Clay Purvis

@smokeybandit's link will definitely give you the basics, but be aware - the casino rewards program is complicated and there are lots of "unwritten" rules as we are currently discussing in another thread.
To answer your direct questions:
1.  You earn points on all games EXCEPT for live Texas Hold' Em and the coin slider things (don't know what they are called). 
2.  Points accumulate throughout the "casino" year, which runs from 1 April - 31 March.  On April 1 you go back to zero and start accumulating points for the next "applicable” casino year (which is really 2 years down the road).  Points that we are currently accumulating (1 April 2023 - 31 March 2024) are for the casino year that starts 1 April 2024 so whatever status you achieve by 3-31-24 will be applied from 1 April 2024 - 31 March 2025.  Clear as mud, right ?
3.  All slots earn 1 point for every $5 play through; video poker earns 1 point for every $10 play through.  You earn points at the table games but the algorithm is voodoo.  Basically, the more you wager and the longer you play, the more points you accumulate.
How much money do you need ?  It depends on what game(s) you play, how much you plan on playing and how often you intend to cruise and gamble.  Some people seem to be able to get lots of points out of very little money, but that has never been my experience (unfortunately)...but I don't play slots, so that helps explain.  Table games are much less predictable for point accumulation than slots.
We cruise often so we are able to accumulate points relatively slowly and still achieve Prime status.  If you are only going to be cruising a few times a year then it is much more important to play big to achieve your status quickly.
The bottom line is...if you are a gambler and plan on gambling no matter what, casino status is a bonus.  If you are NOT a gambler and would otherwise not be in the casino, trying to achieve casino status is probably a mistake.  It's costly and it's well...gamblng....no assurance that you are going to win....probably won't win.  Good luck !!

We enjoy the Windjammer for its' convenience and options.  I especially like to hit it during off peak hours for a quick bite or a snack.  Come dinner time I am MDR all the way, but I hope whatever they do still gives you the options and flexibility during non-meal hours. 

We enjoy the Windjammer for its' convenience and options.  I especially like to hit it during off peak hours for a quick bite or a snack.  Come dinner time I am MDR all the way, but I hope whatever they do still gives you the options and flexibility during non-meal hours. 

We enjoy the Windjammer for its' convenience and options.  I especially like to hit it during off peak hours for a quick bite or a snack.  Come dinner time I am MDR all the way, but I hope whatever they do still gives you the options and flexibility during non-meal hours. 

On Mariner you pay the cover charge per person and you order one entree per person and then whatever else you want as far as apps and dessert.  Soda is included with a JR meal there regardless of having a drink package.  Milkshakes are extra if you don't have a package but they will be included with the refreshment package if you choose to dine there.

@Clay Purvis
If you have the beverage package milk shakes are included as well.  The rules I believe differ on different classes how the food works.  On Quantum class ships you pay for each menu item, and on the other ships It is a flat fee for your food and you pay for your milkshakes if you do not have a beverage package.  Not sure which ship you are going to be on.

I booked a cruise onboard my last cruise using the Next Cruise desk.  I felt like I got a decent deal for what I got. Just saw that my exact cruise is about $500 bucks less if I booked it today and since I am inside 75 days, I cannot rebook. I did not use a travel agent.  I have another cruise booked for next year and this one will be my first using a TA.  So in the future if I book with Next Cruise I will hand it off to my TA as soon as I get home and hopefully will get that savings.  I'll just chalk it up to a learning experience and do better next time. 

I booked a cruise onboard my last cruise using the Next Cruise desk.  I felt like I got a decent deal for what I got. Just saw that my exact cruise is about $500 bucks less if I booked it today and since I am inside 75 days, I cannot rebook. I did not use a travel agent.  I have another cruise booked for next year and this one will be my first using a TA.  So in the future if I book with Next Cruise I will hand it off to my TA as soon as I get home and hopefully will get that savings.  I'll just chalk it up to a learning experience and do better next time. 

Unless they are paying for my vacation, I don't really care what someone else thinks of my spending practices.  

Unless they are paying for my vacation, I don't really care what someone else thinks of my spending practices.  

Unless they are paying for my vacation, I don't really care what someone else thinks of my spending practices.  

I booked a cruise onboard my last cruise using the Next Cruise desk.  I felt like I got a decent deal for what I got. Just saw that my exact cruise is about $500 bucks less if I booked it today and since I am inside 75 days, I cannot rebook. I did not use a travel agent.  I have another cruise booked for next year and this one will be my first using a TA.  So in the future if I book with Next Cruise I will hand it off to my TA as soon as I get home and hopefully will get that savings.  I'll just chalk it up to a learning experience and do better next time. 

Thanks for the advice.  I appreciate it.  I will say, if your ship is one doing the two days stop at Perfect Day I definitely don't recommend the key.  You'll be doing too much off the ship to get any use out of it.  I mean, don't get me wrong, the lunch was fantastic, so was the a la carte breakfast, but nothing the Windjammer couldn't meet my need with.
Our cruise on Navigator was  Perfect Day, Nassau, then Perfect Day.  There was no day at sea so to speak.  Because of this, all the 1 hour activities that the key was supposed to provide us were all at times we were off the ship.
If your price for the key is $19.99 per day like ours was then it could be worth it if you are needing internet, but there again, we didn't really use it at all.  But that's just my two cents.  Have a great time on the Mariner!!!

Went on EOS in November and took our bottle to the MDR.  I was charged the $15 fee.  Lesson learned.  For the rest of the cruise I just poured my wife and I a glass and carried therm in. 

Thanks y'all. Now I'm hungry. 

Which I dislike, I don't want all the other fixings each time after the first time, just bring me a few tails on a plate. 

Only a couple?  I think I asked for a couple of couples.  My record is 8 tails.  The waiter stopped serving them one at a time with all the sides and fancy plating.  He just brought out 3-4 at a time. LOL

Yes, you should have lobster night on the last (2nd) "formal" evening of the cruise in the MDR (complimentary). It's usually the last sea day that is not the last evening of the cruise. You only pay extra for lobster if you order a whole Maine lobster (on any evening) which is $29.95 extra.
... and you can have as many as your heart desires... our group had 3-4 tails each and a friend of mine that sailed on Harmony told me someone next to him was on his 11th tail! Our waiter kept asking if we would like more and we had to cut HIM off! ?
It's not Maine lobster, but we thoroughly enjoyed it!

 
Here is the menu for the 2nd formal evening (Allure, last May)... the menu tends to be consistent across the fleet especially if it's in the same region (eg. Caribbean vs. Mediterranean itinerary):

 

Ok, I hear so much about Lobster night. I have never been on a cruise that had one.  My past cruises are all 3-4 nighters.  I have booked my first 7 night cruise on Majesty.  So will I finally get to experience the famous lobster night???? And I don't mean the one you have to pay for, I mean on the menu in the MDR. I'm a cheap bastard and want the best of the food I already paid for. 

Thanks folks. I am booking a 7 day on Majesty for June 2021.  Y'all got me looking forward to it. 

Thanks folks. I am booking a 7 day on Majesty for June 2021.  Y'all got me looking forward to it. 

It said "week of December 16", so it could be loaded in at any point this week.

Like many have said, lack of knowledge/research. Our first cruise was 6 years ago on Enchantment to Nassau. I did not really look into shore excursions figuring I would just get off the ship and wing it.  My actual plan was to go to Atlantis and play poker.  I was big into the TV poker and they used to play a tourney from Atlantis.  Our first big mistake was not realizing how far from the port Atlantis is.  We rode the little ferry across the water, but then walked the rest of the way.  A bit of a hike.  Then to find out that the casino at Atlantis did not even have a poker room in operation. We spent most of the day walking to and from and not actually doing much.  My wife did get to do some shopping and we ate a decent meal at a restaurant close to the port but it felt like a wasted day due to lack of planning. 

Hi, The deposit amount is based on the length of the cruise. The longer the cruise the larger de deposit. 3, 4 & 5 night cruises $100 pp deposit. 6, 7 & 9 $250 pp deposit.10, 11 & 12 $450 pp deposit. 

Those numbers seem off....I haven't heard or seen of a $400 or $1000 deposit.
 
usually the short cruises are $100 each and the longer ones $250 each.....