Margaritaville at Sea just expanded its casino players club

Saw a fresh item in Cruise Industry News this week about Margaritaville at Sea expanding its Casino Players Club, with the changes bookable now for sailings starting October 1. The part that caught my eye was the offer-match angle: they said qualified players can submit an existing offer from another cruise line or a land casino for consideration instead of starting from zero. Not saying that means anything is automatic, because these programs always have fine print and the line decides what it wants to honor. But it does make me wonder whether smaller or newer casino programs are getting more aggressive about attracting experienced players. Would any of you actually move a booking for a better match opportunity, or do itinerary and ship still come first? I’m curious how this group weighs casino recognition against the rest of the cruise experience.

Replies

I’d definitely look at it, but I probably wouldn’t move a booking on match talk alone. For me it’s still itinerary first, then whether the casino feels fun enough to spend time in at night. A newer/smaller program trying to recognize play from elsewhere is smart though, especially for folks who don’t want to start from scratch every time they try a different line. I’d be most curious about the actual onboard experience: casino size, bar setup, tournaments, and whether the offers after that first trip are worth a second look. Has anyone here actually sailed Margaritaville and spent real time in their casino?

I wouldn’t move a booking just for a match opportunity, but I would keep it in the “interesting” file. Gene and I tried a newer players club on another line years back, and the biggest lesson was that the first impression mattered more than the promo sheet. If the casino is smoky, cramped, or the machine mix is thin, no match is going to make me linger. What I’d want to know is how they handle the review process. Is it just teaser language, or are folks actually hearing back with something usable before final payment?

I’m with both of you, but I’d separate “match” from “move my trip.” Back in the old days, some lines practically winked and waved you aboard if you had a decent card from somewhere else. These days everybody says “send it in” and then a committee in a back room decides whether they like your face. Fair enough, their sandbox. What would interest me here is turnaround time and what they want as proof. Offer letter, players card, recent folio, host contact? If anybody submits to Margaritaville, report back on the paperwork and how long they took. That tells you a lot about how serious the program is.