder to get additional  earned comps.  

The casino was good about covering all of our expenses above the OBC. We didn't have much. Because there were a very limited number of ShoreEx (with few operators able to staff the Alaskan season on short notice) with things selling out well in advance of the cruise, we just pre-booked and paid for those in advance. I was a bit surprised that the CAS didn't have any swag for this first cruise. Royal did. 

[Sand and Seas]

Thanks for the detailed reply.  Like you, we have been re-booking and moving cruises out too.  If all goes well, we will be cruising out of Miami in January.  I was excited to watch Gem sail away on the POM webcam yesterday.   Of course,  it might not be as smooth for NCL sailing from Florida in the next few months.   I'll be waiting for awhile before booking airfare.

 

I'm encouraged that Christina Bicca is still with CAS after the long shutdown.     

[sassyshar]

My question is about the Reward points (the ones that can be used for OBC or Free Play) that you accumulate while gambling on NCL.   The Reward Points can continue to grow if not used for 18 months (its listed in their terms and conditions)  I was booked for an European cruse 10/2020, which was cancelled  and the goal was to use those points for pricey excursions.  Casino hosts and I always chat about the amount I had saved and agreed that using on excursions was a far better bet than using as Free Play.   The amount I had saved from previous cruises was 55441 (I always snap a picture of it).  Does anyone know what happens to that amount?  Thanks.  Really hate to think I lost all of it.   

 

[Sand and Seas]

On 9/14/2021 at 4:02 PM, sassyshar said:

My question is about the Reward points (the ones that can be used for OBC or Free Play) that you accumulate while gambling on NCL.   The Reward Points can continue to grow if not used for 18 months (its listed in their terms and conditions)  I was booked for an European cruse 10/2020, which was cancelled  and the goal was to use those points for pricey excursions.  Casino hosts and I always chat about the amount I had saved and agreed that using on excursions was a far better bet than using as Free Play.   The amount I had saved from previous cruises was 55441 (I always snap a picture of it).  Does anyone know what happens to that amount?  Thanks.  Really hate to think I lost all of it.   

 

That is a tough question.  I suggest you send an email to CAS with your question.  Include information like which ship & date you last cruises and earned points on.   You could also add your Latitudes number.   See their email below:

 

For casino information and reservations,
contact a Casinos At Sea Cruise Specialists

9:00AM to 5:30PM EST
Monday to Friday
1 877-PLAY NCL
(1-877-752-9625) or
email us at casinoinquiries@ncl.com

[johnny75]

Just off the Gem.

 

Tier was Pearl.

 

Good tier earn  on board.

 

Will stay Pearl.

 

[sassyshar]

Sand and Seas, thanks for your advice regarding the reward points.  I sent an email today and we will see what they say.

[Hearthosesteeldrumsplayin]

Does anyone happen to know if you can retain your tier across the NCLH brands?  Since all of our cruises have been cancelled, we are next booked on Regent for Nov.  Not back on NCL until next August.  Would hate for everything to go down the drain....but, Que Sera Sera!

[kwokpot]

OT: I will be receiving a cruise certificate for NCL from a land based casino next week and after taking a break from NCL's CAS program (never achieved a tier to be able to wave the stupid admin fee, and Royal,Celebrity, and especially Carnival has been giving enough comped cruises to last a lifetime) and I'm wondering if anyone knows whether there's any listed CAS cruises next year on the new Prima. Thanks for any info regarding this!

[BirdTravels]

On 10/9/2021 at 2:19 PM, kwokpot said:

OT: I will be receiving a cruise certificate for NCL from a land based casino next week and after taking a break from NCL's CAS program (never achieved a tier to be able to wave the stupid admin fee, and Royal,Celebrity, and especially Carnival has been giving enough comped cruises to last a lifetime) and I'm wondering if anyone knows whether there's any listed CAS cruises next year on the new Prima. Thanks for any info regarding this!

Many land-based certificates exclude the Prima. You need to read the terms and conditions on your certificate. CAS is more than happy to book the Prima if you are booking directly with them. 

[si4444]

Just talked to NCL rep and he said status is extended till April 2023. I trust this is correct. Just thought I'd pass this along.

 

Scott