Casino status question for newbie

[PTCruizer]

6 hours ago, WonderMan3 said:

What happened to Sapphire Plus? Also, I thought the Retreat access was eliminated?

The new chart still shows VIP Lounge access for Sapphire and above. I’ll find out for sure today when I board the Apex. Really looking forward to the Retreat benefit if it’s still available. 

[wrk2cruise]

My understanding is BCC did not lose access to Retreat lounge.  That's why Zenith Captains Club members really didn't like the excuse that they were losing access due to covid capacity control to provide access to suite guests only.

[PTCruizer]

Well I can confirm that Retreat access is no longer offered for any level of BCC. Supposedly due to the Healthy Return to Sea. Not sure I buy that one but it is what it is. The Retreat isn’t going to be necessary on this sailing since there are less than 500 pax and the ship feels like a ghost town. Enjoyed the sunset bar for 45 minutes this afternoon without a single passenger coming by. It’s going to be interesting   

[CTSandy]

Looking at the benefit list, it also looks like the specialty restaurant dinner for two has disappeared.  I hope that the priority embarkation/disembarkation still remain - they're listed, but who knows.

 

[WonderMan3]

3 hours ago, PTCruizer said:

Well I can confirm that Retreat access is no longer offered for any level of BCC. Supposedly due to the Healthy Return to Sea. Not sure I buy that one but it is what it is. The Retreat isn’t going to be necessary on this sailing since there are less than 500 pax and the ship feels like a ghost town. Enjoyed the sunset bar for 45 minutes this afternoon without a single passenger coming by. It’s going to be interesting   

Yeah, I think someone on one of the first Millennium sailings reported the same about the Retreat access. Do you know if all your other tier level perks for BCC were still the same?

[FastandFurious]

I just reread the chart and the reference to the current extension until the end of this year. But what I noticed for the first time was the “ earn a level up” language. Maybe our current status will continue for some period…. Thank you to PT Cruizer for the confirmation on no Retreat access. Using C19 as the excuse is BS. I agree with another poster that the more likely rationale is to keep the lounges an “ exclusive “ experience for the Suite guests.

[WonderMan3]

1 hour ago, CTSandy said:

Looking at the benefit list, it also looks like the specialty restaurant dinner for two has disappeared.  I hope that the priority embarkation/disembarkation still remain - they're listed, but who knows.

 

The specialty dinner perk disappeared back in 2018 IIRC along with a spa and laundry credit perk. Those perks only lasted about a year I think. They keep overhauling the program almost every cycle and generally taking things away each time to the point where the program has almost become useless beyond the discounts you might get for your rated play (like the 40% discount off suite rates which is what I usually book, or the comped cabin offers on targeted sailings).

[marieps]

16 hours ago, WonderMan3 said:

Really? When did that change? I got matched to Platinum in 2019 before Covid. It was supposed to expire but they kept extending it, right now through January 2022.

I just signed on to MLife and I too am good through 1/2022, even though my card says Sept. 2020.  The saddest part is Caesar's is no longer matching platinum with their diamond, except for new caesars rewards members.  Caesars waives the resort fee for diamond and up, which is why we always stay there.  MGM never waives resort, even for Noir.   We lose diamond in January too, so we're doing NYNY (MGM) in May for 4 nights.

[Bigbob7777]

11 hours ago, AndyCapn said:

Theoretical loss. For example, double-zero roulette has a house edge of 5.26%. So for every $100 you bet, your theoretical loss is $5.26 and you would earn 42 tier points. Compared to craps, with its 1.4% house edge which would net you 12 tier points per $100 bet. 

Thank you

[Alabaster Cruiser]

PTCruizer I have asked several different times about table minimums.  No one has answered that I am aware of.  Can you please find out about 3 card poker?  I would greatly appreciate it.

[kwokpot]

1 hour ago, marieps said:

I just signed on to MLife and I too am good through 1/2022, even though my card says Sept. 2020.  The saddest part is Caesar's is no longer matching platinum with their diamond, except for new caesars rewards members.  Caesars waives the resort fee for diamond and up, which is why we always stay there.  MGM never waives resort, even for Noir.   We lose diamond in January too, so we're doing NYNY (MGM) in May for 4 nights.

OT: The merger of Eldorado and Caesars Entertainment has not been a good thing and there will be continued dilution of benefits for the Caesars Rewards Players Program. They have become increasingly stingy and their Atlantic City properties are a disaster and are losing share to other properties such as Hard Rock and Ocean Resort. We recently returned from our Seven Stars Retreat trip in Vegas. The Host at Caesars Palace was pleasant but when asked if some REGULAR bottled water could be sent to the room the reply was he can't do that. Really, you can't have Housekeeping send up a butch of regular bottled water?   In Atlantic City Caesars now requires you to play and earn $5 Reward Credits before you redeem a gift. Really? You're going to spend more money earning that $5 comp dollars than the junky gift is worth!  

Edited June 26, 2021 by kwokpot

[WonderMan3]

31 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

OT: The merger of Eldorado and Caesars Entertainment has not been a good thing and there will be continued dilution of benefits for the Caesars Rewards Players Program. They have become increasingly stingy and their Atlantic City properties are a disaster and are losing share to other properties such as Hard Rock and Ocean Resort. We recently returned from our Seven Stars Retreat trip in Vegas. The Host at Caesars Palace was pleasant but when asked if some REGULAR bottled water could be sent to the room the reply was he can't do that. Really, you can't have Housekeeping send up a butch of regular bottled water?   In Atlantic City Caesars now requires you to play and earn $5 Reward Credits before you redeem a gift. Really? You're going to spend more money earning that $5 comp dollars than the junky gift is worth!  

We gave up on Caesar's/Harrah's group years ago as we found it impossible to move up through their tiers, got few to no offers/perks beyond a free room despite doing lots of gambling and we would always wind up with really crappy comp rooms (unrenovated, no views) compared to MGM which we moved up much more rapidly and were giving us comped suites, free play, etc.

[marieps]

2 minutes ago, WonderMan3 said:

We gave up on Caesar's/Harrah's group years ago as we found it impossible to move up through their tiers, got few to no offers/perks beyond a free room despite doing lots of gambling and we would always wind up with really crappy comp rooms (unrenovated, no views) compared to MGM which we moved up much more rapidly and were giving us comped suites, free play, etc.

Hmmmm.  Caesars has been pretty good to us.  In 2018 we got 27 free nights across 5 properties.  We also love High Card Flush, and that's a staple in every Caesars casino.  We normally play where we stay (except Caesars...we prefer Harrahs or Paris).  We've been doing national parks during the pandemic, and have based in Vegas recently to drive to Zion and Arches in Utah.  2023 it's Vegas/Yosemite.  We are finding alternatives to cruising.  Have to wonder whether there will be a long-term effect on the industry if many people have mixed in land-based vacay along with the sea.

[WonderMan3]

2 hours ago, marieps said:

I just signed on to MLife and I too am good through 1/2022, even though my card says Sept. 2020.  The saddest part is Caesar's is no longer matching platinum with their diamond, except for new caesars rewards members.  Caesars waives the resort fee for diamond and up, which is why we always stay there.  MGM never waives resort, even for Noir.   We lose diamond in January too, so we're doing NYNY (MGM) in May for 4 nights.

That's interesting. I have never paid a resort fee for my comp rooms through MLife. Most recent was a comp at Aria in Dec 2019 and have had stays at Aria, Mirage prior to that when I believe resort fees were in effect.

 

Edit: Forgot that have also had stays at non-Vegas Mlife properties like MGM Springfield, Borgata and National Harbor with comp rooms and paid no resort fees.

Edited June 26, 2021 by WonderMan3

[kevanmia]

3 minutes ago, WonderMan3 said:

That's interesting. I have never paid a resort fee for my comp rooms through MLife. Most recent was a comp at Aria in Dec 2019 and have had stays at Aria, Mirage prior to that when I believe resort fees were in effect.

 

Edit: Forgot that have also had stays at non-Vegas Mlife properties like MGM Springfield, Borgata and National Harbor with comp rooms and paid no resort fees.

 

Maybe depends on your tier and also if policies changed post-COVID.  Comp deals are already tightening up now that Vegas is back to 100% full swing and is selling out weekends without having to give much away.  As a Pearl with MGM I am paying resort fee and then an upcharge for Fri/Sat nights.  Sun-Thursday resort fee only.

[marieps]

5 minutes ago, WonderMan3 said:

That's interesting. I have never paid a resort fee for my comp rooms through MLife. Most recent was a comp at Aria in Dec 2019 and have had stays at Aria, Mirage prior to that when I believe resort fees were in effect.

 

Edit: Forgot that have also had stays at non-Vegas Mlife properties like MGM Springfield, Borgata and National Harbor with comp rooms and paid no resort fees.

I'm just going by their chart.  Doesn't mean they have to honor it.  I found the machines at Nat'l Harbour super tight, but they did give me a nice logo curly cord, which I have on my Caesars card!

[WonderMan3]

1 minute ago, kevanmia said:

 

Maybe depends on your tier and also if policies changed post-COVID.  Comp deals are already tightening up now that Vegas is back to 100% full swing and is selling out weekends without having to give much away.  As a Pearl with MGM I am paying resort fee and then an upcharge for Fri/Sat nights.  Sun-Thursday resort fee only.

Maybe. Just stayed at MGM Springfield two weeks ago though and while my reservation said a resort fee would be charged it was not charged in the end. I have a comp Aria booking right now for September and the reservation shows no resort fee to be charged. I am Platinum tier but I believe the other poster I was responding to said she was Platinum and has been paying fees.

[WonderMan3]

4 minutes ago, marieps said:

I'm just going by their chart.  Doesn't mean they have to honor it.  I found the machines at Nat'l Harbour super tight, but they did give me a nice logo curly cord, which I have on my Caesars card!

Yeah, I had no luck there but it was a nice place and I wouldn't mind returning. I am used to tight slots from cruise ships though, lol.

[marieps]

1 minute ago, WonderMan3 said:

Yeah, I had no luck there but it was a nice place and I wouldn't mind returning. I am used to tight slots from cruise ships though, lol.

Indeed.  Have a great Cape summer.  Honeymooned at Smuggler's Inn many years ago. 

[kevanmia]

Related question but did not want to start a new thread:

 

In your experience, is Celebrity "more generous" with their perks because of your MLife status,

 

or,

 

Is MGM more generous because of your CC status?  

 

Assume you give the casino the same amount of "action" per day on land vs at sea.

 

Thanks!

Edited July 16, 2021 by kevanmia

[WonderMan3]

16 hours ago, kevanmia said:

Related question but did not want to start a new thread:

 

In your experience, is Celebrity "more generous" with their perks because of your MLife status,

 

or,

 

Is MGM more generous because of your CC status?  

 

Assume you give the casino the same amount of "action" per day on land vs at sea.

 

Thanks!

What you get from MLife is whatever the tier benefits are from whatever tier level you matched to based on your CC level. I matched to Platinum based on being Elite Plus and I got all the associated benefits for Platinum. (That will now change to a match to Gold level starting next year). Anything beyond that was based on my rate of play at MGM casinos not anything from Celebrity.

[NutsAboutGolf]

On 6/26/2021 at 12:51 PM, WonderMan3 said:

That's interesting. I have never paid a resort fee for my comp rooms through MLife. Most recent was a comp at Aria in Dec 2019 and have had stays at Aria, Mirage prior to that when I believe resort fees were in effect.

 

Edit: Forgot that have also had stays at non-Vegas Mlife properties like MGM Springfield, Borgata and National Harbor with comp rooms and paid no resort fees.

 

On 6/26/2021 at 12:56 PM, kevanmia said:

 

Maybe depends on your tier and also if policies changed post-COVID.  Comp deals are already tightening up now that Vegas is back to 100% full swing and is selling out weekends without having to give much away.  As a Pearl with MGM I am paying resort fee and then an upcharge for Fri/Sat nights.  Sun-Thursday resort fee only.

 

CR = With status, never pay a resort fee on either paid or comped rooms (currently)

MLife = With status, don't pay resorts fees on comped rooms; pay a resort fee on paid rooms

[NutsAboutGolf]

17 hours ago, kevanmia said:

Related question but did not want to start a new thread:

 

In your experience, is Celebrity "more generous" with their perks because of your MLife status,

 

or,

 

Is MGM more generous because of your CC status?  

 

Assume you give the casino the same amount of "action" per day on land vs at sea.

 

Thanks!

 

Long story short, MLife has a partnership with BCC/X, if you play enough at MLife the next quarter you may be offered a free cruise so somewhat double dipping. 

 

Otherwise...Generally the pay tables and slot payback are notoriously lower on ship compared to land based casinos.  In Vegas, at most strip casinos, most pay tables aren't as good as off strip including downtown Vegas and often they may only have a few tables/machines with favorable pay tables/payback.  There are just too many variables including which status you have because if you have the top BCC status, you receive a free cruise as a perk even if you didn't play but to get there you have to play and would most likely be offered free cruises along the way to the top tier.  Vegas room rates this summer are insane on the weekends currently, most casinos factor in the rooms retail rate.  If you can travel on weekdays you generally get better comps than on weekends.  Same somewhat goes for cruise sailings, you can be on the same ship on the same itinerary but for whatever reason, sailing A is $2K all in and sailing B 4 weeks later is $3K all in, that will be a factor with comps.