Ordering drinks in casino as "prime"

[Retired LEO]

1 hour ago, Cigar King said:

Does anyone know if the reduced the points for the other tiers as well?

 

15,000 for signature

75,000 for masters 

[Retired LEO]

3 hours ago, colesc15 said:

I don't think we'll be playing a bunch this cruise, so I plan on swinging by the casino bar on the way to a show, on the way to dinner, etc. From what I've read, I can just walk up, order my alcohol, tell him I want to use use a prime drink, and I'm good outside of tip. I'd love to be able to get my wife one as well, but not likely since she isn't prime and depends on the bartender it appears if they let it slide or not 

Keep in mind that you can only get your free drinks at the casino bar when the casino is open. The bar often opens an an hour or so before the casino opens. So if you happen to have early dinner you may not be able to get your drinks if the casino's not open yet. 

[resetjet]

Royal is very liberal.  Last cruise,  i was never even asked for a card.  Room number or “are you prime?”  Its crazy. The new protocols avoid them touching your card.  

[Cigar King]

Thanks everyone.  We're going to be on Vision next week.  We already have the points for Prime.  Maybe if we're lucky...

 

 

[colesc15]

My hope is between our diamond drinks and prime drinks, we can not pay for a single drink for the week. I'll be a curious how they are with my wife if she's sitting with me once the bartender knows I have prime

[resetjet]

Honesty the drink package is $1000 for two for a 7 night cruise.  Beers are $8 well drinks are $10.   Thats 100 drinks.  I drink alot,  but i cant drink that much.  That and between bringing 2 bottles of wine,  what we buy in port,  free casino drinks,  etc   Now i know some will only drink top shelf,  so maybe that makes sense,  but not for us.

[colesc15]

3 minutes ago, resetjet said:

Honesty the drink package is $1000 for two for a 7 night cruise.  Beers are $8 well drinks are $10.   Thats 100 drinks.  I drink alot,  but i cant drink that much.  That and between bringing 2 bottles of wine,  what we buy in port,  free casino drinks,  etc   Now i know some will only drink top shelf,  so maybe that makes sense,  but not for us.

This will be our first cruise without the drink package. Last cruise was our first as diamond, and still had the package, but definitely tougher to break even. This cruise, between diamond drinks, prime, bringing two bottle sod wine for my wife, and bringing some bottles of water, it's a nice little savings of a grand. 

[resetjet]

On 2/28/2022 at 1:53 PM, colesc15 said:

This will be our first cruise without the drink package. Last cruise was our first as diamond, and still had the package, but definitely tougher to break even. This cruise, between diamond drinks, prime, bringing two bottle sod wine for my wife, and bringing some bottles of water, it's a nice little savings of a grand. 

Like i said we drink alot but our last 7 day bar bill was $200 after all the freebies that you suggest.  Nothing wrong with buying a drink.  They are not overpriced,  and you dont punish your liver nearly as much!!!

[Gregg00ss]

I should hit prime this weekend on our cruise, but we're still a few cruises out from hitting diamond status.  Once we hit Diamond, I plan to do as OP stated and use casino for my drinks and wife can use diamond drinks for hers and we can forgo the drink package.  

 

Until then, she will be getting the unlimited drink package and I assume even though I am prime, I will have to call in and atleast get the soda package?  

[colesc15]

On 2/28/2022 at 10:44 AM, resetjet said:

Royal is very liberal.  Last cruise,  i was never even asked for a card.  Room number or “are you prime?”  Its crazy. The new protocols avoid them touching your card.  

What ship was this on? 

[Sunshine3601]

On 2/28/2022 at 11:44 AM, resetjet said:

Royal is very liberal.  Last cruise,  i was never even asked for a card.  Room number or “are you prime?”  Its crazy. The new protocols avoid them touching your card.  

The Bartender has a list by name and room number of each prime, signature, master member that is onboard that sailing.     

So Yup, once the bartender or the servers that walk around know you are prime they don't ask for your card or room number they will remember you, especially if you tip them🤩     

On our last sailing we got to the point where they were bringing us 2 drinks each.

Edited March 2, 2022 by Sunshine3601

[RoperDK]

 

Do you have to be actively playing (slots or tables) to get a drink or can you also walk up to the casino bar and order?     

[sandebeach]

15 minutes ago, RoperDK said:

 

Do you have to be actively playing (slots or tables) to get a drink or can you also walk up to the casino bar and order?     

You can just go to the bar. If I am loosing on slots I will take a break and sit at the casino bar and people watch. 

[RoperDK]

1 minute ago, sandebeach said:

You can just go to the bar. If I am loosing on slots I will take a break and sit at the casino bar and people watch. 

That is good news.  On Carnival you have to be actively playing.  That can make for some expensive "free" drinks. 

[kwbrad]

28 minutes ago, RoperDK said:

That is good news.  On Carnival you have to be actively playing.  That can make for some expensive "free" drinks. 

I have had more than one of those expensive "free" drinks.  Place an order and end up putting an extra $50 in the machine I wasn't planning on lol

[Sunshine3601]

55 minutes ago, RoperDK said:

 

Do you have to be actively playing (slots or tables) to get a drink or can you also walk up to the casino bar and order?     

Prior to having drink vouchers on sea days when casino is open i would grab some free drinks and take them to the pool deck.

[Merion_Mom]

On 3/1/2022 at 2:45 PM, Gregg00ss said:

I should hit prime this weekend on our cruise, but we're still a few cruises out from hitting diamond status.  Once we hit Diamond, I plan to do as OP stated and use casino for my drinks and wife can use diamond drinks for hers and we can forgo the drink package.  

 

Until then, she will be getting the unlimited drink package and I assume even though I am prime, I will have to call in and atleast get the soda package?  

 

Theoretically, you would have to get the refreshment package.   The soda package doesn't "qualify".  But on FB's RC Casino page, many people report having the casino host take care of you not having to buy anything.  YMMV

[colesc15]

Do they ever allow you to get two of the same drinks at once? 

[colesc15]

11 hours ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Prior to having drink vouchers on sea days when casino is open i would grab some free drinks and take them to the pool deck.

I can't remember, does the casino bar have a blender? 

[Sunshine3601]

Just now, colesc15 said:

I can't remember, does the casino bar have a blender? 

Yes, they all should.

[5soonerfans]

On 2/7/2022 at 5:05 PM, colesc15 said:

Do you basically order two drinks and just show his card? 

We just show his card. Once the server knows they usually don't ask to see it again. 

[4minimark]

For the Diamond vouchers, can I use them to buy my husband a drink?  If in a bar can I order one for him and use my diamond voucher and visibly give him the drink?  We just turned diamond and are unfamiliar with the lounge.  What type of speciality coffee is available?  Can I get a mocha?  Are options similar to specialty coffee for purchase? Thanks!

[Biker19]

37 minutes ago, 4minimark said:

For the Diamond vouchers, can I use them to buy my husband a drink?
 

  Can I get a mocha?  Are options similar to specialty coffee for purchase? 

Yes. 
 

Yes. Yes, but the taste may not be the same. 

[4minimark]

Thanks.  I do not need to use a voucher for specialty coffee in the lounge?

[Sunshine3601]

38 minutes ago, 4minimark said:

Thanks.  I do not need to use a voucher for specialty coffee in the lounge?

No voucher for specialty coffee in DL.  It is a self serve machine.   You can get espresso, capuccino, lattes, mocha, etc as well as regular or decaf coffee.   They will also have some snacks or breakfast items depending on time of day.