Ultra Premier Cruises

Got a new invitation to the Premier Cruises, but was more interested in the Ultra Premier cruises.

When do they happen and is there more that one?

Really? No one has been on an Ultra Cruise. Just want to hear of their experience.

My last Ultra was November 27, 2016.

There have been some changes to the qualifications. In previous year you needed 7500 points in a year to qualify for a Premier and has to sail at least one Premier to get an invite to an Ultra. Other criteria for an Ultra invite was not widely know. Now you must get 7500 on a Premier to get an invite to an Ultra.

The Ultra cruise itself is similar to the Premier in that you get goodies in your stateroom each night, a branded Ultra gift and the DOU card for you and a guest. Ultras do not come with cruise cash but do offer big prize drawing. Items on my recent cruise included big screen TVs, up scale watches, the latest smart phones, I pads and I pad minis. Every invited guest gets a big prize.

Each night at midnight there was a drawing for a free cruise in a suite and you did have to be there to win. Each day there were events and give away in the casino. I felt like I lived there. It was fun and great to see old friends and make new ones but I don't know that I ever had been more tired after a cruise than that last Ultra.

If you have specific questions I am happy to help.

Agree with Springs. Our Ultra was in early November on the Magic. We had never done a Premier but the Ultra was excellent and busy. Starts off with a cocktail party for all Ultra cruisers and one guest each. Carnival brought in four or five Executive Casino hosts for this cruise. This was in addition to the Magic casino host. There were usually two drawings a day, in addition to the Ultra prize drawing. For the Ultra prize drawing, each invited guest is assigned a time slot, mine was Thursday at 10:30 p.m.

There were about 300 invited guests, so with one guest each, we were quite the crowd and the casino was busy the entire cruse. I was surprised by the number of jackpots won. I won two, which was a first for me on a week long cruise.

So far, I have not booked a Premier cruise this year. The prices are higher than the casino rates I get from Carnival and Royal. And I am not sure I want to commit the time and money to achieve 7500 points on a Premier cruise to qualify for the Ultra.

We took our first and last one last year. We found the casinos to be very crowded day and night, the table stakes were set for higher amounts than on regular cruises and the slot machines were real tight.

Yes, Carnival treats its casino members the best out of any other cruise line, but for us, we pass on these promotions and prefer a cruise that isn't a premier/ultra.

The Ultraswon'the announced until late summer.

Thanks for the info. I just got of my first Premier Cruise in Dec. and had a wonderful time. Was really impressed with the extra treatment and gifts.

I did build up over 10,000 points playing Craps and won the free cruise at the end of the week, so sounds like the Ultra might not be able to top that.

So, is there only 1 ultra cruise offered at the end of the summer, or is there several to choose from. When should I expect to see an invitation to Ultra cruises (if offered)?

Thanks for the info. I just got of my first Premier Cruise in Dec. and had a wonderful time. Was really impressed with the extra treatment and gifts.

 

I did build up over 10,000 points playing Craps and won the free cruise at the end of the week, so sounds like the Ultra might not be able to top that.

 

So, is there only 1 ultra cruise offered at the end of the summer, or is there several to choose from. When should I expect to see an invitation to Ultra cruises (if offered)?

There is only one or two. You won't see anything until later summer.

Thanks for the info. I just got of my first Premier Cruise in Dec. and had a wonderful time. Was really impressed with the extra treatment and gifts.

 

I did build up over 10,000 points playing Craps and won the free cruise at the end of the week, so sounds like the Ultra might not be able to top that.

 

So, is there only 1 ultra cruise offered at the end of the summer, or is there several to choose from. When should I expect to see an invitation to Ultra cruises (if offered)?

What is the process of building up points while on table games? (craps) I am going on a cruise next week and I am mainly going to be on playing craps, with the occasional blackjack mixed in and I wondered how long it takes to rack up points, get DOU card, etc...

Thanks

There is only one or two. You won't see anything until later summer.

Thank you. That is exactly the answer I was looking for.

What is the process of building up points while on table games? (craps) I am going on a cruise next week and I am mainly going to be on playing craps, with the occasional blackjack mixed in and I wondered how long it takes to rack up points, get DOU card, etc...

 

Thanks

When you first go up to the table, give them your S&S card when you buy in. They will most likely ask you for it. This is the way they track your play. They log you in and how much your buy-in was.

After a while, the pit boss (or sometimes the dealers) will "plug in" the amount you are normally betting.

Now, while the exact formula (which seems to be a tightly guarded secret) is not known to anyone but the casino manager and a few close friends, they compute your bet size x hours of play and when you get to 1500 points, the computer tells them to give you the Drinks On Us (DOU) card. As you get more points (????), the Casino host may offer you a free bottle of wine at dinner (several times for me), free specialty restaurant dinner (for 4 of us one time), free steakhouse dinner for 2 (one time for me and wife) and, when you get to 7500 points, even a free Bounce Back Offer ( free cruise of your choice for 2, have had 5 times so far).

I will play 3-4 hrs. every night in the casino, play 3-4 hrs. on sea days for a $500 buy -in. Usually get the DOU card about the second or third night, and have gotten 5 free BB offers in the last 5 years.

So, about my play. I will usually buy in for $500 or $1000 the first night. Play for 3-4 hrs. I usually bet $44-60 a shooter. Place bets. I press up my bets every other hit (Take the win the first time, press the second time).

So, a $30 6 will go to $60, take the $70 win, next time go to $90, then take the $105, and so on.

Theory is I get my money back the first hit, press the 2nd, take in the 3rd hit($70), press again the 4th (still taking in $40), take in the 5th ($105), 6th time, take it down ($105 win plus bet of $90)

I am only risking a $30 (per bet) to win a Big pot if you can hit the same number 6 times. In the example above, about $420.

Now it doesn't work every time but all you need is one time around the table for it to get ahead. So on hot night, it works real well.

It also gets the attention of the dealers and pit boss. I am only risking $30, but they see $60, $90 and $105 bets , which gets me rated points faster.

If you are still interested the Ultra Premier invites came out yesterday. There are 4 cruises to choose from, one in November and the rest in December. I believe one of them has already sold out. If you got an invite it will be in your VIFP offers on the Carnival website

Just curious. Which one sold out?

Just curious. Which one sold out?

According to chatter in a casino group on another site, the Ultra on Dec 1 Sunshine out of Port Canaveral has sold out

Thanks. I was looking at that one. Very limited OV cabin selection. Really wanted to check out the Serenity Deck on the Sunshine. ;) Had to go with the Freedom Dec. 9 Ultra. This will be our 3rd time on her. Nice not to have to fly, and managed to get my favorite cabin! Maybe the Sunshine will come to Galveston in the near future.

Thanks for the heads-up. Alas, no Ultra offer.:( But did just book another Premier cruise for January.:D

Booked the Ultra cruise on the Sunshine 😜😜

Booked up quick and seems like over 1/2 our casino group is going on this one....It's going to be extra special being able to meet everyone

I booked the Freedom December 9th Ultra offer. Looking forward to going on the,Freedom again.

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I booked the Freedom December 9th Ultra offer. Looking forward to going on the,Freedom again.

 

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See you then. Tom

Looks like a couple more were added. One is a journey from Tampa.

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I booked the Vista December 16

I just booked the Vista out of Miami 16-24 December. Wanted cruise on her befor she relocates to Galveston.

I booked the Dream out of New Orleans November 12-19!!! Super excited.

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I booked the Vista December 16

Hello, new to the forum/group. I just received my first ultra cruise, after several years of premier cruise offers. I am planning to book the Vista cruise this year for the christmas holidays. Have not sailed on it yet, but hear great things about it. Very excited.

Man I am so pissed. I called in today to book the Ultra cruise on the Vista and they are sold out on the offer code. Has anyone ever had this happen to them, but still found a way to get them to push the offer through? If so please help. Thanks