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Casino activity to get a free cruise

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TexasRon "Live from...." Rare

TexasRon

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My wife and I both got around 1400 points on our last cruise.  We get offers every week for free cruises.  Most offers are short cruises and inside or ocean view cabins but there have been 7 day cruises and balconies offered from time to time.  The majority of the dates are relatively close in--say four months or so.

 

My estimates is that each of us risked around $1,000-$1,500.  My wife lost all of her bankroll (she plays slots) and I ended up down less than $200.  For that one cruise, we lost about $200 overall.  Of course, we could have lost it all.  The dollar amount gambled does not matter as much as the theoretical value of your play to the casino.  If you lose really fast, your theo usually stinks!  

 

We could have easily lost more than the cost of a cruise in order to get an offer for a cruise...so my best advice is to play what you want to play and you either get an offer or not.  Playing for comps is not a winning game for most.

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TexasRon "Live from...." Rare

TexasRon

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35 minutes ago, TexasRon said:

My wife and I both got around 1400 points on our last cruise.  We get offers every week for free cruises.  Most offers are short cruises and inside or ocean view cabins but there have been 7 day cruises and balconies offered from time to time.  The majority of the dates are relatively close in--say four months or so.

 

My estimates is that each of us risked around $1,000-$1,500.  My wife lost all of her bankroll (she plays slots) and I ended up down less than $200.  For that one cruise, we lost about $200 overall.  Of course, we could have lost it all.  The dollar amount gambled does not matter as much as the theoretical value of your play to the casino.  If you lose really fast, your theo usually stinks!  

 

We could have easily lost more than the cost of a cruise in order to get an offer for a cruise...so my best advice is to play what you want to play and you either get an offer or not.  Playing for comps is not a winning game for most.

Sorry...my numbers are incorrect.  I ended up winning enough at craps for us to end up down less than $200 overall.

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mike45orlando

mike45orlando

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Actually it has nothing to do with losing, it's the amount of money you bet on the slots.

 

Yes, you could be down $500 but you could be up $500 and your points would be the same.

 

Also, they allow you to share your account with your spouse and combine your play to get 800 points for a free cruise or 2,500 points for Prime and a free cruise plus free drinks in the casino for a year.

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tx121

tx121

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I ended up winning on the tables. I accumulated 1000 points. On the last day of the cruise, they send you a list of cruises to choose from for free interior room or $200 off next cruise. 

Edited by tx121
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smplybcause

smplybcause

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Based on watching friends play and what they get - unless the pool of money you're running through the casino is close to what you would spend on a cruise, you likely won't get a free cruise. Unless you win a decent amount and run that through. 

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The Scurvy Pirate

The Scurvy Pirate

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On 4/10/2022 at 11:06 PM, mike45orlando said:

Also, they allow you to share your account with your spouse and combine your play to get 800 points for a free cruise or 2,500 points for Prime and a free cruise plus free drinks in the casino for a year.

I didn't think you could share or combine your account.  On the Allure last October we had separate accounts.  My wife had about 2,000 points and I had a little over 800.  I asked about it, so as to try to get free casino drinks on the next cruise for her, but the person said we couldn't combine them.  We tried to just use one card, but for slots the card had to be inserted the entire time.  I guess it could work if one person played slots and the other table games.

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AlohaLivin

AlohaLivin

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Posted (edited)
33 minutes ago, Ronaldo807 said:

My friend earned just over 100 points on a cruise late last year and has received multiple free offers since. My BIL earned a little over 200 points on a cruise earlier this year and hasn't gotten anything. 🤷‍♂️ 

There really seems to be no rhyme or reason to it. I don’t know how many points I had, certainly not close to prime, and before the pandemic I would get several offers for free cruises. I got several offers for free cruises (and was super surprised) late 2018 and early 2019. But since the start up I’ve taken two cruises, I had about the same amount of play, and haven’t even had an offer a free play. The level at which offers come is based on a calculation that is a mystery!

Edited by AlohaLivin
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Tree_skier "Live from...." Rare

Tree_skier

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37 minutes ago, Ronaldo807 said:

My BIL earned a little over 200 points on a cruise earlier this year and hasn't gotten anything. 

This is my scenario.  I got 369 points and have received no offers.  I don't care much but I am curious.

 

 

Screen Shot 2022-04-12 at 2.34.05 PM.png

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Junkhouse

Junkhouse

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This year if you had over 1,500 points before April 1st your status is prime (free 7 day cruise and free drinks in casino).  Normally it would take 2,500 points but since sailing didn't start until June, they did a special lower amount.

 

Before COVID I got one free 4-5 day cruise and I had less then 1,000 points.  In 2021 and 2022 I got 8 free cruises (only one was a 7 day) but I reached over 1,500 points in February and became diamond last October so I don't know if that makes a difference or not.  We have friends that play table games, they had less then 500 points (they don't track the same way as slots) but they got similar number of offers and they aren't diamond.

 

Of course with the pandemic, they were targeting gamblers to cruise more to increase their cash flow with ships sailing less then capacity.

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Sunshine3601

Sunshine3601

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We just did a b2b on Anthem.   When we first boarded we had both had a certificate in our cabin with a list of free cruises.   We ended up winning just over $2000 on the first leg and by the 2nd leg they had upgraded our certificates.

 

We have been prime for several years and receive new offers almost every week.   Plus all the free drinks while casino is open make it worthwhile for us.   

 

Playing slots is definitely the fastest way to earn points, especially if you play max bet or near max bet on slots.     The video poker machines take a little longer to earn points.   Tables takes much longer.

 

Our goal is to remain prime.

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Sunshine3601

Sunshine3601

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1 hour ago, The Scurvy Pirate said:

I didn't think you could share or combine your account.  On the Allure last October we had separate accounts.  My wife had about 2,000 points and I had a little over 800.  I asked about it, so as to try to get free casino drinks on the next cruise for her, but the person said we couldn't combine them.  We tried to just use one card, but for slots the card had to be inserted the entire time.  I guess it could work if one person played slots and the other table games.

You cannot combine accounts.     Some of the new ships/machines you can simply tap your sea pass card so it is a lot easier to use someone else's sea pass to earn them points.    

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SG65CB

SG65CB

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How do you calculate points?

 

If you put $100 into a slot machine, win $80, play that $80 balance and win $60, You have now played $180 in that slot machine. You lost $40. How many points is this? 100? 180? 40?

 

How is it calculated at a table like blackjack where they are not counting up the dollars of all your bets? Is it calculated from the dollar value of chips you buy?

 

 

 

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mike45orlando

mike45orlando

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Posted (edited)

Each ship is different I guess.  On our last 3 cruises we were encouraged to both play on my wife's account simultaneously.

 

On our recent 2 Mariner cruises, the casino host issued me a blank white sea pass card in my wife's name to use in the casino to combine my points into hers (we were using 2 separate cards on her account at the same time)

On our recent Symphony cruise, because they have the new card tap system, the casino host showed us to just tap her card to the slot machine that I was using to add my points to her account.

We were both playing on her account at the same time but I had to go get her card every time I switched machines.

Edited by mike45orlando
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The Scurvy Pirate

The Scurvy Pirate

Posted
Posted (edited)
20 hours ago, mike45orlando said:

On our recent 2 Mariner cruises, the casino host issued me a blank white sea pass card in my wife's name to use in the casino to combine my points into hers (we were using 2 separate cards on her account at the same time)

I will definitely have to look into this on my next cruise which is on the Explorer.  I never even knew to ask.  Thank you!

 

Also,

  • Slot Machines – Earn 1 point for every $5 you play on a reel slot machine or $10 on a video poker machine.
  • Table Games – Earning points is based on the type of table game you are playing, your average bet and how long you play.
  • Certain games are not eligible for point earning such as Texas Hold'em Poker, Keymaster, Cash Crane and coin pushers.
Edited by The Scurvy Pirate
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mike45orlando

mike45orlando

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We were on our 18th cruise before we found out by talking to a few people at a slot pull who'd been doing it for years they said.

 

Each ship seems to be different.

 

From Royal Caribbean's own rules:

"The number of concurrently active SeaPass Cards may be subject to limits set by Casino Royale Management."

 

 

Edited by mike45orlando
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bridedoll1026

bridedoll1026

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On 4/12/2022 at 5:05 PM, SG65CB said:

How do you calculate points?

 

If you put $100 into a slot machine, win $80, play that $80 balance and win $60, You have now played $180 in that slot machine. You lost $40. How many points is this? 100? 180? 40?

 

Based on 1point earned for each $5 you'd earn about 50 points. You started with $100, won $140 = $240. 

 

 

On 4/12/2022 at 5:05 PM, SG65CB said:

 

 

 

 

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