Free Drinks In The Casino????

[retiredonthesea]

We have been getting two cards for a long time now---as I'am a slot machine hog and like to play two at once!:o Of course unless they are really busy then I will share.:rolleyes: :D

[MrLee]

Before I claimed that i had "lost" my card, I would want to make sure that it doesn't become invalid when I make that claim.

 

 

It wouldn't matter if it lost the magnetic stripe since the number written on it remains the same. Of course in that case you would have to be careful which one you put in the machine. ;)

[goldmom]

So, if you have the card with the free drink ticket attached when you book thru CAS, do you still need to take your card out of the machine? Or can you just show the free drink card like we used to?

 

I agree it's a pain to take the card out. Also, doesn't taking the card out make the countdown to earning a "point" start all over again?

 

Thanks for any help on this.

[starkarlis]

maybe the system will be perfected as the policy of free drinks in the casino gets older...maybe by the time I take my cruise next June:D

[Fishbait17]

Just got off the Sun as a CAS guest. Didn't ever have to remove my card for a drink - and by day 2, the servers knew my name and drink order. Was easier than the last time on the Pearl, where they wrote down my name each time I ordered. Alex had transferred from the Pearl to the Sun (as casino manager), and it was great to see her again. Just a note - THE FREE DRINKS FOR EVERYONE AT THE CASINO IS NOT A DONE DEAL! I never saw any free drinks if you weren't a casino guest (they may gave had during Monte Carlo night, which I avoided). One lady I met had accumulated over 300 points with no free drinks, so I took her to see Alex, and she was taken care of. Otherwise it was pay all the way unless you had the tag.

 

Robin

[goldmom]

Just got off the Sun as a CAS guest. Didn't ever have to remove my card for a drink - and by day 2, the servers knew my name and drink order. Was easier than the last time on the Pearl, where they wrote down my name each time I ordered. Alex had transferred from the Pearl to the Sun (as casino manager), and it was great to see her again. Just a note - THE FREE DRINKS FOR EVERYONE AT THE CASINO IS NOT A DONE DEAL! I never saw any free drinks if you weren't a casino guest (they may gave had during Monte Carlo night, which I avoided). One lady I met had accumulated over 300 points with no free drinks, so I took her to see Alex, and she was taken care of. Otherwise it was pay all the way unless you had the tag.

 

Robin

 

Thanks for the info. It seems as if this is not consistent fleet wide yet. I'm also wondering if it's just something that they are trying out. Somehow I can't see that NCL would be happy with this in the long run. I have to think that their bar profits will show a drop if the Casino is giving free drinks. I'm sure it's great for business in the Casino, but not so much for the rest of the bars. I think we will all just have to wait and see if the free drinks in the Casino is here to stay and if it will be implemented on all ships.

[tanner2]

Was on the pearl june 15, as long as you had players club card and sitting down at a machine........ they would bring me my white russians..... they checked number on my card, they were no casino host, no checking my play they just told me as long as you sitting down they could bring you a drink are bottle beer! just like in vegas.....:) and believe me they were strong drinks!! and the waiters were asking me every 15 minutes..........i'M ALSO NOT A BIG SPENDER.....

[conandrob240]

The drop in bar revenue would not even be a tiny drop compared to the casino profits, if they market this well. Remember, 50% of NCL is now ownned by a VERY experienced casino/gambling operation. They know exactly what they are doing!

[sliq3g]

have you guys ever been to vegas? :confused:

 

the deal is they want u to drink more to gamble more foolishly, but u should DEFNITLY tip them I tip 2 dollars a drink in vegas, and wouldn't tip any less on the ship, either u gamble for fun and tip em 2 bucks, or pay 5 bucks for a beer.... i'd rather have fun and get a cheaper beer at the cheap machines

[newmexicoNita]

have you guys ever been to vegas? :confused:

 

the deal is they want u to drink more to gamble more foolishly, but u should DEFNITLY tip them I tip 2 dollars a drink in vegas, and wouldn't tip any less on the ship, either u gamble for fun and tip em 2 bucks, or pay 5 bucks for a beer.... i'd rather have fun and get a cheaper beer at the cheap machines

I agree, a tip is a must, but I think $2 is a bit high: we usually tip $1 per drink.

 

Nita

[Toyz711]

Not on my last 11 NCL cruises!

At the tables there might be an occasional round if the pit boss is feeling nice. Final tables at tournaments may get a free round. Sometimes there are drawings in the casino and once in a while there will be free drink hours early in the night if it appears to be slow. Overall, the drinks are NOT free though. It's not Vegas, Baby!

 

it's new...just got started in the last couple of month. wasn't in effect for my cruise last dec, either.

[miaminautigal]

It's not free if you're losing at the table, winners gamble losers drink

[Boat_Drinks]

I agree, a tip is a must, but I think $2 is a bit high: we usually tip $1 per drink.

 

Ditto - $1/drink is reasonable whether you are paying for the drink or the casino is (unless you are winning and want to "spread the wealth", or just feeling generous). :)

[familia_solis]

Between these drinks and all the tastings during the week .... my husband & I may not even remember the cruise! JK!

However, we are looking forward to our Nov 30 Pearl cruise ...

[*Luv2Cruz*]

Love the perk. This will be our first cruise where the drinks are included!:D

[Doeymeister]

Just returned from the Jewel. I was all prepared for free drinks, but, despite using my CAS card, never received an offer of a free drink. I probably spent a total of about three hours in the casino, but only saw one server, and he was just standing around behind the high minimums table.

 

Oh, and they have signs posted that you can't take drinks out of the casino, so be prepared to finish your drinks and lose a bit more in the process.

[Boat_Drinks]

Oh, and they have signs posted that you can't take drinks out of the casino, so be prepared to finish your drinks and lose a bit more in the process.

 

This is a very strange rule. Prior to CAS providing some drinks to some players on some ships, you could go in and out of the casino with drinks (because they were YOUR drinks I suppose). So now it sounds like if you are in the casino, purchase your own drink, you can't take it out? That's going to annoy a lot of people I suspect.

 

I think I understand the "reasoning" behind this rule. They don't want players coming into the casino, showing their CAS card to get a free drink, just to go elsewhere with it. It's also going to be difficult if you are going from point A to B on the ship with a drink and try to walk through the casino, they'll have to detour you around it.

[orangeh3]

it's new...just got started in the last couple of month. wasn't in effect for my cruise last dec, either.

 

Not to disagree but I recevied free drinks in the casino in Dec 2007, (the TA and the CTN) not to count the Feb cruise...all on the Gem. ;)

[Toyz711]

we got comped free drinks, but they weren't automatic like they are now.

i like this system better, since i play with my card (in the machine) by habit.

to alaska, in '06, we had the same table-full of people every night...got comped, regularly.

but on the spirit in '07, comped drinks were hard to come by. casino manager was tough!! DH had to beg to get a comped bottle of water..at a losing crap table full of people. i got fruit punch a total of 2 times the whole week.

it would just depend on how friendly the casino managers and pit bosses were. now it just depends on you handing over your casino card to the server.

[snorklinbarb]

As I understand it, free drinks while gambling with the card (regular guests, not CAS booked guests) was a trial on certain ships.

 

Now it's back to the old system of "case by case" basis and certainly doesn't stop the practice but greatly limits it.

 

This certainly would explain why different people have had different experiences on different ships (or even the same ship depending on the timing of the cruise).

 

Someone on another thread (Sky review) pointed out that the wording about free drinks has been removed from the website. I don't know because I didn't read it before. This is what is now said about "perks":

 

Casinos at Sea Players Club

 

Start winning now. Start redeeming now. We're "now" kind of people.

Anyone can join NCL's Casinos at Sea Players Club*. It's free and you earn points, called Seabucks, based on your level of play. And, those Seabucks can be used while you're on your current cruise for anything from spa treatments, to dinners to simply dollars off your final bill or a future cruise. So, start playing table games and slots and once you earn a minimum of 25 Seabucks, you'll be able to redeem them toward your onboard account. You earn Seabucks at table games based on the amount of time played and bets wagered at each game. And, on slots they are earned based on "coin in" and type of machine played. Your Seabucks can be redeemed during you current cruise, but if you choose to bank them, just remember they expire in an 18 month rolling period.

Click here for NCL's Casinos at Sea Players Club membership application.

*NCL's Casinos at Sea Players Club is only available on Norwegian Dawn, Spirit, Sun, Star, Jewel, Pearl and Gem.

NCL's Casinos at Sea Players Program

Qualified players can cruise on NCL ships at a discounted rate based on their gaming activity. This does not include Hawaiian itineraries, since NCL America ships do not have a casino onboard. For more information or for gaming requirements, contact NCL's Casino Marketing at 1.877 PLAY NCL (9625).

Complimentary Staterooms: NCL's Casinos at Sea" offers Complimentary staterooms to players who pre-qualify. Simply call our toll free number to see if you qualify for a free stateroom. 1-877 PLAY NCL (1-877-752-9625)

Casino Rate: NCL's Casinos at Sea" offers a discounted rate to established players. For more information, call our

toll-free number to inquire. 1-888 RU LUCKY (1-888-785-8259)

NCL's Casinos at Sea" has been rated "The Best of Gaming" on a Cruise Line from the readers of

Casino Player and Strictly Slots Magazines for the past six years.

[MrLee]

Something I've never understood is; what is the value in "banking" seabucks? I just had the credit removed from my final bill. Am I missing something? :confused:

[JohnIreland]

that look like an out of date page to me , you will notice the jade is not mentioned...

[snorklinbarb]

that look like an out of date page to me , you will notice the jade is not mentioned...

 

Hi again,

Either the Jade (like the Sky) is not included in the program yet or the wizards have not yet updated the website. I just doublechecked and found this little "asterisk":

 

*NCL's Casinos at Sea Players Club is only available on Norwegian Dawn, Spirit, Sun, Star, Jewel, Pearl, and Gem.

 

Recent returnees from Sky on the other thread say they did not get comped drinks either.

[Redamber]

Hi again' date='

Either the Jade (like the Sky) is not included in the program yet or the wizards have not yet updated the website. I just doublechecked and found this little "asterisk":

 

*NCL's Casinos at Sea Players Club is only available on Norwegian Dawn, Spirit, Sun, Star, Jewel, Pearl, and Gem.

 

Recent returnees from Sky on the other thread say they did not get comped drinks either.[/quote']

 

THis is correct for the SKY, no comped drinks unless you had the paper card from CAS along with your players card. I asked several people and was told only people who booked through CAS had those cards. We were in an Owners Suite so we just made drinks at our bar and took them with us every where.

[BarBug]

Something I've never understood is; what is the value in "banking" seabucks? I just had the credit removed from my final bill. Am I missing something? :confused:

 

The value to me is that, I had forgotten to "cash out" my seabucks during the short period of time they give you on the final night, so they were "banked" and are waiting for me in October. Better than losing them.