Carnival casino account use

[gibsgal]

I am new to utilizing the casino on CCL.

I am looking for feedback from experienced users, as I have discovered that the great discounted cruise deals are offered to users of the casino who are frequent players. It would be great to snag one of those. 

I will be playing more with this in mind, but my first question is after signing up for the Player's Club, setting a PIN (does it have to be the same each time or can you set it for a particular cruise?) and setting a daily play limit to charge to the room, how do played points accrue? Does anyone know?

Also, do the played points accumulate from one cruise to the next? If associated with one's VIFP # do they stack from visit to visit and build up like credit card points?
Any input those of you with experience have would be greatly appreciated.

Hope to see you on the seas!

[Cuckoo7]

3 hours ago, gibsgal said:

I am new to utilizing the casino on CCL.

I am looking for feedback from experienced users, as I have discovered that the great discounted cruise deals are offered to users of the casino who are frequent players. It would be great to snag one of those. 

I will be playing more with this in mind, but my first question is after signing up for the Player's Club, setting a PIN (does it have to be the same each time or can you set it for a particular cruise?) and setting a daily play limit to charge to the room, how do played points accrue? Does anyone know?

Also, do the played points accumulate from one cruise to the next? If associated with one's VIFP # do they stack from visit to visit and build up like credit card points?
Any input those of you with experience have would be greatly appreciated.

Hope to see you on the seas!

 

You set a PIN the first time you play.  It's the same for the remainder of the cruise.  The info screen on the machine will show your points as you play.  They do not accumulate from one cruise to the next or stack, but rest assured, the Player's Club knows how many you are getting on each cruise and factors that into any offers you receive.

[Deathloks]

If you always cruise with the same person, it's probably better to play on only one card.  That being said, traditionnally it has been known that on your sail @ sign card 1 point = 2.50$ played (not lost) with Carnival.   The only real thing that is known, however, with Carnival, is you get free drinks in the Casino when you get to 1500 points on a 7-day cruise.

 

Other than that, your guess is as good as mine.  For years, we were told the offers you would get were, in part, based on you rank in money spent in the casino.  In other words, some times you could have spend 2000$ during your cruise, but only be ranked 500th on your sail & sign card.  Other times, you could "only" spend 1000$ but be ranked 400th, therefore get better offer because of it.  Carnival, contrary to some other companies, is only counting one cruise at a time.

 

It is also known that since the cruises have been back, Carnival has been cutting a lot on those offers.  Also, nowadays, it is more and more believed that if you have not cruised a lot yet with Carnival (say you have a red sail & sign card), you will get better offers than those with Platinum or Diamond levels.

 

Back about a decade ago or so, once, we got our sail & sign card to about 10 000 points on a cruise (we like to create "themes" when we cruise and that year the theme was "The Gamblers").  We have not paid for a single cruise since then.

 

Of course, if you start playing enough in the casino, expect to get A LOT of cookies, chocolate covered strawberries and things like that in your room.  And also steakhouse meals as well (at least once on every cruise).

[mz-s]

Points do not accrue between cruises but I'm sure the casino keeps track of guests' lifetime value.

 

You can set your own PIN and change it at will, it doesn't need to be the same between cruises.

 

There is no formula to earning offers on Carnival. Points do accrue in a predictable fashion on slots, but not for table games. And other than DOU (drinks on us) no other comps seem to follow a predictable pattern.

 

The key though is you don't necessarily need to lose a lot of money out of pocket to get comps. You just need to play through a lot of money.

[Elaine5715]

9 minutes ago, Deathloks said:

If you always cruise with the same person, it's probably better to play on only one card.  That being said, traditionnally it has been known that on your sail @ sign card 1 point = 2.50$ played (not lost) with Carnival.   The only real thing that is known, however, with Carnival, is you get free drinks in the Casino when you get to 1500 points on a 7-day cruise.

 

Other than that, your guess is as good as mine.  For years, we were told the offers you would get were, in part, based on you rank in money spent in the casino.  In other words, some times you could have spend 2000$ during your cruise, but only be ranked 500th on your sail & sign card.  Other times, you could "only" spend 1000$ but be ranked 400th, therefore get better offer because of it.  Carnival, contrary to some other companies, is only counting one cruise at a time.

 

It is also known that since the cruises have been back, Carnival has been cutting a lot on those offers.  Also, nowadays, it is more and more believed that if you have not cruised a lot yet with Carnival (say you have a red sail & sign card), you will get better offers than those with Platinum or Diamond levels.

 

Back about a decade ago or so, once, we got our sail & sign card to about 10 000 points on a cruise (we like to create "themes" when we cruise and that year the theme was "The Gamblers").  We have not paid for a single cruise since then.

 

Of course, if you start playing enough in the casino, expect to get A LOT of cookies, chocolate covered strawberries and things like that in your room.  And also steakhouse meals as well (at least once on every cruise).

Not likely to get "alot" of anything from the casino unless you are booked on a special offer like Premier, Ultra events.  Steakhouse dinners are not once a cruise unless your points are over 8000 early in the cruise. Onboard casino hosts are not comparable to land based casino hosts who are motivated to get players to return to their casino with gifts and treats.  

It is unknown exactly what formula are used to determine returning offers.  It is mostly guesswork.  Your VIFP level means nothing to the casino dept.  

The onboard hosts monitor coin in, play  and points for slot players via computer.  Top percentage get the goodies.  Pit bosses rate table players.  Slots are objective, table play is subjective.  

You can increase your visibility to the casino dept by going to Ocean Player's Club and sign up for offers.  There is also a place to add in your land based players casino card information.  

[Elaine5715]

19 minutes ago, Deathloks said:

If you always cruise with the same person, it's probably better to play on only one card.  That being said, traditionnally it has been known that on your sail @ sign card 1 point = 2.50$ played (not lost) with Carnival.   The only real thing that is known, however, with Carnival, is you get free drinks in the Casino when you get to 1500 points on a 7-day cruise.

 

Other than that, your guess is as good as mine.  For years, we were told the offers you would get were, in part, based on you rank in money spent in the casino.  In other words, some times you could have spend 2000$ during your cruise, but only be ranked 500th on your sail & sign card.  Other times, you could "only" spend 1000$ but be ranked 400th, therefore get better offer because of it.  Carnival, contrary to some other companies, is only counting one cruise at a time.

 

It is also known that since the cruises have been back, Carnival has been cutting a lot on those offers.  Also, nowadays, it is more and more believed that if you have not cruised a lot yet with Carnival (say you have a red sail & sign card), you will get better offers than those with Platinum or Diamond levels.

 

Back about a decade ago or so, once, we got our sail & sign card to about 10 000 points on a cruise (we like to create "themes" when we cruise and that year the theme was "The Gamblers").  We have not paid for a single cruise since then.

 

Of course, if you start playing enough in the casino, expect to get A LOT of cookies, chocolate covered strawberries and things like that in your room.  And also steakhouse meals as well (at least once on every cruise).

Playing on one card will certainly reduce future offers.  

[drvmywifecrzy]

Make sure and introduce yourself to the casino host.  Say hello every time you see them.  You can even wink some ;).  All of these help future offers

[LaRue1975]

1 hour ago, Elaine5715 said:

Playing on one card will certainly reduce future offers.  

I think he meant to say if a couple plays on one card you will get better offers. This is absolutely true for Vegas and I didn’t know you could do it on a cruise but I am going to ask at the players desk before we start gambling on our next cruise. I used to go to Vegas several times a year and rode the comp train hard but finally got tired of it and have only been a couple of times in the last 5 years. I am the slot/Vegas  junkie and hubby can take it or leave it, he would never go without me. I went fairly often without him so getting all the offers in my name works. Obviously the offers are better because I get more points when both of us are playing. 

 

We just returned to cruising in April after a 14 year hiatus and he enjoyed it so I have more cruises booked. He still would not go without me so we will start playing on my card only if it is allowed. I wish I would have known this on the Vista, probably would have got a better offer, maybe a free balcony instead of an inside, lol! 
 

 

[dallasdan]

If you hit a jackpot playing on only one card it is not your name, will they pay?  I don't think they will.  Each player must play on their own sign and sail card.  On a land based casino a casino host can rate husband and wife together.  

[hapytobehr]

12 minutes ago, dallasdan said:

If you hit a jackpot playing on only one card it is not your name, will they pay?  I don't think they will.  Each player must play on their own sign and sail card.  On a land based casino a casino host can rate husband and wife together.  

This.  My husband and I each have our own card and we get the same great offers.

[Deathloks]

1 hour ago, LaRue1975 said:

We just returned to cruising in April after a 14 year hiatus and he enjoyed it so I have more cruises booked. He still would not go without me so we will start playing on my card only if it is allowed. I wish I would have known this on the Vista, probably would have got a better offer, maybe a free balcony instead of an inside, lol! 
 

 

As I stated earlier, I think almost no one knows exactly how Carnival targets its offers, really.  My/our story is only that.  At first (around 2010), we were each playing on own cards.  Since we were more or less playing similar amounts, we were getting similar offers.  Then I started to play more than her, but still she was playing enough to get DOU.  At the end (in 2013), we realized that putting all the money on the same card was getting us drinks everywhere on the ship for me an my companion and free balconies.  As I said, 2013 was almost a decade ago and since then we have never paid again for a cruise.  In fact, Carnival casino offers also gives us the opportunity to cruise with other brands, get free balconies on them also.  Of course, nowadays we don't play much at the casino anymore so the offers are not as good as they used to be.

 

From now to the end of 2023 we have 8 cruises booked (6 with Carnival), thanks to that 2013 cruise.  Going on the Breeze in September, Vista in October and...yes...free balcony on the Celebration TA in November.  That is our experience with Carnival.  Others may differ.

 

Edited July 29, 2022 by Deathloks

[Drew B 58]

56 minutes ago, dallasdan said:

If you hit a jackpot playing on only one card it is not your name, will they pay?  I don't think they will.  Each player must play on their own sign and sail card.  On a land based casino a casino host can rate husband and wife together.  

As long as you are an eligible player, meaning not underage, they should still pay the jackpot.  Rating players - tracking their casino play through a card and doling out benefits - is ENTIRELY separate from the games themselves.  

[Elaine5715]

4 hours ago, LaRue1975 said:

I think he meant to say if a couple plays on one card you will get better offers. This is absolutely true for Vegas and I didn’t know you could do it on a cruise but I am going to ask at the players desk before we start gambling on our next cruise. I used to go to Vegas several times a year and rode the comp train hard but finally got tired of it and have only been a couple of times in the last 5 years. I am the slot/Vegas  junkie and hubby can take it or leave it, he would never go without me. I went fairly often without him so getting all the offers in my name works. Obviously the offers are better because I get more points when both of us are playing. 

 

We just returned to cruising in April after a 14 year hiatus and he enjoyed it so I have more cruises booked. He still would not go without me so we will start playing on my card only if it is allowed. I wish I would have known this on the Vista, probably would have got a better offer, maybe a free balcony instead of an inside, lol! 
 

 

I know what he meant.  Since there is no known formula for attracting the best casino offers, by using only one Sail and Sign, you eliminate opportunities.  Some data points used to attract offers include gender, credit card accounts, land casino memberships, social media, geographic location, credit scores.  Different people will pop up differently on those data mines.   

[Old Fart Cruisers]

5 hours ago, dallasdan said:

If you hit a jackpot playing on only one card it is not your name, will they pay? 

 

4 hours ago, Drew B 58 said:

As long as you are an eligible player, meaning not underage, they should still pay the jackpot. 

 

They give the money to the person that hit the button, but the 1040 will be made out to the person who's name is on the card in the machine when the payout hit. 

[LaRue1975]

8 hours ago, dallasdan said:

If you hit a jackpot playing on only one card it is not your name, will they pay?  I don't think they will.  Each player must play on their own sign and sail card.  On a land based casino a casino host can rate husband and wife together.  

No, it is no problem if you hit a jackpot while someone else’s card is in the machine, they take the ID and info from the person sitting in front of the machine that claims the jackpot. We have played on one card in all of the major casino groups in Vegas, MGM allows 2 active cards playing at one time, Cosmopolitan (now MGM) used to allow 3, Venetian/Palazzo allows at least 2 and I think Caesars/Total Rewards is unlimited. My son went to Vegas for his bachelor party, got a bunch of cards for his groomsmen and made Diamond in one weekend, lol! 

[LaRue1975]

7 hours ago, Deathloks said:

As I stated earlier, I think almost no one knows exactly how Carnival targets its offers, really.  My/our story is only that.  At first (around 2010), we were each playing on own cards.  Since we were more or less playing similar amounts, we were getting similar offers.  Then I started to play more than her, but still she was playing enough to get DOU.  At the end (in 2013), we realized that putting all the money on the same card was getting us drinks everywhere on the ship for me an my companion and free balconies.  As I said, 2013 was almost a decade ago and since then we have never paid again for a cruise.  In fact, Carnival casino offers also gives us the opportunity to cruise with other brands, get free balconies on them also.  Of course, nowadays we don't play much at the casino anymore so the offers are not as good as they used to be.

 

From now to the end of 2023 we have 8 cruises booked (6 with Carnival), thanks to that 2013 cruise.  Going on the Breeze in September, Vista in October and...yes...free balcony on the Celebration TA in November.  That is our experience with Carnival.  Others may differ.

 

Good for you, exactly how we played Vegas, people will always say you can’t do that and they won’t pay you if you get a jackpot because you’re cheating but it is not cheating the system. Play equals comps, we share the comps so the casinos don’t care whose card is the machine as long as the money is rolling through. Especially with slot players, their profit is guaranteed and completely calculable, easiest money there is to be made, that’s why we get better comps than table and VP players. The hubby and I retired in 2019 but our initial efforts to return to cruising were all Covid cancelled, now I have 5 on the books, not all with casino offers but I do have a Premiere and Getaway in there plus my free inside which I used to get $850 off and $200 OBC for our Panorama cruise in October.
 

Thank you for confirming that Carnival will give you an extra card so your partner can play on your account, I have seen a couple of people mention it on Facebook. I don’t plan to chase comps with cruising but I always want to maximize any benefits I can get from my fondness of those one arm bandits. Good luck and happy cruising! 

[LaRue1975]

4 hours ago, Elaine5715 said:

I know what he meant.  Since there is no known formula for attracting the best casino offers, by using only one Sail and Sign, you eliminate opportunities.  Some data points used to attract offers include gender, credit card accounts, land casino memberships, social media, geographic location, credit scores.  Different people will pop up differently on those data mines.   

We’ll see, I do know the casinos all have a formula and yes, they use data mined from other sources but that is for the fishes, the new unknown gamblers they are trying to attract. That’s why new cruisers that gamble get better offers sometimes than regular players. Once you became a known player in their system, especially if you’re a slot player it’s all about coin in and time of play. Also if you get upside down on your comps by booking multiple offers they might hesitate to give more good offers until you deliver, I think this is happening now with Carnival. In Vegas you can usually only book one or two offers at a time, I think Caesars allows three. Regardless, it’s all a crap shoot and definitely cheaper to pay for your cruise out of pocket but if you enjoy your time in the casino why not get the most benefits that you can? We’ll find out in October if playing on card makes a difference. 

[Elaine5715]

14 hours ago, LaRue1975 said:

We’ll see, I do know the casinos all have a formula and yes, they use data mined from other sources but that is for the fishes, the new unknown gamblers they are trying to attract. That’s why new cruisers that gamble get better offers sometimes than regular players. Once you became a known player in their system, especially if you’re a slot player it’s all about coin in and time of play. Also if you get upside down on your comps by booking multiple offers they might hesitate to give more good offers until you deliver, I think this is happening now with Carnival. In Vegas you can usually only book one or two offers at a time, I think Caesars allows three. Regardless, it’s all a crap shoot and definitely cheaper to pay for your cruise out of pocket but if you enjoy your time in the casino why not get the most benefits that you can? We’ll find out in October if playing on card makes a difference. 

I always have 2-3 cruises booked and my offers come daily.  I also hold player cards from multiple land casinos and registered those cards with Ocean Players Club.  

[gibsgal]

I am a little bit confused with language . Elaine said "going to Ocean Player's Club and sign up for offers". How is this done? Once aboard? I signed up for the Player's Club last trip. Does this have to be reinitiated each time at sea? I have three booked cruises right now, the first happening in nine days.

Your experience will be a benefit to me. Thanks, all.

 

Edited August 17, 2022 by gibsgal
added content

[d12j28]

1 hour ago, gibsgal said:

I am a little bit confused with language . Elaine said "going to Ocean Player's Club and sign up for offers". How is this done? Once aboard? I signed up for the Player's Club last trip. Does this have to be reinitiated each time at sea? I have three booked cruises right now, the first happening in nine days.

Your experience will be a benefit to me. Thanks, all.

 

You don't have to sign up for anything. Just play with your card and you are in the system.

[Elaine5715]

On 8/17/2022 at 9:12 AM, gibsgal said:

I am a little bit confused with language . Elaine said "going to Ocean Player's Club and sign up for offers". How is this done? Once aboard? I signed up for the Player's Club last trip. Does this have to be reinitiated each time at sea? I have three booked cruises right now, the first happening in nine days.

Your experience will be a benefit to me. Thanks, all.

 

 

On 8/17/2022 at 10:35 AM, d12j28 said:

You don't have to sign up for anything. Just play with your card and you are in the system.

https://www.carnival.com/registration/promotions/casino

[Elaine5715]

[d12j28]

@Elaine5715

 

You can do that if you want but you don't have to. Just play once with your sail n sign card and you are signed up.

 

How can I join the Carnival Players Club?
When you use your Sail & Sign® card in the casino, you are automatically a member! Just insert your card into any slot machine. You will set up a Player Bank and a profile will be automatically created for you. That’s all it takes at the slots. If you are a table player, simply present your Sail & Sign card to the dealer while playing or ask your Casino Host for further details.

 

https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1146/~/casino-and-carnival-players-club

 

 

[Elaine5715]

51 minutes ago, d12j28 said:

@Elaine5715

 

You can do that if you want but you don't have to. Just play once with your sail n sign card and you are signed up.

 

How can I join the Carnival Players Club?
When you use your Sail & Sign® card in the casino, you are automatically a member! Just insert your card into any slot machine. You will set up a Player Bank and a profile will be automatically created for you. That’s all it takes at the slots. If you are a table player, simply present your Sail & Sign card to the dealer while playing or ask your Casino Host for further details.

 

https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1146/~/casino-and-carnival-players-club

 

 

The question was how to get offers.

[d12j28]

25 minutes ago, Elaine5715 said:

The question was how to get offers.

The person that asked also said they already signed up by playing on their last cruise.