Booked our Free Cabin Cruise

[hassellcastle]

First off, this is my first time back to this site in two years. Two years since our last cruise we took with our young boys.

 

Anyhow, last week we received the letter in the mail I see others talking about on here. The letter said we were awarded a free cabin. Me and my wife get semi-regularly junk mail from Carnival and we figured this was another piece of garbage for the circular file. The letter was actually mailed to her, not to me. What's funny is that we have taken only three cruises in our liftetime together. All of which have been on Carnival, however she received the letter and I did not.

 

We figured there was a catch, and I left the letter sitting on the kitchen counter with the rest of our mail. I told her I wanted to call, her response was "you know it's too good to be true." I agreed and it just sat there. A few days go by and were straightening the house and I noticed she threw it away. I dug it back out of the trash and she said....you know there's a catch. I said "we'll it's worth calling about, even if it amounts to nothing".

 

We'll low and behold last Thursday I called Carnival and inquired about the letter. I asked them "what's the catch?" She asked for our VIFP number on the letter and keyed it in and said, yes we qualified for the free cabin. I asked her what the catch was, she said, No catch, no time share, nothing. We just want you to come back to cruise with Carnival. I said...."yeah, but is this free cabin only good for 1 person?" She said "no, it's good for up to two people". I then asked, "let me guess it's only good for the off season, a time we can't cruise as my wife is a school teacher and we're only able to cruise during your peak season". She replied "we'll if you look at the letter you have to book by 3/3/14, but you can take a cruise as late as 6/30/14". She then asked "would you like me to check some availability for you in the month of June?". I said sure.

 

Well needless to say, I talked it over with my wife that evening and explained to her that it was no catch and we got excited about it and decided to book a cruise.

 

We ended up booking the 6/29/14, 7 night cruise on the Carnival Magic going out of Galveston with stops in Mahogany Bay Isla Rotan, Belize and Cozumel.

The free cabin is good for an inside cabin, so I upgraded to a Deluxe Oceanview Cabin for an additional $70. Paid the port charges, taxes and paid for the gratuities in advance. Total out of pocket spent is $380 for both of us to cruise! We are excited.

 

As for why she got the letter, we don't know. I didn't get one.

Here are some of our past cruise history:

We have taken 3 cruises, 1998, 2011 and 2012 all of which have been on Carnival for a total of 19 cruise days.

 

I can see maybe why they've awarded us a free cruise as Carnival has gotten a lot more out of us on each of our cruises. We typically have a pretty high sail N' sign bill by the end of each voyage. Lots of drinkin', casino play, portraits and excursions. I'd say our average sail and sign bill has been about $1100-$1300 per cruise.

 

I guess Carnival knows giving us a free cruises will result in more money from the Hassell's besides the cabin expense....ha ha.

 

Anyhow were excited and I'm happy to be back to cruisecritic.com

 

Attached is a pic of the letter for those that might not have seen one yet. Excuse all the scribbling on it, I was doodling on it while talking to the PVP person on the phone and my wife was trying to teach my 7 year old how to sign his Valentine's Cards.

Edited February 17, 2014 by hassellcastle

[MrsHotrod2U]

We booked our free cabin on Sat. Downside is the upgrade to a balcony's were gone. Still hoping one comes through. We are leaving out of Galveston on 6/1.

Enjoy!!

[hassellcastle]

Agreed, we have never had a balcony and that was what we wanted, but those were all gone as well. I guess beggars can't be choosers.

 

On a side note. Our original first choice was to take the 7 day cruise out of Galveston the Magic that goes to Key West and the Bahamas. When I first called for rates they didn't have any Balcony rooms, but still have Oceanview. This was before I had the "ok" from my wife "let's do it".

 

We'll by the time I talked it over with her, the oceanview's were gone and all that was still available were inside cabins for the Key West, Bahamas, 7 day cruise. If we would have done the 7 Day, cruise out of Galveston on the Magic that goes to Key West and Bahamas the total price would have been $158! That is sick! $158 for 2 people for a 7 night cruise. You can't beat that. Needless to say, I like looking out the window from our cabinet so we ended up going with the other itinerary that goes to Mahogany Bay, Belize and Cozumel as Oceanview cabins were still available for a slight upcharge.

[HawkIVette]

Congrats on getting the free cruise and welcome back to CC.

 

I got the same offer back in November when we got off the Conquest. Took the offer and cost us $354 for 2 of us on an 8-day cruise this March 15 on the Breeze.

 

I am happy for you, but sorry for the fire storm you just started. Lately, there have been several posts from other cruisers that have not been fortunate enough to get the free offers. Don't let them get to you. Be happy.

 

So let the flaming begin. Congrats again and hope you enjoy your cruise. I know we sure are going to have a great time.

[awhcruiser]

Congrats! I am waiting patiently for my letter to be delivered!

[love2relax]

Oh wow! Congrats to you!

I will wait for the mail with high hopes as well. I have sailed on a lot of Carnival cruises with a high sail and sign bill, but I haven't been on one of their ships for a few years. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed in anticipation!

[sassy~one]

CONGRATS!!! still waiting here!

[WetToes]

Congrats!!! Who cares who got the letter? You're going on a cruise!

Enjoy! :)

[Macklovin38]

So excited for you! Congrats!!

 

I wanna win the free cruise lotto!!!!

[billie5]

Doctors + DW = no more cruising. However, when I did, we never waited for a freebie. Clearly, it was never going to happen. Why?

 

For us, cruising was snorkeling, privately. Or in the obvious tour cities (St. Petersburg, Talinn, Jerusalem, etc), again privately. But not the casino, the drinks, the shops. So we were, I am sure, the losers as far as the cruise lines were concerned. I think OP is entirely correct that, at the very least, the free cruise has to make sense to the cruise line. Why not spouse also? Again, I am sure one free cabin deal was what made sense to Carnival, not two.

[KPfromCT]

Congratulations on your free cruise!!! I hope you guys have an amazing time.:D:D

 

I think the mailman lost mine:rolleyes::rolleyes:

[Tennessee Rose]

Good for you, and anyone else who is getting a free cruise. I truly am happy for you! Wish I could get one but just glad to hear that there is always the possibility of it happening! My pvp called me this morning (I was on the website a while yesterday looking at current cruises and prices) to see when I'm planning my next one. She definitely didn't say---you gotta free cabin!

 

So everyone, keep watching the mailbox. And don't throw out that Carnival envelope! Appears those might have something valuable in them! :)

[isadelia]

I got my letter last week. Left it unopened for days until I saw posts on here about the free cabin. Well I opened it yesterday and immediately started looking for a cruise. Husband said no because a trip just wasn't in the budget this year. But he changed his mind today and we have a room on reserve for May 9th on Liberty! Just need to see if we can get the time off work and then we'll be good to go! We plan on driving the (ugh) 20 hours to save on that expense because airfare is ridiculous!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[thomarvin]

You don't have to wait for a letter. Go on the Carnival website then to the VIFP "special offer page". Put in your VIFP number and it will let you know if you have a free cruise or any other offer. If you don't have your number there is a spot to look up that too.

 

FYI: My son, who is only 19 and too young to book a cabin (and never even paid for one, LOL) got the letter as did my nephew. We are in the process of booking the Pride in June with my sister and our boys.:D

[momof2cruiser]

If I accidentally threw the letter away, do you think a phone call to Carnival will work? Did anyone try that? Do you think the offer is saved under our names?

[thomarvin]

All you need is your VIFP number. see my previous post. You dont need the letter.

Edited February 18, 2014 by thomarvin

[thistoo]

Excuse all the scribbling on it, I was doodling on it while talking to the PVP person on the phone and my wife was trying to teach my 7 year old how to sign his Valentine's Cards.

 

I clicked the picture before I read your last paragraph and saw the 'Love, Blake' and thought, "Man, they REALLY want these people to book a cruise!" :D