Tell Me About NCL "Casinos At Sea"?

[js]

We are a pretty good level at MLife with the Borgotta in AC. Would our status carry over to NCL. I believe it does with RCCL. 

 

Thank you. 

[smithop]

On 5/1/2019 at 2:44 PM, NCLetscruise said:

This is a bit off topic, but I just have to get it out there..

 

To the gamblers: Did you ever notice that people on here seem to get really mad that we gamble? People make stupid comments like "waste of money" "you can't win" etc.. Why is it that some non-gamblers feel that they have to be in our business? Are they jealous that they can't afford to gamble? I like to gamble. It's a hobby. I have plenty of money to do it. If I want to blow $3,000-$4,000 on my upcoming cruise, it's my business. I can afford to lose it. It seems like on this site, people have a tendency to bad mouth gamblers, when in fact it doesn't affect them at all, and frankly, it's none of their business. I always found that interesting. Ok, gotta go now.. time to run to the Meadowlands and get my derby picks in!

 

Yeah, its none of my business what other people think of me, its their problem.

 

We go to several local casinos once a month.  I get comped free rooms and meals, and I can ride the free bus that picks up near home.  The buses are full of retired folks like us spending our kids inheritance.

 

I get comped with cruise certs twice a year from local casinos, and use them on NCL cruises.  Last year we did 7 day carib including Cuba ended up paying $1100 to upgrade with drink package and dining.  Some friends came and spent over $3k, I didn’t mention it to them, but that left us $2k to gamble with.

 

I just booked out of LA for thanksgiving, all in cost for inside cabin on Joy was $700 included just one perk so I took dining.  If I want free drinks I’ll get them in the casino with the card they include.  Where else can I get 7 days all inclusive for $50 each a day?  I won’t feel bad even if I gamble away the savings.  I don’t plan on getting off the ship, Mexico has no appeal for us.

[BirdTravels]

We cruise a lot and ask questions on the ships that come up frequently here on CC. One question we ask (which is sometimes answered) is "how many casino guests are on the ship this week". Some cruises have over 25% of the adult guests sailing on a casino comp or casino discount (CAS or land-based casino). 

[BirdTravels]

9 hours ago, js said:

We are a pretty good level at MLife with the Borgotta in AC. Would our status carry over to NCL. I believe it does with RCCL. Thank you. 

No.

RCCL is affiliated with MGM. Your MLife status would not carry over to an NCL cruise. 

NCL is affiliated with Caesars. Caesars Rewards status does NOT carry over to the ship.

[goldmom]

9 hours ago, js said:

We are a pretty good level at MLife with the Borgotta in AC. Would our status carry over to NCL. I believe it does with RCCL. 

 

Thank you. 

No, M Life works with Royal and doesn't have an arrangement with NCL.  However, once you sail with NCL you can call Casinos at Sea and see what they can offer you.

[js]

3 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

No.

RCCL is affiliated with MGM. Your MLife status would not carry over to an NCL cruise. 

NCL is affiliated with Caesars. Caesars Rewards status does NOT carry over to the ship.

Thank you. Just like I figured.

 

3 hours ago, goldmom said:

No, M Life works with Royal and doesn't have an arrangement with NCL.  However, once you sail with NCL you can call Casinos at Sea and see what they can offer you.

Thank you. I guess I will call after our sailing? We are Platinum with NCL but haven't sailed in a while.

 

[Beardface]

On 11/23/2018 at 11:38 PM, BirdTravels said:

If you play on every cruise, every cruise could be free. On any given cruise, several hundred of your fellow passengers are cruising free through the casino. 

 

 

I'm going to go on a limb and say if you gamble enough for Norwegian to comp your room, there is a very small chance you are actually cruising free.  They're getting their money from you one way or another.

[fourofakind]

1 hour ago, Beardface said:

I'm going to go on a limb and say if you gamble enough for Norwegian to comp your room, there is a very small chance you are actually cruising free.  They're getting their money from you one way or another.

 

This is true but we are having a lot more fun giving our money to NCL then the average cruise passenger who books their room and pays full price out right. My money is spent over the course of a week as entertainment. My upcoming July cruise on the Escape is a comped Haven room, mock booking shows it would have cost me $8,000.00 to pay for it out right. That's $8,000.00 worth of entertainment I get to enjoy in addition to my Haven room and amenities 

[goldmom]

1 hour ago, js said:

Thank you. Just like I figured.

 

Thank you. I guess I will call after our sailing? We are Platinum with NCL but haven't sailed in a while.

 

Generally they look back over the last year, but you could always call Casinos at Sea and see if they still have any info on you (assuming you used the card in the casino).  Depending on your play they might offer you something.  Doubtful, but you never know!

[fstuff1]

2 hours ago, fourofakind said:

 

This is true but we are having a lot more fun giving our money to NCL then the average cruise passenger who books their room and pays full price out right. My money is spent over the course of a week as entertainment. My upcoming July cruise on the Escape is a comped Haven room, mock booking shows it would have cost me $8,000.00 to pay for it out right. That's $8,000.00 worth of entertainment I get to enjoy in addition to my Haven room and amenities 

 

um.. how much did you lose to get that $8000 haven suite?

 

[kittykittygrrl]

Yeah...that exactly the kind of comment that I find unnecessary.  Adult gamblers are well aware of the risk their habit may incur.  Point is, the choice to gamble is exactly that...a choice.  One that many do happily.  To each their own in how they spend their money whether it be for lavish excursions, jewelry, drinks, or the casino.  

[Sand and Seas]

56 minutes ago, kittykittygrrl said:

Yeah...that exactly the kind of comment that I find unnecessary.  Adult gamblers are well aware of the risk their habit may incur.  Point is, the choice to gamble is exactly that...a choice.  One that many do happily.  To each their own in how they spend their money whether it be for lavish excursions, jewelry, drinks, or the casino.  

Exactly!

I am going to gamble somewhere and have fun doing it.  Now part of the 'game' for me is getting comps my family and I enjoy.  When we add up at the end of each year what we enjoyed (comped cruises, suites in Las Vegas & New Orleans,  free concerts, great restaurants) and see what the gambling cost us we are very happy with it.   I have friends that pay high prices for their cruises or the hotels/shows/dinners in Las Vegas.  We get them comped  while gambling.   

 

It's all in how you choose to spend your $$.   Never have gambled anything we couldn't afford to lose.  Haven't ever 'lost' enough to keep me awake at night (if you don't count that one piece of land we started to build on and didn't complete!)

[jethrojam]

12 hours ago, Beardface said:

I'm going to go on a limb and say if you gamble enough for Norwegian to comp your room, there is a very small chance you are actually cruising free.  They're getting their money from you one way or another.

I assume Bird means free from both land and sea casinos.   I would say on every cruise there are very less than 25 people who are comped free from CAS.  The point system is just way too high.    

That said, on free cruise day at Twin river there were Thousands of people who got a free ($1000) cruise.   Id imagine multiplying that by all the other casinos in america means that yes, there are hundreds of people on the cruise who are cruising for free ($1000 in fees).  

Edited May 23, 2019 by jethrojam
sss

[Joyce898]

Hello!  I received a cruise certificate for NCL and this will be my first ever cruise.

I don't intend to gamble like I do in Vegas and i'm going for the food, activities and to spend time with family. I will be saving my coin for my next vegas trip the month after.

 

I was told that I would receive a card and free drinks in the casino (I don't have the unlimited drink package).   Can I just drink in the casino without buying in?  I don't mind chugging down the drink LOL or am I allowed to take the drink to any area of the ship?

 

Thanks!

Edited February 18, 2020 by Joyce898

[Sand and Seas]

8 hours ago, Joyce898 said:

Hello!  I received a cruise certificate for NCL and this will be my first ever cruise.

I don't intend to gamble like I do in Vegas and i'm going for the food, activities and to spend time with family. I will be saving my coin for my next vegas trip the month after.

 

I was told that I would receive a card and free drinks in the casino (I don't have the unlimited drink package).   Can I just drink in the casino without buying in?  I don't mind chugging down the drink LOL or am I allowed to take the drink to any area of the ship?

 

Thanks!

When the casino is open, you can walk up to the casino bar with that card and get a drink.   You can then carry that drink with you to any other area of the ship.   

[Russiamomm]

I'm also curious how exactly this works.  I went to book my April cruise with the travel agent and she told me I had a $475 certificate from NCL from the casino.  I didn't even know it was there, but logged into NCL and sure enough it was there.  It could only be used off of the cruise fare, which is fine with me.  I've played around a bit on NCL.com but can't see how many points I have.  Do you have to call CAS for that?  Also, could there be other goodies waiting for me that I don't know about?

[aubreyc1988]

11 minutes ago, Russiamomm said:

I'm also curious how exactly this works.  I went to book my April cruise with the travel agent and she told me I had a $475 certificate from NCL from the casino.  I didn't even know it was there, but logged into NCL and sure enough it was there.  It could only be used off of the cruise fare, which is fine with me.  I've played around a bit on NCL.com but can't see how many points I have.  Do you have to call CAS for that?  Also, could there be other goodies waiting for me that I don't know about?

 

 

I had a credit too, but it disappeared this morning, so when I asked CAS, they said it expired on 1/31/20, but according to my previous screen shot, I had until 3/1/20 to use it 

 

Still waiting to hear if they will honor it, but my guess is not.  Really peeved by this

[Joyce898]

3 hours ago, Sand and Seas said:

When the casino is open, you can walk up to the casino bar with that card and get a drink.   You can then carry that drink with you to any other area of the ship.   

I've never seen a casino close before 😅. What are the casino hours of operation?

 

I am such a clutz. Do they have those to go cups with lids like in Caesars in Vegas or can I bring my own and pour the drink in/ask them to fill them. Does that leave a bad impression? I will leave a good tip of course. 

[Mike_DeA]

2 hours ago, Joyce898 said:

I've never seen a casino close before 😅. What are the casino hours of operation?

 

I am such a clutz. Do they have those to go cups with lids like in Caesars in Vegas or can I bring my own and pour the drink in/ask them to fill them. Does that leave a bad impression? I will leave a good tip of course. 

 

You can bring your own cups/lids, but I have never seen them offered on NCL.  You will have to pour your drink into it, as they can't fill it for you (risk of transmission of germs onto their hands/tools/equipment). 

 

The hours vary based on the port. Typically the casino opens about 1-2 hours after departure from embarkation port.  30-60 minutes after leaving the other ports of call.  On sea days the casino is open around the clock (slots) with table games opening about 10am.  The casino can be open in a few ports, primarily GSC for NCL.  Bermuda allow limited evening hours as well.

 

Lately it seems that they want to close by 2-2.30am (the tables anyway) so they can be out of there by 3am.  In the past they would stay open well past 3am, even to 4am occasionally if busy enough.  Pit bosses/managers have told me that they want their people to get proper rest. 

 

The casino bar will have slightly different hours.

[BirdTravels]

6 hours ago, Joyce898 said:

I've never seen a casino close before 😅. What are the casino hours of operation?

 

I am such a clutz. Do they have those to go cups with lids like in Caesars in Vegas or can I bring my own and pour the drink in/ask them to fill them. Does that leave a bad impression? I will leave a good tip of course. 

The casino normally operates only when in international waters. So it is closed when you are in port. There are a few exceptions (like in Bermuda where they have purchased a gaming license to operate at night during overnight stays). 

[BirdTravels]

18 hours ago, Joyce898 said:

I was told that I would receive a card and free drinks in the casino (I don't have the unlimited drink package).   Can I just drink in the casino without buying in?  I don't mind chugging down the drink LOL or am I allowed to take the drink to any area of the ship?

The card is only valid at the casino bar when the casino is open. The one thing that the card gets you is bottle water (which is not included in the standard adult beverage package). Once you have your drink, you can carry it anywhere on the ship. Or just sit in the casino bar and fill up for the night. 

 

If you gamble enough on the ship, every cruise from this point forward could be free. I think that I mentioned in an old post above that on some cruises, over 25% of the adult passengers onboard are sailing for free or at a discounted casino rate (either from CAS or their land-based casino). 

[pcakes122]

23 hours ago, Joyce898 said:

I was told that I would receive a card and free drinks in the casino (I don't have the unlimited drink package).   Can I just drink in the casino without buying in?  I don't mind chugging down the drink LOL or am I allowed to take the drink to any area of the ship?

Yes, you can take your drink anywhere, but the drink card you will get from a land casino certificate will only entitle you to "well" (House) drinks - so if you are picky about what you drink, your choices are limited (You cannot call brands.) With the House drink card you can get bottled water, energy drinks or Starbucks coffee drinks (lattes, cappucinos, etc.) - none of which you can get with the actual NCL paid drink package - so that's a perk right there.  Actually, don't quote me on the coffee drinks - I have a higher-tier level casino drink card (Ultimate) so I can get Starbucks, but I don't know if that particular perk comes with all casino drink card levels (there are 3 - House, Ultra and Ultimate.)

[Joyce898]

21 minutes ago, pcakes122 said:

Yes, you can take your drink anywhere, but the drink card you will get from a land casino certificate will only entitle you to "well" (House) drinks - so if you are picky about what you drink, your choices are limited (You cannot call brands.) With the House drink card you can get bottled water, energy drinks or Starbucks coffee drinks (lattes, cappucinos, etc.) - none of which you can get with the actual NCL paid drink package - so that's a perk right there.  Actually, don't quote me on the coffee drinks - I have a higher-tier level casino drink card (Ultimate) so I can get Starbucks, but I don't know if that particular perk comes with all casino drink card levels (there are 3 - House, Ultra and Ultimate.)

Great info!! Can you provide examples of what a well drink is? 

[pcakes122]

2 hours ago, Joyce898 said:

Great info!! Can you provide examples of what a well drink is? 

Sure 😊  The basic house red & white white or lower-tier spirits.  For example, you can order a "vodka & tonic" which they will make from whatever the house vodka brand is (usually the cheapest) - but you can't order a "Tito's & tonic" or a shot of Patron or a "Kahlua & cream" for free with the House card - you can't specify any brand name.  You can order Tito's, etc., but you will pay extra.  I don't drink beer so I'm not sure there, but I'd assume you can order a basic beer brand like Bud or Michelob, but probably not Stella, etc.  Beer drinkers would need to weigh in to confirm that! 🙂 

Edited February 19, 2020 by pcakes122

[cregger57]

I am a frequent NCL cruiser and have been a part of their players club since the beginning.  In March of 2020 I was on their last cruise before the pandemic shut us down.  I had just achieved Ruby tier level in the players club.  Then we couldn't cruise for almost 2 years.  Now that we are able to cruise again, I am told everyone is starting back at Jade level.  I find this totally unfair and unacceptable.  I feel we should be grandfathered in at our last level achieved.  Please let NCL know how unfair this is.  I am very disappointed.