NEXT CRUISE - Casino certificate

[APM]

I have never used the NEXT Cruise option and have probably thrown away some freeplay, but I explored using it after the Masters Cruise on Wonder of the Seas in November.  Normally, I can combine my spouse and my certificates when I call in, NEXT Cruise says they dont offer the combination option.  Has anyone come across this scenario?

I have a JS w Freeplay and she has an balcony, most likely combinable to a GS, but would hate to throw away the freeplay if I book via the call center.

 

Thanks

APM

[Ampurp85]

This may not work for everyone, but I normally book a regular cruise at Next Cruise and then call the casino line when I get home and have them apply the offers. I learned that they will combine offers but they must be like for like.........i.e. if you have $300 off you cannot use that with a free interior. Next Cruise seems to have all sorts of problem on board with doing casino offers.

[WAAAYTOOO]

I guess I haven't been reading closely enough.  Are you [all] saying that any casino certificate offer awarded onboard must be booked through Next Cruise ?  If so, that's new for me.  ....or are you saying that you can book through Next Cruise and get the benefits of both the casino comp and NC ?

[WAYNO]

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[DoomSlayer]

16 minutes ago, WAYNO said:

Ideally, they want you to book thru Next Cruise while you're on the ship..  And you do have to book thru Next Cruise to receive any casino free play associated with your certificate(s).   Problem is, the Next Cruise desk closes before the casino closes on the last night.  When I received my final casino certificate, Next Cruise was closed. 

 

So they gave me an option to fill out a form giving me a 7-day extension to book the cruise and receive all the benefits offered on the certificate. Filling out the form also incurs an automatic $200 non-refundable deposit, which was charged to my account nearly immediately.  We each received a certificate, so we were each charged $200.   Sounds easy enough.  Too bad they've reneged and downgraded  our offers, and pretty much said take it or leave it.  I could easily have said leave it, but they already have $400 in non-refundable deposits. 

 

And Royal is deaf to our dilemma.

 

 

 

Next Cruise is usually open early in the morning on disembarkation day.  I have scheduled many cruises from casino comps right before disembarking the ship.

That aside, I do hope they make it right with you.

[WAYNO]

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[DoomSlayer]

19 minutes ago, WAYNO said:

I get that.  And I could've/should've done so.  But I was first off the ship to make a flight.  I trusted the Next Cruise 7-day extension form was honest and on the up-and-up.  Next time I'll know better.

Maybe you can reach out to their social team on Facebook?  They have been able to help me on issues in the past.  Sometimes they are slow to pick up the message and respond initially, but once they start conversing, they typically act as an ombudsman and help get you to someone that can help resolve the issue.

I know it's frustrating, and for what it is worth, I wish nothing but the best possible outcome for you here.

[WAAAYTOOO]

This is actually a big switcheroo since, in the past, NextCruise wanted nothing to do with casino bookings.  Now it seems they are encouraging you to use NC.  I’m not too concerned about free play as I have never been awarded enough free play (in the past, anyway) to really matter.  Maybe that will change. Who knows…

Frankly, what seems more worrisome to me is that they see to be balking on multiple certificates; voiding certificates at will.  I always just throw the $$$ off certificates in the trash.  The only ones that were really of any value were the comp cruise certs. I guess I will see (soon) if things have changed.

[WAYNO]

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[DoomSlayer]

22 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

This is actually a big switcheroo since, in the past, NextCruise wanted nothing to do with casino bookings.  Now it seems they are encouraging you to use NC.  I’m not too concerned about free play as I have never been awarded enough free play (in the past, anyway) to really matter.  Maybe that will change. Who knows…

Frankly, what seems more worrisome to me is that they see to be balking on multiple certificates; voiding certificates at will.  I always just throw the $$$ off certificates in the trash.  The only ones that were really of any value were the comp cruise certs. I guess I will see (soon) if things have changed.

Lately, when I get the certificates printed from the casino host, they make it clear to me that it needs to be handled by Next Cruise while onboard.  And when I use Next Cruise onboard, I found out that I get both the casino comps, like freeplay, and the Next Cruise perks, like onboard credit.  As an added bonus, I tack on my TA to the reservation while at Next Cruise and get their bonuses too.  I did have a problem though once when I forgot to add on my TA at Next Cruise, they would not allow me to switch the reservation to my TA even though it was within the 30 day window. 

[Ampurp85]

I have run into issues that @WAYNO describe and had issues with @DoomSlayer describes. I don't earn my certificates until close to the last night of the cruise. I have, unsuccessfully, tried to go back to Next cruise to add a casino certificate. I usually schedule an appointment on a port day which is often day 3/4 of a 6/7-night cruise. I found it was easier to call back after I left the cruise and have a casino rep do it. Then I am able to stack offers. I get my free room/money off plus I get the OBC and reduced deposit. I know now that they won't combine certain offers, nor should I try to wait too late as that is usually when problems arise.

[LCWind]

You can also do the “pay now book later” option offered by Next Cruise.  They charge you the $200 deposit and you will receive the Next Cruise OBC associated with the cabin you eventually select.  The main proviso when using a casino certificate is you have to redeem the casino offer within 7 days from disembarkation IF you are getting a free room and free play.  IF you are only using the $ off portion of the casino offer, then you have 30 days from disembarkation to redeem.

[The Fox]

I have used the pay now, book later option. Basically they charge you the $200 and send you an itinerary number. Then you call the casino after you get home and let them know what cruise you want. They give you the free play from the casino as well as the OBC from Next Cruise.

[WAYNO]

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[Pattycruise]

9 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I guess I haven't been reading closely enough.  Are you [all] saying that any casino certificate offer awarded onboard must be booked through Next Cruise ?  If so, that's new for me.  ....or are you saying that you can book through Next Cruise and get the benefits of both the casino comp and NC ?

This (picture) is on the casino host desk, or if sailing on a ship like Adventure and the host doesn’t have a desk it is located at the cashier.  It MAY change month to month.

to get the bonus (right hand column) you must book onboard at nextcruise OR by buying a reservation # while onboard -can be done in person at next cruise, via the app, or by filling out the form and putting it in the next cruise box, - and then you would contact Casino Royale with your reservation # within 7 days of your cruise to keep your bonus.

if you purchase a reservation # and use it for your casino comp it is not considered a deposit, the $ is used towards your taxes/port fees.  
 

If you choose to not book while onboard or to not purchase a reservation # while onboard you will not be able to get the bonus portion of your offer. 
 

the fine print to the pic on the host desk is sealed on the back of that flyer-not visible to us. 
 

the 800 point bonus interior list is quite short

you can ask the host for the printout of the cruises associated with the points earned list and some gladly print it, adventure the host pushed us to go to next cruise for it-waste of time next cruise doesn’t have the codes-on Enchantment this week the casino printer wasn’t working correctly.

a typical 7 night sailing has these codes
800 pts 2212C08   
1,200 pts 2212C07
1,500 pts 2212C06  etc…

the 22 indicates the year, followed by 12 (The month) “c” (no idea!) and the # relates to the certificate code based on points earned.  The shorter sailings May look differently for points to offers to cruise lists….I’ve not paid attention to that.

I ask for the cruise lists, and peruse them and decide if there’s something “worth playing for”.  Some (actually probably all)cruises on the 1,200 point list are the same as the 1,500 pts list and the only difference might be the $50 freeplay and perhaps an ocean view room here or there.  There is actually a transatlantic to Spain in May(?) this year. On Symphony.  The 2,000 pt list had better choices/cabins.  I’ve never gone to the levels after.   If you follow the Club Royale Facebook groups (not official) Doug Swallow will post the offer lists, -he just posted the December “C” lists today (too late for me but I got what I needed while onboard.)

you can schedule your appointment for the last day/late appointment when you board and book a cruise based on your current offer you receive the morning of your last full day.  If you acquire more points to a new certificate you can ask the host for a new certificate and contact casino Royale to change your cruise, or if keeping  the cruise you can have them update the freeplay.   I believe this should all be done within the 7 days of disembarking.  I tried this with the CR and the girl told me I had to cancel my reservation. (I’d lose my OBC and freeplay!) I asked 3 times and she insisted that was how it’s done.  I hung up, called back and got a knowledgeable person and it worked like it should-i kept my reservation # , I changed my cruise to one from the new certificate I earned later on the last night and also got my freeplay raised to meet the new offer. 
I hope this makes sense.  I just got home from my cruise and typed this on my phone-pardon typos-I’ll try to proof it tomorrow 

[Pattycruise]

8 hours ago, WAYNO said:

I even get that... Taking away our free play that seldom wins anyway is not a huge deal.  But downgrading rooms, is a huge deal.

 

Here's our scenario.  I won a Jr. Suite, with $1000 free play.  My wife won a Balcony, with $500 free play.  Downgrading us each one notch, I still get a Jr. Suite but with $750 free play.  My wife was downgraded to an oceanview with $250 free play. 

We are taking our boy on a cruise in February.  We booked both rooms and our boy will have one room to himself.  Since we earned it, it would have been nice for him to have a Balcony, as originally awarded. 

Since we've been shortchanged twice now, I'm re-thinking this whole Casino Royale thing.  I would be ahead buying my own room, and spending far less  in the casino.  And as a very soon to be Diamond Plus, with no chance of ever making Pinnacle, we could even jump ship, and go back to Norwegian.   Royal has not returned the allegiance we've given them.

I’ve been trying to follow.

was the downgrade because of no availability on the sailing? Some offers are subject to “either a JS or a Balcony”, but it shouldn’t impact freeplay award. Maybe you had a bad rep?  
 

also the $200 applied to a comp cruise is just to get the res#.  It converts to pay the taxes and port fees on your casino comp.  So if you book and cancel your comp that $ should come back to you. 

[DoomSlayer]

46 minutes ago, Pattycruise said:

This (picture) is on the casino host desk, or if sailing on a ship like Adventure and the host doesn’t have a desk it is located at the cashier.  It MAY change month to month.

to get the bonus (right hand column) you must book onboard at nextcruise OR by buying a reservation # while onboard -can be done in person at next cruise, via the app, or by filling out the form and putting it in the next cruise box, - and then you would contact Casino Royale with your reservation # within 7 days of your cruise to keep your bonus.

if you purchase a reservation # and use it for your casino comp it is not considered a deposit, the $ is used towards your taxes/port fees.  
 

If you choose to not book while onboard or to not purchase a reservation # while onboard you will not be able to get the bonus portion of your offer. 
 

the fine print to the pic on the host desk is sealed on the back of that flyer-not visible to us. 
 

the 800 point bonus interior list is quite short

you can ask the host for the printout of the cruises associated with the points earned list and some gladly print it, adventure the host pushed us to go to next cruise for it-waste of time next cruise doesn’t have the codes-on Enchantment this week the casino printer wasn’t working correctly.

a typical 7 night sailing has these codes
800 pts 2212C08   
1,200 pts 2212C07
1,500 pts 2212C06  etc…

the 22 indicates the year, followed by 12 (The month) “c” (no idea!) and the # relates to the certificate code based on points earned.  The shorter sailings May look differently for points to offers to cruise lists….I’ve not paid attention to that.

I ask for the cruise lists, and peruse them and decide if there’s something “worth playing for”.  Some (actually probably all)cruises on the 1,200 point list are the same as the 1,500 pts list and the only difference might be the $50 freeplay and perhaps an ocean view room here or there.  There is actually a transatlantic to Spain in May(?) this year. On Symphony.  The 2,000 pt list had better choices/cabins.  I’ve never gone to the levels after.   If you follow the Club Royale Facebook groups (not official) Doug Swallow will post the offer lists, -he just posted the December “C” lists today (too late for me but I got what I needed while onboard.)

you can schedule your appointment for the last day/late appointment when you board and book a cruise based on your current offer you receive the morning of your last full day.  If you acquire more points to a new certificate you can ask the host for a new certificate and contact casino Royale to change your cruise, or if keeping  the cruise you can have them update the freeplay.   I believe this should all be done within the 7 days of disembarking.  I tried this with the CR and the girl told me I had to cancel my reservation. (I’d lose my OBC and freeplay!) I asked 3 times and she insisted that was how it’s done.  I hung up, called back and got a knowledgeable person and it worked like it should-i kept my reservation # , I changed my cruise to one from the new certificate I earned later on the last night and also got my freeplay raised to meet the new offer. 
I hope this makes sense.  I just got home from my cruise and typed this on my phone-pardon typos-I’ll try to proof it tomorrow 

Great in-depth explanation despite being from your phone.  This is the sheet I look for from the host at the start of the cruise.  At the end of the cruise, I have the host print any certificates and then go to Next Cruise before I get off the ship which is probably why I always received the bonuses on the right and have not had problems.  I usually book my appointment with Next Cruise for disembarkation morning and just stop by after breakfast.

[WAYNO]

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[Pattycruise]

23 minutes ago, WAYNO said:

 

No.  The rep said we did not have enough points for the certificates issued.  I proved we did, and they agreed we did, but since they already downgraded the certificates, they said they'd still need to get an approval to honor the certificates issued, and they'd get back to me.  That was a few days after the end of our cruise.  At day 6 after our cruise, I talked to them again, and they said they were still awaiting approval, and they'd get back to me.  That was over two weeks ago.

 

None of this discussion has anything to do with the $200 we paid to get a res #.  We paid the $200 (twice), got the res #'s (twice), booked two rooms, and that's when everything continues to fall apart.  They still will not honor the certificates at the value issued.  They've admitted the error, twice, but they apparently have no way to fix it, so they are now ignoring me. 

 

Spin it any way you want, we earned the certificates, but they're reneging.

I think it’s time for an email to the CEO. Hopefully you have names/dates and a copy of the original certificates to include. 

MBAYLEY@Rccl.com

good luck!

 

[WAYNO]

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[WAYNO]

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[DoomSlayer]

13 minutes ago, WAYNO said:

Update, and a positive one. 

 

I did email the CEO last week.  Today, I received a call from Crown Royale.

Seems they were told to get this fixed, and they did.  I now have my casino certificate restored to the full and correct value.

I will now smile and say thank you.  Case closed.

 

Folks, stay on top of this stuff.

I am happy it worked out for you and you got the full credit they promised. Now have a wonderful cruise with it and happy sailing!

[APM]

Lost in all the discussion is my original question/dilemma….Next cruise won’t allow combining of two similar certificates.. my JS and Spouse Balcony to upgrade to a GS. Has anyone found a way around this.?

seems my options are.. 

1) just book the JS and get the feeeplay or

2) book via the call center, combine the offers and lose the freeplay offers

doesn’t seem right 

[Ampurp85]

12 hours ago, APM said:

Lost in all the discussion is my original question/dilemma….Next cruise won’t allow combining of two similar certificates.. my JS and Spouse Balcony to upgrade to a GS. Has anyone found a way around this.?

seems my options are.. 

1) just book the JS and get the feeeplay or

2) book via the call center, combine the offers and lose the freeplay offers

doesn’t seem right 

Next Cruise doesn't have a good history with casino comps and certificates. I believe your best option is to book with Next cruise to get OBC and reduced deposit and call the Casino Royale line to add the certificates. It has to be within a certain timeframe, but I found it works better that way. 

[Kim McDonough]

I am looking for a phone number for a RCC host. Would appreciate any recommendation. 

Thank you,

Kim

[Pattycruise]

2 hours ago, Kim McDonough said:

I am looking for a phone number for a RCC host. Would appreciate any recommendation. 

Thank you,

Kim

It's my understanding that RCC did away with hosts when they shut down their Oregon (?) office.  What level are you in the casino?