How many points in casino needed for free cruise offers?

[Elaine5715]

7 hours ago, audcc77 said:

I’m not sure I agree with this.  
 

There has to be something which triggers people to begin to get free cruises at some point in time. I would think that it would be points.  
 

Time will tell.  
 

I already have lots of free interiors and ocean view offers on many itineraries.  I’ve had these for months and they expire in May.  

 

If Carnival sends me anything substantially worthwhile within  the next few weeks due to my triple casino points from last cruise, then I’ll try to remember to report back.  

 

I’m praying for an Elite.🤞😎

Your onboard spends and payment method contributes but not points, because points are simply based on whose card is in the machine.  Similar to why win/loss statements aren't tax documents.  You could host the slot pull and run other people's money on your card.  

[Colorado Beach Bum]

To say that points don’t matter is wrong.  As I’ve earned more points, my offers have improved.  Started off with just free inside and drinks in casino.  Now I get up to suite offers and DOUE.  

[Elaine5715]

2 hours ago, Colorado Beach Bum said:

To say that points don’t matter is wrong.  As I’ve earned more points, my offers have improved.  Started off with just free inside and drinks in casino.  Now I get up to suite offers and DOUE.  

As you spent more?  Yes, that matters but points do not.  The casino marketing department knows far more about you that predicts your potential play than points.  Offers aren't a reward for past play. 

[bafinegan]

3 hours ago, Colorado Beach Bum said:

To say that points don’t matter is wrong.  As I’ve earned more points, my offers have improved.  Started off with just free inside and drinks in casino.  Now I get up to suite offers and DOUE.  

Agree.  I kept track and reached 10000 points on a cruise and got my first free suite and DOUE for me and hubbs.

 

[Colorado Beach Bum]

12 hours ago, Elaine5715 said:

As you spent more?  Yes, that matters but points do not.  The casino marketing department knows far more about you that predicts your potential play than points.  Offers aren't a reward for past play. 

How can you be so sure points don’t matter when you highlight that they don’t disclose criteria?  Many on here say points have changed their offers yet you argue everyone is wrong and points don’t matter.  What is your source of information?  Do you work in the casino department?

[Elaine5715]

57 minutes ago, Colorado Beach Bum said:

How can you be so sure points don’t matter when you highlight that they don’t disclose criteria?  Many on here say points have changed their offers yet you argue everyone is wrong and points don’t matter.  What is your source of information?  Do you work in the casino department?

Because as stated, "points" are a record of a single card in the machine, they offer no insight and people share cards thinking they will "get more".  Offers are based on the information collected by the casino marketing bots that create a profile of your potential spend and resources as a player.  For example, Costco -ideal customer- in the United States is an Asian-American woman. College educated and 39 years old, this individual earns more than $125,000 per year. Costco shoppers, on average, are younger and have higher incomes than those of its primary competitor, Sam’s Club.  Since Costco also sells cruise vacations, using their collected data (average spend, card level)  is very likely a data collection point.  The US Census provides information by census tract including age, home ownership, average income, educational levels, employment-all those questions you answer about yourself.  Your zip code provides information about the average cost of living, cost of rent/home, values, taxes-income.  Your address reveals if you rent or own and what you paid for your house (other resources estimate rents).  The market bot know the profiles of every credit card company customers. All land casino players club, hotels, airlines, rental car places  sell information and the bots know what it takes to get and maintain status at each.  Professional associations and state business agencies sell membership lists and on and on..

It takes about 2 seconds for the bots to figure out a new cruiser who spent $20 on a flutter on their first Carnival cruise is actual a Diamond Plus Caesars, MGM Platinum, Delta Diamond, living in a $800,000 house, owns a business, holds the Costco Plus card and paid for their cruise with a Delta Business Reserve card.   They want that player back onboard but a free interior isn't going to float their boat since they get suites at Caesar's so hello new ECHO offer.

Compare that profile with a Carnival casino player who had 5000 points on their card and paid their ship account with a debit card.  Who is more likely to spend, spend, spend once onboard?  

People want/need to believe it is points so they can feel good about overspending because they got a free steak dinner and "hopefully" will get a good offer.  Should that comp or offer fail to appear, they figure they just didn't spend enough so they spend more.  It is a beautiful casino plan.  For those who are convinced it was their points alone, are either forgetting that their onboard spend also increased (onboard overall spend matters) and are seemingly unaware about how much the casino actually knows about them. One leader of a popular social media club jumped from Blue Card holder to ECHO (Executive Casino Host Oncall-Carnival's term for their top players) quickly.  Was it because they now cruise frequently?  No, it was because they own a HUGE business and are the type of player Las Vegas would send a jet for if they didn't already own one.  

 

[DegenCCL]

5,000 points last cruise still gets me return offers for free interior/ocean view (or upgrade to balcony at very reduced rate) and DOU while playing. I get a little salty hearing about all these people that qualify for DOU everywhere 🤣. 

[StephPS79]

10 minutes ago, Elaine5715 said:

Because as stated, "points" are a record of a single card in the machine, they offer no insight and people share cards thinking they will "get more".  Offers are based on the information collected by the casino marketing bots that create a profile of your potential spend and resources as a player.  For example, Costco -ideal customer- in the United States is an Asian-American woman. College educated and 39 years old, this individual earns more than $125,000 per year. Costco shoppers, on average, are younger and have higher incomes than those of its primary competitor, Sam’s Club.  Since Costco also sells cruise vacations, using their collected data (average spend, card level)  is very likely a data collection point.  The US Census provides information by census tract including age, home ownership, average income, educational levels, employment-all those questions you answer about yourself.  Your zip code provides information about the average cost of living, cost of rent/home, values, taxes-income.  Your address reveals if you rent or own and what you paid for your house (other resources estimate rents).  The market bot know the profiles of every credit card company customers. All land casino players club, hotels, airlines, rental car places  sell information and the bots know what it takes to get and maintain status at each.  Professional associations and state business agencies sell membership lists and on and on..

It takes about 2 seconds for the bots to figure out a new cruiser who spent $20 on a flutter on their first Carnival cruise is actual a Diamond Plus Caesars, MGM Platinum, Delta Diamond, living in a $800,000 house, owns a business, holds the Costco Plus card and paid for their cruise with a Delta Business Reserve card.   They want that player back onboard but a free interior isn't going to float their boat since they get suites at Caesar's so hello new ECHO offer.

Compare that profile with a Carnival casino player who had 5000 points on their card and paid their ship account with a debit card.  Who is more likely to spend, spend, spend once onboard?  

People want/need to believe it is points so they can feel good about overspending because they got a free steak dinner and "hopefully" will get a good offer.  Should that comp or offer fail to appear, they figure they just didn't spend enough so they spend more.  It is a beautiful casino plan.  For those who are convinced it was their points alone, are either forgetting that their onboard spend also increased (onboard overall spend matters) and are seemingly unaware about how much the casino actually knows about them. One leader of a popular social media club jumped from Blue Card holder to ECHO (Executive Casino Host Oncall-Carnival's term for their top players) quickly.  Was it because they now cruise frequently?  No, it was because they own a HUGE business and are the type of player Las Vegas would send a jet for if they didn't already own one.  

 

 

None of that answers the question:

 

1 hour ago, Colorado Beach Bum said:

What is your source of information?  Do you work in the casino department?

 

[bafinegan]

All Iknow is they take my card at the table and punch in how much I buy in for.  If i buy in for more, that is recorded.  If I hot big, that is keyed in ( I have watched them do it).  WHen I leave the table, what I leave in is also keyed in ( I know because I ask them what they are doing).  AND I get good offers (shrugg)

 

[audcc77]

5 hours ago, Elaine5715 said:

Compare that profile with a Carnival casino player who had 5000 points on their card and paid their ship account with a debit card.  Who is more likely to spend, spend, spend once onboard?  

I don’t know.  Who?   Who is likely to spend spend spend?   Who would use a debit card when you get a lot more benefits from using a credit card?  

[IntrepidFromDC]

I've been on about 27 cruises and the last 26 have been free.  On lose-money-at-sea days I am usually in the casino twice - afternoon for an hour or two and after dinner for hours and hours (unless I have an early excursion the next morning).  On port days I am usually in the casino in the evening for 2 - 4 hours.  On a seven-day cruise I only skip the casino one or two days, usually to help ensure I don't go over budget.  I just got off my most recent cruise a few weeks ago and the best offer I currently like is a free cruise to Canada and Greenland, leaving from the port I can drive to in 35 minutes, Baltimore.  Very tempting...

[Destiny0315]

9 minutes ago, IntrepidFromDC said:

On lose-money-at-sea days I am usually in the casino twice - afternoon for an hour or two and after dinner for hours and hours (unless I have an early excursion the next morning). 

Oh boy on that Greenland cruise from Baltimore you'll have 8 lose-money-at-sea-days!!!😉

[jamscckmc]

I typically only get about 3000 points on a 7-8 day cruise. Get offers everyday. Last few months only free interior. For years got oceanview offers every day and last year got balcony offers for most ships. Could only take advantage of one and am on the Mardi Gras in May in an extended balcony on the hump for free(of course port fees, taxes and gratuities.) Only ever get free drinks in the casino while playing, never drinks on us anywhere. I remember sitting next to someone towards the end of the cruise and looking over and she had 30,000 points while I had yet to make 3000. She probably never leaves the casino. She said she had a free suite, free steak house, several bottles of wine. $1000 free play and $500 on board credit. Of course nothing is really free!

[emm126]

On 3/12/2024 at 9:04 AM, mz-s said:

Carnival does not have a published schedule of comps, other than I think 1500 points gets you drinks on us while playing for the remainder of the cruise. The rest of their comps - free steakhouse dinner, free cruise offers, etc., are not given out at a set number of points.

I was told on my last cruise over New Years, free steakhouse dinners or spa etc is given for every 10K in points. Don't know how accurate it is but that is what host told me. 

[mz-s]

17 minutes ago, emm126 said:

I was told on my last cruise over New Years, free steakhouse dinners or spa etc is given for every 10K in points. Don't know how accurate it is but that is what host told me. 

 

Probably fairly accurate, but you can get Jijis or sushi with much less than 10k.

[audcc77]

17 minutes ago, mz-s said:

 

Probably fairly accurate, but you can get Jijis or sushi with much less than 10k.

Yes.  I just did that on Sunshine.  And a bottle of wine.  
 

[kwokpot]

On 3/12/2024 at 3:06 PM, StephPS79 said:

Just off a cruise, and I finished with 21K+ points, and my bounce-back offer was 50% off rates.  Terrible.  Everyone says that they give offers to the top whatever percent, but I did check in with other people in the social group, and people with significantly less points (like half) had offers for free rooms.  Most of those people did lose a lot.  My out of pocket was probably about $400 charged to the room in the casino, so I do think some of that info is reviewed, even for the bounce-back offers.

Your math seems off. Are you saying you earned over 21,000 points in the casino and only spent $400? That doesn't seem possible unless you had multiple large jackpots that gave you cash to play through to earn 21,000 points.

[StephPS79]

1 minute ago, kwokpot said:

Your math seems off. Are you saying you earned over 21,000 points in the casino and only spent $400? That doesn't seem possible unless you had multiple large jackpots that gave you cash to play through to earn 21,000 points.

 

Nah, no jackpots - kind of unfortunate the way it worked out!  On the first night, I played $300 on Double Diamond High limit, but spinning $5 denom 2 credits.  ($200 Funplay, put $100 charge in).  Lost that in about 2 minutes lol!

 

I switched over to play a Pinball machine, Double Gold or whatever it was, still on the first night.  I charged $100, I was betting max at $1 denom, so $10/spin, and honest truth kept hitting Pinball and a few good hits, twice $800.  But the Pinballs just kept hitting!  Like every 3rd or 4th spin!  I went up to $2 denom for a little while while it was hitting well. That first night, I was up around $5000!  I finished the first night with around 11,000 points.

 

And here the story takes a tragic turn.  I wish I never stopped playing that first night lol!  The Pinball machine died on me.  I kept leaving, but couldn't help coming back to it, with the hopes it would be nice and pump out the luck like it did the first night.  But nope.  Put all $5000 back, tried to find some luck on a few different machines with a few hundred more, but no such luck to be found.

 

I really regret playing out of my bank, instead of just charging it to the room, and then paying off the balance after the cruise.  Not a rookie, but definite rookie mistake on my part.

 

Actually, I should have took that money and ran after the first night, but that's gambling for ya.

 

[KarmaCruisers]

Here’s the trick to getting free cruises 

1. The credit card you use for your on-board folio..use a Amex Black or other TOP credit card with either no limit or a HIGH limit.

2. Earn 4000+ points on your casino account, playing machines (slots or video poker; the earn rate is $2.50/$5, respectively)

3. Don’t play on the day before debark (no point, the point totals have alresdy been sent to corporate at midnight)

4. DONT CHASE COMPS! For 4000 points they’ll probably “comp” an interior room “fare only”; which if you even put $1 in a slot machine you’ll get discounted rates to only a few hundreds.

[Elaine5715]

3 hours ago, audcc77 said:

I don’t know.  Who?   Who is likely to spend spend spend?   Who would use a debit card when you get a lot more benefits from using a credit card?  

You do understand the difference in potential spending between a debit card limited to the funds in an account and a high level credit card that you can take months to pay off? Just like casino players who are betting on a "possibility"  they could win, casinos bet on the potential that gamblers will tap available resources to chase that possibility.  

[Elaine5715]

9 hours ago, DegenCCL said:

5,000 points last cruise still gets me return offers for free interior/ocean view (or upgrade to balcony at very reduced rate) and DOU while playing. I get a little salty hearing about all these people that qualify for DOU everywhere 🤣. 

Buy CHEERS, it can prime the pump.  

[Colorado Beach Bum]

1 hour ago, StephPS79 said:

really regret playing out of my bank, instead of just charging it to the room, and then paying off the balance after the cruise.  Not a rookie, but definite rookie mistake on my part.

Curious as to why this is a rookie mistake.   When I have hand pay wins I’ll pay off some of my account.  I also use gift cards to pay down account.  This hasn’t seem to hurt my offers at all.  

[audcc77]

16 minutes ago, Elaine5715 said:

You do understand the difference in potential spending between a debit card limited to the funds in an account and a high level credit card that you can take months to pay off?

Pfft.  Nope. I’ve never had use for a debit card.  Ever. 
 

Always paid credit; always paid it off each month.  I just only buy things I need.  Like gambling and cruises.  🙂

 

Always reaped the benefits of cash back, free airfare, etc. 

 

Again, before I give up all hope, I’ll wait and see what happens in a few weeks.  

 

Come on Elite! 🤞

[kwokpot]

1 hour ago, KarmaCruisers said:

The credit card you use for your on-board folio..use a Amex Black or other TOP credit card with either no limit or a HIGH limit.

You talk as if everyone can get an AMEX Black card. It doesn't work that way. You have to be invited, and among the qualifications is spending at least $250,000-$500,000 in charges on AMEX cards. The annual fee for that card is $5,000 and the initiation fee is $10,000.

[weezal]

9 minutes ago, audcc77 said:

Come on Elite! 🤞

you might get premier offer, earning 1k pt/day on avg.

estimate 2k for ultra, 3k for elite