gl1200a

I switched my OPINION to nearly worthless. :)

But I would BET. This is a CAS thread, were gamblers.

If I order a Jager Bomb they would take my UBP card rather than

my CAS card. (I'll know come Feb, I forgot about Jagerbombs and might want to be a wide awake drunk.) :eek:

I order coffee Kahlua all the time (every morning casino open) with no issues on UBP.

My Sept 13th cruise not one drink was placed on my CAS drink card (Golden),

every drink was on the UBP card.

Back to the OP's original question and my theory.

Has anyone upgraded a level since April 1st, 2015 and did they receive the bonus points and dinner?

If bonus points/dinner are still given, IMO they would be better off Lucky going into their Jan cruise and enjoy the 5000 points when achieving Hot.

"Just want to kindly point out for the CAS folks; this is not true. The drink card can be used to get FREE bottles of water and energy drinks (red bull) in the casino. Both of those are not included in your UBP. "

Absolutely correct.

I stand corrected. I knew that :)

I should of said, "nearly worthless" :D

Next cruise I will see if I can order a Jager Bomb with UBP.

Then if I can................. A Jager Bomb, hold the Jager :eek:

Or here is my take on it.

Yes if you earned 5000 points between April 1, 2014 and March 31, 2015 you should of been Hot.

BUT.......

In this day and age of free UBP, SDP, our rewards for CAS are worth even less than what they had already been diluted to. I personally would say NOTHING, and hope your still Lucky. You have points earned from October so you must be

very close to Hot. At 5000 points you will get the 5000 point bonus for achieving Hot and a dinner. Use the 5000 points as free play unless you have some on board spending it will cover.

With them taking away the good perks we were receiving with CAS, the only real perk for playing anymore is for fun and comped cruises.

I see no tier benefit from Lucky to Hot, for these reasons.

If you booked through CAS you will have a drink card even with Lucky.

If you booked with free UBP, above drink card is worthless.

If you booked with free SDP, dinner is almost worthless.

Yes, you have lost the comped dinner for now, BUT at 5000 points you will receive the dinner PLUS 5000 bonus points ($50). If they reinstate your Hot status you will loose the 5000 bonus and have to achieve Golden (15000 points) before the next bonus.

Then again, come to think of it, with all the changes to CAS in the past year I'm not even sure their still doing the bonus points and dinners at level changes?????? :eek:

I thought the type of entertainment varied slightly (rock vs jazz/blues) - is that not correct?

 

Also, was looking forward to seeing the Grammy memorabilia, so hopefully it is being kept there.

 

Other than that, I agree that the difference is negligible. Aside from that, I am frustrated by the claim with lack of sourcing. This seems like the type of thing that would be reported/announced somewhere. I would think NCLcould find a way to put a positive spin on it.

The acts I saw, was Sugar Blue on the Getaway both times, and Les Getrex on the Breakaway.

IMO same genre, blues, R&B.

Both outstanding performers.

Does it matter?

Been on Getaway x2, Breakaway x1, and with the exception of the name over the door, I could tell no difference.

Entertainment top notch in both.

Not unless you enjoy waiting an hour or so in Customs line.

Your card is labeled UBP, while in NY you will be charged city, state tax.

Your bill does not have the drinks listed.

We did not encounter any drinks that went over the dollar amount that is allowed with the UBP.

It's been posted here, that it's 11 dollars, you are only responsible for the overage. I do not know this first hand.

There is no walking track per say on the Promenade (deck 8).

The jogging / walking track is above the pool deck. However we walked deck 8 a lot. Usually having to stop each pass around at Maltings :)

Unless your offended by Tea Bagging Llamas, go see Rock of Ages.

If you want one of the best burgers I've had in ages go to Uptown Grill.

Jeric working the outside at Maltings is the best server I encountered onboard.

Stephen, you are correct under the old system.

As has been said by Rochelle, April 1st EVERYONE was reset to ZERO.

Whatever tier score you achieved in the April 1, 2014 until March 31, 2015 earning period, you will be after April 1 2015. However your tier score is ZERO, where in the past you carried over the previous earning period.

My last cruise was Dec 2014, when I made VIP. My points earned for the April 1 2014, through March 31, 2015 was somewhere between Golden and VIP so I go on my first cruise of this period in a couple days as Golden, but have ZERO tier points. No carry over from the previous earning period as in the past.

I'm curious to see, and I think I know the answer. I'm Golden with ZERO points, when I achieve 5000 points, which if I was a new member I would get the 5000 bonus points. I doubt seriously this happens because I'm Golden even though I have ZERO points. I don't believe there will be a bonus until I earn 35000 points to VIP, which ain't gonna happen in one cruise :eek:

Looking in my crystal ball and considering previous play and points earned. I have this cruise in a couple days, possibly another this winter, before the March 31, 2016 deadline. I most likely will be on the cusp of Golden. I have probably a 7000 point per cruise average. This would make me Hot for next year, which I could really care less because with the cuts to Golden and VIP players it isn't really worth pursuing. As long as they don't cut back the category rooms they comp me I can live with it.

Do I like the recent cut backs...... No.

But I keep reminding myself for port fees and taxes I can live with it.

V.T.

I truly hope they do what's right and re-instate your original agreement.

I know I have been a bit disturbed by some of the comps that have been removed in the past year on the Golden and VIP levels, to the point I have to remind myself I'm going for port fees and taxes.

If they downgraded a room on me after booking I would do the same.....

Not go and re-evaluate my relationship with CAS, or take the mini and not gamble :)

Good luck, hope they do what's right!

IF you were booked and it was downgraded afterwards that is just wrong.

However a couple things bother me.

1. The question has been raised a couple times, what category were you originally promised and what was it reduced to?

2. Why on earth someone would involve a CET rep is beyond me. My reps/hosts for the past 15 years or so have all been incompetent twits, that can screw up the simplest things. They can't take care of you on their own properties let alone another entity.

As Harriet suggested, I would get in contact with CAS on Monday and find where the real problem lies.

Many thanks to y'all for the info. Gives time after muster to look at thr boring (?) land. After a snack, :-)

Transiting Galveston Bay is anything but boring from a navigation/safety stand point.

I'd also be willing to wager there is more disrupted cruises out of this port than

any other in this country.

Loss has nothing to do with it.

It's theoretical play.

CAS has been consistent with their answer to me regarding upgrading a comp.

It's a flat rate. Website prices do not matter. This has been the answer to me for the past three years.

Now when it comes to last minute up-sells, your comp is treated the same as if you paid for it.

i usually give a $1 tip because i thought the casino drink card didn't have tips included.

 

but if it does, then I'm stopping.

no more guilt trip!

 

and i wish tipping went way completely for ALL of the USA!!

 

 

guess when i make my next CAS reservation later this year, i'll ask about it.

Enjoy looking for a server for a drink.

In the mean time I'll enjoy not having to order one, because when it's half gone I will already have another.

Wife and I are usually near each other, two drinks, two bucks. By day two servers pay attention.

Last year I sailed the Jewel twice and Getaway twice, both times servers in the casino remembered us from previous cruise and never any wait and it was like friends reuniting.

Are you correct in gratuity is included and don't feel the need to tip. Sure, I guess.

Me, I don't like to wait.

Drinking top shelf liquor for a buck......... no brainer.

Two years ago last month there was a cas line.

I did not use it because there was many open windows/agents.

Arrived around noon.

All I know is, if I see someone eating on their balcony while I'm trying to sneak

a cigarette I'm turning you in. Better keep them room service receipts handy.

On a more serious note. IMO anyone that thinks this is simply a 5 pp per day

attempt by FDR, I don't buy it.

IMO it's much larger than that. Room service will not be utilized to the extent it was previously. Less food to order, less people to deliver etc etc.

Possibly people eliminated from the staff, or reassigned duties.

With cruise prices fluctuating 100's of dollars per day, would a 5 dollar pp, per day increase that remained forever, been noticed? I think not. Behind the scenes they could of called it the Del Rio Tax. No, there is a much bigger agenda to this.

I remember back during the anti smoking zealot threads, it was mentioned what's next.........

Well here it is.

Don't let me catch you sneaking food. :eek:

I don't think "losses" are part of the comp offer calculations. I read asubaru's post this time, and in the past, and I agree with him......makes the most sense. However, I do think that "actual" losses do have an impact when the hosts review your play at the end of a sailing when offering additional comps. From what I have gathered here, it sounds like a losing trip generates more dollars on that final comp whereas a winning trip usually reduced that amount. I may be wrong, but if you have experienced a good additional comp at the end of a sailing after a winning cruise, let me know, so I can adjust my mental picture. Thanks!

IMO you could not be further from what is actually going on.

IMO it is all based on theoretical loss.

My last cruise I took a beating. Could not hit anything on any game I played.

My total points were lower than any cruise I have had on NCL.

They took ZERO off of my final bill. Granted I dd not have many charges but

ZERO.

The hosts DO have leadway on what is reduced from you bill. The hosts on the Dawn Dec 14th cruising were the worse I have seen on my 6 NCL cruisings. Never seen one on the floor the entire cruise. When you did approach one at their desk they were very indifferent.

My very best cruise I actually came out ahead as far as cash in pocket and rewards from CAS. IMO it is based on theoretical loss and the hosts mood..

Christina on the Jewel and Christina on the Getaway (two sepesate people) are stand up hosts!

I've drank a firetruck load of Grey Goose and Makers with only the Premium

card. This has been the case on 4 different ships on 6 cruises.

I am curious, which drinks are considered as premium or ultra drink?

Premiums are brands like Grey Goose, Jack Daniel etc.

Ultra is a very good question.

I asked that on a recent trip on the Dawn. They said I could have anything. I asked again for specifics. Bottom line was at the casino bar the only brand I could get with ultra over premium was Johnny Walker platinum.

There is no rhyme nor reason to Caesars/Harrah's TR casinos madness.

I've come to the conclusion they have no clue to their marketing strategy.

I've slashed my play with them in 2014 and plan on nearly boycotting them in 2015.

This after being Diamond for over 15 years.

Only real benefit to Diamond is the free parking in New Orleans when you go on a cruise!

$7pp cab. Cabs are everywhere in that area.

They pull up and baggage people grab your bags.

No more chipping paint on the ship. New technology allows the rust inhibitor to be in the new paint. Paint over it and it stops the existing rust with the new paint.

FYI, three weeks ago, there was no worn carpeting showing anywhere. All looks new and fresh.

They ARE chipping sections of the paint. With an old time chipping hammer to boot. Not a needle gun. I could hear them tapping above me and my aft balcony would have paint chips on it.

This was on the 14th through 21st of Dec cruise.

That being said, the ship is in FINE shape, contrary to some saying "in dire need of refurbishment."

The elevator issue some have spoken of is ONE of the elevators on ONE of the floors does not on the outside light up the up down arrow, and one of the cars the button is THERE just not the floor number. It's the only number missing so no biggie. That is unless you have a problem with 123456 8910. guess which floor the blank button is? (now before someone says it was floor 8 not 7, I don't remember which floor it was it's just an example.)

I would jump back on it Sunday if I could. If a person is emotionally stressed by a little missing paint or rust on their balconies........ stay home, I noticed some minor rust on the Getaway in October, it's what salt water does.

On your balcony. Rules be damned!

Not sure if this is of any help.

 

 

The OP indicated they were doing self walk off - pretty much the same as what you do.

See the second question asked [emoji3]

Sorry can't help with that. Always do early walk off.