Some people bet on cruises because they have money to spare and they like the excitement. Hopefully these people are playing within their means, whether it's placing small bets on the slot machines or betting thousands of dollars at the tables.
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Many players, however, enjoy the game but also look for benefits like free cruises. Both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity offer multiple methods to earn a free cruise (or many of them):
- Loyalty Tier Offers: When you earn 2,500 points toward Prime on Royal Caribbean, you get a free cruise issue in April. The same applies to people who reach Amethyst (5000 points) on Celebrity. (Room class improves as higher levels are obtained.)
- Instant certificates: Both cruise lines will have a sheet in the casino with a QR code that shows how many points a cruiser needs to earn on that sailing to earn a free cruise. Higher points levels unlock nicer cabins, more free play, and more trips.
- Email/Mail Offers: Both cruise lines sometimes send additional free cruise listings to passengers by mail, email, or through their casino websites. No cruise line shares the formula it uses to award these free cruises.
Both cruise lines give passengers 1 point for every $5 spent on a slot machine, and video poker costs $10 per point. Table game rates vary, but you generally have to be a high roller to earn significant points playing table games.
That's why many, actually most, passengers looking to win free cruises play slot machines. There's a strategy for that if you want to play that way, but Royal Caribbean and Celebrity have quietly made it harder for passengers to get free cruises.
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Understanding how slot machines work is key
Not all slot machines are the same. Some have big prizes and sophisticated bonus games that are very difficult to win.
Many players like to chase big wins, which is why they play these machines.
That's not the best strategy to maximize points toward tier status and an Instant Certificate. Slot machines that have higher prizes will pay out less frequently, depending on Cache Creek Casino.
Slot machine volatility is also sometimes called variance. Both terms refer to the level of risk associated with playing a particular slot machine, measured by how often the machine is expected to pay out. Slot volatility is programmed into the machine, which dictates the frequency and size of payouts over time. A high volatility slot will pay out infrequently, but the wins will usually be higher. In contrast, a low volatility slot pays more frequently but with smaller rewards. Understanding volatility is crucial to managing your bankroll and choosing a machine that suits your gaming preferences.
Cruise lines do not issue free cruises based on how much money you lose. If you put $1,000 into a machine quickly, hoping to win the big prize, you'll earn fewer points than if you put the same money into a machine with a lower maximum payout and more frequent small wins.
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You get points by staying in the game, not by racking up big wins or losses. That's why playing low-volatility slot machines is the key to earning points more efficiently.
Royal Caribbean and Celebrity have updated their casinos
Most low volatility slots are less exciting. These are usually single line paying machines and rarely have bonus games.
Both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises have spent the last few years updating almost all of their casinos. That has largely included getting rid of lower-volatility slots.
This is not a plot by the cruise lines to make more money. Most players prefer to play higher volatility machines because they offer fun bonus games and generally have many more activities than classic low volatility machines.
None of the cruise lines are trying to eliminate low volatility machines. They are trying to give cruise ships the most popular slot machines.
Smart players, however, still have some options. While the lower volatility machines may have disappeared, there are still wide variations in the machines available.
READ ALSO: Top travel agents share how to get the best price on your cruise
To maximize points earned, look for machines that have relatively low bonus payouts.
“Low volatility machines will provide more frequent and smaller payouts, which can extend your playing time and reduce the risk of losing large amounts in a short period. You will win less, but you will feel like you are winning more because it happens more frequently. “, according to Cache Creek.
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