How much does "free" Blue Chip stateroom actually cost?

[kwokpot]

14 minutes ago, capsplace said:

Thanks.  I will call.  We are modest gamblers, always playing a bit of slots, blackjack and roulette on every cruise since 2017.  We remain at Pearl, and have never received any offers from Blue Chip.  My next door neighbor just started cruising on Celebrity this past year, and has received THREE significantly reduced cruise fare offers, including a Trans Atlantic.  We must be missing something, unless the earlier comment about newbies is the answer.

It's all about how much one gambles. Sometimes people LIE and don't tell you the truth about how much one spends in the casino. In other words, no cruiseline is going to give away a comped cruise or even a highly discounted cruise if you only spent $200 in the casino for the entire cruise. Anyone that claims that is NOT TELLING YOU THE TRUTH.

Edit: last year Blue chip club did have a big marketing giveaway where they were giving away comped cruises for non gamblers. I know because I received such an offer. I booked that free cruise on the Solstice this past February and gambled about $150 total. Haven't gotten any other offers. The Solstice Mexican Riviera cruises were severely undersold, which is why Blue Chip was giving away cruises on that ship to non gamblers, just to fill the ship. That won't be happening to that degree anymore. 

Edited July 23, 2023 by kwokpot

[capsplace]

Thanks for the insight.  Probably explains why my neighbor is receiving the benefits.  He admits to being a big slot player, and frequently goes to our Seminole casinos here in South Florida.

[cruisequeen4ever]

Your assumptions are correct; that’s all I had to pay. Even drinks for free, sometimes if you were playing in the casino.

[NutsAboutGolf]

5 minutes ago, cruisequeen4ever said:

Your assumptions are correct; that’s all I had to pay. Even drinks for free, sometimes if you were playing in the casino.

Drinks within the classic packages are free for all, if actively playing in the casino.  This is regardless if a comped cruise or not.  Occasionally, they’ll break the rules and give a gamblers non-gambling significant other (or companion, etc) free drinks as well

At times there can be zero servers and the pitboss/manager has to call over the bartender to take and fulfill a drink request

 

[NutsAboutGolf]

On 7/23/2023 at 5:35 AM, Georgia_Peaches said:

No requirement to gamble or even go to the casino at all!  

This is correct with BCC comped sailing and an easy way to think about it is your current BCC comped sailing is a reward from your last sailings play.  UComp is entirely different however 

[NutsAboutGolf]

On 7/23/2023 at 10:29 AM, capsplace said:

Thanks for the insight.  Probably explains why my neighbor is receiving the benefits.  He admits to being a big slot player, and frequently goes to our Seminole casinos here in South Florida.

Gamblers rarely share their “coin in” only how much they won

Sort of the win/lose dynamic as a new car purchase deal at a dealership.  Many will brag about the purchase price, the low interest, etc but leave out how little they got for their trade in

 

With that being said, you can be strategic with it if you factor in the cost of the cruise fare.  BCC has really tightened up on offers and there’s no signs of them coming back.  In 2021, there were reports that a couple would do a $1000 room charge on slots, play it through until it’s completely lost and they could book any X sailing (excluding the expedition ships as they have no casinos) they wanted in aquaclass which often had a cash price for two over $4k

[Fly and Sail]

1 hour ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

BCC has really tightened up on offers and there’s no signs of them coming back.  In 2021, there were reports that a couple would do a $1000 room charge on slots, play it through until it’s completely lost and they could book any X sailing (excluding the expedition ships as they have no casinos) they wanted in aquaclass which often had a cash price for two over $4k

That’s pretty much what I did. I had a bankroll of $1300 per cruise (plus the $100 from BCC) and played it until I had ~ 5000 points per cruise which equals $5k slot coin in.

 

I was then eligible to book any cruise I wanted in a Veranda cabin and upgrade for $20/day to Aqua Class. No more. Now they offer me inside cabins I have to take within 3 months. No thanks! Unless I try and bid on a Veranda/Aqua through moveup and if it doesn’t go through I just cancel.

[Georgia_Peaches]

2 hours ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

 UComp is entirely different however 

Would you mind elaborating?  I'm not sure what you mean...we've only used them one time.

[NutsAboutGolf]

5 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Would you mind elaborating?  I'm not sure what you mean...we've only used them one time.

@kwokpot, care to share the details?  I cannot as I have never used them…We are mulling over using them for Virgin Voyages but are very tight on vacation days

[NutsAboutGolf]

22 minutes ago, Fly and Sail said:

That’s pretty much what I did. I had a bankroll of $1300 per cruise (plus the $100 from BCC) and played it until I had ~ 5000 points per cruise which equals $5k slot coin in.

 

I was then eligible to book any cruise I wanted in a Veranda cabin and upgrade for $20/day to Aqua Class. No more. Now they offer me inside cabins I have to take within 3 months. No thanks! Unless I try and bid on a Veranda/Aqua through moveup and if it doesn’t go through I just cancel.

Yup and the big issue is you still have to pay for the perks unless you’re deemed a “whale”.  Alcohol was the trickiest especially if you don’t yet have elite or above status

[Fly and Sail]

1 hour ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

Yup and the big issue is you still have to pay for the perks unless you’re deemed a “whale”.  Alcohol was the trickiest especially if you don’t yet have elite or above status

 

I never had a problem with that, as by virtue of being MGM NOIR I always called in and got my $300 OBC. That was enough for Wifi and the Non-Alc beverage package.

 

But the gratuities, tax, drinks, wifi... it's important to do the math.

Edited July 30, 2023 by Fly and Sail

[kwokpot]

3 hours ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

@kwokpot, care to share the details?  I cannot as I have never used them…We are mulling over using them for Virgin Voyages but are very tight on vacation days

When applying for an URComped cruise you are asked what your gambling budget is. I'll have to check the disclaimers to see if there's any stipulations that there may be a charge back if no gambling is detected. I know in the past on certain URComped offers there was indeed that statement, but i don't remember if it's present on current offers. 

I'm writing this at baggage claim at JFK after finishing two cruises. URComped booked cruise on the Apex, a 12 night Iceland itinerary. But we actually disembarked a 2nd cruise this morning,the Odyssey of the Seas 7 night Greek Islands which was the first non- comped cruise we've taken in years and first RCL cruise since March 2020. My husband lost all hs Casino Royale status but attained Prime on the cruise and winning 13 jackpots!!! Oh and he won ZERO jackpots on the Apex. It was TIGHT, TIGHT, TIGHT!!! 

[Georgia_Peaches]

38 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

When applying for an URComped cruise you are asked what your gambling budget is. I'll have to check the disclaimers to see if there's any stipulations that there may be a charge back if no gambling is detected. I know in the past on certain URComped offers there was indeed that statement, but i don't remember if it's present on current offers. 

I'm writing this at baggage claim at JFK after finishing two cruises. URComped booked cruise on the Apex, a 12 night Iceland itinerary. But we actually disembarked a 2nd cruise this morning,the Odyssey of the Seas 7 night Greek Islands which was the first non- comped cruise we've taken in years and first RCL cruise since March 2020. My husband lost all hs Casino Royale status but attained Prime on the cruise and winning 13 jackpots!!! Oh and he won ZERO jackpots on the Apex. It was TIGHT, TIGHT, TIGHT!!! 

That is very interesting. I was never asked about my gambling budget or even if I gamble at all. 
 

safe travels home!