Trying to become Prime in the Casino

[kiddo76]

So can anyone tell me what the average amount of money people gamble to get a "free" cruise. I have a family member who keeps getting offered "free" Caribbean cruises in a junior suite, both directly from RCCL and a land based casino. She's gotten into financial trouble in the past with gambling and some of us are concerned.

[dodgestang]

1 hour ago, kiddo76 said:

So can anyone tell me what the average amount of money people gamble to get a "free" cruise. I have a family member who keeps getting offered "free" Caribbean cruises in a junior suite, both directly from RCCL and a land based casino. She's gotten into financial trouble in the past with gambling and some of us are concerned.

 

I made it into Prime on my first cruise with RC.  I take $4-5k with me to gamble and buy things with when on RC cruises.  On 3 out of 4 last cruises I came home with that $4-5k and various rip-off art that I bought on board with gambling proceeds as well as no charges on credit at the end of the trip from the on board account.  On last cruise I lost most of it so while I still had a great time....I was down on that trip....

 

But I consider myself up over all....because the amount I am officially down is less than the total savings I have received in discounts on room upgrades using free cruise certs and Prime cruise annual cruise award.  But to be clear....we are always into a cruise for 5 digits with the suites and the excursions....even with casino discounts so it's not like I'm making a profit 😉

[Mikew0805]

13 hours ago, Ourusualbeach said:

 

Smart marketing by the folks in the casino.  With all the terms and conditions attached to the certificates the only way they have value is if they are applied to a new cruise that is most likely close to the sailing date.  They want this to be an extra spur of the moment cruise and not a discount off an already planned trip.  It’s really an enticement to get you to spend extra money rather than a reward for your play. 

Well not always, but it happens especially at the end of a cycle of sailings they have been offering for months. My last three certificates that I used were for sailings greater than 6 months out. Heck.. the Adventure last month and the Oasis next month were both from certificates I earned in December and January, respectively. Either way there is a trade in value on the certs that can be used for any cruise in the next year.

[Mikew0805]

2 hours ago, kiddo76 said:

So can anyone tell me what the average amount of money people gamble to get a "free" cruise. I have a family member who keeps getting offered "free" Caribbean cruises in a junior suite, both directly from RCCL and a land based casino. She's gotten into financial trouble in the past with gambling and some of us are concerned.

I've made prime and earned a certificate on $2 that was promo money from the casino. I doubt that will ever happen again, but man that was a fun cruise. However free JS's require a big chunk of points to be earned... usually.

 

It's hard to say how many for a free cruise, but I can tell you that when RCI gets desperate (Cuba cancelled) even people that have spent extremely little get offers. My Aunt got a free 8 night on Empress, in July, after those cancellations... and she only had a total of 212 points for the year in Casino Royale. 😱

 

As far as the financial problems... I do not know if anyone here can give advice on that, as I would not know how to bring it up to someone I know... but if I was truly concerned, I guess I would find a way. 

 

[nivek82]

I was Prime during the first year when the time they used was 18 months (or longer) and not just a year.  It was nice and the free cruise was an added perk.  While it was nice to have the free drinks I did start to see how much I was spending vs how much a drink package is.  For us I think things are swinging back the other way of maybe getting a drink package and going back to shows at night, etc.  Now will I stop going into the casino, NOPE but limit what I spend probably.  The smoking in there doesn't help either but it goes with the area.  The thing that gets me is that Royal has really done a great job updating their program and games in the past few years.  Years ago it was easy to try and skip the casino as they had just old worn out games.  Now they have the more modern (and what appears tighter) but it is more enjoyable playing the newer games.  

[kiddo76]

1 hour ago, dodgestang said:

 

I made it into Prime on my first cruise with RC.  I take $4-5k with me to gamble and buy things with when on RC cruises.  On 3 out of 4 last cruises I came home with that $4-5k and various rip-off art that I bought on board with gambling proceeds as well as no charges on credit at the end of the trip from the on board account.  On last cruise I lost most of it so while I still had a great time....I was down on that trip....

 

But I consider myself up over all....because the amount I am officially down is less than the total savings I have received in discounts on room upgrades using free cruise certs and Prime cruise annual cruise award.  But to be clear....we are always into a cruise for 5 digits with the suites and the excursions....even with casino discounts so it's not like I'm making a profit 😉

Thanks. This relative claims she spends a set amount per day and when it's gone, she's done gambling for the day. She makes it sound like that's around $50 a day, since she compares it to what people spend on the drink package.

[dodgestang]

Well....if you are winning....it's easy for $50 to last all day...I suppose....but at the same time.......I have to assume she is playing at slots.....with small bets so wouldn't rank up points too quickly.

[kiddo76]

17 minutes ago, Mikew0805 said:

I've made prime and earned a certificate on $2 that was promo money from the casino. I doubt that will ever happen again, but man that was a fun cruise. However free JS's require a big chunk of points to be earned... usually.

 

It's hard to say how many for a free cruise, but I can tell you that when RCI gets desperate (Cuba cancelled) even people that have spent extremely little get offers. My Aunt got a free 8 night on Empress, in July, after those cancellations... and she only had a total of 212 points for the year in Casino Royale. 😱

 

As far as the financial problems... I do not know if anyone here can give advice on that, as I would not know how to bring it up to someone I know... but if I was truly concerned, I guess I would find a way. 

 

Yeah, I get that one can get lucky and really make out well. She's now up to at least 2 "free" cruises a year and uses he land casino rewards to pay for flights and hotel. I know I'm not that lucky!

[kiddo76]

2 minutes ago, dodgestang said:

Well....if you are winning....it's easy for $50 to last all day...I suppose....but at the same time.......I have to assume she is playing at slots.....with small bets so wouldn't rank up points too quickly.

Yes, she only plays slots.

[slurry57]

7 hours ago, kiddo76 said:

So can anyone tell me what the average amount of money people gamble to get a "free" cruise. I have a family member who keeps getting offered "free" Caribbean cruises in a junior suite, both directly from RCCL and a land based casino. She's gotten into financial trouble in the past with gambling and some of us are concerned.

I don't think anyone can really guess because it really does make a difference on how much you win to be able to put back into the machine.  My husband does not gamble very much and he hit prime because he did hit one good jackpot and was able to keep playing with that money.  I do get junior suite offers and I bring between 2500-3000 per cruise and I had around 7000 points the last night.  I hope this helps!

 

[kiddo76]

8 hours ago, slurry57 said:

I don't think anyone can really guess because it really does make a difference on how much you win to be able to put back into the machine.  My husband does not gamble very much and he hit prime because he did hit one good jackpot and was able to keep playing with that money.  I do get junior suite offers and I bring between 2500-3000 per cruise and I had around 7000 points the last night.  I hope this helps!

 

Thank you it does help.

[Milwaukee Eight]

13 hours ago, kiddo76 said:

Yes, she only plays slots.

Every $5 wagered on slots is 1 point. Sure it’s possible to play $50 a day and rack up points but I would say consistently unlikely. You do the math. 

[agslc5]

1 hour ago, kiddo76 said:

Thank you it does help.

I am not trying to overstep but I think your relative might be lying to you about how much they are spending... I bring about $3,000 a cruise and I only get offers for Oceanview/balcony rooms.. I feel like to get junior suite offers you must be spending a lot.. Now I see you said she plays slots.. I play table games which gives less points so maybe she does rack up those points.. BUT I still cant imagine getting enough points only spending $50 a day.. I put in about $100 in a slot and get like 160-200 points for a free junior suite I believe you need 8,000 points it just doesn't make sense to me she could only spend $50 but again I am not trying to overstep. If she really is only spending $50 that's fantastic and I wish I could have their luck!! I do hope however your family member is not in trouble.. 

[bouhunter]

15 hours ago, kiddo76 said:

Thanks. This relative claims she spends a set amount per day and when it's gone, she's done gambling for the day. She makes it sound like that's around $50 a day, since she compares it to what people spend on the drink package.

Safe to say that 95% of people spending 50.00/day in the casino will never reach prime or get free cruise offers if cruising 2-3 times/year.  That 50.00 is usually gone fast and not many points accumulated.  Unless they win constantly, which does not happen.  Most people who are losing too much in casinos lie about how much they're playing and losing.  They also lie about how much they're winning......

[proggieus]

On 11/21/2019 at 6:05 AM, Ourusualbeach said:

 

Smart marketing by the folks in the casino.  With all the terms and conditions attached to the certificates the only way they have value is if they are applied to a new cruise that is most likely close to the sailing date.  They want this to be an extra spur of the moment cruise and not a discount off an already planned trip.  It’s really an enticement to get you to spend extra money rather than a reward for your play. 

none of this statement is true in my experience.

 

the yearly tier certificate can be used for any sailing of 8 nights or less so long as its not over a holiday.

last years tier certificate saved me over $2200 dollars on a 8 night cruise that was booked well over a year in advance, and was booked before the certificate was issued.

 

In fact I got ~$400 dollars refunded from my deposit as the total fare per person was roughly half of the $250 PP deposit.

 

then there are also the monthly offers that I receive, and while those are generally a little closer to sail date  the seem to be roughly 4-5 months out at the far end.

 

all I know is with the 2 free crusies I have already taken plus the 8 night I have coming in February I have saved more in cruise fare/drinks then I have spent earning prime in the casino.

 

And I still have another prime tier certificate to use this coming April. even if I don't spend anothr dime in the casino in Feb.

 

IF you're going to cruise and you're going to gamble its certainly worth it, I wouldn't gamble just to earn prime, but I would be spending the money in any case. might as well at least get the cruise for free.

 

 

 

 

[proggieus]

37 minutes ago, bouhunter said:

Safe to say that 95% of people spending 50.00/day in the casino will never reach prime or get free cruise offers if cruising 2-3 times/year.  That 50.00 is usually gone fast and not many points accumulated.  Unless they win constantly, which does not happen.  Most people who are losing too much in casinos lie about how much they're playing and losing.  They also lie about how much they're winning......

mathematically I figure it takes ~2300 to earn prime assuming a 20% house advantage on slots.

 

this doesn't include good or bad luck, just what it would take losing 20% of every dollar you bet and re-betting the .80 you got back.

 

my experience seem to indicate that slots on RCCL are closer to 10% house advantage as I have earned prime now twice for considerably less then theory suggests but then again my friends didn't earn nearly the points they should have(mathematically) for the dollars spent on the last cruise.

 

 

so if she cruises 50 days a year she would hit it no problem

[John&LaLa]

27 minutes ago, proggieus said:

none of this statement is true in my experience.

 

the yearly tier certificate can be used for any sailing of 8 nights or less so long as its not over a holiday.

last years tier certificate saved me over $2200 dollars on a 8 night cruise that was booked well over a year in advance, and was booked before the certificate was issued.

 

In fact I got ~$400 dollars refunded from my deposit as the total fare per person was roughly half of the $250 PP deposit.

 

then there are also the monthly offers that I receive, and while those are generally a little closer to sail date  the seem to be roughly 4-5 months out at the far end.

 

all I know is with the 2 free crusies I have already taken plus the 8 night I have coming in February I have saved more in cruise fare/drinks then I have spent earning prime in the casino.

 

And I still have another prime tier certificate to use this coming April. even if I don't spend anothr dime in the casino in Feb.

 

IF you're going to cruise and you're going to gamble its certainly worth it, I wouldn't gamble just to earn prime, but I would be spending the money in any case. might as well at least get the cruise for free.

 

I believe we are chatting about the $100 - $800 off certificates you earn while on the cruise.

 

Those are often difficult to use with a discount fare

[blackjack24]

On 11/9/2019 at 4:18 AM, soremekun said:

$250 of your own money for $100 off a future cruise...

Gotcha.  Now I see why they treat the gamblers so well.  No doubt Royal always comes out on top. 

Most people like to gamble anyways and the future cruise certs are just a bonus. I think most are smart enough to know that gambling 250 to get 100 off isn't a net gain. 

[kiddo76]

2 hours ago, agslc5 said:

I am not trying to overstep but I think your relative might be lying to you about how much they are spending... I bring about $3,000 a cruise and I only get offers for Oceanview/balcony rooms.. I feel like to get junior suite offers you must be spending a lot.. Now I see you said she plays slots.. I play table games which gives less points so maybe she does rack up those points.. BUT I still cant imagine getting enough points only spending $50 a day.. I put in about $100 in a slot and get like 160-200 points for a free junior suite I believe you need 8,000 points it just doesn't make sense to me she could only spend $50 but again I am not trying to overstep. If she really is only spending $50 that's fantastic and I wish I could have their luck!! I do hope however your family member is not in trouble.. 

Thank you for your insight and you are not overstepping. This is the straight up info I've been seeking.

 

What everyone has replied to me so far is what I have been suspecting and makes much more sense than how she makes it sound. I've cruised with her several times, on separate reservations and she is the only one in our group who gambles. So I don't really have any understanding how the casinos work. Other than I put 20 bucks in, hit a few buttons, and get nothing in return. Lol.

 

I've realized she's not being totally straight with me and that her husband kind of turns a blind eye. I just hope she's being truthful with him.

[Ourusualbeach]

1 hour ago, proggieus said:

none of this statement is true in my experience.

 

the yearly tier certificate can be used for any sailing of 8 nights or less so long as its not over a holiday.

last years tier certificate saved me over $2200 dollars on a 8 night cruise that was booked well over a year in advance, and was booked before the certificate was issued.

 

In fact I got ~$400 dollars refunded from my deposit as the total fare per person was roughly half of the $250 PP deposit.

 

then there are also the monthly offers that I receive, and while those are generally a little closer to sail date  the seem to be roughly 4-5 months out at the far end.

 

all I know is with the 2 free crusies I have already taken plus the 8 night I have coming in February I have saved more in cruise fare/drinks then I have spent earning prime in the casino.

 

And I still have another prime tier certificate to use this coming April. even if I don't spend anothr dime in the casino in Feb.

 

IF you're going to cruise and you're going to gamble its certainly worth it, I wouldn't gamble just to earn prime, but I would be spending the money in any case. might as well at least get the cruise for free.

 

 

 

 

I agree with you however I was talking about the $ off certificates not the ones for a free cruise.

[robntawn]

Is membership into the Casino program automatic?  In other words, if I use my seapass for points, how are they recorded and accumulated on future cruises?  I got nearly 1200 points on the Presidents cruise, and hoping to add to it.

[proggieus]

2 hours ago, robntawn said:

Is membership into the Casino program automatic?  In other words, if I use my seapass for points, how are they recorded and accumulated on future cruises?  I got nearly 1200 points on the Presidents cruise, and hoping to add to it.

yes. although the points from the last cruise will not show up on the machines display on the next cruise.

 

you can ask casino host for your total for the year and work from there.

 

don't forget that those points also have a small cash value that can be used for free play, I believe its $20.00 per 1000 points.

 

once "cashed" in the points will no longer show on the machine but will still be on your account for tier status.

 

I always use them once I a ready to head up on the last night. 

[Sunshine3601]

It actually takes about $1250 of slot playing to reach prime.  How long it will take depends on whether you are playing penny slots or $$ and whether you do max bets on machine.  

Once you are prime it will be well worth it.    Free cruise offers come almost every month in the mail plus you get free annual cruise up to 8 nights for anywhere in the world.   We booked our freebies this year for baltic and Norway.  Did 3 other 7 night freebies and have 4 freebies booked for 2020 so far.

Free drinks is nice too!

Have fun!!

[Mikew0805]

33 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

It actually takes about $1250 of slot playing to reach prime.  How long it will take depends on whether you are playing penny slots or $$ and whether you do max bets on machine.  

Once you are prime it will be well worth it.    Free cruise offers come almost every month in the mail plus you get free annual cruise up to 8 nights for anywhere in the world.   We booked our freebies this year for baltic and Norway.  Did 3 other 7 night freebies and have 4 freebies booked for 2020 so far.

Free drinks is nice too!

Have fun!!

There is no way to know what $ amount it will take with the exception of... in order to earn 2500 points to become Prime, one will have to play $12,500.00 through a slot machine. Does not necessarily cost that much, but that is how much that has to be run through the machines... if only playing regular slots.

[John&LaLa]

1 hour ago, Mikew0805 said:

There is no way to know what $ amount it will take with the exception of... in order to earn 2500 points to become Prime, one will have to play $12,500.00 through a slot machine. Does not necessarily cost that much, but that is how much that has to be run through the machines... if only playing regular slots.

 

I think they left off a zero😉