Free interior stateroom

[newtocruiseinblue]

1 minute ago, FlorenceItaly said:

half off wine packages, complimentary laundry, half of mini bar and half of most specialty restaurants.  All these benefits combined with the casino deal is a great deal.  For us, we feel we are farther ahead not purchasing HIA.  For internet we are fine with accessing on our phones while in port.  The complimentary drinks in casino is nice.  We typically tip $2 per drink.  And, we attended happy hour.  Also, when adding HIA one must consider it does add to the cost of your insurance as it is based on what you paid for the cruise.

My husband - the accountant - thanks you 😁 

 

Someday maybe we will be 4*……

[cbr663]

13 hours ago, dockman said:

So you go on one cruise, no casino and no shops and get offered free cruise?  While there are thousands of us that have been on a dozen or more and never a whiff of an offer....good for you. 

 

Must be nice to get that kind of offer.  I will sit by my computer and wait for my free cruise offer to arrive in my mailbox.....i suspect it will be a very very long wait.

 

It's HAL assuming a "winback" approach to customers who it thinks are no longer sailing.  Lots of companies take this approach.  With telecommunications, for instance, you will only get your best offer once you leave the company and they try and win you back.  HAL's reward for current customers who continue to book is its Marnier Program.  

 

If you want discounted cruise offers (as these "free" cruises are not free in the sense that you pay $0), you may want to consider stop sailing and hope that HAL notices and wants to win you back with an attractive offer.

[TiogaCruiser]

19 minutes ago, cbr663 said:

 

It's HAL assuming a "winback" approach to customers who it thinks are no longer sailing.  Lots of companies take this approach.  With telecommunications, for instance, you will only get your best offer once you leave the company and they try and win you back.  HAL's reward for current customers who continue to book is its Marnier Program.  

 

If you want discounted cruise offers (as these "free" cruises are not free in the sense that you pay $0), you may want to consider stop sailing and hope that HAL notices and wants to win you back with an attractive offer.

Well said. That’s exactly why I think DH gets them. We booked our second cruise under his name in 2009. All cruises afterwards were in my name, including 4 solos. Add to that he entered a demographic that is likely to have more time to sail…..

[Moriah]

On 2/7/2024 at 1:29 AM, grannyshell said:

Directly from Holland America and yes, we have sailed with HAL recently.

 

Probably on your recent cruise you played bingo or otherwise got your name on a casino list (by putting your card into a slot machine?). So it's the casino company, not actually HAL, who will pay for your cabin and gift it to you.  There is no "catch" - but these offers "sell" out quickly so do make the call if you want to go on one of the offered cruises.  You pay port fees and taxes.  Like any cruise, you can add HIA or anything else, but your won't pay the "cruise fare."  You can upgrade if there is availability, and that will cost you.

[mckcruiser2000]

We booked a free 14 day Greek Island cruise just yesterday. One thing I haven’t seen mentioned is you have to pay in full at booking and there is a 100% cancellation fee. This includes any thing you book for this cruise such as excursions, dining, airfare, etc. In our case we upgraded the free inside to an aft facing verandah and added HIA. We wound up buying their insurance because of this. Free in our case was still pretty expensive!

[Skicruiser55]

8 minutes ago, mckcruiser2000 said:

We booked a free 14 day Greek Island cruise just yesterday. One thing I haven’t seen mentioned is you have to pay in full at booking and there is a 100% cancellation fee. This includes any thing you book for this cruise such as excursions, dining, airfare, etc. In our case we upgraded the free inside to an aft facing verandah and added HIA. We wound up buying their insurance because of this. Free in our case was still pretty expensive!

How much did you pay when upgrading to balcony cabin compared to the rate if you were booking if w/o the “free” offer.  

[grannyshell]

5 hours ago, cbr663 said:

 

It's HAL assuming a "winback" approach to customers who it thinks are no longer sailing.  Lots of companies take this approach.  With telecommunications, for instance, you will only get your best offer once you leave the company and they try and win you back.  HAL's reward for current customers who continue to book is its Marnier Program.  

 

If you want discounted cruise offers (as these "free" cruises are not free in the sense that you pay $0), you may want to consider stop sailing and hope that HAL notices and wants to win you back with an attractive offer.

I don't think that's always the case, it surely wasn't in ours. We've done 2 cruises in the past 2 years and have 2 booked with HAL this year.

[grannyshell]

2 hours ago, Moriah said:

Probably on your recent cruise you played bingo or otherwise got your name on a casino list (by putting your card into a slot machine?). So it's the casino company, not actually HAL, who will pay for your cabin and gift it to you.  There is no "catch" - but these offers "sell" out quickly so do make the call if you want to go on one of the offered cruises.  You pay port fees and taxes.  Like any cruise, you can add HIA or anything else, but your won't pay the "cruise fare."  You can upgrade if there is availability, and that will cost you.

No, did not play bingo or slots, not once.

[mckcruiser2000]

43 minutes ago, Skicruiser55 said:

How much did you pay when upgrading to balcony cabin compared to the rate if you were booking if w/o the “free” offer.  

It wound being about a 50% discount if we had booked the same without the promotion.

[Haljo1935]

20 minutes ago, grannyshell said:

No, did not play bingo or slots, not once.

Same. Never given a HAL or any CCL family brand a penny in casino and receive these offers. There are 2 different types of casino offerings: one which includes an amount of Free Play and frequently drinks of some type (this goes to those that gave spent xx in casino) and casino rate which includes OBC to offset the booking free (netting the free stateroom) instead of free play (this goes to people who say they've not contributed to the casino.

[cbr663]

2 hours ago, mckcruiser2000 said:

We booked a free 14 day Greek Island cruise just yesterday. One thing I haven’t seen mentioned is you have to pay in full at booking and there is a 100% cancellation fee. This includes any thing you book for this cruise such as excursions, dining, airfare, etc. In our case we upgraded the free inside to an aft facing verandah and added HIA. We wound up buying their insurance because of this. Free in our case was still pretty expensive!

 

We won a free cruise while onboard and it was when we went to book the free cruise that we discovered that a free cruise from HAL does not equal zero dollars.  Ship math.  😉

[idlewood4]

I got the offer via email. Good for 2 cruises. Booked directly with my HAL consultant. Definitely legit. I paid taxes and port fees, plus a $100. Booking fee onboard credit refund. It's for inside guarantee. You can upgrade to a different room for a fee. You still are responsible for gratuities and excursions and any extras. I booked back to back Viking Explorer and Viking Passage 42 days combined, paid in full under $1000.  Not sure how I got lucky, but I jumped on it and glad I did.  I missed out on the round trip Boston, but was able to book Amsterdam Boston, so only need air one way to Amsterdam.

Edited February 8 by idlewood4
Add info

[YourWorldWithBill]

3 hours ago, mckcruiser2000 said:

We booked a free 14 day Greek Island cruise just yesterday. One thing I haven’t seen mentioned is you have to pay in full at booking and there is a 100% cancellation fee. This includes any thing you book for this cruise such as excursions, dining, airfare, etc. In our case we upgraded the free inside to an aft facing verandah and added HIA. We wound up buying their insurance because of this. Free in our case was still pretty expensive!

This is what has kept me from taking advantage of the "free" cruises, although I acknowledge that it is still a big discount. I'm determined to use one soon, even if it means staying in the inside cabin, so that I really feel the freedom! 

[Charlene1985]

I have a 2409HOB offer.  Our last cruise onboard spending was $1284 over 10 nights.  We also had HIA.  The folio charges were crew appreciation, a few extra dollars for drinks that cost over the $11 amount, shore excursions, a massage for husband, and a few bags of laundry.  I had a total of 7 offers in 2023 and 2 so far in 2024.

 

One included an offer for the 12 day Rotterdam cruise on March 23rd I'm currently waitlisted for.  <Insert petulant child face>

 

Someone above said they logged in and could see the cost of upgrading on the website.  How did you find that info?

[Mary229]

4 hours ago, mckcruiser2000 said:

We booked a free 14 day Greek Island cruise just yesterday. One thing I haven’t seen mentioned is you have to pay in full at booking and there is a 100% cancellation fee. This includes any thing you book for this cruise such as excursions, dining, airfare, etc. In our case we upgraded the free inside to an aft facing verandah and added HIA. We wound up buying their insurance because of this. Free in our case was still pretty expensive!

You get port fees, dining and shore excursions returned if either the ship doesn’t go to the port or you cancel.  Airfare can be worked out with the carrier usually for a credit. 

[mckcruiser2000]

7 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

You get port fees, dining and shore excursions returned if either the ship doesn’t go to the port or you cancel.  Airfare can be worked out with the carrier usually for a credit. 

Hi Mary, thanks for pointing that out. The PCC told me taxes and port fees are 100% refundable, I should have mentioned that. She also told me nothing else would be because of the promotion. That will definitely make us very cautious in choosing excursions and specialty dining. 

[Mary229]

7 minutes ago, mckcruiser2000 said:

Hi Mary, thanks for pointing that out. The PCC told me taxes and port fees are 100% refundable, I should have mentioned that. She also told me nothing else would be because of the promotion. That will definitely make us very cautious in choosing excursions and specialty dining. 

I had excursions, dining and  port fees returned recently. I did go on the cruise.  I talked to the airline and would have gotten a credit and the hotels through HAL was also refundable 

 

it is covered by insurance if you absolutely need to cancel

Edited February 8 by Mary229

[rbelshaw]

On 2/7/2024 at 7:54 PM, dockman said:

May i ask approx how much total you spent on average per cruise not including gratuties as HOB seems to mean high onboard spender?  I am not pretty so for sure won't qualify in that regard.

 Close to 3K, but as a solo I am also paying the fare for an invisible girlfriend. All with HIA so grats included. Two of those were Neptune - The first was a cheap upgrade, which got me hooked. Last was an SS on the hump with CO  Next will be an aft veranda, because, as you may have noticed, prices are going up and my income is not. So pretty but penniless.

These are all seven day trips - SEA to AK on the Westy or E'dam.

Edited February 10 by rbelshaw

[Mary229]

30 minutes ago, rbelshaw said:

 Close to 3K, but as a solo I am also paying the fare for an invisible girlfriend. All with HIA so grats included. Two of those were Neptune - The first was a cheap upgrade, which got me hooked. Last was an SS on the hump with CO  Next will be an aft veranda, because, as you may have noticed, prices are going up and my income is not. So pretty but penniless.

These are all seven day trips - SEA to AK on the Westy or E'dam.

I think the formula is complex.  Regardless the casino discount has paid us back many times before.  Our discount is generally equivalent to HIA and DH likes HIA so usually chooses that instead of the cost savings.  As a recent 4 star I am trying to convince him otherwise🙄

Edited February 10 by Mary229