CAS Host Discretionary Comps

[egurbi]

Hi there,

 

Relatively new at the CAS comp game.  Current sailing I am on is through land based certificate.

 

I have 3  questions:

 

1. What discretion do CAS hosts onboard have to offer folio credit or other comps and if they do have discretion what generally can they offer?  I know this is often a private subject, but would appreciate some feedback to better understand the system, and some examples of what people have been able to wrangle as discretionary comps based on loss or point totals.

 

2.  Is it better to ask at end of cruise for discretionary comps or does it not matter?

 

3.  I have read the threads about CASNEXT.  Besides this, are there any other reasons to hang onto your accumulated points and not use them for point play?

 

Thanks in advance.

[JGmf]

CAS host discretion and when to ask

Yes, at least in my experience, they can/do offer offsetting credit to your folio.  They've always said approach them on the last night.

 

Hold on to points of burn them for points play?

Good question.  I'd like to know myself.  Hopefully someone will chime-in.

[FlGoodShips]

I don't use my points for free play. Let points accumulate.

I wait till second to last night...check with host and see what they can do. I usually get onboard credit to do some shopping and/or credit to buy casnext certificates.

[julig22]

6 minutes ago, JGmf said:

Hold on to points of burn them for points play?

Good question.  I'd like to know myself.  Hopefully someone will chime-in.

Not a high roller by any means but I was saving my points, had a number of cruises booked.  Had over 3k after a few cruises, got on the next cruise and nothing.  Got a lot of runaround, never got it back.  According to them, if you have over 2.5K, they apply the $25 to your onboard account - but that didn't happen.  Their records show I didn't have anywhere near that number of points, so they lost both my credits and my player points.

Who really knows what happened - casino host told me they'd contacted the other ship and that's who told them the credits had been applied to my account.  Got quite a number of stories/excuses as to what really happened - but nobody could explain how I went from having credits, regardless of the amount, to having nothing.  Final statement confirms that I never got a credit to my onboard account.

So - I'd recommend you cash in you points.  If you can believe what the host told me, cashing in your credits has no effect on your points with respect to casino status, etc.

[Hearthosesteeldrumsplayin]

We usually roll points over....however, with the pandemic, we ended up losing them all (time limitation).  I did roll the next few times.  We asked on last night of our last cruise; casino host says they automatically apply to your on board account if over 2,500 points.  We had about $40 worth, and told them we wanted to play them.  (You can only use for slot machines, and not all of the slot machines.)  DH & I sat side by side; I ran through all of mine without any hits....he hit for $500!

And, just as an FYI.....you can roll between NCLH branded ships.  We had points from RSSC and NCL.  I am trying out Oceania next Feb, so may roll my NCL Sky summer cruise points just to see how it goes....you have 18 months before they expire.

[BirdTravels]

2 hours ago, egurbi said:

 

 

1. What discretion do CAS hosts onboard have to offer folio credit or other comps and if they do have discretion what generally can they offer?  I know this is often a private subject, but would appreciate some feedback to better understand the system, and some examples of what people have been able to wrangle as discretionary comps based on loss or point totals.

 

2.  Is it better to ask at end of cruise for discretionary comps or does it not matter?

2. The hosts will not talk to you until you are completely done gambling on the cruise. They will base 1. Discretionary comps on how much you played and how much you lost. If they catch you playing after they comp you out, you could lose all comps. Unlike RCCL hosts who are pretty useless nowadays, NCL hosts will work with you. 

Edited March 19, 2023 by BirdTravels

[phillygwm]

I don't have a lot of interaction with my host on most cruises.  Just my own anti-social nature, I suppose 🙂  All I really want is my next "free" cruise.  CASNext would be the best possible outcome for me, offsetting the taxes and fees (I assume that's how it works?)

 

On a cruise in 2021, I was told on the last night that I had a $300 NR OBC based on my play.  I wish I remembered HOW I figured that out; maybe the host came over as I was closing out my line but I just don't recall.  The problem was I prepaid almost everything so I didn't have a $300 bill.  Since it was use or lose, I went to the store and bought a liter bottle of Johnny Walker Blue and a bottle of something else.  I don't even drink Scotch (or much of anything at home) but it's a pretty box that sits on my bar. 

 

Now, I get $100 as a shareholder and another $100 based on my CAS level but at least I know that going in.  I had lunch in the diner a couple times and attended a couple wine tastings to try to spend it down then bought a bottle of Veuve Clicquot on the last night.  I should have skipped the diner and got two.  

[egurbi]

Thanks for all the replies.  Assuming I am offered some non refundable OBC, does anyone happen to know if this can be applied against a) the purchase of cruise next certificates or b) cabin charges for money purchases at the casino (including the 3 percent fee)?  Thanks again in advance. 

[UKstages]

On 3/19/2023 at 7:45 PM, phillygwm said:

The problem was I prepaid almost everything so I didn't have a $300 bill.  Since it was use or lose, I went to the store and bought a liter bottle of Johnny Walker Blue and a bottle of something else.  I don't even drink Scotch… 

I have exactly the same story to tell… $300 OBC given on the last night and I bought a bottle of johnny walker blue!

 

I can confirm that hosts don’t generally want to deal with comps until the last night. I can also recommend that you use up all points before approaching he host… the first thing they will ask is if you have any points. They are more inclined to award a higher dollar  

value in discretionary comps if you don’t have any points to redeem. Also, if you have high enough player status to get cabin charge convenience fees waived (for cash deposits into your casino account), they will process those fee waivers as credits to your onboard account late in the morning of your last night. You should confirm this at the same time you’re asking about discretionary comps.

 

[Always Cruising]

I've found that the casino host will give approximately 7% of your loss as  non-refundable OBC.  It used to be 10% (pre-Covid).  It was applied to my CruiseNext purchase on my last cruise (I hadn't realized it, and bought RayBans, but had some left that was applied to my bill.)

[egurbi]

Thank you Always Cruising. Exactly the information I was looking for. I'll report back on what I get. 

[Uniqeni]

Hi, I'm new to CAS but I'm going on my 1ST 7 night comped cruise that was awarded to me at my land based casino. How will I know who my casino host is? 🤔  So on the last night of the cruise ask for discretionary obc? What if I've used obc to play in the casino the entire cruise already. Will that still tally losses? 

[UKstages]

23 minutes ago, Uniqeni said:

Hi, I'm new to CAS but I'm going on my 1ST 7 night comped cruise that was awarded to me at my land based casino. How will I know who my casino host is? 🤔  So on the last night of the cruise ask for discretionary obc? What if I've used obc to play in the casino the entire cruise already. Will that still tally losses? 

First of all, let’s hope you win and that there are no losses!

 

In an answer to your question about hosts, there typically is not a host assigned specifically to you. There could be three to seven casino hosts, a host “team,” and they are pretty much interchangeable, although there is always a lead or main host or manager. They usually sit behind a counter, often near or opposite to the cashier. Typically, you’ll get a letter in your cabin, along with your player and drink cards, that lists the names of all the hosts. There is often an invitation to a casino kickoff party, where you can get free drinks and small canapés. This is usually held in the cavern club or other small venue on the first night and the “party” is pretty lame, but if you’re looking to establish relationships with the casino staff, this is a good place to start.
 

You  can approach the casino host team to ask questions or for assistance at any time. In fact, if you have had pretty strong play on your first few days, it’s entirely reasonable to ask them for a comped specialty meal at one of the restaurants. As in land-based casinos, they learn pretty quickly who their strong players are and they may approach you first to check in, say hello, to offer a comped meal, or to ask if you need anything. The slot attendants learn pretty quickly, too, who the top rated players are and ten to check in regularly. Don’t expect a lot of OBC or comped meals for average play, even if you get comps - or a free cruise - with similar play at your local casino. If you spend four to six hours a day in the ship’s casino and have considerable play - or loss - they are likely to take care of you,

 

Unlike using slot play in a land-based casino, if you have OBC that is eligible to be used in the casino, it transfers in as cash, so I believe you do indeed earn points on it and it would count towards your loss, although usually this would only be a few hundred dollars, so it wouldn’t really affect your stats or total coin-in either way.

[pcakes122]

On 3/19/2023 at 6:03 PM, BirdTravels said:

2. The hosts will not talk to you until you are completely done gambling on the cruise.

This is not true. During one birthday cruise, I was speaking with the casino host (Clarissa) on the first sea day and mentioned I had a spa appointment later that day. She knew I had a couple of friends on that cruise (not traveling with me - in their own cabins) and she proactively offered to make it a spa day for all of us. She told me to pick up everyone's tab and that she would cover it.

 

Another time another host and I were discussing Ocean Blue (at that time I had never been there - it used to be an upcharge.) She proactively offered mid-cruise to make me a reservation and pick up the tab.

 

So I would say everything depends upon your relationship with the hosts ( And certainly your level of play!) I've had several more experiences where I was offered amenities or comps mid-cruise.