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Casino Royale - the end of an era


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49 minutes ago, Cruiseandplay said:

I’m getting in on this late, but have to add my two cents. My wife and I are so frustrated and fed up with CR. Every time you turn around they change the rules and it’s always NOT in favor of the player. I’m especially pissed because they NEVER work with me to accommodate my needs. They tell me how they have to follow strict rules and blah blah blah. Then two weeks later my dad tells me they are accommodating his request with no problem. I also see here that people “talk with managers” in CR. I have asked on two or three occasions to speak with a manager. I have ALWAYS been told no, you can send in an email to voice your concerns. My wife and I are so fed up with the casino program since they have ruined it. It used to be extremely player friendly and fair. Now it’s a scam with certificates that we wind up throwing away because we can’t use them as we are not retired and book our cruises in advance. They have made the casino program beneficial to retirees and no one else. I guess they will change it when their players start dying off. I will just go to a land based casino to “bank” my points and get real casino hosting in the process. Did I mention that too? The casino host can’t comp ANYTHING anymore. The only thing that has been consistent from CR are two little words...I’m sorry. That’s all they can say about how crappy the program has become. I’d love to go back to rebates, casino rates for all cruises, and real host benefits and comps. Seems like many on this thread miss those things too. 

It’s over & done with. Kiss the good days of the CR goodbye! I’m fed up too. I had to fight like crazy & work to get made whole so getting a “managers” was not so easy. Nobody wants to take accountability for anything in that call center. In the end after more trouble (and time spent) then it was actually worth, a manager reached out and corrected all my issues from the Enchantment cruise. All in all the land based casinos are going to treat you much better. Good luck 

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Completely agree that the call center is worthless since they’ve outsourced offshore.  My experience...don’t call in the AM as you will almost certainly get one of the new reps.  Far more likely to get on “old” one in the evenings.  As I’ve said before, the certificates are worthless but the “free” cruises have been extremely usable.  Of course, that means you have to choose from their “list” but assuming you can find a cruise that works for you on the list, upgrades have been very affordable. We got 2 inside certificates (one each) last month on LIB and booked NAV over Thanksgiving.  We paid very little to upgrade to a JS. Our 2 Prime “free” cruises we were able to upgraded all the way from inside rooms to Star Class for a very good rate so you have to be flexible and use a good TA to do the legwork for you.  You also have to be diligent and track your points carefully but at least they will give you your points info now.  Under the old program there was no accountability at all and you had no idea how many points you had.  Now that info is much clearer.

Sure.  It’s different. I hate that the casino discounts on all cruises is pretty much gone but there are some good aspects to the new program too.

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  • 2 weeks later...
53 minutes ago, Vee2525 said:

what does star class include?

Star Class includes everything that Sky Class includes plus:

Services of the Royal Genie who is kind of like a personal Concierge.  He/she will make your dining reservations, reserve specific seats in the various entertainment venues and help you arrange any kind of special event such as parties in your suite, private excursions, etc.  Personally escorts your party through the embarkation and disembarkation processes.  Will personally have access to your onboard account and can correct any problems with billing; can handle any kind of guest service issues without you having to go to Guest Services.

Unlimited specialty dining at any of the specialty restaurants.  This includes in-suite delivery of specialty dining during hours that the restaurants are operating.  Includes Starbucks coffee (but not pastries), ice cream at the ice cream kiosks, popcorn, etc.  Includes unlimited food at Izumi, including hibachi, Chef's Table (some have reported being charged for wine but we have never been charged) and any food/dining venue.

Unlimited beverage packages for everyone in the suite (age appropriate).

Special access to some of the recreational activities such as flow rider, bumper cars, Northstar, Ripcord.  This is generally in the form of special hours when you can have "priority".  I have never done any of these activities (but will on Anthem in Feb.) so I'm not entirely sure how it works but I know that there are specific situations and times when Star Class guests have priority.

Star Class is basically an " All Inclusive" experience.  You still have to pay for cabana rentals on the private island and excursions.  That's about all you have to pay for.  I will be interested to see what is included for Star Class on CocoCay once The Perfect Day is completed.

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FWIW   The following is just an opinion. By no means am I criticizing anyone. 

  I totally understand the frustration of feeling slighted by not being treated differently than a first timer in any situation. That said, for the life of me, I DON’T understand going on a cruise, and spending all that time, and inevitably losing all that money, in a casino. This is 2018. There are casinos all over America for the most part. The cruise seems a perfect time/place to have a drink, bask in the sun, see a show, beautiful meal, etc. Just about anything BUT sit in a smoky, dank, dark casino.  In 10 cruises, I’ve walked through the casino to go from forward to aft, or vice versa, and it strikes me every time, what are you people doing in here ??!!!  LOL    To each his/her own ?   I hope they make good on their program to all y’all. ?

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9 minutes ago, Michael Vitale said:

FWIW   The following is just an opinion. By no means am I criticizing anyone. 

  I totally understand the frustration of feeling slighted by not being treated differently than a first timer in any situation. That said, for the life of me, I DON’T understand going on a cruise, and spending all that time, and inevitably losing all that money, in a casino. This is 2018. There are casinos all over America for the most part. The cruise seems a perfect time/place to have a drink, bask in the sun, see a show, beautiful meal, etc. Just about anything BUT sit in a smoky, dank, dark casino.  In 10 cruises, I’ve walked through the casino to go from forward to aft, or vice versa, and it strikes me every time, what are you people doing in here ??!!!  LOL    To each his/her own ?   I hope they make good on their program to all y’all. ?

It’s vacation. If gambling makes you happy then I guess sitting in the ships casino all day and night would be some people’s idea of a vacation and make them happy. I doubt these mega ships would be afloat today w/o these wonderful people “inevitably losing their money”. 

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12 hours ago, Michael Vitale said:

FWIW   The following is just an opinion. By no means am I criticizing anyone. 

  I totally understand the frustration of feeling slighted by not being treated differently than a first timer in any situation. That said, for the life of me, I DON’T understand going on a cruise, and spending all that time, and inevitably losing all that money, in a casino. This is 2018. There are casinos all over America for the most part. The cruise seems a perfect time/place to have a drink, bask in the sun, see a show, beautiful meal, etc. Just about anything BUT sit in a smoky, dank, dark casino.  In 10 cruises, I’ve walked through the casino to go from forward to aft, or vice versa, and it strikes me every time, what are you people doing in here ??!!!  LOL    To each his/her own ?   I hope they make good on their program to all y’all. ?

Michael not to discredit your opinion but isn't that the point of a cruise? Everyone gets to do whatever they want. I live in Ft. Lauderdale and I don't want to bake in the sun on my vacation. I do that all day everyday.. What I can't do is play blackjack in a casino. Do you know why because in my state of Florida the only place blackjack is legal is in Indian run Casinos like Hard Rock. Well I refuse to play there because in my opinion it is rigged and never once have I won there. However, on the ship I have won thousands of dollars. I have also lost but I love the fact that I also walk away every time with a free cruise.. Infact this year alone I have 8 free cruises from my play in the casino and its fun for me. I absolutely love sitting in there for 8 hours a day playing cards. Do I still do other things of course. I see all the shows and go to all the restaurants but I don't sit out at the pool because thats boring for me and I can do that at home. So I think its all about perspective and what you like to do. Also I am diamond plus with 290 points and I have been on 48 Royal cruises so all the shows and activities are quite repetitive and sine I cruise like 8 times a year what I like doing is sitting and playing cards. This is why I love Royal everyone can do whatever they want and meet up for dinner to talk about their day. So im glad you enjoy other activities on the ship and Happy Cruising!

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44 minutes ago, AGSLC5 said:

Michael not to discredit your opinion but isn't that the point of a cruise? Everyone gets to do whatever they want. I live in Ft. Lauderdale and I don't want to bake in the sun on my vacation. I do that all day everyday.. What I can't do is play blackjack in a casino. Do you know why because in my state of Florida the only place blackjack is legal is in Indian run Casinos like Hard Rock. Well I refuse to play there because in my opinion it is rigged and never once have I won there. However, on the ship I have won thousands of dollars. I have also lost but I love the fact that I also walk away every time with a free cruise.. Infact this year alone I have 8 free cruises from my play in the casino and its fun for me. I absolutely love sitting in there for 8 hours a day playing cards. Do I still do other things of course. I see all the shows and go to all the restaurants but I don't sit out at the pool because thats boring for me and I can do that at home. So I think its all about perspective and what you like to do. Also I am diamond plus with 290 points and I have been on 48 Royal cruises so all the shows and activities are quite repetitive and sine I cruise like 8 times a year what I like doing is sitting and playing cards. This is why I love Royal everyone can do whatever they want and meet up for dinner to talk about their day. So im glad you enjoy other activities on the ship and Happy Cruising!

I couldn’t agree with you more. I too live in East Fort Lauderdale and I can throw a rock at the Harmony from my backyard on her way out the inlet every Saturday. In Fort Lauderdale it’s an endless sunny summer of paradise and our reasoning for cruising I’m guessing is different then the majority. Most are fleeing the awful frigid Winters in the North to get a week long reprive and bask in the sun. I do still see the shows and enjoy the dining as well but the sun and fun on the pool deck or the beach days in Labadee are just another average day in Fort Lauderdale for us. Now hanging in the casino playing blackjack or roulette for as many hours as I can get away with while the wife and kids are doing their thing is what I call “fun”! I like the atmosphere (not so much the smoke), talking with fellow players and drinking free alcohol! That’s what I would consider fun for 7 days while being disconnected from work and everything thing else back home! And then once we arrive back in Fort Lauderdale I’m walking through my front door before the crew makes it off the ship and has their coffee at Starbucks on 17th street!

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1 hour ago, tonyfsu21 said:

I couldn’t agree with you more. I too live in East Fort Lauderdale and I can throw a rock at the Harmony from my backyard on her way out the inlet every Saturday. In Fort Lauderdale it’s an endless sunny summer of paradise and our reasoning for cruising I’m guessing is different then the majority. Most are fleeing the awful frigid Winters in the North to get a week long reprive and bask in the sun. I do still see the shows and enjoy the dining as well but the sun and fun on the pool deck or the beach days in Labadee are just another average day in Fort Lauderdale for us. Now hanging in the casino playing blackjack or roulette for as many hours as I can get away with while the wife and kids are doing their thing is what I call “fun”! I like the atmosphere (not so much the smoke), talking with fellow players and drinking free alcohol! That’s what I would consider fun for 7 days while being disconnected from work and everything thing else back home! And then once we arrive back in Fort Lauderdale I’m walking through my front door before the crew makes it off the ship and has their coffee at Starbucks on 17th street!

Tony you and I are on exactly the same page! I love playing blackjack and Roulette as long as possible. I love meeting fellow table mates who end up becoming my gambling partners and friends all week and yes getting the free alcohol is also fun. I either travel with my boyfriend who does not mind that I enjoy gambling as long as I have dinner with him, see shows with him, and spend little quality time with him lol. We have no children so I don't have to worry about that. If I am not traveling with him I am traveling with my best friend and fellow gambler so again no problem there with being able to gamble lol. I agree with you people who don't live in Florida and deal with the heat just don't get how we feel but thats why I don't criticize others cruising habits and thats one of the things I love about cruising the variety and that there is something for everyone. I also don't enjoy the smoke and went on a celebrity cruise last year which was great because they don't have smoking in their casino's but It was a short cruise and I didn't have the opportunity to gain enough points to get a free or discounted cruise. What I wish is Celebrity could look at my play with Royal and offer me a deal and that way I would have a chance to go on a 7 night cruise on celebrity and gain some status but every time I ask they say no thats not our policy. Anyway I'm always happy to chat with a fellow gambler and I bet one of these days we will end up on the same sailing since we live so close and I'm sure club Royale is always sending you offers too. I'm going on the Signature cruise this Sunday on Oasis so I'm excited the casino will have a lot of fellow gamblers to play with!  

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