Latest news with #BlueChip
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Royal Caribbean gives casino players a surprise gift
Cruise ship casino players like to talk about the changing perks offered by the various cruise lines. Sometimes they're happy about a new offer or annual tier perk, but usually they're upset that a cruise line has taken away something it once offered. Related: Royal Caribbean cruisers sound the alarm on a major ship problem Celebrity Cruises Blue Chip casino program members, for example, are losing automatic free play at all levels, and Sapphire and higher players no longer get a free Classic Drink Package when the casino year ends. That could change, of course, as many gamblers have complained. But cruise lines have been doing very well, so they may not need to incentivize players quite so much. Royal Caribbean offers two ways to earn free cruises. The first are "Instant Certificates." These are earned based on onboard play on a single cruise. In each Royal Caribbean casino players can scan a QR code to see how many points they need to earn in order to claim a free cruise. More points equals better ships and itineraries, more freeplay, and nicer rooms. It's a very clear system where you know exactly what it takes to earn the trip you want. The second type of free cruise, Targeted offers, are a little more murky. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise. Targeted offers are a bit more murky. These are sent via email and postcard and to your Club Royale Offers account. In theory, they are based on your previous play, but the cruise line does not share its formulas. Sometimes the offers include the newest ships, and in other cases, it's only older ones or very select sailings. My offers tend to include balconies on most ships, aside from Icon and Star of the Seas. Offers on the newest-class tend to be scarce, and I did get one for Star on 4-day sailing in August and one on Icon for a week in January. Related: Royal Caribbean, Carnival add ship enhancements cruisers will love These offers are for two people, and they're legitimately free, aside from taxes and port fees. That allows me to take a guest in my cabin, but since my son works and my wife does not cruise, I generally go alone (or with friends who have their own offers). One of my newer Royal Caribbean offers, however, offers me something I have never seen before. It's titled "2025 Double Your Luck: Two stateroom offer." This special deal, which includes select sailings on Wonder of the Seas, offers me two cabins where all I pay is taxes and port fees. That will allow me to bring friends who otherwise might never have sailed. It's an incredibly kind offer that many of my cruise gambling friends have received. Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. Royal Caribbean and other cruise lines want gamblers onboard because they spend (and lose) money. No business offers free product simply to be generous. In this case, Royal Caribbean has calculated the value of having each gambler onboard. It knows that if it gives me a free cabin, it will make enough profit off of me in order to justify the gift. Sometimes, casino players get free offers to fill up challenging sailings. Pretty much every Royal Caribbean gambler I know, for example, has an offer for a three-day cruise from Florida that ends in Panama. That's a very challenging cruise ship to fill because flights back from Panama are not cheap. Related: Royal Caribbean cruisers often overlook key drink package perk In most cases, though, Royal Caribbean does not need gamblers to fill its ships, especially the newer ones. "We continue to be thrilled by the reception of our spectacular new ships. The enthusiasm for Star of the Seas, our second Icon Class ship, and Celebrity Xcel, the latest addition to the Edge-class lineup, have exceeded expectations, driving strong pricing and load factors," said CEO Jason Liberty during Royal Caribbean's first-quarter earnings call. He expects the market to remain strong. "As we look at our current and potential consumers, we remain encouraged. While broader consumer spending moderated, vacation spend continued to grow as consumer sentiment around leisure vacations remained positive. Our customers continue to be engaged and excited about vacations," he added. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) Make a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me's Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at amypost@ or call or text her at 386-383-2472. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wisconsin football blue-chip safety target commits to an SEC program
Wisconsin football class of 2026 target, safety Messiah Tilson, committed to Kentucky on Monday. Tilson chose the Wildcats over the Badgers, Rutgers Scarlet Knights and Minnesota Golden Gophers. He recently trimmed a long list of interests to those final contenders, following official visits to Wisconsin on April 23, Kentucky on June 3 and Rutgers on June 6. Advertisement 247Sports lists Tilson as a four-star prospect. He's specifically ranked as the No. 402 player in the class of 2026, No. 38 safety and No. 11 player from the state of Illinois. His choice of Kentucky was a bit of a surprise after the 247Sports staff issued several crystal ball predictions favoring Rutgers. Wisconsin, however, appeared out of the picture. The blue-chip safety joins a Kentucky class of 2026 that now ranks No. 67 nationally with only six players committed. Meanwhile, Wisconsin sits at No. 35 in the national rankings with 13 commitments. With Tilson off to the Wildcats, the Badgers still have yet to add a blue-chip prospect to their class. Wisconsin's focus turns to top blue-chip targets WR Jayden Petit, RB Amari Latimer, OT Kamari Blair and athlete Jackson Ford. Commitments from that group are critical for the program to finish in the nation's top 30. Advertisement Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin recruiting target Messiah Tilson commits to Kentucky
News.com.au
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Why John Mayer and Billy Strings Use These $35 Guitar Picks
BlueChip's $35 guitar picks made of aerospace-grade material are favored by stars like John Mayer. Here's how an unintended invention upended the high-end pick industry and spread despite initial skepticism — and competitors that cost under a dollar.
Wall Street Journal
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wall Street Journal
Why John Mayer and Billy Strings Use These $35 Guitar Picks
Why John Mayer and Billy Strings Use These $35 Guitar Picks BlueChip's $35 guitar picks made of aerospace-grade material are favored by stars like John Mayer. Here's how an unintended invention upended the high-end pick industry and spread despite initial skepticism — and competitors that cost under a dollar. Photo Illustration: Michael Tabb
India Gazette
30-05-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
IndiGo to build maintenance, repair & operation infra at Bangalore in partnership with BIAL
New Delhi [India], May 30 (ANI): IndiGo and Bangalore International Airport Ltd. (BIAL) on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to build its own Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) the agreement, Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport will allocate around 31 acres of land to IndiGo for the development of MRO infrastructure to support the airline's expanding fleet.'Partnering with BIAL underlines our shared commitment to drive long-term growth of the aviation ecosystem in Bengaluru and cement its status as, of the best and world-class international hubs in see this collaboration as a pivotal step towards building a significant global presence for IndiGo, as well as for India,' said Pieter Elbers, Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo. 'We have had a very successful, long-term relationship with IndiGo, and this collaboration further strengthens our association with the airline,' said Hari Marar, MD & CEO, Bangalore International Airport (BIAL). 'This is a strong validation of the growth potential of BLR Airport and the City of Bengaluru as a premier aviation hub. The partnership reinforces our commitment to developing world-class aviation infrastructure and enhancing BLR Airport's role as India's premier aerospace and MRO hub,' he the partnership will also assist each other in various areas, including network expansion, infrastructure development, and joint marketing initiatives. IndiGo anticipates that the airline will surpass 600 aircraft in its fleet by 2030. It has joined hands 'with Norse Atlantic Airways for the dry lease of six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, deliveries of which will be completed by early 2026, anticipating the arrival of the A350 in 2027.'IndiGo has earlier announced the commencement of long-haul operations with non-stop, direct flights connecting Mumbai with Manchester and Amsterdam starting July 2025. Furthermore, the release also said that, 'as IndiGo's fleet of damp-leased B787S expands later this year, the airline is planning to expand its long-haul network to London and Copenhagen.'There are plans by the airline to add four new domestic destinations to its network, which will increase connectivity from 91 to 95 destinations. IndiGo is all set to become the first airline to start operations at the Navi Mumbai International Airport and the Noida International Airport in a press briefing, the CEO of Indigo highlighted that Indigo's loyalty program has already signed up 3 million members in just six months.'The financial year 2025 has been a pivotal year in our journey as we took significant steps in our evolution into a truly global airline. This includes the introduction of IndiGoStretch, our tailor-made business offering, and BlueChip, our loyalty program, besides sizeable network expansion in the domestic as well as international market,' Pieter Elbers said. (ANI)
