What's the skinny on Casino offers, Premiere cruise, DOU?

[luckybecky]

So I've been reading the boards and picking up snippets about Casino offers and perks, but I'm having trouble putting it all together.

 

So I gather that if you join the player's club, and you gamble enough, you may occasionally get offers from Carnival to cruise at a special -- or even free -- rate. Is this correct? If so, can anyone give a ballpark figure of how much one must gamble to start receiving these offers? Can you describe a typical offer? For example, would an offer be a % off the regular cost, or would it be an upgrade to a better cabin, or what?

 

Then I started noticing comments about something called Drinks On Us which is separate from Cheers. As best I can tell this is only offered while you are actively playing. So you would still need Cheers, or pay a la carte, for drinks at any other time/place. Right? What do you have to do to qualify for Drinks on Us?

 

Lastly, there's been mention of Premiere cruises. What is that? I've read that the casino can be very crowded, to the point that it can be hard to find a machine (much less a drink waiter). Are "premiere cruises" just regular cruises with special perks for players? Might an unsuspecting cruiser find themselves on one of these cruises and find the casino unusually crowded?

 

Thanks for any info that will help me sort all this out! We do like to play pretty much every night in the casino, but I think our level of play is probably not enough to qualify for special offers. But you never know! That's why I'm trying to get an idea of how all this works.

 

Thanks again!

[EllaDuChien]

So I've been reading the boards and picking up snippets about Casino offers and perks, but I'm having trouble putting it all together.

 

So I gather that if you join the player's club, and you gamble enough, you may occasionally get offers from Carnival to cruise at a special -- or even free -- rate. Is this correct? If so, can anyone give a ballpark figure of how much one must gamble to start receiving these offers? Can you describe a typical offer? For example, would an offer be a % off the regular cost, or would it be an upgrade to a better cabin, or what?

 

You do not technically have to "join" the Players Club, if you put your card in the machine while playing slots or ask the dealer to track you at table play, you are automatically in the club. As to how much one must gamble, its really a crap shoot. I started getting offers at about $100/day but it is different for everyone. Most offers are $$ off a cabin, sometimes there are other perks as well. I have never gotten an casino based upgrade offer.

 

Then I started noticing comments about something called Drinks On Us which is separate from Cheers. As best I can tell this is only offered while you are actively playing. So you would still need Cheers, or pay a la carte, for drinks at any other time/place. Right? What do you have to do to qualify for Drinks on Us?

 

Once you hit 2500 points (I think) you get the Drinks on Us card. Yes it is separate from Cheers, and yes you must be actively playing. The card does not work at any bar outside the casino. If you reach 5000 points by the end of your cruise, you automatically qualify for a DOU card on day 1 of your next cruise.

 

Lastly, there's been mention of Premiere cruises. What is that? I've read that the casino can be very crowded, to the point that it can be hard to find a machine (much less a drink waiter). Are "premiere cruises" just regular cruises with special perks for players? Might an unsuspecting cruiser find themselves on one of these cruises and find the casino unusually crowded?

 

Premier/Ultra/Elite cruises are invite only and are not charters, so yes, you could find yourself on a cruise without knowing it is a Premier the Casino would be incredibly crowded. These cruises also offer gifts and/or prizes available only to those sailing Premier, they typically include cocktail parties for invitees and usually some casino cash. In order to qualify for an Ultra cruise, you must gamble a certian amount on a premier, and so on for Elite.

 

Thanks for any info that will help me sort all this out! We do like to play pretty much every night in the casino, but I think our level of play is probably not enough to qualify for special offers. But you never know! That's why I'm trying to get an idea of how all this works.

 

You are right! You never know! As long as your card is in the machine and/or you are being tracked at the table, you may start to receive offers!

 

Thanks again!

 

 

See answers above! Hope this helps!

[jakesnana]

The above is mostly correct, except the amount to get the DOU card is 1500 points for a 7 nt, sailing. I know they track the points on the slots, not sure how they are tracked at the tables.

 

It doesn't take much to start receiving Casino offers. My grandson gets them now and he's not what I would call a "big spender" by any means. He probably risks around $50-100 per night at the BJ table and maybe plays a total of $100 in the slots on a 7 nt. cruise.

[EllaDuChien]

The above is mostly correct, except the amount to get the DOU card is 1500 points for a 7 nt, sailing. I know they track the points on the slots, not sure how they are tracked at the tables.

 

It doesn't take much to start receiving Casino offers. My grandson gets them now and he's not what I would call a "big spender" by any means. He probably risks around $50-100 per night at the BJ table and maybe plays a total of $100 in the slots on a 7 nt. cruise.

 

JakesNana - Thanks! I couldn't remember the exact total...the "other" cruise line I sail with is 1000 and I knew it was more, just couldn't remember how much more! ;p

[luckybecky]

Thanks everyone for the very helpful information! Rachel, you rock!

 

Also, it's good to know that it doesn't take much to qualify for these offers. I don't recall ever receiving one after our previous cruises, but it's been a few years since our last Carnival cruise. I'll be on the lookout for them after our cruise this July. We play at least as much as Bev's grandson so hopefully we will see something coming our way.

 

Last question, is there any way to know which cruises are premier cruises? I think that unless I am one of the premier customers, I'd rather avoid those sailings. Sounds like the casino would be too crowded. Any way to know if a cruise I'm considering is a premier cruise?

 

Thanks again!

[evandbob]

If you book a premier cruise fare, you will find a DOU card in your welcome package when you enter your cabin. With this fare it is an automatic perk starting day 1 of the cruise.

 

There is also nothing to stop you from entering the casino just before dinner say, ordering a free drink (remember to tip!) and then leaving for dinner or some other place on the ship with your drink in hand.

[EllaDuChien]

Thanks everyone for the very helpful information! Rachel, you rock!

 

Also, it's good to know that it doesn't take much to qualify for these offers. I don't recall ever receiving one after our previous cruises, but it's been a few years since our last Carnival cruise. I'll be on the lookout for them after our cruise this July. We play at least as much as Bev's grandson so hopefully we will see something coming our way.

 

Last question, is there any way to know which cruises are premier cruises? I think that unless I am one of the premier customers, I'd rather avoid those sailings. Sounds like the casino would be too crowded. Any way to know if a cruise I'm considering is a premier cruise?

 

Thanks again!

 

You are very welcome! Happy to help.

 

I do not think that there is a way to tell that a cruise is premier without getting an invite or joining your roll call/ book of face group. Two of my future cruises are premier: July 7 Sunshine; September 16 Breeze, but I had booked them before they became premier and then just switched to the premier booking code when they were announced. So sometimes a cruise changes to Premier just a couple of months out. You could maybe scout the roll calls, but other than that, there is no way to know, unless you have a PVP who will tell you.

[abby1257]

Not sure what you mean by "switched to premier booking code", could you explain

[Tookiedoo78]

I have another question about Premier cruises. My wife and I are on the Sunshine this Saturday out of Port Canaveral. Through the FB groups for the cruise, it appears to be a Premier cruise. This is our second cruise, and we purchased FTTF for this one, mainly for the early boarding and having our room ready when we board. It's my understanding that all the Premier folks get priority boarding, so did we buy FTTF for nothing? Is there going to be a large crowd that gets to board early, and we get shuffled to the back after them anyway? Just curious.

[luckybecky]

You are very welcome! Happy to help.

 

I do not think that there is a way to tell that a cruise is premier without getting an invite or joining your roll call/ book of face group. Two of my future cruises are premier: July 7 Sunshine; September 16 Breeze, but I had booked them before they became premier and then just switched to the premier booking code when they were announced. So sometimes a cruise changes to Premier just a couple of months out. You could maybe scout the roll calls, but other than that, there is no way to know, unless you have a PVP who will tell you.

 

Well you just answered my question! We are on the Sunshine with you on July 7. So I guess we can expect the casino to be crowded. Gosh darn it!

 

Oh well, we are going to have fun. And if the casino is too crowded, I guess that just mean we will keep more of our money in our pockets. :)

[abby1257]

I think when you book a cruise, it should be noted somewhere that it is a "premier cruise". I didn't book the cruise to find out later that apparently you will be lucky if you can even "GET A MACHINE"...WOULD NEVER HAVE BOOKED IT!

[EllaDuChien]

Not sure what you mean by "switched to premier booking code", could you explain

 

Sometimes cruises that were not originally Premier become so as they get closer. I booked my July cruise in January and it was not a Premier. In mid March it was listed on my Premier offers so I called and had myself rebooked under that casino offer. I have not seen a lot of traffic on the casino boards for this one, so it may not be as crowded as some others, like my September cruise, there are many of us that are booked under Premier so I expect that one to have a packed casino.

[EllaDuChien]

Well you just answered my question! We are on the Sunshine with you on July 7. So I guess we can expect the casino to be crowded. Gosh darn it!

 

Oh well, we are going to have fun. And if the casino is too crowded, I guess that just mean we will keep more of our money in our pockets. :)

 

Yay!! More Sunshine cruisers! We had already booked this as our summer family vacation before it became Premier so I have my mother and three kids with me. While I am happy that is a Premier cruise for the free drinks and such, I am still planning on this being my family vacation! I love the Sunshine and there is so much to do, I won't be in the casino as much as I would if I was going without the kids!

[winddawn]

Sometimes cruises that were not originally Premier become so as they get closer. I booked my July cruise in January and it was not a Premier. In mid March it was listed on my Premier offers so I called and had myself rebooked under that casino offer. I have not seen a lot of traffic on the casino boards for this one, so it may not be as crowded as some others, like my September cruise, there are many of us that are booked under Premier so I expect that one to have a packed casino.

 

This exact same thing happened to me on Carnival Dream last New Year's Eve. When I originally booked, it was a regular early saver rate, but later on I received a premier casino cruise offer for that same cruise I had already booked, and ended up getting a reduced rate and casino cash after rebooking the cruise I'd already booked outright. Having originally booked early saver, I was able to easily rebook at the lower casino rate I qualified for.

 

I'll also add to the conversation that "most" but not all casino offers lately are not as valuable as they have been in past years. So YMMV and comparison shop accordingly.

[kendracruises]

Premier guests are priority for boarding but board AFTER Diamond, Platinum, wedding people, and FTTF. Premier also do not get early access to their cabins like FTTF does.

[luckybecky]

I think when you book a cruise, it should be noted somewhere that it is a "premier cruise". I didn't book the cruise to find out later that apparently you will be lucky if you can even "GET A MACHINE"...WOULD NEVER HAVE BOOKED IT!

 

Yes, I agree with you. But we are locked in. Already past final payment date, airfare and hotel booked. So we are going. Will make the best of it and hope the casino won't be overly crowded.

 

Yay!! More Sunshine cruisers! We had already booked this as our summer family vacation before it became Premier so I have my mother and three kids with me. While I am happy that is a Premier cruise for the free drinks and such, I am still planning on this being my family vacation! I love the Sunshine and there is so much to do, I won't be in the casino as much as I would if I was going without the kids!

 

We will have to get together! I'll look for you over on the roll call (which I confess I haven't been checking recently). We are travelling with our adult son and daughter, who do not gamble. Our son has Asperger's syndrome and he does not drink either. So they spend little, if any, time in the casino. We are also with my sister and her husband. So it is a summer family vacation for us too!

 

Thanks again for your expertise regarding the casino offers! Got the email today about the "new" player's club. Interested to see how that works out.

[EllaDuChien]

I think when you book a cruise, it should be noted somewhere that it is a "premier cruise". I didn't book the cruise to find out later that apparently you will be lucky if you can even "GET A MACHINE"...WOULD NEVER HAVE BOOKED IT!

 

I'm not sure which date you are going, but not all Premier cruises are that packed. In fact, the one time I had trouble finding a machine to play was not a premier cruise at all, so there really is no way to tell how busy the casino will be.

 

We will have to get together! I'll look for you over on the roll call (which I confess I haven't been checking recently). We are travelling with our adult son and daughter, who do not gamble. Our son has Asperger's syndrome and he does not drink either. So they spend little, if any, time in the casino. We are also with my sister and her husband. So it is a summer family vacation for us too!

 

Thanks again for your expertise regarding the casino offers! Got the email today about the "new" player's club. Interested to see how that works out.

 

Excellent! The roll call is not particularly active so I don't check it very often either!