Best Casino Program for my play?

[harbourxie]

Hi fellow cruise gamblers,

 

Would you please let me know which programs is the best one for my plays? 

 

If my play is about $30k coin-in per 7 nights cruise and I typically take 2 to 3 cruises every year, which program will be most rewarding one for my casino activities? Thanks 

[sgvcruiser]

I assumed when you mean Program, you mean cruise line? 

[harbourxie]

3 hours ago, sgvcruiser said:

I assumed when you mean Program, you mean cruise line? 

Yes - cruise line casino programs - like Blue Chip Club for Celebrity, Club Royale for RCL, CAS for NCL, Princess Player Club for Princess. 

 

Thanks a lot,

[sgvcruiser]

It more depends on which line/ship style you prefer. Celebrity, Holland and Princess are considered luxury lines, more or less direct competitor. RCL and Celebrity are famous for giant big ships and transparent casino point system.  NCL, RCL and Carnival are more family oriented with amusement park practically built into their ships. Holland tends to have smaller ships and older median age. Their European routes casinos tend to be empty. Literally. EMPTY. 

I have not done RCL/Celebrity since I don't like their point system that expired annually - but I stand corrected on that.

As for Holland/Princess/Carnival, my target has always been 6000 points minimum for 3-4 sea days (smaller budget than yours). I always receive CBS offer for free inside stateroom. I also like Princess core offer that allows me to book years in advance for practically any available sailing less than 15 days.  

[harbourxie]

Thanks for thebinput!

[KarmaCruisers]

Can you tell me about this princess “core” offer, @sgvcruiser

[sgvcruiser]

Core offer is not connected to any particular sailing or special event thus have more flexibility to use. It's based on your overall play vs one particular sailing (CBS). You can use the free/discounted room up to 3x per offer but the free-play (if any) will only apply to the first one. If by any chance, you have to cancel the first cruise you will loose the free-play. It seemed to me that it is issued after the previous one expired or after you use it all. 
I like the core-offer because it allows me to book far ahead and/or high-demand ittn (like the launching of the Sun Princess) even though mine is only free-inside plus $100 free-play. 

The sucky part, unlike CBS, it takes longer time to get better offer. 

[NRWPA]

On 7/9/2023 at 3:11 PM, harbourxie said:

Yes - cruise line casino programs - like Blue Chip Club for Celebrity, Club Royale for RCL, CAS for NCL, Princess Player Club for Princess. 

 

Thanks a lot,

I think Club Royale would be your best bet (pun intended). They offer free drinks in the casino as soon as you get to 2500 points - that is for the casino year 4/1 to 3/31. You do not have to be playing to drink there. Once you're at 2500, drinks are free for all your future cruises through 3/31. With the amount you play you most likely would qualify within a single cruise. As soon as you get to 2500, go to the casino host and they will put a "Prime" sticker on your card that entitles you to free drinks. My last cruise, I had slightly over 9000 points and my offer was for a balcony cabin and $1000 free play with a list of cruises I could take. I booked an 8 day on Odyssey for Jan 2024. If you get an offer on board, ask the casino host for the FULL list of cruises you can take. The list that comes on the offer is limited - maybe 20 cruises, but the FULL list (for me) was about 12 pages double sided.

 

In order to book whatever offer you receive on board, you have to place a Next Cruise rez - you must book NC while on your [current] cruise (but NC is like a placeholder - you can book the future cruise after you get home), pay $200 to NC but the $200 is used to pay your port charges and taxes on the future cruise. Next Cruise gives you $100 OBC in addition to the casino offer.

 

I've found Club Royale to be much better than Princess player's club and NCL Casinos at Sea as far as future offers go and I've done all 3 (haven't done Blue Chip). I hope this info helps

[harbourxie]

31 minutes ago, NRWPA said:

I think Club Royale would be your best bet (pun intended). They offer free drinks in the casino as soon as you get to 2500 points - that is for the casino year 4/1 to 3/31. You do not have to be playing to drink there. Once you're at 2500, drinks are free for all your future cruises through 3/31. With the amount you play you most likely would qualify within a single cruise. As soon as you get to 2500, go to the casino host and they will put a "Prime" sticker on your card that entitles you to free drinks. My last cruise, I had slightly over 9000 points and my offer was for a balcony cabin and $1000 free play with a list of cruises I could take. I booked an 8 day on Odyssey for Jan 2024. If you get an offer on board, ask the casino host for the FULL list of cruises you can take. The list that comes on the offer is limited - maybe 20 cruises, but the FULL list (for me) was about 12 pages double sided.

 

In order to book whatever offer you receive on board, you have to place a Next Cruise rez - you must book NC while on your [current] cruise (but NC is like a placeholder - you can book the future cruise after you get home), pay $200 to NC but the $200 is used to pay your port charges and taxes on the future cruise. Next Cruise gives you $100 OBC in addition to the casino offer.

 

I've found Club Royale to be much better than Princess player's club and NCL Casinos at Sea as far as future offers go and I've done all 3 (haven't done Blue Chip). I hope this info helps

This is great info. Thanks a lot!

[PAULLUO]

I also want to ask, if there is the same gambling budget, is the Msc program worth mentioning? If it is worth it, how can it be used to maximize the edge?

[spunks]

I want to second NRWPA's post recommending RCCL as best for you. I want to add that on RCCL, your points accumulate with each cruise.....for the year April 1 thru March 31 each year. As soon as you become Prime (2500 points) you will be prime for the rest of the year ending March 31 AND through the next cruise year. With your level of play you will become prime about halfway through your first cruise which entitles you to free drinks in the casino for the rest of that cruise AND every cruise through that year AND the next year...At 6000 points (your $30,000 coin in divided by 5) you will get $500.00 free play on your next cruise. If you were to up that to 6500 points you would get $750 .00 free play. You would get a looong list of free cruises up to 15 day trans Atlantic offers to choose from free.

 

My wife and I take up to 18 cruises a year ....all free Also, if you accumulate 25,000 points in a year you become signature for the rest of the cruise year plus the next. That entitles you to free unlimited internet....every cruise.