Jump to content
Cruise Critic Community

Amazing HAL offer!

Lottie A

By Lottie A,
in Holland America Line

 Share

Recommended Posts

Lottie A

Lottie A

Posted
Posted

I have only done one HAL cruise ....Zuiderdam in July, which we thoroughly enjoyed and we were upgraded to a lovely Neptune Suite.

 

Today I received an email from HAL offering me some truly amazing late offers as a "Casino Guest". I like a bit of a gamble on the slots but my Casino spend wasn't excessive at all, so I was a bit taken aback by these incredible offers.

 

Unfortunately I cannot take advantage of the offers as I will be on an Azamara cruise during the timescale, but I would like some feedback on whether the prices quoted are indeed accurate and whether I will get more of them? I was amazed at the deals offered and tend to think they cannot possibly be genuine?

 

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
kazu "Live from...." Rare

kazu

Posted
Posted
I have only done one HAL cruise ....Zuiderdam in July, which we thoroughly enjoyed and we were upgraded to a lovely Neptune Suite.

 

Today I received an email from HAL offering me some truly amazing late offers as a "Casino Guest". I like a bit of a gamble on the slots but my Casino spend wasn't excessive at all, so I was a bit taken aback by these incredible offers.

 

Unfortunately I cannot take advantage of the offers as I will be on an Azamara cruise during the timescale, but I would like some feedback on whether the prices quoted are indeed accurate and whether I will get more of them? I was amazed at the deals offered and tend to think they cannot possibly be genuine?

 

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you.

 

 

to get feedback, you would have to share pricing details with us.

 

A lot of us don't get this even if we do play in the casino.

 

So, many don't know what the "deal" consists of to give you an opinion.

 

Too bad you couldn't use it but it sounds like you have a nice cruise planned already :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Hgwells01

Hgwells01

Posted
Posted

I received the email as well, like you I did visit the casino but only a couple of times, I booked one cruise and my friends booked two. My TA thought it might be a hoax but confirmed it was real so I promptly booked and wished I could have done more.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Lottie A

Lottie A

Posted
  • Author
Posted
I received the email as well, like you I did visit the casino but only a couple of times, I booked one cruise and my friends booked two. My TA thought it might be a hoax but confirmed it was real so I promptly booked and wished I could have done more.

 

Thanks for that info Hgwells. I was just looking for confirmation that the emails represented a genuine offer and the prices weren't going to skyrocket if I phoned the number to book. It says the availability is limited and I'm sure it is.

 

I really hope they send me another email for later cruises because I will bite their hand off! :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites
IRL_Joanie

IRL_Joanie

Posted
Posted
Thanks for that info Hgwells. I was just looking for confirmation that the emails represented a genuine offer and the prices weren't going to skyrocket if I phoned the number to book. It says the availability is limited and I'm sure it is.

 

I really hope they send me another email for later cruises because I will bite their hand off! :D

About 1 month ago, one of our Long Time Cruise Critic Members, kakalina, got one of those Casino offers of a 47 day cruise on HAL and all she'd have to pay was Taxes and Port Fees.

 

She left yyesterday on her cruise:)

 

So, though I myself have never received one, I know that they are offered and are legit:)

 

Joanie

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Lottie A

Lottie A

Posted
  • Author
Posted
How can we comment if we don't know what the offers are? :confused:

 

If you don't care to mention them, no way this thread can go anywhere useful, is there?

 

It's not that I am trying to hide the prices at all. I wasn't asking anyone to comment specifically on them. I just wanted to know whether other people had received these "casino offers" and whether they were a genuine deal? I have never heard of them before as I usually sail with Azamara or Silversea and to my knowledge, they don't do "casino offers".

 

Just asking, that's all. I found people helpful here when we booked our Zuiderdam cruise and thought that experienced HAL cruisers could say Yes, they are genuine offers, just like the helpful comments from Hgwells, 510picker and IRL_Joanie.

 

Anyway, I have decided to ring up tomorrow and check out a quote given on the email. I won't actually be able to go as I'm on Azamara at that time, but at least I will know the cruises were actually available at the prices quoted.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Randyk47

Randyk47

Posted
Posted

I personally have no experience or knowledge of these recent "casino offers". The thing that crossed my mind was what was, if any, the fine print. By that I mean I would expect that if I was going to get a casino sponsored reduction or sale or whatever you want to call it that there would be an expectation on the part of the casino I was going to spend a certain amount of time wagering at least a set minimum amount of money. Failure to do that might invoke some penalty or increase in the fare or something to reimburse the casino for their largess. Maybe not, I honestly don't know, and maybe it's just a way that HAL and the casino contractor have come up with to boost booked passenger with some hope they'll along gamble in the casino. Sounds a bit squirrelly to me but who knows.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
IRL_Joanie

IRL_Joanie

Posted
Posted (edited)

Lottie,

 

Here is the original post that kakalina posted the day she got the Casino Offer (you can read the entire thread at http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2258477&highlight=kakalina :

 

Yesterday I received an email offer that was too good to be true. I just got off the phone with HAL and it is true. :D

 

I just booked the 47 day Tales of The South Pacific and all I have to pay is taxes, port fees and HSC. The cabin is free. Yeah, really gratis. It's a casino offer. I couldn't pass this up. Seriously, a 47 day cruise for a total of $757.51!!! I can even take a guest if I choose. And that price includes insurance. I know it is gauche to speak about pricing but hey, this is amazing.

 

It is like a small miracle for me as I never thought I would get the opportunity to take Virgil's ashes to Bora Bora as he wanted but saved some in case. Now I can. :)

 

I am so excited and somewhat intimidated as I've never cruised alone - but hey world here I come!

 

As I said, kakalina left yesterday on the cruise:)

 

Joanie

Edited by IRL_Joanie
Link to comment
Share on other sites
blizzardboy

blizzardboy

Posted
Posted
I have only done one HAL cruise ....Zuiderdam in July, which we thoroughly enjoyed and we were upgraded to a lovely Neptune Suite.

 

Today I received an email from HAL offering me some truly amazing late offers as a "Casino Guest". I like a bit of a gamble on the slots but my Casino spend wasn't excessive at all, so I was a bit taken aback by these incredible offers.

 

Unfortunately I cannot take advantage of the offers as I will be on an Azamara cruise during the timescale, but I would like some feedback on whether the prices quoted are indeed accurate and whether I will get more of them? I was amazed at the deals offered and tend to think they cannot possibly be genuine?

 

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you.

 

The prices are real, but you should be aware that if you take the Casino promo, you give up other promos like Explore 4 or National Plan a Cruise Month. In our case, the fare savings from the Casino promo greatly exceeded the benefits to be derived from the other promos, and we'll get cruise day credits from our bar purchases etc that we wouldn't otherwise.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
cbr663 Great Review Rare

cbr663

Posted
Posted

HAL does make these offers. Just follow-up with HAL to confirm.

 

If you think about it, it makes sense. HAL makes its profits with onboard spending. Targeting passengers who actually spend on a cruise (and not those who merely spend OBC) increases their profits.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Hgwells01

Hgwells01

Posted
Posted
I personally have no experience or knowledge of these recent "casino offers". The thing that crossed my mind was what was, if any, the fine print. By that I mean I would expect that if I was going to get a casino sponsored reduction or sale or whatever you want to call it that there would be an expectation on the part of the casino I was going to spend a certain amount of time wagering at least a set minimum amount of money. Failure to do that might invoke some penalty or increase in the fare or something to reimburse the casino for their largess. Maybe not, I honestly don't know, and maybe it's just a way that HAL and the casino contractor have come up with to boost booked passenger with some hope they'll along gamble in the casino. Sounds a bit squirrelly to me but who knows.

 

There is no requirement to spend any minimum amount, the offers say limited cabins avail and were from inside all the way to Neptune suites, you had to pay in full and the offer was on a first come first saved basis. I went to the casino twice and lost a couple of hundred bucks as did my friend. We did visit the spa regularly, went five times to speciality restaurants and enjoyed happy hour drinks regularly on our last cruise in Mar, so we do spend money on board when we travel and we are three star Mariners, I have no idea what the selection criteria was but I'm pretty happy somehow I filled it. The cheapest was a 14 day round trip Singapore, an inside cabin 199.00 Aust per person, only two pax per cabin and one cabin per booking. It also included a 33 night circumnavigation Syd to Syd starting at 911.00 Aust. It covered dates from very soon until Mar next year, if I was retired I'd have done as many as possible! So, next cruise, have a flutter in the casino and you never know what luck might head your way after you loose your money 😊

Link to comment
Share on other sites
ger_77

ger_77

Posted
Posted
T I went to the casino twice and lost a couple of hundred bucks as did my friend. We did visit the spa regularly, went five times to speciality restaurants and enjoyed happy hour drinks regularly on our last cruise in Mar, so we do spend money on board when we travel and we are three star Mariners, I have no idea what the selection criteria was but I'm pretty happy somehow I filled it. The cheapest was a 14 day round trip Singapore, an inside cabin 199.00 Aust per person, only two pax per cabin and one cabin per booking. It also included a 33 night circumnavigation Syd to Syd starting at 911.00 Aust. It covered dates from very soon until Mar next year, if I was retired I'd have done as many as possible! So, next cruise, have a flutter in the casino and you never know what luck might head your way after you loose your money

 

It sounds like a pretty good investment of a couple of hundred dollars if you receive offers like this. Unfortunately, not everyone receives them. We have friends who enjoy the casino (much more than we do), who have never had such offers. Good on those who have, though.

 

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
blizzardboy

blizzardboy

Posted
Posted

As mentioned in other threads on this topic, HAL often puts a "marketing hold" on those who have already booked a future cruise or have cruised recently. I guess it makes sense that they not spend money on reaching out to those who are already giving them business. Call your Personal Cruise Consultant (PCC) at HAL and ask them to check for said hold on your account and remove it if there. I did so and within 10 days the Casino promo popped on my account.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
kazu "Live from...." Rare

kazu

Posted
Posted
I have dabbled a bit in HAL casinos but never got an offer.

 

Then again, it wasn't until a few months ago that I started receiving mailings from HAL. My fist HAL cruise was 2007.

 

 

I have spent too much $ in casinos (but it's all entertainment and I only do it on board) and other than an offer of a miniscule obc I have received nothing.

 

Oh well, that's life, I guess.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
pollux

pollux

Posted
Posted

All cruise lines are offering casino fares.

My friend had 4 this year with carnival 2-4days and 2-7days cruises.

Right now she is on her way to San Juan for a Caribbean one only taxes with

her son.

I went with her 4 days in Sept and have a other one in Nov. 4 days.

I don't gamble much but on the last HAL from San Diego ,

I got at the casino 50 dollar.

All you really do is pay for the next cruise if you gamble a lot.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...