Royal Caribbean’s Casino Royale loyalty program works differently than many land-based casinos.
For example, in Las Vegas, casino players can drink for free while playing games. Waiters take drink orders at tables, and they also patrol the slot machine area and serve drinks.
RELATED: Royal Caribbean halts sailings to two popular Caribbean ports
Not everyone gets free drinks at Royal Caribbean Casino. To obtain this privilege, players need to achieve Prime status in the Casino Royale loyalty program.
Earning Prime requires a cruise ship to accumulate at least 2,500 points during the Royal Caribbean casino year, which runs from April 1 to March 31. You can earn points by playing games (make sure to insert or click your card on slot machines and give your card to the arcade owner during table games).
Slots players earn 1 point for every $5 played on the machine, while video poker players earn 1 point for every $10 played. Table game players typically make much less money per dollar played because these games have better odds for players.
If you reach Prime or any status level above that, you will earn that status for the remainder of the cruise year and for the next full year. Prime members also get a free seven-day indoor cruise (usually shipped in mid-April), among other perks.
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Royal Caribbean players get new offer
Royal Caribbean has a few official partners, such as its agreement with Hard Rock Casino, where players of all levels of the program receive mutual benefits between the two companies.
In other cases, casinos in popular cruise destinations offer perks to Casino Royale members to entice them to gamble during their port calls.
The Atlantis hotel in Nassau once offered free games to Royal Caribbean members, but has stopped doing so.
Now, another Nassau resort casino has partnered with the cruise line to add free gaming benefits for Royal Caribbean players.
Royal Caribbean players who choose to visit Nassau Baha Mar can play slot games for free according to the following schedule:
- Choice: $25
- Premium: $50
- Signature: $75
- Master’s degree: $100
Free-to-play is when players must put their money at risk before they can pocket it. In this case, it’s a free slot machine game, so Royal Caribbean passengers need to run money through the machine, which can then be cashed out and pocket the rest.
To take advantage of this benefit, players need to register for a Baha Mar Club Blu player card. This means providing the casino with your personal contact information.
“Participants who are eligible to receive free slot games must register at the Club Blu Rewards Desk,” Royal Caribbean explains. “Royal Caribbean Club Royale Rewards cardholders must present a SeaPass card reflecting their Club Royale tier and photo ID and visit the Club Blu Registration Promotion and verify their tier. Participants must present their Club Blu card, or prior to registration Provide valid proof of identity for verification.
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Casino Royale players can only claim one free slot game every 12 months.
A taxi ride from the cruise port to Baha Mar takes about 15 minutes and costs from $40 to $50. This means that, unless you have another way to get to the resort casino (or plan to go there anyway), free slot games are not the main benefit.
Still, since at least some Royal Caribbean players visit the Bahamas at most Nassau stops, it’s a nice perk that can make these trips more profitable.
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