Free Drinks in the Casino - gone?

[I'm Irish 2]

Just got off the Jade July 26th...had the casino card, played alot of slots and no free drinks. But....you are allowed to bring a 6 pack of beer from each port, I was shocked...learned it from another passenger and it was true! No wine or hard liquor so hopefully you like beer, it saved alot of money. By the way all other games such as Blackjack, Poker, Craps were comped drinks if they played for more than a few minutes at a time.

[Ms belp]

Just got off the Jade July 26th...had the casino card' date=' played alot of slots and no free drinks. But....you are allowed to bring a 6 pack of beer from each port, I was shocked...learned it from another passenger and it was true! No wine or hard liquor so hopefully you like beer, it saved alot of money. By the way all other games such as Blackjack, Poker, Craps were comped drinks if they played for more than a few minutes at a time.[/quote']

 

You can always bring wine on NCL. You just have to pay $15.00 corkage fee. No hard liquor. I doubt the beer story.

[conandrob240]

Disappointed to hear that they discontinued this so quickly.

 

Ms Belp, why would you doubt a poster who is describing recent, first hand knowledge about something? What is there to doubt?

[terrymtex01]

Honestly I did not think this would last because as with every thing, people abused it. On the cruise we were on in May I remember there was this one lady who would sit down at a slot machine.. put in a $5.00 bill, bet a couple of quarters, then order a drink. After the drink came, she cashed out of the machine and then walked around with her drink until she needed another one.. sat down, put her cash ticket into a machine.. play a couple of quarters, order a drink, etc, etc.

 

Now I don't understand people like that, but, I have to say, there was nothing in the notices of the free drinks that did not say she could not do that. I don't know how they could regulate it, but NCL should know there are people who are going to abuse any situtation they can if they think they can "get one over on 'em". Again, just IMHO, NCL has reverted back to the only way they can safely give free drinks away and that is by giving them to the guest of Casino's at Sea. We are not big drinkers, although my DDP will occasinally have a drink when gambling and I will sometimes have a drink before, during or after dinner. I use my "free drink" tag for coffee...LOL. For me, drinking and slots do not mix. If I did that, we would come home and my DDP would find out I mortgaged our house to get more money to play slots.. LOL

[discjoker]

It may be just that NCL is taking a look at the numbers right now. They put the free drink program in as a trial. They will take a look at the total revenue generated before the program (bar + gambling), take a look at the gambling revenue during the trial, then take a look at the revenue (bar + gambling) after the trial. I would imagine if they see an uptick in revenue during the trial they will go back to free drinks in the casino. If they see no difference or a loss, they will not go back to free drinks. This is all speculation of course.

[*Luv2Cruz*]

I just got back from Vegas last night and really bummed to hear the drinks have been pulled!:(

[CaboCruise]

Any recent reports from the Pearl? Are the free casino drinks gone there too??

[CaboCruise]

Any recent reports from the Pearl? Are the free casino drinks gone there too??

[Rapture24]

I just got back from Vegas last night and really bummed to hear the drinks have been pulled!:(

 

I'm bummed too! Mostly because I plan on spending a lot of time (and money) in the casino!

[Sea Hound]

. . .the ships don't make money on the cost of the cabins . . .

 

Toyz -- are you sure?

 

Sea Hound:D

[Boat_Drinks]

Honestly I did not think this would last because as with every thing, people abused it. On the cruise we were on in May I remember there was this one lady who would sit down at a slot machine.. put in a $5.00 bill, bet a couple of quarters, then order a drink. After the drink came, she cashed out of the machine and then walked around with her drink until she needed another one.. sat down, put her cash ticket into a machine.. play a couple of quarters, order a drink, etc, etc.

 

This is precisely why the casino really cannot extend free drinks to everyone in the casino, even a "seated player" and/or a player carrying a "player's card". Free drinks are given to players to keep them comfortable and playing (and of course, to impede their judgement in favor of the house). As these stories of free drinks for ALL (or at least those carrying a player's card, or seated at a machine, etc.) started to come out I was wondering how the casino was going to handle the HUGE number of people that represented little to no actual gaming revenue, but were taking a good number of free drinks.

 

In Atlantic City this problem has reached epidemic proportions. Bums and wino's come into the casino, sit at a machine, drop a coin or two and order a free drink. They repeat this numerous times throughout the day, without ever doing any real revenue-producing play. This is particularly true at casinos on the boardwalk (much less so in the Marina area on the other side of town, and pretty much non-existent at Borgata where security is much, much tighter and the "ambiance" is a high priority to management).

 

I'm glad to hear that CAS will continue to provide the free drink cards for players who book through them, that's really the only way they can manage that situation (although I'm sure if you are not a CAS-booked player doing substantial play a casino manager can comp you a drink if you ask - heck on our last cruise we were comp'd a dinner for 2 at Le Bistro and we didn't even ask for it, Thanks again Belinda!!!).

[AFAMILY]

i am surprised it lasted this long...though i was hoping it would last longer. the ships don't make money on the cost of the cabins, they make money on the drinks and other extras.

 

You can be sure we didn't "outdrink" the casino.....they made the cost of the drinks back and then some! :)

 

It was nice while it lasted...maybe it will be re-instated.

[terrymtex01]

I'm bummed too! Mostly because I plan on spending a lot of time (and money) in the casino!

 

For people who actually spend money in the casino, I don't believe free drinks will be a problem. Probably they are changing it from a free-for-all to deciding to comp drinks on an individual basis by how much they see play on your card, etc.

[MrLee]

In Atlantic City this problem has reached epidemic proportions. Bums and wino's come into the casino, sit at a machine, drop a coin or two and order a free drink. They repeat this numerous times throughout the day, without ever doing any real revenue-producing play.

 

 

Yep, I see this onboard all the time too! :D :D :D

 

In case you missed the smilies...it's a joke. (Some people have no sense of humor). :rolleyes:

[conandrob240]

I go to AC regularly and, I am not sure where you are getting your information but it is never a problem. I have rarely seen a "wino" in the casinos. They check to make sure you seem to be playing something and thren they give you a drink. They make plenty of $ off of the gmabling and the free drinks get you in and keep you gambling. If it was an issue, they'd stop doing it. All they have to do on the ship is make sure you are actually putting something in the machine and I ma sure they'll have a significantly higher loss in the casino to make up for the dirt cheap liquor they sell at 20X mark up anyway. It costs them pennies (okay, maybe cents depending on what's ordered) to supply a drink

[*Luv2Cruz*]

Eat, drink, and be merry! That's what I say!:cool:

[newmexicoNita]

I'm not trying to sound like a bummer, but man- it seems more perks get taken away than given!

I would love the free drinks, am disappointed, but did wonder why NCL was offering this perk, no other line does....

 

Heck we are going to St Louis next week and staying at Harrah's. It is a River boat casino, not owned by any tribe and yet, we just found out they don't offer free drinks on the casino floor. That too is a bummer, but won't stop up from going, gambling and having a couple of fun days.

 

Nita

[Boat_Drinks]

I am not sure where you are getting your information but it is never a problem.

 

We'll just have to agree to disagree. :)

 

PS: I used to be a regular in AC, and I've watched it get dumpier and dumpier every year, and could see with my own eyes the "bum" problem during my last visit several months ago (something which was confirmed to me by various casino staff that I chatted with). You don't see this in Vegas, and from what I saw Borgata is the only place that was up to Vegas standards these days (although I see Trump just opened a new tower at Taj, and I haven't seen Harrah's new tower yet).

[terrymtex01]

You can be sure we didn't "outdrink" the casino.....they made the cost of the drinks back and then some! :)

 

It was nice while it lasted...maybe it will be re-instated.

 

I go to AC regularly and, I am not sure where you are getting your information but it is never a problem. I have rarely seen a "wino" in the casinos. They check to make sure you seem to be playing something and thren they give you a drink. They make plenty of $ off of the gmabling and the free drinks get you in and keep you gambling. If it was an issue, they'd stop doing it. All they have to do on the ship is make sure you are actually putting something in the machine and I ma sure they'll have a significantly higher loss in the casino to make up for the dirt cheap liquor they sell at 20X mark up anyway. It costs them pennies (okay, maybe cents depending on what's ordered) to supply a drink

 

Never been to AC.. so I can't comment on there, but we were in Reno a couple of years ago and the problem was big there. The homeless would even come in and raid the ash trays for the butts they could find there and smoke them. Believe me. That is a sight I will never forget. Picking up something that some stranger just had in their mouth and putting it in yours..

[starkarlis]

It seems to me that the casino would be a source of steady income for the ship. For instance, you can choose not to pay to eat by eating in one of the main dining areas. But if you want to gamble, you must pay and although there are many FREE things to do while on board, gamblers like to gamble. This is especially true for someone like me, who loves to gamble but has no casino in close by (an hour away). So while I am om board, I will defimatley take advantage of the casino. This all leads to that it would seem that in order to get people to continue cruising, the cruiselines would need to try and match the atmosphere of their competitiors, ie: all-inclusive resorts and casinos which leads to FREE DRINKS.

This is just my opinion and my first cruise. I hesitate to post for fear of the beating I will get from those who don't agree.

[barbpatter]

I have seen people say 'booking through the casino'...does that mean they are booking the CRUISE through the casino? I didnt know you can do that?

[Coll101]

Yes, book through the NCL casino's & you will save approx. 17% off the rate:)

[newmexicoNita]

It seems to me that the casino would be a source of steady income for the ship. For instance, you can choose not to pay to eat by eating in one of the main dining areas. But if you want to gamble, you must pay and although there are many FREE things to do while on board, gamblers like to gamble. This is especially true for someone like me, who loves to gamble but has no casino in close by (an hour away). So while I am om board, I will defimatley take advantage of the casino. This all leads to that it would seem that in order to get people to continue cruising, the cruiselines would need to try and match the atmosphere of their competitiors, ie: all-inclusive resorts and casinos which leads to FREE DRINKS.

This is just my opinion and my first cruise. I hesitate to post for fear of the beating I will get from those who don't agree.

people only get beaten up for exagerated posts, not for making an honest statement or giving an opinon. yes, the casino is a source of revenue for the ships, with or without free drinks. All inclusives that I know of don't offer free drinks in casino if they have them (few do) There are casinos in St Martin and ARuba that follow the Us policy of free drinks. I don't know about other Caribbean Islands. San Juan does not, in fact I don't think they allow booze in their casinos, I could be wrong. I think for the most part most of us will continue to cruise with or without drinks in the casino....

 

Nita

[Boat_Drinks]

Yes, book through the NCL casino's & you will save approx. 17% off the rate:)

 

Or more. I got 50% off, a friend (who was unrated) got about 33% off. :D

[terrymtex01]

It seems to me that the casino would be a source of steady income for the ship. For instance, you can choose not to pay to eat by eating in one of the main dining areas. But if you want to gamble, you must pay and although there are many FREE things to do while on board, gamblers like to gamble. This is especially true for someone like me, who loves to gamble but has no casino in close by (an hour away). So while I am om board, I will defimatley take advantage of the casino. This all leads to that it would seem that in order to get people to continue cruising, the cruiselines would need to try and match the atmosphere of their competitiors, ie: all-inclusive resorts and casinos which leads to FREE DRINKS.

This is just my opinion and my first cruise. I hesitate to post for fear of the beating I will get from those who don't agree.

 

Stark... Don't ever hesitate to post your opinion on here. That is all it is.. YOUR opinion. People can attack you for it, etc. But then that is THEIR opinion. There are many of us, like someone already said, who respect posters even when we don't agree with them. This is wonderful place to share experiences, questions, concerns, etc. Always be open to someone disagreeing with what you are posting. Those that actually attack you, just put them on the ignore function that CC provides. Welcome to cruising by the way.. You will love it.

 

Yes, book through the NCL casino's & you will save approx. 17% off the rate:)

 

Actually.. Once you have cruised with NCL and established your "gambling" profile with NCL CAS, they may actually comp cruises for you.