Shareholder OBC with Casino rate?

[CafeBruno]

Hi, I received an email offer for a free oceanview cabin, with very cheap upgrade prices (like 75% off) for 2021 cruises, so I booked on and paid the upgrade for a Neptune. When I sent in my request for Shareholder OBC, I received this response from HAL: 

 

Thank you for contacting Holland America Line in regards to your Carnival Shareholder benefit being applied to your reservation XXXXXX based on your status as a CCL stockholder. Unfortunately, we are unable to apply the shareholder benefit  due to the fare your reservation is booked under.  The shareholder benefit is not combinable with reduced-rate promotions.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you. We are looking forward to welcoming you on board in the near future.

 

Just wondering if this is normal? I guess I shouldn't complain since the Neptune price was so dirt cheap, but just wondering if this has been others' experience also.

 

One other weird factoid is that the rate shows up as a casino rate - which is very odd since my wife (to whom the email offer was addressed in the email) has never set foot in the casino. I do play occasionally, but again the email addressed my wife, not me. And the email offer never mentioned the casino, play requirements, anything like that. Maybe casino rates don't also qualify to use the Shareholder OBC?

 

Thanks 

[YXU AC*SE]

7 hours ago, CafeBruno said:

Just wondering if this is normal? 

 

In a word yes.

 

Current terms and conditions:

 

 

As for offer targeting, I received a similar offer in May - I have never dropped even a dime in a shipboard casino, so I assume it was other demographics / on-board purchase history / sales potential index they were using to pitch the offer, and they used an existing rate code rather than create a new one?     Scott. 

Edited July 23, 2020 by YXU AC*SE

[NCTribeFan]

The only time I've ever been denied a S/H OBC was my Zuiderdam sailing, which was not free, but was a very reasonable $199/pp casino fare.

 

I had booked Zaandam for this past April under a similar fare but hadn't attempted to get my S/H credit before it was cancelled, but imagine it would've been denied.

 

I just re-booked on N Am for early January.  Decent fare but not an almost-free rate.  I'm going to submit for my credit and see what happens.

 

FTR, Carnival gives the shareholder credit to everyone (except interline, I believe), even on free casino cruises.  Of course, all the lines under the CCL umbrella are separate entities and they can do things however they choose.  I've only sailed HAL and Carnival so don't know how Princess and the others handle when booking the deeply-discounted fares.