Pattycruise

They can all be called points or credits or reward points .  It is really the understanding of how the "value" of the points that is important.  Note I will try to refer to them as reward points.....you can call them what you will.

When you get onboard most every person will have Freeplay loaded on their seapass cards.  $ amount is typically based on your Crown and Anchor level  and typically is between $2-$8.  It must be redeemed by the end of day 2 on your current sailing.  You can ask the Casino host how to redeem this (they will give you a piece of paper with the 'how to"). 
*note, if on a ship like Adventure the Casino Host is not visible, so tell the cashier in the casino what you need-and they will give you the paper or get the host.

When you play you accumulate reward points.
When you tap (or some casinos insert) your seapass card the mechanism will turn green and say Welcome (name) and display the reward points you have accumulated.  So when I first tap(insert) my seapass card at a slot machine it will say Welcome Pattycruise you have 0 points 
Points accumulate as follows:
1 point for every $5  in slot play 1 point for every $10 in video poker Table play earns points, and they are calculated based on $ amount of average hand played x length of play.  (you can ask the casino host each night you play tables to see what type of points you accrued and sort of calculate your own points based on your own average bet x length f play)  I do see one website that reports this:  A $10 average wager on Blackjack for one hour will earn you 10 points. I do not play blackjack so I cannot comment to the accuracy of that statement.  *note:  table play points do not show up when you tap/insert into a slot machine you must ask the casino host how many points you have accumulated on the tables..

You earn reward points (free play) for play onboard.  
These points must be used by the end of your current sailing-they do not carry over. So on the last night, make sure to use them 
For slot play-you can see your rewards within your account via the slot machines (again, you can ask the host how to do this if you cannot figure it out) Once you have used your accumulated reward points -which you can redeem  at any time during your cruise-your balance of points showing on the machine will be reduced-This has NO impact on your accumulation of points towards the casino tier levels (more on that later)  Note:  you cannot cash out reward point $-it must be played, however you can cash out the winnings on it, so try to track your spins (who am I kidding, most of us just spend that $ until it's gone! LOL)
For table play-you ask the casino host to convert your rewards to either slot play or table play  (it's your choice).  Points still go toward tier level even if  redeemed for free play.  If you choose table play chips they will be promotional chips.  They can only be played, not redeemed.  So I can put $20 promo chips on a table game, and they will pay winnings in regular table chips. I'm seeing talk of having your reward points converted to onboard credit towards your cruise bill (aka folio) and this is new to me, clearly I do not gamble enough or have not asked the right questions!-I always seem to learn something!)

Accumulation of  reward towards Casino Tier Level
The points you earn on a sailing also accumulate during the casino year  (April 1-March 31).  Each cruise total is added to your overall total of points earned for the year.  
Even if you redeem your reward points (above) during your sailing your points earned still accumulate toward the tier level.  So if I have 3 sailing  and earned 500 points on each one I would have accumulated 1,500 points towards tier.

Casino Tier
Choice-Less than 2,500 points  Prime-2,500 points- 24,999 Signature-25,000-99,999 Masters 100K points on up When you earn Prime or Above within a gambling year (April 1-March 31) the casino host should recognize it and apply a sticker to your seapass card , or YOU go to the casino host and ask them to check your points to see if you hit the Prime level and they will apply the sticker....The level earned that year will go on record immediately but it is really the level you earn for the next gambling year!!  So you will reap that benefit for the remainder of this casino year AND the full casino year that starts April 1-March 31.  

Prime earns-
waived casino convenience fee (5%) for gaming on SeaPass or Credit Card, complimentary drinks in Casino Royale, (for the remainder of the casino year AND the next casino year) discount unlimited surf and stream internet Wifi packages, (30% discount of onboard price) tier priority contact number, tier exclusive rates for family and friends for additional staterooms, (currently 5%) special offers with land-based casinos, and an annual complimentary cruise- Inside Cabin! (offer assigned to your account in April) Signature=above, free internet for one device, 10% off for family/friend and the  annual complimentary cruise is a  balcony cruise
Masters- signature plus:  , free internet for 2 devices plus and the  annual complimentary cruise is a grand suite 

****accuracy of the level rewards may not be 100%.  Subject to change by the program as well.
To see your accumulated points for the casino year and any associated casino offers specifically to you log in to 
https://www.clubroyaleoffers.com/
Note:  They have been having problems with their website and it is updating....so not everyone will be abe to see their accumulated points.
You can also contact the Casino benefits at 1-888-561-2234 to make an inquiry. If you have your Crown and Anchor number available it will expedite the process.
Note: Each tier level  does have a separate phone number they can use for the casino benefits, I do not have those numbers.  you can inquire when you call the basic #

Other casino things I've learned
You can link your Royal Caribbean Crown and Anchor level (not casino level) with MGM.  Contact MGM to do so. You can sign up with URComped, supply an offer certificate from Royal and receive casino offers from Royal as well as other cruiselines. If your personal email address you use for Royal Caribbean has children (and possibly adults) attached to it you will not receive email offers from the Royal Casino, and try as you might to get it fixed, it seems any time the IT staff does work on the website it reverts to adding your children back onto your email, thus cancelling out the ability to get emails, yet again. Stop by the casino host desk (or on a sailing where the casino host does not have a desk "on the foor" the cashier) and look for the current promo regarding earning points and the reward associated with points earned.  Also understand the bonus award redemption (which is not displayed) so you can maximize the benefit. Ex.  On a recent cruise I earned 1,600 points.  It had a value of $400 off any cruise -if I booked it within 30 days (the standard) OR if I booked onboard at NextCruise, or paid a deposit of $200 to get a reservation # for a cruise and contacted Casino Royale within 7 days to redeem the BONUS award of  free interior cabin offer on select sailings,  I could have a free interior cabin     So you really need to be aware of the redemption rules regarding your offer or you will lose the benefit (In my case a free interior that I chose to redeem on a 9 night New England cruise)
You can upgrade a casino offer for a free cruise-just ask the casino desk people (phone number 888 561-2234  the cost. You can add a guest, for only port fees/taxes (which is what you pay for you as well) You can add a 3rd/4th guest but it will be at prevailing rate and cabin upgrade cost. If you sail alone on a casino comp it is double points.  (some say not true, i HAVE gotten them)

Hopefully this all makes sense.  It took quite some time and in trying to proof it I am just plain old too tired!  LOL  








 

I haven't had a temperature screen since sailing out of the Bahamas a year ago (holy crap that's been a year already)

That’s great!  If my adult offspring had room service for free the cruise line would end up stopping  that benefit.  Enjoy your cruise!

Thank you for the feedback. I actually know the Puerto Rico cruise you're talking about.  I saw it for spring break and then realized, there is no way my kids can handle 6 port days on a 7 night cruise. A good balance is best. Thank you.

You can put down the $200 deposit to receive a booking reservation number and then have 7 days after disembarkation to contact the casino # and book your reservation to get the bonus award portion of the offer.    (See pic) Otherwise you face losing the bonus award.
personally, I was glad I booked using next cruise while onboard, there was only one date that worked for me based on available sailings for my offer.  Had there been nothing that worked for me I would been stuck with the $200 deposit and forced to use it or lose it.    Thankfully someone had a hold of the available cruises offers for my next sailing the next month and I chose to save my casino $ as none of the cruises on the level I would have maybe achieved (low 1600) were anything I could do (they were identical offerings to the previous month) and I was not interested in the $400 off at that time.

On Anthem in February, March, April they had an incentive to book with the first 3 days of the cruise…be entered in a raffle to win a basket of some items along with some OBC, the prize morphed on each of my sailings, one time it was a Captain signed ship replica and OBC.  When I sailed on spadix in early May I asked if they had that incentive, they’d never heard of it and asked for details.  Subsequently, on my sailing in June they had a $300 OBC raffle incentive you would be entered into if you booked in the first 3 days. 

I agree stay away from the last day of the cruise, especially now with the casino offers being handed out that day and lots of people trying to get them booked while onboard. 

If you really want to change your room you can call Royal (or your TA if booked that way) and as long as there are rooms available in your category you can switch with no added cost.  I have done that a few times with no issues.

You can also double check by looking for YouTube videos of rooms on the ship you will sail on.  If your room number is not in a video find one at least on your deck and same side of ship.  Then count from that room (#1) to your room (1-2 , 1-2, etc).  If you land on 1 for your room then it should have same configuration and a 2 would be the opposite.  So depending on whether the video room is what you want or don’t want will tell you whether you need to call to change your room or not!  

 

You’re very welcome.  

Make sure you're using "ship time" for planning when to be back on board.  Your smart phone may be set to automatically change to local time, so either change that setting or have a cheap watch to go by.

My kids were fortunate to cruise in Alaska as older teenagers. (16,18,20) For us, that was the right time.  One of my teens didn’t choose to do much in regards to excursions (his loss), we put 2 of them on a helicopter tour to a glacier (quite pricey)-while hubby and I did a different excursion (we’d done  a helicopter on our Hawaii honeymoon, once was good enough for me). We also did the 3 day pre cruise land tour…HIGHLY recommend but with the littles, it is A LOT. (My niece, age 6 was on this trip-can we say cranky?)
when mine were younger we did the Caribbean on a port intensive cruise out of Puerto Rico.  It was an extended family/friends sailing.  All excursions I chose had historical piece/other item snd ended with a beach,  they remembered the beach the best (always end on a high note!).  When we decided to cruise again we went for a balance of sea days and port days, it was a lot more conducive for my family.  I just traveled with my niece, now 9, recently, I recommend whatever you choose for the kids you bring travel games to engage them while you wait for “whatever”. In our case the MDR was quite slow so we kept busy with a travel Boggle, Yahtzee, Uno and a deck of cards.

It alternates so if you can find a nearby cabin online and then look at a deck plan you can determine what your room will be.

Id call Royal, since that’s who you booked with, and ask them to apply that promo code.  “I see this promo code (Sailagain) was not applied and should have been since I just got off of a June 18 sailing….” If  they don’t do it hang up, call back or ask for a supervisor “your agent must have overlooked this promotion when I booked….”

🤣🤣🤣 The North Sea on a good day

I guess if RC isn't sending the IRS 1099s for the credit then the IRS is none the wiser

We purchased the Key for our upcoming Harmony cruise (before restart).  Once they reinstated the Key program, we go an email stating that the lunch at Chops was not available and that we would get 25% off specialty  dining when booked on board and no-fee room service for entire cruise.  Since the Chops lunch was reinstated, I didn't think we would still get those extras.  However, I just got an email on Tuesday (July 5th) from RCI stating that we get the lunch as well as still getting the 25% discount on specialty dining as well as the no-fee room service.  We are pleasantly surprised to say the least.  Not really sure how much we will use the room service but it is nice to know we can if we want to.
Now we just need to test negative on the 15th, pray for no flight delays on the 16th and be on time for our noon check in on the 17th!

I have gone as far as deducting a star class suite from my business income due to a conversation I had with Sugar Beach manager about almond topping quality and packaging upon learning it was my product.
This was several years ago and I’m not writing this in jail. I have not repeated this as my accountant recommended not jeopardizing my 1 for 1 record. 

I would argue it’s not as it is similar to a “rebate” -  Like OBC from on board booking or cash back credit cards, you are receiving a portion of your spend back.  Probably one of the reasons why casino bookings aren’t eligible.  And If it was taxable, the IRS would have found a way to require RC to issue a 1099.

If you google long enough you'll find all sorts of investor opinions that range from "good time to buy" to "stock prices could reach zero".  With all the debt involved my opinion is that you have to be in it for the long run, like several years, if you are truly seeking an investment for potential gains.  It's a crystal ball question.  My crystal ball thinks that stock prices will recover and at some point triple what they are today and more.  Where my crystal ball is cloudy on how long that will take. 
There is some risk involved which is why stock prices are low.  Questions linger about how a recession could impact the cruise lines that are struggling from a pandemic that still isn't fully over yet.  If any one could safely predict exactly what will happen with this or any stock they'd be in high demand.  
My gut says stock prices will fall further but that's a wild guess at best.
Stock trading is basically legal gambling.  There will be winners and losers.    Just like money spent in a casino it had better be play money that won't hurt you financially if you lose it all.  Betting your family nest egg and going all in would not be wise.  

700 Americans onboard. They also celebrated Canada Day on July 1

Rapid Test & Trace Procedure Update
I will post a quick update about boarding with the documentation on Saturday or Sunday. But I wanted to post my testing experience today, which was fantastic.
Each person has to book their own appointment.  Mom's was first. She had a camera issue and we were unable to turn it on. We could hear the nurse and were able to talk to her. We asked if she could join my appointment, and she was able. The nurse could not have been more helpful, patient, and kind. We instantly had our results. 
Negative result, so we are on our way!! 

Interesting. I've seen this one a couple of times before, but it was pre-covid. There was no early booking incentive on either of my two post-pandemic cruises.

I sailed Symphony on June 18th and they offered a raffle if booked in the first three days and because the sailing was on Fathers day they also gave me a gift bag with some trinkets (a shopping bag, pen, and some holder or something).  I never win the raffle but that was a nice little token the Next Cruise gave me. 

I questioned the statement  by the poster. “Few are catching Covid onboard”   There is no real way to know those numbers and never  will be. 

In response to your question:  They are testing the day they get home, the next day etc.  not all fly and I don’t think the incubation period is such that testing positive the day they fly home, or the next day lends to it being an airport or McDonalds.  . It’s  amazing how many said they woke up on the last day of the cruise with a headache, or cough, or runny nose etc and tested positive when they got home later that day. 
plenty also reporting they were onboard and thought it was  a  cold  and decided to test when they got home, only to find out they were positive. 
of course they could have contracted it prior to the cruise and then tested positive onboard or upon their return home.   I’ve always said a negative test just means negative at the moment (or the test isn’t picking it up ).  
 

Best way to get over a cruise "hangover" is to plan a new one! Stop by next cruise and book it!