CAS comp cruise calculations

[sjbdtz]

So I had a conversation with the CAS desk today. I have a comp + upgrade on my next cruise, and I was trying to improve the comp.

 

I was told that the full comp I was asking for would equate to a 60% reinvestment, whereas they try to stay around 30 - 35%.

 

This was new information for me, and may help me strategize future play... if I know that whatever they get from me today is returned about 35% toward my next cruise.

 

 

Stephen

 

 

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[FLAHAM]

Please explain this.

[sjbdtz]

Please explain this.

 

I thought I did.

[vp1]

Please explain this.

Let me try - On a land-based casino, comps are often based upon a percentage of what the gambler would likely be "contributing" to the casino. ~30% of that may be returned in the form of "comps" - depends upon the casino.

 

For example, if you play slots on the ship (lets say an 5% house edge; though it's likely to be higher...) You run $10 through a machine every minute (probably conservative for many folks..) If you spend 30 hours playing slots during your cruise, you're betting about $18,000 total. The house can expect to get about 5% of that money (about $900). They can easily "return" at least $300 in the form of comps (20% off a room at the minimum). Essentially, they look at your play and figure that they can comp back about a third of their take in the form of your comps. That's the way I read it.

~Bob

[sjbdtz]

Let me try - On a land-based casino, comps are often based upon a percentage of what the gambler would likely be "contributing" to the casino. ~30% of that may be returned in the form of "comps" - depends upon the casino.

 

For example, if you play slots on the ship (lets say an 5% house edge; though it's likely to be higher...) You run $10 through a machine every minute (probably conservative for many folks..) If you spend 30 hours playing slots during your cruise, you're betting about $18,000 total. The house can expect to get about 5% of that money (about $900). They can easily "return" at least $300 in the form of comps (20% off a room at the minimum). Essentially, they look at your play and figure that they can comp back about a third of their take in the form of your comps. That's the way I read it.

~Bob

 

Yes, that's what I meant. Of course I'm talking about larger numbers.... but if hypothetically my average losses for a cruise are $9k, then I can anticipate a comp cabin worth up to $ 3,150.....but can expect to be turned-down if I'm asking for a $ 6,000 cabin.

 

.

[terrymtex01]

Their comp process has REALLY gone down hill in the last few years. What I am appalled by is that I have heard your "free drink" card is given to you AFTER you have achieved so many points on your current cruise. The entire CAS comped cruise used to be a thank you for your previous cruise. Trust me.. the tighter they get, the less income they get. We used to spend 15 to 20K per cruise in the casino.. NOT any more.

[sjbdtz]

Their comp process has REALLY gone down hill in the last few years. What I am appalled by is that I have heard your "free drink" card is given to you AFTER you have achieved so many points on your current cruise. The entire CAS comped cruise used to be a thank you for your previous cruise. Trust me.. the tighter they get, the less income they get. We used to spend 15 to 20K per cruise in the casino.. NOT any more.

 

This is only the case if you're not cruising once a year. The comped cruise was not a thank you, but a reinvestment in you, anticipating you'd play again.

 

If you're playing that level, then you should always have a drink card in your cabin.

[terrymtex01]

I hate to disagree with you,, but as long as we have sailed NCL, their CAS department always told us their comp'ed cruise was a Thank you for our previous contributions int he casino. It is only in recent years that their attitude with that has changed. Based on our previous play experience I expect the drink card waiting on us before we put the next dollar in their casino. I don't know if it will be or not, but I have just read that it will only be provided to us once we have played to a certain points on that particular cruise.

Edited January 22, 2014 by terrymtex01

[lowroller]

I was always led to believe that comps were based upon 40% of your theoretical loses, so 30-35% seems low. Are you a blackjack player or a craps player? I'm thinking it might be slightly lower for those two games. My memory has gotten bad over the years so, maybe my numbers are off a little.

As for a drink card, I have always had one in my cabin for myself and my wife or whoever was travling with me. Unless it has a changed since 7/2013. I'll know for sure in 12 days......

Question sjbdtz, do they charge you taxes and port fees too?

Also another benefit of booking with CAS, is there is not a single supplement charge, even if you are only getting a discounted cabin.

Glenn

 

 

So I had a conversation with the CAS desk today. I have a comp + upgrade on my next cruise, and I was trying to improve the comp.

 

I was told that the full comp I was asking for would equate to a 60% reinvestment, whereas they try to stay around 30 - 35%.

 

This was new information for me, and may help me strategize future play... if I know that whatever they get from me today is returned about 35% toward my next cruise.

 

 

Stephen

 

 

.

[vp1]

What I have read on other threads is that any level of completely comped cabin (minus taxes & port fees of course) qualifies for the drink card waiting for you in the room. The lowest comp level (20% off the cabin) may mean that you have to "re-earn" the drink card. My next cruise is a comped inside cabin (in 3 weeks!) and the CAS folks did tell me over the phone that there would be 2 drink cards waiting in the room upon arrival.

[samiam0403]

What I have read on other threads is that any level of completely comped cabin (minus taxes & port fees of course) qualifies for the drink card waiting for you in the room. The lowest comp level (20% off the cabin) may mean that you have to "re-earn" the drink card. My next cruise is a comped inside cabin (in 3 weeks!) and the CAS folks did tell me over the phone that there would be 2 drink cards waiting in the room upon arrival.

 

This. ^^^ I sailed on my first comped CAS cruise last month (2nd overall NCL cruise) and there were 3 drink cards (as well as players cards) waiting for us upon arrival to the suite. I booked another comped cruise today and was told there will again be drink cards provided - and that they are for all CAS comped cruises. (Mine was an OV comp, the next one's a BA comp - both upgraded by me to suites.)

 

Happy sailing (and gambling) all! :)

[Fishbait17]

I hate to disagree with you,, but as long as we have sailed NCL, their CAS department always told us their comp'ed cruise was a Thank you for our previous contributions int he casino. It is only in recent years that their attitude with that has changed. Based on our previous play experience I expect the drink card waiting on us before we put the next dollar in their casino. I don't know if it will be or not, but I have just read that it will only be provided to us once we have played to a certain points on that particular cruise.

 

Terry, this is because you haven't sailed (well, by the time of your sailing) in the last 18 months. With CAS, you've always had to make your next comped sailing within 18 months of the basis cruise. Ys, they are "sort of" a thank you for your last contributions, but also expectation of what you will gamble on the next sailing. If you made the booking thru CAS with a comped cabin, that's great, and likely you will have a drink card waiting in your cabin.

 

Also, I don't know if you are aware of the new system and levels at CAS, bringing them more in line with many land-based casino programs. They are all based upon points earned in (basically) the past year, although in actuality it's more complicated than that. Each level comes with a specific level of drink card (except the lowest level, Lucky), and levels earned are good for, basically one year (although, again, it's more complicated than that). There are some GREAT new/listed benefits, that are pretty much guaranteed, instead of being at the mercy of a poor casino manager. My comps have actually increased in value since the new program came into being..

 

Robin

Edited January 22, 2014 by Fishbait17

[antsnanny]

I hate to disagree with you,, but as long as we have sailed NCL, their CAS department always told us their comp'ed cruise was a Thank you for our previous contributions int he casino. It is only in recent years that their attitude with that has changed. Based on our previous play experience I expect the drink card waiting on us before we put the next dollar in their casino. I don't know if it will be or not, but I have just read that it will only be provided to us once we have played to a certain points on that particular cruise.

 

Your right, no drink card waiting for you from play on prior cruise, you'll have to earn 15 thousand points on your next cruise before your entitled to it. We earned ours on the last night!!

Edited January 22, 2014 by antsnanny
wrong answer

[Fishbait17]

Your right, no drink card waiting for you from play on prior cruise, you'll have to earn 15 thousand points on your next cruise before your entitled to it. We earned ours on the last night!!

 

That depends on when your last cruise was and how many points you earned on it. If you earned 5001+ points in the past "CAS year", you will have a drink card waiting for you. Since my second NCL sailing (first one comped by CAS) I have always had a drink card waiting for me, including two upcoming sailings this month). Also, if you are sailing in a comped cabin from CAS, you will have a drink card waiting as well (usually, getting a comped cabin involves making more than 5001 points in the past cruise, but this also applies to cabins comped by outside casinos, like Harrah's/Caesars, etc).

 

http://www.ncl.com/freestyle-cruise/casinos-at-sea/players-club

 

Robin

Edited January 22, 2014 by Fishbait17

[garycarla]

I hate to disagree with you,, but as long as we have sailed NCL, their CAS department always told us their comp'ed cruise was a Thank you for our previous contributions int he casino. ...

 

 

They may have said it was a thank you, but they did not give you a free cabin for that reason.

 

They gave you a cabin because they were planning on getting the money for that cabin back when you cruised.

 

Thank You Value: $25

Potential Drain onboard budget: $2,000

 

They are not in business to just say thank you. They are in business to get your money. I have donated plenty.

 

(P.S. - if it was a total thank you, they were have taken care of ALL of your final bill for that cruise - sadly, we still pay quite a bit for non casino drinks, etc)

[sjbdtz]

I was always led to believe that comps were based upon 40% of your theoretical loses, so 30-35% seems low. Are you a blackjack player or a craps player? I'm thinking it might be slightly lower for those two games. My memory has gotten bad over the years so, maybe my numbers are off a little.

As for a drink card, I have always had one in my cabin for myself and my wife or whoever was travling with me. Unless it has a changed since 7/2013. I'll know for sure in 12 days......

Question sjbdtz, do they charge you taxes and port fees too?

Also another benefit of booking with CAS, is there is not a single supplement charge, even if you are only getting a discounted cabin.

Glenn

 

I play UTH mostly. Yes, they charge taxes & port fees.

 

 

Terry, of course the next cruise is based on the last one (so you can interpret it as a thank you). What I found most interesting was the manager's use of the word 'reinvestment'. And he was clear that 30 - 35% was the target. I suspect he could have stretched to 40%, but remember that this was in addition to the $1,000 in comp value I got taken off my on board charges.... so by my calcs I spent $8k, got $1k back immediately, and $3k back against my next cruise... = approx. 50% back. Plus free drinks, and a couple of free meals.

 

 

 

Terry, this is because you haven't sailed (well, by the time of your sailing) in the last 18 months. With CAS, you've always had to make your next comped sailing within 18 months of the basis cruise. Ys, they are "sort of" a thank you for your last contributions, but also expectation of what you will gamble on the next sailing. If you made the booking thru CAS with a comped cabin, that's great, and likely you will have a drink card waiting in your cabin.

 

Also, I don't know if you are aware of the new system and levels at CAS, bringing them more in line with many land-based casino programs. They are all based upon points earned in (basically) the past year, although in actuality it's more complicated than that. Each level comes with a specific level of drink card (except the lowest level, Lucky), and levels earned are good for, basically one year (although, again, it's more complicated than that). There are some GREAT new/listed benefits, that are pretty much guaranteed, instead of being at the mercy of a poor casino manager. My comps have actually increased in value since the new program came into being..

 

Robin

[khall]

That depends on when your last cruise was and how many points you earned on it. If you earned 5001+ points in the past "CAS year", you will have a drink card waiting for you. Since my second NCL sailing (first one comped by CAS) I have always had a drink card waiting for me, including two upcoming sailings this month). Also, if you are sailing in a comped cabin from CAS, you will have a drink card waiting as well (usually, getting a comped cabin involves making more than 5001 points in the past cruise, but this also applies to cabins comped by outside casinos, like Harrah's/Caesars, etc).

 

http://www.ncl.com/freestyle-cruise/casinos-at-sea/players-club

 

Robin

 

So, our cruise coming up in May is a comped cruise based on our last NCL sailing in Oct 2011...will we not receive the free drink cards in the room like we always have? I didn't ask when we booked but just assumed I guess since that is the way it had always been.

[Fishbait17]

So, our cruise coming up in May is a comped cruise based on our last NCL sailing in Oct 2011...will we not receive the free drink cards in the room like we always have? I didn't ask when we booked but just assumed I guess since that is the way it had always been.

 

If you haven't sailed NCL since May 2011, you don't have a CAS Tier, and therefore are not "guaranteed" a drink card. But since CAS comped you a cabin, I would expect a drink card will be waiting for you. That's the way it's been working out in nearly all cases so far, at least for now - you get a comp, you get a drink card.

 

Robin

[spidybabe]

So, our cruise coming up in May is a comped cruise based on our last NCL sailing in Oct 2011...will we not receive the free drink cards in the room like we always have? I didn't ask when we booked but just assumed I guess since that is the way it had always been.

 

On a comped cruise you should have drink card in room for everybody in cabin, and an invite to casino cocktail party----if there is one (not on all sailings). Since you haven't sailed in a while, they will give you a lucky card.

Safe sailing

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

[khall]

Thanks!

[halehana]

We are going on our first cruise ever, comped (inside cabin), based on our play at Caesars casinos in Las Vegas. Will we also get drink cards and an invitation to a cocktail party?

[garycarla]

We are going on our first cruise ever, comped (inside cabin), based on our play at Caesars casinos in Las Vegas. Will we also get drink cards and an invitation to a cocktail party?

 

You should. Maybe, maybe not on drink. You might have to play enough to earn the drink part.

 

By the way, if you prefer, you can pay the difference and upgrade your room if you want.

[johnsak123]

I am totally confused by all the explanations regarding CAS and how they determine your price

I do not gamble as much as my friend who I travels with

Yet when he calls for a cabin she gets a quote of 51% of the retail price yet when I call I get a quote of 36% of the retail price

How is that possible.

Believe me when I say I don't gamble anywhere near what he does.

Could it be because I am single and he is a couple.

[Daghis]

We are going on our first cruise ever, comped (inside cabin), based on our play at Caesars casinos in Las Vegas. Will we also get drink cards and an invitation to a cocktail party?

In my case, the information I was given from Casinos at Sea for my comped cruise due to my play at my local casino in Pittsburgh included this:

What else do I get?

 

Each guest will receive a Casinos At Sea Players Club Card, which, based on points earned, may entitle you to onboard comps for anything from spa treatments to dinners to dollars off your final bill. So make sure you use your Casinos At Sea Players Club Card every time you play table games or slots. Guests will also receive free drinks while playing in the ship's casino.

(relevant text highlighted)

[garycarla]

I am totally confused by all the explanations regarding CAS and how they determine your price

I do not gamble as much as my friend who I travels with

Yet when he calls for a cabin she gets a quote of 51% of the retail price yet when I call I get a quote of 36% of the retail price

How is that possible.

Believe me when I say I don't gamble anywhere near what he does.

Could it be because I am single and he is a couple.

 

It is all somewhat mysterious. Are you comparing the EXACT same cabin tpe and the EXACT same date/ship?