jhaasz Posted February 12, 2014 #101 Share Posted February 12, 2014 We received the letter back in December and jumped on it (the end of our date was May 30th). You had to pay $100 for an inside cabin but received a $100 on board credit. We live in NJ, gamble in the casino (but not insane amounts), have a decent SS bill ($900 for 7 nights) but haven't sailed on Carnival since 2009. My husband was the only one who received it; neither myself nor my kids received a letter (they are in their 20s). It was a really great deal for us - free airfare and hotel rooms the night before and the night after (using miles and points). The car service from Orlando to Port Canaveral and back will probably cost us as much as the cruise ($389 total including tax - we upgraded to a balcony). All in time for us to celebrate our 25th anniversary! A bit earlier than expected but we both agreed it was a deal we couldn't pass up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrBit Posted February 12, 2014 #102 Share Posted February 12, 2014 Wow! Congrats to all, we just got off RCI NOS (a no kids 15 year anniversary cruise) and saw the Carnival Magic along side in Cozumel and were thinking of taking the kids because my oldest loves Carnival but my 2 youngest have never cruised before. We are definitely hunting and i checked my VIFP but it only has 2 cat upgrade. We have sailed Carnival 5 times, last one being 2007. Where is that letter???? Come on USPS! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firespud Posted February 12, 2014 #103 Share Posted February 12, 2014 I would love to get one of these letters. Sailing on the Dream in April, but would book another if I got this letter. Fingers crossed!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skiwee Posted February 12, 2014 #104 Share Posted February 12, 2014 I would love to take it off from you..can I IM you? Sorry they are non-transferable. Lol Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teacherw3boys Posted February 12, 2014 #105 Share Posted February 12, 2014 Grrrrrr to all you free cruise people! Naaa! Just joking! I'm really excited for ya and checking my mail hoping for my letter too. :-) Either way, my fella and I are cruising this summer, and I'm super excited. Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toesinthewater728 Posted February 12, 2014 #106 Share Posted February 12, 2014 I received one based upon casino play... pays to lose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mitsugirly Posted February 12, 2014 #107 Share Posted February 12, 2014 Man, I really wish I could get one of those letters. I sure could use a graduation cruise. Are they only for a certain date or month? Or do you just have to book before June 30th? I keep logging into my VIFP account with my fingers crossed. It's kinda hard typing with your fingers crossed. :D Congrats to all those who received it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marciemi Posted February 12, 2014 #108 Share Posted February 12, 2014 Have to book before 3/3 (I think) and sail by the end of June. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruz4evr Posted February 13, 2014 #109 Share Posted February 13, 2014 I got one but nobody can travel with me. I might have to go by myself because it's way to good to pass up. Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2 I'm in the same situation as DH can't take time off so I am asking my friends but so far no one is available...need to keep trying! Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9d1225 Posted February 13, 2014 #110 Share Posted February 13, 2014 Got ours a few days ago, booked a 7-Nighter on the Glory out of Miami 3/2, $240/each with upgrade to Balcony and insurance....can't wait !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GatorGirl57 Posted February 13, 2014 #111 Share Posted February 13, 2014 Question for people who have the offer but haven't booked - what is left? Are the cruises really filling up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisinpips Posted February 13, 2014 #112 Share Posted February 13, 2014 I also recieved the letter, thought there must be a catch, but alas, it was a legitimate offer. We searched online, then called our PVP, booked the Breeze 8 day Southern Caribbean, upgraded to a balcony, and added our DD for a total of $650.00. When I asked what criteria was used to send these offers, our PVP declined to answer, but I suspect I know. I know a little more by observing the pricing to upgrade to a balcony, it was $200 cheaper to go on an 8 day than to go a 6 day...do the math, you are on there longer, therefore you will spend more. We were just happy we got the letter. Looking forward to the cruise. We never spend any money in the casino, but our on board account is typically pretty high. Looks like they have used some actual accounting to determine who gets these. Would like to hear from others who got the letter about the typical size of their on board accounts. :D:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9d1225 Posted February 13, 2014 #113 Share Posted February 13, 2014 My onboard account is usually pretty low, don't drink alcohol so that is out, we get the soda package. Last couple with Carnival we did no excursions thru them, $20-30 in the Casino for the whole cruise, specialty dining 1, maybe 2 nights depending. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
That girl at the pool Posted February 13, 2014 #114 Share Posted February 13, 2014 If anyone needs a partner out of Galveston I will volunteer!! Seriously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruzsnooze Posted February 13, 2014 #115 Share Posted February 13, 2014 Has anyone from the west coast received this offer. It seems like the east coast received the majority because looking at the posts many people are Floridians and NY'ers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wsurrette2424 Posted February 13, 2014 #116 Share Posted February 13, 2014 We also got the free cruise letter.... almost tossed it without opening it, as we thought it was a typical past guest letter. It's not that we don't look at all the letters Carnival send to past guests, it just that we already have two major vacations planned (we leave Saturday for an 8 night RCI cruise!) so we weren't in the market for another. Well, after seeing it was for a "free" cruise (and skeptically looking for the catch!) we decided it was too good a deal to pass up. I have very limited vacation flexibility, so looked at shorter cruises, though there were *many* 7 and 8 night cruises available. We chose a 4 night cruise on the Victory to Key West and Cozumel on June 5th, 2014 (one of our favorite itineraries having sailed on the Destiny there on two previous occasions). The deal was for an interior room free - just pay the port charges and taxes, about $165 for the two of us. We upgraded to an aft wrap balcony on deck 7 for an addition $80 for a total of about $245. You could also upgrade to a suite or add additional passengers to the same room, but at much higher rates than the upgrade to the balcony. Apparently, the letters were sent to prior Carnival cruisers with past guest accounts who haven't cruised on Carnival for a while. We've been on 6-7 Carnival cruises over the last 14 years (my wife probably had a couple prior cruise before that) with the last one being probably 4 years ago. Great deal! We've always loved the Carnival product but have been sailing RCI lately (3 cruises in the last 4 years) mostly because my 10 year old son is addicted to the Flowriders on the RCI ships. This time he can stay home! Good luck to all in redeeming their free cruises and hopefully lots more letters will be sent out! Best Regards, Gusman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vbecky Posted February 13, 2014 #117 Share Posted February 13, 2014 We are on the west coast and we have ctuised recently, we did cruise about 7 months ago. My 19 year old son received the offer and he has not spent a whole lot of money in the casino. I'm thinking maybe they were just random letters I don't know I'm just glad we got one ! Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CheckersMidwest Posted February 13, 2014 #118 Share Posted February 13, 2014 My husband got the letter. It is assigned to a specific VIFP account number, so that person has to be IN the 'free' room. When you select what cruise you want, the price chart shows you free for inside then what it will cost to upgrade. We upgraded for $70 each to a balcony. With the upgrade, port tax, and prepaid gratuities, our total for the 7 day Magic out of Galveston was $451. We always cruise in 2 cabins with our kids in the next one. First time both cabins were in my husband's name, last summer our son was old enough so it was in his name. All 4 of us are on the same sign & sail account. I booked the kids in the next cabin over and paid full price. I received the letter on Tuesday. I looked at what was available - there were 16 pages ! Sailings from Las Angeles, Galveston, Ft Lauderdale, Charlotte?, Miami, Port Canaveral, New Orleans.... Our PVP said that there were only so many free sailings allotted on each cruise, so if there was one we specifically wanted not to wait too long. I looked over the options and booked at 2:00 the same afternoon we got the letter. My PVP said there was no certain criteria, just totally random, which I think is fine. Who cares if you have interior rooms or suites? Spend a ton in the casino or spa? Take excursions? Just a great opportunity for 'everyone'. Our demographics: Missouri Sailed twice...Paradise 5 day in 2012, Freedom 6 day 2013 - 2 rooms Husband & son gamble - roulette mostly, but not much $ at all. Paradise - oceanviews, Freedom - balconies Paradise sign & sail for 4 people $500 Freedom $1300 We do book a few excursions I use the spa Booked both of our previous cruise using the website, just now got a PVP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluemoon12 Posted February 13, 2014 #119 Share Posted February 13, 2014 Wow! What a great deal you all have received. I am happy for each one of you.... I am paying full price in July for our balcony. But happy someone is getting some great or free deals! I will continue to look and see if I become one of the lucky ones. Enjoy your cruises! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mayfly511 Posted February 13, 2014 #120 Share Posted February 13, 2014 I wish... My husband won't go so I can't go... Is it transferrable???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GatorGirl57 Posted February 13, 2014 #121 Share Posted February 13, 2014 Is it transferrable???? No...they say non-transferrable on them. The person who got the letter has to be in the cabin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ready2Cruise! Posted February 13, 2014 #122 Share Posted February 13, 2014 Question for people who have the offer but haven't booked - what is left? Are the cruises really filling up? yes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vegasglitz Posted February 13, 2014 #123 Share Posted February 13, 2014 Has anyone from the west coast received this offer. It seems like the east coast received the majority because looking at the posts many people are Floridians and NY'ers. I'm in Las Vegas and we received a call 3 weeks ago and received a letter too! We booked May 30th on the Sunshine going the Southern route for 8 days. Woo Hoo :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sullyd Posted February 13, 2014 #124 Share Posted February 13, 2014 just booked splendor 393.00 for 8 day caribbean cruise for 2 less than 25.00 per person per day !! Thanks Carnival!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibcnusoon Posted February 13, 2014 #125 Share Posted February 13, 2014 Our PVP said that there were only so many free sailings allotted on each cruise, so if there was one we specifically wanted not to wait too long. I looked over the options and booked at 2:00 the same afternoon we got the letter. My PVP told me that the offer is up to 30 cabins per cruise, but it may also be per catagory because when I was looking to book I saw some listed like this: $779 inside $40 oceanview $80 balcony $1500 suite when I booked it was $0 inside $40 oceanview $80 balcony $1500 suite So I assume that everyone on that particular sailing took advantage of the FREE inside cabin and there was still availability in the other catagories for a slight fee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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