Venting - "free cruises" are out there again

For years I never got ANY offers, until this year, I do play a lot in the casino and I play everyday. I only play penny slots and I usually recycle what I win, so not loosing to much, but I am there everyday for hours. I actually came home with approx $400 to the good on my Carnival Breeze cruise in 2013, I usually have my "drinks on us card by the second evening. I haven't purchase pictures in years, I don't have a large bar bill and do not shop a lot on board.

I finally received in my special offers on 7/18/2014 offers for free cruise ad casino free cruises and casino offers. There were so may codes to chose from and what the offers entail. I choose the casino free offer because I could get it for the Fantasy sailing Jan 23rd 2015, so no airfare and that really kept the cost down, so for a 5 night cruise it cost me under $200 and that price included my trip insurance which I always get. That was a deal I could not pass up, oh I also got casino cash $25.00, not much but I will take it:D

We received two offers for a free cruise earlier this year and used it for an 8 day Breeze cruise. Just got off of Carnival Breeze again for Thanksgiving and they gave us another offer for a free cruise. Ours states it's from the Casino. I know my husband's points were close to 12,000 by the end of the cruise. Also, they gave him the free drinks on us card when we boarded, he didn't have to wait until reaching the point minimum. They also give you casino cash when you board. The casino also hosted a reception on the first night of our Thanksgiving cruise welcoming all the players club people and had tons of drinks and snacks. I thought it was a nice touch. From our experience the offers were either on the last night of the cruise, or under husband's VIFP account. We only cruised Carnival once prior to receiving these offers. Good luck to those who are loyal cruisers to the line. I hope you all receive a free cruise in your stocking. Happy future cruising :)

................. Apparently Carnival threw out a few crumbs to some of of Platinum cruisers. ...........

Not true at all. My parents got one the other month and they sailed Carnival just one time before that. I was offered one but didnt return the call as I already had an NCL cruise booked.

It is what it is. Sorry you feel bummed out but there is no reason to let it get to you.

The free cruises are based on a combination of spend and time in casino. .

Again, this is simply not true. I was offered one the other month but didnt return the call to my PVP. All Carnival got out opg me in the casinos is $20 in total.

My parents ended up getting one a few weeks later. They only have 1 cruise with Carnival and my mother maybe played $40 tops.

They need to fill the ships, simple as that. Having the port fees and taxes covered helps them and any $ spend on board is a bonus.

NOT TRUE! We were offered a free cruise last spring. We NEVER go to the casino and our onboard spending is minimal,(under $70). There has been a lot of speculation on who is choosen with NO solid explaination. Luck of the draw I guess.

When my friend got the offer, she asked why and was told it was a lottery drawing.

 

Honestly, if I had $2000-$5000 to drop in the casino on a cruise, I wouldn't be sailing Carnival. I'd use that money to sail something more upscale and spend my time on board doing other things than sitting in the casino! :p

That's you, but many people like to gamble. I spend time in the casino because that is what I like to do onboard. Some people like to play bridge, sit and read, play trivia, watch movies etc. I like to gamble.

My first cruise on Carnival is coming up in April. Yes, it was free, but from a land based casino. I will see how Carnival rewards me after this. I have always done well on Princess and never had a losing trip on a cruise.

Good luck to you in the future!

Sue

you are correct-- however the majority of them appear to be casino driven.

And there might be some confusion on which casinos are being talked about. When I post about getting a free cruise from a casino, I'm talking about regular casinos (Vegas or elsewhere), not the cruise ship casino. A free cruise voucher is a semi-common benefit that many land-based casinos like to give to their bigger players.

But as was pointed out, it's not really free. It only pays for the base cruise fare itself. Then you have to pay the port fees/taxes, the cabin gratuities, excursions (if any), airfare, parking, and any other extras. By the time it's all said and done, the "free" cruise benefit really ends up meaning a "33% discount" vacation.

I just wish they would be consistent with the program......the no rhyme or reason to it all is frustrating. I have been on one, yes I said one Norwegian cruise. At the time we went we booked under a Total Rewards promo (connected to our Vegas visits) and got a drink card on day one, priority boarding and treats in our cabin on a couple of occasions. A few months after returning we received a free cruise - unfortunately it was to Europe, so flights would have been horrendous and we had a toddler. Needless to say timing wasn't on our side. Either way, it is a little disappointing to take 10 Carnival cruises with no offers and get so much from Norwegian right out of the gate. I love Carnival so I'm hoping they will read some of the comments on here and revamp their program.

I just wish they would be consistent with the program......the no rhyme or reason to it all is frustrating. I have been on one, yes I said one Norwegian cruise. At the time we went we booked under a Total Rewards promo (connected to our Vegas visits) and got a drink card on day one, priority boarding and treats in our cabin on a couple of occasions. A few months after returning we received a free cruise - unfortunately it was to Europe, so flights would have been horrendous and we had a toddler. Needless to say timing wasn't on our side. Either way, it is a little disappointing to take 10 Carnival cruises with no offers and get so much from Norwegian right out of the gate. I love Carnival so I'm hoping they will read some of the comments on here and revamp their program.

We have the opposite problem -- we keep getting Carnival free cruises offers from our Vegas casinos but their itineraries are very limited. We're sick of the Caribbean/Bahamas and Mexico. No interest in going there yet again. Alaska is great, and New England/Canada is nice, but not sure we want to do those over and over. Their only other itinerary is Hawaii but don't really want all those days at sea just to get there and back.

I really wish carnival went to Europe! And Asia, South America, Australia, New Zealand, etc. But our vouchers are only good on Carnival so it looks like repeating the same New England and Alaska cruises over and over. Oh well, I guess there are worse things in life. ;)

VIFP offers, phone calls, email and snail mail. However, any eligibility will display in your VIFP offers, regardless of the method of communication they attempt to use.

One exception, the free cruise received from the casino at the end of a cruise doesn't show up under the VIFP offers. It says you or your travel agent has to book directly through the promotions department.

One exception, the free cruise received from the casino at the end of a cruise doesn't show up under the VIFP offers. It says you or your travel agent has to book directly through the promotions department.

Thanks for the added information!

Again, this is simply not true. I was offered one the other month but didnt return the call to my PVP. All Carnival got out opg me in the casinos is $20 in total.

 

My parents ended up getting one a few weeks later. They only have 1 cruise with Carnival and my mother maybe played $40 tops.

 

They need to fill the ships, simple as that. Having the port fees and taxes covered helps them and any $ spend on board is a bonus.

Just because YOUR or YOUR PARENTS offers were different from someone else doesn't mean what they said is not true.

There are multiple promotions going at the same time. My two free cruises were directly from the casino for time and money spent in the casino. It was hand delivered to me by the casino host, so no question of where it came from or why. Diamond/Platinum received an offer targeted only at them. Someone posted the mail and the website screen showing it. Some people, like you, received an offer for a different reason.

Everyone does have reason to hope for an offer. Our last cruise was noticably less than capacity and it's not just a Carnival thing. The Pride was on the same itinerary on a premier casino cruise and was full. Passengers from the Norweigan Sun and Dawn I spoke with during excursions said their ships were nowhere near full. A few of the tour guides said people weren't getting off the ship. Seems the industry is in a bit of a slump. I have certainly seen more free offers and other promotions this year than in the past 10 years combined.

Keep hope alive!

I've never received any type of deals, either. Well, correction. I received an email re: my offers, logged in, saw the 10 day "deal" for $1050 and went NOPE. Not a deal, IMO. I even check my fiance's offers and nada.

I do know somebody who's wife recieved a free cruise. They had been one one, about 2 years prior, and nothing since. They had a great time...That was about a year ago, and I'm still jealous :mad: (Don't get me wrong, I was happy for them but definitely green with envy!)

I'm always amazed at some people's unhappiness because of someone else's good fortune. :(

Just off a cruise Saturday. Played about 4 hours a day with an $18 min bet and got a free cruise letter on the last day. Don't really know the formal but wanted to share what worked for me.

 

 

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Just curious... what were you playing?

Mike

...Our last cruise was noticably less than capacity and it's not just a Carnival thing. The Pride was on the same itinerary on a premier casino cruise and was full. Passengers from the Norweigan Sun and Dawn I spoke with during excursions said their ships were nowhere near full. A few of the tour guides said people weren't getting off the ship. Seems the industry is in a bit of a slump...

Not sure if we're very representative of the average cruiser or not, but for us it's all about the destinations. Our main goal is sightseeing at interesting destinations. Cruising is mostly a means to an end for us - it's simply much easier (and roughly the same price) than schlepping bags all over between hotels, plane, busses, taxis, etc. And finding restaurants for every meal.

But the same ports over and over get repetitive. Cruisers tend to be all-or-nothing, i.e. people tend to never go on cruises, or they go on a lot of cruises. I wonder if frequent cruisers are just getting tired of the same ol ports and are getting bored with it all? I know we're starting to feel that way.

I cruised in September and my tablemates were offered a free cruise. She lives in Miami and it was a last minute free offer. She's gold and this was NOT her first cruise. She doesn't gamble at all. My PVP told me they do last minute free cruises for Florida residents from time to time. So...from reading the comments on here...it really is a lottery system. You could increase your chances by relocating to Florida.

It's a lottery. Nothing to be annoyed over.

Perhaps at some point you spent in casino, or you booked a suite, or booked several cabins, or balconies, or a bunch of shore excursions, or multiple steakhouses, or bought a high end ring in gift shop, or just had a high S&S spend...

the computer compiles all these "spenders" and spits out randoms from that list.

So not 100% random. It's a no brainer. They want people to fill cabins. It is 50/50 they may get some money back. Or 100% of nothing if cabin sails empty.

Tell me, should take a chance and give out to those who brag they leave with a $30 S&S and book independent tours? Or someone who will (potentially) spend again?

I say smart. And hopefully with some of our past bar tabs... I might make the cut some day. :p

Just because YOUR or YOUR PARENTS offers were different from someone else doesn't mean what they said is not true.

Sorry I shouldn't have made the statement the way I did. I was trying to clarify that gambling or being platinum is not the sole reason.

Didn't meant o infer anyone was lying if thats the way you took it.

I cruised in September and my tablemates were offered a free cruise. She lives in Miami and it was a last minute free offer. She's gold and this was NOT her first cruise. She doesn't gamble at all. My PVP told me they do last minute free cruises for Florida residents from time to time. So...from reading the comments on here...it really is a lottery system. You could increase your chances by relocating to Florida.

I agree. Both me and my parents live within 30 minutes of both ports (FtLaud and Miami). Our offers came in just mere days before sailing.

Ok, so I just got off the phone with my contact at Carnival. He checked with the senior VP of Marketing, and you haven't received any free offers because they just don't like you. Something else about sneezing in the lido buffet.

No seriously. There's no rhyme or reason. Your number will come up.

I don't understand why some families have received free cruises 3 or 4 times (both spouses) and other people nothing. I don't know how it's random when in some cases the people get chosen multiple times.

It's not just Florida cruises either. The free cruises (not casino) have been offered to people in many states. My last Carnival cruise there were a number of people that were on the cruise for taxes and port fees only from other states and they were not casino offers, many with one or two cruises.

I don't know how anyone is selected but they have annoyed many loyal Carnival customers. Nobody can give you a correct answer regarding the selection, a couple reps insisted they do not give free cruises to anyone but casino players and I know that is incorrect :rolleyes:

Well after reading other post about casino perks, I decided to call the players club #1 800-522-7466 just to see what else I might qualify for. It was a long wait but a very nice young lady came on the phone and I found out I only get the casino cash but she stated I get $50.00 I thought it was $25.00. Oh well that's $25 more than I thought I was getting. I know my last two cruises I got the strawberries from the casino without it being a casino offer fare, so we shall see. My roommate ate them as I do not like strawberries.:p

In February, I did a 7 day on the Miracle. Played in the casino every day. When I got home, I had a discount 4-day cruise with no single supplement. Now I'm planning a $50 OV PLATINUM offer which now costs more than 3-4x the price I paid.

I still cruise for Warm Chocolate Melting Cake (with 2 sugar-free vanilla ice-creams)

i'm always amazed at some people's unhappiness because of someone else's good fortune. :(

"like";)