Casino questions

[Oli]

Hi all,

I along with my family will be embarking Symphony of the seas in two weeks for our first ever cruise and I have read a wealth of information over the last six months in this forum and via the blog but have a few questions regarding the casino, more specifically the loyalty program.

1. If I spend enough, or should I say lose enough to reach prime, would my complimentary prime cruise become bookable April 2019 or April 2020? I can’t seem to find a definitive answer if my play in feb 2019 counts towards status April 2019-2020 or April 2020-2021.
2. I have noticed that there are certain period where slot play offers double points, does anyone have any experience of the timings of these play periods?

TIA of any answers, we are all getting excited for our trip.

Oli

[dodgestang]

If you are Prime during Casino period April 18 to March 19....as I understand it....prime cruise becomes available April 1 2019. 

[WAAAYTOOO]

Yes, dodgestang is correct.  We are currently in the qualifying period for the next “casino” year (1 Apr 2019 - 31 Mar 2020) so as long as you accumulate 2400 points prior to 1 Apr 2019, you will get a “free” Prine cruise for the Apr 2019-Mar 2020 year.

While the qualifications for attaining Prime are fairly straightforward (2400 points), some of the more esoteric details such as what kinds of offers you will receive from them and the type of discounts you might be eligible for are not quite as easy to quantify.  It certainly does have to do with the amount of your wagers, the amount of time you spend in the casino and the amount of “throughput” you have and the amount of losses you may experience  but there are also some intangibles that seem to influence things as well.  One of these (this is my own phypothesis - completely unconfirmed by anyone from Club Royle)  would seem to be “total revenue” which includes things like purchasing drinks packages, dining packages, upgrading your comp rooms to top end suites, etc. also seem to plays a role.  I believe this to be true mainly b/c have noted a remarkable increase in the frequency of comp offers that we have recently begun receiving since we’ve started purchasing these kinds of revenue items.  Nobody at Club Royale will confirm any of this.  I only have my own situation to judge from.  

[dodgestang]

Waaaaytoooo

I've sailed twice on Royal in 2018....before that my last cruise was in 2000...so essentially I had no history with Royal.

I went out on Grandeur, booked the royal suite with drink packages and ate at Izumi and chops with the wife and 2 kids....had a fabulous time.

I gambled what to me seemed like normal amount for a couple nights, same type of gambling I would do in AC when I am at the Jersey shore with the family and I made 'prime' on this first sailing and also received a free balcony cruise cert.

I used that cert for a second sailing, upgraded it to the RS for only a few $$$$ with the wife and 2 kids again and at the end of that sailing received another free balcony cruise cert.

Going on 3rd cruise in April and already thinking about summer cruises to take since I know I will have the prime I can leverage or maybe I will get another cert with a favorable sailing to my schedule and port preferences.

[Oli]

Thanks @WAAAYTOOO and @dodgestang for the replies.

I will be sure to report back how I get on upon my return. 

I feel I have already put a fair amount of additional revenue through RC before even cruising, drinks packages, voom, excursions and dinning so will see how I get treated.

Ive been a regular visitor to Vegas for the last 20 years so I’m interested to see how play and frequency is rewarded by comparison. Although as others have mentioned elsewhere, RC having a captive audience and no competition, I’m not expecting to feel as well comp’ed.

[dodgestang]

56 minutes ago, Oli said:

Ive been a regular visitor to Vegas for the last 20 years so I’m interested to see how play and frequency is rewarded by comparison. Although as others have mentioned elsewhere, RC having a captive audience and no competition, I’m not expecting to feel as well comp’ed.

Maybe I just have low expectations/lack experience with comps.  I generally only have gambled in two places....I have a players card for Golden Nugget in AC, the most comp I've ever had was enough points on their card to buy some souvenirs for the family and one time they called me on the phone to invite me a concert and overnight that was literally the next day...and I play at the local Hollywood near my house and have never even bothered to sign up for a card.

On the cruise ship I knew all the 'bosses' by name because they all introduced themselves over the course of the first gambling night.  They and the dealers all welcomed me back telling me it was great to see me again (this was on the second trip and I was really surprised they would remember me).  I had a 'conversation' with Casino Manager about the way they managed the free chip program that made me consider not going back on that trip...but here I am...going again ;).

All in all.....3-4 bottles of champagne and multiple trays of chocolate strawberries and magically appeared in the room plus the 2 free balcony room cruises and the icing...I'm technically up (pretty much broke even trip one and came home with 2 fancy paintings from trip two that were bought with winnings)

[AGSLC5]

1 hour ago, Oli said:

Thanks @WAAAYTOOO and @dodgestang for the replies.

I will be sure to report back how I get on upon my return. 

I feel I have already put a fair amount of additional revenue through RC before even cruising, drinks packages, voom, excursions and dinning so will see how I get treated.

Ive been a regular visitor to Vegas for the last 20 years so I’m interested to see how play and frequency is rewarded by comparison. Although as others have mentioned elsewhere, RC having a captive audience and no competition, I’m not expecting to feel as well comp’ed.

Don't take this to sound rude its not meant that way just informative. I have been on 60 Royal Caribbean cruises and I am Signature in the Casino so I do spend a lot fo time in there lol. I also before I get on buy dining packages and drink packages but they DONT treat you any different or better just because you spend money online before you go. They expect you to do that. Don't get me wrong the casino staff is always very friendly and nice to me and I get a certificate every time plus champagne, cookies, and fruit sent to my room but that's IT. They don't comp you restaurants they only take $20 dollars off for every 1000 points you get and then of course once your prime you get free drinks in casino and the 5% fee waved to take money out on the card and then I like since I'm signature I get one free Voom device. All I am trying to say is please don't go into it thinking because you bought packages before hand they will treat you better like I said Royal is basically expecting people to do this thats why they made drink prices so high and food in the dining room and windjammer so bad in my opinion. Some people say its wonderful but in my opinion its awful.  Anyway I hope you have a wonderful time on your first cruise and just understand the comps are not like Vegas or AC and you will be fine.