Casino bar: Prime

[tonyfsu21]

Has anyone noticed there seems to be an elevated level of questions for Prime or higher level comped drinks at the casino bar lately? My last 2 sailings I have been asked either my deck # or cabin # before the bartender gets me a drink. In the past, I show them my card and there’s no further questions. It’s possible there may be an issue with people abusing the system and sharing cards & the bartenders attempting to use the question as another way to mitigate the problem. Anyone else notice this?

[SplashOfWater]

I have noticed this (with servers too), but it's infrequent. I always thought it was odd since they weren't charging anything to my cabin.

[WAAAYTOOO]

1 hour ago, tonyfsu21 said:

Has anyone noticed there seems to be an elevated level of questions for Prime or higher level comped drinks at the casino bar lately? My last 2 sailings I have been asked either my deck # or cabin # before the bartender gets me a drink. In the past, I show them my card and there’s no further questions. It’s possible there may be an issue with people abusing the system and sharing cards & the bartenders attempting to use the question as another way to mitigate the problem. Anyone else notice this?

I haven't noticed this before but I will be more attentive to check it out.

[Ampurp85]

I noticed this on Freedom, but it was only the first night. Since it was a B2B2B for me the bartenders and servers started to remember us pretty easily.

However, I have seen plenty of times where people bring up a spouse/sibling/parent's card asking for prime drinks and the bartender saying no. 

[billdauterive]

It's been ship specific for me for a while.  Some have been just flash the card, others have asked for room number every time.  No rhythm or reason I can find.
I assume it's based on however the current beverage manager of the ship or head bartender of the casino bar is wanting to keeping track of comped casino drinks (if at all).  I've noticed every time I've been asked for a room number they write it down, while I don't notice any obvious way of them tracking a card flash.

[tonyfsu21]

11 hours ago, billdauterive said:

It's been ship specific for me for a while.  Some have been just flash the card, others have asked for room number every time.  No rhythm or reason I can find.
I assume it's based on however the current beverage manager of the ship or head bartender of the casino bar is wanting to keeping track of comped casino drinks (if at all).  I've noticed every time I've been asked for a room number they write it down, while I don't notice any obvious way of them tracking a card flash.

Yeah now that you mention it, the bartender is writing something down in a notebook most times. 

[CHart]

Take this with a grain of salt, but from what I heard, they are to charge the drinks against the drink package if you have one. It was on Freedom in June that I asked why they needed my card for drinks instead of using prime. That is what I was told as I sat and waited for my card to be returned before I continued to play. Not sure why they did not just use my room number but who knows. Although the casino is part of Royal Caribbean they still operate as a sub business from my understanding so this would make sense.

[WAAAYTOOO]

7 hours ago, CHart said:

Take this with a grain of salt, but from what I heard, they are to charge the drinks against the drink package if you have one. It was on Freedom in June that I asked why they needed my card for drinks instead of using prime. That is what I was told as I sat and waited for my card to be returned before I continued to play. Not sure why they did not just use my room number but who knows. Although the casino is part of Royal Caribbean they still operate as a sub business from my understanding so this would make sense.

I totally believe this.  It makes sense as far as the casino's bottom line goes.

[twangster]

I think the bar staff at the Casino Bar are regular Royal crew that rotate to other bars.  As such they get a slice of gratuity when swiping a beverage package drink versus a cash tip only for a Prime drink assuming the Prime member offers a cash tip.  

So if they see a DX card that is also Prime they will want to swipe the card every time.

[Jolly Ogre]

Can you get bottled water, cans of soda or beer at the casino bar?

[WAAAYTOOO]

30 minutes ago, Jolly Ogre said:

Can you get bottled water, cans of soda or beer at the casino bar?

Yes

[billdauterive]

2 hours ago, Jolly Ogre said:

Can you get bottled water, cans of soda or beer at the casino bar?

Absolutely!  I drink A LOT of water so I'm running by the casino every few mins to grab some to take back to my room to stock up for the times it's not open.  Most of my embarkation evening is spent running back and forth, at least when I'm not donating money to the casino.

[Ampurp85]

I get my soda cans and water (those tiny Pelligrino's) from the casino for my mini cooler and dinner all the time. I just tip generously, it saves me from doing the soda/refreshment package.

[tonyfsu21]

21 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

I get my soda cans and water (those tiny Pelligrino's) from the casino for my mini cooler and dinner all the time. I just tip generously, it saves me from doing the soda/refreshment package.

Yes, a nice tip carries a lot of weight at any of the ships bars! I do the same re: soda and water.

[KevinK]

On 8/9/2024 at 7:21 AM, tonyfsu21 said:

Has anyone noticed there seems to be an elevated level of questions for Prime or higher level comped drinks at the casino bar lately? My last 2 sailings I have been asked either my deck # or cabin # before the bartender gets me a drink. In the past, I show them my card and there’s no further questions. It’s possible there may be an issue with people abusing the system and sharing cards & the bartenders attempting to use the question as another way to mitigate the problem. Anyone else notice this?

It happen to me on my recent cruise from Liberty, after showing my card, they still asked me deck # and room #.  But before that I was on Symphony couple times.  All I did was show them my card.