Royal Caribbean Group introduces new deposit policy for casino reservations

The Royal Caribbean Group has announced a change to the rules surrounding free cruises granted to casino players, with a deposit now required for all bookings for guests who have previously no-showed, starting September 5th.

Guests on Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises sailings are often invited to enjoy free cruises if they spend enough money in the casino onboard during past cruises. This move helps the cruise line make more money from those guests when they return and play more in the casinos. 

However, according to cruise industry reports, in recent times there have been some issues with guests no-showing their cruise, resulting in empty beds or rooms that could otherwise have been filled. As a result, those guests have been contacted and told that, in the future, they must pay a $200 deposit to secure their free cruises.

Should they board the ship, the deposit then becomes an onboard credit to use during their free reservation – and if guests do have a change of plans, they will receive a full refund as long as they cancel at least seven days in advance. The money is only forfeited if guests do not show up for their sailing or cancel at the last minute.

Currently, the new rule applies to guests who have no-showed or who have canceled within two days of a sailing date, but it will apply to all future bookings from 5th September 2024 onwards for those guests.

Cruise Hive retrieved an email from Royal Caribbean Group that reads: “We’re reaching out to let you know that in the past 12 months, you have canceled within two days of sailing or not shown up at the pier for your Casino Reservation(s). Under our new Casino Royale Cruise No-Show & Cancellation Policy, effective September 5, 2024, you will be assessed a $200 USD deposit on all active Casino Reservations, sailing on or after September 5, 2024.”

Cruise casino perks and rewards

On Royal Caribbean cruise ships, frequenters of the casino can join Club Royale – a rewards program that gives out points based on money spent in the casino. Typically, guests can earn 1 point for every $5 spent in the slot machines, and 1 point for every $10 coin put in on video poker. Points for table games depend on the type of game, average bet, and length of play.

The rewards club ranking starts at the choice level and then moves up to Prime (2,500 points), Signature (25,000 points), and Masters (100,000+ points). Once guests hit 2,500 points, they become eligible for a free sailing – and as the points grow, so do the onboard perks.

For example, casino users may get discounts on Wi-Fi packages or at the spa, credits to put toward shopping onboard, priority booking for entertainment and dining reservations, and more. The casino rewards program functions similarly on Celebrity Cruises’ vessels but has six tiers instead of four. 

Players join at the Pearl level and move up the ranks through Onyx (500 points), Amethyst (5,000 points), Sapphire (15,000 points), Sapphire Plus (75,000 points), and Ruby (150,000+ points). 

The free cruise becomes available once guests reach the Amethyst level with the offer of a free inside cabin – with the accommodations offered becoming more luxurious as passengers move up the levels.