Venting - "free cruises" are out there again

[soccersharon]

I'm always amazed at some people's unhappiness because of someone else's good fortune. :(

 

 

Agreed.

 

 

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[Cinnamon2]

I'm the OP and I started this thread stating that "I am happy for people who score a free cruise"..... I'm just wishing and hoping it was me and my feelings are a little hurt (wa wa wa) that it's not me. I'm wishing that I could score a free cruise too ---- I would love to get out of the cold, snowy, and icy northeast during the winter.

 

Thank you everyone for your thoughtful replies. Sounds like mostly a random lottery type situation unless a person is a big spender in the casino. I do give the casino some money and make sure they scan my S&S card at the tables, but I do set myself limits and have never won or lost more than a couple hundred for the week. I'll just keep checking the VIFP Club several times a day and continue drooling over the free cruises I hear that other people get.

Edited December 9, 2014 by Cinnamon2

[KatieCharlotte]

 

Tell me, should take a chance and give out to those who brag they leave with a $30 S&S and book independent tours? Or someone who will (potentially) spend again?

 

I say smart. And hopefully with some of our past bar tabs... I might make the cut some day. :p

 

I agree. They'd be stupid to give me a free cruise, unless my onboard spending habits change. I am happy cruising at affordable prices. If people would stop seeing it as some kind of loyalty reward or special gift and just see it as a form of targeted advertising, it would seem less painful. Yes, the offers may not all go to big spenders, but the offers are designed to fill the boats, get people exciting about cruising and checking for offers, and increase profits.

Edited December 9, 2014 by KatieCharlotte

[rrraydon]

The 100/100 I've been getting WERE casino offers - had nothing to do with my being Platinum. Now the 50/50 on the small 2 day cruises mentioned in an earlier post was a loyalty type offer. As far as I know the vast majority of "free" cruises are from the casino. Even the ones offerred to those who haven't cruised in a few years - my niece got one of those offers, but it was from the Players Club.

 

I'm Platinum and was never offerred that type of promotional rate. So ... not saying it never happens, but if all those getting the 100/100 OBC look at their offers, I've got a feeling that they will see that it's from the Casino - either the Players Club or a casino host.

 

 

I never play in the casino. I got the 100/100 also. I did read the fine print, and it said platinum.

 

Trust me, the casino wouldn't waste money by giving me, who never steps into the casino other to smoke, a free cruise.

[2Mommy]

S then how do the point accumulate through the course if a cruise? I'm. More into table games but if I knew I could/ would get a free cruise for playing slots instead I could be persuaded ;). But it's never made sense to me. How do I earn points without losing my shirt?

[Davey Wavey]

So then how do the points accumulate through the course if a cruise? I'm more into table games but if I knew I could/ would get a free cruise for playing slots instead I could be persuaded ;). But it's never made sense to me. How do I earn points without losing my shirt?

 

Here is a repost from another thread based on 1 point = $2.50 of casino play:

 

____________________

Originally Posted by sassy5683

so if i'm doing my math right you have to spend $12,500 to get 5000 points to get offered a "free" cruise???

____________________

 

Yes, correct!!!!

 

BUT, that $12,500 is $12,500 PLAYED, not necessarily LOST. Let's do some casino math for the shocked and awed crowd. I'll use roulette since that is what I am most familiar, and this will be some loose math based on average statistics.

 

Carnival's roulette wheel (zero and double zero) has a house edge of 5.26%, meaning for every $100 I bet (using the 1 in 37 chance to win) the casino will end up with $5. According to endless gambling research, people play 5 times the amount they start with at a sitting. So, if I start with $100 playing $10 per spin and keep replaying my winnings I should play $500 and end up with $75 left. If I keep playing my $75 I should play $375 and end up with $56. If I keep playing my $56 I should play $280 and end up with $42...and on and on. If I keep playing until my original $100 is all gone, I should have played $1835.

 

Based on that, to reach $12,500 of PLAY, I should have spent $700. So, in this example a 5000 point free cruise is NOT $12,500 of cash out your pocket, but $700 (assuming you get the average number of wins and losses). So it is entirely possible for people to say they only had $100 and ended up $200 ahead and still got a free cruise. It's also possible for someone to play $10,000 and be horribly horribly unfortunate and lose every time and not get a free cruise. It's not the win and loss that the casino counts but the amount of PLAY.

 

Please note this is based on a bunch of established averages and individual results WILL vary.

__________________

 

In a striking coincidence on my last cruise, that is exactly what I did. Started out with $100 (although I play $22 per spin) and finished up by $300 and received a free cruise offer on the last day of the cruise.

Edited December 10, 2014 by Davey Wavey

[Smart Arsenal Fan]

Here is a repost from another thread based on 1 point = $2.50 of casino play:

 

____________________

Originally Posted by sassy5683

so if i'm doing my math right you have to spend $12,500 to get 5000 points to get offered a "free" cruise???

____________________

 

Yes, correct!!!!

 

BUT, that $12,500 is $12,500 PLAYED, not necessarily LOST. Let's do some casino math for the shocked and awed crowd. I'll use roulette since that is what I am most familiar, and this will be some loose math based on average statistics.

 

Carnival's roulette wheel (zero and double zero) has a house edge of 5.26%, meaning for every $100 I bet (using the 1 in 37 chance to win) the casino will end up with $5. According to endless gambling research, people play 5 times the amount they start with at a sitting. So, if I start with $100 playing $10 per spin and keep replaying my winnings I should play $500 and end up with $75 left. If I keep playing my $75 I should play $375 and end up with $56. If I keep playing my $56 I should play $280 and end up with $42...and on and on. If I keep playing until my original $100 is all gone, I should have played $1835.

 

Based on that, to reach $12,500 of PLAY, I should have spent $700. So, in this example a 5000 point free cruise is NOT $12,500 of cash out your pocket, but $700 (assuming you get the average number of wins and losses). So it is entirely possible for people to say they only had $100 and ended up $200 ahead and still got a free cruise. It's also possible for someone to play $10,000 and be horribly horribly unfortunate and lose every time and not get a free cruise. It's not the win and loss that the casino counts but the amount of PLAY.

 

Please note this is based on a bunch of established averages and individual results WILL vary.

__________________

 

In a striking coincidence on my last cruise, that is exactly what I did. Started out with $100 (although I play $22 per spin) and finished up by $300 and received a free cruise offer on the last day of the cruise.

 

Awesome & enlightening.

 

I never would have taken the time to do the math to consider the above.

 

That should help take some of the sting out of those confused and/or disappointed.

[skiwee]

My husband and I both got the free cruise offer last time it went around. We had just come off our one and only Carnival cruis, the Pride. We were both offered choices of like 10 cruises ranging from 7-14 days from different ports. We weren't huge gamblers and it was not a casino offer.

 

 

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[dbsb3233]

Awesome & enlightening.

 

I never would have taken the time to do the math to consider the above.

 

That should help take some of the sting out of those confused and/or disappointed.

This is pretty much how it works for benefits at any casino (land or ship, with some exceptions) for how they calculate comps and offers. It's usually based on what they call "theo" (the theoretical win to the casino for that particular game, which conversely is the theorietical loss to the player).

 

Theo is simply the house edge on the game, multiplied by the total amount bet on all hands/spins played (also known as "coin-in"). So let's say you sit down at a slot machine for an hour, make $3 bets, and spin the reels 600 times in that hour. That's $1800 coin-in. If the odds on that machine are, say, 92% (not an uncommon number for a slot machine), that's an 8% house edge. $1800 coin-in at an 8% house edge is $144. That's the theoretical amount the casino expects to win from you during that session (and what you would expect to lose).

 

Of course, that's just the theoretical average. Gambling is a series of random events, so sometimes a player will beat that average and sometimes they'll be below that average. But overall after millions of spins by thousands of players, it will end up right around that theoretical average (in statistical terms it's called "regression toward the mean").

 

As a general rule, the odds on blackjack and video poker are the highest, which means you'll usually get less credit for the same amount of coin-in that you would by playing slots (which usually have the worst odds).

Edited December 10, 2014 by dbsb3233

[cfitch]

I am not sure what algorithm they are using for the 'free' cruises either. My husband received one last week in the mail for $50 for up to 5 day cruise with $50 OBC, or $100 for 6+. He went on his first cruise in July 2014 and we only spent $40 on slots in the casino with not much in other expenses. It was surprising but I jumped on it. It does say it is from the Players Club. Good luck and I hope you get one soon.

[SoCalKJ]

We've gotten tons of offers, but they're always from a port that we have to fly to and on sailings that we can't take time off for, so it's always a lose for us.

 

Finally, though, I got an offer Monday that I coudn't refuse - and the last cruise I was on I didn't spend a dime in the casino, so it can't be based on that (although we have spent tons in the casino on past cruises....and DH and I usually get the same offers - although I'm Platinum and he's Gold).

 

Ever go to Bingo and see the same person scream "BINGO!!" more than once? Yeah, it sucks, but they just got lucky - and the right balls just seemed to come out more often for them than for others. That's how I feel about these offers.

 

Anyway, I couldn't resist the 8-day from New York to San Juan in May - for $130/person for a balcony room and $50 onboard credit, it was something I couldn't pass up. I'm taking my Mom (DH has a fishing excursion in MO with his Uncle so we're taking separate vacations this year) - AND - airfare is less than 5 bills a person, as well, so I just couldn't resist! I'm so excited.

 

I have a PVP - she's wonderful, beyond words. She calls me when stuff comes up, but I don't think there's anything special about why I get offers. I think any chance they can take to fill rooms on sailings that aren't filled during a peak season - well, maybe I get my chance. And this is that time.

[gone_cruisin]

16 cruises and not one single offer has shown up in my offers tab. Also gave never received an upgrade call.

 

I too get frustrated that new people are getting calls/upgrades/discounts.

Edited December 11, 2014 by gone_cruisin

[hockeymom15]

I'm always amazed at some people's unhappiness because of someone else's good fortune. :(

 

Wow! Really? I dont think anyone on here is unhappy for someone else's good fortune. All we are saying is it would be nice for Carnival as a company to give a little back to their loyal customers, people who have cruised 10-20 times and spent thousands of dollars over the course of this on their ships whether it be in the shops, casino, bar ect...

I think it is great for people who have cruised once and spent little to get a free cruise.They are the lucky ones ! I am assuming the nature of your comment comes from the fact that you are one of those fortunate people who have benefited from these offers ? It does not make me unhappy at all though! It is simply frustrating when a large company such as Carnival does not give a little back to loyal customers who are keeping their boats afloat. I love to cruise and will continue to do so regardless of getting a free offer and Carnival is in my financial ability to be able to cruise. It would just be nice for the company to say "Hey ! Thanks for being such a great customer ! heres a free cruise for you seen as you have been a loyal customer" :) Happy cruising and good luck to all . Also Merry Christmas !!

[carsaw]

Wow! Really? I dont think anyone on here is unhappy for someone else's good fortune. All we are saying is it would be nice for Carnival as a company to give a little back to their loyal customers, people who have cruised 10-20 times and spent thousands of dollars over the course of this on their ships whether it be in the shops, casino, bar ect...

I think it is great for people who have cruised once and spent little to get a free cruise.They are the lucky ones ! I am assuming the nature of your comment comes from the fact that you are one of those fortunate people who have benefited from these offers ? It does not make me unhappy at all though! It is simply frustrating when a large company such as Carnival does not give a little back to loyal customers who are keeping their boats afloat. I love to cruise and will continue to do so regardless of getting a free offer and Carnival is in my financial ability to be able to cruise. It would just be nice for the company to say "Hey ! Thanks for being such a great customer ! heres a free cruise for you seen as you have been a loyal customer" :) Happy cruising and good luck to all . Also Merry Christmas !!

 

I totally agree! :)

[jkd9977]

Why would Carnival want to give free cruises to those of us who cruise often? They are already getting our money no matter what. They know that the G/P/D pax will continue to book regardless of incentives. They know they no longer have to earn out business.

[American Bear]

This is pretty much how it works for benefits at any casino (land or ship, with some exceptions) for how they calculate comps and offers. It's usually based on what they call "theo" (the theoretical win to the casino for that particular game, which conversely is the theorietical loss to the player).

 

Theo is simply the house edge on the game, multiplied by the total amount bet on all hands/spins played (also known as "coin-in"). So let's say you sit down at a slot machine for an hour, make $3 bets, and spin the reels 600 times in that hour. That's $1800 coin-in. If the odds on that machine are, say, 92% (not an uncommon number for a slot machine), that's an 8% house edge. $1800 coin-in at an 8% house edge is $144. That's the theoretical amount the casino expects to win from you during that session (and what you would expect to lose).

 

Of course, that's just the theoretical average. Gambling is a series of random events, so sometimes a player will beat that average and sometimes they'll be below that average. But overall after millions of spins by thousands of players, it will end up right around that theoretical average (in statistical terms it's called "regression toward the mean").

 

As a general rule, the odds on blackjack and video poker are the highest, which means you'll usually get less credit for the same amount of coin-in that you would by playing slots (which usually have the worst odds).

 

 

 

All these percentages, you got me all messed up!:confused:

I always thought that after swearing:mad:, and beating on the machine:mad:, and threatening to rip the machine off the wall:mad:, the machine figured it was in its best interest to pay off!:D

[Riley's Mom]

I completely agree with the OP.

I am platinum as well and have convinced so many others to cruise Carnival.

No never any special deal or free cruise etc.

The Platinum perks can now be enjoyed by anyone able to pay $50 (FTTF).

 

My co-worker is one of those who recd an offer for a free cruise. SHe booked and is leaving in a 3 weeks out of Galveston. All she paid were taxes and port charges. Nothing else!

She had only cruised one other time with Carnival and that was years ago.

It does annoy me that others are rewarded for not being loyal Carnival clients.

Just my 2 cents.

[Out to sea!]

Wow! Really? I dont think anyone on here is unhappy for someone else's good fortune. All we are saying is it would be nice for Carnival as a company to give a little back to their loyal customers, people who have cruised 10-20 times and spent thousands of dollars over the course of this on their ships whether it be in the shops, casino, bar ect...

I think it is great for people who have cruised once and spent little to get a free cruise.They are the lucky ones ! I am assuming the nature of your comment comes from the fact that you are one of those fortunate people who have benefited from these offers ? It does not make me unhappy at all though! It is simply frustrating when a large company such as Carnival does not give a little back to loyal customers who are keeping their boats afloat. I love to cruise and will continue to do so regardless of getting a free offer and Carnival is in my financial ability to be able to cruise. It would just be nice for the company to say "Hey ! Thanks for being such a great customer ! heres a free cruise for you seen as you have been a loyal customer" :) Happy cruising and good luck to all . Also Merry Christmas !!

 

Yes really. All you have to do is actually read many of the posts here and you can almost see the unhappiness just oozing from them. It's pretty sad.:rolleyes:

 

While we're at it, WHY would Carnival be dumb enough to throw money away on it's loyal customers? They've already got you hook, line, and sinker. It's the ones that don't sail with Carnival or not often that they want to reel in. Free cabins to loyal customers would just be a waste of money. Free cabins to non-loyal people might turn them into loyal customers and increase their customer base.

Edited December 11, 2014 by Out to sea!

[soccersharon]

Yes really. All you have to do is actually read many of the posts here and you can almost see the unhappiness just oozing from them. It's pretty sad.:rolleyes:

 

While we're at it, WHY would Carnival be dumb enough to throw money away on it's loyal customers? They've already got you hook, line, and sinker. It's the ones that don't sail with Carnival or not often that they want to reel in. Free cabins to loyal customers would just be a waste of money. Free cabins to non-loyal people might turn them into loyal customers and increase their customer base.

 

 

Exactly! I don't begrudge anyone receiving a free cruise offer. I'm not holding out hope myself (although I do check). Canadians don't seem to get too many 😉

 

 

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[Krissica]

Why would Carnival want to give free cruises to those of us who cruise often? They are already getting our money no matter what. They know that the G/P/D pax will continue to book regardless of incentives. They know they no longer have to earn out business.

 

This!! Bingo. At least that's the theory/logic that makes sense to me even if I don't like it. They figure they're giving G/P/D perks as their "Thank You" for the business, but they also know (and your booking history proves) that you are going to keep booking with Carnival regardless of what incentives they offer, so why would they waste a free cruise on someone who has already and is always going to come back? That's better used on someone who has cruised Carnival once, maybe twice, and isn't sure if they want to stay loyal to Carnival or switch around to another line that may give them more... here's a free cruise to make you change your mind!

[pe4all]

We have also never gotten a free cruise offer. After doing 2-3 CCL cruises in a year we have cut CCL down to 1x a year, and have wandered to other lines. I am hoping someone "notices" and begins sending someone in my family of 4 a free cruise! I can definitely understand why some people are not too happy with Carnival. After only one cruise my friends got a free cruise offer, and took their family of 5 in August for an 8 dayer for only taxes and port charges. As soon as they got on, they removed their gratuities, as they felt the service was "included" and grats for a family of 5 was too pricy. They had told me before hand they would be removing their grats, and I blew up at them. (believe me - they can afford it!) While I am lucky enough to get some free casino cruises if I book within 2 weeks of debark, and premier casino offers from Carnival, I find NCL is more generous, and I get new entertainment on top of it!! Going on Epic Christmas cruise next week for "free", and got a nicely discounted cabin for my dd's on top of it! (and I am their lowest level card color)

[clcjdn]

pe4all,

I am pretty much in the same "boat" as you. I started on Carnival, but kept reading about CAS/NCL, so we transitioned over. Seems like the regular "comp" rate for CAS is lower than even the Premier sailings or at least very close even with the Casino Cash. Plus, with CAS, no issues with certain dates or sailings. Only thing I miss so far is the extras with the Premier sailings, but then again, we never won any of the extra drawings or raffles.... :) I still price shop the two, so CCL only wins when it is almost free......

[kicia]

I always think it is funny when someone who has been on 3 or 4 cruises wants to know when to expect free upgrades and free cruises. We're Diamond with 44 cruises and have never received a free cruise or free upgrade or even an upsell call. It would be nice but we'll keep sailing anyway - and Carnival probably knows that too. We have two cruises each on NCL and Royal and haven't gotten anything from them either. We spend very, very little in the casino so I'd never expect a casino offer. Congratulations to those that do receive the free cruises and maybe someday we'll get one too.

Edited December 12, 2014 by kicia
Spelling error

[satbeachbill]

We just got off the Splendor out of Miami on Nov 23rd, and when we got home, there was a free cruise offer. It was for a free 2 day cruise out of Los Angeles......we live in Florida. Fat chance that would work. :rolleyes:...but I keep checking.

Edited December 12, 2014 by satbeachbill

[TennesseeTater]

Why would Carnival want to give free cruises to those of us who cruise often? They are already getting our money no matter what. They know that the G/P/D pax will continue to book regardless of incentives. They know they no longer have to earn out business.

 

Nailed it.

 

If you want one of these deals, stop booking a cruise with Carnival and see if one shows up. I currently have three cruises booked with Carnival so I don't expect to receive any offers any time soon. I take that back, I did receive a platinum offer for a 2 day cruise out of California, but that's more of a joke than an offer. The fact that some people get offers does not upset me at all. Good for them. Enjoy your cruises.

Edited December 12, 2014 by TennesseeTater