Valiant Lady Casino cruisers - some important info

[kwokpot]

Currently on the Valiant Lady on a casino comped cruise ( 2nd VV comped cruise; this being offered by SL casino from previous play). Some important bullet points. 

*We received a pre-cruise email invite for a private casino players cocktail party in the Manor at sail away. There were free drinks then the casino host introduced himself and discussed what we should expect as comped casino guests. 

*Free drinks in the casino must now be ordered from the roving staff and you must be actively playing. You cannot order comped drinks from the casino bar. Not sure when this became the policy and I'm not sure if it's also the same on Scarlet.

*A new beverage benefit is free specialty coffee at the two coffee bars when you show you casino drink charm ( mermaid/whale tail)

*The casino players program has NOT been launched yet; however the casino host indicated that if you earn at least 5,000 points you'll qualify for a free future cruise in a balcony cabin.

*Table and slot earnings points are combined and can be checked on the slot machines.

 

[Halifax Dude]

Thanks very much for the info.  I'm heading on my first VV cruise in April and have been wondering about the program.  Any other insight would be a appreciated.  I'm predominantly a craps player.

[gkbiiii]

What they want, is the woman I observed playing $30 games on the penny machines! 

[Russiamomm]

Thanks for posting this.  We are on a casino comp on Feb 11.  How far in advance did you get this email?  I haven’t gotten it yet.

 

I'm disappointed with the not being able to get drinks at the bar bit, but super excited about the coffee perk.  Quick stupid question on all of this. It was my play that got us the comp.  Is it safe to assume that DH will also get a casino charm?  (He does play, but not as much as I do.). TIA.

[Russiamomm]

On 1/17/2023 at 11:42 AM, gkbiiii said:

What they want, is the woman I observed playing $30 games on the penny machines! 

Yup.  I play almost exclusively Blackjack.  It’s really hard to build up the points at the tables.  Sigh.

[kwokpot]

5 hours ago, Russiamomm said:

Thanks for posting this.  We are on a casino comp on Feb 11.  How far in advance did you get this email?  I haven’t gotten it yet.

 

I'm disappointed with the not being able to get drinks at the bar bit, but super excited about the coffee perk.  Quick stupid question on all of this. It was my play that got us the comp.  Is it safe to assume that DH will also get a casino charm?  (He does play, but not as much as I do.). TIA.

I'll post some more information tomorrow since we just disembarked the cruise today, but the casino cocktail party invite email came 1 day before embarkation day. The email is identified as just casino, so just be on the lookout. Below is what it will look like. Yes, the invited casino person and guest will get the drink and coffee benefit. 

 

Edited January 23, 2023 by kwokpot

[Lustate]

On 1/23/2023 at 2:02 AM, kwokpot said:

I'll post some more information tomorrow since we just disembarked the cruise today, but the casino cocktail party invite email came 1 day before embarkation day. The email is identified as just casino, so just be on the lookout. Below is what it will look like. Yes, the invited casino person and guest will get the drink and coffee benefit. 

 

 

On our Voyage last August we had dinner in Gunbae and as usual got sat with others. Turns out the family we were with one was shoreside crew who runs the casino loyalty programme. She was really nice and I found it amazing that just her and one other person runs the whole scheme together. She was so excited about what she was going to be doing over the next couple of years (but of course gave no spoilers). 

 

[garycarla]

Interesting.

 

On our November cruise, we got free drinks at the casino bar anytime we wanted.

[raphael360]

On 1/22/2023 at 4:00 PM, Russiamomm said:

Yup.  I play almost exclusively Blackjack.  It’s really hard to build up the points at the tables.  Sigh.

Agreed.  I play hours and hours at the BJ table (playing two positions at $25 per hand) and didn't get on their radar.  Lost a bunch too.

[kwokpot]

16 hours ago, garycarla said:

Interesting.

 

On our November cruise, we got free drinks at the casino bar anytime we wanted.

Yes, it's a change in policy. Having said that there's always servers available to get you a drink, it was never an issue. The tweak in the policy is free drinks while playing, as opposed to last year where you were able to just walk up to the casino bar, order a drink, and never gamble a cent. 

[garycarla]

Yea, I guess that makes some sense. (no gambling).  We gambled plenty but liked to sit at the bar and share a few drinks sometimes.  If they had Video Poker at the bar, we would love doing that, but they don't.

 

I find drink service on the floor sketchy.  Since Virgin is so "no tipping" - I wonder if tipping the servers would increase service levels?

[Accessor]

1 hour ago, garycarla said:

I find drink service on the floor sketchy.  Since Virgin is so "no tipping" - I wonder if tipping the servers would increase service levels?

we tipped $5 for every time we order a round of drinks (2) and they were on top of our drinks the entire time! In the casino, tipping is allowed...

[dazadelaide]

please dont start this tipping bull on virgin, thats the most appealing part of this cruiseline to us non americans !

[AtSeaWithChris]

1 hour ago, dazadelaide said:

please dont start this tipping bull on virgin, thats the most appealing part of this cruiseline to us non americans !

This. We ruin everything. The intended policy is nice and if Virgin pays higher wages to make it unnecessary then there’s no reason to tip. Please let us enjoy without tip shaming changing the custom. 

[karmamule]

Our first time on VV is coming up, and if our past experience with other cruise lines is any guide then we'll play enough slots to catch their interest and get free room offers in the future. Good to know 5000 points is meaningful, thanks!

[_tacocat_]

9 hours ago, AtSeaWithChris said:

This. We ruin everything. The intended policy is nice and if Virgin pays higher wages to make it unnecessary then there’s no reason to tip. Please let us enjoy without tip shaming changing the custom. 

agree 10000000%.  at first, VV made it near impossible to tip extra - we never tried, but we heard nearly all reports that people who tried to tip were refused.  as time's gone on, the reaction has ranged from some crew still flat out refusing to accepting wads of cash with no resistance.  i wish VV would go back to the tips prohibited model.

[Janthere]

On 2/16/2023 at 2:03 PM, garycarla said:

Yea, I guess that makes some sense. (no gambling).  We gambled plenty but liked to sit at the bar and share a few drinks sometimes.  If they had Video Poker at the bar, we would love doing that, but they don't.

 

I find drink service on the floor sketchy.  Since Virgin is so "no tipping" - I wonder if tipping the servers would increase service levels?

I SO wish they had VP at the bar but it would be so frustrating when people sit there and didn't gamble. the only cruise line I have seen this on is the Celebrity Edge. 

[gkbiiii]

The casino is exempt from the no tipping policy.

[PTC DAWG]

On 2/17/2023 at 1:05 AM, dazadelaide said:

please dont start this tipping bull on virgin, thats the most appealing part of this cruiseline to us non americans !

Feel free to not tip.  Apparently, tipping in the casino is perfectly acceptable. 

Edited February 27, 2023 by PTC DAWG

[CanadianCruiser21]

How do points work? Is it 1 point per dollar gambled?

[CelebrityCruizer]

There is no way its 5000 points for a comped, VV has a $5 per point in, so they wouldn't expect $25 000 playthrough for a comp, I believe 2000 points is PLENTY for a nice balcony room comped don't believe 5000 for a second.

[nwiggins]

On 3/5/2023 at 12:15 PM, CelebrityCruizer said:

There is no way its 5000 points for a comped, VV has a $5 per point in, so they wouldn't expect $25 000 playthrough for a comp, I believe 2000 points is PLENTY for a nice balcony room comped don't believe 5000 for a second.

You can not believe that number, however, it is accurate. You get a whale tail (comped casino drinks) at 2,500 points, and are comped a sea terrace at 5,000 points.