How Does Royal Caribbean Treat Table Players?

How does Royal Caribbean treat casino guests? Do they offer comped or discounted cabins, and what level of play is required? Are free drinks provided in the casino? Are other comps available? We cruised with them many years ago, and my recollection is that the casino was not very accommodating (poor rules/very little comps). Have things changed?

I've been generally happy with NCL, and receive comped cabins and other perks from them, but DW really wants to try something new.

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http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=46176549#post46176549

I understand about theo and what kind of play is necessary to get the attention of a casino host. While I don't consider myself a "whale", I receive comped cabins on NCL (even under their new standards) and generally receive RFB status from land based casinos. My question is how does RC generally treat "players." Do they provide comped cabins or only discounts on selected cruises? What kind of play is required? Will they apply comps to my room charges at the end of the cruise based on play, and if so, how reasonable are they.

I know that everything ultimately depends on my play, I'm just trying to get a general idea of how they operate. My understanding (from many years ago) was that they did not offer much in the way of comps....I'm trying to figure out whether anything has changed.

I understand about theo and what kind of play is necessary to get the attention of a casino host. While I don't consider myself a "whale", I receive comped cabins on NCL (even under their new standards) and generally receive RFB status from land based casinos. My question is how does RC generally treat "players." Do they provide comped cabins or only discounts on selected cruises? What kind of play is required? Will they apply comps to my room charges at the end of the cruise based on play, and if so, how reasonable are they.

I have limited comparative experience, but I'll offer what I can.

Royal Caribbean is okay, but they don't compare to the kinds of offers you get from NCL or from land-based casinos. Now, that said, Royal Caribbean is changing their Club Royale program, probably to a tiered system like you'd see at those other places. With the new system, there may be better options.

As of right now, only once did I get a free cruise from Club Royale, and that was because I had a really good run during my previous cruise, and my cash rebate was enough to cover the cost of my next cruise (and a bit extra that I received as cash in the casino during that next cruise). Most of the time, my play merely gets me several hundred dollars available either as cash in the casino or as a payment toward my next cruise.

Now, compare that with NCL: I went on one NCL cruise that was a comp received from my local land-based casino. I gambled my typical amount on that cruise. Based on that play, NCL comped me a balcony cabin on their newest ship. That's way more attractive than what Royal Caribbean would offer for comparable play.

Now, back to the meat of your questions, the trick will be getting into the Club Royale program in the first place. It's by invitation only after achieving a certain level of play. I don't know what's required for table games, I'm afraid. I would definitely introduce yourself to the casino host onboard before you start playing so that you can ensure that they'll keep their eye on you as well as give you information on how you're doing toward qualification.

Once you're a member, then you'll get free drinks in the casino (usually done as coupons available upon request). They may comp you specialty dining or a bottle of wine, but unlike NCL, they won't just apply credits to your onboard account at the end of the cruise.

A couple of weeks after your cruise, you can then call them up and find out what you've earned toward a future cruise.

Additionally, they do offer discounts/comps on certain Club Royale cruises. I've occasionally gotten offers for 25-50% off a balcony cabin on one of these cruises, but they are specific dates and they've not aligned with my cruising schedule.

Anyway, all of this is subject to change with this new system that they're rolling out in the next few months to a year. Very little is known about what the new system will be like, I'm afraid.

Thanks Mark. Very helpful.