Thing of turning down a free cruise. How stupid is that?

[jsfromsc]

i would just like to have the problem of ever getting offered a free cruise

 

Me, too!

Edited November 26, 2014 by jsfromsc

[MadManOfBethesda]

If it makes you feel any better, the free casino offers (the letters on board) have exclusions. We're booked on our fourth in a row, but could NOT book the freebie on any holiday. Any cruise including Thanksgiving, Christmas day or New Years is excluded.

 

The letter I received identified several cruises over holiday periods as available under this promotion. In fact, if I do choose to accept the free cruise, it would be during Christmas week because our wedding anniversary is that week as well. Glory (Dec. 20-27), Conquest (Dec. 21-28), and Splendor (Dec. 21-28) are shown as applicable cruises out of Miami and there are others during that same week out of other ports such as Tampa and Port Canaveral (although I wouldn't consider those).

[Jana60]

Just got off the Glory three days ago and received an offer on the last day from the casino host for a free cruise to be taken in December. Coincidentally (or not so coincidentally), the cruise from which I just debarked was also a free cruise that I had received from the casino host due to my cruise on the Glory in mid October. In between these last two cruises my wife and I traveled to Orlando for Halloween and then spent a week in DC. Frankly, we're tired of traveling right now and we have a big two-month trip to Fiji, Australia & New Zealand coming up in Jan-March. (That trip also includes 2 two-week cruises.)

 

Still, it is difficult to say no to a free cruise, especially one that we could take over Christmas should we choose to do so. I suppose we could just stay in our cabin and relax rather than running around from one activity to another on sea days as well as not schedule tours or other activities on port days. Actually, I'm starting to talk myself into this as I am writing this post, lol. However, I'm still disinclined to go. How stupid am I being?

 

(Boy, I'm really opening myself up with that one, aren't i, lol?

 

I understand your dilemma because I love cruising and I would live on a cruise ship if I didn't have to work on one to do so but when I got the recent casino offers that essentially supplied me with an inner room free since it only charged $100 for the room and gave $100 in onboard credit I was not able to use it to its fullest possibilities. I did book 1 cruise using that special but I could have put multiple cruises within this time frame required but I simply can't be away from work that long. So I have the inclination but I just don't have time! Indeed I would have made $100 per cruise profit since I also get $100 in on board credit on each cruise due to being a shareholder. So if you think about it I'm dumber than you!

 

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Forums mobile app

[Jana60]

If you're not planning to go, couldn't you just give it away to a friend by doing a name change for 50 bucks?

 

No those casino offers are always non transferable.

 

 

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Forums mobile app

[PAPERBKWRITER]

A bargain for something you don't want isn't a bargain. But, it sounds like you want it.Have fun...again.

[caribnsnrklr]

Same exact situation happened to us. See our cruise history. On the last day of that 2nd "free" cruise, we received a letter from the casino host for another one. We just couldn't work it into our schedules. Thought I was going to need some serious therapy to get over that one.

 

On a side note: to all who accept these "free" offers, it's important to note that what they are giving you for free is an inside category cabin. You may upgrade to a higher category and pay a nominal fee. But if you don't upgrade and instead accept the free category, you will not receive points for the cruise on your VIFP account. This has happened to a number of our friends who did not find out about this caveat until it was too late. On both of our free cruises, we upgraded to a balcony, paid an embarrassingly low fare, and received the points. So we avoided this situation. It's just good to know this information in advance, and your booking agent may or may not let you know this.

 

I actually just came back Sunday from the free inside offer from casino that I received on last night of my October cruise. I usually do balcony but just stayed in the free inside this time and got my points posted to my VIFP account for this cruise.

[MadManOfBethesda]

A bargain for something you don't want isn't a bargain. But, it sounds like you want it.Have fun...again.

 

That's a good point. And you're right; this is something I do want and it would normally be a no-brainer for me. It's just that with two 7-day cruises in the past month, plus two additional trips between them, coupled with a very long trip down under coming up in January, the timing couldn't be much worse. The only reason I'm considering it (besides the fact that it is free of course), is that in 35 years of cruising, we've never sailed during Christmas week.

[twocruiseguys]

I actually just came back Sunday from the free inside offer from casino that I received on last night of my October cruise. I usually do balcony but just stayed in the free inside this time and got my points posted to my VIFP account for this cruise.

 

Nice! Glad that worked out for you. Others have not been so fortunate, even after calling Carnival to express their concerns. Perhaps Carnival is responding to the appeal of the masses?

[HawkIVette]

That's a good point. And you're right; this is something I do want and it would normally be a no-brainer for me. It's just that with two 7-day cruises in the past month, plus two additional trips between them, coupled with a very long trip down under coming up in January, the timing couldn't be much worse. The only reason I'm considering it (besides the fact that it is free of course), is that in 35 years of cruising, we've never sailed during Christmas week.

 

Ok, so now it has nothing to do with it being free, or too much travel, it's that it will be during Christmas.

That would just make it more reason to not go. I see you're from warm climates, but I am from Iowa. Snow on the ground, sleigh rides, building a snowman, all with family and friends. That's what Christmas is all about. We did a Thanksgiving week once and it just wasn't the same. I know for me, it I would not be on a cruise ship in the caribbean during Christmas.

Certainly the week before or after, but not Christmas week.

[cruisng4fun]

I received the "free" offer from the casino 2 weeks ago on the Glory as I sat in the airport waiting to go home I found dates in Feb on the Breeze that worked for us! Hopefully I can get my "shirt" back and not lose my "pants" :D

[pusywillow]

I understand your dilemma because I love cruising and I would live on a cruise ship if I didn't have to work on one to do so but when I got the recent casino offers that essentially supplied me with an inner room free since it only charged $100 for the room and gave $100 in onboard credit I was not able to use it to its fullest possibilities. I did book 1 cruise using that special but I could have put multiple cruises within this time frame required but I simply can't be away from work that long. So I have the inclination but I just don't have time! Indeed I would have made $100 per cruise profit since I also get $100 in on board credit on each cruise due to being a shareholder. So if you think about it I'm dumber than you!

 

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Forums mobile app

 

When I booked my free cruise I was told I couldn't use my shareholder benefit. I'm hoping that's not true.

 

Sue

[buddylover]

Don't be haters.

 

Actually, I had the same situation. Got a free cruise offer from the casino host on my Nov 2013 cruise. Took the March cruise from that one. Got a free cruise offer then, took the June cruise to Alaska. Was offered another one then, but frankly, we spend the rest of the summer at our lake house. Just turned it down.

You know, they really aren't all free, still going to cost you something, if not time that you want to spend elsewhere.

 

Hahaha, are you joking? Easy for you to say since you have had a gob of free offers too. Would love the dilemma of having to turn down a free cruise....we pay for all of ours....LOL! (and BTW, we're not haters....just waiting for our turn!)

[Jana60]

When I booked my free cruise I was told I couldn't use my shareholder benefit. I'm hoping that's not true.

 

Sue

 

Well my cruise wasn't totally free since I had to pay the taxes and port charges and the $100 even if they give me $100 on board credit. Plus on the one cruise I did book I upgraded to a balcony so my total charge was $240 plus port charges. That is $352 total and then I did receive $100 onboard credit as part of that deal and they have added $100 on board credit for my shareholders benefit. So I spent $352 and have $200 onboard credit for 7 days solo in a balcony.

 

 

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Forums mobile app

Edited November 27, 2014 by Jana60

[HawkIVette]

Hahaha, are you joking? Easy for you to say since you have had a gob of free offers too. Would love the dilemma of having to turn down a free cruise....we pay for all of ours....LOL! (and BTW, we're not haters....just waiting for our turn!)

 

Then go spend some more time and money in the Casino.

 

The OP was speaking of Casino Free offers. As I stated above, you need to spend some time and money to get them. They are not free.

 

I have made money in the casino enough to pay for my trip and I have lost enough money that I could have went on 2 cruises if I paid for them the way you "pay for all of yours". The point being, I have paid for all of mine too.

 

In case you don't know, the offers are not really free. It is for a 3-8 day cruise for an inside cabin. You still have to pay port fees, tips, and taxes. Ends up being about half price, then add on drinks excursions, and all other expenses and really only saves about 25% of the real cost.

 

So don't feel so bad you didn't get an offer. You probably save that much by just not visiting the casino.

[MadManOfBethesda]

In case you don't know, the offers are not really free. It is for a 3-8 day cruise for an inside cabin. You still have to pay port fees, tips, and taxes. Ends up being about half price, then add on drinks excursions, and all other expenses and really only saves about 25% of the real cost.

 

While you're correct that it is not completely free, telling people that it works out to being about half price is a bit of an overstatement. For example, I just looked at Glory's Dec. 13th cruise and the price for a balcony cabin is $639pp. That comes to $1,278 +$270.90 for taxes & port fees for a total cost of $1,548.90. The "free" cruise would cost the $270.90 for taxes/port fees + $140 to upgrade to the balcony for a total cost of $410.90. That works out to a 73% discount so one would save about 3/4 of the price of the cruise, not just 1/2.

 

As another example, I looked at the Christmas sailing on the Conquest (Dec. 21-28). The lowest available price this morning for that cruise is an inside guarantee at $579pp, which works out to $1,148 + $274.06 for a total of $1,432.06. If someone wanted to book the "free" cruise and didn't want to upgrade, they would simply pay the taxes and port fees of $274.06.

 

So in the second example above, the discount is a whopping 81%, not merely half. Even if you add in tips of $168, that still makes the total discount 70.5% ($1,500.06 vs. $442.) Or looked at even more simply, it is a discount of over $1,000 in each example. IIRC, that is about the discount I received last week on my "free" cruise on Glory after I upgraded to a balcony cabin for that cruise.

[mouche]

They are not transferable.

 

 

 

For those not familiar with these free cruise offers, they come from the casino host on the cruise. They decide to give them to you because of how you play. They are based on size of wager and how long you play in the casino. I usually wager $500 a night, win or lose.

 

You won't get one for playing the nickel slot machine. Or playing blackjack at $6 a hand.

 

Well I sure got one and will be sailing in Jan 2015, and all I play is the penny slots. Now granted I do play them a LOT :) I always have my Drinks on Us card by the second day!!! :) So yes you can get an offer by playing nickle slots.

[PortSideCruzan]

 

 

Hi MadManOfBethesda :)

 

Its not stupid at all. And I agree, it is so very difficult to say no to a free cruise offer.

My wife & I recently had to turn one down. It was a pay only port fee's, plus tax,

book the voyage within a particular time period, cruise offer.

 

We had to turn it down because we are in middle of the saving process of our

upcoming sailings; a 14-day voyage and a 15-day voyage.

 

We had to turn it down due to the cost for:

Airfare

Hotel / food

The $$$$$ we spend on a ship

The $$$$$ we spend at ports

Shuttle from home to airport

Shuttle from airport to hotel

Shuttle from hotel to ship

Shuttle from ship to airport

Shuttle from airport to home

 

In regards to my wife & I, what I listed above, outweighs the cruise-fare

(when not free) significantly.

 

When the offer came, we did try to figure out a way to sail. But between

the time constraints of the offer and the total cost of my list above, we

had no choice but to decline.

 

Have a terrific day!

 

 

 

:)

[MadManOfBethesda]

Well, after deliberating and ruminating about if for the past week, I've decided to go on the "free" cruise after all. I booked the Conquest for Christmas Week (Dec. 21-28).

 

Interestingly (at least to me), after not having been on a Carnival cruise in over 10 years, I will now be taking my third Carnival cruise in the past 10 weeks. :D

[American Bear]

[/b]

 

Ok, so now it has nothing to do with it being free, or too much travel, it's that it will be during Christmas.

That would just make it more reason to not go. I see you're from warm climates, but I am from Iowa. Snow on the ground, sleigh rides, building a snowman, all with family and friends. That's what Christmas is all about. We did a Thanksgiving week once and it just wasn't the same. I know for me, it I would not be on a cruise ship in the caribbean during Christmas.

Certainly the week before or after, but not Christmas week.

 

Gonna disagree!

We left the cold north 11 years ago for sunny warm Florida, and if anybody wants to see us, they know where to find us!:D

[American Bear]

Well, after deliberating and ruminating about if for the past week, I've decided to go on the "free" cruise after all. I booked the Conquest for Christmas Week (Dec. 21-28).

 

Interestingly (at least to me), after not having been on a Carnival cruise in over 10 years, I will now be taking my third Carnival cruise in the past 10 weeks. :D

 

As far as we know, you only live once!:eek:

Have a great trip!:D

[golfb4cruzing]

I will assume that you are big gamblers and go home with Carnival's money. Therefore they want you back with a chance to get their money back.

[MadManOfBethesda]

I will assume that you are big gamblers and go home with Carnival's money. Therefore they want you back with a chance to get their money back.

 

Comps at both cruise ship and land-based casinos have nothing to do with how much money you actually win or lose; it is all based on your theoretical loss. Casinos look at your average bet and how long you spend gambling. They then multiply those two factors to come up with how much they can be expected to win from you over that given length of time. They return a percentage of that theoretical dollar amount to you in the form of comps.

[MadManOfBethesda]

You need 5000 points for a free cruise, just as you need 1500 points for a free drink on us card. Then, depending on how many points you have over 5000, you will receive an interior plus cash, an ocean view, ocean view plus cash, balcony, balcony plus cash, etc etc.

 

That may be true for slot players (I wouldn't know), but not for table games players. The point system is completely different. For example, in order to get a free drink on us card, you need 200 points, not 1,500. I don't know the threshold (if there is a specific one) for free cruises.

[pusywillow]

Well, after deliberating and ruminating about if for the past week, I've decided to go on the "free" cruise after all. I booked the Conquest for Christmas Week (Dec. 21-28).

 

Interestingly (at least to me), after not having been on a Carnival cruise in over 10 years, I will now be taking my third Carnival cruise in the past 10 weeks. :D

 

Good for you! Please come back and tell us how it was. I'll be on my first Carnival cruise in April on the Conquest. Let me know how many VP machines are in the casino if you can. Thanks!

 

Sue

[American Bear]

I will assume that you are big gamblers and go home with Carnival's money. Therefore they want you back with a chance to get their money back.

 

 

All the cruise line have casino clubs that hand out free cruises(you pay for port fees and taxes)!

They only care about your play, they don't figure whether you win or lose!

We turn down over a dozen cruises a year easily!