ILCruzr

Love em too!

Maybe I won the cruise lottery though!

 

Actually, I found them to be fishy because the port fees and taxes for a 7 day out of new Orleans was like $350. I told him I'm going in a balcony for 7 days in two months and y port fees and taxes are <$100!

No the free cruises are sent via us mail and email. We know ppl who got them.

Wait...how are people notified of the cruise deals?@ I got a call two weeks ago about a cruise for the cost of ports fees and taxes and I assumed it was a scam/timeshare and told them to not call e again!! They dId say carnival! (And other lines I think too)

Yea we've gotten calls like that too . They are normally scams to get you to see a timeshare.

Def day before.

Anyone?!

Some ships are 2.0 with guys burgers and blue iguana. And new production shows. They were ok. What ship were u thinking of next?

I agree. I know exactly what you're talking about and I find it tacky and off-putting...

Which is my frustration!!!!

The so called free cruises are a promotion thru the Carnival casino offers. It is not just for big spenders in the casino. My wife had signed up with the casino for this several cruises ago and has been getting these offers ever since. The offers are for select crusies which for example you can book a 7 day cruise with an inside cabin for $50 per person plus you get $100 on board credit. You still have to pay for port charges and fees but it is an awesome deal. There are only available to be booked for a short time and you must be able to travel within the next month or so. We booked a 7 day balcony for $120 per person and came out to just over $400 with fees. I do not get these offers sent to me as I have not signed up with the casino offers and I have several cruises with Carnival. We did not win anything.

Not all the free cruises are Casino offers fyi

It seems like everyone wants to jump on KPfromCT for throwing an opinion out there and it doesn't seem fair for them to catch so much heat from where I'm sitting... Really seemed to be on point to me with the information given here.

 

So let's start at the first paragraph, you pay for a cruise and you are delivered a cruise, why do so many people get mad about not getting more than what they bought rather than be greatful at what is given? If I buy gas at the same gas station everyday I do not expect then to throw me a free tank full after 75 days visiting. I don't expect McDonalds to give me a free value meal for eating there, and I definitely don't expect a car dealership to give me a new car for buying a couple from them.

 

The second and third seem like fine reasons, except the wow factor thing. Go read the breeze review by Gambee and you will see some carnival WOW factor.

 

Now that last paragraph is an absolutely childish statement, the real reason you are leaving is because you didnt get a free cruise reads the same to me as I'm going home and I'm taking my ball with me.

 

Now somewhere else the comment was made that if KP had been on as many cruises they would be mad too screams arrogance. BUT... Going by the info here the 6 previous cruises in the signature wouldn't have gotten anywhere close to the front of the free cruise list if it was done by number of previous with 6.

What you said makes no sense because carnival is giving away free cruises. That's fact. And you are mis construing my points. The free cruises are a fact because I'm not asking for a free happy meal!

I'm jumping lines because I want more bang for my buck an carnival doesn't seem to care about keeping loyal customers. I didn't come on here to get harped on, just formulating my opinion. Why do you care so much about who's harping on me??

I don't think anyone is insulting you or anyone that stays with one line. They merely stated they don't understand why anyone would ONLY choose one line? It's a simple observation and not meant to insult your way if doing things.

 

As for me, if you want to stay with one line cool, but that doesn't mean everyone has to agree with you.

 

Life's too short for me to only stay with one line, especially when Carnival doesn't give me a reason to be loyal. Someone mentioned kot getting free gas-you shop at the wrong station. I get perks at grocery stores, gas stations, hotels, etc. but to be clear I get perks because I use those stores, I don't use those stores to get perks. I have a reason to come back.

 

And I have never seen Royal twice the price of a CCL cruise. Not for a comparable cruise.

 

Someone mentioned a Disney cruise at around $4500 for two? I priced a 7 day Disney cruise for 4 in December for less than that. So it would seem, just like any other line, that there are factors going into that price.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Thank you! My points exactly. Why spend money for nothing?? It's called customer service and carnival doesn't seem to have any loyalty.

Royal is not twice the cost of a Carnival cruise . I just booked a RCL cruise on The Brillance of the sea for a balcony at less than the cost of an outside on the Paradise which is an older ship for the same ports . Carnival 's prices are going up and RCL gives discounts to repeat cruisers for balcony' s so in the end Carnival may not be cheaper .

and I agree with that too! For what I am paying on the IOS, is almost the same price as a Carnival room on a comparable 5 day itinerary. That's why I decided to cruise on RCL, to change it up and maybe I will be better valued as a customer, than I have been at Carnival.

I think some of your complaints were perfectly legit, and going to Haiti would be dope. But this sense of entitlement right here... very off putting. You don't deserve anything from Carnival or any other cruise line than what you've paid for.

 

Don't look at the free cruises as a reward. They aren't rewards. They're lotteries. I haven't heard of other cruise lines handing out this many free cruises, so I'm not sure why anybody would be jumping ship to a line that DOESN'T practice this. That's silly.

I feel that I am a loyal Carnival cruiser, so why wasn't my name picked to get a free cruise? I know married couples who both got each a free cruise. It's really irritating because I have spent some hard earned money on their cruises and because I am booked on one, I probably wont get one.

I am also not jumping ship just because of the free cruise, I want to try something new. And Carnival doesn't go to Haiti. And I also really want to try a freedom class ship. I hear they are super nice.

I am really excited about my IOS cruise :)

I definitely would do the DR stop, but than again the Liberty is 2.0.

I sailed this itinerary on the Miracle and in the DR we did the ship excursion to Santo Domingo. It was really fun, but I do like port days over sea days because I like seeing different places.

But if this were me, I would do the Liberty, cuz I have been to the DR and like the Blue iguana breakfast burritos. But good luck and happy cruising! :)

I hope you enjoy your cruise onboard the Independence of the Seas. You may find that you really enjoy Royal Caribbean. There are plenty of other cruise lines to experience that offer unique opportunities and the only way to find out what which products you enjoy would be to try them out.

 

If you're chasing status and perks, Diamond status on Royal Caribbean will also give you Elite on Celebrity. Princess also offers many valuable perks to Platinum and Elite guests, which can attained either by days at sea or by number of cruises.

Thank you! It's not that I am chasing status or perks, but I do have to say it would be nice to get some sort of perk for being a repeat customer. I really want to try an NCL ship after the Royal one. I want to do the solo rooms. I thought about maybe doing the NCL Escape but not sure yet. I have 2 booked, so well see :)

I will be on the Valor in January! I am so excited for this cruise!! Cant wait to see your review :)

I did the unthinkable yesterday. After cruising with Carnival for the past 8 years, I have decided my next cruise after the Valor will be on Royal Caribbean. As much as I love Carnival and enjoy my cruises on them, I am kind of disgusted at how little perks they give loyal customers like myself. Royal Caribbean gives great perks to past guests including a nice discount on future cruises. That would be nice if Carnival gave that for their guests.

I am also choosing to sail RCL because I am going with a friend of mine who has never cruised, and since I am so used to Carnival, I thought going on another line would be a fun. I hear RCL has the WOW factor on their ships, so I am very excited to finally step aboard one.

I am also choosing RCL because Carnival does the basic itineraries and since I have done a lot of them, I really don't want to waste money to repeat places I have already been to. Even though I have been to Jamaica, I have never been to Falmouth, so I am looking forward to that. But I am really excited about going to Labadee, which is one of the other reasons I booked RCL.

But what really made me switch over to RCL, was that Carnival is recently handling out free cruises to people. I realize I am booked on the Valor in January, but I have been reading people just getting back from cruises are getting free cruises. I find this practice unfair. I realize Carnival wants to keep people sailing with them, but what about the people who are loyal and sail with them? Do they not deserve a free cruise after spending a lot of money on Carnival Cruises?

Well Carnival, you might have lost a loyal customer and now Royal this your turn to impress me!

I too am hopping over to Royal from Carnival because of past guest perks that Royal has over Carnival. I have done 6 Carnival cruises, with one booked in January, but Royal treats their customers a bit better with getting them back. I am looking forward to that :)

and booked my first Royal Caribbean cruise tonite on the Independence of the Seas!!!! I have done 6 Carnival cruises (number 7 will be in January), but I am ready to try a new line.

I am cruising with a friend of mine who has never cruised before, so we are doing a short 5 day cruise to see if he likes cruising (which of course he will because I will get him addicted to the best vacation EVER). I heard really great things about IOS, so I am hoping it doesn't disappoint because I had thought about booking us on the Oasis, but I figured for a first time cruiser that it would be too big and overwhelming.

But, I am ready to start planning my "Royal" Adventure!

testing

Great review so far Nicole! I am doing this itinerary in January and I am so excited!! It will be my first time to San Juan and all the ports. I have done 6 prior cruises but mostly westerns and one southern with a Bahamas mix in it. So, this cruise is very exciting for me!

I also like you are a chi town girl! (It's where I live as well!)

Can't wait to see more!

OP, you should stay in a grand suite in a Conquest class ship. Stayed in them and they are like 2 times the size of your room on the inspiration. I hope we get upselled on our Valor cruise from a Balc to GS..It will be so worth it for a week :)

So far my favorite itinerary was the Aruba/Curacao one. I am excited to be going out of San Juan for my first time in January, which I am sure that will be my favorite cruise!

Glad you got your bags Frouf! :)

I am loving your review so far! I am going on the Valor in January and it will be my first time to San Juan and all these ports...but funny it will be my 7th cruise with Carnival and I am excited to not repeat anything! YAY!!!

Great review so far! I sailed on the Glory last year twice! Feb in the W. Caribbean and last June to Canada. Your pics of red sail take me back....I cant wait for your review on the Allure! But, your review is getting me pumped for my upcoming Valor Cruise!

4 for me but I repeated 2 ships..5 next jan !