My First "Comped" Cruise

[Timeshare Von]

Having sailed with Royal Caribbean twice (Sept 23 and Feb 24), I earned a comped cruise through my casino play . . . free for me plus 50% off for my travel companion . . . just having to pay the port fees & taxes. My sister also had the same offer, so we bundled them to cruise together for free. So we'll be doing a 7-night cruise from Boston to Canada later this fall for just $227 each!

You may be wondering "Sure Von it wasn't so 'free' if you lost a lot of money in their casino." First . . . I didn't play all that much, maybe only 2-3 hours for 3-4 nights on the 2 prior cruises. And while I did lose "a little money" (less than $500 on the first cruise), I won quite a bit more than that on the next cruise.

I realize they comp folks in hopes that they come back and play (and lose) more than the value of the comp given, but so far I'm really enjoying this cruise lifestyle in retirement!

 

[rickandcindy23]

Do you get a balcony cabin?

 

[Timeshare Von]

Do you get a balcony cabin?

NOPE . . . we aren't high rollers. We're happy with an inside cabin as it's just a place to sleep

 

[rickandcindy23]

NOPE . . . we aren't high rollers. We're happy with an inside cabin as it's just a place to sleep

We are going on our second cruise week after next. Disney the first time, Norwegian this time, but this one is in the Mediterranean with many stops. We did get a balcony for the views, but I know we will not be in the room much because we weren't in our room a lot on the Disney cruise. Plus, our kids and grandkids have the better cabin because they have three kids, and if we sit around, it will be with them much of the time.

I couldn't even look out from the balcony on the Disney Caribbean cruise because I would get a little queasy.

 

[SmithOp]

If anyone has a land based casino players card, you can register it with Carnival and get free or discount cruise offers.

Carnival Cruise Lines Carnival Players Club Funmatch Program

Carnival Cruise Lines Carnival Players Club Funmatch Program

www.carnival.com

 

[dougp26364]

We have friends who gamble enough they get comped cruises. I just can’t sit in a casino for 2-3 hours each day plus, my luck/skill isn’t that good. We prefer video poker and the pay tables we’ve seen in the past have been pretty poor. Granted we haven’t been on a cruise in at least 10 years, but I just hate playing when the odds are so bad.

 

[Talent312]

... I just hate playing when the odds are so bad.

There may be a lucky few, but for the most part...
When entering the casino, there should be a greeter who
holds his hand out and says: "Give me your money (card)."

 

[Timeshare Von]

I'll admit I'm pretty selective on the casino games I'll play. I love 3 card poker, but at a $10 minimum, $100-$300 goes pretty fast. My sister enjoyed her time on penny slots, and while each "pull" may be a $2-$4 spin, she did take a small haul one night (over $700). We mostly played roulette, which had the standard odds with a $5 minimum. It was social and fun every time we played.

 

[rickandcindy23]

My real father was a gambler. My mom couldn't deal with his addiction after he gambled away their brand new car in 1957.

I have played slots, years ago, and I really liked the one-armed bandits. I don't understand the new slots. It's no fun pushing buttons.

I limited myself to a certain amount I will lose. I have never come out ahead. I can see how someone could think they could "get back" the money lost. I don't want to gamble away our money. I already waste enough money on my timeshare addiction.

 

[california8399]

We save extra money each year to enjoy the casino on a cruise. We take that money in cash and whatever there is we divide it between the two of us. We might ask "How did you do" but we never really question how much either one of us spends. As long as we both know that when that money is gone, that's it. No getting extra cash or charging it to the room. We spend very little on other stuff when we cruise so this is our way of enjoying our time. And we get comp cruise offers regularly. Works for us.

 

[Timeshare Von]

We save extra money each year to enjoy the casino on a cruise. We take that money in cash and whatever there is we divide it between the two of us. We might ask "How did you do" but we never really question how much either one of us spends. As long as we both know that when that money is gone, that's it. No getting extra cash or charging it to the room. We spend very little on other stuff when we cruise so this is our way of enjoying our time. And we get comp cruise offers regularly. Works for us.

That's how I treat my/our gambling as well. My sister & I are looking forward to our upcoming cruise (just under 3 months away).

 

[Timeshare Von]

Well we haven't even taken our upcoming casino comped cruise yet (it's in less than 4 weeks) . . . but we've booked ANOTHER casino freebie offer for February 2025. It's cost us just $114 in port fees & taxes for a 5 night trip out of Tampa, by bundling our two offers for a free inside cabin.

 

[Ski-Dad]

@Timeshare Von
Is your Boston to Canada cruise stopping in Prince Edward Island?

If so, it parks in front of my office. If you are stopping at PEI, and I am around, I will buy you a decent local beer.

 

[Timeshare Von]

@Timeshare Von
Is your Boston to Canada cruise stopping in Prince Edward Island?

If so, it parks in front of my office. If you are stopping at PEI, and I am around, I will buy you a decent local beer.

That would be awesome, but alas, no stop at PEI.

 

[beejaybee]

Had I known about your offer to Yvonne, I'd have begged for the same when our cruise called at PEI on September 6th!

@Timeshare Von
Is your Boston to Canada cruise stopping in Prince Edward Island?

If so, it parks in front of my office. If you are stopping at PEI, and I am around, I will buy you a decent local beer.

We did have an amber at "Lobster on the Wharf"- beer good, lobster tail meh.

 

[Ski-Dad]

Had I known about your offer to Yvonne, I'd have begged for the same when our cruise called at PEI on September 6th!

We did have an amber at "Lobster on the Wharf"- beer good, lobster tail meh.

Next time go to The Water and Prince Corner Shop

 

[Timeshare Von]

As an aside, hubby & I did spend several days on PEI on a road trip vacation to Nova Scotia back in 2017. We loved it so much, we extended our stay an extra day/night. The seafood everywhere we ate was AMAZING! We especially loved Windows on the Water in Montague, near the B&B we stayed at before taking the ferry over to Nova Scotia.

 

[Timeshare Von]

Just got back from our NE & Canada cruise. While the weather was chilly & windy several days, we had a fabulous time. I can say I'm officially HOOKED because I went into this particular cruise with the goal of making to PRIME status in the casino and earn not 1 but 2 comped cruises. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED with just a $500 "investment" (gambling loss) to get there! With the first of the two comps I received, I'll be sailing solo from Lisbon to Port Canaveral next October on a 13 night transatlantic cruise. In April, Prime members will receive their annual free cruise certificate, which will be redeemable for the choice of a 7-night cruise.

Next up however . . . 5-nights out of Tampa (already booked combining casino offers with my sister) for another comped cruise.

I was glad to have connected with this group who provided a lot of valuable information and insight on how to go about tackling the goal of turning casino play into free cruises. I look forward to receiving my coin soon!

 

[Passepartout]

Just got back from our NE & Canada cruise. While the weather was chilly & windy several days, we had a fabulous time. I can say I'm officially HOOKED because I went into this particular cruise with the goal of making to PRIME status in the casino and earn not 1 but 2 comped cruises. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED with just a $500 "investment" (gambling loss) to get there! With the first of the two comps I received, I'll be sailing solo from Lisbon to Port Canaveral next October on a 13 night transatlantic cruise. In April, Prime members will receive their annual free cruise certificate, which will be redeemable for the choice of a 7-night cruise.

Next up however . . . 5-nights out of Tampa (already booked combining casino offers with my sister) for another comped cruise.

I was glad to have connected with this group who provided a lot of valuable information and insight on how to go about tackling the goal of turning casino play into free cruises. I look forward to receiving my coin soon!
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Interesting. I can't say I'd EVER thought about what it might take to gamble my way to a comp'd cruise. Having spent a fair amount of time in Las Vegas, but gambling just never appealed enough to me to try to get any more than a night's sedentary entertainment out of it.

So, uh, High Roller Von, this seems to be working out fairly well for you. Congrats! Thanks for the report, and keep it up. As always, I enjoy your reports on YOUR brand of travel.

Jim

 

[rapmarks]

We are going on our second cruise week after next. Disney the first time, Norwegian this time, but this one is in the Mediterranean with many stops. We did get a balcony for the views, but I know we will not be in the room much because we weren't in our room a lot on the Disney cruise. Plus, our kids and grandkids have the better cabin because they have three kids, and if we sit around, it will be with them much of the time.

I couldn't even look out from the balcony on the Disney Caribbean cruise because I would get a little queasy.

Leaving Sunday, I have scopalomine patches, ginger chews, meclizine , and two anti nausea meds. We have a balcony cabin. My first cruise.

 

[SmithOp]

Less than 20 days until we leave on our comped casino play cruise out of Long Beach to Mexico. We've done this one several times so we just enjoy the ship, the excursions aren't of interest. We have a free balcony, with $600 casino credit to spend.

 

[Timeshare Von]

OK so it's official . . . I AM HOOKED! We just booked a back-to-back on Enchantment out of Tampa next month. It was too good a deal to pass up and maximizes the travel necessary from Wisconsin. Better to have 10 nights than "JUST" 5.