How do you get a free cruise?

[billnheather]

My wife and I got 3 free cruises this year, yep you herd me right 3! This is how we did it, We live in Delaware and have spent a couple of weekends at the Tropicana Casino in New Jersey, if you sign up for there players card they will offer free cruises a couple of times a year (that's what the lady handing out the certificates said). So each of our cert was good for two people in an interior room, I called my sister and she my BIL and niece will be traveling this July with my family on an 8 day cruise. My wife just got a cruise certificate from carnival a week or so back, it was for $100 cruise and get a $100 OBC, we booked for January and upgraded to a balcony on an 8 day cruise. I will say that "free" wasn't necessarily free but I will tell you we saved close to $5000.00 between the two cruises!

[Barsnikel]

We've had "free" cruises by earning points on the Carnival MasterCard.

 

I have also just won a cruise at the on-board raffle they have (cost me $10 to buy a raffle ticket).

 

For the raffle, they left a letter in my cabin with the notification and the ground rules (Oceanview cabin, must be taken within 12 months, etc), and they also provided a W2G form (because you have to pay IRS taxes on the cruise value).

Edited November 1, 2014 by Barsnikel

[mouche]

I have had 9 prior cruises and received in my special offers a choice of free cruises this year. I choose the Fantasy for mine because I won't need the air fare, we can drive to the port, that made it a deal I could not pass up. I don't know why I got the offer, but I do spend quite a bit in the casino:D

[RaiderCruiser]

My "FREE" cruise last month cost me about $3,000 when it was all said and done!

[Webecruzen]

My DS received a free cruise for two and he hasn't been on a cruise in 3 years. He booked the Pride for Thanksgiving with a friend. I received a free cruise that I could not make the dates work for. We then received a Premier Casino Cruise offer that I was able to book. Prior to this fall I never received anything but my DS and my Dad who rarely cruise were receiving the special casino rates and cash back offers.

[MAGNUM PI]

IMO, some of the selection process for offering "free cruises", is totally random. I say this because we were offered two Carnival cruises, paying only the port charges/taxes. Paid

absolutely nothing for the cabins.

 

I think that the adverse publicity that Carnival has received, from previous ship problems,

has resulted in these offers. I read an article from Carnival's CEO, saying that if they offer

the "free cruises", it will get people on board, who are bound to spend money-while cruising.

On alcoholic beverages, casino. photos, etc.

 

It is NOT true that a person has to be a "high roller", in the casino, either. We have taken 7

cruises; only 1 was on Carnival-years ago. Yes, we got a casino card during that cruise, but

we spent little money there. Only played penny slots, on a budget.

 

We received a "flyer" in the mail, offering the free cruise. I was skeptical, and didn't believe that it was legit, initially. I thought there was a "catch", or a scam. However, this was not the case! I contacted Carnival and subsequently booked a 6 day cruise. I was assigned a cabin and dining time, etc. After completing this reservation process, I read the footnotes on the bottom of the page. It mentioned that I was eligible for a second cruise! So I booked an 8 day cruise, back-to-back, with the first cruise. Again only paying port charges/taxes.

 

So, IMO it is because Carnival is desperate to get people on their ships, no matter what.

 

Like I mentioned: we only sailed once on Carnival, spent little money in the casino--yet

received these offers.

 

So, there is hope for the "average" cruiser, to receive a "free cruise." The flyer that I received from Carnival, indicated that I was selected, because I have had a casino card, on a prior cruise. Maybe next time, they will use some other criteria, for selection?

 

Counting the days till our January cruises!

[sgttami]

You still pay port charges, taxes etc..Not to mention the Cheers package, tips and gambling in the casino. Money spent off the ship, limo to get there and airfare if that's involved. Oh and upgrading to something other than an inside cabin...

 

Just got off Splendor and did earn a free cruise through Casino Players this time.

 

I'll probably pass as it will be just the same as if I book on my own!

[Tapi]

1) work for the cruise line

2) sail with someone who works for the cruise line

3) earn enough credit card points or casino points to redeem for a free cruise

4) look for free cruise offers online from timeshare companies (there are some legitimate ones out there).

5) hope that you'll be one of the randomly selected people to get a free cruise.

 

In any case, you'll pay applicable taxes, surcharges, gratuities, and onboard expenses so it will never be 100% free.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

Edited November 5, 2014 by Tapi

[PAPERBKWRITER]

My "FREE" cruise last month cost me about $3,000 when it was all said and done!

 

That's why they offer the free cruises.

[PAPERBKWRITER]

Giving the free cruises on ship that would have sailed with mt cabins seems like a smart business decision BUT it's ******* off a lot of faithful Carnival cruisers.

[PittsburghGirlee]

Booked the "PAY 100 GET 100" cruise and with my flights and all taxes, port fees and pre paid tips, transfers to and from it was $700.00 each.....

 

SAIL N SIGN yet to be determined [emoji16][emoji30]

 

 

Cheers from Pittsburgh via my iPhone!!

[restasured]

My ex and her sister both received free inside cabin cruises. They could have taken any cruise Carnival has from 3 to 17 days. They chose the 7 day out of Galveston. My ex sister in law lost her husband and after about 8 months I offered a 5 day cruise to her and my ex as well as another sister in law. My ex asked a friend of hers to go but she had to pay her way. :) They went and my ex's sister didn't gamble at all and doesn't drink, my ex gambles but doesn't drink. I know I know, what a boring life. :) Anyway about 2 years after this cruise my ex and her sister got free cruise offers, but neither of the other 2 got them. They upgraded to balconies and with gratuities, taxes and upgrade paid $916 a cabin, so was $458 a person. That to me is pretty close to free. At the time they went the inside cabins without tips were over $500. I keep hoping for mine to hit the mail box or my email or just going on the CCL website and pulling up offers to find it there, but not yet. Just reduced fares, but there is always a chance.

[Scarlettptista]

I have received 4 offers in the last 2 years or so, I usually earn about 2000 to 3000 points at the most per cruise. My cruises are usually 6-8 days long.

Can someone explain the points to me?

[ccruisequeen]

Fill out a questionnaire after the cruise and hope yours is chosen

[ShannonSto]

My mom and I had joked about this prior to our last cruise after I read posts here from people who had received free cruises through the casino. She and I spend a lot of time in the casino.

 

On the last day of our cruise, I was in the cabin with my kids and my mom was --you guessed it--in the casino when there was a knock on the cabin door. I went to answer it, but no one was there, just an envelope pushed under the door. Sure enough, it was an offer from the casino hosts for a free interior cabin on the sailing of our choice. We had to pay taxes and port fees, and it was our choice to pay to upgrade to a balcony and add 3rd and 4th passengers.

 

Good luck, you never know when it could happen to you!

Edited February 14, 2015 by ShannonSto

[sfaaa]

Playing Bingo on a cruise.