Holland America Exclusive Casino Offer

[Ponce Cruiser]

In late April 2019 we received another Exclusive Casino Offer from HAL. We have received 2 other offers, April 2018 and November 2018. Both of these offers had about 50 cruises to choose from covering a lot of the places HAL goes to.  We could not take advantage of the April 2018 offers, too much life going on.  We did book 2 cruises from the November 2018 offers. These casino offers were fantastic discounts. One of the cruises we booked was 15 day Panama Canal in a Neptune Suite. The discounted price for Neptune Suite was about the same as any cruise line’s balcony room.  Neptune Suites offer much larger rooms with several perks that are nice to have including very helpful concierge, private lounge and complimentary laundry service. 

 

The April 2019 Exclusive Casino Offer had 13 cruise dates to choose from, 8 were Alaska itineraries . We were disappointed there were so few offerings this time. We did book a Signature Suite for June to Alaska. Again, the price was a substantial discount. Travel from Florida and pre/post cruise costs aren’t discounted and add up quickly. 

 

Ok, about the Exclusive Casino Offer. You have to book through your HAL Personal Cruise Consultant. You can only get one room, no extras rooms for friends and family at the Exclusive Casino Offer Rate. Rooms at the discounted rate are limited. You must pay in full at time of booking.  Exclusive Casino Offer must be booked by a deadline date in the offer. 

 

We tried to book our first cruise choice two days after we received our offer by email.  Rooms at the Casino Rate on the cruise we wanted were no longer available. We went with a second choice. Most of the cruises had the same or similar itinerary, difference being going north or south. If you receive the Exclusive Casino Offer don’t delay booking your cruise/cruises.

 

The Exclusive Casino Offer could also be called elusive! No one knows much about it;  when it will come out, what cruises will be on it, how often it will come out or biggest of all-how do you get on the list.  I asked my PCC and she didn’t know anything. She said they get the information the offer is coming a couple of days before it goes to customers. She was helpful booking the cruise and agreed the prices were good. She did say the offer originates with Club 21, operator of the casino. Club 21 operates casinos on other Carnival owned ships but I can’t find where the offer is available on other cruise lines. 

 

My wife gambles more than I do, mostly slots. She has a daily budget and never goes home ahead. The offer comes in her name and cruises must be booked in her name, I am her guest!  The amount she spends in the casino is way less than the amount of the discount we receive so it is a win win for us. 

 

We believe we are getting a good deal and will continue to look forward to receiving Exclusive Casino Offers from HAL whenever they may come.  

[ger_77]

Do the offers come to you by email, or postal delivery?

 

Smooth Sailing!  🙂🙂🙂

[Ponce Cruiser]

Our 3 offers have all come by email. 

[oaktreerb]

I can’t figure out HALs pricing structure as it is.  People can book a three week cruise for $1,000 or $10,000 depending on whether it is inside or neptune!  Then there are the great casino offers and I wonder why I even try to book in advance!  And a neptune suite on a casino offer.....blows my mind!

[Djptcp]

I have received several of these offers lately in the mail. One was for a free inside and we upgraded to a Neptune Suite at an unbelievably discounted rate and received some Fun Play in the casino. Had to pay all at booking and had to do a Guarantee. We have done these in the past and they weren't Guarantees so we could select our Neptune Suites close to the Neptune Lounge. Unfortunately, booking a Guarantee NS we were not so lucky and were stuck with a NS as far aft as one could get on Deck 4 (Oosterdam). Smaller than the usual NS and with all the same amount of furniture we were always bumping into something. Upon returning home, our agent told us that those who pay full price for a NS get the choice locations and whatever is left goes to the Guarantees. I recently booked a VIP casino cruise (welcome aboard cocktail party, etc.) with substantially more Fun Play and it also is a Guarantee on the Nieuw Statendam  for Dec. 1st. Oh well, doesn't matter so much now where we are located since I started receiving cortisone shots for my arthritic knees and I can get around much better than when we were on the Oosterdam in Feb.!

[Jammu2]

It all fits into their pricing algorithms somehow. Imo the casino offers will put you in less desirable locations. 

 

We book on Celebrity (or Royal) once a year to take advantage of our MLife Gold status. No matter what class cabin you opt for, there are less desirable ones. And those are the ones ee get. In October I thought we had confounded the algorithm. But no, I learned our Verandah will be directly above the smoking area. Oh well.

 

I think they figure as casino guests we will be less likely to complain. So far, with us at least, they've been right.

 

Fill the ships to extract maximal revenue. The name of the game. How it gets dine can be mysterious.

 

 

 

 

[Ponce Cruiser]

17 minutes ago, Jammu2 said:

It all fits into their pricing algorithms somehow. Imo the casino offers will put you in less desirable locations. 

 

We book on Celebrity (or Royal) once a year to take advantage of our MLife Gold status. No matter what class cabin you opt for, there are less desirable ones. And those are the ones ee get. In October I thought we had confounded the algorithm. But no, I learned our Verandah will be directly above the smoking area. Oh well.

 

I think they figure as casino guests we will be less likely to complain. So far, with us at least, they've been right.

 

Fill the ships to extract maximal revenue. The name of the game. How it gets dine can be mysterious.

 

 

 

 

You are correct, all rooms in the casino offer are guaranteed.

 

Our first cruise was a Signature Suite directly under the smoking area on the lido deck. Smoke wasn’t a problem but people moving chairs would wake us up either too early in the morning or late at night. 

 

Our second cruise was in a guaranteed Neptune Suite. For some reason we were given the handicap room, didn’t need or request it. From my research this is the second largest room on Volendam, second to the Pinnacle Suite. 

 

We were pretty satisfied with both our guaranteed suites. 

 

I agree they are trying to maximize income but how the casino gurus decide who gets an offer is still a mystery.