Casino Discount if booking through larger mass market TA

[DaveOKC]

We have been getting a 10-15% discount on our cruises due to the "casino discount" (it even mentions this on our HAL confirmation) when we book directly through HAL.

 

We are considering booking a future cruise through one of the larger mass market TAs and was wondering if we would still get the "casino discount" or "casino rate".  I am not talking about the "casino offers" that some people get through the mail that have extremely low prices, as I know you have to book through them directly for those.

 

 

[kazu]

13 minutes ago, DaveOKC said:

We have been getting a 10-15% discount on our cruises due to the "casino discount" (it even mentions this on our HAL confirmation) when we book directly through HAL.

 

We are considering booking a future cruise through one of the larger mass market TAs and was wondering if we would still get the "casino discount" or "casino rate".  I am not talking about the "casino offers" that some people get through the mail that have extremely low prices, as I know you have to book through them directly for those.

 

 

 

I did when I booked with one.  The casino discount is connectd to your Mariner number.  Keep in mind though, that not all cruises offer the casino discount.

 

So, if it's not there, that may be why.

[roberts2005]

I received my discount when booking through a large internet TA

[AtlantaCruiser72]

Make sure the TA knows your Mariner # and is shopping directly in the hal TA res system and not just quoting from their own booking engine.  Many agents at my company do not know about the HAL casino discounts and shop in our internal res system and would never see the casino discount applied.  Others (like myself) shop exclusively in the HAL TA system and as long as they use your Mariner # it will auto add the Casino discount (if available).

 

Since you know it exists - ask!

 

It will not be applied if you book online using a TA website in most cases - you'll have to call and (gasp!) talk to a human, and hopefully get a smart one!

[kazu]

8 hours ago, AtlantaCruiser72 said:

Make sure the TA knows your Mariner # and is shopping directly in the hal TA res system and not just quoting from their own booking engine.  Many agents at my company do not know about the HAL casino discounts and shop in our internal res system and would never see the casino discount applied.  Others (like myself) shop exclusively in the HAL TA system and as long as they use your Mariner # it will auto add the Casino discount (if available).

 

Since you know it exists - ask!

 

It will not be applied if you book online using a TA website in most cases - you'll have to call and (gasp!) talk to a human, and hopefully get a smart one!

 

Very informative 🙂. Thanks very much for the heads up 😄 

[roberts2005]

I always check the price on HAL’s site first, with my Mariner number, before dealing with a TA.

[tennispretzel]

So, while we're talking about cruise offers, maybe I can explain my frustration. I received a letter from HA Friday at 5pm and within 18 hours I called to make a reservation.  As always, there were no Signature Suites left for ANY of the cruises I asked for.  Maybe 3 or 4 in all.  I suggested to the PCC that maybe the inventory is so low that you'd never get what you wanted!  He agreed that they maybe set aside just a few in each category for casino guests on this offer.  Don't get me wrong...I am grateful to get an offer of any kind but perhaps there's a little much ado about nothing!!  To read their offer letter, you'd think they were giving you SOMETHING, instead of nothing. It's certainly the only way I'd ever afford to have a suite but there are never any available.

Does anyone know if you spring for the Neptune on this offer, will they then offer you better than an inside in the future.  The letter offers inside room for free or near nothing and upgrades to suites, but there usually are no suites left even when you call quickly as I did.

[DaveOKC]

45 minutes ago, tennispretzel said:

So, while we're talking about cruise offers, maybe I can explain my frustration. I received a letter from HA Friday at 5pm and within 18 hours I called to make a reservation.  As always, there were no Signature Suites left for ANY of the cruises I asked for.  Maybe 3 or 4 in all.  I suggested to the PCC that maybe the inventory is so low that you'd never get what you wanted!  He agreed that they maybe set aside just a few in each category for casino guests on this offer.  Don't get me wrong...I am grateful to get an offer of any kind but perhaps there's a little much ado about nothing!!  To read their offer letter, you'd think they were giving you SOMETHING, instead of nothing. It's certainly the only way I'd ever afford to have a suite but there are never any available.

Does anyone know if you spring for the Neptune on this offer, will they then offer you better than an inside in the future.  The letter offers inside room for free or near nothing and upgrades to suites, but there usually are no suites left even when you call quickly as I did.

 

My friend has booked Insides and Neptunes on this casino offer, so I do not think you will have any problem in the future.

 

Also, there is a big difference on how casino OFFERS (the one you are referring to) and casino RATES (the original OP question).  On a casino Rate you can normally book any cabin and category, but you only get a discount (like 10-30%) off your fare.  As you noted, casino OFFERS are much more restricted and go VERY quickly.

Edited October 28, 2018 by DaveOKC