Question Re: Drinks on Us in Casino

[Cinders411]

A travel agent booked a cruise for a friend under this offer. My friend believes she can go into the casino and order a free drink without playing in the casino. She is NOT a gambler so she will use the casino bar as a stop off before going to other events on the ship. Is this the way that works????  I didn't think so but I have never received this offer. 

[d12j28]

10 minutes ago, Cinders411 said:

A travel agent booked a cruise for a friend under this offer. My friend believes she can go into the casino and order a free drink without playing in the casino. She is NOT a gambler so she will use the casino bar as a stop off before going to other events on the ship. Is this the way that works????  I didn't think so but I have never received this offer. 

You have to be actively playing. YMMV.........

[Hoosierpop]

No. Can’t get drinks from the bar. Now, the actively playing part is a little loose. If someone sits at a slot machine or hovers around a table, servers will bring them drinks even if they aren’t really playing. 
 

So, you can get around the actively playing. But it’s not as simple as walking up to the bar.

[audcc77]

I’ve never heard of this.  It has always said “while playing” as far as I know.  It’s strange that she received a casino offer and doesn’t gamble.  

[serene56]

the casino on a ship is NOT like a land based one.       Waiters come around and offer drinks--  but these are not free   Unless you have a drinks on us which you get by racking up points.    a non gambler is not racking up those free drink points.    To get a drink you have to be playing-- then order and hope the waiter comes back in a reasonable time.       I dont know how the agent was able to book your friend into that offer   with that offer is only good if the casino is opened 

 

 

 

[serene56]

curious what happens if she gets onboard--    and finds that "special" was not for her-- what happens?    I am also curious on how that agent was able to book around that.   

 

[kwokpot]

The GENERAL policy is you have to be at a slot machine or table game and you MUST order the drinks from waiter,you CANNOT order directly from the casino bar yourself. Put in a $5 bill in any machine,then wait until you see a waiter and order your drink. Please be aware this won't be a 2 minute thing, you are going to wait at least 15 minutes or more total before you get a drink. Much longer when the casino is busy. And not all drinks are available. 

[Hoosierpop]

1 hour ago, kwokpot said:

The GENERAL policy is you have to be at a slot machine or table game and you MUST order the drinks from waiter,you CANNOT order directly from the casino bar yourself. Put in a $5 bill in any machine,then wait until you see a waiter and order your drink. Please be aware this won't be a 2 minute thing, you are going to wait at least 15 minutes or more total before you get a drink. Much longer when the casino is busy. And not all drinks are available. 

You actually don’t have to put money in. All I play is craps and if I’m standing anywhere near the table, they take my order. I suppose a server could ask for proof I’m playing but it’s never happened.

 

But you are correct about the time. If someone is wanting to get a drink and then take it somewhere, be prepared to wait. 

[havanadaydreaming]

agree with pretty much everything said above.  we've sailed past few times on the free casino drinks...90% of the time we get drinks pretty fast.  every now and then we don't get drinks at all, dont see hardly any servers.  

 

we've always actively played, but if im sitting it out and seated next to my wife who is playing they will bring drinks for both of us.  

 

we tend to be "remembered" as we tip every round.  

 

[justafem]

On 11/23/2022 at 8:14 AM, havanadaydreaming said:

agree with pretty much everything said above.  we've sailed past few times on the free casino drinks...90% of the time we get drinks pretty fast.  every now and then we don't get drinks at all, dont see hardly any servers.  

 

we've always actively played, but if im sitting it out and seated next to my wife who is playing they will bring drinks for both of us.  

 

we tend to be "remembered" as we tip every round.  

 

 

I'm with you on that.  I tip for each drink.  I know if I have one coming as I take out the dollar when I order.  That way, when another server inevitably offers another drink, I know I've got one coming and to not order another. 

 

Don't get me wrong, if service is taking too long, I'll order a second drink from the second server and have 2 quickly.  Heck, I do that at the beginning of the night just to get the buzz started.  Don't judge me, I'm cruising!  GRINS

 

That said, I've ordered drinks for a companion sitting next to me on my account.  Servers really don't care. Never tried to order a drink when I or someone I'm traveling with isn't gambling.  

[kdr69]

Having Drinks on us in the Casino is hit or miss as far as I'm concerned.  I have played for hours and never seen a server and other times they come around quite regular.  If you can't order a drink doesn't matter how free it is.

[Cinders411]

Thank you for the responses. That is pretty much what I thought.

[junglecat]

It sounds like they threw us a line and we took it.  It sounds like a great marketing tool and it's WAYYYY better than it really may be.  But if it saves me buying one drink it's a win.  

Edited November 25, 2022 by junglecat
typo

[Anyislandwilldo]

I sailed on the Dream that last few times.  I go down to the casino on deck 4, (non smoking) and order a drink.  A LOT less people in that casino.   Hardly no wait!  Then I go about my business.  

[keels81]

A quick $5 to servers on my first table or machine night in the casino on DOU in the casino almost guarantees me immediate and return service while I'm playing. Especially on the smaller ships where the smoke-free casino is in the old conference space the deck below.

 

But no, she can't just walk up to the casino bar and get a drink. They might be sweet and give her one as a courtesy, but she'll have to order from a server when the casino is actually opening.

[BlerkOne]

11 hours ago, junglecat said:

It sounds like they threw us a line and we took it.  It sounds like a great marketing tool and it's WAYYYY better than it really may be.  But if it saves me buying one drink it's a win.  

Prolly a win for the casino either way. I often find it cheaper to take a break and go buy a drink 

[terryinal]

My wife plays so much they let me get a drink when not playing. May not seem like much mony give them a dollar or two and no problem

 

[terryinal]

13 minutes ago, BlerkOne said:

Prolly a win for the casino either way. I often find it cheaper to take a break and go buy a drink 

 

[terryinal]

She plays so much the last cruise with her Sept. They went and found a cass of beer to keep in the casino for. This not a joke. I have been on 73 cruise's but she has been on 10 or 12 and gets better deals then me

[texasreb]

On 11/23/2022 at 8:52 AM, kwokpot said:

The GENERAL policy is you have to be at a slot machine or table game and you MUST order the drinks from waiter,you CANNOT order directly from the casino bar yourself. Put in a $5 bill in any machine,then wait until you see a waiter and order your drink. Please be aware this won't be a 2 minute thing, you are going to wait at least 15 minutes or more total before you get a drink. Much longer when the casino is busy. And not all drinks are available. 

15 minutes, boy I wish. My wife and I both had pitiful 1 hour waits at times on Carnival Glory. It just depended on which waiters were working.

[cindysu]

For those who say they tip--I'm guessing that's an additional tip on top of the 20% automatically added?