CAS Perk Changes

[gl1200a]

Voice your opinions.

I will on the 4th.

[skeeter195]

NCL and CAS just does not get it. I am a Golden player, 27000 points in 2 cruises within 3 months. We as gamblers expect, and I think deserve the few perks that are given to us. I am really upset at these changes. A Golden or VIP player is just as if not more valuable a cruiser as a suite guest. Lets face it we win or lose 5-10K on a cruise, losing mostly. Plus we spend alot on other things during a cruise. An average family, even in a suite does not leave nearly as much on the ship as we gamblers do. Taking away these small perks(although the Cagneys perk is nice) is truly not good businnes. I have 2 cruises booked right now and will be re-thinking about keeping them. There may be 2 deck 10 aft balconies opening up on the Gem soon. Some may be saying well at least you got a free cruise. I say, take care of the people who are helping out the bottom line of NCL.

 

Oh well

[sjbdtz]

That really stinks! I'm leaving on the Star on the 22nd and expected to spend some time in the spa thanks to CAS.

 

Harriet

 

Me too. I'm guessing this is why my contact isn't responding....he doesn't want to deliver bad news.

 

 

.

[alsgirl]

I absolutely agree with you skeeter !!!! I spend alot more in the casino than a suite guest will spend in a week. The suite guest will be in cagneys for lunch and our benefits are taken away??? Trust me i will no longer spend as much money in the casino to keep my status !!! The only real perk to golden is Drinks which i dont really do alot of and a spa credit, I spend most of my time in the casino and dont even see the spa. I really need to rethink which cruise line I want to sail on, the other cruise lines do treat gamblers very well!! I really think this UNFAIR descion will cost NCL alot in the long run.I am loyal to NCL because I love the perks Now I will shop around !!!

[hpecorari]

They have the right, CAS and NCL to change their perks. However, I simply believe that the change should come about after their/our 'year' is up and not mid cycle. Not even sure who we'd contact in regard to this change and asking if we can at keep what we have earned until March 31, 2015.

 

Harriet

[hpecorari]

Me too. I'm guessing this is why my contact isn't responding....he doesn't want to deliver bad news.

 

 

.

 

You might be right. No one wants to be the bearer of bad news.

 

Harriet

[cruisegal98]

Maybe we can find out who to contact and do it as group and voice our complaints. I know we all booked on the assumption that we would receive these benefits which are now gone without prior warning. I was looking forward to my Golden level Perks.

 

I am also considering other cruise lines now with this new move by NCL. I have received offers from Princess for Casino Cash for any cruise they offer and they do include free drinks and welcome party as well and a gift. I was staying loyal as well to NCl but now I am seriously considering cancelling my reservations that are outside of cancellation policy and book with other lines.

 

Let me know if anyone has any ideas how to get our voices heard by NCL.

[cabincop]

Just got off the phone with my CAS contact he said almost daily they get new emails in reference to CAS and lost perks. Damn

[tel2]

As annoyed as I am, I am sort of chuckling because I have defended class actions that involve just this sort of bait and switch i.e., retailer or credit card company rolls out a program awarding points, sends literature to customers encouraging use of the card/product etc, establishes a web site touting the benefits, and then, after points have been earned, eliminates or restricts greatly the ability to use the points without any notice period during which customer can redeem. In the US, it is pretty clear that a retailer dealing with consumers has to provide notice before they can change up a promotional program....I guess the same rules do not apply on the high seas....

 

Terry

[bradship]

Agree to everyone's comments. I see no reason to maintain my golden status. On my November cruise, I will just use my partners players card to get his status up to hot (he's half way there), then stop playing. Probably means I will cruise less with NCL. Seems like a good time to diversify our casino budget.

[skeeter195]

While I am still pretty upset, I am re-thinking this whole thing. I can use the 2 cruises that have booked as "real" vacations and take advantage of the few perks that I have left from CAS. I can see myself going to the casino to get drinks before dinner and shows. I can still get a dinner for 2 from the casino. If I need a casino "fix" I will play poker(no CAS points when playing poker) even if the rake is horrible. Last cruise I won 2 and came in third in the three poker tournaments I played. No getting to sleep after closing the casino. I will be able to enjoy the ports more with more sleep. This may not be as bad a thing after all.

[Casino Comp Chick]

I emailed them specifically asking if the "equivalent" for the spa pass would be 30pp X 2 X 2 days fora total of $120.00 spa credit. The answer I received was "The daily rate isnt used. For multi-day passes there is a discount for extra days. The host desk will have the amounts and you can see them for detail".

I emailed them back and asked for specifics as I have no idea what that is supposed to mean.

 

I wonder when they will downgrade platinum. I have a feeling that is coming next

Edited September 15, 2014 by iimmie

[hpecorari]

Just got off the phone with my CAS contact he said almost daily they get new emails in reference to CAS and lost perks. Damn

 

I still believe that these perks weren't changed by CAS. I think it came from elsewhere. Maybe contacting someone at NCL but who? Social Media? Facebook? Truth be told ...... it is what it is. Same problem happened when people booked their cruise thinking they could smoke on their balconies and then find out that they can't. The only difference here......is that we worked toward/earned that status until March 31st, 2015.....or so we all thought. ::shrugs:: oh well

 

Harriet

[spidybabe]

They should of informed everybody prior to the changes, and should uphold levels and perks made.

CET/Harrah's did something similar a few years ago, when mid way thru the year, they took away the perk of getting into the player's club for free, and started charging comp dollars for it. Lost many customers...everybody felt the same...it should of been done at the start of a new year, AFTER informing everybody.FYI: CET is partners with NCL

Safe sailing

[spidybabe]

While I am still pretty upset, I am re-thinking this whole thing. I can use the 2 cruises that have booked as "real" vacations and take advantage of the few perks that I have left from CAS. I can see myself going to the casino to get drinks before dinner and shows. I can still get a dinner for 2 from the casino. If I need a casino "fix" I will play poker(no CAS points when playing poker) even if the rake is horrible. Last cruise I won 2 and came in third in the three poker tournaments I played. No getting to sleep after closing the casino. I will be able to enjoy the ports more with more sleep. This may not be as bad a thing after all.

 

Question:

If you don't gamble on the first cruise you take, there is no problem on the second "free" cruise?

Safe sailing

[hpecorari]

Question:

If you don't gamble on the first cruise you take, there is no problem on the second "free" cruise?

Safe sailing

 

If you don't gamble on the first cruise you take.....there probably won't be a 'free' 2nd cruise! LOL

 

Harriet

[jingle5616]

The biggest statement you can make it to take the cruise, tell the host you won't be playing, then don't wager a penny. Casinos are a dime a dozen these days. :eek:

[spidybabe]

If you don't gamble on the first cruise you take.....there probably won't be a 'free' 2nd cruise! LOL

 

Harriet

 

JW: what if the two cruises are already booked "free" and paid in full?

No gambling on the first cruise....what happens?

Safe sailing

[mommyto2girls]

They should of informed everybody prior to the changes, and should uphold levels and perks made.

CET/Harrah's did something similar a few years ago, when mid way thru the year, they took away the perk of getting into the player's club for free, and started charging comp dollars for it. Lost many customers...everybody felt the same...it should of been done at the start of a new year, AFTER informing everybody.FYI: CET is partners with NCL

Safe sailing

 

This is another reason we are doing our last cruise on NCL in October, first get rid of the smokers and now piss off the gamblers. We have only booked the Haven through CAS for the past 10 or 12 cruises.. Hard Rock Punta Cana is going to be thrilled to see us, you will have to join us Tina. Hope all is well.

 

Andrea

[kiyoko]

I was unpleasantly surprised to see this thread and read what you all found out. If I had not been looking at this forum, I would have never realized that the rules have again changed. Thanks again to all you CCs. I'm sure many expected the previously published benefits (me included) once a certain tier was reached. I realize that the program could be changed at any time, but I agree that some notice should have been provided before the rules were changed and that any changes, to be fair, should not be implemented prior to the next qualification period.

 

I recall back in April 2013, when the "new CAS" benefits were publicized there was a lot of confusion involved. I went back and found an excerpt of one of my posts from a discussion of the "new CAS" benefits:

 

[Okay. This is what I was told, depending upon the rep and day I called in relation to the spa pass (I can't remember how many times I have called just to get the details on these benefits, but I think it was over 6, and each time the answer was different):

1. 2 day spa pass for Golden;

2. 5 day spa pass for VIP;

3. 7 day spa pass for Golden;

4. 7 day spa pass for VIP;

5. 2 day spa pass for VIP;

6. 5 day spa pass for Golden;

7. spa pass is good for 2 free treatments i.e., massage (this one I thought was pretty creative).

 

Don't even get me started on what I was told regarding my tier level. I'm beyond frustrated or mad anymore because it's become such a joke. I'm just hoping that all this is cleared up definitively by my May sailing. I'm very curious to hear back from the poster who was having issues on the Gem. What I find most interesting is that each rep, before giving me any answers, put me on hold to ask a supervisor what the benefit was so that I wasn't given "incorrect information".]

 

It reminded me of how frustrated I was getting different answers EVERY time I called. My next cruise isn't for a while, and so rather than get frustrated again this time with this new round of changes, I think I will wait until the dust settles. Hopefully, those of you who will be boarding soon will return back and report what you have experienced once on board. Thanks.

[Love my butler]

I was unpleasantly surprised to see this thread and read what you all found out. If I had not been looking at this forum, I would have never realized that the rules have again changed. Thanks again to all you CCs. I'm sure many expected the previously published benefits (me included) once a certain tier was reached. I realize that the program could be changed at any time, but I agree that some notice should have been provided before the rules were changed and that any changes, to be fair, should not be implemented prior to the next qualification period.

 

I recall back in April 2013, when the "new CAS" benefits were publicized there was a lot of confusion involved. I went back and found an excerpt of one of my posts from a discussion of the "new CAS" benefits:

 

[Okay. This is what I was told, depending upon the rep and day I called in relation to the spa pass (I can't remember how many times I have called just to get the details on these benefits, but I think it was over 6, and each time the answer was different):

1. 2 day spa pass for Golden;

2. 5 day spa pass for VIP;

3. 7 day spa pass for Golden;

4. 7 day spa pass for VIP;

5. 2 day spa pass for VIP;

6. 5 day spa pass for Golden;

7. spa pass is good for 2 free treatments i.e., massage (this one I thought was pretty creative).

 

Don't even get me started on what I was told regarding my tier level. I'm beyond frustrated or mad anymore because it's become such a joke. I'm just hoping that all this is cleared up definitively by my May sailing. I'm very curious to hear back from the poster who was having issues on the Gem. What I find most interesting is that each rep, before giving me any answers, put me on hold to ask a supervisor what the benefit was so that I wasn't given "incorrect information".]

 

It reminded me of how frustrated I was getting different answers EVERY time I called. My next cruise isn't for a while, and so rather than get frustrated again this time with this new round of changes, I think I will wait until the dust settles. Hopefully, those of you who will be boarding soon will return back and report what you have experienced once on board. Thanks.

 

The rep put you on hold then probably went out for a quick smoke. Got back on the line and just made up an answer that sounded good. Only way to explain how NCL reps have 10 different answers to the same question.

[Black Pearl Sailor]

It is obvious that the reduced perks from the Casino are all part of the cost we pay for the growth of NCL. The beanies run the company even more so now with the goal of paying for the new ships by continually reducing costs and increasing charges.

 

Another cute example this week the new change to cocktails and bar prices comes in, outside the free casino drinks of course, cocktails up $1 and 50 cent charge for a splash of soda, cola, tonic etc. in a drink.

 

It's a damn shame, but it's the price we pay for staying loyal to NCL and watching them grow.

[hpecorari]

JW: what if the two cruises are already booked "free" and paid in full?

No gambling on the first cruise....what happens?

Safe sailing

 

They won't/can't take the 2nd cruise away from you so go and enjoy. It may, however, be your last 'free' cruise offered.

 

I'm still hoping that they 'rethink' this and at least realize that these changes shouldn't start until the new qualifying year starts.

 

Harriet

[garycarla]

Thank you NCL. You just saved me thousands of dollars. Really.

 

No Cagneys - no big donation from us. We will be going to Vegas.

 

to those accountants that think they are saving money - WRONG!

[luvcruzing]

Thank you NCL. You just saved me thousands of dollars. Really.

 

No Cagneys - no big donation from us. We will be going to Vegas.

 

to those accountants that think they are saving money - WRONG!

 

I'm with you, Gary. I haven't been to Vegas since I started cruising "free" with NCL/CAS. Time to book air to Vegas instead of Miami.