Cruise ship casinos are popular among travelers who enjoy the thrill of gambling while at sea. For many, the allure isn’t just the games but the perks that come with them—especially the opportunity to earn free cruises. However, recent changes in policy by Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises, both owned by the Royal Caribbean Group, have stirred up some discontent among their casino patrons. The new rules, which penalize no-shows for free casino cruises, are designed to curb last-minute cancellations and encourage responsible booking.
The Perks of Gambling on Cruise Ships
Frequent gamblers on cruise ships are well aware of the various perks they can earn. These benefits vary across cruise lines, even within the same company, but they generally include free drinks, priority boarding, and, most coveted of all, free cruises.
For example, Royal Caribbean offers free drinks to anyone who reaches Prime status in their Casino Royale program. To achieve Prime status, players need to earn 2,500 casino points between April 1 and March 31 of the following year. Points accumulate at different rates depending on the game: $5 spent on a slot machine earns 1 point, while $10 spent on a video poker game earns the same. Table game players accumulate points at varying rates depending on the game. Once you hit Prime status, you can enjoy complimentary drinks in the casino, even if you’re not actively playing.
Celebrity Cruises, similarly, offers free drinks to passengers actively playing in their casinos, but the real draw for many gamblers is the chance to earn free cruises. Players can earn these in several ways, either through reaching specific tier levels in the casino loyalty programs or by earning instant certificates during their cruises. For instance, reaching 1,500 points on a single cruise might earn you an interior room on select sailings. As your points increase, so do the types of rooms and bonuses you can claim.
The Recent Policy Change: Penalizing No-Shows
Both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises recently announced a significant change in how they handle no-shows for free casino cruises. Historically, many regular cruisers who earned free cruises would book multiple sailings, sometimes without the intention of actually going on all of them. When life intervened—whether due to work, family, or health issues—they might simply no-show rather than cancel the cruise in advance.
To address this issue, both cruise lines have introduced a new policy that imposes a $200 USD deposit on all free casino cruise reservations. This deposit is refundable as an Onboard Credit once the passenger completes the cruise. However, if the passenger cancels within 7 days of the sailing or fails to show up, the deposit is forfeited.
The goal of this policy is not to add extra costs for loyal casino customers but to encourage them to cancel in advance if they don’t plan to attend. This way, the cruise lines can free up those spots for other passengers and better manage their bookings.
What Casino Players Need to Do
If you have a free casino cruise booked with Royal Caribbean or Celebrity Cruises, you have a 30-day window from September 5, 2024, to review your reservations and pay the required deposit. If the deposit isn’t paid by October 5, 2024, the reservation will be automatically canceled.
The process is straightforward: deposits can be made online, but if you need to cancel a cruise, you’ll have to do so by calling the cruise line directly. It’s worth noting that during the Covid-19 pandemic, Royal Caribbean offered a simple online form for canceling cruises, but this is not currently available, making phone cancellations the only option.
While the new policy might seem like an inconvenience to some, it’s important to remember that it’s designed to improve the overall experience for all passengers. By ensuring that free cruise spots are only booked by those who intend to use them, the cruise lines can provide a more reliable service to their customers.
Similar Policies Across the Industry
Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises aren’t alone in implementing such policies. Carnival Cruise Line, another major player in the cruise industry, has a similar policy for free casino cruises. This trend reflects a broader shift in the industry towards more responsible booking practices.
Thoughts:
The recent changes in Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises’ casino policies are a significant shift for loyal casino players. While the new $200 deposit requirement may not be welcomed by everyone, it serves a clear purpose: to encourage better communication and planning among passengers. By canceling cruises in advance, travelers can help ensure that free spots are available for others, leading to a better overall experience for all.
As the cruise industry continues to evolve, it’s crucial for regular casino players to stay informed about these kinds of changes. By understanding the new policies and planning accordingly, you can continue to enjoy the many perks that come with being a loyal casino patron on the high seas.
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