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Free NCL Cruises Question

We were on the NCL Breakaway a few weeks ago from NYC to Bermuda. I met a very nice lady and her very nice mother in the casino who told me she got the cruise for free from Harrah’s AC. I asked what her tier level was, expecting her to say Seven Stars, but no, she is Gold. In our discussion the only thing that was a possible reason for the free cruise was that she did hit a $48,000 jackpot at Harrah’s AC. Would Harrah’s award a free cruise to a Gold Tier player because they hit a sizable jackpot?

Thanks,

Bob B.

Simply put, Yes. What you receive in terms of cruises, free play, etc. has nothing to do with your Tier level. It is soley based on your ADT, your daily theoretical average. So a player with no prior CET play and TR standing can come in a play big one day on say slots, get a card and their offers could start right out at 10X the free play I get as a 10 year 7 Star player. Also, a big factor in a “free cruise” is what cabin type did they give her. If inside cabin, it probably only cost CET a couple hundred bucks, not a big promotion really.

Dave

—In vpFREE_Crui…@…com, <bob.berger1@…> wrote :

We were on the NCL Breakaway a few weeks ago from NYC to Bermuda. I met a very nice lady and her very nice mother in the casino who told me she got the cruise for free from Harrah’s AC. I asked what her tier level was, expecting her to say Seven Stars, but no, she is Gold. In our discussion the only thing that was a possible reason for the free cruise was that she did hit a $48,000 jackpot at Harrah’s AC. Would Harrah’s award a free cruise to a Gold Tier player because they hit a sizable jackpot?

Thanks,

Bob B.

While I obviously don’t know any of the specifics of this particular situation, generally free cruises are given away by casinos at mass events to groups of players. They require advance reservations, and as sometimes happens, if the event doesn’t fill, they’ll drop down a tier to give all the cruises away. And many times, there’ll be two events, one high, one low, with different packages to each group. So, if there were a Diamond event that didn’t sell out, they could very well drop down to a few Gold tier players. Or it could just be a promo to top of the Gold players.

Now the jackpot may or may not have factored in; it is possible that a host interacted with the very nice lady, remembered her, and got her an invite. But the one thing (or maybe two things) to think about: an unsold cabin, at any price even a so-called “free” one, does not generate any additional revenue for NCL, such a pictures, tours, cover charge dining, drinks, jewelry, art works, bingo, scratch-offs, "Let’s Make a Deal cards, etc. So NCL wants every cabin filled. And there is an interlocking relationship between NCL & CET. And while I’ve never had it confirmed, I’m certain as I can be that the casino giving away the cruises gets some remuneration from NCL for providing players for the onboard casino.

The amount you end up paying for the free cruise is approximately half of the best price you’d be able to get anywhere else, online, travel agent. And if NCL has a full ship when you want to get the cruise booked, they’ll just tell you “Sorry, pick another trip”. But they love having the free cruisers come along, because it’s another cabin filled, at a price that at least covers their fixed costs plus some, and they have the opportunity to sell the free cruiser many, many, many, many things.

Certainly the game is rigged. Don’t let that stop you; if you don’t bet, you can’t win. -Lazarus Long
In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But, in practice, there is. -Yogi Berra

There is no such thing as luck. There is only adequate or inadequate preparation to cope with a statistical universe. -Robert Heinlein

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From: “bob.berg…@…net [vpFREE_Cruises]” <vpFREE_Crui…@…com>
To: vpFREE_Crui…@…com
Sent: Friday, May 22, 2015 10:13 PM
Subject: [vpFREE_Cruises] Free NCL Cruises Question

We were on the NCL Breakaway a few weeks ago from NYC to Bermuda. I met a very nice lady and her very nice mother in the casino who told me she got the cruise for free from Harrah’s AC. I asked what her tier level was, expecting her to say Seven Stars, but no, she is Gold. In our discussion the only thing that was a possible reason for the free cruise was that she did hit a $48,000 jackpot at Harrah’s AC. Would Harrah’s award a free cruise to a Gold Tier player because they hit a sizable jackpot?

Thanks,

Bob B.

I have first hand experience with this. I took my bother-in-law to a Caesars property to establish a card for him. No prior play history. We did one session of about 10,000 Tier (with >$5K theo) for him. More or less broke even on the play with a couple of minor jackpots. He never played again. He not only got Diamond in a day, but also $1,000 coupons and a cruise offer that was for a Penthouse suite on NCL Breakaway. He and my sister went and enjoyed a week long cruise to Bermuda in a corner aft suite with a balcony alone that was twice the size of the entire cabin I get on my “free” 7 Star cruise.

SB

—In vpFREE_Crui…@…com, <slutoo@…> wrote :

Simply put, Yes. What you receive in terms of cruises, free play, etc. has nothing to do with your Tier level. It is soley based on your ADT, your daily theoretical average. So a player with no prior CET play and TR standing can come in a play big one day on say slots, get a card and their offers could start right out at 10X the free play I get as a 10 year 7 Star player. Also, a big factor in a “free cruise” is what cabin type did they give her. If inside cabin, it probably only cost CET a couple hundred bucks, not a big promotion really.

Dave