casino match

[Nancynurse]

We started cruising Celebrity years ago, but switched off to Royal Caribbean when our boys were looking for more kids activities. My husband and I are on Reflection in May.  I saw in the cruise planner that there is a match play casino slots.  Has anyone ever used this?  My mother and I like to go in the evenings and thought it would be fun especially since I would only be spending half the money I already spend.  Has anyone used this?  Are there any rules I should be aware of?  Can you buy multiples?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Nancy

[WestLakeGirl]

Do you mean the Captains Club benefit?

[Phxazzcruisers]

The only match play coupons I saw were for table games.  One time use coupon.  On our last cruise they were actually loaded on our card, no paper coupon.  I believe as Zenith we got two or three.  Enjoy your cruise

[Nancynurse]

It showed up on my cruise planner.  $50.00 and they match $50.00 plus 20% extra when you order prior to the cruise.  I had never seen this before.  Sounds like others haven't as well?  It wasn't there before, just saw it yesterday.  I did order a second one as well, so that question is answered as well.

 

Nancy

Edited November 11, 2018 by Nancynurse

[Nancynurse]

I found the rules:

 

For slot play, full promotional value of free-play will be loaded to guest’s SeaPass card. Promotional credits must be played through and are not redeemable for cash. Promotional credits must be used by the SeaPass holder who purchased Offer. 

Cancellations can only be made pre-cruise via Cruise Planner; refunds will be made to the original form of payment. After Cruise Planner closes for the sailing, all sales are final. Pre-Cruise purchases made that exceed the maximum purchase amount will be refunded to the credit card originally used for purchase within seven business days after the original charge was made. Slot Play Offer is not transferable, not redeemable for cash or onboard credit, for casino game-play only, and must be used by the final night of the cruise. Promotional chips may not be bartered, sold, transferred, assigned, or gifted. Offer is subject to availability and change without notice and may be withdrawn at any time. This promotional gaming package is paid in non-negotiable promotional chips and/or Free Play. Promotional gaming packages do not count towards loyalty points accumulation. Celebrity Cruises reserves the right to correct any errors, inaccuracies or omissions. ©2018 Celebrity Cruises Inc.

 

So, it looks like if you don't use it all, you lose whatever is left. 

 

Nancy

[DianeandMark]

We were offered a similar option in the casino on Solstice last year and on Millennium in March. I can’t remember the extra $$$ offered but was worth it for us. I haven’t seen it offered before in the cruise planner.

[wrk2cruise]

Not really a "match" just a 20% bonus.  For every $50 you get $60 in play.  You can either get promotional chips or slot play, you must purchase each separately.  You can buy up to $2000 worth.  The last couple of years they have been offering something similar onboard but generally only a few days each trip.

[wrk2cruise]

Word of caution.  I bought multiple with my OBC this morning.  Unfortunately due to their wonderful IT system I had to add them individually to the cart.   Everything looks good on my cruise planner but the email receipt I got only indicates I bought 1 for $50 and correctly indicates I have no OBC left.  There is no certificate number or any unique identifier on the purchase.  I'm worried about it being correctly credited on the ship.  I've never found the casino cage staff to be very helpful.

 

Captains club representative confirmed that I actually bought multiple and agreed the receipt didn't properly reflect that.  She has been working all morning with IT to get it resolved.  At minimum she said she would send me an email confirming the quantity purchased.  We'll see how long it takes to get IT straightened out.

[Naughty&Nautical]

These matches are great but you will receive no points for casino benefits towards the blue chip players club. Not worth it if you’re trying to achieve amethyst,  Sapphire or Ruby status. Good luck & happy sailing 🚢

[mnocket]

On 11/12/2018 at 6:15 AM, wrk2cruise said:

Not really a "match" just a 20% bonus.  For every $50 you get $60 in play.  You can either get promotional chips or slot play, you must purchase each separately.  You can buy up to $2000 worth.  The last couple of years they have been offering something similar onboard but generally only a few days each trip.

If you buy $50, do you get $50 in regular chips + $10 in promotional chips, or is the entire $60 promotional chips?

Did they straighten out receipt to show all packages purchased?

[wrk2cruise]

It will all be promo chips.  No they haven't straightened out the receipt yet.  On Cruise Planner I have 4 separate purchases and I have a printout of that.  The lady I spoke with in Captains Club about it did call me back about a week later saying she was still waiting on IT.  I just happened to get her yesterday while working on a booking I was in the process of making and she said she was going to give them another week or so.  She has said every time that she could send me an email explaining I have 4 x $50 for a total of $200.

 

[Duanerice1]

Nice.  They used to do it on most sailings but didn't on ours in October.  They did the cruise before but not ours.  The cashier said they don't always so it so it's good you can buy it ahead of time.  

 

My wife had no issue putting $500 through the machines and cashing out the "real" money.  For those not familiar, she's not spending $500 just playing it through the machines and can take any winnings.  Heck, she'd play it anyway, might as well get some promo free play out of it.  Surprisingly we get most of the $500 back.  Then she spends it on other things......

[mnocket]

11 minutes ago, wrk2cruise said:

It will all be promo chips.  No they haven't straightened out the receipt yet.  On Cruise Planner I have 4 separate purchases and I have a printout of that.  The lady I spoke with in Captains Club about it did call me back about a week later saying she was still waiting on IT.  I just happened to get her yesterday while working on a booking I was in the process of making and she said she was going to give them another week or so.  She has said every time that she could send me an email explaining I have 4 x $50 for a total of $200.

 

That's disappointing.  I  was expecting it would be $50 regular + $10 promo.  I guess I'll be cycling through promo chips for the first half of the cruise

[mnocket]

3 minutes ago, Duanerice1 said:

Nice.  They used to do it on most sailings but didn't on ours in October.  They did the cruise before but not ours.  The cashier said they don't always so it so it's good you can buy it ahead of time.  

 

My wife had no issue putting $500 through the machines and cashing out the "real" money.  For those not familiar, she's not spending $500 just playing it through the machines and can take any winnings.  Heck, she'd play it anyway, might as well get some promo free play out of it.  Surprisingly we get most of the $500 back.  Then she spends it on other things......

Just to confirm the slot play (I play BJ and the wife plays slots).....  Promo credit will be loaded on her card.  Winnings will be "banked" while each pull will continue to use promo credit until all used up - only then will "real" money be used.  Is this correct?

[Duanerice1]

1 minute ago, mnocket said:

Just to confirm the slot play (I play BJ and the wife plays slots).....  Promo credit will be loaded on her card.  Winnings will be "banked" while each pull will continue to use promo credit until all used up - only then will "real" money be used.  Is this correct?

Kind of.  You have to tell the machine how much you want to transfer from the card to the machine.  Say you move $50 to the machine.  Well you can play that all the way out, including your winnings, and not get anything back or you can play for a while, cash out any winnings then keep doing that.  My wife does that then keeps transferring money to the machine while keeping her winnings.  Make sense?

[mnocket]

1 minute ago, Duanerice1 said:

Kind of.  You have to tell the machine how much you want to transfer from the card to the machine.  Say you move $50 to the machine.  Well you can play that all the way out, including your winnings, and not get anything back or you can play for a while, cash out any winnings then keep doing that.  My wife does that then keeps transferring money to the machine while keeping her winnings.  Make sense?

When you transfer money to the machine, it automatically transfers promo money first?

[Duanerice1]

Y

1 hour ago, mnocket said:

When you transfer money to the machine, it automatically transfers promo money first?

Yes and that's because you'll never have your winnings on your card.  Once you transfer say $20 to the machine you have to play the $20 though.  You really can't leave the machine until you play the full $20 so be careful how much you transfer.  When you do cash out with your winnings (see, being positive there), you will get a voucher.  If you cash out before you use the entire $20 promo you will only get your winnings and the promo $ will stay in the machine.  

[Ma Bell]

5 minutes ago, Duanerice1 said:

Y

Yes and that's because you'll never have your winnings on your card.  Once you transfer say $20 to the machine you have to play the $20 though.  You really can't leave the machine until you play the full $20 so be careful how much you transfer.  When you do cash out with your winnings (see, being positive there), you will get a voucher.  If you cash out before you use the entire $20 promo you will only get your winnings and the promo $ will stay in the machine.  

No, the promo dollars go back on your card as promo dollars.  It's not necessary to play it all in one machine.

[mnocket]

8 minutes ago, Duanerice1 said:

Y

Yes and that's because you'll never have your winnings on your card.  Once you transfer say $20 to the machine you have to play the $20 though.  You really can't leave the machine until you play the full $20 so be careful how much you transfer.  When you do cash out with your winnings (see, being positive there), you will get a voucher.  If you cash out before you use the entire $20 promo you will only get your winnings and the promo $ will stay in the machine.  

Sorry if I seem dense, but I'm still a bit confused.

• So I transfer $20 promo credit to the machine
• The machine shows $20 Credit
• If I win the credit shown increases - it's just one number with no distinction of what part is promo and what is winnings
• How do I know when I've gone through the promo credit (other than losing everything)?

[mnocket]

1 minute ago, Ma Bell said:

No, the promo dollars go back on your card as promo dollars.  It's not necessary to play it all in one machine.

Ah, this answers my confusion posted above.  Thanks.

[Duanerice1]

15 minutes ago, Ma Bell said:

No, the promo dollars go back on your card as promo dollars.  It's not necessary to play it all in one machine. 

Hmm.... That's not what my wife says but that would be good.  She is the slot player so I go with what she said (she is my wife - lol)  

[Ma Bell]

9 minutes ago, Duanerice1 said:

Hmm.... That's not what my wife says but that would be good.  She is the slot player so I go with what she said (she is my wife - lol)  

I promise I'm telling the truth. LOL

[wrk2cruise]

I also thought you had to play everything you transferred to the machine.  How do you put it back on the card.  If you cash out I believe you get a ticket with your winnings and the balance shows on the machine still.  If you just walk away someone else plays it for you

[Ma Bell]

No, you have to sign out of your account when you leave the machine. They are converting the machines to a touch system much like the cabin doors now. There are different colored lights for when you are signed in or out which makes it simpler but you have always had to sign on to use your promotional dollars and sign out to have them return to your account.

[wrk2cruise]

Well I just noticed something strange with the slot promo in my Cruise Planner.  When I view my order history it shows the slot play I purchased.  However it now says buy $50 and get $55 in slot play.  I do have a printout of my order history from 11/18 which states buy $50 and get $60 in slot play.   Why do I think this is going to be a hassle once onboard.  I'm thinking of just canceling them.  Also the offer is not listed on my Cruise Planner anymore.

 

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