Letter From Carnival Awarding A Free Cabin

[Kristi Williamson]

"Drinks on Us" is part of the offer. Your "free drink" card will be waiting in your cabin when you arrive...or at least that's how the one in June worked for us. We also received some chocolate covered strawberries one night, but I don't remember which night.

[CarolRoy]

Do you call the Player's Club before you book a cruise or after you book? How do you get a Player's Club Card? And how do you get in touch with the Player's Club?

[PAPERBKWRITER]

I'd say you would have to lose at least $2000.

 

Not sure if they keep track of how much you lose. I don't think they do. BUT they do know how much you wager and that's how they award perks. Us? we usually just get the chocolate covered strawberries and sometimes a bottle of wine and a $25 or $50 coupon to bring to the cage on our next cruise. It's the big hitters that get the free cruises. My wagers amount to beer money but DW usually does between 1k and 2k for the cruise.

[Colorado Beach Bum]

We were on cruise a couple weeks ago and they now have an offer to earn a free cruise if you accumulate a certain amount of points during the cruise. This has to be earned before start of final full day. DW hit it on the last day so all she got was some cash and not the free cruise.

[Kristi Williamson]

Do you call the Player's Club before you book a cruise or after you book? How do you get a Player's Club Card? And how do you get in touch with the Player's Club?

 

 

First, go here:

 

http://www.carnival.com/cms/fun/playersclub/default.aspx

 

 

After you join, when you get onboard make sure to speak to the casino host/hostess and just let them know you're there.

 

AFTER you book your cruise (and after you've sailed on one since joining...meaning you can't join then call to get perks because you won't have any), call the Player's Club and ask what perks you have. They'll check your booking number and, based on your play from the previous cruise, they'll tell you what perks you've earned.

 

The only thing we'd ever received was 150.00 player's cash and some chocolate covered strawberries until this year, where we've won free rooms on two different occasions...which we actually believe was just a fluke luck of the draw (no pun intended).

 

If you don't call, then you will not know what perks you have and they'll be "wasted".

 

The free room offers will be mailed to you, while all other perks depend on you checking before sailing.

[Mulege]

Yes, we got an offer for a free cruise in a balcony cabin. It's not how much you lose or win it is how much and how long you play. Of course if you hit them up for a big jackpot on your first pull they will want you back to try and recover their loss.

[CruiserRose]

Do you guys that are getting comp cabins, play slots, table games, both? Where is the majority of your time spent?

 

I hate to whine but I spent lots of time in casino. Late night after dw goes to bed. I usually close the casino late night. And I've never gotten any comps. :(. But I only play blackjack or three card! I wonder if that makes a difference. My gut tells me they are not that good at tracking table players yet.

[girlscruise2011]

Do you guys that are getting comp cabins, play slots, table games, both? Where is the majority of your time spent?

 

I hate to whine but I spent lots of time in casino. Late night after dw goes to bed. I usually close the casino late night. And I've never gotten any comps. :(. But I only play blackjack or three card! I wonder if that makes a difference. My gut tells me they are not that good at tracking table players yet.

 

I agree with you on this one. I have my 7th cruise since 2010 booked with Carnival in January 2014 and have NEVER received a free cruise offer and my DH and I are avid table game players. Not that I lose $1000s but in May 2013, I was on the black jack table most hours and for my January 2014 cruise I get $50 casino cash :mad:. She didn't spend a lot on either cruise but did put back what she won, again not alot of money.

 

A friend who sailed with me twice on a 3 day cruise and a 5 day cruise that plays the slots just got back from a free cruise in June. She got a 7 day out of New Orleans for the cost of taxes and gratuities, about $180 per person.

 

Another friend who sailed twice with me on 2 5 day cruises and plays a mix of slots and black jack, just got the card in the mail for up to 50% off a cruise and cruise cash. Again, something I have never received.

 

Makes me think what I'm doing wrong but I think its the table games. Even though I give them my card, I really don't think they do anything with it :(

Edited August 18, 2013 by girlscruise2011

[Out to sea!]

Do you have to join a Player's Club while on board or is the fact that your card is in the slot with your info on it good enough???

[Cyt4SoreEyes]

You get better comps for slot play. Last November we did Conquest premier cruise $388 2 ppl and just had free cabin on the Freedom 8 night in June. And now in November we are doing the Premier cruise on Freedom again$244 2 ppl. Players club is amazing we love it!!

[RWolver672]

Do you have to join a Player's Club while on board or is the fact that your card is in the slot with your info on it good enough???

 

As soon as you set up your account on one of the machines with your card, you are automatically into the system. We have never been offered a free cruise but on the last one, we got a discount on the cruise plus $50 cash each. We figured that they would just put it on our cards but they actually handed us the $50 cash.

 

I'm wondering if anyone that has gotten the free cruise offer has tried to up-grade (by paying extra) to a better cabin.

[Luvtoeat]

My wife is going to call Carnival to inquire if an upgrade is possible from our extended balcony to one of the various suite categories on the Legend. It will be interesting to see if it's possible but more interesting to see what the upgrade cost would be.

[NeuroQueen]

I have to admit I'm confused about what criteria they use to decide who receives the free cruise offers. I have received them before but didn't pay much attention. This offer was for sailings between August 15-December15. We could be fairly flexible in November and I asked them to look for eligible cruises with a balcony. This is low hurricane season and I guess they want people gambling and purchasing drinks.

 

Just a little history, to confuse the issue even more. Our last cruise on Carnival was the Dream over Thanksgiving 2011. I play dollar slots and spend $100 per night. If it lasts, great, if not I leave. I received the Drinks on us card the 6th evening of the cruise (not much time to use it). Before the cruise I called Carnival Players Club to see if I qualified for anything and they told me I did not. I had not cruised Carnival since 2008 so I was not surprised. I did however cruise Carnival 2-3 times per year in the 90's.

 

Whatever the reason, I feel Carnivals goal was accomplished, to get me on the ship. It was a no brainer to cancel the Thanksgiving cruise on RCI and go with the Valor in a Lido balcony. I still can't believe it, but you bet I'll be looking at those offers a lot more closely if I'm lucky enough to receive one again.

[island777girl]

I also got the free cabin offer last week and called the next day. It is a completely free cabin, you only pay taxes.They said I could book anywhere from now until December and it was for inside, OV or balcony and it would be the same tax price. Of course I booked a balcony, got one on Lido Deck on the Liberty in November, taxes for two ppl were $217. I have never been offered a free cabin before. I play the slots only, not a high roller by any means. I have been on 27 carnival cruises though, not sure if that makes a difference. Maybe for loyal customers who play a little each cruise. I do belong to the Ocean Players club.

[Grits53]

I have donated more money than I care to admit to the slots on 18 Carnival cruises. I play at least a little every day, and sometimes end up several hundred in the hole. After our last cruise (April), I received an offer of reduced price plus $50 casino money. The price was good, but only about $100 less than early saver for a balcony on the Magic. I have a few more days to book it, but I think we'll probably pass. But if it was free, heck yeah!!

[want2know]

My husband received his first free cabin letter last week. I talked him into booking on the Magic in September. He then started questioning the validity of the letter, but thank goodness this thread came along and now we are really happy we booked. At the time we were offered either inside or OV. Even though the OV is on the lower decks, it boosts bigger rooms with an additional sink and junior tub along with the traditional bathroom setup.

My husband spends about $500 on machines on a cruise and we have cruised with Carnival three previous times; with the most ever offered to him was a $75 coupon for the casino on the next cruise. And our bill at the end of the cruise is usually no more than $200. So go figure...we don't have the foggiest idea what their criteria is for sending out these letters. Our port charges are $70 pp and of course tipping. It is also great that we live only 1.5 hours from the port and don't have to pay for a flight.

5 weeks from today is when we sail. Just waiting for the reality to set in...and "bam" it will be great!

[Kristi Williamson]

Congratulations!!

 

We are very excited about being on the Breeze in October. We'd made up our minds that we weren't going to cruise this year because money has been tight. We're so thankful for the two offers that we've received this year because it's the only way we were able to cruise.

 

THANK YOU CARNIVAL!!!!!! :D:D:)

[KruzPrincess]

My friend works with a woman who got an offer. She got a balcony cabin on a 7 day cruise and $1200 casino credit. That's a deal I wouldn't turn down.

Edited August 18, 2013 by KruzPrincess

[firstcruiser2010]

I have many clients who receive these. They are for certain sailings and must be booked through a certain number. If you can go on that date, it is a great deal.

 

 

I received a free cabin from the players club I have a choice of 3-5 day cruise in a suite or a 6 day in an oceanveiw I have 3 more days to decide.

[LadySpoilt]

I'm curious as to how these offers arrive, either email or actual letter. Since more often than not I just delete emails, or trash letters without reading, maybe I need to quit "trashing" Carnival correspondence so quickly.:eek:

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

I'm curious as to how these offers arrive, either email or actual letter. Since more often than not I just delete emails, or trash letters without reading, maybe I need to quit "trashing" Carnival correspondence so quickly.:eek:

 

Ours have been via both actual letters received on cruises (I've heard them referred to as "bounce back" letters) and snail mail offerings.

 

Here is an example of one I received in the mail:

 

 

 

... and one I received on the last day of our Legend cruise last fall:

 

 

Tom

[hightownCO]

Ours have been via both actual letters received on cruises (I've heard them referred to as "bounce back" letters) and snail mail offerings.

 

Here is an example of one I received in the mail:

 

 

 

... and one I received on the last day of our Legend cruise last fall:

 

 

Tom

 

My offer wasn't like this. It's not a Premier Cruise. No cocktail parties, no cash offer at all or drinks on us card mentioned. It simply said a free cabin on select sailings. It wasn't till I called that they said it could be a balcony cabin if I wanted. There were several sailings shown as an example and to call to check more sailings. I ended up booking once not shown- Liberty on 10/26, 7 night.

 

So there are different offers out there.

[JaniceB]

Haven't rec'd any offers and I have been on a few cruises this year and spend money in the casino every chance I get. I guess not enough. :confused:

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Haven't rec'd any offers and I have been on a few cruises this year and spend money in the casino every chance I get. I guess not enough. :confused:

 

I'm not sure what criteria they use - but it's not fully based in logic.

 

There were some people on the recent (last week) Freedom "premiere" casino sailing who told me they budget about $50 a day for slots getting offers not too dissimilar from mine - and I play blackjack (black chips), being up/down thousands in the course of single sessions.

 

That casino sailing was fun though: several drawings, gifts in the cabin, cocktail party, free drinks - and several people at the $25 table... unlike most Carnival sailings I've been on.

 

Tom

[Kristi Williamson]

Both of our offers came via snail mail, and looked very similar to Tom's offer. It clearly listed the Drinks on Us, casino cash and free cabin, although it didn't tell us what kind of cabin we would get.

 

The first offer had 6 cruise choices that were listed, the second said we had to call to get the list of cruises we could choose from. The first offer we ended up with an OV and with the second, both my DH and myself got a balcony (we received the offers the same day and both were allowed a guest...we took our kids and were even able to add a 3rd person in one room for only 299.00). Both offers had the Drinks on Us included, as well as a party, gift and a few other little things that went with it.

 

I also agree with Tom that they seem to have NO rhyme or reason as to how they determine who gets the offers and who doesn't. As long as I receive them, though, we WILL find a way to take them. The offers simply can't be beat.

 

(I've already stated this, but for those that didn't see) The latest offer booked us on the Breeze in October with connecting balconies. We added a 3rd passenger in one of the rooms, then added tips to the total so those would be paid and finished. The TOTAL cost for both rooms, with taxes, port charges, 3rd passenger in one room and tips was : 1218.00 for EVERYTHING. (If we hadn't added tips it was around 800.00 I think?...for 5 people in two connecting balconies on an 8 day cruise)

 

Don't delete those emails or throw those Carnival letters in the trash, people!! :D;)