Casino scam

Am I the only one who was promised by Carnival Cruises a 15 DAY BALCONY CRUISE only to find out that there are none available? Not even a 7 day one. unless you pay A BIG UPGRADE FEE! I am sure I am not the only one, so don't believe anything you hear from them. And if you do go on a cruise, remember that the odds of winning in the casino on the sea are a lot worse than the odds in the land-based casino - it's not like you will change ships in mid-sea. They do have a captive audience and they do take advantage of the situation. CARNIVAL CRUISES, a week later, I am still waiting for someone to make this right, and until you do, I will keep spreading the word of your questionable business practices.

Do you care to explain? How did they promise you a free balcony cruise? Was it a mailer? Somehow tied to a casino promotion? Just not clear on what happened.

Do you care to explain? How did they promise you a free balcony cruise? Was it a mailer? Somehow tied to a casino promotion? Just not clear on what happened.

Yeah, we really need a bit more info.

It sounds like one of those "free" cruises that really aren't. But they are mostly on Celebration Cruises or Caribbean Cruise line.

Hope OP comes back with more info.

Yeah, we really need a bit more info.

 

It sounds like one of those "free" cruises that really aren't. But they are mostly on Celebration Cruises or Caribbean Cruise line.

 

Hope OP comes back with more info.

I'd like to know more information about the 15 day free cruise also. Sounds like some fine print wasn't read or something.

Shmoo the reason I quoted you is because I just wanted you to know that I love your avatar! :D

I'd like to know more information about the 15 day free cruise also. Sounds like some fine print wasn't read or something.

 

Shmoo the reason I quoted you is because I just wanted you to know that I love your avatar! :D

Thanks, it's been my alternate persona for many years.

Yeah, we really need a bit more info.

 

It sounds like one of those "free" cruises that really aren't. But they are mostly on Celebration Cruises or Caribbean Cruise line.

 

Hope OP comes back with more info.

I also suspect this poster (first one ever) might indeed be referring to Celebration and not Carnival. So far,no response.

I am no fan of Carnival (although we did a few in our younger days) but am less a fan of internet trolls Note that this is the posters first post and we are likely to not hear from him/her again. Without some details, the claims made sound questionable (I am being kind)? We do know of scams that promise free cruises...and they are usually associated with Time Share or other Vacation scams. Carnival Cruise lines is not in the business of playing that game.....so we have our doubts.

So now we get to Casinos which are a huge profit center (everywhere) including on cruise ships. If one gambles enough (and ultimately loses their shirt)...they might get an offer from the Casino company that has the contract to operate a cruise ship casino. Would Carnival give a free cruise to a big casino loser (or "gamer" to be kind)? Sure. Drop 10 grand in a casino and they might offer you a free cruise so you drop 20 grand. Personally, as an old time gambler and a long time cruiser we do not waste any time (or money ) in cruise ship casinos. Why? Because they are not subject to any regulation and can pretty much do as they please. And if I do gamble, it will be Blackjack, Craps, or real Poker....where I know the odds. My Daddy (who often saw the inside of a casino) used to tell me that Slots and Keno are for fools.

Hank

I am no fan of Carnival (although we did a few in our younger days) but am less a fan of internet trolls Note that this is the posters first post and we are likely to not hear from him/her again. Without some details, the claims made sound questionable (I am being kind)? We do know of scams that promise free cruises...and they are usually associated with Time Share or other Vacation scams. Carnival Cruise lines is not in the business of playing that game.....so we have our doubts.

 

So now we get to Casinos which are a huge profit center (everywhere) including on cruise ships. If one gambles enough (and ultimately loses their shirt)...they might get an offer from the Casino company that has the contract to operate a cruise ship casino. Would Carnival give a free cruise to a big casino loser (or "gamer" to be kind)? Sure. Drop 10 grand in a casino and they might offer you a free cruise so you drop 20 grand. Personally, as an old time gambler and a long time cruiser we do not waste any time (or money ) in cruise ship casinos. Why? Because they are not subject to any regulation and can pretty much do as they please. And if I do gamble, it will be Blackjack, Craps, or real Poker....where I know the odds. My Daddy (who often saw the inside of a casino) used to tell me that Slots and Keno are for fools.

 

Hank

Are you sure there is no regulation in the Casino?? I thought there was.

I smell troll as well, Hank! I don't recall even seeing any 15 day cruises from Carnival! It is a bit of an odd number. :confused:

We are not heavy bettors, but we have received several casino fare offers on NCL, HAL, and Carnival. Like a 7 day cruise for $99 plus ports and taxes with $99 OBC for an inside. We usually then upgrade to a balcony for a couple of hundred.

The catch is that these casino fares are grabbed by the first person to get the mailing. We have contacted the cruise line only to find out those offered sailings are already gone by the time we get our mailer. But we have been successful in finding alternate ships and sailing dates, especially on Carnival. We call as soon as the mailman leaves the offer.

You're not going to get offers for putting $20 at risk on a penny slot. But you don't have to lose big, it's all about size of bets and length of play.

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The OP really didn't give us enough information but any promotional and complimentary sailing on a legitimate cruise line involves using an offer code. Recently somebody on the Cunard board hollered "bait and switch" because he saw only regular prices but no promotional prices when he tried to book online. What he was missing was the three letter promotion code. Using that diverts one into a parallel booking area where the sale prices and eligible cabins are shown. Once the allotment is sold there's no availability at the sale prices.

However the OP did say he was promised 15 days in a balcony. If he's losing enough money to rate that I'm sure Carnival will find a way to welcome him aboard.

Are you sure there is no regulation in the Casino?? I thought there was.

Really? So pray tell, who is regulating or licensing casinos in International Waters? You are at the mercy of the cruise line, and the franchiser who runs the casinos. I do recall that there is a group called the International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL) that some credit with having a little control over cruise lines. But this organization is simply an organization of the cruise lines...so they are essentially controlling themselves. They have no statutory authority and good luck finding out about any specific regulations for onboard gaming. One assumes that the cruise lines run very honest casinos....or that the gaming is honest. But when it comes to slots, poker machines, etc. they are not subject to any type of payback requirement. And they are free to set their own table rules which puts them in a position to control the odds. A knowledgeable player of table games can easily assess a game based on the rules (such as Blackjack payoffs, mandatory hit on 16...draw on 17, rules on splitting, etc). But when it comes to a machine, nobody (except possibly the casino manager) has a clue to how they are programmed? And there is no casino authority overseeing those machines, settings, etc.

Hank

I have heard of some "casino cruises" - designed, I assume to lure high rollers. OP may have misunderstood (if his post isn't the real scam). If he is for real, I hope he finds other ways to spend his time - because the more time he spends in a casino (especially one on a ship) the more certain, and large, his losses will be.

Casinos win -period. Gamblers may have the occasional good day, but if they play enough it is virtually certain that they will lose. The only "gamblers" in casinos are the customers - the house does not gamble - rather simply enjoy a sure thing.

I smell troll as well, Hank! I don't recall even seeing any 15 day cruises from Carnival! It is a bit of an odd number. :confused:

And yet another brand new member, just registered today, who joined only to complain about some vague problem they claim to be having, probably only to say something derogatory about a cruise line they have a beef with. Interesting that these people never join to learn about cruising instead of only to complain. :rolleyes:

Call me a skeptic, but if I see a brand new member posting a rant on their first day, I automatically cross them off the credibility list.

My recent cruise in May, I went into the casino to buy the souvenir chip for my brother and his wife. THEY are gamblers. I am so ignorant of protocol, I kept handing the $ to the woman at the counter and she just smiled at me and I proffered the $ again and she smiled again. Finally, she told me I had to place the money ON the counter so she could pick it up. I had NO idea.

OP gambled and lost. Got mad. Casino won. End of story.

Hmmm.....OP never did state that he was offered a FREE 15-day balcony cruise, which I don't believe exist to begin with....

Doubt we hear from them again....

I believe he got a flyer which had a picture of a ship - a Carnival ship - but it never actually said the cruise was to be on Carnival. Those time share promos do it all the time. EM

I believe he got a flyer which had a picture of a ship - a Carnival ship - but it never actually said the cruise was to be on Carnival. Those time share promos do it all the time. EM

Carnival's casino is actually very generous about offering free cruises. I usually get offered a 7 or 14 day free cruise for 2 in an inside based on my slot play. Sometimes I walk away with winnings, sometimes not, but they always give me various perks onboard and then the free cruise at the end. If I want a balcony, I upgrade and the cost is quite nominal. I always figure worst case scenario, I'm getting a free cruise for the slot play. I imagine those betting at even higher levels would get offered a balcony or even a suite. But if the ship is already full, I doubt their casino could book you on it and these free cabins don't apply to other casino tournaments. Other than that, I've used my free cabins to go on 2 of the newer ships. Thanks Carnival!

Land-based US casinos will give their big spenders free cruises. I know of two individuals offered such on NCL and actually saw the letter one received. It stated that the free cruise was for an inside cabin and was only for specific sailings.

I don't believe my friend ever followed through although she was definitely interested in the promotion!

Would be nice if the OP came back with more details.....

Am I the only one who was promised by Carnival Cruises a 15 DAY BALCONY CRUISE only to find out that there are none available?

No. Scam artists send out these "too good to be true" offers all the time and they buy their target mail lists from other scammers who have the names of primarily uninformed and/or greedy people who have previously responded to other "too good to be true" free offers, gimmicks or get rich quick schemes and scams.

The scammers call their victims "mooches." And you seem to be on a mooch list.

Wonder how that happened?

I smell troll as well, Hank! I don't recall even seeing any 15 day cruises from Carnival! It is a bit of an odd number. :confused:

Hawaii out of Long Beach.

On both our Carnival Hawaii cruises we've met fellow pax who got their cruise for free.

The 15 dayers get balanced out with two day cruises one of the other Long Beach ships.

Hawaii out of Long Beach.

On both our Carnival Hawaii cruises we've met fellow pax who got their cruise for free.

 

The 15 dayers get balanced out with two day cruises one of the other Long Beach ships.

Please clarify.

Hawaii out of Long Beach.

On both our Carnival Hawaii cruises we've met fellow pax who got their cruise for free.

 

The 15 dayers get balanced out with two day cruises one of the other Long Beach ships.

That also seems like a perfect cruise to get casino players on - 8 sea days...

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