Clay Purvis Posted January 28 Report Share Posted January 28 I have never made use of the casino on previous cruises, but I am planning to going forward. So what is the rundown on the rewards program? Anyone with experience in the program could you give me the basics. Do you only earn points on slots or can you earn at table games also (blackjack/poker)? Do the points accumulate from cruise to cruise or do they reset at some point? How much do you have to gamble to build up points? And any good tips or hacks you know about the casinos. TIA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted January 28 Report Share Posted January 28 https://www.royalcaribbean.com/experience/cruise-casinos/rewards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted January 28 Report Share Posted January 28 @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 !! Ampurp85, SebagoSue, Noskill and 10 others 10 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyfsu21 Posted January 29 Report Share Posted January 29 This is such good information! There seems to be an influx of new casino players looking to achieve prime for a “free cruise and drinks in the casino”. This seems like a great idea until you consider the fact that this is gambling and the bankroll required to achieve prime could potentially buy you many drink packages and at least 1 cruise fare. It can be a costly road to prime unless you have luck on your side. Maggie M and WAAAYTOOO 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ampurp85 Posted January 29 Report Share Posted January 29 I echo the sentiment that unless you are a gambler then the casino program isn't for you. I do slots but I personally won't spend more than I would for a cruise.....because they instant cruise rewards. Also I have seen it all. Some people spend less than $1k to get the 2500pts to be prime. Then I have seen people spend $5/6k to have not even half those points. WAAAYTOOO and Maggie M 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyfsu21 Posted January 29 Report Share Posted January 29 4 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said: I echo the sentiment that unless you are a gambler then the casino program isn't for you. I do slots but I personally won't spend more than I would for a cruise.....because they instant cruise rewards. Also I have seen it all. Some people spend less than $1k to get the 2500pts to be prime. Then I have seen people spend $5/6k to have not even half those points. Agree, and that’s why it’s called gambling. Perhaps you get lucky and keep cycling the casinos money all the way to prime. On the other hand you have bad luck and the casino beats you up until your casino status equals 3 deluxe beverage packages and a 7 day cruise! Anything can happen. Ampurp85 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ampurp85 Posted January 29 Report Share Posted January 29 So I will ask this here. I know the rule is any ships 7n or less that has been sailing for a year, is it an exact year? Aka will Icon be available after Jan 27th in 2025? I know they had some restrictions and people weren't able to use the free annual cruise on Wonder, but I was. I am hoping book Icon for the end of Jan 2025. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted January 29 Report Share Posted January 29 5 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said: So I will ask this here. I know the rule is any ships 7n or less that has been sailing for a year, is it an exact year? Aka will Icon be available after Jan 27th in 2025? I know they had some restrictions and people weren't able to use the free annual cruise on Wonder, but I was. I am hoping book Icon for the end of Jan 2025. Yes. An exact year from the inaugural sailing - so from 1-27-25. Ampurp85 and Maggie M 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pattycruise Posted January 29 Report Share Posted January 29 13 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said: So I will ask this here. I know the rule is any ships 7n or less that has been sailing for a year, is it an exact year? Aka will Icon be available after Jan 27th in 2025? I know they had some restrictions and people weren't able to use the free annual cruise on Wonder, but I was. I am hoping book Icon for the end of Jan 2025. It should be available from Jan 27 however have alternate plans ready. Lots of people will be booking that out. It will depend on where you on in the list of uploads for the annual certificate. Ampurp85 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ampurp85 Posted January 29 Report Share Posted January 29 I'm looking at the Jan 31st sailing, lots of available rooms right now, since Icon will be doing Fri to Fri. April is when it comes out. Of course I could gamble for it possibly Maggie M 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thom Cruise Posted January 29 Report Share Posted January 29 Yeah I achieved Prime on my Oct cruise, in essence I exclusively played slots and I recycled a lot of winnings and in the end it probably only 'cost' me £500. I juuuust eeked over the 2500 point line by the end of the 7 day cruise. But here's the thing, I like gambling and I like slots, and I wasn't aiming for Prime when I first started on day 1. But I had an eventful night, drank lots of beers, and I didn't even enquire about my points until the next day I was talking to a stranger and he told me about the points programme. In terms of benefits...meh, not bowled over but then again I'm based in the UK and there are hardly any European offers. Yes I am tempted to rest on my free drinks perk for my next cruise this Oct, but it's definitely not the same level of usefulness as the premium drinks package. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LCWind Posted January 30 Report Share Posted January 30 I rolled the dice. A couple of months ago, I made a next cruise booking for Icon sailing on Feb 1, 2025. Both the next cruise agent and a land based casino royale agent told me I can convert it to the free annual cruise. Let’s see what happens when I can try to convert it in April. Snotarni and WAAAYTOOO 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ampurp85 Posted January 30 Report Share Posted January 30 4 hours ago, LCWind said: I rolled the dice. A couple of months ago, I made a next cruise booking for Icon sailing on Feb 1, 2025. Both the next cruise agent and a land based casino royale agent told me I can convert it to the free annual cruise. Let’s see what happens when I can try to convert it in April. They lied a bit. I made my Wonder sailing with a NextCruise offer and they wouldn't convert it. I understand I will loose the OBC but I also lost my deposit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted January 31 Report Share Posted January 31 In years past I used to convert existing cruises to annual comps but they quit doing that after the restart. You might get lucky and be allowed to convert an existing booking but even if they do, chances are they would reprice it to current rates. Because of these changes to booking casino annual cruises, I was concerned about booking my Pinnacle cruise using an existing booking even though I had been promised that I would be able to do that….but they did convert an existing Wonder booking to use as my Pinnacle cruise - no problem. So you just never know how it’s going to go until you get there and try. Maggie M 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ampurp85 Posted January 31 Report Share Posted January 31 I literally just went to NextCruise and the manager said that they will not convert an existing NextCruise reservation for the annual prime cruise. This went into affect last year and she said because the annual prime cert has so many restrictions, they stopped doing this. I did this because I was going to book my Icon sailing and apply later. I will call the royale program and confirm tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AshleyDillo Posted January 31 Report Share Posted January 31 I would be surprised that they allow you to use it on Icon. Wonder was on the excluded list for most of the sailings on the last tier cruise list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LCWind Posted January 31 Report Share Posted January 31 I’m fully aware they may not be willing to convert it but for me, it is a risk worth taking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LCWind Posted January 31 Report Share Posted January 31 @WAAAYTOOO please explain what you mean by repricing to current rates. If it’s a free cruise, should be net cost remain the same which is $0.00? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott P Posted January 31 Report Share Posted January 31 This is just an anecdote, but I was on Royal a few years back and won a few thousand dollars. Later, when I called and asked for a free or discounted cruise their reply was "you won" and there was no discount - I said, "well, don't you want to try to get that money back from me?" They weren't amused and didn't change their minds. WAAAYTOOO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ampurp85 Posted January 31 Report Share Posted January 31 8 minutes ago, LCWind said: @WAAAYTOOO please explain what you mean by repricing to current rates. If it’s a free cruise, should be net cost remain the same which is $0.00? I think she means if you upgraded. I.e you wanted a balcony. But I just spoke with a club Royale rep. They will not let you apply a free annual comp to a NextCruise booking because it's already an offer. The rule is you can't combine different offers. You can apply it to an existing reservation without any offers They said Icon would be available for very select sailing, which was how I was able to use mine from 2023 for Wonder. Probably just the month of late January to February only. WAAAYTOOO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LCWind Posted January 31 Report Share Posted January 31 Thanks @Ampurp85. My existing next cruise booking on Icon is not linked to a casino offer. Fingers crossed for my Feb 1, 2025 sailing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyfsu21 Posted January 31 Report Share Posted January 31 The casino offer bookings are so complex and have so many unmentioned or vague rules that it wouldn’t surprise me in the least bit if this was on purpose. It’s literally a hassle and almost bordering on more of a hassle than the comp is actually worth. WAAAYTOOO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted January 31 Report Share Posted January 31 12 hours ago, LCWind said: @WAAAYTOOO please explain what you mean by repricing to current rates. If it’s a free cruise, should be net cost remain the same which is $0.00? Yes. @Ampurp85 is correct. This would only apply if you upgraded your original comp. If you didn't upgrade it won't matter....but I still doubt they will let you apply your comp to an existing booking. Those days are gone as far as I know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ampurp85 Posted January 31 Report Share Posted January 31 12 hours ago, LCWind said: Thanks @Ampurp85. My existing next cruise booking on Icon is not linked to a casino offer. Fingers crossed for my Feb 1, 2025 sailing Fyi nextCruise is an offer technically. I was very specific in my words with both reps. I am also booked on that sailing now. I booked it with them as refundable in case something prevents me from applying the cert. Also to amend the websites have the wrong date listed for cruises. I was shocked to see symphony doing Saturday cruises and Icon sailings Fri. I called and they said the website is wrong but it will show up properly on invoices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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