new NCL CAS program april 2024?

[Sand and Seas]

22 minutes ago, UKstages said:

april 1st is the day they say they were just kidding... april fool's.

 

as an elite member, i am curious as to what the changes are. sounds like i can count on a "free" baseline drink package. i mean, if they're giving it to ruby, i assume it'll go to elite as well.

 

interesting that it sounds like they will require a purchase of the drink package in order for elites to enjoy the premium plus package. that suggests they really don't know how loyalty programs work. or casinos, for that matter. if they really wanted to differentiate between ruby at 35,000 tier and elite at 100,000 tier (representing a minimum of $500,000 coin through, but closer to $1,000,000 coin through for video poker players who dabble in slots), they should just give premium the plus drink package to elites. very minimal exposure... there are not a heckuva lot of elites... and - whether they realize it or not - by making the benefit the same at 35K and 100K, they are giving players few compelling reasons to play beyond 35K.

 

There are some additional reports on that other site now.    One of them says he spoke with a CAS exec who was currently onboard their sailing.  He said Elite will now get 'Complimentary' upgrade to Premium Plus for guests 1 & 2.  It read like you would NOT have to pay the basic FAS fees.    I hope that is true as Elite has definitely earned it.   

 

I feel fairly confident about the change for Ruby as I talked with a CAS agent who was reading an update that had been sent to them.    Please let us know if CAS gives you further information for Elite.  Who knows what they might change in the next 24-48 hours before we see it on the website.

 

 

 

 

[UKstages]

9 minutes ago, Sand and Seas said:

He said Elite will now get 'Complimentary' upgrade to Premium Plus for guests 1 & 2.

 

you see, though, that's the same wording that was in the brochure. that's what is so concerning.

 

in order to get an "upgrade," one would have to have purchased something (or paid the gratuities, in this case). NCL has been known to play fast and loose with the english language, but if they were giving elites the premium plus package, they should say so. if they're "upgrading" an elite player to premium plus, that suggests that the player would have to already have had the premium (regular) drink package in order to be bumped up.

[Sand and Seas]

Just now, UKstages said:

 

you see, though, that's the same wording that was in the brochure. that's what is so concerning.

 

in order to get an "upgrade," one would have to have purchased something (or paid the gratuities, in this case). NCL has been known to play fast and loose with the english language, but if they were giving elites the premium plus package, they should say so. if they're "upgrading" an elite player to premium plus, that suggests that the player would have to already have had the premium (regular) drink package in order to be bumped up.

I totally agree!   

And since they seem to be tweaking the benefits day by day, who knows what the final language will look like.  

 

I am glad that I (and many others) had called CAS to express our displeasure with the changed benefits listed in the first brochure that some received.   I hope they are still listening and working on what is fair based on Tier levels.

[UKstages]

i firmly believe they are reading this thread.

 

such a shame they have ignored almost every one of the cogent suggestions in the initial post!

[BirdTravels]

On 3/25/2024 at 1:18 PM, UKstages said:

as a CAS guest, you can use CAS check-in. it's a modest benefit of minimal value, but it's something.

 

as for cruises embarking on 3/31... strictly speaking, that ain't april 1st. but nobody knows what they will do. my best guess is they will not provide a drink card or free drinks (including water and soda) since almost the entire cruise takes place during the new window.

 

they basically could do three things...

 

• give you free drinks for the entirety of the cruise

• give you one day of free drinks and revoke the privilege on april 1st

• give you no free drinks

 

i'm not a betting man (see what i did there?), but my best guess is that they will go with the third option.

Cruises leaving on 3/30 and 3/31 will get 2023 entitlements. 

[travelingtink]

Boarded yesterday 3/31 and this is what I received which I believe is the 2023 perks. No mention of things changing mid cruise so I guess I get drinks throughout the cruise. Not sure what anyone is getting today. 
 

 

[dbrown84]

1 hour ago, travelingtink said:

Boarded yesterday 3/31 and this is what I received which I believe is the 2023 perks. No mention of things changing mid cruise so I guess I get drinks throughout the cruise. Not sure what anyone is getting today. 
 

 

make sure you keep this.  It's now a collector's item 🙂

[BirdTravels]

On 3/30/2024 at 9:36 PM, Sand and Seas said:

I totally agree!   

And since they seem to be tweaking the benefits day by day, who knows what the final language will look like.  

 

I am glad that I (and many others) had called CAS to express our displeasure with the changed benefits listed in the first brochure that some received.   I hope they are still listening and working on what is fair based on Tier levels.

So,,, the website is now pretty clear. Ruby and above get the beverage package and elite gets plus. 

https://www.ncl.com/why-cruise-norwegian/casino-cruise/players-club

 

Supposedly, when you book with CAS, they are supposed to waive the grats on the FAS beverage package. I asked the exec host onboard, what about those reservations already booked. He is checking. 
 

The BTS tour is the ShoreEx version. 
 

The difference for Elites is the reduction of the ShoreEx credit from $600 to $500. The limo service and $1K OBC is the same along with the prepaid DSC. 
 

For Ruby, no more water or “plus”/Ultra /black card drinks. You get your 6 boxes of water and you pay for the rest. 

Edited April 3 by BirdTravels

[BirdTravels]

Talking with the host team, they are selling this as an enhancement to Ruby and above since you get a beverage package that works 24/7 (not just when the casino is open). 

[Sand and Seas]

12 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

Talking with the host team, they are selling this as an enhancement to Ruby and above since you get a beverage package that works 24/7 (not just when the casino is open). 

For us, the new Ruby benefits are an improvement.   Others may wish for Premium Plus but comped FAS to use shipwide meets our needs.

[JS_Cruising]

For those that do not opt for FAS, the change is positive.  Those that always take the FAS option and upgrade to Premium Plus, the drink card never mattered.  Nobody has to wish for premium plus, they can just purchase it.

[Wvshimmy]

On 4/3/2024 at 1:26 AM, BirdTravels said:

So,,, the website is now pretty clear. Ruby and above get the beverage package and elite gets plus. 

https://www.ncl.com/why-cruise-norwegian/casino-cruise/players-club

 

Supposedly, when you book with CAS, they are supposed to waive the grats on the FAS beverage package. I asked the exec host onboard, what about those reservations already booked. He is checking. 
 

The BTS tour is the ShoreEx version. 
 

The difference for Elites is the reduction of the ShoreEx credit from $600 to $500. The limo service and $1K OBC is the same along with the prepaid DSC. 
 

For Ruby, no more water or “plus”/Ultra /black card drinks. You get your 6 boxes of water and you pay for the rest. 

I needed to call about possibly changing a cabin on an comped cruise. 

Was going to wait until at least next week to inquire re PIF bookings with FAS. 

Since I was already on the phone,  I asked. 

 Sweet rep put me on hold a few times,  apologized several times and checked latest memos. 

She removed all my Bev pkgs on all my bookings,  readjusted totals and sent new confirmations for all without asking. 

PIF bookings should see the refunds back to the cc in 7-10 days .

I'll be checking. 

They still don't have specifics how/when/where the beverage pkg will be added for Ruby , other than onboard. 

Should be similar for Elite. 

* Elite player boarded Getaway today,  and GS added new drink benefits to her freestyle card.

[BirdTravels]

22 hours ago, Wvshimmy said:

They still don't have specifics how/when/where the beverage pkg will be added for Ruby , other than onboard. Should be similar for Elite. 

Elites used to have a lot of entitlements (pre-paid daily service charge, free premium internet, $600 shoreex credit, etc.). All of those entitlements were added about 7 days prior to departure. I assume that the beverage packages and internet for Rubies will be done the same way. 

 

If they do it the same way, when you see those entitlements hit your reservation, ask for an updated guest confirmation and amenities confirmation (general chat is fine - if you get a chat agent that won't touch a casino reservation, hang up and go to the next agent). If you don't see them pop on your reservation, then start bugging CAS. 

[Wvshimmy]

56 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

Elites used to have a lot of entitlements (pre-paid daily service charge, free premium internet, $600 shoreex credit, etc.). All of those entitlements were added about 7 days prior to departure. I assume that the beverage packages and internet for Rubies will be done the same way. 

 

If they do it the same way, when you see those entitlements hit your reservation, ask for an updated guest confirmation and amenities confirmation (general chat is fine - if you get a chat agent that won't touch a casino reservation, hang up and go to the next agent). If you don't see them pop on your reservation, then start bugging CAS. 

Good to know. 

I'm sure it will take a while to smooth out the process. 

[Wvshimmy]

10 hours ago, Wvshimmy said:

Good to know. 

I'm sure it will take a while to smooth out the process. 

I knew about the Elite benefits, but wasn't aware the amenities were added precruise. 

Thanks!

[itsnotjustme]

Apologies if someone has pointed this out.

 

Pearl does receive on non-refundable OBC.  $75.  Better than $0.

[Coastalbreezes]

Question for any Ruby players who have sailed since April 1st: I read on the "other site" that the beverage package is not indicated on your key card and that you have to go to Guest Services where they look up your reservation, supposedly see that you are Ruby and reprint your keycard that shows the beverage package.

 

Is this true? It seems ridiculous and a waste of time.

[Sand and Seas]

3 hours ago, Coastalbreezes said:

Question for any Ruby players who have sailed since April 1st: I read on the "other site" that the beverage package is not indicated on your key card and that you have to go to Guest Services where they look up your reservation, supposedly see that you are Ruby and reprint your keycard that shows the beverage package.

 

Is this true? It seems ridiculous and a waste of time.

Call CAS before  sailing and  ask  them to send you  an updated  Amenities confirmation for  your  reservation.   Ours showed BEVPK1 at zero  cost for  Unlimited Open Bar Package.   When we checked  in at Port our  cards were  already  printed  with UB.

[Coastalbreezes]

18 hours ago, Sand and Seas said:

Call CAS before  sailing and  ask  them to send you  an updated  Amenities confirmation for  your  reservation.   Ours showed BEVPK1 at zero  cost for  Unlimited Open Bar Package.   When we checked  in at Port our  cards were  already  printed  with UB.

Thanks very much!

[hachtely]

I agree with everything UKStages suggested 

 

Carnival applies your OBC to pre-booked excursions (ones you book before you get on ship).  NCL doesn’t do that.  By the time I get on board I don’t have anything to spend my OBC on.  Very frustrating.  On one cruise I waited until I got on board to book an excursion so I could use my OBC and it was sold out. 
 

I hate the convenience fee in the casino too.  I charge everything to my NCL credit card so I “make” 3% on my purchases but if you aren’t at least Sapphire in casino they charge you 3% to charge your play so it’s a wash.  
 

To someone else’s comment about Princess - I also have stopped getting “Plus” packages included in my Come Back and Cruise offers.   
 

 

 

 

[Beach Life 1]

Has anyone sailed since April 1, and received the water package?  Is it one package for the cabin,  or a package for each player (Pearl and above)  in the cabin?  Also,  are the water boxes the large size,  or the small size?  It states 12 pack for 11 nights or more.  So would that be 24 boxes total for two people?  Thanks for any info.

[Sand and Seas]

8 hours ago, Beach Life 1 said:

Has anyone sailed since April 1, and received the water package?  Is it one package for the cabin,  or a package for each player (Pearl and above)  in the cabin?  Also,  are the water boxes the large size,  or the small size?  It states 12 pack for 11 nights or more.  So would that be 24 boxes total for two people?  Thanks for any info.

We just returned from a 11 day cruise.   There were 12 one-liter water boxes in our cabin for one CAS (Ruby) player.  I don't know what they will do for two Pearl and above.    We also had four small 1/2 liter waters due to our Latitudes status.

 

About a week into the cruise, the casino host asked if we needed more water but we did not.   Based on your play, the host on board may send you wine, chocolates or water during cruise. 

[UKstages]

On 4/3/2024 at 1:26 AM, BirdTravels said:

The difference for Elites is the reduction of the ShoreEx credit from $600 to $500. 

 

this may require clarification.

 

i haven't traveled since the new scheme, er, i mean "benefits" were put in place, but i believe this benefit has always been for two people... meaning that it used to be $600 for two people to take an excursion. it's now apparently $500 for two people to take an excursion.

 

but, as a new elite, the way it was explained to me was that it is not a credit per se... it's not a credit to be consumed by as many excursions as you want up to the full value, but that it is a per person credit (up to $250 x 2 people) for a single excursion.

 

my understanding is a solo traveler therefore would get a "free" excursion up to $250 and that the benefit is not $500, but $250 per person for a single excursion.