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Back from the Pearl - We won a free cruise!


orchidking

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We are long time Princess cruisers who tried NCL for the first time and loved it. The Pearl is beautiful ship. The crew is amazing. Freestyle 2.0 is a winner. I would be happy to answer any questions about the cruise, but I have one for all of you. We were very lucky and won the drawing for a free cruise for two. Has anyone else won this prize? The certificate says it's for a week long Caribbean cruise in an inside cabin. One of the assistant cds told us we could use it as a credit of $1000.00 on any NCL cruise. We hope that's true. I wanted to get some insight on past experiences before calling NCL. Thanks.

 

Marty

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Congratulations!!!!

I've never won a cruise but there was some discussion about too many blackout dates at one time. In my book, a free cruise is a free cruise and no one should complain it doesn't fit their schedule well but that's another story.

If you cannot use it, please feel free to give it to me :D

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We won a cruise on the free Spin to Win slot machine on the Jewel two years ago. On the Sky last week the casino issued a coupon book with a single coupon for the Spin to Win to play once for the whole cruise. When we were on the Jewel, you could play once per day, no coupon needed. I hope all the ships are not now having the same policy as the Sky.

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We are long time Princess cruisers who tried NCL for the first time and loved it. The Pearl is beautiful ship. The crew is amazing. Freestyle 2.0 is a winner. I would be happy to answer any questions about the cruise, but I have one for all of you. We were very lucky and won the drawing for a free cruise for two. Has anyone else won this prize? The certificate says it's for a week long Caribbean cruise in an inside cabin. One of the assistant cds told us we could use it as a credit of $1000.00 on any NCL cruise. We hope that's true. I wanted to get some insight on past experiences before calling NCL. Thanks.

 

Marty

 

Congrats! What a wonderful prise to win, and even more so on your 1st NCL cruise.

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Yes! I won a "free" cruise. It is either a 7 day Caribbean cruise or $1000.00 toward another cruise. One must pay port taxes, other taxes and fuel supplements. Unlike regular cruises once you have made your reservation they will not permit you to change it for a lower price.

 

I have never sailed NCL and won my cruise on the M/V Marco Polo. At that time it was sailing for Orient Lines. Orient Lines was totally owned by NCL. They promised that they would give me a Latitudes membership with equivalent credit. Cutting to the chase they gave me a bronze rating. I believe that being on six cruises (each a month long) should have entitled me to a higher rating but this will never be. NCL has sold their Orient lines name and information to another company.

 

I bought the crack -open tickets for US$. I paid for the "lottery tickets. I didn't steal it but I am made to feel that way. I asked for no special treatment, just what they offered. I am astute enough to know that the crew will not be a problem just the special office whose phone # is on the certificate. They are the only ones who can take your reservation not a TA or anyone else. Rudeness is his middle name and I have reported it but it has vanished in thin air. When it comes down to it, I am going because this is for my friend. Otherwise I would not bother.

 

BTW these certificates for a free cruise are non-transferable.

 

Have a good cruise, I intend to.

Fran

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We are long time Princess cruisers who tried NCL for the first time and loved it. The Pearl is beautiful ship. The crew is amazing. Freestyle 2.0 is a winner. I would be happy to answer any questions about the cruise, but I have one for all of you. We were very lucky and won the drawing for a free cruise for two. Has anyone else won this prize? The certificate says it's for a week long Caribbean cruise in an inside cabin. One of the assistant cds told us we could use it as a credit of $1000.00 on any NCL cruise. We hope that's true. I wanted to get some insight on past experiences before calling NCL. Thanks.

 

Marty

 

Good for you, that is awesome!!!!!!!

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We won a cruise on the free Spin to Win slot machine on the Jewel two years ago. On the Sky last week the casino issued a coupon book with a single coupon for the Spin to Win to play once for the whole cruise. When we were on the Jewel, you could play once per day, no coupon needed. I hope all the ships are not now having the same policy as the Sky.

 

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I do think it has changed this way fleet wide. Last Nov and last May when we were on the Star we got to pull the big slot machine lever once a day as well. In fact, I won like $20.00 or $30.00 free play doing it (can't remember which). However a couple of weeks ago on the Pearl they had the coupon book with the one pull coupon. I asked the Casino Manager what was up and she said you now only get one pull per cruise and only if you have signed up for a players card, since that is the only way to get the coupon book.

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To the OP, We won a 4 night Cruise, inside room, max value 500.00

 

We wanted a Courtyard Villa on our next cruise, so I called the number they make you call to book your winning cruise, thinking I'd get basically 500.00 off the NCL web price. Well not so!!

 

The NCL website gave a price of 7768.36 for 2 adults, 2 kids. The Winner's place you have to call quoted me 7590.36 using our "Free Cruise Certificate." I was shocked and disappointed! That is no 500.00 savings! Then I called my TA, got a quote of 7268.36 (with no certificate usage.)

 

So I booked that & will save my "Free Cruise" for another time and try again, probably just taking an inside room for 2 and paying only port, taxes & fuel charge.

 

But it really left a bad taste in my mouth, when especially the certificate says max value is 500.00. And I was told onboard when we won, that if we upgraded to a 7 day or nicer room, they'd just take 500.00 off.

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To the OP, We won a 4 night Cruise, inside room, max value 500.00

The devil is always in the details. If the certificate says "max value $500", then that means it could be anything up to and including $500. They are not required to make it $500 no matter what. Sorry you couldn't take full advantage but it sounds like they're not doing anything wrong.

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The devil is always in the details. If the certificate says "max value $500", then that means it could be anything up to and including $500. They are not required to make it $500 no matter what. Sorry you couldn't take full advantage but it sounds like they're not doing anything wrong.

 

 

You are right, they are not doing anything wrong. I just was disappointed that it was only "worth" 178.00, when booking an A3.

And then to find I could save even more booking with my TA.

 

But winning the cruise was the highlight of our 1st NCL cruise. We will utilize it in the way it was intended (inside room on a 4 night Sky) before it expires! Thanks!

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You are right, they are not doing anything wrong. I just was disappointed that it was only "worth" 178.00, when booking an A3.

And then to find I could save even more booking with my TA.

 

But winning the cruise was the highlight of our 1st NCL cruise. We will utilize it in the way it was intended (inside room on a 4 night Sky) before it expires! Thanks!

Maybe you should try the strategy of calling NCL and requesting a list of the cruises where the full $500 would be valid, particularly in the cabin categories that you would be interested in.

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I can give you some current and accurate details on the free cruise. We won this with a raffle ticket while on the Dawn in January. Here's the scoop:

- Free cruise is basically $1000.00 off a future cruise (We wanted a balcony and added another person so ncl took off the $1000.00 of the total cost)

- The free cruise MUST be completed within a year of the date you won the free cruise

- We won this on a Caribbean cruise and we had to take another caribbean cruise either east, west or southern

- You have to call the 800# on the certificate to book the cruise (you cannot use a TA or call the basic ncl number. There is a special department that handles the free cruises)

- You book the cruise and pay your deposit. Once final payment is made you will have to fax the certificate. Make sure you sign it. I called the office and made sure they got it. Within three days they sent us all our information and included our edocs

 

Congratulations on the win! If you have any questions please let me know. We sail on our Free cruise (aka $1000.00 off) December 7th!!!

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