Am Getting Free Cruise from Total Rewards

[chasinraynbowz]

Thanks for explaining it. We were there for a little while this weekend to pick up my certificate and I played, but just a little. I shouldn't have used my card as it probably hurt my average.

[tropicgal2]

I am going this weekend to Tropicana in AC to pick up my certificate. I usually get the offer for a free cruise about twice a year, but I have never gone to take them up on the offer.

 

We were planning a cruise for Jan. 2015. I hope they have dates available then.

 

Has anyone ever seen dates available for the following year? It's on Norwegian, CAS.

[riddle]

I've heard others say they can sometimes get the cruise changed to a different ship/date than is on the offer. Don't know if this is Total Rewards or CAS free cruises though. Anyone ever try this and be successful?

[kenlyn]

My total reward free cruises have been pretty set in stone. I tried to switch things up and got a big fat no. CAS may be more flexible. The last cert I picked up you had to book within I think 60 or 90 days and I had sailings available into the next year. Example I picked up cert in February and I am on Epic the following January so I had plenty of time to use it. Your total costs of the freebie is going to depend on which ship you choose and what cabin you are going to to be happy in.

My free cruise in feb is costing us 1400 after port fees taxes and upgrading from inside (free room) to aft balcony so 700 each. So a nice savings but far from free.

[chasinraynbowz]

My total reward free cruises have been pretty set in stone. I tried to switch things up and got a big fat no. CAS may be more flexible. The last cert I picked up you had to book within I think 60 or 90 days and I had sailings available into the next year. Example I picked up cert in February and I am on Epic the following January so I had plenty of time to use it. Your total costs of the freebie is going to depend on which ship you choose and what cabin you are going to to be happy in.

My free cruise in feb is costing us 1400 after port fees taxes and upgrading from inside (free room) to aft balcony so 700 each. So a nice savings but far from free.

 

 

My "free" cruise is costing us $350 each, for the inside cabin. I am NOT complaining!! Oceanviews are sold out and if we want a balcony it's an additional $500 each. I am really getting off cheap this cruise, so we may go ahead and upgrade. I have enough points on my AmEx card for a free flight and enough Hilton Honors points to use for a free room the night before the cruise. :D

 

I have never cruised with NCL before. Do they ever give free upgrades? I know with Princess and RCCL I have gotten upgraded and with Carnival, the upgrade fairy may call you, but I have no clue about NCL.

[garycarla]

...I have never cruised with NCL before. Do they ever give free upgrades? I know with Princess and RCCL I have gotten upgraded and with Carnival, the upgrade fairy may call you, but I have no clue about NCL.

 

Yes they do.

 

But, you have a better chance at winning in the casino - LOL!

 

Rare that it happens, but it does happen.

[chasinraynbowz]

Yes they do.

 

But, you have a better chance at winning in the casino - LOL!

 

Rare that it happens, but it does happen.

 

 

 

LOL, thanks!!

[gooch47]

The idea of not using the card is a good idea. The problem I see is not using it if you have free play coming on that last day.

 

As for the gambling losses coming out same as buying the cruise outright, we don't gamble just to get the cruise. We'd gamble anyway and as unlikely as it is that you'd win big, there is that slim chance. There is no chance of winning anything back if you just pay for a cruise.

[janpo]

I'm a platinum card. Is it still a good deal or discount compared than going thru a travel agent? If prices drop do they credit you etc? Just wondering.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

 

Sorry..just saw this.

 

 

 

We're platinum also. We fly to vegas once or twice a year so we planned our trip around picking up the free cruise certificate. We felt it was a good deal. We upgraded to a picture window cabin and with paying all the taxes and port fees it only cost us around $750 for two. Of course that's not taking into account our a/f to Florida or Vegas. Wish they would send us one again. Drinks are free in the casino so that's a plus. We had a great time and are looking forward to our cruise in September on the GA

[gooch47]

Not all casinos do this, but Harrah's in New Orleans allows us to use Reward Dollars at 1:1 for our airfare. That plus our free rooms before and after the cruises REALLY makes for a good deal.

[riddle]

Our postcard from Total Rewards also includes a 2 night stay on the weekend of the certificate pickup - June 8 - so the free night are Sunday and Monday. We live about 20 minutes from the casino so that is nice too since our casino does not have an onsite hotel and you have to use partnering hotels in downtown Cincinnati.

 

I want the job where you go from casino to casino giving out free cruises, answering questions and giving out information. Sounds like a fun job making people happy!

[chasinraynbowz]

Our Harrah's (Tunica) is closing. :( today is the last day. We still have Horseshoe and Roadhouse (all owned by the same company)

[kenlyn]

I will miss the free trips to tunica. Total rewards air would fly us to tunica and we would stay three nights and then fly home. Was a great break! I did like the Horseshoe better though. Always sad to see an old friend close.

[kenlyn]

Our postcard from Total Rewards also includes a 2 night stay on the weekend of the certificate pickup - June 8 - so the free night are Sunday and Monday. We live about 20 minutes from the casino so that is nice too since our casino does not have an onsite hotel and you have to use partnering hotels in downtown Cincinnati.

 

I want the job where you go from casino to casino giving out free cruises, answering questions and giving out information. Sounds like a fun job making people happy!

 

I am lucky too, my casino is also only a 45 minute drive so no flight involved to pick up my certificates. I go to Caesars Windsor.i agree the cruises give away job is a pretty good one.

[chasinraynbowz]

I will miss the free trips to tunica. Total rewards air would fly us to tunica and we would stay three nights and then fly home. Was a great break! I did like the Horseshoe better though. Always sad to see an old friend close.

 

 

Total Rewards Air has been offering me trips to Vegas and hotel stays. Not free, but at a very low cost. Haven't taken them up on their offers yet. Maybe one day......

 

I am going to miss Harrah's. I haven't been too happy with Horseshoe, but their buffet is great. We went to the Roadhouse last weekend and both of us liked it there. So we will have to give them a try. Gotta try to get another cruise... :D

[kenlyn]

Total Rewards Air has been offering me trips to Vegas and hotel stays. Not free, but at a very low cost. Haven't taken them up on their offers yet. Maybe one day......

 

I am going to miss Harrah's. I haven't been too happy with Horseshoe, but their buffet is great. We went to the Roadhouse last weekend and both of us liked it there. So we will have to give them a try. Gotta try to get another cruise... :D

 

I think I only liked Horseshoe because I won a little there. It's amazing what good memories you have of a place when you win a little! I keep getting the offers to Laughlin. 4 nights and flight for 99 bucks. Great deal but I would have to rent a car and head to Vegas, Laughlin only does it for me for a day or two.

Lately I have been saving my gambling money and spending it on more cruises!

[luvcruzing]

I will miss the free trips to tunica. Total rewards air would fly us to tunica and we would stay three nights and then fly home. Was a great break! I did like the Horseshoe better though. Always sad to see an old friend close.

 

I have a free trip booked to the Horseshoe in Tunica on June 28th through Total Rewards Air.

[garycarla]

I have a free trip booked to the Horseshoe in Tunica on June 28th through Total Rewards Air.

 

We were in Tunica this weekend. Harrahs did close Sunday night. Sad day.

 

But, you can expect they will still run charters to Horseshoe and Roadhouse.

[chasinraynbowz]

We were in Tunica this weekend. Harrahs did close Sunday night. Sad day.

 

But, you can expect they will still run charters to Horseshoe and Roadhouse.

 

 

Very sad day indeed. Harrah's has always been my favorite, even when they were down at the other end of Tunica where Resorts is. I will miss them.

[SASA13]

Got an email from Harrahs in AC stating if I booked a room any Mon, Tues or Wed now to Sept 30, we will get the free cruise cert. We booked for Aug. We normally get free cruises from CAS so it will be fun to see what we get from Harrahs. We always get free inside and upgrade to balcony.

[ranchette]

Got an email from Harrahs in AC stating if I booked a room any Mon, Tues or Wed now to Sept 30, we will get the free cruise cert. We booked for Aug. We normally get free cruises from CAS so it will be fun to see what we get from Harrahs. We always get free inside and upgrade to balcony.

I don't understand it we go to Harrahs A/C once a month and we are platinum and have never received any certiifcate. When we take NCL cruises we always book through Total rewards also.

[garycarla]

I don't understand it we go to Harrahs A/C once a month and we are platinum and have never received any certiifcate. When we take NCL cruises we always book through Total rewards also.

 

Offers like cruise certificates are based on your daily average, NOT on your tier level. You could be Diamond and not get these certs.

 

Again, offers are normally based on daily average, not on tier.

[Fishbait17]

Offers like cruise certificates are based on your daily average, NOT on your tier level. You could be Diamond and not get these certs.

 

Again, offers are normally based on daily average, not on tier.

 

Totally true. TR is actively and obviously chasing the higher daily averages, just look at their "bonus tier credits" for earning more points in a day. This way they return less in hotel comps (plus all the giveaway comps every month). I obtain Diamond by visiting for about two weekends in a year. So if you look at the math, I earn 15,000 points and use maybe 3-5 comp hotel nights. Someone chasing Diamond by visiting once per month is using 12-24 comp hotel nights to obtain the same level. Platinum in one year/once per month is much lower - 5000 points earned with 12-24 room nights makes the profit margin even thinner. I wonder if you go every month and never use hotel or "bonus" comps, if they up your offers?

 

Robin

[garycarla]

Totally true. TR is actively and obviously chasing the higher daily averages...

 

.... I wonder if you go every month and never use hotel or "bonus" comps, if they up your offers?...

 

I do not KNOW for sure, but I think averages are still the lead factor.

[gooch47]

We go often. A couple times a month. Use hotel comps often, but not every time. We used six cruise offers recently and will pick up a certificate again tomorrow. We're both Diamond, but my husband gets most of the cruise certificates.

 

I doubt anyone knows for sure how these things are decided.

Edited June 7, 2014 by gooch47