Letter From Carnival Awarding A Free Cabin

[eggy5404]

My mom and I both received letters on the last day of our cruise aboard the Freedom on August 4th. The casino host handed them to me and told me to make sure I didn't lose the letter. The letter was for a free 3-6 day cruise or 50% off 7 days or longer along with a couple of hundred of casino cash. This was the first time either of us received a free cruise but we also have free wine delivered to our dining table every night for each of us and my brother so we ended up taking the bottles home. Not sure what triggered the free cruise but I know the casino host spent a lot of time talking to us every night and we did play a lot of slots with us losing and then winning then losing again.. Lol. I think it may have to do with you "play time" and not necessarily the amount of money put in but I could be wrong.

 

Unfortunatly, we had to book within 15 days after we docked and the airfare was way to high for us to fly from the East Coast back to Florida so we will not be taking advantage of the free cruise. )-:

~M

Edited August 19, 2013 by eggy5404

[VANDERSO4]

Is the drink card only for the person named in the offer if there are two in the room?

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Is the drink card only for the person named in the offer if there are two in the room?

 

No, both people will receive one. The offer was for me (Cheryl does not play) but I was told she'd received one as well... and she did.

 

However, only people playing can receive a drink. Cheryl sits next to me at the BJ table where I play TWO spots. They never questioned her ordering a drink.

 

Tip a couple of bucks a drink, and you'll likely find the return service improved.

 

Tom

[VANDERSO4]

Thanks Tom! On our last cruise I noticed they kept spinning the wheel for different prizes shirts, caps in the casino. Do you know if that was related to booking as a casino rate? Also when is the party they mention in the offer?

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Thanks Tom! On our last cruise I noticed they kept spinning the wheel for different prizes shirts, caps in the casino. Do you know if that was related to booking as a casino rate? Also when is the party they mention in the offer?

 

The cocktail party/reception was at 5 pm on embarkation day on the Freedom. In our cabin was a "snowball" raffle ticket for each of us. Bring that along and it goes in a jar. They'll draw a name that first afternoon for a $100 prize. Each day they'll draw again (at an announced time/place) and add more money. The second day it's $200, the third day it's $300, etc... On any day that it's not claimed, that prize amount rolls over and adds to the next days regular amount. At least this is how it happened on our sailing.

 

There was no spinning wheel - though I do recall seeing one a couple of years ago. I had a few tickets to put in for the wheel spin - one for each blackjack I received. There were other ways to get tickets as well.

 

Tom

[gwb3636]

Excuse me if these questions have been asked.

1. If you have played the slots on cruises are you automatically considered a member of the Player's Club.

2. If you book your cruises through a TA can you still get these offers or are they only for people who book through Carnival.

3. The code that is on your offer - along with the phone number - is it cross referenced to you only or is it a generic code that anyone who had it could call in and give that code and get the same deal.

I would be thrilled to get any kind of offer - heck I'd be happy to get $10 in casino cash - I play penny slots - (sometimes only 5 cents at a time if I can find them) so don't think I'll ever qualify :(

[PA Beachlovers]

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:)

 

I am not sure if I have seen you on our roll call for your cruise in October leaving on the 12th. If you aren't there yet look it up!

[waiting4acruise]

Excuse me if these questions have been asked.

1. If you have played the slots on cruises are you automatically considered a member of the Player's Club.

2. If you book your cruises through a TA can you still get these offers or are they only for people who book through Carnival.

3. The code that is on your offer - along with the phone number - is it cross referenced to you only or is it a generic code that anyone who had it could call in and give that code and get the same deal.

I would be thrilled to get any kind of offer - heck I'd be happy to get $10 in casino cash - I play penny slots - (sometimes only 5 cents at a time if I can find them) so don't think I'll ever qualify :(

1) If you play slots you are automatically a Players Club member. You just put your Sign & Sail into the slot machine while you play.

2) We got the offers no matter who we book with.

3) The mailing will have the offer code. You can book with your TA.

[gwb3636]

1) If you play slots you are automatically a Players Club member. You just put your Sign & Sail into the slot machine while you play.

2) We got the offers no matter who we book with.

3) The mailing will have the offer code. You can book with your TA.

So the offer code is ONLY for you and cross-referenced. Reason I am asking is lots of coupons have a barcode or lots of deals have codes but anyone that has the code can get the offer....just sayin :rolleyes:

[beta98beta]

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 usually close the casino too, most night they come tell me I have to leave, LOL, but I only play penny slots. I limit myself to $100 a day of my own money, if I win can I can play off the money I win as long as I feel comfortable doing so. Since I mostly do 7 day cruises, I have to make sure I stay under $800 out of pocket. On longer cruises I will lower to $40 of my own and just hope I win some to play longer. Last year I left with enough winnings to cover the cost of my cruise so perhaps they want it back...

[beta98beta]

Not sure if they keep track of how much you lose. I don't think they do. .

 

They are supposed to so you can request win loss statements for the IRS at the end of the year. You need those loss statements to lower your tax burden and offset any big winnings you may have had from the lottery or other stateside casinos during the year.

[beta98beta]

yeah, looks like the plat folks get a little better deal than us gold, but that's okay, its free, I'm sailing and I'm happy! :) maybe next time I will be offered some of those other perks too!

[beta98beta]

So the offer code is ONLY for you and cross-referenced. Reason I am asking is lots of coupons have a barcode or lots of deals have codes but anyone that has the code can get the offer....just sayin :rolleyes:

 

Its crossed referenced to your VIFP card number. When I called they asked for the casino offer fare code, when I gave it to her she asked for my VIFP number. Then she checked something, once she did she told me what I was qualified for which was basically the same as what the letter told me. However my letter was not for premier cruise, there were lots of normal cruises to choose from. She needed to know what I wanted then she could narrow down look it up and tell me what I was qualified for at that port or during the timeframe I was requesting. It varied from port to port and from timeframe to timeframe. To make it easy on myself I narrowed it to my home port and a week I knew I would be able to get off work because we are practically closed for the holidays at that time. Unfortunately only Inside cabins were available for that sailing but they are in a good location, deck 8, and close to an elevator. If could have flown from Puerto Rico or took another week I could have gotten a balcony on another ship.

Edited August 22, 2013 by beta98beta

[sag1804]

Thanks to this thread I called and found out I am set up for something! I will call in the morning and see if I can use on any cruise I want to go on...if I can best believe me I will be back to let you guys know!

[mikel24m]

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

 

I too Tom is trying to figure out the free cruise theory :)

 

Some people get free offers one for husband and one for wife and budget under $1000 for the week :)

 

Some can play $100+ per hand at BJ and lose thousands and get the same offer as the player that plays $50 a day and quits.You would think by now they would have a clue

 

We got a pretty good rate for a 4 nighter getaway next month but I don't see us playing much ,I will be saving the cash to play @ the hard rock in FLL

[breenw]

Congrats to those of you who have gotten these offers. My hubby always plays the slots and gets the "drinks on us" card each cruise but we have never received a Players Club or casino based offer for a discounted or free cruise. We are both Diamond level also. We've never been offered a cabin upgrade either. I would say we're just unlucky.....LOL!!! Maybe someday..........:)

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

They are supposed to so you can request win loss statements for the IRS at the end of the year. You need those loss statements to lower your tax burden and offset any big winnings you may have had from the lottery or other stateside casinos during the year.

 

Win/loss statements are not all they're cracked up to be... LINK

 

In part:

 

"Gamblers love to use casino win/loss statements because it is easy. Just report the amounts from the casino win/loss statements. No muss, no fuss. No record keeping hassles. You’re done.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way.

 

For starters, the Internal Revenue Code requires taxpayers to keep and maintain adequate records sufficient to prove their income and deductions. In the opinion of the IRS and most courts, casino win/loss statements do not meet these record keeping requirements. And, it is possible, depending upon the facts and circumstances, that the IRS could assess penalties against the gambler that used such documents.

But it gets worse..."

 

More talk on that subject HERE for anyone that desires to see this discussed in "classic" message board format.

 

 

Tom

Edited August 22, 2013 by Tom-n-Cheryl

[sag1804]

I called about this and all I get is 50 percent off a cruise and 100 bucks at the cage. Michael the head guy VIP of casinos tells me the pit boss reported I "lost" only 120 dollars last cruise. Biggest crap I have ever heard. I lost close to 1K. I played a lot on the breeze the one before and had 200 waiting for me and free drinks. Now on my next cruise I have 100 bucks and some strawberries and no free drinks. WOW, thanks carnival. :mad:

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

I called about this and all I get is 50 percent off a cruise and 100 bucks at the cage. Michael the head guy VIP of casinos tells me the pit boss reported I "lost" only 120 dollars last cruise. Biggest crap I have ever heard. I lost close to 1K. I played a lot on the breeze the one before and had 200 waiting for me and free drinks. Now on my next cruise I have 100 bucks and some strawberries and no free drinks. WOW, thanks carnival. :mad:

 

They've been "off" by multiple thousands in my case... more than once. You can guess what direction that error usually takes. ;)

 

Tom

[wiskt]

I got one of these free offers in May & only had to pay the port/taxes.

 

1- I was able to pick the cruise I wanted from the list of 12 cruises

2- I was able to pick ANY ROOM that was open on the ship. YES ANY ROOM

3- I was also able to put as many people as the room accomodated.

 

In the end I managed to get a Grand Suite and put myself and 2 others in the room for only the cost of port/taxes p/p.

 

Double check with your PVP or Carnival. You may be able to get a higher occupancy room or a suite if they are available.

 

CONGRATS on your offer. Enjoy the trip!

 

 

p.s. I usually spend on the SLOTS, so my players account is always active. However, I have always come out ahead or broke even.

Something to consider.... If you're a TABLE spender, use your players account to w/d cash at the tables so you are reflecting activity on your account. Just dropping cash shows no record your are even spending. OR pull cash into your players account on a slot machine, go to the cashier and cash out and use that to play at the tables.

Edited August 26, 2013 by wiskt

[mikel24m]

I called about this and all I get is 50 percent off a cruise and 100 bucks at the cage. Michael the head guy VIP of casinos tells me the pit boss reported I "lost" only 120 dollars last cruise. Biggest crap I have ever heard. I lost close to 1K. I played a lot on the breeze the one before and had 200 waiting for me and free drinks. Now on my next cruise I have 100 bucks and some strawberries and no free drinks. WOW, thanks carnival. :mad:

 

One cruise I lost well over 10K and the next cruise I had $300 :)

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

One cruise I lost well over 10K and the next cruise I had $300 :)

 

The (Carnival) "rule of thumb" for a loss rebate of that size is 10%. You should have had somewhere north of a grand waiting for you. But... if they don't have you down for the correct amount, you're (let me think of a proper word) "out of luck"! :D

 

Tom

Edited August 26, 2013 by Tom-n-Cheryl

[mikel24m]

The (Carnival) "rule of thumb" for a loss rebate of that size is 10%. You should have had somewhere north of a grand waiting for you. But... if they don't have you down for the correct amount, you're (let me think of a proper word) "out of luck"! :D

 

Tom

 

Indeed.. that's what got my butt puckered in the first place :)

 

I don't mind losing just give us some very cheap things like fruit baskets,bottles of water,photo coupons.A spa treatment for my wife or a steakhouse dinner would be awesome( and keep us gambling)

 

:)

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Indeed.. that's what got my butt puckered in the first place :)

 

I don't mind losing just give us some very cheap things like fruit baskets,bottles of water,photo coupons.A spa treatment for my wife or a steakhouse dinner would be awesome( and keep us gambling)

 

:)

 

It's generally much more profitable to keep a "good" player at the tables for as long as possible. I think they're starting to figure that out. It's a learning process, and I'm at least happy to see what is (hopefully) the tide turning.

 

Tom

[sag1804]

They still suck. HAHA. I would like to get what I got for the remaining of my 8 night cruise and the cruise to nowhere which was drinks on us, and 200 bucks spending. I am fine with that. not 100 and no drinks on us.