Free cruise offers - only in the USA! I'm in Australia!

[avalon65]

Hi all

 

Back in March I completed a 4 day sampler cruise (Quantum of the Seas) from Brisbane to Airlie Beach (March 10-14).  This would of been my 4th RC Cruise - although the last cruise was back in 2013 on Explorer - and previously on Voyager and Legend of the Seas.

 

Quantum was fantastic and myself and my 2 friends "splurged" on a Grand Suite.  This was their very first cruise so they were super impressed.

We frequented the casino during the cruise and we stuck to our budget, but luckily I ended up accumulating 417 Casino Royal points which rewarded me with a $100 Cruise Rewards Certificate for a future cruise.  We're patiently waiting for May 1 to see the New Zealand cruise options from Sydney in Oct/Nov 2024.

 

But this is where things get "interesting".  I checked the Club Royale offers website a few weeks after my cruise and (as per screenshot) I now have $200 off a cruise - and luckily there is no expiry date.. so will claim this once we book our next cruise next month. 

 

 

 

So that's good - although the 2nd offer (book cruises from June-Sept) will not be an option as the Australian cruises season has technically finished and wont resume until October and I don't have any plans to cruise from an overseas port in the meantime.

 

But last week I noticed I was offered a FREE INTERIOR cruise!  Here are the options (again, ALL USA ports).  So out of interest (and being a "sticky-beak")

I applied for the Harmony cruise on 2 Sep from Miami.  Next day I received the Invoice for $276.07 for Port fees - with 48 hours to pay the fee to prevent the booking being cancelled. Naturally I let the booking cancel and expire.

 

So my question really is - Why would I of been selected for a free cruise after just 4 cruises - and still a CHOICE member just only 417 points? 

Is it a computer complexity that has no rhythm or reason - or just sheer luck?  I've seen on FB posts that some Prime members receive little or no offers.

The major problem with the offer is ofcourse the location - the cruises are all USA based and none in Australia (Brisbane or Sydney).

 

Anyway atleast I can hopefully claim the $200 offer in the next month - which is appreciated.  Has this happened to anyone previously?

 

Edited April 16, 2023 by avalon65

[Chiliburn]

It is a bit strange with only 4 cruises,it would definitely have been from the casino /club royal.

As for the free cruises from Australia, I haven’t had any personal experience but I have been told of people getting them out of Australia.

Maybe you should send a email to Club Royal.

[Joelster123]

Also you might want to check about the Expiry Date as they usually expire 30 days after the cruise, if you hover your cursor over where it says Instant Rewards Certificate, it might come up with 'Expires within 30 days from issuance', at least it does for mine. 

[avalon65]

Well the "plot thickens" - I just received this $300 offer for June sailing "Jackpot June".. I did hover over the expiry dates and nothing happened - will see what happens when I book the cruise and apply for the discount.

 

[Roybthered]

My DW is prime and we get offers but they are all in the US and we are from the UK, seems strange that they cant'/don't offer European ones to us as getting to /from the US is a few bucks.