Princess Casino free play

[Fiddleon]

Hi everyone. This is probably a completely dim question and perhaps I’m missing something obvious, but if I don’t ask…

 

We’ve just completed a 7-day Princess cruise during which we spent some time in the casino. It wasn’t every day, and we only played on slot machines, and never for very much. We like the games more than the gambling part so we never feel the need to bet very much. Each spin was something like 80 cents, so hardly the big time

 

Anyway, we both received letters from the casino manager the day before we disembarked, offering us free play on our next cruise. I was offered $500 and my other half was offered $350. The letter said the offer only applies if we make a new cruise booking within 45 days of the date of the letter, it’s valid on cruises up to 19 days in length, and only in certain regions (although the only region that wasn’t listed was Australia)

 

$850 free play is obviously very nice, but we don’t have any cruises booked, and the only one I fancy doing would cost us around £5000, so instead of trying to sweet talk my husband in to thinking it’s a great deal, could someone please tell me that I’d be a nutcase to book a £5000 cruise in order to get a free $850 slot machinefest?

 

The cruise would no doubt be fab, but we’d already decided not to book another cruise until the energy price thing calms down, but that letter offering me free money is definitely pulling me in!

 

Please tell me I’m a nutcase and that I should just forget the letter and move on 🙂

 

Sally

[PacnGoNow]

19 minutes ago, Fiddleon said:

Hi everyone. This is probably a completely dim question and perhaps I’m missing something obvious, but if I don’t ask…

 

We’ve just completed a 7-day Princess cruise during which we spent some time in the casino. It wasn’t every day, and we only played on slot machines, and never for very much. We like the games more than the gambling part so we never feel the need to bet very much. Each spin was something like 80 cents, so hardly the big time

 

Anyway, we both received letters from the casino manager the day before we disembarked, offering us free play on our next cruise. I was offered $500 and my other half was offered $350. The letter said the offer only applies if we make a new cruise booking within 45 days of the date of the letter, it’s valid on cruises up to 19 days in length, and only in certain regions (although the only region that wasn’t listed was Australia)

 

$850 free play is obviously very nice, but we don’t have any cruises booked, and the only one I fancy doing would cost us around £5000, so instead of trying to sweet talk my husband in to thinking it’s a great deal, could someone please tell me that I’d be a nutcase to book a £5000 cruise in order to get a free $850 slot machinefest?

 

The cruise would no doubt be fab, but we’d already decided not to book another cruise until the energy price thing calms down, but that letter offering me free money is definitely pulling me in!

 

Please tell me I’m a nutcase and that I should just forget the letter and move on 🙂

 

Sally

Yes, you are a nutcase!  Just kidding! 😂

 

You just have to book it within 45 days, not cruise within 45 days, right?

 

If that’s the case, maybe you can find a cruise you fancy, but not at that high price?

 

IDK. You only live once. 🎈🎉

[Fiddleon]

No it has to be booked within 45 days but the cruise itself has to be before next April

 

You’re right though, I’m a nutcase 😄 

[Jadn13]

Most likely you will receive more offers in the future now that you’re in the system. 
 

[karatemom2]

14 minutes ago, Jadn13 said:

Most likely you will receive more offers in the future now that you’re in the system. 
 

 

I agree. My DH gets tons of Casino offers and we take advantage of them when it makes sense for us and our vacation timeline and interests - but I wouldn't book just to get the credit. You will find if they offered you that free play money this time, you will likely get it again at some point in the future with another offer. We just did our British Isles cruise and our cabin was next to nothing as we got a free inside for the trip and just upgraded to a balcony for a nominal cost. And he got a nice amount of free play chips on top of that. That wasn't from one of our exit offers - just one that came in the mail. They show up every couple of months.

 

So, don't stress. If this offer doesn't work for your there will be another one at some point. Plus, you can book any cruise you want now with the Casino discount and sometimes when you do, they will add free play to those cruises as well.

[Mike45LC]

I'll give you $850 if you give me 5K quid.  Sounds like a solid proposition to me -- for the one forking over the $850!   

 

I'd pass.  It is too much money out of my pocket to book a cruise that I was not planning on booking!  If I had another cruise I was going to take, the $850 discount might be tempting.  But unless I was planning on another cruise, it is too little in proportion to the cruise cost to tempt me.

 

[roxievegas]

You could always look for a short cruise - in southern california we have cruises for 4 or 5 days.  We would book one of those, get the free cabin, free food and then play in the casino and have a mini vacation.

We currently have two cruises booked for 2023, both casino offers.  This is the only way to go.

[cruzin4us]

Not sure if yours comes with a free cabin or not?

 

I currently have 10 cruises on the books, all with a balcony or mini suite and usually $1,000 freeplay.    I would not book a cruise unless it comes with the perks.   I am a gambler and spend a lot of sea days in the casino, but I don't bet big.....I'm usually 80 cents or sometimes $1.60....always on slots.    I in no way bet the farm or loose a ton of money in the casino.   

 

Most offers are good for up to 3 cruises, but you can only use the freeplay on one of the cruises.

 

We have trips booked to Hawaii, Iceland/Greenland, Scottish Highlands & Wales, lots to the Mexican Riviera (because it's close) and I just booked one to South America/Antarctica.    I've got cruises booked that I couldn't afford if it wasn't for the offer.   

 

Here's a few tips:   

1.  Make sure you are signed up to receive mail and email marketing promotions.    Always watch the dates of when the offers need to be booked by and used by.

2.  I, like you, received an offer on our last 10 day trip to Alaska.....it was for $600 and a free balcony (can't remember if Princess Plus was offered).    I never used the offer because they wanted me to book within 30 days and sail by 12/31/22, if memory serves me correctly.    Since then, I've received more offers by mail and email, all better than that offer.

3.  Only one casino offer can be used per booking, thus your hubby would be out of luck.    UNLESS, you both book as a solo and get 2 separate rooms.   There is no additional fee for cruising solo.  

4.  When booking a casino offer, you will need to pay the port fees & taxes/pp along with a $200 deposit which is refundable as OBC once you board.   Tip:   book as a solo and add an additional person closer to the cruise (12 days before is the last day you can add someone to your booking).   

5.  If you choose to cruise solo, there is no extra fee/surcharge and you earn 2 cruise credits on your cruise.

 

 

 

 

 

[PacnGoNow]

16 minutes ago, cruzin4us said:

Not sure if yours comes with a free cabin or not?

 

I currently have 10 cruises on the books, all with a balcony or mini suite and usually $1,000 freeplay.    I would not book a cruise unless it comes with the perks.   I am a gambler and spend a lot of sea days in the casino, but I don't bet big.....I'm usually 80 cents or sometimes $1.60....always on slots.    I in no way bet the farm or loose a ton of money in the casino.   

 

Most offers are good for up to 3 cruises, but you can only use the freeplay on one of the cruises.

 

We have trips booked to Hawaii, Iceland/Greenland, Scottish Highlands & Wales, lots to the Mexican Riviera (because it's close) and I just booked one to South America/Antarctica.    I've got cruises booked that I couldn't afford if it wasn't for the offer.   

 

Here's a few tips:   

1.  Make sure you are signed up to receive mail and email marketing promotions.    Always watch the dates of when the offers need to be booked by and used by.

2.  I, like you, received an offer on our last 10 day trip to Alaska.....it was for $600 and a free balcony (can't remember if Princess Plus was offered).    I never used the offer because they wanted me to book within 30 days and sail by 12/31/22, if memory serves me correctly.    Since then, I've received more offers by mail and email, all better than that offer.

3.  Only one casino offer can be used per booking, thus your hubby would be out of luck.    UNLESS, you both book as a solo and get 2 separate rooms.   There is no additional fee for cruising solo.  

4.  When booking a casino offer, you will need to pay the port fees & taxes/pp along with a $200 deposit which is refundable as OBC once you board.   Tip:   book as a solo and add an additional person closer to the cruise (12 days before is the last day you can add someone to your booking).   

5.  If you choose to cruise solo, there is no extra fee/surcharge and you earn 2 cruise credits on your cruise.

 

 

 

 

 

When you add someone to the cruise, how do they figure their rate?

 

[Caribensun]

Was just told yesterday that Guest sharing  your cabin pays the same as you, I think if purchase Princess Insurance it costs a little more to go solo, but not much and as others have said you can pay more for a different category.  Sometimes not much and other times a lot to up.  
There should be a sail by date too in your offer or at least that what I get on the 45 days to book offer.

you do receive the $200 deposit per person back as onboard credit.

[cruzin4us]

30 minutes ago, PacnGoNow said:

When you add someone to the cruise, how do they figure their rate?

 

If they are sailing on your comped cruise, they sail for free EXCEPT for they need to pay port fees & taxes and need to put up a non-refundable $200 (should they cancel), if they sail, they get the $200 back in OBC.

 

[MiddleagedM]

You may also want to check to be sure the two casino offers are combinable.  Often times one of the free offers apply to one cruise so you are likely looking at only a $500 free play and not $850.

[Caribensun]

Guest does not get Free Play, gets Princess Plus if in the offer.

True, does pay as the above have mentioned.

[cr8tiv1]

YEARS of sailing with Princess and donating money to their slots, I have yet to receive any casino offers or casino play money.  I once asked and probably spoke to the wrong person.  They said I had to contact someone on land.  It wasn't worth my effort to follow up.  Anyone have the "correct" answer?

[cruzin4us]

6 minutes ago, cr8tiv1 said:

YEARS of sailing with Princess and donating money to their slots, I have yet to receive any casino offers or casino play money.  I once asked and probably spoke to the wrong person.  They said I had to contact someone on land.  It wasn't worth my effort to follow up.  Anyone have the "correct" answer?

Make sure you are signed up to get promotional emails/mail.   My BFF wasn't and she wasn't getting any offers.   

[cr8tiv1]

Any way to get promotional for only casino?  Or have to get everything?  

[cruzin4us]

1 minute ago, cr8tiv1 said:

Any way to get promotional for only casino?  Or have to get everything?  

I haven't found a way to do that.    I don't get very much other stuff from Princess, just an occasional email like when they announced the new ship. 

[suekel]

5 hours ago, Fiddleon said:

Hi everyone. This is probably a completely dim question and perhaps I’m missing something obvious, but if I don’t ask…

 

We’ve just completed a 7-day Princess cruise during which we spent some time in the casino. It wasn’t every day, and we only played on slot machines, and never for very much. We like the games more than the gambling part so we never feel the need to bet very much. Each spin was something like 80 cents, so hardly the big time

 

Anyway, we both received letters from the casino manager the day before we disembarked, offering us free play on our next cruise. I was offered $500 and my other half was offered $350. The letter said the offer only applies if we make a new cruise booking within 45 days of the date of the letter, it’s valid on cruises up to 19 days in length, and only in certain regions (although the only region that wasn’t listed was Australia)

 

$850 free play is obviously very nice, but we don’t have any cruises booked, and the only one I fancy doing would cost us around £5000, so instead of trying to sweet talk my husband in to thinking it’s a great deal, could someone please tell me that I’d be a nutcase to book a £5000 cruise in order to get a free $850 slot machinefest?

 

The cruise would no doubt be fab, but we’d already decided not to book another cruise until the energy price thing calms down, but that letter offering me free money is definitely pulling me in!

 

Please tell me I’m a nutcase and that I should just forget the letter and move on 🙂

 

Sally

I would imagine that you'll get more offers.  Free Cabin, free play.  You can upgrade the cabin they offer you.  I have 5 booked that included cabin, free play and plus package although lately the ones being offered don't include the plus package.  

[Mike45LC]

The OP did NOT say anything about a free cruise offer; only a free play offer.  Someone hijacked the thread!

 

[cr8tiv1]

55 minutes ago, Mike45LC said:

The OP did NOT say anything about a free cruise offer; only a free play offer.  Someone hijacked the thread!

 

 

It wasn't my intent.  I could not differentiate between free cruise and free play offer.  I apologize.  Please stop replying to my hijack.

[Mike45LC]

cr8tive:  No apologies needed.  You started the new path and others happily followed it!  I just hope the OP was not confused.

[candy4040]

Your cabin may not be as expensive as you thought.  By booking a casino offer you usually get a discount on the cabin.  Highest is 35% for interior, 25% for balcony.  When making reservations remember to tell them you want the discount.

\

[Fiddleon]

Hi everyone, thanks for the replies 😀

 

The letters we received didn’t mention anything about a free cruise or a discount or anything like that. It just mentioned the casino free play, and that we need to book a new cruise within 45 days of the date on the letter, and that the cruise needs to be 19 days long (or less) and taken before April.

 

The way I’m reading it is: if we book a cruise at a regular rate, they’ll give us some free play in the casino.

 

That said, I probably wouldn’t say no to a free or discounted cruise 🙂 but I doubt that will happen. I’m not that lucky 😞 

[Jadn13]

3 hours ago, Fiddleon said:

Hi everyone, thanks for the replies 😀

 

The letters we received didn’t mention anything about a free cruise or a discount or anything like that. It just mentioned the casino free play, and that we need to book a new cruise within 45 days of the date on the letter, and that the cruise needs to be 19 days long (or less) and taken before April.

 

The way I’m reading it is: if we book a cruise at a regular rate, they’ll give us some free play in the casino.

 

That said, I probably wouldn’t say no to a free or discounted cruise 🙂 but I doubt that will happen. I’m not that lucky 😞 

Other offers usually follow through email or post at random. 
Keep an eye out 

[cruzin4us]

3 hours ago, Fiddleon said:

Hi everyone, thanks for the replies 😀

 

The letters we received didn’t mention anything about a free cruise or a discount or anything like that. It just mentioned the casino free play, and that we need to book a new cruise within 45 days of the date on the letter, and that the cruise needs to be 19 days long (or less) and taken before April.

 

The way I’m reading it is: if we book a cruise at a regular rate, they’ll give us some free play in the casino.

 

That said, I probably wouldn’t say no to a free or discounted cruise 🙂 but I doubt that will happen. I’m not that lucky 😞 

If you have 45 days in which to book, I'd wait and see if you don't get some additional offers before the 45 days are up.    I made a mistake of jumping on my offer that was given to me and a few days/weeks later got a much better offer in the mail and I wasn't able to switch it.