For the slot players - questions to get offers

[Buckeye_Siggy]

Hello.

 

I am the gambler in the family and only play table games.

I have used my offers to take my wife and kids on 10+ cruises over the years.

 

Now that my kids are old enough, i want to get two rooms for my family (two kids are now teenagers).

 

My wife hasnt really gambled over the years and gets no offers from the casino.

 

Lets pretend that on our next cruise, she decides to start playing slots with the sole purpose of getting a free room offer.

 

* How many hours a day on the cruise would she have to play slots to start getting offers? One hour? 90 minutes?

* Does playing max amount of lines matter?

* What kind of issues could arise if i play the slots with her card?   If a jackpot is won and i am sitting there with her card, can they not pay the jackpot?

 

if any of you play slots and get offers, can you give me an idea of what stakes and amount of time it takes to start getting offers.

 

Even though i get a free room, when i bring the kids, i pay nearly full price for both of them in my room. I would rather take that extra money i spend, put it into slots and qualify for a free room. And who knows, maybe even hit a jackpot.

 

Let me know your thoughts and tips.    Thanks!

 

[luckybecky]

I'm no expert on this and can't give specifics, but I can tell you that I have gotten some exceptionally good offers in the past few months, and I'm a very low roller.

 

I only play slots, and I budget $100 a day or less. I'll hit the casino a couple of times a day and play for an hour or two. If I lose $50 or so, I take a break and find something else to do for awhile. I don't play max lines. 

 

Last fall I was getting offers to cruise for free or $25 per person. In October I did a 5 day cruise on the Breeze in a balcony cabin for $25 per person, and this weekend I'm embarking on another cruise in an oceanview cabin for the same price. (Plus taxes and fees of course.) These are casino rates and the cruise in October included some free gifts in our room each day, such as a big beach towel, a casino themed tote, etc, plus free drinks while playing in the casino.

 

So you don't have to spend a ton to receive these offers.

 

Have fun and good luck!

[LatinaInTexas]

Well in my case I'm there one that gambles more than husband. Last cruise because of masks I was able to spend time in the casino. Nothing crazy maybe 1-2 hours max a day. Husband maybe 2-3 hours the whole 8 day cruise. A few months after the cruise I got a few casino offers, nothing exciting like people post, pretty much regular rates with a few other perks included. Now husband the non gambler gets the $25 balcony fare with all the perks added like some free play and drinks. Based on this to meet its random 🤔

[Virga]

Super curious to learn what level of play earned offers back pre-plague.  Very little play earned us pandemic offers, but I'm sure that won't continue.  Thank you for asking, OP, and thanks to everyone else who responds!

[Joe817]

I'm assuming that all of these great offers(and they are) the people get are strictly because they belong to the Carnival Player's Club. I haven't signed up for it but I believe I should.  Now, just to find out where. 

 

Good thread! 👍

[Virga]

3 minutes ago, Joe817 said:

I'm assuming that all of these great offers(and they are) the people get are strictly because they belong to the Carnival Player's Club. I haven't signed up for it but I believe I should.  Now, just to find out where. 

 

Good thread! 👍

 

We never actually signed up in the way that means filled something out or registered - we just donated some money to the slots and the offers appeared a little over a month later.  

 

If you hold status with a land casino group, you can contact them directly to get a match / offer - I assume that would get you 'registered' without play.  

[urbanhawk]

From what I understand, it takes $2.50 to earn one point. Some of the points comes money played in the slots that is from winnings played. Also, time at the slots is also calculated, when playing, and not just hanging out in the casino! Larger wagers may help earn points faster, but play time is important, as well. For example,  playing $100.00 (plus any winings) in half an hour, is not as good as playing $100.00 (plus any winings) in say 2 hours. At least, this is how my local casino  host explained it to me. (different  on a cruise?)  The most important thing is to have fun! (and  winnings!)

[volfan22701]

44 minutes ago, Virga said:

Super curious to learn what level of play earned offers back pre-plague.  Very little play earned us pandemic offers, but I'm sure that won't continue.  Thank you for asking, OP, and thanks to everyone else who responds!

We have been getting offers of this type for many years before the pandemic. free or nearly free rooms, casino cash of 100 to 500 each, free drinks from day one. sometimes all these and sometimes combinations. we probable spend between 100 and 300 per day each. have been boooking under casino rates for the last 12 years or so.. have 4 booked now over the next 2 years.

[Elaine5715]

https://www.carnival.com/Registration/Promotions/casino-funmatch.aspx

Opting in for email promotions can help

[Joe817]

11 minutes ago, Elaine5715 said:

https://www.carnival.com/Registration/Promotions/casino-funmatch.aspx

Opting in for email promotions can help

Thanks Elaine! 

[scpirate]

10 hours ago, LatinaInTexas said:

Well in my case I'm there one that gambles more than husband. Last cruise because of masks I was able to spend time in the casino. Nothing crazy maybe 1-2 hours max a day. Husband maybe 2-3 hours the whole 8 day cruise. A few months after the cruise I got a few casino offers, nothing exciting like people post, pretty much regular rates with a few other perks included. Now husband the non gambler gets the $25 balcony fare with all the perks added like some free play and drinks. Based on this to meet its random 🤔

Its not random. Its the same technique crack dealers use to get people hooked.

[hurricane0226]

6 minutes ago, scpirate said:

Its not random. Its the same technique crack dealers use to get people hooked.

Would not know.

[Indytraveler83]

Maybe it's just me, but I feel like there's some much more advanced algorithms at play here than just insert x dollars for a free/reduced cruise.

 

Much like the "upgrade fairly" calls or emails that some people seem to get all the time, and others never get.

 

My best guess is that there's some sort of system that puts a value on all guests. Carnival makes X in profit when YOU sail, and I wouldn't be surprised if it's based on all the money you spend, not just the casino. Then it also probably knows what type of offers are mostly likely to get you to book.

 

So the most profitable customers likely get the most offers, and in the "ideal" world they would fill every ship with the most profitable people.  When those folks don't book for whatever reason, it keeps throwing offers down a tier until it either fills the ship or runs out of time.

 

For instance, we are extremely low rollers.  Usually we will put $10 in 2-3 times per cruise.  It's not uncommon for us to spend less than 30 total minute in front of a slot machine the entire cruise.  Usually, the casino doesn't offer us anything.

 

Then during the pandemic shutdown, I had constant "Cheers on us" offers that replaced themselves whenever they expired.  About a month after cruising restarted, they disappeared and I will probably never see them again.  

 

Same thing with upgrades- If it offers you an upgrade, will you take it?  Will you spend more/ book more if you are upgraded?

 

Advanced metrics are a huge thing in sports and most businesses.  I'm sure they are at play here, even if I'm a little wrong in exactly how.  

[LaRue1975]

23 hours ago, Elaine5715 said:

https://www.carnival.com/Registration/Promotions/casino-funmatch.aspx

Opting in for email promotions can help

Thank you so much for this link and advice! I registered last night and sent a pic of my Total Rewards card, it’s Diamond but expired in 2019. I played the comp game in Vegas for years until we retired a couple of years ago and had upgraded status at most of the big casinos. This morning I had a small casino match offer that will save me $20 on the cruise fair and includes $50 fun play and Drink On Us in the casino for my upcoming Vista cruise. Already winning, yay! 

[Elaine5715]

16 hours ago, Indytraveler83 said:

Maybe it's just me, but I feel like there's some much more advanced algorithms at play here than just insert x dollars for a free/reduced cruise.

 

Much like the "upgrade fairly" calls or emails that some people seem to get all the time, and others never get.

 

My best guess is that there's some sort of system that puts a value on all guests. Carnival makes X in profit when YOU sail, and I wouldn't be surprised if it's based on all the money you spend, not just the casino. Then it also probably knows what type of offers are mostly likely to get you to book.

 

So the most profitable customers likely get the most offers, and in the "ideal" world they would fill every ship with the most profitable people.  When those folks don't book for whatever reason, it keeps throwing offers down a tier until it either fills the ship or runs out of time.

 

For instance, we are extremely low rollers.  Usually we will put $10 in 2-3 times per cruise.  It's not uncommon for us to spend less than 30 total minute in front of a slot machine the entire cruise.  Usually, the casino doesn't offer us anything.

 

Then during the pandemic shutdown, I had constant "Cheers on us" offers that replaced themselves whenever they expired.  About a month after cruising restarted, they disappeared and I will probably never see them again.  

 

Same thing with upgrades- If it offers you an upgrade, will you take it?  Will you spend more/ book more if you are upgraded?

 

Advanced metrics are a huge thing in sports and most businesses.  I'm sure they are at play here, even if I'm a little wrong in exactly how.  

The Upgrade/UPsell Fairy is not random.  That is pretty easy to figure out.  The calls come when they want your cabin to resell, is a configuration they need (a connected stateroom that you have one side and are not linked to the other) or are taking your booked stateroom out of service so you need to move. 

[Buckeye_Siggy]

Thanks all for the response.  

 

Anyone play slots using a spouses card to get them slot credits?  am curious what kind of 'trouble' you can get in if they were to catch you.

[dallasdan]

I don't think you will get in trouble for using your spouses card.  however, if you hit a jackpot, they probably won't pay you.  

[dallasdan]

Over the last year my wife has received 3 free Carnival Cruises from a Shreveport casino.  We have were not able to use any of them because our Carnival Players club offers were much better.  Also, we are not retired yet, so we couldn't go on all of the free cruise offers we have been receiving.

 

[Elaine5715]

1 hour ago, Buckeye_Siggy said:

Thanks all for the response.  

 

Anyone play slots using a spouses card to get them slot credits?  am curious what kind of 'trouble' you can get in if they were to catch you.

What would be the point?  If you hit a handpay, first thing they check is the name on the S&S

[1kaper]

On 2/15/2022 at 12:28 AM, Indytraveler83 said:

Maybe it's just me, but I feel like there's some much more advanced algorithms at play here than just insert x dollars for a free/reduced cruise.

 

Much like the "upgrade fairly" calls or emails that some people seem to get all the time, and others never get.

 

My best guess is that there's some sort of system that puts a value on all guests. Carnival makes X in profit when YOU sail, and I wouldn't be surprised if it's based on all the money you spend, not just the casino. Then it also probably knows what type of offers are mostly likely to get you to book.

 

So the most profitable customers likely get the most offers, and in the "ideal" world they would fill every ship with the most profitable people.  When those folks don't book for whatever reason, it keeps throwing offers down a tier until it either fills the ship or runs out of time.

 

For instance, we are extremely low rollers.  Usually we will put $10 in 2-3 times per cruise.  It's not uncommon for us to spend less than 30 total minute in front of a slot machine the entire cruise.  Usually, the casino doesn't offer us anything.

 

Then during the pandemic shutdown, I had constant "Cheers on us" offers that replaced themselves whenever they expired.  About a month after cruising restarted, they disappeared and I will probably never see them again.  

 

Same thing with upgrades- If it offers you an upgrade, will you take it?  Will you spend more/ book more if you are upgraded?

 

Advanced metrics are a huge thing in sports and most businesses.  I'm sure they are at play here, even if I'm a little wrong in exactly how.  

I'm not saying you are wrong, it makes a lot of sense.  But I did think the casino was sort of a separate entity. 

[urbanhawk]

46 minutes ago, dallasdan said:

Over the last year my wife has received 3 free Carnival Cruises from a Shreveport casino.  We have were not able to use any of them because our Carnival Players club offers were much better.  Also, we are not retired yet, so we couldn't go on all of the free cruise offers we have been receiving.

 

I  know what you mean-life can be funny like that-when I was working, I  had the money, but not the time. Now, that I'm retired, I  have the  time, but not the money! (until I sell my house!)

[erinmarie424]

You can see in my signature it’s been a very long time since I cruised, and I never lost more than $50 a day. Some cruises I came out ahead. I’ve been getting the $25 balcony offers ($0 other rooms). I had quit opening them until two days ago and I got one for nine days in Norway (out of Dover), pay $100 per person, get the $100 back in OBC so guess who’s going to Norway this summer? Also includes DOU but I don’t think I will be hitting that level this time. 

[CheckersMidwest]

My husband plays table games. And wins. He usually has some sort of casino offer. Never free, but good deals & we've booked them.

 

However, this time around, I have the $0 for an inside casino offer. I rarely step foot in the casino. Mostly due to the smoke - I can't stand the smell & it makes me wheeze due to my asthma. I'll play the occasional slot & lose. Might spend $25 in the casino the whole cruise. Funny thing is it includes Drinks on Us. I'll have a drink by the pool and usually 1 each evening. Maybe they just thought it was 'safe' giving me this kind of offer?! Regardless, we took it. Sail in March.

[Eli_6]

On 2/14/2022 at 10:46 AM, Buckeye_Siggy said:

Hello.

 

I am the gambler in the family and only play table games.

I have used my offers to take my wife and kids on 10+ cruises over the years.

 

Now that my kids are old enough, i want to get two rooms for my family (two kids are now teenagers).

 

My wife hasnt really gambled over the years and gets no offers from the casino.

 

Lets pretend that on our next cruise, she decides to start playing slots with the sole purpose of getting a free room offer.

 

* How many hours a day on the cruise would she have to play slots to start getting offers? One hour? 90 minutes?

* Does playing max amount of lines matter?

* What kind of issues could arise if i play the slots with her card?   If a jackpot is won and i am sitting there with her card, can they not pay the jackpot?

 

if any of you play slots and get offers, can you give me an idea of what stakes and amount of time it takes to start getting offers.

 

Even though i get a free room, when i bring the kids, i pay nearly full price for both of them in my room. I would rather take that extra money i spend, put it into slots and qualify for a free room. And who knows, maybe even hit a jackpot.

 

Let me know your thoughts and tips.    Thanks!

 

I only spent maybe $50-100 in the casino on my last cruise and I started getting offers.  On the cruise before that, I played every day and spent several hundred and didn't get any offers...but my husband did and he played less than I did. Only thing we can figure out is that it went to his credit card. 

[icft]

My thought is that we are coming to the end of the widespread  free or very cheap cruise days. We each have an entertainment budget and I use mine for slots in the casino while my wife uses some of hers for the casino and some for shopping. So I'm the one who gets the better offers.

 

My budget hasn't changed in quite a few years. It was the same pre-covid as now. But while I would get offers for something like half priced cruises before covid with the amount of casino cash being the variable, I never got free cruise offers except for interior rooms on occasion. Since reopening I have consistently gotten offers for free balcony (but still have to pay port fees and taxes) with free drinks everywhere (just for me - poor wife only free in the casino) and $1,000 casino cash. I just booked my eighth one of those but my offer ends Feb. 28th. I would not be surprised if I never see that offer again now that bookings are picking up.

 

So I think you will probably be disappointed if your wife starts playing the slots in the hope of getting free room offers. I think that ship has sailed. But I could be wrong and just a moderate amount of play should get offers; but probably not free room offers.