Wow! Free Cruise on Carnival

[gbearcruiser]

Yay to everyone who got a free cruise!!! I want one too!!

 

Me too! I wonder does anyone know if more letters are going out? Are they sending letters out this week only or was it just for a couple of days

[GatorGirl57]

Do you have to pay gift tax for the listed price of the cruise?

 

I doubt it. It was a "coupon" not a "gift". I use coupons all the time, and there are not taxes on that. The "free cabin" was not a sweepstakes win, which would be taxed.

 

Anyway, I am excited! We got one too and booked a 7 day on the Legend. We even got the last bowling alley balcony!!

[lucy2mb]

I would hate to throw away a free cruise offer. I just went to the mailbox to see if we had anything from Carnival. Then I looked through some old mail hoping to find one. I know if I got something with Carnival on the envelope, I wouldn't throw it away. I didn't read about every ones free cruise offer. Did anyone get a letter who had already booked a future cruise at full price. We booked our next cruise on the Dream back in June. Did anyone get a call instead of a letter? I would LOVE to get the cruise offer!!!

[walty]

Yay to everyone who got a free cruise!!! I want one too!!

 

Martha Josey got a free cruise.

[barrelracer89]

Martha Josey got a free cruise.

 

She doesn't need a free cruise haha

[vbecky]

We also got one or I should say my son who is 19 got one. He has played in casino but not much, just cruised in August. We were able to book 7 day Caribbean balcony for 4 people 800.00!! Woo hoo

 

 

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[mermaidofmanhattan]

Our last Carnival cruise we booked five cabins, one a suite and one a suite with a wrap around balcony (jr suite?). Only my husband received the offer...not me.

 

Right. But maybe the two of you are always booked in one together?? My husband and I are always booked in separate cabins; each of us with one of our sons (not that we stay in them in that configuration, of course). ;)

 

But who really knows the criteria, if any? I'm delighted to have the deal, that's for sure. We never are able to go when prices are low because of our kids' school schedules, so this is a great break for us.

Edited February 12, 2014 by mermaidofmanhattan

[croozluv]

Right. But maybe the two of you are always booked in one together?? My husband and I are always booked in separate cabins; each of us with one of our sons (not that we stay in them in that configuration, of course). ;)

 

But who really knows the criteria, if any? I'm delighted to have the deal, that's for sure. We never are able to go when prices are low because of our kids' school schedules, so this is a great break for us.

 

Yep, you are right! We book in the same cabin. Our friends who traveled with us (the other four cabins) didn't receive the offer. I agree, I'm DELIGHTED too!:D

[grumpyjr88]

Well, I got a crappy interior cabin on deck 1 but I don't care. It's FREE!!!! I'm so excited!! Going on the Pride, May 11. I love this promotion.

[kathiean]

FYI most of the June sailings are now completely booked for the free letter offer. I'm so glad I jumped on it immediately because when I checked this afternoon Carnival website was showing NO availability for the freebie any longer. Whew!

[riclop]

Just received a letter from Carnival offering me a free cabin! Interior of course... I guess Princess' 100% fare back sale must have shaken up some cruise lines!

Its not from Carnival, read it closely.

[JMKreno]

The criteria for this is unbelievable random. I don't post often on this forum, but I checked 13 different people's VIFP account (family and friends) who have anywhere from 1-30 past Carnival cruises, in different states, some book suites, other interior, gamble, drink, shore excursions and no one received this offer. We just booked the Miracle out of LA today (5 cabins) and if we received this offer I would be booking immediately on another cruise. Does Carnival not realize that these promotions will be spread wide and far through social media and by making them completely random (though, does it really seem THAT random when so many people on this forum have received the offer, considering less than 1-2% of the total cruise population visits this site) they might alienate past cruisers?

 

Let's look at this logically for the VIFP number that received this offer:

 

1) What state/location does everyone live that got this offer?

2) What types of cabins does the person who received the offer book?

3) Any gambling?

4) How much is your sign and sail account when you end the cruise? (This might be telling)

 

There must be something that is triggering this promotion, as the numbers do not make sense to be "random".

[croozluv]

Its not from Carnival, read it closely.

 

I not only read it closely, but also confirmed with Carnival it was from them. If you read this entire thread you'll find that MANY people got this deal, and it was directly from Carnival.

 

Guess I will post the letter....

[croozluv]

The criteria for this is unbelievable random. I don't post often on this forum, but I checked 13 different people's VIFP account (family and friends) who have anywhere from 1-30 past Carnival cruises, in different states, some book suites, other interior, gamble, drink, shore excursions and no one received this offer. We just booked the Miracle out of LA today (5 cabins) and if we received this offer I would be booking immediately on another cruise. Does Carnival not realize that these promotions will be spread wide and far through social media and by making them completely random (though, does it really seem THAT random when so many people on this forum have received the offer, considering less than 1-2% of the total cruise population visits this site) they might alienate past cruisers?

 

Let's look at this logically for the VIFP number that received this offer:

 

1) What state/location does everyone live that got this offer?

2) What types of cabins does the person who received the offer book?

3) Any gambling?

4) How much is your sign and sail account when you end the cruise? (This might be telling)

 

There must be something that is triggering this promotion, as the numbers do not make sense to be "random".

 

Good idea.

 

Here's my info:

 

1) Florida

2) We've booked every category: Jr Suite, Suite, Balcony, Oceanview (which was booked as interior but upgraded) and interior.

3) Gambled 2 nights on a 7 night cruise but that's it. Not extensive.

4) 7 days on the Legend (w/o tips) SS came to less than $200.

 

:cool:

[croozluv]

Here it is, for those of you wondering....

 

Sorry I can't make it bigger. If you can read it, the scribble on it is the price we ended up paying with the balcony upgrade.

 

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Edited February 12, 2014 by DalesWife

[GatorGirl57]

I'm game.

 

1. Florida

2. Always inside or free upgrade to ocean view until our last cruise Dec. 2013 - that was cove balcony

3. Little/no gambling (like $10 total on all four Carnival cruises)

4. Outside of gratuities, literally the only thing on our sign and sail card last cruise was the Behind the Fun tour at $100 pp and a couple of drinks. Less than $250 for both of us.

 

Edit: A poster below has an interesting point. I got the offer, and I will make Gold VIFP on the cruise I just booked with the free cabin. My DH did not get the offer, and was not as close as me to the next level (he will not get it on our next cruise)

Edited February 12, 2014 by GatorGirl57

[grumpyjr88]

1) Washington, DC

2) 1 interior and 4 balconies

3) No

4) $100 - $1000

5) I'll add that I'm very close to the next level for VIFP.

[billy10]

from Florida always book balcony play maybe 100 bucks a day maybe 200 s&s have nit cruised carnival for 10 years I like RC & Celebrity

[stacyrk99]

Got a letter today too. Just booked 7 Day to Alaska. Was already planning on taking that cruise but a week later and then this came. Definitely can't pass that one up. I have cruised 3 times on Carnival and never spent a dime in the casino. I was in complete shock when my booking went through. Upgraded to a balcony for $70 per person.

 

 

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[rlyans]

We did not receive anything in the mail. We got a call from a pvp. He informed us my wife had received a free cruise to use by 6/30. We had many to choose from. We were planning to go to Texas in April and it fit right in to take the Magic out of Galveston. We upgraded to a balcony. Total out door $288 for both of us. WOW. We live in Los Angeles, do not gamble and our sail and sign card is usually under $200 plus tips. 8 cruises with Carnival (the last one was summer 2013) Don't know why we got targeted, but thank you Carnival....

[marciemi]

Also got the letter and almost tossed it as junk. Only two prior Carnival cruises (one last year and one in 1993 so I'm sure I'm not near a level up). In Indiana. Last cruise we booked a corner aft but just 2 people traveling. Spent no money in the casino and SS was minimal - maybe 2 bottles of wine, a couple t-shirts and a couple fruity drinks. ;).

 

Incidentally I don't see anyone mentioning that ALL balconies are the same price in the upgrade! The corner afts (Victory is what I booked) are usually an additional $61 per PERSON, per DAY, on top of the regular balcony upgrade!! For a 5 night, I only paid $50 per person TOTAL to upgrade from interior (free) with this deal! I priced it without the discount - $1923. With - $295!! Yeah, jumped on that. :). Air is a bit steeper heading to Miami during Spring Break but we still can't pass that up.

 

 

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[GatorGirl57]

I think people weren't mentioning the aft balconies because they are mostly booked. I looked at several ships and several sailing dates before I booked mine. I never saw an aft balcony that was open. Maybe the spring break times were less popular than the June bookings, which is what I got. I was thrilled to get an extended balcony for the flat fee though.

 

Also - your sig has three carnival cruises - if those were all 7 nights, then you are close to leveling up. The next cruise you take (the free one) would do it. Were they all 7 nights?

Edited February 12, 2014 by GatorGirl57

[marciemi]

Nope, first was 3 night in 1993. Forgot the June 2010 was in my signature - that was my husband and son and girlfriend as a HS graduation present so I didn't go on that one and I'm the one who received the offer. And the last one was a 6 night. So I only have 9 nights total personally.

 

And sorry about the aft info - I'm on my phone and didn't realize how many prior replies there were to this thread!

 

Edited to add that as I now look at my signature/info it still shows us in Green Bay which I haven't been in almost two years, so before the last time we cruised Carnival so they'd be using Indiana.

 

 

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Edited February 12, 2014 by marciemi

[skiwee]

My husband and I both received letters today from Carnivals players club for free interior cabins and a nominal fee for upgrades. There were 6 cruises offered anywhere from 3 to 9 days in the next 4 months. Unfortunately, we had such a not so good time on the Pride in November we are going to pass. Seems they are giving out deals lately.

 

 

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[mnsweeps]

My husband and I both received letters today from Carnivals players club for free interior cabins and a nominal fee for upgrades. There were 6 cruises offered anywhere from 3 to 9 days in the next 4 months. Unfortunately, we had such a not so good time on the Pride in November we are going to pass. Seems they are giving out deals lately.

 

 

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I would love to take it off from you..can I IM you?