Casino offer's, a few questions.

[sassy~one]

Good Morning, 

Last year I sailed on a couple casino offers. It was amazing and I was so thankful. 

However my offers have stopped coming in. Perhaps I did not spend enough money, one thing for sure is the free drinks were not used. LOL Well soda's only, so that's not it. Perhaps they were just trying to get more folks sailing again.

My question, are there still casino offers out there? Perhaps I should contact my HAL guy?  I'm a solo traveler and truly happy with a inside cabin.

Thanks so much. 

[highscar]

I have received two in the past week.   One is Alaska and the other various  destinations.   

[Moriah]

There is no rhyme or reason that anyone has been able to definitively figure out for when and why these offers come.  I am going on my third free casino offer cruise next week.I received 6 offers in the past 6 months.  But the last offer I received was not for a free cabin, but rather for a very reduced rate, and even though it was a casino offer it did not have any "free play" included in it!  So like you, I'm hoping the free ones will start up again, but from what I can see, as said, nobody has really been able to figure out what prompts these offers.  There are high-rollers, low-rollers, drinkers, non-drinkers, and everybody else receiving these... it's a secret algorithm only the casino company knows.  All else is speculation and theories. 😉

Edited April 23, 2023 by Moriah

[rodndonna]

1 hour ago, sassy~one said:

Good Morning, 

Last year I sailed on a couple casino offers. It was amazing and I was so thankful. 

However my offers have stopped coming in. Perhaps I did not spend enough money, one thing for sure is the free drinks were not used. LOL Well soda's only, so that's not it. Perhaps they were just trying to get more folks sailing again.

My question, are there still casino offers out there? Perhaps I should contact my HAL guy?  I'm a solo traveler and truly happy with a inside cabin.

Thanks so much. 

 

Like many, we received "free cabin" offers after our first cruise with HAL and while the cruiselines were coming out of Covid  i.e., "year of The Omicron". 

 

We were thrilled and have not received any free offers since, but really did not expect to. We continue to play the Casino (small slot players) and received discount rate offers which we are pretty happy with. 

 

I think the 2 major factors for us to get free cabin offer was being new to HAL and ships being empty with lots of cancellations and issues on sailings to contend with.

 

[Mary229]

DH has received various offers this past month but we just finished sailing in mid March.  We have gotten both free and reduced rate offers, we haven’t selected anything yet. 

[Moriah]

1 hour ago, rodndonna said:

 

 

 

I think the 2 major factors for us to get free cabin offer was being new to HAL and ships being empty with lots of cancellations and issues on sailings to contend with.

 

 

Nope.  I am a four star mariner.  (very close to 5) and I received several offers in the last 6 months.  Both of the free cruises I took recently were on well-filled ships.  As I mentioned before, people have been speculating for years on what the heck triggers these offers, who gets them, etc. and nobody can figure it out.  Fun to try to guess, but it's all just guessing.

[Moriah]

1 hour ago, Mary229 said:

DH has received various offers this past month but we just finished sailing in mid March.  We have gotten both free and reduced rate offers, we haven’t selected anything yet. 

 

For me a "problem" with these offers is you have to decide relatively quickly.  The last offer I got said "book by March 8" and it was well into February when I got it.  Sometimes that works out great, but the cruise that looked best to me on that offer doesn't take place until November and I don't normally book anything that far in advance.  Life is too unpredictable! 🙂

 

Edited April 23, 2023 by Moriah

[lais]

10 minutes ago, Moriah said:

 

For me a "problem" with these offers is you have to decide relatively quickly.  The last offer I got said "book by March 8" and it was well into February when I got it.  Sometimes that works out great, but the cruise that looked best to me on that offer doesn't take place until November and I don't normally book anything that far in advance.  Life is too unpredictable! 🙂

 

My guy at Hal told me that now that ships are sailing full again they are going to stop the promotions.   

[Destiny0315]

Besides offers that were being made to casino players I believe other offers were made to past HAL pax who did a lot of non casino spending on previous cruises, pre HIA. Now that HIA has pretty much become a fixture with HAL they are seeing some of that spending money upfront from the pax and there is less need now to lure in that past spending customer with the offers.

[Calnev1]

7 hours ago, lais said:

My guy at Hal told me that now that ships are sailing full again they are going to stop the promotions.   

I am sure that if there are empty seats at the HAL casino tables and slots, the casino offers will keep coming even if the ships are otherwise sailing close to capacity.  The number of those receiving offers may decline, but the offers will still come for those who gamble above certain levels.  HAL would be very happy to replace a nongambling customer who pays the average cruise fare with a casino "whale."

Edited April 23, 2023 by Calnev1

[Florida_gal_50]

27 minutes ago, Calnev1 said:

I am sure that if there are empty seats at the HAL casino tables and slots, the casino offers will keep coming even if the ships are otherwise sailing close to capacity.  The number of those receiving offers may decline, but the offers will still come for those who gamble above certain levels.  HAL would be very happy to replace a nongambling customer who pays the average cruise fare with a casino "whale."

Whatever that means.  I hope they are dropping lots of money in the casino.  I've met and talked to a few folks that like to tell you immediately how little they pay to  go on their cruise.  Seems the ones I've met spend little money elsewhere such as specialty restaurants, alcohol and upgrading from inside rooms.

[Calnev1]

1 hour ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

Whatever that means.  I hope they are dropping lots of money in the casino.  I've met and talked to a few folks that like to tell you immediately how little they pay to  go on their cruise.  Seems the ones I've met spend little money elsewhere such as specialty restaurants, alcohol and upgrading from inside rooms.

I was on the Volendam a couple of months ago.  There was a man playing blackjack for a couple of hours every sea day.  He was betting $200 to $400 each and every hand.  His wife joined him for part of the time.  She was betting $100 on each hand.  I am absolutely sure he and his wife will get nice casino offers going forward from HAL regardless of whether HAL is at or near ship capacity.  As for the rest of us who play in the casino, who knows what the offer cut-off will be.

Edited April 24, 2023 by Calnev1

[Florida_gal_50]

1 hour ago, Calnev1 said:

I was on the Volendam a couple of months ago.  There was a man playing blackjack for a couple of hours every sea day.  He was betting $200 to $400 each and every hand.  His wife joined him for part of the time.  She was betting $100 on each hand.  I am absolutely sure he and his wife will get nice casino offers going forward from HAL regardless of whether HAL is at or near ship capacity.  As for the rest of us who play in the casino, who knows what the offer cut-off will be.

There have been 100's of casino threads.  There is one person that seems to spend a lot.  The rest say they don't spend that much. I don't imagine they are making tons of money on these offers since they seem to be drying up now that ships are increasing capacity.

[dalesyang]

Since I know you guys all gamble on HAL,   seems like a good place to ask: 

 

Im going on a 7 day - Norway cruise on the Rotterdam on May 20.     Ship leaves Amsterdam,  then one day at sea.   After a few ports the last day is at sea returning to Amsterdam.   Can I expect the casino to be open only during those days at sea?     How about the first day when the ship leaves Amsterdam?      Also,  what time do you guys think the casino opens until?  I like to play well into the night if I can,  do you think the casino will be kept open or will there be a closing time?

 

 

Additionally,  Im on a 7 day Alaska (SEA-SEA) cruise on the Eurodam in July.   Same questions? 

[Banditswife]

I am no expert, but the casino is usually open once the ship is 7 miles away from the port.  I may be mistaken on the number of miles, but the casino usually opens about an hour or 2 after sail away.  Casino is usually closed while the ship is any port until they are a few miles away from port.  The casino usually stays open all night, as far as I know, as long as you are not in port.  On the last night, it might close at some point, because they tell casino players to "cash out" prior to midnight   I am not sure if the rules will vary from Amsterdam.  They keep the casino open as much as possible, they want your $$.

 

Cruise ship casinos differ a bit from land based casinos in the fact that you use your sail & sign card in the machines & it is basically your player bank.  You can charge your stateroom account  for $$ to use in the casino.

[dalesyang]

2 minutes ago, Banditswife said:

I am no expert, but the casino is usually open once the ship is 7 miles away from the port.  I may be mistaken on the number of miles, but the casino usually opens about an hour or 2 after sail away.  Casino is usually closed while the ship is any port until they are a few miles away from port.  The casino usually stays open all night, as far as I know, as long as you are not in port.  On the last night, it might close at some point, because they tell casino players to "cash out" prior to midnight   I am not sure if the rules will vary from Amsterdam.  They keep the casino open as much as possible, they want your $$.

 

Cruise ship casinos differ a bit from land based casinos in the fact that you use your sail & sign card in the machines & it is basically your player bank.  You can charge your stateroom account  for $$ to use in the casino.

 

Thank you for the information!!!    Very helpful!!!!

[electro]

When I did the Boston to Montreal cruise last June on the Zaandam, the casino was closed by midnight most nights and at 11 on at least one night. I remember because the live music finished at 11 so I went to the casino to play a bit and it was just closing.

There was nothing to do on the ship past 11 on that night or past 12 on any night. 

I have hopes that it will be better on my upcoming b2b Alaska cruise in Jun.

[golfbagger]

On 4/23/2023 at 11:38 AM, Destiny0315 said:

Besides offers that were being made to casino players I believe other offers were made to past HAL pax who did a lot of non casino spending on previous cruises, pre HIA. Now that HIA has pretty much become a fixture with HAL they are seeing some of that spending money upfront from the pax and there is less need now to lure in that past spending customer with the offers.

Interesting Point Destiny.  I am still offered a "casino discount" (about 14% of fare). Play in the casino every day, and do not do the HIA.  Maybe I should not expect other promos prior to final payment🥲

[Laminator]

4 hours ago, dalesyang said:

Since I know you guys all gamble on HAL,   seems like a good place to ask: 

 

Im going on a 7 day - Norway cruise on the Rotterdam on May 20.     Ship leaves Amsterdam,  then one day at sea.   After a few ports the last day is at sea returning to Amsterdam.   Can I expect the casino to be open only during those days at sea?     How about the first day when the ship leaves Amsterdam?      Also,  what time do you guys think the casino opens until?  I like to play well into the night if I can,  do you think the casino will be kept open or will there be a closing time?

 

 

Additionally,  Im on a 7 day Alaska (SEA-SEA) cruise on the Eurodam in July.   Same questions? 

I was on that cruise last year, The casino does not get alot of play on the cruises in Europe. The tables will close down around 11pm or so. They will keep the machines open later. Til around 2am. If you hit a jackpot that late you need to fill out a form that you get at the casino cage. You will get your money the next day. As for the casino being open if i remember correctly they must be 2 hours out of Amsterdam. It is slow getting out of there as you have to go through the locks. The casino will be open everyday approximtely 30 minutes after they leave the ports. 

[fkfad]

We receive all kinds of casino offers almost daily!  We just booked a "free" 28-day Amazon cruise.  We both play in the casino on a daily basis...  The offers range from a free cabin with free play and drinks to a 30% off cabin with no additional perks.  Our last "come back and play" offer was nothing to write home about, however, about one week following the conclusion of that cruise new offers started hitting our inboxes.  The casino usually opens an hour or so after sail-away.  I've never seen the casino close at 11PM, but I have seen the casino close as late as 1AM.  

[00649]

Wow thats a great offer. The Amazon is an expensive cruise that they only offer a couple times a year.I would have thought its one cruise that would sell out on its own.Guess not!

[Calnev1]

On 4/23/2023 at 7:20 PM, Florida_gal_50 said:

There have been 100's of casino threads.  There is one person that seems to spend a lot.  The rest say they don't spend that much. I don't imagine they are making tons of money on these offers since they seem to be drying up now that ships are increasing capacity.

And I just now received another HAL free cabin casino offer with $150 free play and DOU.  The offer includes 85 different HAL cruises through the summer and into the fall.    No evidence here that these offers are drying up.  Happy day!

[Mary229]

19 minutes ago, Calnev1 said:

And I just now received another HAL free cabin casino offer with $150 free play and DOU.  The offer includes 85 different HAL cruises through the summer and into the fall.    No evidence here that these offers are drying up.  Happy day!

Can you attach your list?  I got a list today 

 

 

HEP2322CS_USD.pdf

Edited May 3, 2023 by Mary229

[Calnev1]

2 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

Can you attach your list?  I got a list today 

 

 

HEP2322CS_USD.pdf 201.42 kB · 0 downloads

I have the same list as you.  HEP2322CS_USD.   We are looking closely at booking the very last one (Boston to Quebec City).

[Mary229]

6 minutes ago, Calnev1 said:

I have the same list as you.  HEP2322CS_USD.   We are looking closely at booking the very last one (Boston to Quebec City).

That was the one of interest to us also.  I am truly hoping for a fall transatlantic