Received a free cruise from foxwoods,but not sure if there are catches.

[cruiseco]

The 1099 you will receive will be for the full brochure rate. Few, if any of us, pay that amount.

 

 

Again, how is the casino going to determine beforehand "full brochure rate" when they have absolutely no idea what ship and sailing date the winner will choose?

 

The winner might eventually choose a ship/sailing with a brochure rate of $700 or it might be a ship/sailing with a brochure rate of $1500. The winner might choose, because of vacation time constraints, to use a 7-night voucher for a 3-night cruise instead.

 

As I said, our agency worked with several casinos and processed hundreds of these. We never saw a casino issue a 1099 for more than what they paid for it.

[cruiseco]

Sounds like one of those come ons to me. I did something similar and would tell you unless you are a fighter, you should throw it away.

 

Call any cruise line that does this (CCL, RCI, and NCL among others) and ask for their incentives department. They'll be glad to explain the procedures to you. Except for the few obvious blackout dates (Christmas, New Year's, etc) the booking is handled just like any other. These are not those stupid vouchers the telemarketers rope you into. Telling the OP to throw it away is just crazy.

[cruiseco]

Jsut to show that these types of things are legit, here's a link to the Royal Caribbean Royal Incentives information. The NCL program that the OP is dealing with is very similar.

 

http://www.royalcaribbeanincentives.com/individual-incentives.aspx

 

Here's some wording from the web page:

 

"Key Program Benefits:

 

Turn Key Program - we handle the fulfillment, redemption and booking process

Choose from a wide range of certificates at a variety of price points

No minimum/no maximum - order as many or as few certificates as you like

Endless choices for departure ports, ships, itineraries, nights and accommodations

Upgradable and transferable certificates

No expiration date on certificates

 

There are an array of ways to use our Royal Incentive Reward certificates.

Here are just a few:

 

Reward productivity

Recognize outstanding sales achievement

Loyalty programs

Reward your most loyal casino players

Stimulate increased donations for charity raffles

Prizes for sales contests

Rebate for high-ticket items"

 

It's been 15 years since I've dealt with these things and there have been some changes -- mostly on when they can be used, much more restrictive at the lower level programs -- but the general principal is the same.

[cruiseco]

Found it. Here's the link to the NCL Individual Incentives Program web page:

 

http://www.events.ncl.com/individual-incentive-awards/

[Daghis]

Jsut to show that these types of things are legit, here's a link to the Royal Caribbean Royal Incentives information.

I had found that page myself when I had discovered that I was receiving a free cruise from my local casino. The deal that I actually got was not from the Incentives program. Instead, it was a promotional deal arranged between my local casino and Club Royale (Royal Caribbean's casino club), so the terms of the deal are somewhat different from what's shown on that web page.

[Donray]

My advice is to decline this "Free" cruise. Yes, you will still have to pay various port charges and port taxes and the daily service charge. But the real problem is the cruise line will send you a 1099 next year for the full amount of the cabin you were in - this means the brochure list price, which no one pays. That amount will have to be reported on your tax return as income, increasing the amount you will pay in taxes.

 

Do some research - you can take the same cruise, in the same cabin, for less money if you book it yourself.

 

Lots of misinformation above. People should learn what is what before giving their bad advice.

Could you explain the reason that the cruise line will send a 1099? They did not give the cruise as a prize. The casino will send a 1099 and it will be at the value they paid the cruise line.

Could you also explain why you would not take a cruise for only the tax and port charges?

Likewise, where can you get a cruise for less then the actually port fees and taxes? Lots of people would like to know this secret of yours.

I guess some people need o write something even thou they don't know what they are saying.

[happy cruzer]

I think everyone is giving good advice since we do not know what promotion this is. We are telling the OP about offers that have happened and how we would investigate if their's is legitimate.

 

OP needs to research his offer and come back and provide more details then we can determine more based on that.

[momofmeg]

It is on The Norwegian Dawn from Boston to Bermuda for 7 days in Aug 2012.

 

A decent price then

[ch7012]

My BF and I both received the same offer from a local casino last year and cruised twice. We only paid taxes and port fees - and we did not get a 1099 from either the cruise line or the casino.

[donnas902]

Has anyone upgraded this offer from inside cabinto a balcony? It seems to be double the cost to upgrade compared to the spirit out of New Orleans to the Carribean last year.

[momofmeg]

Has anyone upgraded this offer from inside cabinto a balcony? It seems to be double the cost to upgrade compared to the spirit out of New Orleans to the Carribean last year.

 

then a person would be foolish to do it-I don't think any experienced cruiser would-only a newbie that did not know better.

[cruiseco]

then a person would be foolish to do it-I don't think any experienced cruiser would-only a newbie that did not know better.

 

Really? Value is such a personal decision that I think it's impossible to label another's decision as to value "foolish". I wouldn't pay $100 for a bottle of wine but that doesn't mean that someone who does is foolish. I wouldn't pay $250,000 for a Ferrari but someone that does isn't necessarily foolish. And if someone wants to pay more for a balcony cabin and feels it's worth the price I don't think they're foolish either.

[cruiseco]

Has anyone upgraded this offer from inside cabinto a balcony? It seems to be double the cost to upgrade compared to the spirit out of New Orleans to the Carribean last year.

 

By the way, we handled hundreds of the vouchers and probably 90% of the misunderstandings about the cost to upgrade boiled down to one thing:

 

All of the pricing on the vouchers is typically "per cabin", not "per person"

 

The pricing you'll see on the cruise line web sites is "per person", not "per cabin".

 

So it's easy to get confused when comparing pricing. If you're thinking the cost of an upgrade is about double what the cruise line web site is showing there's a great possibility that you're comparing apples and oranges -- the actual end cost to you could be exactly the same but if you're thinking the cost shown on the voucher is per person you're going to be thinking it's double the actual cost.

 

I'm not saying this is the case -- there could actually be that great of a difference -- but be sure to check.

[momofmeg]

Really? Value is such a personal decision that I think it's impossible to label another's decision as to value "foolish". I wouldn't pay $100 for a bottle of wine but that doesn't mean that someone who does is foolish. I wouldn't pay $250,000 for a Ferrari but someone that does isn't necessarily foolish. And if someone wants to pay more for a balcony cabin and feels it's worth the price I don't think they're foolish either.

 

By the description I quoted only-if a balcony costs more to upgrade from this free cruise than to buy it outright-then yes that would be foolish.

 

However-if you are correct and the deal is based on 2 people in a cabin rather than cost per person in a cabin-yes that would be different.

[momofmeg]

then a person would be foolish to do it-I don't think any experienced cruiser would-only a newbie that did not know better.

 

I almost always cruise in a balcony or better-but if I could buy a balcony outright for less than using this voucher to get a balcony-then I find that would be foolish to use the voucher-just wanted to clarify for cruiseco.

 

Perhaps crusieco is correct and you are looking at cabin price versus per person price.

 

BTW crusieco I would never buy a $100 bottle of wine either but that does not mean my hubby would not-he loves wine and sees value in it more than I do. No buying any Ferraris-we do not have that kind of money-we drive camrys-however hubby is considering buying a mustang convertible-we figure as long as we keep one camry-since I do not do a lot of driving-we will still do okay with the gas prices as they are.

[bulldogsnuggles]

Thank you everyone for the advice. I am still unsure if i am posting to all or replying solely to one responder. I mean to reply to all. You advice was helpful. I ended going on the Norwegian web site and attempting to book cruise as if i hadnt won the voucher, just to see price. It truly was free and the port fees and taxes were just very high. I have already taken the cruise and had a blast , despite really really disliking The Norwegian Dawn. My friend who came with me upgraded us to a balcony and thank goodness for that, because we had to escape the teens and screaming kids somehow. We laughed hard for 8 days and life doesnt get better than that. Plus the casino was pretty good too. Thank you again.

[bulldogsnuggles]

Thank you everyone for the advice. I am still unsure if i am posting to all or replying solely to one responder. I mean to reply to all. You advice was helpful. I ended going on the Norwegian web site and attempting to book cruise as if i hadnt won the voucher, just to see price. It truly was free and the port fees and taxes were just very high. I have already taken the cruise and had a blast , despite really really disliking The Norwegian Dawn. My friend who came with me upgraded us to a balcony and thank goodness for that, because we had to escape the teens and screaming kids somehow. We laughed hard for 8 days and life doesnt get better than that. Plus the casino was pretty good too. Thank you again.

[johneeo]

Thank you everyone for the advice. I am still unsure if i am posting to all or replying solely to one responder. I mean to reply to all. You advice was helpful. I ended going on the Norwegian web site and attempting to book cruise as if i hadnt won the voucher, just to see price. It truly was free and the port fees and taxes were just very high. I have already taken the cruise and had a blast , despite really really disliking The Norwegian Dawn. My friend who came with me upgraded us to a balcony and thank goodness for that, because we had to escape the teens and screaming kids somehow. We laughed hard for 8 days and life doesnt get better than that. Plus the casino was pretty good too. Thank you again.

 

Thanks for coming back and telling us your experience.

 

About the board .... you post to it and everyone sees your post.

 

Good to hear you had a good time, even though you did not like the ship.

 

Personally, I choose a cruise with the highest priority being the ship, that is my destination. So maybe you will cruise again, do some research, and find the perfect ship for what you like.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Nothing in life is free , be careful ..

[johneeo]

Nothing in life is free ' date=' be careful ..[/quote']

 

Just a matter of who gets stuck with paying the tab.