Port? On Us

[GranysT]

On my Freedom cruise, in October, I had drinks on us while playing in casino. How many did l get? None,Zip,Nada l was only approached by a server once. That was last sea day at 10:30 am. I don't drink till late afternoon or evening. Earlier in the cruise a server was helping lady couple machines from me. I signaled him, and he said he would be right back. Never saw him again. Far as l'm concerned drinks on us is a joke. 

[shof515]

from what i read, the casino drinks on us is suppose to work everywhere on the ship, you can go to a bar to get a drink

[Sailin_Pirate]

2 minutes ago, shof515 said:

from what i read, the casino drinks on us is suppose to work everywhere on the ship, you can go to a bar to get a drink

 

IF that was the case then Carnival wouldn't have both versions as perks. Casino/Everywhere

[mz-s]

Some cruises (and some bar waiters) are better than others as far as getting bar service in the Casino.

[havanadaydreaming]

We had a couple moments where drinks were a bit of a challenge last cruise but for the most part dranks were flowing freely.  

[Riles34]

You do have to put a little effort into signaling them on over. Not all servers know you are drinks on us.

[Anyislandwilldo]

I had a server bring me my drink, I signed the receipt and then she walked away with my drink.  I had to chase after her to get my drink.

[hapytobehr]

3 hours ago, shof515 said:

from what i read, the casino drinks on us is suppose to work everywhere on the ship, you can go to a bar to get a drink

Not true.  OP said she had drinks while playing in the casino, therefore you cannot go up to any bar to get a drink.  If you have the "drinks included everywhere on the ship" you CAN go to any bar.

 

Also, you have to make an effort flag them down to get a drink.  They will not just come to you automatically as they are extremely busy.  Giving an additional tip may also help.  My DH and I play all the time in the casino and never have an issue being served because we tip well.

[DanOO]

1 hour ago, hapytobehr said:

Not true.  OP said she had drinks while playing in the casino, therefore you cannot go up to any bar to get a drink.  If you have the "drinks included everywhere on the ship" you CAN go to any bar.

 

Also, you have to make an effort flag them down to get a drink.  They will not just come to you automatically as they are extremely busy.  Giving an additional tip may also help.  My DH and I play all the time in the casino and never have an issue being served because we tip well.

I agree.  If you tip the Bar Servers well they will look for you and make sure you always have a full drink.

[dallasdan]

I have had drinks on us in the casino on my 4 cruises and have not any problem getting service for a drink.  I mostly order water.  I do tip $1 per drink even for water.  After a day or 2 the server will seek me out.    

[kona_wahine]

I had it, but I don’t gamble much so it was a pain. I would go to the bar and ask a server getting drinks filled and they always helped me out and the bartender would hand me the drink. Always tipped also. Then I would generally leave… lol

[Elaine5715]

12 hours ago, Riles34 said:

You do have to put a little effort into signaling them on over. Not all servers know you are drinks on us.

Servers aren't fond of DOU (drinks on us) players.  Few tip.  They do better with people paying for drinks

[icft]

The ease of getting drinks in the casino has always been a cruise-by-cruise thing. We've done about a half dozen cruises since covid and the drink service on all but our last cruise has been better than it was before covid. 

 

On our last cruise one of the bartenders told us the first day of the cruise they had new people working the casino floor and it was the only cruise since covid where we had a problem. I'm hoping it was just a learning curve thing.

 

This thread did make me realize that since covid one thing has been better - the drinks service in the casino. I hope it is not the first "change" that gets reversed.

[staceyglow]

I don't gamble enough to get any decent casino perks, but if I did have a DOU deal and the server was never coming around, I would have a chat with the casino host. Making sure the gamblers are happy is literally his only job. 

 

I bet if you did that, and gave the sever a generous tip on the first round, you would not have any trouble getting drinks after that. 

[mom2tcdx2]

I found the one time I had drinks on us in the casino, I opted to choose a machine closer to the bar, where I could flag a server a bit more easily.  Though this was on the Magic and I found I had better luck catching a server at the non-smoking casino, rather than the larger main casino.  

[staceyglow]

I am surprised that Carnival doesn't have the video poker machines built into the bar top like many casinos do. Since they stopped allowing people to smoke while sitting at it, it seems to be one of the least busy bars on the ship.  I always sit at those when I am in Las Vegas. That way, I only have to flag down the bartender.  In a lot of cases, the bartender is asking me if I want a refill even before I have finished the one I have.

[matymil]

On 11/9/2022 at 6:31 AM, shof515 said:

from what i read, the casino drinks on us is suppose to work everywhere on the ship, you can go to a bar to get a drink

Depends what promo you have. Anytime ive ever had it its been only while playing, i have asked. Sometimes you can go up to the casino bar and get something free but that depends on the bartender

[matymil]

7 hours ago, mom2tcdx2 said:

I found the one time I had drinks on us in the casino, I opted to choose a machine closer to the bar, where I could flag a server a bit more easily.  Though this was on the Magic and I found I had better luck catching a server at the non-smoking casino, rather than the larger main casino.  

The non smoking casino is awesome.

[Pellaz]

10 hours ago, staceyglow said:

I am surprised that Carnival doesn't have the video poker machines built into the bar top like many casinos do. Since they stopped allowing people to smoke while sitting at it, it seems to be one of the least busy bars on the ship.

On the Horizon it definitely is the least busy bar, since the casino bar was entirely removed.  😮  

 

However, the latest-open bar on the ship each night is at Pig & Anchor, and that's a short distance from the casino.