MarinerBoy Posted November 29, 2020 #1 Share Posted November 29, 2020 Got a flyer asking us to book a free balcony with VIP benefits on a selected listing of cruises. All sorts of options from 5 day to 15 day. We selected a 15 day Hawaii cruise in December. Why in the world would Princess offer such luxury cruises free? I understand we play a lot in the casino but what idiot is going to select a 5 day cruise when a 15 day Hawaii cruise which is by far the most expensive and hard to find cruise esp in Dec is free? Incredible. On top of this free comp we get VIP benefits for the whole 15 days and the best part is by accepting this free trip we also qualify for another free VIP Ultimate trip later in 2021 or 2022. So, 2 free cruises worth up to 3k usd pp each, wow! Princess just handed us 12k worth of cruises for free? Why? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suekel Posted November 29, 2020 #2 Share Posted November 29, 2020 We did the same thing. I wasn't planning on booking another cruise but my husband said do it! We get back from a TA the week before. I've had free cruises before but not a VIP. I'm curious to see how it goes. See you on board! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare azbirdmom Posted November 29, 2020 #3 Share Posted November 29, 2020 1 hour ago, MarinerBoy said: So, 2 free cruises worth up to 3k usd pp each, wow! Princess just handed us 12k worth of cruises for free? Why? Because they expect that the casino will extract far more than the value of the cruise from you. They do the same thing in Vegas and other gaming oriented enterprises. Sometimes you will win but the odds are always with the house. And if you are entertained and can afford the casino spend, then it's worth it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarinerBoy Posted November 29, 2020 Author #4 Share Posted November 29, 2020 When called to book i had to pay $235 in taxes + $200 per person non refundable deposit which gets converted to ship credit. This is a total of $400 ship credits coming back to us, so we only pay $235 each for 15 days to Hawaii in December, unreal value. I called to confirm this was true and the call center lady said the "casino" is paying the balance of the fare, so somehow the casino has its own bankroll and budget, and the casino has power to pay off your debt.. why? Incredible, imagine this guys, out of the blue a 15 day all expenses paid cruise to Hawaii.. just like that, wow! And they will throw in a second cruise free called VIP ULTIMATE, who in the world is making these marketing decisions.. 2 free cruises for 2, worth over $10,000+ in value just to have fun in the casino, drink free drinks, relax, go out to eat.. what a life! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caribill Posted November 29, 2020 #5 Share Posted November 29, 2020 6 hours ago, MarinerBoy said: Got a flyer asking us to book a free balcony with VIP benefits on a selected listing of cruises. All sorts of options from 5 day to 15 day. ch, wow! Princess just handed us 12k worth of cruises for free? Why? What are the VIP benefits? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarinerBoy Posted November 29, 2020 Author #6 Share Posted November 29, 2020 18 minutes ago, caribill said: What are the VIP benefits? Personalized boarding, personalized cruise host, unlimited drinks in the casino, champagne bottle in room, vip badge. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jadn13 Posted November 29, 2020 #7 Share Posted November 29, 2020 We just booked a few of these as well. Quick Tip- Always read the fine print because some offers are valid on up to 3 bookings. 🚢 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franktown Posted November 29, 2020 #8 Share Posted November 29, 2020 The way the casino looks at it is on a fifteen day cruise you have a lot more time to gamble especially with many sea days like the Hawaii cruise. They might lose money on you but they will make it up on others. They are not in the business of losing money. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare CineGraphic Posted November 29, 2020 #9 Share Posted November 29, 2020 Here's 2 interesting posts about the VIP sailings from the casino board: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprocket Posted November 29, 2020 #10 Share Posted November 29, 2020 I called and tried to book this cruise and there is no one there taking calls right now. I ended up calling the main Princess line and was given the email address and got an automatic response saying someone would contact me in December that it goes by order of emails received. The cabin I want is available to upgrade to, just afraid we'll lose it by having to wait. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jadn13 Posted November 29, 2020 #11 Share Posted November 29, 2020 4 minutes ago, Sprocket said: I called and tried to book this cruise and there is no one there taking calls right now. I ended up calling the main Princess line and was given the email address and got an automatic response saying someone would contact me in December that it goes by order of emails received. The cabin I want is available to upgrade to, just afraid we'll lose it by having to wait. They are ridiculously busy, i suggest calling when they open, it’s the only way we have been able to book the last few weeks. Plan to be on hold for at least 30mins. I tried sending an email but never received a response. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprocket Posted November 29, 2020 #12 Share Posted November 29, 2020 Thanks for the reply, after calling the casino line for days I gave up and called the 1-800# and was told they can only be reached by email. I just get the message that they are closed. For now at least, its frustrating but we are living in complicated times. Really hope someone gets back to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger88 Posted November 29, 2020 #13 Share Posted November 29, 2020 I wonder how new Casino rules with Covid will be applied on practise . I wonder if we will be able to have the same experience in the casino like before. Right now I cant imagine tons of people gathering by the poker table Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarinerBoy Posted November 29, 2020 Author #14 Share Posted November 29, 2020 6 hours ago, Jadn13 said: We just booked a few of these as well. Quick Tip- Always read the fine print because some offers are valid on up to 3 bookings. 🚢 Our flyer said up to 3 offers but that's a misprint. There is no way Princess will give away 3 free cruises think about it. We just paid the taxes + fees and got our confirmation of booking! Imagine I can do this 2 more times, is that true 3 free cruises? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarinerBoy Posted November 29, 2020 Author #15 Share Posted November 29, 2020 3 hours ago, CineGraphic said: Here's 2 interesting posts about the VIP sailings from the casino board: This is quite interesting, which forum is this posted at, link? Also the topic in discussion on this screen shot is the Ultimate VIP cruise the "end game" cruise but you still need to qualify for that cruise by going on up to 3 free cruises. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare CineGraphic Posted November 29, 2020 #16 Share Posted November 29, 2020 23 minutes ago, MarinerBoy said: which forum is this posted at There's a whole board for Cruise Casinos: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/455-cruise-casinos/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jadn13 Posted November 29, 2020 #17 Share Posted November 29, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, MarinerBoy said: Our flyer said up to 3 offers but that's a misprint. There is no way Princess will give away 3 free cruises think about it. We just paid the taxes + fees and got our confirmation of booking! Imagine I can do this 2 more times, is that true 3 free cruises? Not a misprint. Sometimes its’s only the cabin that you can book up to 3 and not all the amenities but yes true Edited November 29, 2020 by Jadn13 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jadn13 Posted November 29, 2020 #18 Share Posted November 29, 2020 55 minutes ago, CineGraphic said: There's a whole board for Cruise Casinos: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/455-cruise-casinos/ Thank You Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel A Posted November 30, 2020 #19 Share Posted November 30, 2020 How can Princess be offering 15 day cruises? Doesn't the CDC framework prohibit offering any cruises of more than 7 days? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neverbeenhere Posted November 30, 2020 #20 Share Posted November 30, 2020 28 minutes ago, Daniel A said: How can Princess be offering 15 day cruises? Doesn't the CDC framework prohibit offering any cruises of more than 7 days? Through September 2021, currently. (I believe) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare trbarton Posted November 30, 2020 #21 Share Posted November 30, 2020 FYI..Since these offers/cruises are be done through the company that controls the casino’s on the cruise ship they are taking care of the costs. This is strictly through this casino company & not through Princess. I have contacted before, the company that runs the casino’s on most of the cruise ship’s, & was told that I didn’t qualify. Tom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare leck57 Posted November 30, 2020 #22 Share Posted November 30, 2020 But MarinerBoy...weren't you the person questioning people "wasting" their money by booking suites? So you get this offer because of the amount of money you spend in the casino? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jadn13 Posted November 30, 2020 #23 Share Posted November 30, 2020 28 minutes ago, leck57 said: But MarinerBoy...weren't you the person questioning people "wasting" their money by booking suites? So you get this offer because of the amount of money you spend in the casino? It must be through a tier system. I don’t play that much and mostly get offered comped interior cabins sometimes window and balcony but mostly interior. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jadn13 Posted November 30, 2020 #24 Share Posted November 30, 2020 6 hours ago, neverbeenhere said: Through September 2021, currently. (I believe) November 6 hours ago, neverbeenhere said: Through September 2021, currently. (I believe) November 1, 2021 the 7 day sailings (US) CDC regulation expires Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel A Posted November 30, 2020 #25 Share Posted November 30, 2020 7 hours ago, neverbeenhere said: Through September 2021, currently. (I believe) 1 hour ago, Jadn13 said: November November 1, 2021 the 7 day sailings (US) CDC regulation expires Thanks for your responses. My reading of framework is that cruise operators may not offer to sail cruises of more than 7 days and that the prohibition on making offers expires November 1, 2021. In other words, the framework specifically prohibits sailing more than 7 days until November 1, but they also added a prohibition on even making offers to sail more than 7 days until after November 1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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