Finally - free cabin offer returns!

[DaveOKC]

Well, after a long drought we finally once again are getting a FREE Interior cabin.  We were getting these two years ago, but during the past year they wanted $199 (no OBC back) for a 7 day cruise.  This time the cruise is for 7-10 days.  Hopefully we are back in the system again.

 

[BigMattT]

We only accepted one of the $149 ones and glad we only did one. In addition to no OBC back, we just discovered the $149 fares aren’t eligible for upsell offers or Club Orange while the “free” offers (which we’ve continued to receive all along, but not for the sailings we’d consider) are.

 

(Also curiously the first time we’ve been without a cabin assignment at 7 days out. Not complaining… eager to see where we land. Just feels like those fares are treated quite differently than what we were used to.)

 

[syesmar]

48 minutes ago, DaveOKC said:

…Hopefully we are back in the system again.

@DaveOKC happy for you! Might I ask: how does one get “in the system”?

[DaveOKC]

26 minutes ago, BigMattT said:

We only accepted one of the $149 ones and glad we only did one. In addition to no OBC back, we just discovered the $149 fares aren’t eligible for upsell offers or Club Orange while the “free” offers (which we’ve continued to receive all along, but not for the sailings we’d consider) are.

 

(Also curiously the first time we’ve been without a cabin assignment at 7 days out. Not complaining… eager to see where we land. Just feels like those fares are treated quite differently than what we were used to.)

 

We have been able to get Club Orange and upsells on our $149 or $199 fares. Guess its who you talk to at HAL.  Could not get Stockholder nor AARP OBC though.

 

[DaveOKC]

Just now, syesmar said:

@DaveOKC happy for you! Might I ask: how does one get “in the system”?

It all depends on your play.  The casino tracks that closely and rates you for different levels of deals.

 

[kb4683]

Does anyone have the phone number to contact the casino department?  Our e-mail says to contact our PCC and when I dial his number I get this "emergency alert" propaganda.  Told them I wanted to speak to my PCC, but they just kept on with their spiel. 😡

 

Thanks!

[mckath]

@DaveOKC I bet (ha) that feels good! We are going to be on the Rotterdam in a couple of weeks and I am curious about how the offers work. Would you mind telling us a bit more about your experience (what games you played, how often you played, etc.)?

[iflyrc5]

2 hours ago, DaveOKC said:

Well, after a long drought we finally once again are getting a FREE Interior cabin.  We were getting these two years ago, but during the past year they wanted $199 (no OBC back) for a 7 day cruise.  This time the cruise is for 7-10 days.  Hopefully we are back in the system again.

 

We are 5 star with 850+ days on HAL and never got an offer for a free/cheap cruise.  I guess they figure they have us locked in already

 

[DaveOKC]

Has anyone who just received this same offer today tried to book it online?  I used to be able to see the offer online when logged into my account, but not this time.  I liked that as it told me what I would have to pay to upgrade to a higher level cabin.

 

[BigMattT]

13 minutes ago, iflyrc5 said:

We are 5 star with 850+ days on HAL and never got an offer for a free/cheap cruise.  I guess they figure they have us locked in already

 

Yeah, it sounds like they do have you pretty loyal already. What would make you decide to spend more with them than you do now?

 

We pulled way back on travel spending since the pandemic, but HAL has received 80% of our remaining vacation spending because they started to send us offers… versus 0% when they didn’t send us offers. They know we usually buy a retreat cabana, thermal suite pass, specialty dining, and leave a donation in the casino… so they lose $1k on our fare but gain $5k in spending or more. Seems like smart marketing to me.

[DaveOKC]

50 minutes ago, mckath said:

@DaveOKC I bet (ha) that feels good! We are going to be on the Rotterdam in a couple of weeks and I am curious about how the offers work. Would you mind telling us a bit more about your experience (what games you played, how often you played, etc.)?

If you read some of the other posts on here about gambling on HAL, you will note that it is a point based system.  One point for every $2 you bet on slots, one for every $5 on video poker, and an unknown formula for table games.  People have reported that you have to earn around 500 points per day to get considered for a free cabin, but I think that this really depends on how full the ship is (why give away cabins if someone is willing to pay?

 

Personally, I think you should play for the entertainment value of it and if you get offered something in return, all the better,  Never chase "comps" such as free cabins as in the end it is usually a losing deal.

 

[kb4683]

5 minutes ago, DaveOKC said:

Has anyone who just received this same offer today tried to book it online?  I used to be able to see the offer online when logged into my account, but not this time.  I liked that as it told me what I would have to pay to upgrade to a higher level cabin.

 

Same here.  Also really liked when we could see what it cost to upgrade.

[scooter6139]

We keep getting the offers, but none so far are ones we can take due to my wife's school teacher schedule. 

 

I tried to push for a nice Mexico one, but no.  Told my folks to take the nice Hawaiian one they had. 

[moscow123456]

1 hour ago, mckath said:

@DaveOKC I bet (ha) that feels good! We are going to be on the Rotterdam in a couple of weeks and I am curious about how the offers work. Would you mind telling us a bit more about your experience (what games you played, how often you played, etc.)?

I know that @DaveOKC gets casino offers, but these are not the only "free" room offers out there.  We took our very first HAL cruise this summer (to the fjords of Norway), did not spend any money in the casinos, and still got a "free interior cabin" offer from HAL in December.  I have no idea what criteria they use in sending out these offers, but I can attest that we did not spend money in the casino and still got a "free interior cabin" offer for the January/February time frame. 

 

I wish I could offer you some idea as to how one "qualifies" for the free offers - but I, truthfully, have no idea. I only know that we accept the offer (with an upgrade to an OV cabin) and the very kind HAL folks were willing not only to talk with me about the offer, but to explain in detail which cabins (and where) were available on the various cruises offered.  

[oakridger]

5 hours ago, moscow123456 said:

We took our very first HAL cruise this summer (to the fjords of Norway), did not spend any money in the casinos, and still got a "free interior cabin" offer from HAL in December. 

 

I feel like a sucker sometimes for actually paying full price for my cruises.

 

~Nancy

[ChinaShrek]

6 hours ago, oakridger said:

 

I feel like a sucker sometimes for actually paying full price for my cruises.

 

~Nancy

You can always drop some money into the slots on your next cruise and pray for an offer a few weeks after you get back. Since Covid, I find that I get free interior cabin offers on many of the short cruises (Alaska, Caribbean) but not on the cruises I really wish to take. I usually spend (lose) $500-700 on each cruise so they aren't really free anyway.

[Mosaic]

We have not seen any new offers recently at all. I do know that while most offers are shorter trips, I have seen them for over 50 day cruises (no joke).

[breakiron]

I haven't received any of these offers recently.  After getting these offers awhile back I did book a South America/Antarctica 22 night cruise for next month, Jan. 2024.  All I paid was $510 in taxes and fees a substantial saving.  I've taken advantage of it while I can but would be nice to get more offers, lol.....

[Nickelpenny]

I never play the casino and have gotten several emails for a “free” inside cabin. I have taken 2, presently on one and will take another one in Feb ( 28 day Amazon). But I haven’t received any emails for about 6 months. They usually came on a Thursday. 

Edited December 29, 2023 by Nickelpenny

[NCTribeFan]

I didn't get any new offers.  It's been a while.

 

I board Eurodam on 1/13.  We'll see if my casino play triggers any new offers after that.  I've often wondered if when you have another cruise or 3 already booked, they see no reason for the incentives.  It wasn't until I cut way back on my Carnival sailings (well over 30 sailings) that I began receiving better casino offers.

[DaveOKC]

OK - now I am getting a reduced price on my FREE cabin.  Yesterday it was $1014, today $601 (pp) plus tax and fees.  Even stranger is if I want to add HIA it comes out to only $45 per day??

 

Makes no sense to me.

 

Edited December 30, 2023 by DaveOKC

[hal lover]

Well here I am.... a long time HA passenger by choice and have NEVER rec'd an offer for a free cabin.  I recently remarried after the loss of my DH and this was his first HA cruise.  He got an email two weeks ago for a free inside stateroom if he were to book by a certain date. REALLY??  we figured it had to be because money was spent in the jewelry store. (that's a whole different post)  

Anyway, I called my travel agent and she informed me that she would not make any money by doing this booking for us.  OK, sorry.

[DaveOKC]

3 hours ago, hal lover said:

Well here I am.... a long time HA passenger by choice and have NEVER rec'd an offer for a free cabin.  I recently remarried after the loss of my DH and this was his first HA cruise.  He got an email two weeks ago for a free inside stateroom if he were to book by a certain date. REALLY??  we figured it had to be because money was spent in the jewelry store. (that's a whole different post)  

Anyway, I called my travel agent and she informed me that she would not make any money by doing this booking for us.  OK, sorry.

Time for a new TA in my opinion.  

Never had an issue with booking through a HAL PCC.

[POA1]

On 12/28/2023 at 5:54 PM, kb4683 said:

Does anyone have the phone number to contact the casino department?  Our e-mail says to contact our PCC and when I dial his number I get this "emergency alert" propaganda.  Told them I wanted to speak to my PCC, but they just kept on with their spiel. 😡

 

Thanks!

The 800# for PCCs should get you to the phone queue where you can put in their extension. If you get anything else, it's probably the wrong number. The PCC department is likely closed until Tuesday.

[crystalspin]

1 hour ago, POA1 said:

The 800# for PCCs

1-800-355-3017 @kb4683. You can also stay on the menu until offered the chance to speak to a PERSON!