Shut Out on the Free Cruise? How do you feel?

[Phlybice]

The IRS will tax prize winnings. They don't tax discounts given by a company. This wasn't a contest and nobody won a "free" cruise. Nobody "entered" themselves in this perceived contest. It was simply a 100% discount offered by Carnival on a category of available cabins. All other associated costs must still be paid by the consumer. The IRS doesn't tax your savings at the Mattress Warehouse when you buy the mattress and get the box spring for free. They don't tax your savings at Target either when you save a bundle at their 90% off sales. But, hey, anybody who is worried they will suddenly have a larger tax burden next year, consult your accountant.

 

Actualy, that depends if somebody is funding the deduction or not. There will be times when a taxable item is chanrge tax even though the item is free.

 

These "free" cruises though. Does the customer pay sales tax? (not income tax as some are suggesting)

[2young2care]

Actualy, that depends if somebody is funding the deduction or not. There will be times when a taxable item is chanrge tax even though the item is free.

 

These "free" cruises though. Does the customer pay sales tax? (not income tax as some are suggesting)

 

True. There's always something to look out for when you're talking about taxes. But income tax on it? Really? Where are the posts from the people who got their free cabin offers last year and took their cruise before Dec. 31, 2013? They would have had to receive their 1099 by now if they were going to get stuck with one.

 

Edited to add: Carnival would have to disclose that they would be issuing a 1099 before the consumer accepted the offer. Just like my bank had to disclose to me they would be issuing a 1099 for the Kindle Fire HD they gave me when I opened an account with them. It's in the fine print.

Edited February 17, 2014 by 2young2care

[jamscckmc]

We have a cruise booked for May. It looks like they want to get people back on Carnival, so I guess those already booked won't get the offer.

[PSkinner]

We have a cruise booked for May. It looks like they want to get people back on Carnival, so I guess those already booked won't get the offer.

 

This is not case, we are booked in September and DH got one, We were told it was completely random. Just like why DH gets all of the offers and I have never received anything. Just the luck of the draw.

[ibcnusoon]

No catch whatsoever. So long as you know that the you are still liable for the taxes and gratuities, you really can get an inside cabin for nothing. My DW and I decided to upgrade to a Balcony for $70 each ($10 per day!) and paid a whopping $355 for a 7 day on Pride. Scooped up some cheap flights to Baltimore totaling $377 RT and we will be sailing for $732 plus $160 for gratuities. Took the same cruise this past November and paid $2200 plus the flights/gratuities.

 

this was a no-brainer for us to cruise for essentially 1/3 of the usual price.

 

Book one now!

 

We are booked too with a great rate!

 

We have a spa inside cabin with Cloud 9 Spa perks for $0. We are paying $288.22 for 2 people for an 8-Day cruise out of New York, a $40 r/t 1-1/2 hour bus ride.

 

The total cost of the cruise, booked separately, is

$2200 - we are paying a total of $528.22, actually paying half of that because we don't have to buy spa passes for an 8-day cruise

 

$ 0.00 cabin

$288.22 cruise taxes, port fees, other

$ 80.00 transportation

$160.00 gratuities

 

Can't beat that :)

Edited February 17, 2014 by ibcnusoon

[Rosethorn40]

Like...

 

And in addition op..you stated yourself well and many in good humor are feeling it both ways ...happy for the winners..but hey, after so many are announced...many are feeling..it would be nice to win too..giving a good thought for a new bunch of winners...especially Rosethorn..I just love your name..

 

I never thought about taxes on this, interesting comments...Sarah

 

 

I took it from the name of my house "Rosethorne Folly" a ca. 1883 Carpenter Gothic cottage.

 

Rose for the 30 some odd bushes I have in my garden, thorn for my sometimes prickly personality (Although I have mellowed a bit in my "Old Age") and Folly because I was foolish to believe "This Old House" and think that in 5-8 episodes I too would have a duckling turn into a swan (And no, I never expected or felt entitled that PBS owed me renovations on my house). I never realized just how much work and money renovating an old house took. Next property with be a condo. I don't care how much the HOA fees are!:)

 

And the 40? That's how old I was when I came up with the handle

[rick&james]

A little Sad After 23 cruises would think we would get some kind of Awesome offer over the years guess not this is the exact Reason we choose to try out RCL there Crown and Anchor Club seems a lot better than Carnival's. I took my best friend on a cruise in Sept I dropped Over 1000 in the Casino and he played 40.00 and he got a Casino Offer and I got nothing just kinda Crazy if you ask me but o well

[sjn911]

I took it from the name of my house "Rosethorne Folly" a ca. 1883 Carpenter Gothic cottage.

 

Rose for the 30 some odd bushes I have in my garden, thorn for my sometimes prickly personality (Although I have mellowed a bit in my "Old Age") and Folly because I was foolish to believe "This Old House" and think that in 5-8 episodes I too would have a duckling turn into a swan (And no, I never expected or felt entitled that PBS owed me renovations on my house). I never realized just how much work and money renovating an old house took. Next property with be a condo. I don't care how much the HOA fees are!:)

 

And the 40? That's how old I was when I came up with the handle

 

 

Great back story...thanks...i just love that old Bret Michaels song, Every Rose has it's Thorn..he turned 50 recently...

 

Wow on your rose bushes..there were beautiful ones in Oregon..we had them here,,short lived..now lots of Columbine and petunias..they do best in summer here..

 

My handle in cb days on a ranch was "World traveller" LOL because i studied and had great after school in France summer travels..if only we could go as often in our real lives..ahh pray for those days and health to do it often..

 

Very very cool on your house..oh the work..i hope you have some of the glory..i hate to see history ruined and it is expensive to keep, we had a 20's fieldstone house on a ranch my family gutted and added onto in 70's..enjoyed it 20 years and new owner kept the fieldstone part and did the fancy fancy log addition we could not afford....it is a good thread..lets the sane have understandable feelings too!!

Edited February 17, 2014 by sjn911

[Budget Queen]

As there are literally millions of past Carnival passengers, not everyone can get the free cruise offer - that is just the way it is. Given their current extremely low prices, it seems as if they are practically giving then away - at least the ones I have been looking at.

 

I would not expect to see these extended into the summer - although there will three fouradditional ships in the Caribbean during summer 2014, many more will have left for Europe and Alaska.

 

It isn't "many more". Carnival only has ONE ship sailing Alaska and NONE sailing Europe.

[sammee]

Reality set in, no freebie for me. Now trying to figure out how to book one, guess its going to be 3 in the interior, waaaah, I'll whine, but I'll get over it. I really am happy for the lucky ones. I've one some free trips in the past that I am thankful for. I'm am alittle po'd at the PVP who left a message on my phone, to go along with the email mentioning this free cabin. That was just wrong. When she called again today and told me I didn't have one, she claimed they were from the casino, which I think we all figured out as a big NO.

[restasured]

Yes, I am completely "ticked" because I haven't a letter either, but then I didn't win the $5000 in free furniture I entered for and haven't ever won the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes either, but then I haven't entered one of those in years, OH WAIT, I didn't enter a contest to win a cruise from Carnival either. Hey folks it is their company and until I get offered the CEO job I doubt I will get the opportunity to decide who does or doesn't get a free cruise. Be happy for those that won the drawing, no matter how it was drawn. Wish people on here could understand the term RANDOM.

[AnyTime Cruiser]

Didn't get the offer in December, didn't get it now. I know it's supposed to be random but....yeah, I'm a little peeved.

 

I always cruise Carnival and have one already booked for November so I should just be happy, right?!?! Nope...after reading these threads just makes me want to go on another one like right now!!!! :D

[sidekick3_cruiser]

I received the letter and I'm 20 as of right now (will be 21 upon sailing). Couldn't pass it up and booked the Magic on the 29th of June with a great friend of mine, and it'll be her first cruise.

 

My parents and my younger brother have all been on cruises and no one else received the letter as of yet. According to my "personal vacation planner" at Carnival, it really was like a lottery thing. My VIFP number was selected at random and I believe she said it was paired with certain cruises from which I could pick.

 

BTW though, it's not a "free" cruise, but rather a free cabin. Port fees, gratuities, taxes, and S&S must still be paid. And your traveling expenses as well.

 

For those of you who have paid them lots of money over the years but have yet to receive a letter - just wait. :) And if you don't get one, who cares, you didn't lose anything. Plus, Carnival may be working on a bigger surprise for you in the end. My guess is the less-frequent cruisers are getting them so Carnival can convince us to sail more (full price) and hope to "win" this lottery thing again. Either way it certainly draws attention to the company and will make newcomers eager to become past guests in chances of getting this letter in the future.

Edited February 18, 2014 by sidekick3_cruiser

[Nic6318]

I haven't won a free cruise either, but that may be because we are not U.S. residents.

I find this thread to be very curious. I wouldn't have thought one way or another about someone winning something that I didn't. Maybe after reading all these comments I would like to win one as well:), but such is life.

 

What I do find interesting is that after reading these posts I thought I would check the internet for other mention about this promotion. Strange I see no other comments about free cabins except a promotion to TA's last year. I would think that Carnival would have some ad campaign attached to this kind of promotion. If I wasn't a CC member I wouldn't have a clue about this happening.

 

Am I the only one that thinks this is strange all by itself?

Ian

[christyran1228]

 

Am I the only one that thinks this is strange all by itself?

Ian

 

Not at all. There are several co-workers I know that have cruised Carnival several times over the years .. none of them knew anything about it. I told them all to go check their VIFP offers, just in case. :)

 

 

Sent from my Commadore 64 using the Cruise Critic forum app

[megmno]

I agree that it is very odd that there hasn't been anything in the news about the promotion. I just searched Google News and couldn't find a thing.

 

I'm sorry for those folks who didn't get the letter -- I always say I never win anything....

But this time I did!!!!!!!

 

We're booked for a 7 day cruise for Easter week. We upgraded to a balcony and added my daughter as a third person. The total for all three of us is $750.

(That's $70 each for the upgrade for me and my husband, $409 to add my daughter and $77 in taxes for each of us.)

 

For those who are trying to make sense of it, only I received the letter. My husband and I have each taken four Carnival cruises, and my daughter has taken three. We didn't sail at all in 2013. We have a pretty high SnS bill because we take a lot of excursions and internet time and buy a lot of crap (around $1000 for a week). We barely gamble and I drink moderately. We live in New York.

 

So I'm off to join the roll call for the sailing. Not sure if it would be bad manners to mention that we got a great deal... I'm excited, but it might put some of my fellow passengers off....

[azlefty]

I suspect the probability of having been offered a free cruise is something like 1 in 200 or less, and it is likely a well-designed statistical experiment to test some new marketing program. This thread has almost 8000 views now, and I'm guessing something like 100 of them are from folks who have received the freebie.

Edited February 18, 2014 by azlefty

[freagan]

:confused:We took our daughter on a cruise for her high school graduation in 2012, and last week she gets a letter offering her a free cruise. Ironic though....you must be 25 to book a cruise unless you are married. So she'll have to take me if she wants to go...LOL:D

 

You must be 21 to book a cruise, not 25.

 

You must have a person over 25 in your cabin if you are UNDER 21 (or sail with a parent).

[1stime cruiser]

In my opinion I think people are upset because the VIFP tab seems to be fradulent. I check it quite frequently and there are never any offers specifically tailored to me. The tab just shows the regular promotions they have going on. This will be my 7th cruise (in as many years no less) on Carnival and have never received any special offer at all. Am I angry? No. Can't be angry at another person's blessings.

 

Question is since the VIFP program started what special offers have been received? Besides this letter the only things I have heard about are free cruises for people who spend big money in the Casino.

[mousey]

They are not jealous. Who made you Queen of the world to come on and call them that? They have invested in Carnival, and in return they have been slighted by Carnival. They have a perfect right to express disappoint me and irritation. No one has been ugly. We have hundreds posting about getting a free cruise, and some "not likening Carnival much" but it is a ;free cruise" That stings.

 

Like I thought I was VIPF. Well, apparently some are a lot more VIPF than me. and it stings. And NO....I don't think it was random. and a MILLION sent out? I think I did not get picked for a reason. And I feel used. I have written 13 glowing reviews for Carnival cruises, 4 mote for Princess, 3 for HAL and that does influence people to cruise. You can read them all here on Cruise Critic. And I feel stone stupid. I was not past guest enough. I was not VIP enough. Neither was my husband. We have one more cruise on Carnival. Paid for..can not cancel. I know they need someone to pay for all of these free cruises, but it is not going to be me. ever again. One more cruise review on Carnival for Cruise Critic.......and then...............land vacations. NCL. Celebrity. both of which I like.RCI. never tried it. I don't even feel the same way about cruising now. Just a bitter taste.

 

And for all we know, you could be a travel agent with 15 of these free cruises to give out and we would not know it.

 

I have not seen anyone protesting about not getting a cruise calling others bad names, or insulting anyone who got one ......And for people to come on and point out there is misery in the world so no one who got shafted can complain is LOL.

 

Maybe the people who didn't get a free cruise work with church missions. ( I have a cruiser pal who does) maybe they spend time in Haiti or Africa ( like my sister). To relate morality to whether you are able to afford a cruise...is contemptible.

 

And if people want to take their money to another cruise line...it is their money and they can do it. And they have the right to come on here and say they are going to do it. I cancelled a cruise over it. I just have a bitter taste in my mouth for Carnival right now.

this grand gesture of Carnival's might not turn out to be such a great deal in the end...when the folks who didn't get one leave or cruise less...and the folks who did........book RCI or NCL again. And it is over. Done. Quit talking about it. The sooner we move on, the better we will all feel.This is a sore and folks keep pulling the scab off of it. Enough. Enjoy your cruise. Talk about it when you are crusing. But don't lecture people who are irked that they.......like me........were not PG enough. Not VIP enough. Just not enough........

 

Wow, talk about taking something "personally."

 

Okay, here it goes...I think I may have gotten one of those "free cruise" letters...but I thought it was some kind of gimmick and threw it away! :(

Oopsie!:)

Edited February 18, 2014 by mousey

[mousey]

LOL

 

From my HP Slate 7 using Tapatalk.

 

Double LOL! :D

[Smart Arsenal Fan]

Wow, talk about taking something "personally."

 

Okay, here it goes...I think I may have gotten one of those "free cruise" letters...but I thought it was some kind of gimmick and threw it away! :(

Oopsie!:)

 

I think you might still be able to check by your VIFP #.

 

Mine... empty. :(

[ShellLoves2cruise]

I also have not received a free cabin and probably won't but it will not stop me from cruising with Carnival! I've read through most of these threads about people getting these deals and I am truly happy for everyone who has received one, good for y'all...I hope everyone has a fantastic time on their cruises.

 

What I can't understand is reading the one person who has been complaining the loudest on every single thread regarding this ~ I just don't get it, sure I would have absolutely LOVED to receive a free cabin however my number wasn't drawn and maybe never will be but it could happen in the future, who knows?!?! I will continue sailing with Carnival and hope it might be my turn someday! :D

[cattipillar]

I was reading several threads about the free cruise offer a number of Carnival Cruisers, but not all, received. To be honest, I really didn't have much of an opinion (Good for Them!, Not Fair, Why not me? etc.) UNTIL I got an email from a good friend today. She got one of the offers and is now booked to go in June as soon as school lets out (She's a teacher). The funny thing is I was the one that introduced her to cruising in 2011. Her first cruise, my first time on Carnival. Since that date she has sailed twice with Carnival with her husband, and I have sailed 3 times with mine. Neither one of us spends any money in the casino, and I know my on-board bill is always much higher than hers.

 

Anyway, happy for her, but now that someone I know got the offer and I didn't I have to admit that I am just a little bit annoyed with Carnival. Doesn't mean I will never sail with them again-Guess I'm just not feeling the love.

 

I'm FEELING the same way........after 19 cruises with CARNIVAL and not so much as a FREE grain of rice, I have come to the conclusion that I CHOOSE to be HAPPY, regardless of what they do or do not do and because I live only 1 hour from the port of New Orleans.....Laissez le bon temps rouler!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[grandmacani]

Wish I could be weighing in with a yes vote for a free cruise. Instead I'm getting ready to make a final payment on a solo cruise. Yuck. Not even a break for an inside. Hoping before final payment some kind of a drop, but my luck...