Just booked a VIFP free cabin on the Dream

[CRMack]

[/color]2"] I received this offer in the mail yesterday and thought it was bogus. The DH and I generally cruise two times a year but missed out last year. We may purchase one or two drinks a cruise but we're definitely not casino aficionados lol. I'm glad we were able to book an 8 day eastern Caribbean on the liberty in June on a balcony for $340 :eek: so grateful for tHis deal.

[browneyedwoman]

If it's from Carnival, you should be able to log onto your VFIP account and it will appear under "offers." You can also call Carnival.

 

Thank you. That's what I did last night after I got really excited about a possible free cruise but there was nothing for us on the Carnival website so I threw the letter away again. Oh well!

[oceanlovinmama]

georgiagolfer- I guess I should have said that it was never exposed as a 1st time booking price until I called CCL for a third time. I know upgrade fairies exist, though I haven't had the pleasure of meeting her, and given this sale going on, I just thought it would be better business sense to keep a customer happy.

[Ellefe]

We just got done booking a cruise on the Magic for May 4th and only paid 70.00 plus port charges PER PERSON. I almost fell over when I heard the amount. (and that was for a room with a balcony). We skipped a cruise last year but have been loyal members. I think its d/t the bad publicity. There loss is our gain!:rolleyes:

 

my Mom, Dad, & I will be there with you! (I got the letter, but have to take them. past cruises have been gifts from them, time for a little pay back)

we had to pay the 3rd person fare & we upgraded to the balcony to, but that's 3 of us for around $500!!

See you on board!

[myangel]

We were on the Nov 23rd sailing of the Dream and the January 19th sailing of the Legend............ and my husband got the Letter!!! Yipee! We now just have to figure out when and if we can go by June 30th.............

[BeachyPeach]

We got the same offer. I, too, almost threw out the paper thinking it was a credit card offer. Lol. SO glad we didn't. We booked the Splendor on June 25. Between weddings and other obligations, that was the first...and only...cruise during that time we could take. But, I'll take it! Upgraded to an aft balcony and are paying under $500 total for 8 days! Now to figure out excursions!

 

 

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[AmberTeka]

First of all, Congrats to everyone who got this offer!! How awesome is that??? A free cruise? upgrading to a balcony for less than a price of one inside room?? WOW and OBC to boot! This is a great marketing tool and kudos to Carnival for filling their ships. With that said, it will take a lot to get me back on a Carnival line after my upcoming cruise. I wanted to upgrade from a Oceanview to a guaranteed balcony and pay them $400+ but they wouldn't let me. That was a special promotion for 1st time bookings...I could upgrade, but it was for $600. Rediculous, and then no one got back to me on my complaint, and then last night I read about all these free cruises and free upgrades and OBC. I think they also need to take care of their past passengers who are trying to be loyal customers. A happy customer always comes back! But again, congrats to you all!!!

 

 

I bet I have recommended Carnival or Princess to over a hundred people. My inlaws cruised. My family cruised Friends. The Sec. in my Doctor's Office honeymooned on the Fascination. Other teachers where my daughter teaches.........

...AND I bet most loyal, long time cruisers have done the Same thing. Sent Carnival...........thousands of customer, most who also became long time cruisers........NEVER again. I wish someone had kicked me in the hinny and shut my mouth.

 

When I shell out money to Carnival year after year, and then I read these bits about how "picked guests for free cruises don't like Carnival, and don't intend to 'cruse again with them but who can pass up a "free " Cruise.??my blood boils.

 

I say.......I am going to be very able to pass up a cruise that I pay a lot for, while people who don't "Like" Carnival are sailing in the cabin next to me for free. basically. I called Carnival and told that . I wrote them and told them that.

 

This is totally disgusting. Leaves a bad taste in my mouth. And I may book on Carnival again, but it won't be soon. This is a personal insult to every person who comes back every year, pays full price, probably sails other Carnival lines like Princess and Hal too. We have one more cruise on Princess before being Platinum there. I have one more cruise booked with them, and I may cancel it. I Promised myself.............the money I drop on a cruise is NOT Going to Carnival. NCL. RCI. Celebrity. A trip out west. A trip to the mountains for the Keys. NOT Carnival. and they won't notice, but I will feel better.

 

They must have the Owner's Nephew running their Public Relations Office. I think they think wrong. FTTf. Then this. Enough. And if you call and ask what the criteria is for the free cruises, apparently they have a list and can pick.....casino. past guests. random. don't know.

Carnival seems determined to run off the very people ..............who made them an economic giant.

Edited February 13, 2014 by AmberTeka

[francina]

I am only gold, I guess I have a long way to go. Also, I thought the VIFP is the loyalty program only. I didn't know it had anything to do with the casino. Also, where did you find the free offer-on cc site or e-mail?

[petesweet]

The offer I had just appeared in the MY OFFERS section of my VIFP on the Carnival website. Who knows how long it had been there, but I am glad I just happened to be checking!

I could really use some help here!

 

I have no idea how to find this MY OFFERS link or even my VIFP link.

 

I log in.

Then what? Cruise deals? That's not the term people are using. Manage? Doesn't take me anywhere except where I just preregistered for our upcoming cruise.

 

Many thanks if you can enlighten me. Who knows what may be waiting for me?:D:D

 

Happy sails.

 

Kathy

[BeachyPeach]

I never thought of myself as a "loyal" customer. But I guess I am. It's my understanding that this free cabin bit was a random drawing of VIFP numbers. I'm a red only. I've cruised with them 3 times over the last 19 years. I like them but I also like other cruise lines too.

 

This is a small subset of cruisers, Amber. So to criticize people who get this offer, because you didn't? Everyone has their own experiences. Did you have a bad experience on your cruises? And why are you paying full price? I've never paid full price for a vacation and I always got my rewards for whatever company it was for. Be loyal to whomever you want.

 

I haven't always loved Carnival. I got a good deal two years ago and gave them another shot. Bingo! Loved it.

 

Carnival wants to fill ships because of whatever issues. People are getting sick on the high seas or ships are having mechanical issues. Whatever the reason, I think it's fantastic. And I'd probably think so, even if I didn't get one. Not everyone who buys a lottery ticket wins either.

 

 

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[BeachyPeach]

Kathy -

Cruise deals then past guest offers. Do you have a VIFP number?

 

 

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[petesweet]

if feel your pain but believe you are spot-on as to your rationale. see my signature, we jumped after I got feathers ruffled after the past guest program changed.

 

DH (he who does no trip planning & plays less than I do in the casino) got letter from CCL today. I tossed it un-opened in shred pile. something made him open it. He's telling me he got a free cruise. I'm telling him it's a scam. Upon 2nd look the offer looked legit. I called...

 

let's just say I'm baaaack. :D deciding upon which southern cruise to book, which needs to fit into our pre-booked airfare/vacation dates. will cancel our upcoming cruise on RCCL. Rather funny I purchased TI today for the other cruise today. will cancel and hopefully reapply towards a cruise next January.

Did the envelope look like junk mail? or like a first-class letter?

 

Kathy

[ibcnusoon]

I could really use some help here!

 

I have no idea how to find this MY OFFERS link or even my VIFP link.

 

I log in.

Then what? Cruise deals? That's not the term people are using. Manage? Doesn't take me anywhere except where I just preregistered for our upcoming cruise.

 

Many thanks if you can enlighten me. Who knows what may be waiting for me?:D:D

 

Happy sails.

 

Kathy

 

Click this link:

 

http://www.carnival.com/loyalty/specialoffers.aspx

 

Enter your VIFP number. If you don't know it, click the link that says "Look up my VIFP number". All of your offers will be listed there, including the FREE Cabin if you were selected. If you have family members who cruised Carnival and have a VIFP number (and you don't know it) you can search their's too (providing you have their birthdate).

 

Good luck!! :D

[Spincognito]

Surprised at the all the "sour grapes" reactions. I have done okay over the years playing the state lottery, nothing truly life-changing but have won enough to take a cruise or three. When my DW got the letter, that is exactly how it felt, like we hit the lottery. We were rewarded because we got lucky. I do not get angry when someone else buys a million dollar scratch ticket, even if it the same type of ticket I have been buying.

 

That being said,I am not totally convinced that that this was a random offering from Carnival. Has anyone asked JH on FB about this and would he answer a question like that?

 

Just to clarify, we have sailed 8 times, are not high rollers in the casino and have moderate balances on our S&S at the end of each cruise (Not just a few hundred but not a few thousand either). Always fill out the online survey, do not drink (heavily) and have almost always had positive experiences.

 

Looking forward to our 'Freebie" cruise on Pride 04/13!

[petesweet]

Kathy -

Cruise deals then past guest offers. Do you have a VIFP number?

 

Got it! (but didn't get a free cruise:(). Thanks. It's kind of like people giving directions to a location on the road. They sometimes overlook something important but something that is so second-nature to them they don't think to mention it.

 

Kathy

[petesweet]

Click this link:

 

http://www.carnival.com/loyalty/specialoffers.aspx

 

Enter your VIFP number. If you don't know it, click the link that says "Look up my VIFP number". . . . If you have family members who cruised Carnival and have a VIFP number (and you don't know it) you can search their's too (providing you have their birthdate).

 

Good luck!! :D

More good information that applies to me. Thanks!!

 

Kathy

[sacnaillady]

I booked Alaska yesterday. It was a little more than the Caribbean. I paid $536 upgrade to balcony, taxes and port charges. I wasn't planning on going on another Carnival cruise after our New Years cruise this year but what the heck! A $3500 cruise fir $536! Deal of the century! I've never been to Alaska and we fly free because of my husbands job. We're going in June on my birthday week! Happy birthday to me! I can't wait.

[the2006Junket]

Hi all, my DH was just about to toss the snail mail letter in recycling and I saw it and said "hold on a minute, I see the words FREE CABIN." Good thing, since we were not planning to cruise in at least the next 6 months and I never would've checked on the website using my VIFP #.

 

So we're so excited to fit in a cruise when we weren't planning on it -- for such a low price!!!

 

As for who and why are some folks getting this offer and other not....as a business person who makes alot of decisions on marketing plans, I can tell you that this is NOT random. It's an expensive targeted marketing campaign that likely has demographic and purchase habit metrics to drive the distribution list.

 

I'm not sure what criteria they are using? Ideas:

- not super frequent CCL cruisers (who are so loyal they know they don't have spend money to get you back on board!)

- but people who have cruised with CCL in the past few years demonstrating that they are open to the brand.

- age range? I'm guessing that they'd target folks who are between 35-70 or so or maybe even more like 45-70. Folks who have more time and money to cruise.

- geography: maybe more East Coast and Southeast folks who can drive to many of the offered ports since the offer ends in June and it's sometimes expensive to book flights to fly soon?

- On-board spending habits: whether it's the casino, bar tab, excursions, shopping, art show, spa, Steakhouse dining, photos ---- they want people who spend money on the things that CCL makes a profit on to be on-board. I bet that people who just book a cabin and who spend less than $50 are NOT getting this offer because those are unprofitable sailors for CCL.

 

I cruised on the Glory two summers in a row, because they were sailing out of Boston and NY up to the Canadian Maritimes. Once just with my DH and once with my son and Father (in another cabin). We don't spend more than $50 in the casino, but run up a decent bar tab, spent probably $100 on Bingo and last cruise treated my son to a G-Shock watch ($90) and way too much $$ in the arcade. :rolleyes:

 

Very interesting marketing...it's working to get me back on board!

 

Good luck folks!

 

Lynne

[bdopey2000]

I got the same letter in the mail. I am not a high roller. I have been on 7 others, in fact, we had a cruise booked for August 2014. Used the free cabin to book the same cruise as we had in August, but for June and saved $1800. I did write them a letter a while back about out last cruise, maybe that was it???

 

Who knows!

[suzannet5008]

My husband received the letter too. We are both red. Sailed in 2011 and 2013. We planned to do a cruise over our son's spring break but hadn't booked yet. We ended up getting a better cruise on the Breeze for $511 with tax etc! Unfortunately because of the dates we'll have to fly and pay for airfare but it was too good to pass up!

 

 

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[gawn]

I don't know how they pick. Because, our daughter, who is 18, got a letter. She hasn't paid for anything on any of our cruises. But, we haven't gotten a letter.

[L&J]

I bet I have recommended Carnival or Princess to over a hundred people. My inlaws cruised. My family cruised Friends. The Sec. in my Doctor's Office honeymooned on the Fascination. Other teachers where my daughter teaches.........

...AND I bet most loyal, long time cruisers have done the Same thing. Sent Carnival...........thousands of customer, most who also became long time cruisers........NEVER again. I wish someone had kicked me in the hinny and shut my mouth.

 

When I shell out money to Carnival year after year, and then I read these bits about how "picked guests for free cruises don't like Carnival, and don't intend to 'cruse again with them but who can pass up a "free " Cruise.??my blood boils.

 

I say.......I am going to be very able to pass up a cruise that I pay a lot for, while people who don't "Like" Carnival are sailing in the cabin next to me for free. basically. I called Carnival and told that . I wrote them and told them that.

 

This is totally disgusting. Leaves a bad taste in my mouth. And I may book on Carnival again, but it won't be soon. This is a personal insult to every person who comes back every year, pays full price, probably sails other Carnival lines like Princess and Hal too. We have one more cruise on Princess before being Platinum there. I have one more cruise booked with them, and I may cancel it. I Promised myself.............the money I drop on a cruise is NOT Going to Carnival. NCL. RCI. Celebrity. A trip out west. A trip to the mountains for the Keys. NOT Carnival. and they won't notice, but I will feel better.

 

They must have the Owner's Nephew running their Public Relations Office. I think they think wrong. FTTf. Then this. Enough. And if you call and ask what the criteria is for the free cruises, apparently they have a list and can pick.....casino. past guests. random. don't know.

Carnival seems determined to run off the very people ..............who made them an economic giant.

 

Bitter much? Guess what, this happens in various industries all the the time to solicit new business. Am I disappointed I didn't get one? Sure. Am I going to boycott Carnival because I feel I'm "entitled" to something for free? Not a chance. I'll book my next cruise with Carnival because of the experience I get sailing with them and the value I feel I get for money and I'll enjoy every minute of it.

[AmberTeka]

I never thought of myself as a "loyal" customer. But I guess I am. It's my understanding that this free cabin bit was a random drawing of VIFP numbers. I'm a red only. I've cruised with them 3 times over the last 19 years. I like them but I also like other cruise lines too.

 

This is a small subset of cruisers, Amber. So to criticize people who get this offer, because you didn't? Everyone has their own experiences. Did you have a bad experience on your cruises? And why are you paying full price? I've never paid full price for a vacation and I always got my rewards for whatever company it was for. Be loyal to whomever you want.

 

I haven't always loved Carnival. I got a good deal two years ago and gave them another shot. Bingo! Loved it.

 

Carnival wants to fill ships because of whatever issues. People are getting sick on the high seas or ships are having mechanical issues. Whatever the reason, I think it's fantastic. And I'd probably think so, even if I didn't get one. Not everyone who buys a lottery ticket wins either.

 

 

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Before you start preaching to me, I would like to say I am angry with Carnival. Not the people who got the free deals. I doubt they had anything to do with it...it is like winning a lotto.

 

But for people who know that long time cruisers come on the site, for them to post that they got a free cruise, that they don't really like Carnival., now .they have moved on to better lines but who can refuse a free cruise...............that is a tasteless remark from someone seeking to gloat. A no class remark. If they thought that........it was not necessary to stay that.

 

It also annoys me that people who speak their minds on any subject, often and well, love to jump on anyone who does not think they way they do with long convoluted reasons as to why it is just not done to voice any opinion that does not agree with them.

I am not rude to people. I don't find posts to respond to unless it directly relates to something Carnival has done or said.

Edited February 13, 2014 by AmberTeka

[AmberTeka]

Have any military people received these offers?

 

Does Carnival consider that they have already received discounts so they are excluded from this big give-way?

 

imho. that stinks.

Edited February 14, 2014 by AmberTeka

[TanIslandGirl]

I usually sail with a group of 18 or more. I felt bad that the others didn't get this offer but they are all very happy for my husband & I.