Anyone received info on the 2015 Seven Stars program yet?

[Dan Druff]

I am but a lowly Platinum and I recently redeemed an offer for a free nights in Vegas plus a free cruise voucher. When I booked the cruise on NCL (7 Nights) they said you had to pay taxes, gratuities, and "Non-commissionable Fare" of $180. The total is $380 per person which is still a pretty good deal but the non-commissionable fare bothered me. Its not really a free cruise is it? Much like being forced to pay a resort fee for "free" nights at the hotel.
In the past something like this would have really bothered me and I would have made a big stink on the reservation line and possibly not gone entirely. As I get older I am trying to just accept these things so I am going to go and enjoy myself.

This is correct. The NCF really eats away at the value of these "free" inside cabins.

For reference, by waiting until the optimal time to book (48 days from sailing in this case), I got a second room for my August 2014 Alaska cruise for $109 over NCF/taxes. And I could have had it for $59 if I wanted a deck 4 cabin (I didn't). So someone with a certificate like yours saved a whopping $109 over what I paid on the open market.

The balcony staterooms which come with the 7 Stars program are a better deal.

[Dan Druff]

Btw if you made a stink about it, you would have been laughed off the phone.

They make zero exceptions to this policy.

[seemoreroyals]

The official details of the 2015 7 star program are now out.

sevenstarsinsider.com

[Alan Mendelson]

I don't know what the sevenstarsinsider has, but the OFFICIAL RULES are on the Caesars website here:

https://www.caesars.com/content/cet-.../renewal-2015/

[seemoreroyals]

Its the same thing. One of the benefits we appear to be losing is the free in room movies and wifi. That's the way I am reading it any way.

[Alan Mendelson]

Its the same thing. One of the benefits we appear to be losing is the free in room movies and wifi. That's the way I am reading it any way.

That may be. On the other hand, it might vary by property.

Personally, I would miss the free movies a lot. I saw three movies this past weekend, plus we signed on to Wifi for a computer we brought along. No charges.

[seemoreroyals]

I hope they don't take away the qua spa at Caesar's as a 7 star benefit. The way these rules are written in particular concerning the complimentary room benefit, CET has put themselves in position to take away quite a few benefits if they so choose. The movie / wifi package alone would represent a loss of benefit to us well over $1000 per year. Last year we spent about 60 overnight stays at a CET property. During that time we probably watched at least 50 movies. At 10 per day for wifi and at $15 per pay per view movie that adds up to $1350 worth of benefits we would be losing if this is indeed the case.

[FABismonte]

I don't know what the sevenstarsinsider has, but the OFFICIAL RULES are on the Caesars website here:

https://www.caesars.com/content/cet-.../renewal-2015/

I see no reference to Annual Gifts for Seven Stars. I liked picking out a gift from the catalog -- even if it was only worth approx. $200.

FAB

[Luckylisa]

The Samsung Galaxy IS the appreciation gift. There is no online catalog to choose from.
It's also unclear if there will be a discount for spa and salon services.

[seemoreroyals]

Since it appears that the Samsung Galaxy is the appreciation gift is it worth the trip to pick it up? How does it compare in value and usefulness to an Ipad or a Kindle Fire?

[Alan Mendelson]

My guess is the tablet has a value of $100.

[FABismonte]

How does it work? Do you simply show up at any CET casino, flash your Seven Stars card with ID and pick up a Samsung Galaxy at Total Rewards?

FAB

[synergistic]

I've been hearing rumblings about 7* being aimed toward legit "invite only" - and that some people have not been "invited" to renew this year, despite earning status last year. Any APs have this happen to them?

[Luckylisa]

I've seen it posted elsewhere that it is a Samsung Galaxy tablet 4 with wifi, 7".
You pick it up at your home casino during the appreciation event. I've been told that it cannot be combined with another offer. My home casino is in Vegas and the Galaxy appears in my offers on select dates over the next few months. You have to book in under the offer.

[Alan Mendelson]

If Luckylisa is correct it sells for $139 at Walmart. Would you go out of your way for that? I wouldn't.

[seemoreroyals]

Great news over at www.sevenstarsinsider.com. As you know they are very reliable as a source for up to date 7 star benefits. More useful for gathering information than all the CET hosts combined. They addressed property specific benefits including wifi and free movies and much to my liking they are still going to be complimentary. Those benefits and other benefits are addressed. It is a little hard to find. The property specific benefits can be found by going to Seven Stars - the Basics section of their website. Look for the last blue colored insider tip. Click where it says HERE underlined and all of the property specific benefits are revealed. In the top right corner once you get there it says that it was last updated 3/30/15. There is no free qua spa mentioned in the vegas section of the property specific benefits but overall puts my mind at ease in regards to what we have to look forward to during the coming year in regards to property specific benefits.

[Alan Mendelson]

I am not surprised that free movies and wifi will continue and it's what I expected. But that is watching pennies folks. I am more concerned with the dollars -- paytables on video poker, return on slots, minimums on table games, pays on table bets, values of offers. After all what do you go to a casino for? I don't think it's to watch movies as your first priority.

For me: my play is the same as a year ago but my Vegas offers have dropped from $2500 to $1500 to $1000 to $600 and now $400.

Go ahead and charge me for movies but restore my $2500 offers.

[carolinajacket]

I agree. In fact, I have never watched a movie while at a casino, but I surely do watch the free play. Mine is about $1500 now at Cherokee. I'm not sure if they have any good John Wayne movies.

[synergistic]

Wow, can't believe the negative changes to the Experiences program. $500 for 250,000 tier - literally 80% less than last year.

Dan, I may end up joining you in the comp whore category - without markedly better offers/promos, there will be virtually no reason to earn more than 150k tier.

I suppose there is a small 'perk' here - after 150k, I won't feel as driven to hit 2500 or 5000 rc per day.

[Dan Druff]

Wow, can't believe the negative changes to the Experiences program. $500 for 250,000 tier - literally 80% less than last year.

Dan, I may end up joining you in the comp whore category - without markedly better offers/promos, there will be virtually no reason to earn more than 150k tier.

I suppose there is a small 'perk' here - after 150k, I won't feel as driven to hit 2500 or 5000 rc per day.

Someone definitely needs to educate CET on the law of diminishing returns.

In other news, CET hasn't sent their paperwork to NCL yet for the cruises, so you can't book yet.

I confirmed this with NCL's Casinos at Sea today.

The rep I spoke to (who seemed intelligent and on the ball) said that CET is "always late" sending them the certificates officially authorizing these Seven Stars cruises to be given away.

In the meantime, NCL's cruises are selling like hotcakes this year, because they completely revamped their promotions and made it much more attractive to buy balcony-or-better cabins. So Seven Stars members, who already had to wait until April 1 to book, now have to wait even longer.