hightownCO

Same with me as Nan Sea's friend's. No mail or e mail. I was checking a cruise on line and had not logged in, chose a cabin, then logged in where you complete the booking. The price dropped them. I didn't figure out it was a casino rate till I read about it here. I don't think there's an active rate right now. At least I'm not seeing it for me.

You have to go to guest services and have it applied to your account. Or use the kiosks.

Donna, that's an excellent deal. For my cruise next year received a offer that I wouldn't have believed even after not cruising Princess for 3 years. Like I said, I'll ask for the OBC but when they say no, can't complain. Still, I just hate the inconsistency. My last cruise with carnival, I paid $100pp + tax&port fees for an oceanview on a 7 night cruise, pretty much your same deal and did get the credit.

Donna, my cruise this month on Carnival was a casino offer for a free inside cabin plus $200 cash at the cage. I upgraded to an OV for $200 total. First cruise since purchasing stock. Because it was a paid cruise due to the upgrade, I did get the shareholders credit. Others have gotten too under same conditions.

Maybe they are taking some sort of stand now but they need to define what reductions are ok and what aren't. I'm guessing your rate may have been 30% off. So if it's reduced 25% that's ok but 30% is not? What if the cruise is not selling and its greatly discounted - 50% off brochure price?

My next cruise is on Princess on a casino offer, too.

Do go back to them for explanation. If they are denying because it's a reduced rate, that doesn't fly. They would have to also deny for past guest discounts, state targeted discounts, etc.

This has come up on the Carnival forum and they politely pushed back and got their credit. Whoever makes the decisions on the credit relented and clarified that if a discount, OBC allowed but if the cabin was a comp, then no shareholders credit.

Let us know what they say.

as noted, there should be something in your stateroom on boarding. you take that to the casino cage (show an id too). Just in case, I would recommend taking your letter too - in case the voucher isn't in the room.

Thanks for the reply!

I'll definitely send in and ask nicely for the Shareholders credit.

Same here. Couldn't pass it up. Round trip from SF, March 4. Wife and I each have $125 in Casino cash also.

 

We have been sailing Princess for quite a few years. OBC perks for this one are good. $250 cabin credit and another $250 as stockholders. Stock dividends are a lot better than the bank interest on the same amount. ;)

Wish I could go on the earlier sailing but between now and then need to sell my house and move, somewhere. So hopefully all done and settled by October!

If you don't mind my asking, is your offer for a 'comp'd' room? Have you gotten this before and been able to get your stockholder's credit? I recently bought stock but question whether the shareholder's benefit will apply if the room is comp'd.

Thank you for posting that!!! I called and our offer is "up to 35% off", she didn't have any specific cruises, said to just decide on an itinerary and call back for a price. Was this your experience?? I may call back during the week to see if I get a different answer.

 

Thanks again!

I found out that I had the 35% off offer by pricing out cruises on princess.com. once I found a cruise at the final step, i'd log in and the price would drop.

The offer I have now for these VIP cruises are different. Specific cruises only and during the cruise for those on this special offer, the casino puts on special drawings and events, free drinks while playing. I had one about 4 years ago from Princess. Carnival does the same thing and call theirs Premier offers.

Does Princess have a casino marketing department? We moved recently and haven't received any offer since then.....we'd like to see if we have any available prior to booking the next cruise!

 

Thanks in advance!

I have the number to call for the casino travel consultant - 888.772.6697. They should be able to look up your member #/Princess # and see if there are any offer's.

I was very surprised to get the offer! There are twelve VIP itineraries listed with some having multiple sailings. The offer expires 11/30 so call asap. Various VIP benefits listed.

I booked Hawaii on the Grand from SF, 10/29/16. I'm so, so excited!!!

I've recently received a 'free' Princess cruise offer directly from Princess but based on my playing at a Station Casino in Las Vegas. It doesn't require a trip to Las Vegas to pick up a certificate. I really had only played there one day last year so I was very surprised to receive this. Has anyone else booked through this offer? Any information would be appreciated!

I may have gotten the same offer. Did it list specific sailing (12) during 2016 and mention free drinks while playing, tournament, cocktail party, etc?

I was surprised to get it since I haven't been on Princess for 3 years but have been on carnival. I jumped on the Hawaiian cruise next October.

My offer was for free oceanview for two but booked it solo. No penalty or supplement. Just paying port fees and taxes for one. I feel like I won the lottery!

The offer was amazing and I almost expect a call to say it was a mistake! Wish I could have done the earlier sailing but that can't work. I haven't been on Grand since before Skywalkers was removed.

Good luck to you too!

I haven't cruised Princess since late 2012 as I started getting Carnival casino offers. I was really surprised Saturday to get a mailer from Princess offering a free OV on select sailings in 2016. (Carnival equivalent would be a Premier Cruise). There were 12 sailings listed, including Alaska, Caribbean, Europe, Canada, Mexico and Hawaii.

I booked the Hawaii cruise as that has always been on my bucket list. Plus to cruise out of San Francisco is the icing on the cake! This is on the Grand 10/29. Anyone else on that sailing?

Since I haven't been on Princess in a few years, how are their casinos? Any upgrade to the slot machines - ie newer, maybe multigame?

Thanks, Sharon

I've upgraded from a free interior to a OV or balcony. I do my own booking on line. If you log into Carnival with your VIFP# and go to the cruise you have the offer on, it will show you exactly what it costs per person to upgrade to ov, bal or suite.

For my offers it's been 100pp for ov; 300pp or 350 to balcony; and 700pp for suite.

One thing to note, it's not just the bottom level of the next category up. It's the best available in the category. So you could get the aft extended balcony if it's available.

you put your sign and sail card into the machine and go through the prompts to create a pin and set up your account. once that's done, you draw cash from your sign and sail on the key pad there. once you draw cash it puts it on the machine you're at.

to get it off, you do have to play the slot a few times. you can choose a low penny slot and just bet minimum. Once you've done that you use the key paid to send the credit on the machine back to your card.

When that is done, you take your card to the casino cage and they will cash out your card.

For only $50, would think it would be easier to let it stay on your account and simply buy some drinks or souveniers that you might want.

My receipts on past cruise read Miami. You should be fine.

Carnival doesn't touch you luggage till it's loaded on the ship by forklift in those large cages. It's handled by the ports stevedores union.

Hate the new shoe leather with sauce and a little cheese pizza.

Has anyone tried the pizza from room service (it's for a fee). I thought it was billed as 'thick'. Is it more of a pan crust or the same as the free stuff?

What Magic sailing are you on?

I just ordered one through Aarp. About 45 minutes ago. It was a $500 one.

On my last cruise (Premier on Magic in March), another premier cruiser got a free upgrade. She had a free interior and they bumped her up to Spa Balcony!

I'm guessing even if a free room, you have just as much chance as anyone else for an upgrade call. I've heard the 'fairies' are simply given a list of folks w/cabin categories they would like to clear for sale and offer an upsell. Supposedly the list indicates your VIFP status. Have heard some will call high status, some new cruisers, some just random.

I've never ordered a pay for cake but I do really like the room service chocolate cake. I don't find it dry, especially with the moose/ganache that is served with it. Have to have it at least a couple of times during a cruise!

I've been in 2424 on Magic (Same Design). It was fairly quiet. Certainly cool - no overheating issues. Wasn't a bad location for me. Yes you do walk a lot to get to the front of the ship but wasn't a bother for me. Easy to catch the elevator up to Lido.

The only issue was when coming into port early in the morning, when the ship used the side thrusters, it felt like the you were going to vibrate right out of bed. Loud too. But I'm an early morning person so really didn't matter. As long as you can get back to sleep easily or sleep through an 8.0, you should be fine.

I think either Belize or Honduras is one of those countries that do require that passport be valid 6months after visit. I know other cruise line websites will show a problem (have seen it on Princess) if you're going to one of those countries and it's not valid long enough.

If there's a problem on the website, then do your on line checkin with using a birth certificate for that person but take passport too in case of emergency.

The system won't let you book airport to port transfers if you have FTTF booked. You've seen the error message. You can go ahead and book your Port to Airport transfer for the return.

Once you've bought FTTF, call Carnival and they will add your airport/port transfer. Easy pleasy

Have had to do this for last two trips with FTTF and using transfers.