Royal Caribbean casino players detail complimentary cruise offers
Two guests reported receiving multiple sailings through casino rewards, though gambling losses, taxes and fees contributed to their overall costs.
Royal Caribbean provides complimentary cruise offers to guests who accumulate enough casino points during a sailing. The report said players currently earn one point for every $5 wagered on slot machines and one point for every $15 wagered on video poker.
Reddit user emmbreil claimed to have taken three complimentary cruises after losing $500 in Royal Caribbean casinos. The user said they continued to receive offers across ports, including balcony cabins and junior suites on Icon Class ships, and estimated the cruises taken during the year were worth $8,000.
According to emmbreil, fully complimentary balcony offers on ships outside the Icon Class begin at 1,500 points, while junior suites and Icon Class sailings require at least 2,500 points. The report said reaching 2,500 points also grants Prime status and access to future Club Royale casino benefits.
Royal Caribbean fan Shannon De Almeida reported a different spending profile. She said she and her husband lost $6,329.48 gambling and paid another $3,305.34 in taxes and fees associated with complimentary cruises, for total out-of-pocket spending of $9,634.82.
The couple took six cruises through casino offers, including cabins they would not ordinarily reserve. De Almeida estimated that the retail price of three trips aboard Oasis of the Seas, Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas alone would have exceeded $16,000.
