Free cruise offer from a casino?

[helene109]

My friend received a offer for a free Norwegian inside cabin. He has to go to casino hotel next month to redeem, he was already planning a visit at that time.

Any specific questions to ask?

 Thanks!

[phillygwm]

35 minutes ago, helene109 said:

My friend received a offer for a free Norwegian inside cabin. He has to go to casino hotel next month to redeem, he was already planning a visit at that time.

Any specific questions to ask?

 Thanks!

Ask whether it's limited to certain cruises and what the taxes/port fees/ancillary charges will be.  Also, if he were inclined to upgrade, is that possible?

 

It's not a terrible deal.  Better still, after you're rated by the NCL casino you'll get offers directly from them .(or you can call and ask if you have something specific in mind.)  

 

 

[complawyer]

just go to the promotions desk, and get the cruise certificate. they will also give you a book listing the various itineraries. there are always reps from ncl there to help out. if your friend has any specific questions, he can ask them. the certificate will have a phone number to call to book the cruise. any questions can be answered by whoever answers the phone.  also note, even though your friend is getting a free inside cabin, the option to upgrade is also available. we have always upgraded from the inside to a mini-suite (now the club suite) and now upgrade to a haven if possible.

[drumming cruisers]

The casino usually gives you a paper with the list of cruises you can book and when you can go on them. its a GREAT deal. There is a phone number on the paper to call and yes you can upgrade, 

[jd1212]

I just picked up my complimentary Casinos at Sea cruise certificate on 10/2 from the casino I frequent. 

In the past there were specific cruises and dates listed.  This latest certificate lists "any cruise" with a sail by date of 10/2/22. 

Itinerary for the "any cruise" is one of the following:

 - Alaska, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada & NE, Caribbean, Europe and Mexican Riviera.

 

 

[jd1212]

Re:  Complimentary cruise

In addition, the certificate denotes maximum 7 day cruise. 

We have always upgraded our cabin.  

[BirdTravels]

18 hours ago, helene109 said:

My friend received a offer for a free Norwegian inside cabin. He has to go to casino hotel next month to redeem, he was already planning a visit at that time. Any specific questions to ask?  Thanks!

Not really. The certificate will identify the type of room that is being comp'ed. The taxes and port fees will be totally depended upon the itinerary. The NCL will charge $20/day/person admin fee (something that Royal doesn't). It's a good deal, and if your "friend" gambles on the cruise, he can go directly to NCL CAS next time for a room comp/discount without bothering with picking up a land-based certificate. 

[dbrown84]

3 hours ago, jd1212 said:

Re:  Complimentary cruise

In addition, the certificate denotes maximum 7 day cruise. 

We have always upgraded our cabin.  

is there still the fine print that there could be blackout dates (holiday cruises), or is it really any cruise?

[dbrown84]

one question I always ask is what is the cash value of the certificate that you can use to apply to cruises that aren't covered by the cert.  Someone mentioned above that their latest cert now says "any 7 day cruise", so that leaves a lot to choose from.  In the past, there used to be specific ships and dates you had to choose from.  It's still nice to know the cash value in case you'd like to choose a cruise that is longer than 7 days

[vadersprincess12]

You can upgrade the cabin for a price ~ you will have to ask for each specific cruise you are interested in because it will be different, as well as depending on what type of cabin you want to upgrade to.

 

Keep in mind that NCL charges an "administrative fee" for each cruise.  The last time we did this it was $120 pp, per cruise.  They say it's a fee that goes to the casino.  Carnival sends us offers, and there is NO fee.  

 

Also keep in mind that if something happens and you need to change it, the cost out-of-pocket will probably go up.  We had a casino cruise scheduled in 2020 and of course NCL cancelled it several times due to Covid.  Each and every time I went to reschedule it ~ even though they provided an 25% additional future cruise credit when they cancelled ~ it cost more out-of-pocket.  The most recent reschedule (#5) is going to cost $300+ more.  We are going to sail because we don't want to lose anything.  I thought of booking a 5 night rather than a 7 night hoping to get the cost down.  It would have, but they will only put any left over funds in our accounts as future cruise credits ~ we can't even use it as on board credit, or for gratuities, so this will probably be our last cruise with NCL. 

 

Also, we have sailed numerous cruise lines and NCL is the only line that we have sailed that charges us to use the adult only area, which we think is just another way to pick our pocket!!!

[KansasinJune]

I was told that the cruise certificate had a "value" of $500 if booking a cruise not on a predetermined list.   We booked a cruise directly thru CAS last year for early 2022 and was given a discount based on play.   Due to many family members cancelling out of that cruise we decided to change our reservation to a different day/port.   I had a voucher at a Vegas casino but decided against the trip to go pick up.  I just happened to call the weekend of the voucher giveaway to change the reservation and the agent stated "I see your voucher here, let me apply it to the cruise".  I think with cruising getting going again they are being extremely flexible with cruisers requests to change trips and apply credit that is available.  

[dbrown84]

33 minutes ago, KansasinJune said:

I was told that the cruise certificate had a "value" of $500 if booking a cruise not on a predetermined list.   We booked a cruise directly thru CAS last year for early 2022 and was given a discount based on play.   Due to many family members cancelling out of that cruise we decided to change our reservation to a different day/port.   I had a voucher at a Vegas casino but decided against the trip to go pick up.  I just happened to call the weekend of the voucher giveaway to change the reservation and the agent stated "I see your voucher here, let me apply it to the cruise".  I think with cruising getting going again they are being extremely flexible with cruisers requests to change trips and apply credit that is available.  

I discovered a few years ago that you don't actually have to go to the casino and pick up the certificate.  It will be put into your NCL account anyway.  I stopped making special trips to pick up the cert.  If I happen to be going anyway, fine.  If not, I know it will still be in my ncl account

[KansasinJune]

1 hour ago, dbrown84 said:

I discovered a few years ago that you don't actually have to go to the casino and pick up the certificate.  It will be put into your NCL account anyway.  I stopped making special trips to pick up the cert.  If I happen to be going anyway, fine.  If not, I know it will still be in my ncl account

Would you just need to make sure you book within the 1 month window they usually have on the certificate?

[BirdTravels]

4 hours ago, vadersprincess12 said:

Also, we have sailed numerous cruise lines and NCL is the only line that we have sailed that charges us to use the adult only area, which we think is just another way to pick our pocket!!!

On the big ships (except Encore), the Spice H20 is an adults only space and is complimentary access. Kinda like the conservatory on Royal. 

[BirdTravels]

2 hours ago, KansasinJune said:

Would you just need to make sure you book within the 1 month window they usually have on the certificate?

The terms and conditions of the certificate would be in your land-based offer. CET offers this month from Vegas must book by February and sail by October. Other CET properties must book by January and sail by July. 

[AndyCapn]

The administrative fee is $20 pp/day, so an inside cabin will cost you $280 on a 7-day cruise plus port fees and taxes. Still a good deal, even if not truly free.

 

In the past they have given a free category upgrade if both passengers in the room have earned a free cruise. I cannot say for certain if this still holds true. 

 

Also they have given us a 10% off deal for a second cabin for my parents, who also get the casino priority boarding with us. 

 

One big difference with pricing an upgrade is that it is completely independent from the advertised price. An advertised balcony may be $400 more than an inside, but the casino will set the upgrade price at $550. That will not be adjusted. (It can work the other way too and be cheaper.)

 

And you will be able to bid for an upgrade after final payment.

[RRSeeker]

I use land based casino certificates. This will be my 2nd cruise using one. The first time I had a free ocean view cabin on select itineraries. The base cost was around $1200 with perks for 2 people including gratuities and an upgrade to large balcony. I later changed promo to get free flights (free was $99/pp) and ended up paying $1500.

 

In 2020 I had the same offer for an oceanview. I had to keep changing the cruise date so we are going in February 2022. There will be 4 of us, free extra guest promo, upgraded to MA club balcony suite total cost around $2700 with perks, fees and prepaid gratuities. We do have to purchase our own flights.

 

It is a good deal. I received the certificates for years but never used them. I have cruised on carnival and royal in the past but never ncl until 2019.

 

Unfortunately, with Covid I lost my status at my home casino so I didn’t get one this year. I never realized I could just call cas for offers so going forward that is what I will do.

[dbrown84]

18 hours ago, KansasinJune said:

Would you just need to make sure you book within the 1 month window they usually have on the certificate?

yes, you have to book by the "book by" date.  I must say that I'm used to having more than 1 month to book.  I usually wait a few days after the pick up date, call the CAS number and ask them to email me a copy of the certificate.  

[kwokpot]

Anyone know if the current cruise certificates allow any sailings on the new Prima?

[Cruising Lynne]

The certificate that I recently received from our local casino excluded Prima. The chart that listed basically any cruise on any ship had EXCLUDES PRIMA in capital letters below it. 

 

I actually was okay with that because I had already booked Prima without a certificate, and it is pretty expensive. I am very excited to be one of the first groups to see the new ship. Cruising out of New York next fall.

[kwokpot]

18 minutes ago, Cruising Lynne said:

The certificate that I recently received from our local casino excluded Prima. The chart that listed basically any cruise on any ship had EXCLUDES PRIMA in capital letters below it. 

 

I actually was okay with that because I had already booked Prima without a certificate, and it is pretty expensive. I am very excited to be one of the first groups to see the new ship. Cruising out of New York next fall.

Thank you for that piece of information. I kinda expected that but wanted to confirm it. I'll be receiving a NCL cruise certificate next week from a Caesars Entertainment casino. It's been awhile since I've sailed NCL on a CAS comped cruise and not being at a tier where the Admin. fees are waived I probably won't use the certificate since I have more offers than I can possibly use from Royal, Celebrity and Carnival that doesn't charge that ridiculous fee. I was hoping that the Prima would be allowed and that would justify the extra fees. Royal, Celebrity and Carnival hasn't excluded their newest ships from casino comped cruises.

[UKstages]

17 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

Thank you for that piece of information. I kinda expected that but wanted to confirm it. I'll be receiving a NCL cruise certificate next week from a Caesars Entertainment casino. It's been awhile since I've sailed NCL on a CAS comped cruise and not being at a tier where the Admin. fees are waived I probably won't use the certificate since I have more offers than I can possibly use from Royal, Celebrity and Carnival that doesn't charge that ridiculous fee. I was hoping that the Prima would be allowed and that would justify the extra fees. Royal, Celebrity and Carnival hasn't excluded their newest ships from casino comped cruises.

 

kwokpot! are you the same kwokpot from the AC board?

 

prima availability when using a cruise certificate actually varies, presumably depending upon your land-based casino status or CAS status. as i recall, you and/or your traveling companion are pretty highly rated players. the certificates tend to list destinations and cruise length and do not normally prohibit ships. the current prohibition on the prima - if it's listed on your certificate - may be because of pent up demand and the vast sums in FCC currently outstanding. i am picking up a certificate next weekend... i'm guessing at the same CZR event you're going to (even though you don't really need to pick it up to use it, but i'll be there anyway for a drawing and a concert) and i will be interested to see if the prima is excluded.

 

in 2019, when the bliss was brand new, i booked a balcony using a certificate, so - in my experience - new ships are not normally excluded.

 

and i recently booked a CAS offer for a ten day haven accommodation. i asked about a 12-day transatlantic on the prima... agent said she could get me on the prima, but it wouldn't be in the haven... it would be a balcony. certificates from land-based casinos, by contrast, usually don't have the same "let's make a deal" capabilities as direct offers from CAS, but as noted, you can often do a one category upgrade if the second person in your cabin redeems  a cruise certificate from the same distribution event. however, if you both have comped balcony cabins, you'd be better off booking two separate cruises. the upgrade works best when one of you has a certificate for a higher value cabin, such as a balcony, and the other has a certificate for an inside cabin.

 

as for the admin fees, i don't know that they are waived at any tier level (but i could be wrong). i hadn't heard about that or read that, but i may have missed it. it is a big drawback of sailing with NCL, for sure, but if you do cruise NCL and demonstrate strong play in the casino, the offers will likely be very good and may even include haven accommodations.

[dbrown84]

looks like there will be a few of us in AC next weekend.

[rino002]

Question about this...I have a friend that wants to take advantage of the free cruise voucher.. his is expiring and wants to book but isnt 100% if he could make the trip

So say we book everything pay all the taxes and fees and last minute he can not make it... is there any additional fees that we would have to pay?   Would I still be able to go alone ?

[dbrown84]

2 hours ago, rino002 said:

Question about this...I have a friend that wants to take advantage of the free cruise voucher.. his is expiring and wants to book but isnt 100% if he could make the trip

So say we book everything pay all the taxes and fees and last minute he can not make it... is there any additional fees that we would have to pay?   Would I still be able to go alone ?

If the certificate is in his name, you won't be able to go without him.  You could risk him just being a no show if you want, but who knows what they would do then.  They may make you pay the full fare