bingomamma19

For those of you getting free cruise offers, do you use a PVP?

Just wondering because I don't... I book my own... and have never gotten an offer...

I do have a PVP, but he has never been the one to notify me of the free offers. I check my carnival account almost every day--I put in my VIFP number to see my offers--they dont come from your PVP, they come from Carnival (Ocean players club usually) and are loaded under your VIFP number.

I was just on the Breeze in Jan this year--This will be my 7th cruise -5 that I have paid for and my 2nd free one. I do gamble--about $100 per sea day--but on a port day--almost no gambling.

I won over $7000 on my first cruise february 2009 on the Fascination. No big winnings since that one.

So you dont need to be a high roller to get these offers. Maybe people are getting them and have no idea (if they are not checking their offers under their VIFP number in Carnival) If i left it up to any other method (snail mail, email, pvp call etc) i would never have known about them and would have missed out.

I do get the other casino offers in the snail mail and email (premier cruises for 40% off and about $300 in casino cash)

So I am off to find airfare for my 8 day Southern caribbean Carnival Breeze cruise that I got under this incredible offer--paid to upgrade to a balcony--so taxes and upgrade for 2 was $471 total. I could get one more cruise under this offer-and I was considering doing a b2b--but I just dont think I can afford that, even at the very low price its at. I will just have to suffer through my 8 day :):)

Also, my PVP said if you don't buy the insurance and you have to cancel for any reason you don't just lose what you paid but will also be obligated to pay the full fare with no discounts. We went ahead and got it...

Mine did not say that, and I have no idea how they would enforce it--I booked mine yesterday over the phone, I signed nothing. I checked my cruise contract in my profile and dont see anything like that---they try to sell you their insurance all the time--but carnivals insurance is very pricey and doesnt cover near what other private ones do.

I booked through insure my trip last night for $40.00 total for my daughter and I for comprehensive coverage.

Either way, I am psyched to be going on the Breeze for the 3rd time in 2 years--this time almost free!!! (I did an 8 day free cruise on the Splendor last summer out of New York and there were 3 medical evacuations on my cruise, so I do take the insurance--you never know)

Carnival's site won't load for me, either! :eek: I've tried Firefox and Internet Explorer. Any suggestions? I want to see what's available!

Just look for summer cruises under you VIFP number, the "free" ones will come up--they will say $50.00 for an inside--you can upgrade for $50-$80 each for an oceanview or a balcony. Its all in the mock booking.

So the "new" offers aren't FREE they are $100. The offers back in February were FREE, no $100 upsell to convert to OBC. It would be nice if you could use the $100 OBC for tips, can you do that? If not, then clearly these are $100 cabins, not FREE.

 

We are taking our FREE cruise next week from receiving the letter back in February.

 

Has anyone taken the free cruise yet from February's offer and receive credit for it under their VIFP? I'm curious if Carnival is recognizing these cruises with points.

Well, they are "free" you pay $50 per person for an inside-then you get a $100 OBC for the cruise--so its free. Yes, you can use the OBC for tips--same as any other OBC. Yes you do get the VIFP days--I took an 8 day free cruise last summer on the splendor--the days are counted in my points.

This is why loyal Carnival cruisers are not happy with the free cruises . Seriously a free cruise every year !

I dont know why or when, but my mom was also offered the same last year and this one this year. She is going to Australia for 3 weeks in August, so she can not do this years offer. I check our VIFP numbers quite often for offers (and my 3 kids numbers too, just in case).

This is my 7th cruise total--this one and last summer being under the "free" offer. I live in Wisconsin--I would cruise a whole lot more if I lived where a port was within driving distance. I know this current offer is usable for 2x this summer, but I can only afford the airfare for one.

I never get an email, snail mail or call about the offers, just check in the VIFP section on carnival. Both times I saw them, I called immediately and jumped on the best cruise for the longest time (both 8 days).

I hope those who did not get them will get them soon.

And to the person who asked at the guest services--I dont think guest services would have a clue as to how much anyone pays--there are obviously many many free cruises out there for various people and occasions, so they were definately incorrect. I know this from my own experience--last years cruise I only paid port taxes for 2 people (an 8 day on the splendor for $248 total)--this year it is a base of $50 per person (with 100 obc to make it "free") and port taxes. I upgraded to a balcony for $80 each for my daughter and I .

 

Not sure if this pic is going to,post...but this is what I received and the dates do not make sense unless we are still in 2013?????

Yeah, that is the same on i got. Called my PVP right away--offer is good to book until 6/20 and good on many cruises all summer. If you put your VIFP number in a mock booking you will see the cruises that are eligible.

Dont worry about the wrong dates in the header--its the current offer. The same thing happened to me last summer too--I got an 8 day on the splendor out of New York for free last summer.

If you want it, call asap to get the best rooms/dates/ships. I booked the 8 day southern carribean on the breeze with mine today--upgraded to a balcony for $80 each for my daughter and I--Now I have something to look forward to this summer:):)

Yeah, but, supposedly, it has nothing to do with how much you gamble. Those seem to be immediate offers after a cruise.

 

I've spent more in the casino on my past two cruises (November and May) than I had in the past 3 years combined.

 

Nothing. Not a single thing. Not even a discounted fare offered.

 

Sure, I have #20 and #21 already booked, so why should they offer me anything. They seem to believe that I'll just keep on paying to cruise Carnival while they give away freebies to others. And, yes, the fact that some people are getting multiple free offers while other loyal customers get NONE is what gets me.

 

Yes, I'm envious. I work hard. I'm a single mother. I pay 100% of every single thing I need. I pay 200% for most of my cruises. Some gratitude on their part would be nice!

 

Seriously, when I get to my 25th Milestone cruise, I'm moving on. I can live without priority boarding, a plate of chocolates, and a gift I probably will give away. :(

Yeah, I cant see that its just high rollers. I take about 500 bucks for each cruise for gambling. I got the free one last summer too and took an 8 day on the Splendor--I spent about 400 in the casino on that one. This will be my 7th cruise total--my 2nd free one. I checked the regular rate for the cruise I am taking--the 8 day breeze southern route on July 5th--the cove balcony (I upgraded to that for $80.00 per person for me and my daughter) this room is over $1000 per person to book normally. So I think I have made out ahead on this with my gambling vs free cruise ratio :):) Ironically, I am really strapped this summer, so am not taking any casino money on this one. I will have the $100 obc which is nice and will be going cheap otherwise--just relaxation

So, these are legit free cruises for VIFP members?

Not casino offers?

I have NOTHING:mad::mad::mad:

Yes they are--mine says its from the players club--I also get $100 OBC--it was under my VIFP number on carnivals site (actually the offer sent was an expired one, but I called my VIFP and he got me the current one--same thing happened last year).

Looks like there might be another wave of free cruise emails coming soon. I got one today, well actually not yet. We were called by our PVP on Friday and told here we were considering a Casino Premier cruise on the Freedom to Aruba, she told us not to do anything until today because there was an email coming out to me giving me a free cruise. Have not gotten the email yet, but when I checked my Carnival.com for special offers it was there. So we called the PVP back and booked. Of course we upgraded to a balcony from inside. Thank you PVP

OMG--thank you so much--just got the Breeze for an 8 day for my daughter and I --and WITH a $100 OBC---all for port taxes and fees and a small upgrade fee to a cove balcony---$471 total for both of us !!!

Bingomama19 - this came up because those folks were on the same cruise. Imagine that?

...And folks were also part of the the same roll call. Wow.

...And nowadays, rolls calls have Facebook pages. Who knew.

...And it was reported as a wrap up on the Facebook roll call page.

PERIOD. Interesting choice of a word

 

There was no exaggeration. Its amazing that when someone reports something slightly negative about their experience on Carnival, folks on here tend to want to slam them.

Ok, so your roll call were all on your floor, in the odd number rooms and had previous occupants who were at that time of the month? And you all just happened to bring it up?

Funny how your orginal post said your room and maybe one other had a problem with soiled sheets, now its all the odd number rooms on your floor and they were all occupied by roll call members. Usually roll calls are made up of randome people that just happened to be going on the same cruise--how did so many of you end up in the odd numbered cabins on your floor?

I am definitely not trying to stir up trouble. I just want you all to know some of the housekeeping staff do cut corners from time to time. It pays to check the linens before getting into bed. ALWAYS. The soiled sheets were very visible. It looked like the prior cruiser could have been a female on her menses. It was disgusting. I did not ask for compensation. I did not report this to guest services. All we did was track down the room steward to bring it to their attention. We did not make a scene. We just calmly asked if he could replace the sheets. I then learned that others on deck 2 with odd numbered staterooms in our area also had the same issue upon embarkation. Which raises a RED FLAG

So all the odd numbered staterooms and women at that time of the month leaving stains at the same time? How did soiled sheets even come up with all those cabins occupants? Seems like people like to exaggerate a situation to make it seem like a big deal.

Drama queen is correct keep a count once you think your close to 15.. At 14 start buying once you hit 15 your done... Even tried to speak to bar manager they say they have no way of releasing it once you hit the 15!

 

 

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That wasnt our experience on the Breeze from jan 12-18. My 24 year old met his 15 drink max the first night and continued to drink (buying the drinks) after the max. The bar manager on the Breeze said the exact opposite of your bar manager--they said there was no way to put a stop on buying drinks after the 15 free ones from Cheers. So who knows-they must have it set up different on each ship--crazy :):)

I usually do both, auto-tip and give extra.

 

On one of my cruise, my aunt and cousin took off the auto tip. To give it all to the room steward. The room steward ask them why they took it off. If he did something wrong. They told him they wanted to give it to him personally, and he said NO. For them to put it back on. He prefer it to be on his paycheck. If he gets cash he will end up spending it off before he can send it to his family. So they end up putting the auto-tip back onto their account.

 

I highly doubt this conversation. It would be extremely inappropriate for a service worker to ask a guest why tips were removed and is probably against the rules of working.

 

I have always removed tips and tip directly to the steward and dining in MDR at the end. I dont care who agrees with me on that, its my choice. No worker has ever questioned nor treated me any different.

Jamie Dee - she is good

Not sure if that is correct. I was just on the Breeze jan 12 with Butch as the CD. That was his last sailing withthe Breeze and he said he was moving to the Sunshine as the CD.

When does Butch start on the Sunshine? On the 2013-2014 schedule it says he is still on the Breeze....wondering if this is one of the changes JH was talking about

I am not sure, he even left the Breeze before debarkation of the passengers, the assistant CD did the debarkation announcements. He had announced at one of the shows that this was his last cruise on the Breeze as the CD and was going to be the CD on the Sunshine. My mom said she heard him say he was going to San Diego first on one of his morning televised shows (but she is half deaf, so not sure if that is true--maybe time off before starting on the Sunshine?)

The way the water relaxes me like nothing else. I can spend hours just staring out there.

I agree, the water is mesmerizing and so calming. I sit out on the balcony and relax (and usually fall asleep to it)

Does anyone know what John Heald might be referring to???

 

Here is the excerpt from his blog today

 

"

A lot of you have been asking for an updated version of the cruise director schedule and so I wanted to address a few things about that if I may. We are making changes and certainly the CD schedule is very fluid at the moment with lots of changes and movement happening. This means that I do not want to publish a new schedule until it is all set. And while I will, as planned, be the CD for the Alaska season on the Carnival Miracle there will be lots of other movement.

 

There are reasons for this and these reasons will be discussed with all my colleagues when we meet for our conference in Miami on March 31 – April 4. We certainly have lots to talk about and for reasons I will explain to you after we have spoken with the CDs, this will be one of the most important conferences we have had in a long time. Big changes ahead that I have no doubt you, the guest, will appreciate very much.

 

So if you have questions as to who your cruise director will be please let me know and I will do my best to confirm. The schedule will remain the same until March and then some of the changes will start. Obviously while the CD conference is on, there will be a chance for some of our assistant cruise directors to shine and I wonder if you have sailed with any that you would like to see in the big chair?

 

Anyway, more on the CD’s as the days progress and I still maintain that a great CD can make a great cruise a brilliant one."

 

Any clue anyone?

I do like having a fun CD--I have had Butch 3 times now--was just on his last sailing of the Breeze on Jan 12--he is switching over to the Sunshine I guess. While I wouldnt choose a cruise totally on a CD, I do like having someone who is fun and outgoing. I like to see the shows and go to the parties and a good CD can really make the difference.

We received a letter from Carnival Players Club awarding us a free cabin on eligible sailings. I would expect this is for inside cabins. We have not yet called for the details but are wondering how it worked out for anyone that took them up on the offer.

I just did the 8 day Splendor in June for free from the Players club-- a balcony room. I called and asked them what type of room i could get--most were insides on various cruises--I explained I only wanted a balcony--there were a few to choose from. I had to take it immediately though as they were booking super fast. It was great and I am nowhere near a high roller--about $75-100 per day on gambling is budgeted each cruise.

Overall the food was very good. Lots of variety to choose from: Pizza, burgers, Indian food, rotisserie chicken, steaks, seafood, salads etc. You will definitely not go hungry!

 

Enjoy your first cruise on the Splendor, she's a great ship with a terrific crew and I'm sure you'll have a great time!

I am going on the Splendor june 18th--what is the rotissiere restaurant-what to the serve and when are they open. I have not seen that on my other cruises. Love your pics. Thanks

I am not sure if you realize that some of the positions that you mentioned make almost no salary and are dependent on tips such as the people who work on the ship in the spa or the waiters/waitresses not only on the ship but on land.

 

Keith

Where did i say they all make great salaries?? I said i was surprised when i added up everyone who were we expected to tip. I understand some professions (hisroically waiters and waitresses) are paid low and rely on tips. But you say the spa people make nothing? This is the first i have heard that. I have a hard time believing they work almost solely on tips. I have no problem tipping waiters and waitesses its all the other people that we are expected to tip. Good for those who have lots of money. I dont and i also work very hard for a salary

Its not really the $2.00 per say--its the adding it all up--We cruised out of Ft lauderdale last year and when I started adding up everyone we tipped-it was crazy-

-Porter at airport

-taxi driver to hotel

-baggage handler at hotel (we wanted to take the bags ourselves and told him that--he just loaded them up anyway and started pushing the cart)

-waiters/waitress (normal)

-taxi driver to restaurant

-water taxi driver--everytime we got off--the stupid tip jar is right there-and they tell all the stories about how they are students or seasonal workers

-taxi driver to port

-porters at port

-taxi drivers in port

-tour guides in port

-spa personnel on board

-camp carnival

-room service

--then back to debarkation to tip porters-taxi/shuttle drivers-hotel bellman, and airline porters again when heading home

(and of course the tips to the crew while cruising--we do cash tips there also)

So, needless to say, it can really add up fast.

Whatever happened to just earning a salary??? I am gonna start expecting tips for being a mom taxi soon:):)

For the people who give responses like "if you cant afford to go on vacation stay home"--well thats just rude. All people deserve to relax and have fun--and who are you to say just because they want to budget they should not do that? I guess only the elitist, know it alls should vacation.

That room looks incredible. I have to remember that when I am looking at my next cruise--we are on the Breeze this coming January.

I LOVE watching the ocean and those windows would be so amazing to look out!!

We are going on the Freedom next year in January. I have been looking at the hotels in the Ft lauderdale area-When did you make your reservation to get that rate? I would love to stay there, but not for their prices (385 online per night at this point). How far away is the hotel from the port?

I may have missed it, but what type of room did you guys have? I am looking at booking the aft wrap for this one.

I love reading your review as I know nothing about the Freedom. Looking forward to more

We are going on the Freedom next year in January. I have been looking at the hotels in the Ft lauderdale area-When did you make your reservation to get that rate? I would love to stay there, but not for their prices (385 online per night at this point). How far away is the hotel from the port?

I may have missed it, but what type of room did you guys have? I am looking at booking the aft wrap for this one.

I love reading your review as I know nothing about the Freedom. Looking forward to more

Until reading CC, I never realized there was such an interest in cruise directors. I am sailing 1/8/11 on the Dream and have Butch - lots of people seem to like him, so that should be great.

I do have a question though, we were on the Fascination out of Jacksonville in feb 2009-I really liked that CD, but have no idea what his name was.

Is there a way of backtracking and finding out who that was?