NCL CAS Casino Drink Card questions

[Prnsessmoi]

Have a cruise booked on Bliss in March 2023 through CAS. I've been told that both of us in the room will receive a drink card for use in the casino. (Not a big gambler, and only offered an inside room, so most assuredly would be the most basic drink card offered.)

 

I have read that the card can be used for "house drinks" (would like to know what a "house drink" is), water, cans of soda, energy drinks, and specialty coffees. But, I would love some more information on this.

 

Is it ONLY while playing in the casino? (Like seated, with credits in a machine?)

 

Have to be ordered from a cocktail server? Or can they be ordered from the casino bar? (If from the bar, that would seem to mean that one wouldn't have to be actively playing. Unless at bar-top machines?

 

Can more than 1 item be ordered at a time? (Like an alcoholic drink and a box of water?)

 

What does "specialty coffee" mean? Is that like a Starbucks mocha or Frappuccino type coffees, or just any latte or cappuccino type coffee drink?

 

We are planning on declining the Free At Sea drink package,  and just using the casino drink card for most of our drinking (neither of us are huge drinkers, but may purchase some drinks out by the Pool or at other times. Still much less money than paying gratuities on FAS package).

 

Any other info or suggestions welcomed!  TIA!

[Prnsessmoi]

Oh, also wondering if I will be able to get most of the basic drinks that people mention, at the casino bar (mango meltdown, bushwhacker, mudslide, painkiller, pineapple something 🤔 lol, margaritas, LIIT, daiquiri, drinks of the day, etc)?

[Prnsessmoi]

Oh yeah, another question...

 

Is the "drink card" a separate physical card, or is it just something noted on my regular ship card?

[Russiamomm]

It is a separate card, but they still use your regular card to swipe for the drink.  But you won’t be charged for it.  It’s only good at the casino bar, which is only open when the casino is open.  You don’t need to be “actively playing”.  You can swing by the bar to pick up a drink at any time or just sit at the bar and have a drink.  You can also swing by and pick up bottles of water if you want.  I usually do that the night before a port day to have water to bring ashore.

 

As far as what it’s good for, I’m not 100% sure, but I think the basic card has pretty much the same rules as the FAS drink package - anything up to $15.  But I may be wrong.  The casino is a full bar.  They do have frozen drinks, but selection may be more limited than the pool deck.  Starbucks isn’t included.  While you can get coffee at the bar, it will be the regular coffee you can get around the ship.

[dbrown84]

It's not quite anything up to $15.  When it comes to liquor, you pretty much can't call your brand, you take whatever they are serving as the house brand.  For example, I drink scotch and on my last trip on the Getaway, the scotch was dewars.  No single malts included.  You could ask for something and get $5 off the purchase.  After a few days, I only went to the bar and got the drinks myself.  the servers in the casino kept charging me for the drinks.  I also decline the FAS drink package and go with the casino card exclusively.  The servers are so used to everyone having the package now that they simply assume you have the drink package.  I made it a point to tell them to please put this in the casino card, and they still wouldn't and I'd end up with a charge.  Not every time, but a couple of times a day.  Guest services takes the charge every time, but you have to take time out and go there to get it done

[SlipperyP]

It’s been a few years since I’ve had the casino drink card without the FAS drinks, but at the time, casino house drinks was very basic - beer, wine, simple cocktails e.g rum and Pepsi, vodka and cranberry, gin and tonic, etc.  I wasn’t able to get a Kaluha and cream, a mojito or a frozen drink. Of course this may be different now but I couldn’t say for sure.

[dbrown84]

1 hour ago, SlipperyP said:

It’s been a few years since I’ve had the casino drink card without the FAS drinks, but at the time, casino house drinks was very basic - beer, wine, simple cocktails e.g rum and Pepsi, vodka and cranberry, gin and tonic, etc.  I wasn’t able to get a Kaluha and cream, a mojito or a frozen drink. Of course this may be different now but I couldn’t say for sure.

this is still the way it is.  You can also get water, specialty coffee, energy drinks, and cans of soda, all of which you can't get with the standard drink package

[Shidah]

You can basically get drinks with one alcohol in it.  It is very limited.  I saw 2 woman very upset one cruise when everything they wanted was denied.  If you like more variety, it is better to take the FAS.  If you drink rum and Coke or drinks like that,, then it will work fine.  It does not include everything up to 15 like some people have mentioned.  It does include bottled water.  

[dbrown84]

yes, you have to be a "basic" drinker.  I use only the casino card, but I'm just drinking beer and wine mostly and the house wine is good enough for me.  When I do want a scotch, I take it neat