Free Cruise Offer Just for Us?

[baggal]

DH just got an email from a PCC at HAL (not the person we have been dealing with for the past few years.  I hope our original PCC is OK.)

 

This is the important quote:

 

I know this is an unprecedented time for travel; however, we can start planning your tropical winter vacation now with our Plan Now, Sail Later offer that is exclusive just for you! You can choose select Caribbean and Mexico voyages with this amazing offer of a FREE Ocean View stateroom or if you prefer a Verandah or Suite you are welcome to upgrade*.   Just curious if anyone else got one of these offers.  I'm especially surprised because we are only 3 Star Mariners.  Unfortunately, we are not planning any cruises in the near or possibly distant future.  I have an underlying medical condition that would make it insane for me to consider boarding a ship.  Good luck to everyone who does.

[travelnap]

I had gotten one a couple weeks ago and another one came today.  The one's I got were a promotion from the casino, and also included $250 in casino play plus free drinks while in the casino.  I have gotten these in the past but this is the most generous one I have seen.  The one I got the reservation had to be booked by July 31st, but you could book a cruise up until March of next year.  I am not a big gambler so I was kind of surprised when I got the first one a few years ago.  They used to be for a free inside and then you paid for upgrades.  All you paid was the port charges unless you booked the upgrade.  Even as good as deal as it is, I am going to wait until this Covid-19 is more understood before I book another cruise.  I love to cruise, but don't want to end up in quarantine if Covid is still a problem when my cruise would come up.

[Gigi1977]

Wow.  Nice!   

[Vict0riann]

We got the email, and we have booked a one-week cruise in April, with an upgrade to a verandah (which we paid for).  Hope things are moving again by then.  I did take insurance (we ended up paying about $1,000 for the upgrade, deposit-which we will get back on board as OBC-, and port fees, etc.) which seems kind of silly for a "free" cruise, but I did it.   If there's no vaccine by then or the border isn't open, we will cancel.  I do like having a cruise to look forward to....

[Lido deck main]

Hey, how do I get in on this.  Are you all casino players?  I play casino but very little.

[CafeBruno]

We got the same offer a couple of weeks ago, free oceanview or pay to upgrade. Our offer did not come with free casino play or free casino drinks. The upgrade costs plus $200 per person had to be paid at booking, and the $200 PP is returned as OBC on the sailing. We actually booked 2 sailings with this promotion, both in Neptunes, as we figured this would be the most affordable way to ever book one. Now just hoping they will actually sail. We also bought "cancel for any reason" insurance for both. 

 

As I mentioned in another thread, I have no idea how we qualified for the offer. It was emailed to my wife and the cheap upgrade prices only showed up online when I logged in under my wife's Mariner #. Logging in under my Mariner # showed normal prices, like 3x higher than when logged in under my wife's name. Our booking invoice says it is a casino rate, but my wife never gambles (I do some), so no idea how she got the offer and not me. We are also 3 star. Anyway these are best best deals I've ever seen, so I sure hope we stay on this mailing list. 

 

[Vict0riann]

We never gamble.  Don’t know how we got the free offer.  DH got the email, too, and the cruise consultant I spoke to at HAL said we could have booked two cruises in that case.  

[baggal]

Thanks everyone.  It probably is a Casino rate.  We had gotten discounts in the past but they were always just a percentage off the cruise fare.  (FYI:  we do gamble but not huge amounts.)

 

As enticing as a free cruise is, thanks but no thanks at this time.  And possibly never again.  What a shame.

[idiebabe]

Ours was also not a Casino Offer.  Free Oceanview and pay the Port Fees/Taxes plus $200 pp and the &200 pp will be refunded  as OBC Onboard.  Booked an 11 Nite on NS end of February.   

[VintageGeo]

We also received this offer, and we are not gamblers, so it wasn't a casino offer to us we're sure. Although it is a very good offer we were forced to decline until the situation stabilizes. We've yet to see a cruise that is 'to die for'.

Doubt that we'll see another offer like this one, sadly.

 

Lori & George

 

 

 

[GRACECRUISE]

Our March cruise that was cancelled was on the free offer.  At that time we upgraded to a verandah.  Just got the new one with free casino play and free drinks in the casino.  We will have to pass, just not comfortable with to book again yet.  I do play the slots.  Hit 2 good jackpots last Nov so played more than usual.  Maybe that triggered both of the free offers.  Hope they offer it again next year, may we will be ready.  For the record I hate not cruising!!!!!