New Bounce Back Offer--July 7th, 2017!!!!!!

[Slippin]

Before I begin, this is not a thread for those to comment on how there are not really "free cruises". I am an average or below average spender, only playing minimum $5 bets on craps. I bring about $600 to lose each cruise. My DW and I have been the recipients of Bounce Back offers several times over the years, but this one was a little different. I received the email Friday and immediately called to inquire. The offer stated that the cruise had to be booked by July 14th and sailed before November 5th. My wife is a teacher so that meant it had to be this month. I was shocked and astonished on the number of cruises that were included on this Bounce Back. I was shocked to even receive a Bounce Back. We last cruised in March. I did received a discounted rate offer the last night but not the free interior. Almost each and every sailing in every port. We cruise out of New Orleans and Galveston. There are not usually many of those sailing available. In the end, we book a free interior July 30th and paid $196 in taxes and port fees. We leave in 22 days. Short notice! I usually like to book in advance. Half of the fun for me is the research and planning!! With that said, both dining times are waitlisted, no FTTF, and I am at a lost for excursions. We are gong to Freeport, Nassau, and Key West.

 

I share this so that you may check your emails and know that at any time, you can get an offer such as this.

 

Any advise on how to plan with so short of time. We need a place to stay and hotels are crazy expensive. I better get to work.

[JaneyLynn]

Congrats on the offer!! I've had a few of those bounce backs myself. One question... you said you cruised in March and got this Friday? I think I need to be checking my email

 

Enjoy your cruise

[grest]

wonderful!!

[whitetail446]

My wife received an email like this yesterday and today that email has disappeared and it was not deleted....

[BoDidly]

Key West is an excursion in itself :D But we do enjoy the golf cart rentals and scooter all over the place.

[Boozebabe]

Your offer sounds great. I have no idea what criteria they use for these offers. My hubby usually runs about $1500 of his money in slots not counting the wins that he recycles and I spend about $2000- $2500 not counting winning money at the tables and we have never gotten a bounce back offer. We cruise with Carnival at least once every 12 months, sometimes more often. Only casino offers we get are for some free ply which is usually $50 each. I have heard from a few people that they get much better offers from NCL and that is starting to sway us into jumping ship so to speak. We can get a comparable cabin for about $100 more per person but we will get free drinks the entire cruise and the extra dining package. Its worth it to try it at least once.

 

We rented a golf cart in KW and drove all over the place. We got a map and hit the road. Its been years since we ported at Freeport but I think there is not much at the port. We took a cab to Port Lucaya and used the beach there and shopped. In Nassau once we swam with the dolphins, shopped and went to the casino at Atlantis. Theres a beach within walking distance of the ships. Make a right after you go thru the buildings and leave the port area at Nassau. Good luck. I love impromptu trips. Sometimes they are the best.

[momof3cruisers]

Very fun! I'm happy for you and hope you have a great time. If you've never been to Key West, I'd suggest doing one of the hop on/hop off trolleys. Your ticket is good for all day. What we did is go around the whole route and then hopped off in the areas we wanted to see more closely.

 

There are tons of suggestions for Freeport and Nassau on the destination boards here. My choice for those is staying on the ship, but I have been to both places before.

[Slippin]

Congrats on the offer!! I've had a few of those bounce backs myself. One question... you said you cruised in March and got this Friday? I think I need to be checking my email

 

Yes, correct. I don't think I have seen them do this before. I have always received it on the last night of the cruise. Check your email!

[Slippin]

My wife received an email like this yesterday and today that email has disappeared and it was not deleted....

 

 

She she also get the email about 2 hours later to not call today (Friday)? I already had mine booked but I saw the email after. The phone lines were busy.

[Slippin]

Key West is an excursion in itself :D But we do enjoy the golf cart rentals and scooter all over the place.

 

That sounds like fun. Any recommendations on places to stop?

[Slippin]

Your offer sounds great. I have no idea what criteria they use for these offers. My hubby usually runs about $1500 of his money in slots not counting the wins that he recycles and I spend about $2000- $2500 not counting winning money at the tables and we have never gotten a bounce back offer. We cruise with Carnival at least once every 12 months, sometimes more often. Only casino offers we get are for some free ply which is usually $50 each. I have heard from a few people that they get much better offers from NCL and that is starting to sway us into jumping ship so to speak. We can get a comparable cabin for about $100 more per person but we will get free drinks the entire cruise and the extra dining package. Its worth it to try it at least once.

 

We rented a golf cart in KW and drove all over the place. We got a map and hit the road. Its been years since we ported at Freeport but I think there is not much at the port. We took a cab to Port Lucaya and used the beach there and shopped. In Nassau once we swam with the dolphins, shopped and went to the casino at Atlantis. Theres a beach within walking distance of the ships. Make a right after you go thru the buildings and leave the port area at Nassau. Good luck. I love impromptu trips. Sometimes they are the best.

 

Thanks for the advice. We are looking to keep it cheap! We have been to Atlantis before and really just wanted to find a nice beach and relax.

[easyboy]

Not a problem for me for a short notice on a port fees and taxes only cruise!!! Congrats and enjoy KW!

 

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Forums mobile app

[Djptcp]

I received the email and a follow-up saying the phone lines were overwhelmed and not to call back until Monday morning. Added $25 in casino cash for my trouble. I was afraid to wait, so I called Sat. morning and was able to book the cruise I wanted - $174 for taxes/port charges total for the cruise for both DH and me. Great deal since we were going to book another 5-day cruise on the Paradise anyway for Nov. or Dec. We live 45 minutes from the Port of Tampa, so very convenient. We usually book suites, so an interior is a big come down, but we can take it for 5 days for only $174.

[iloverags2]

Good deal on that offer!

 

Key West is a fantastic place to visit without an excursion. My favorite visit there...we started off at the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum, where we purchased a three museum/attraction pass. It was good at Mel Fisher, Hemingway's House, and Truman's Little White House (which ended up being my favorite of the three!). We walked the entire visit, with no need to rent a golf cart or catch a trolley. We did walk up Duval Street on our way back to the ship to hit all the local places...great way to see Key West.

 

Another visit to Key West, we rented a convertible from Tropical Rent A Car (not sure if they still rent cars though...you would need to call). They are in the heart of KW, and will pick you up from the pier. We drove up to Marathon, in order to drive the 7 Mile Bridge, lunched there, and then drove back. Since the rental agency closed at 5:30 or so, it had to be a fairly quick trip, but it's doable if that interests you.

 

In Nassau, my favorite thing to do does not involve an excursion. I love walking over to Fort Fincastle and Queens Staircase. It's about a mile walk (you can also cab it if you prefer). It costs a buck or two per person to enter the fort. They will also try to "sell" you a guide at an additional cost, but it is not needed. Great views, and great photo ops of the ships in port. After leaving the fort, head down the staircase. It is beautiful! There are locals who give a spiel on the history of the staircase, and ask for a $10 donation/fee/whatever you want to call it. I don't mind the cost at all...they have a good bit of knowledge to share.

 

I haven't been to Freeport in some time, and it has been built up somewhat since my last visit so I'll skip that and leave it to the other pros here to offer advice.

 

Enjoy your cruise!

[Unclearnie]

I really loved Mel Fisher's museum. Saw what I consider to be a giant emerald and got to touch a gold ingot. It's all off the 1622 wreck of the Spanish Galleon Atocha.

[siestakeys04]

Congratulations

[Port of Tampa]

Lucky you...enjoy the cruise and win big. We got snubbed with an cruise play repete offer after our last cruise probably because they knew we were returning anyway...had a Premier and Ultra booked....hopefully after the Ulra we'll get a bounceback.

 

Cheers and happy cruising.

[BTHodgeman]

I received the same e-mail on Friday. I cruised in April/May, and received a bounceback on board, but the dates/ships were way more restrictive than normal, with no sailings available after July, pretty much only 3-4 day sailings, Vista/Alaska excluded, etc.

 

This e-mail offer specifically mentioned that since I was unable to use my previous bounceback offer due to inventory limitations, they were happy to extend another.

 

I too received the second e-mail about 2 hours later stating that the offer would be bookable starting Monday (tomorrow). The offer e-mail did not include an offer code, and it is not yet in my VIFP offers section on Carnival.com.

 

I'll be looking tomorrow to see what cruises are available. :)

[Cruiserbarbie]

I never heard of this? What is a bounce back offer? Have 2 cruises pending with Carnival already.

[jakesnana]

Your offer sounds great. I have no idea what criteria they use for these offers. My hubby usually runs about $1500 of his money in slots not counting the wins that he recycles and I spend about $2000- $2500 not counting winning money at the tables and we have never gotten a bounce back offer. We cruise with Carnival at least once every 12 months, sometimes more often. Only casino offers we get are for some free ply which is usually $50 each. I have heard from a few people that they get much better offers from NCL and that is starting to sway us into jumping ship so to speak. We can get a comparable cabin for about $100 more per person but we will get free drinks the entire cruise and the extra dining package. Its worth it to try it at least once.

 

We rented a golf cart in KW and drove all over the place. We got a map and hit the road. Its been years since we ported at Freeport but I think there is not much at the port. We took a cab to Port Lucaya and used the beach there and shopped. In Nassau once we swam with the dolphins, shopped and went to the casino at Atlantis. Theres a beach within walking distance of the ships. Make a right after you go thru the buildings and leave the port area at Nassau. Good luck. I love

impromptu trips. Sometimes they are the best.

 

You're story sounds like my DH and I. We spend a lot of time and money in the casino and didn't get the e-mail. We sailed the Legend for 11 nights in April with 5 sea days, so you can imagine the amount of time we spent in the casino. Maybe because we are sailing on the Victory on 7/17, but it would have been nice to be recognized for our time and play.

 

We already have a reservation for the NCL Dawn in January for a 10 night cruise. We'll see if they appreciate us any more than Carnival. We are Platinum with Carnival and our next NCL cruise will make us Platinum with them, so perks will be similar on both lines. Maybe it's time to make a move !!!

[BTHodgeman]

I never heard of this? What is a bounce back offer? Have 2 cruises pending with Carnival already.

 

A bounceback offer is a free or discounted cruise offered by the casino based on play/points earned. Typically, the casino host will hand you a pamphlet explaining your offer on the last night of the cruise (or have it delivered to your cabin). Based on anecdotal evidence and my own experience, if you earn 5000+ slot points, you will likely receive a free interior cabin on a future sailing within 6 months.

 

I have heard that bouncebacks are not offered to people who already have a future cruise booked while already on a cruise.

 

Also, the specific offer mentioned here is a bit different. This offer was sent via e-mail and not handed out by the casino while on board. I can say that for mine specifically, it mentioned that I received the offer because I had received a bounceback offer on-board that I was unable to use due to limited inventory.

 

Brent

[JaniceB]

Sounds fantastic, thanks for sharing.

[winddawn]

Congratulations on your good fortune. I enjoyed the Mel Fisher museum in Key West. Key West is very walkable with lots of shops and food places. You might want to get a cheeseburger in paradise at Jimmy Buffet's.

 

Regarding the discussion about bounce-back offers, my PVP told me that if I already have another cruise booked when I'm on a cruise, the ship casino staff are not allowed to extend a bounce-back offer to me; however, she also said the land-based casino staff are allowed to. She told me to contact her when I return from a cruise, and she'd inquire about a bounce-back for me after I return home.

 

Availability of sailings can vary hour to hour. So to anyone who doesn't see a date they're interested in, check your VIFP offers frequently because I've seen many more sailings added before my past bounce-back offers expired. So keep checking availability.

[Cruiserbarbie]

We don't gamble so that might explain it!

[Bobbysjack]

We received the same offer (one each for me and the hubs actually)... we called this morning and were told everything was available except Alaska. We booked Carnival Paradise to Havana on October 9th, upgraded to an ocean view cabin, and all in, including tips, taxes and fees, it was $780. We were looking to book a trip anyway, so a trip to Cuba is amazing...

 

This is the second bounce back offer we have received and used. The last one we got when we cruised last October '16 on the Elation out of Jacksonville. We booked the Carnival Magic in January '17.

 

The trip to Havana will be our fourth cruise and we took our first cruise ever in February 2016. I am not 100% sure how much we gamble, but we visit casinos regularly, and are frequently "invited" to play. But I am sure we gamble in the hundreds, not the thousands...