Comped Cruises (Free Cruises)?

Hey CC Fam!

Just got back from our 7 day, and DH was comped a "free interior cabin" for our next cruise (WOO!). We noticed that we only have a couple of weeks to book it and it's good only for certain sailings over the next 6 mos. What are your experiences with these types of offers? What should we know before we book? Any advice is greatly appreciated! :D Thanks in advance!

Is this from Carnival, or some third party?

Book quickly...they fill up fast. You will have to pay taxes and port fees. Get insurance because if you have to cancel you would have to pay the full price of the cruise! And...ENJOY!

If this is a bounce back offer, as in from the casino onboard as a "perk" for funds donated:

Call you PVP or TA asap.

There are a limited number of BB slots available.

There usually is no negotiation for ships or sail dates.

You have a limited time frame to book (two weeks) and must sail in the next 6 months.

Otherwise it is just a cruise. No extra things like on a premier.

Enjoy.

Is this from Carnival, or some third party?

It's from Carnival. We found the happy little page slid under our cabin door. :D

Thanks, you guys!! We used a TA this past cruise. I'm thinking it might be wise to go through Carnival for this one. Online booking still ok for this kind of offer?

Book quick! Offer we received under our door the night before our debarkation on 04/02 was to be valid 04/04-04/14...to cruise by 09/29/17. We called 04/03 and were told to call back 04/04, which I did (and emailed PVP) and learned on 04/04 thru expiration date, and repeatedly, there were no cruises that fit our offer...not one single one. Offer was for $200 PER ROOM for less than 6 nights, and $400 PER ROOM for 7+ nights. We were told they quit doing these yet when I sent pic our PVP got a reply from higher ups that none were available. Six cruises in 3 1/2 years, with intention of 2 more this year (not comped in any way) ... this may have ended my loyalty.

I have an older friend that I've booked her comped ones for her and her guest several times without an issue. Dates were always available so she could travel when i was taking my crew, and Icould keep an eye in her. I'm just noticing changes are happening with casino.

Good luck!

Book quick! Offer we received under our door the night before our debarkation on 04/02 was to be valid 04/04-04/14...to cruise by 09/29/17. We called 04/03 and were told to call back 04/04, which I did (and emailed PVP) and learned on 04/04 thru expiration date, and repeatedly, there were no cruises that fit our offer...not one single one. Offer was for $200 PER ROOM for less than 6 nights, and $400 PER ROOM for 7+ nights. We were told they quit doing these yet when I sent pic our PVP got a reply from higher ups that none were available. Six cruises in 3 1/2 years, with intention of 2 more this year (not comped in any way) ... this may have ended my loyalty.

 

I have an older friend that I've booked her comped ones for her and her guest several times without an issue. Dates were always available so she could travel when i was taking my crew, and Icould keep an eye in her. I'm just noticing changes are happening with casino.

 

Good luck!

Yikes! What kinda crap is that?? DH called and talked to PVP today, even though the offer says we can't start booking til tomorrow. She gave him a few options to weigh and asked him to call back to book tomorrow. Said she doesn't have a good list yet, but may have more options by tomorrow. Eh.. We'll see. It would be perfect timing for our anniversary trip. Keeping our fingers crossed!

Good luck with that, was told I couldn't book my BB til tomorrow, Free Balcony....all gone now...there was 12 choices this morning....not happy!

Sent from my LG-E980 using Forums mobile app

We received a bounce back offer on our last cruise. We were staying an extra night in Fort Lauderdale after the cruise. We got to the hotel super early, and hung out in the breakfast area until a room became available. During that time we decided to check out that offer. It was listed under my VIFP offers.

We booked an interior, and only paid port fees and taxes. We wanted to book a ocean view, but that wasn't an option. I thought I would just call the next day about upgrading. This offer was good for 2 weeks.

When we got home, I called about upgrading. Carnival had said we couldn't because that promotion was now closed. So only 2 days after our cruise we would not have been able to book the bounce back offer.

It was a good thing we had 4 hours to kill at the hotel. I mean we got off the ship at 7:30 am and booked the bounce back offer at 10:30am. It was a great feeling checking into our hotel early knowing we did get a free cruise.

We could only do a 5 day, but it's at the end of June, smack dab in the middle of High Season. The cruise fare is listed at $750.00 per person for an Inside Stateroom.😮 That is why we only cruise in the Off Season. In 25 cruises we have never sailed in the summer.

Hope you are able to use your offer. It great to get one, but blows when you aren't able to use it.

Now what do they give bounce back offers for?

Bounce Back offers are from the Ship Casino. Usually sent out in the early morning hours before debarkcation. I believe if you spent a good amount of time in the casino. Sort of like a bounce back from your losses . Lol. ;p

We've gotten several of these in the past 12 months. They are very restrictive and difficult to book, but with a little patience you can score some great deals. We were even able to snag a free interior on an 8-day Vista sailing in June that happened to pop into the BB offers! Just keep calling in or looking online and you may score a good deal.

My recommendation is to book as early as possible. A travel agent or PVP should be able to provide you with a list of available sailings.

Sometimes, the offer will populate in your VIFP offers on the Carnival Website, which makes it really easy to track what is available. The list updates on Thursdays I've heard, so be sure to check. The offers are good for 2 people, and you will only have to pay port fees and taxes. You may be able to upgrade to an oceanview/balcony for a fee.

These are good offers. The only thing you'll have to pay is port tax, and any upgrade fee (to oceanview or balcony). The first time I did one of these offers, I was able to book the Vista TA (13 night), and upgrade to a balcony for a few hundred dollars.

On that cruise, I received another bounce-back that I am using for a 7-day southern Caribbean in a couple weeks. Upgraded to oceanview for $100 each.

I haven't had the issues with availability that others are mentioning. In fact, in both cases, I've booked mine toward the end of the "valid through" date, and have seen wide availability. It is possible that it has something to do with level of casino play/offer code received.

Hey CC Fam!

Just got back from our 7 day, and DH was comped a "free interior cabin" for our next cruise (WOO!). We noticed that we only have a couple of weeks to book it and it's good only for certain sailings over the next 6 mos. What are your experiences with these types of offers? What should we know before we book? Any advice is greatly appreciated! :D Thanks in advance!

My husband got a "free cruise" card in the mail two years ago. It was legit. Cruise for two in

an inside stateroom. We had the option to upgrade to OV for $25 pp or balcony for $50 pp.

We upgrade to balcony and had a wonderful time!

Thanks for all of the responses, you guys! DH was jerked around by the first PVP we called. She kept saying she would call him back and that she didn't have a good list of available cruises for him. So he ended up calling someone else and we booked through her this afternoon! We were able to upgrade to OV for an extra $100. Going on the Triumph June 10-15! :D This will be our "anniversary cruise" since we like to take a trip for our anniversary around summer time anyway. Yay! We've done the Triumph once before and enjoyed her. Can't wait!

Thanks, you guys!! We used a TA this past cruise. I'm thinking it might be wise to go through Carnival for this one. Online booking still ok for this kind of offer?

I think you should call Carnival. As others have said there is limited availability and it might be difficult to know the correct ships and/or dates these are available.

We've been on one "free" cruise. We booked a 7 day in an interior (which is actually our preferred cabin), and the total cost for the 2 of us was $167.11 (not including the gratuity).

uote=springs741;52850732]If this is a bounce back offer, as in from the casino onboard as a "perk" for funds donated:

Call you PVP or TA asap.

There are a limited number of BB slots available.

There usually is no negotiation for ships or sail dates.

You have a limited time frame to book (two weeks) and must sail in the next 6 months.

Otherwise it is just a cruise. No extra things like on a premier.

Enjoy.

just wanted to say its not necessarily for funds donated. This bothers me because, many believe to get a free cruise you have to lose in the casino. False. Its all about the points you earn playing and...

on a cruise late last year i won 13 jackpots 6 on the same machine. Needless to say i donated nothing, and indeed did get the free Ocean View for future cruise, ,and , in my offers section on carnival.com i currently have 17 free premier cruises.... so for clarification..

while people tend to think you always lose in the casino therefore its cause of what you donated, its actually the number of points you have earned... 5000 is a free interior, the same way 1500 is the drink on us card... the 5000 points gets you a free cruise win or lose.

NOTE: if you log into carnival.com and click on your name in top right, you will see a section called my offers. it will show there. You will also see a calendar for the next six months and any cruises you can book will show as zero. if you choose the OV tab it will show you 100 ( meaning you can upgrade to OV for 100)

You also automatically get the Drink on us card for your 15 drinks per day... soon as you board.

Thanks so much for the extra info! :) We did end up going with the OV upgrade this time around. DH and I were under the impression that the "Drinks on Us" card was for in-casino drinks only. Is this correct?

Yes the DOU is only applicable in the casino. Also you said something about calling back to a different person which leads me to believe you were just calling the 800 number and not a PVP. A PVP is assigned to you and is the same person for each call. You'll have their specific extension and speak to that same person all the time. A PVP is great to have if you have a good one because they get to know you and it's easier to deal with than a different person each time. If you want a PVP Carnival will assign one to you. I have a great one but CC doesn't let us make recommendations here. You might want to consider that for future cruises. JMHO

We also have gotten the same offer, well my husband not I lol...but we only had three months time and like you said only a handful of cruises on the list, problem is, we always book all our vacations a year in advance, so we have upcoming vacations and no time to take the "freebie".

just curious...my nephew got a BB offer...but can't go. What would happen if he booked with a friend and didn't show up but his friend did?

I would assume the one who got comp has to show up but I could be wrong but then everybody could give their freebie away, I am sure Carnival won't allow this.

That was going to be my question my mom got comped but doesnt want to use it.

Sent from my SM-N920P using Forums mobile app

It can not be passed on to another cruiser. The one who gets the offer MUST sail on the cruise or the others will be charged full price.

Another stipulation is that if for some reason you have to cancel and not go on the Free Booked cruise, like at the last minute (sickness or any reason), Carnival will charge you the full fair of the cruise. For this reason, I always buy the insurance through Carnival. For an extra $100 or so, it is worth it to me incase something goes wrong. The last cruise I just got off was a free BB offer. Total cost of port fees & taxes was $186, so I added the insurance for $49 /pp. Was still a cheap 7 day cruise @ $286.