Free Inside Stateroom promotion

[Petersonfcu]

11 minutes ago, curmudgeon98 said:

I'm no expert on this stuff; we have a couple of cruises this fall that are the first "free" ones we've done.  When we booked, there was an option to upgrade (we had OV free), but it was a significant extra cost, probably $1000 or so.  For one of our cruises we chose to pay for "Club Orange", which gave us our choice of any OV cabin (we picked one of the "spa" large OVs on deck 10) - I think it cost us about $450 for 16-day cruise.  Close to the cruise date, we got offered an OV upgrade for another $300, but chose to stick with what we have.  I'm not sure if we could have cancelled the Club Orange at that point or not (we don't care much about the other Club Orange benefits).

If you are sailing a pinnacle  class ship, the Club Orange includes a special small dining room and expanded menu for breakfast and dinner.  In our experience on the Koningsdam, the service we recieved in the Club Orange dining room was the BEST we have ever recieved in our many cruises.  We decided who needs specialty dining with this every day dining experience!!

[Petersonfcu]

1 minute ago, jlnprt said:

OK, so if I book the "free" inside cabin, I may or may not get an offer to upgrade at some point?

 

Yes.

[Destiny0315]

6 minutes ago, Petersonfcu said:

Not sure what  your point is.  If you spend nothing in the casino .   .  .  you should not expect to get subsequent casino offers.

The free inside (or outside) stateroom offers though sent by the casino department are different than a discounted casino room rate offer (sometimes including free rooms, $$ to play with, drinks etc...) that may be received by someone who has or does frequent the casinos. 

[Petersonfcu]

1 minute ago, Destiny0315 said:

The free inside (or outside) stateroom offers though sent by the casino department are different than a discounted casino room rate offer (sometimes including free rooms, $$ to play with, drinks etc...) that may be received by someone who has or does frequent the casinos. 

The four HAL casino offers I recieved this past year included a free stateroom, some funplay money, and drinks on us.   I guess that would be your Category B mentioned above.  I have never recieved a casino offer from HAL or any other cruise line that offered a free state room and did not at least include free drinks in the casino. So cant comment on any naked "free room" offers.  Not sure why a casino would give even a naked free room offer to someone who has shown they dont gamble.

[Destiny0315]

I have received both types of offers this year myself from different cruise lines. Having a system set up already to send out the true casino offers it would make sense to utilize that system to send out the "free room" offers even to non-casino players, with expectations for them to spend much more than the $200 OBC on a 7/14/21/35-day cruise throughout the ship.

[madera1]

When we booked our holiday sailing this week we were able to move from an inside room to a verandah by just asking. It was an additional cost of $700pp for a 9 night cruise.

[Florida_gal_50]

2 hours ago, Petersonfcu said:

If you are sailing a pinnacle  class ship, the Club Orange includes a special small dining room and expanded menu for breakfast and dinner.  In our experience on the Koningsdam, the service we recieved in the Club Orange dining room was the BEST we have ever recieved in our many cruises.  We decided who needs specialty dining with this every day dining experience!!

I don’t recall any additional items for breakfast.  You can have a mimosa for free.  There is one additional entree for dinner.  I agree club orange is pretty decent.  I eat there pretty much every breakfast.  I do specialty restaurants at night because I get freebies and discounts but the dinners I’ve had at club orange have been really good.

[Florida_gal_50]

1 hour ago, Destiny0315 said:

I have received both types of offers this year myself from different cruise lines. Having a system set up already to send out the true casino offers it would make sense to utilize that system to send out the "free room" offers even to non-casino players, with expectations for them to spend much more than the $200 OBC on a 7/14/21/35-day cruise throughout the ship.

Expectations sure, but do they? When someone complains that they still have to pay port charges and crew incentive on a free cruise something tells me that won’t be the highest spender on the cruise.

[Destiny0315]

17 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

Expectations sure, but do they? When someone complains that they still have to pay port charges and crew incentive on a free cruise something tells me that won’t be the highest spender on the cruise.

Remember the biggest gamblers are the cruise lines as they are in effect the house depending upon us to feed their cash drawers.

[Florida_gal_50]

17 minutes ago, Destiny0315 said:

Remember the biggest gamblers are the cruise lines as they are in effect the house depending upon us to feed their cash drawers.

True.  I know on my part I don’t let them down.  

[glutenhab]

10 hours ago, Petersonfcu said:

Not sure what  your point is.  If you spend nothing in the casino .   .  .  you should not expect to get subsequent casino offers.

My point is that even though we are very close to being 4 Star Mariners we have never received any offers (neither free/upgrades/upsells), just as I stated. I said nothing about expecting to receive casino offers. Just wondering why so many are getting offers while we aren’t. If it’s because they gamble, then that would be the answer. But some say they don’t gamble and get offers. Just trying to figure out why. 
 

Seems even newbies to HAL & non-gamblers are being offered things we are not, despite our first cruise with HAL being 12 years ago.

[Florida_gal_50]

4 hours ago, glutenhab said:

My point is that even though we are very close to being 4 Star Mariners we have never received any offers (neither free/upgrades/upsells), just as I stated. I said nothing about expecting to receive casino offers. Just wondering why so many are getting offers while we aren’t. If it’s because they gamble, then that would be the answer. But some say they don’t gamble and get offers. Just trying to figure out why. 
 

Seems even newbies to HAL & non-gamblers are being offered things we are not, despite our first cruise with HAL being 12 years ago.

Exactly.  Some people seem to be getting confused about casino cruises and these free cruises.  They are not the same.  I’ve never received a free cruise either and I’m a 5 star. Clearly they are not rewarding cruisers they feel they have in the bag. I’ve cruised other lines and I’m not afraid to do it again.

[Mary229]

12 hours ago, Destiny0315 said:

Remember the biggest gamblers are the cruise lines as they are in effect the house depending upon us to feed their cash drawers.

The casinos are concessionaires with the lines taking a cut of profit sharing.   I am sure all of these offers are in part paid by that concessionaire with the balance being paid from the line’s marketing budget.  As with any prize or sweepstakes a “winner” is required to pay fees and taxes and in fact there could be a case made that they should be declaring the free fare on their income taxes, just saying not advocating.

[AV8rix]

3 hours ago, Mary229 said:

The casinos are concessionaires with the lines taking a cut of profit sharing.   I am sure all of these offers are in part paid by that concessionaire with the balance being paid from the line’s marketing budget.  As with any prize or sweepstakes a “winner” is required to pay fees and taxes and in fact there could be a case made that they should be declaring the free fare on their income taxes, just saying not advocating.

The casinos on CCL ships are not actually "concessionaires" in the sense that Steiner International is (Greenhouse Spa and Salon).  The Ocean Players Club is actually a subsidiary of CCL and operates the casinos on all CCL ships.  Jus' sayin'.

[five.]

Not sure, it's the same promotion. But on our May sailing on K'dam, we got an onboard offer for a free interior. There was a cost associated with upgrading. We did not do the upgrade and will be in an interior, though we have booked the spa access and a cabana.

 

Here is the letter and associated cost:

 

 

Also of note, you cannot combine the Shareholders Credit with this offer. That was rejected when I submitted it as I usually do:

"The CCL SBC promotion does not combine with the discounted Onboard Insider Deal (YGB) and we are unable to apply the shipboard credit to the booking.  We apologize for any inconvenience."

Edited October 7, 2022 by five.

[breakiron]

I've been receiving these offers for awhile.  They also had an offer awhile back for an inside or Oceanview stateroom for $200 for select cruises.  I booked an outside cabin on a 10 night cruise on the Rotterdam for Oct. 30.  This week with less then 4 weeks to cruise received an offer for an upgrade.  Chose the balcony obstructed view for an extra $99 and since I have my own cabin came to $198.  I had $600 in credits given to me from HAL because of cancelled cruises this cruise is essentially free.  Did purchase an internet, drink, etc. package that does not include tips for $500 or $50/day.  Also if you're a VIFP on Carnival you receive these type of specials.  Did a cruise on Mardi Gras last March for $319 for 7 nights for my own outside cabin.  Living in Florida I can take advantage because all I have to do is drive to the port and pay for parking.  Mariner 2 star going on 3.

[FlaMariner]

OK, I'm jealous......

 

....I want those offers......

 

For the folks that get them, do you spend lots of $$$$ when onboard?  I'd love to know the algorithm for this.....

 

 

[Gr8daze]

On 9/30/2022 at 2:48 PM, LJProk said:

Was it $99 per person to add Have It All?

It was $50 per day per person on this current *free offer. 

[Florida_gal_50]

1 hour ago, FlaMariner said:

OK, I'm jealous......

 

....I want those offers......

 

For the folks that get them, do you spend lots of $$$$ when onboard?  I'd love to know the algorithm for this.....

 

 

I’m thinking not based on some replies on this thread.  It doesn’t appear that people that book semi regularly will receive these offers.

[Mary229]

2 hours ago, FlaMariner said:

OK, I'm jealous......

 

....I want those offers......

 

For the folks that get them, do you spend lots of $$$$ when onboard?  I'd love to know the algorithm for this.....

 

 

It seems if you have future cruises booked and/or don’t gamble you won’t get them.  I am fine with other people getting promotions even though it is not a business model I think is optimal. That said I have to say I was a bit miffed when my sis got a free offer after a cruise I paid for and I didn’t!  

[Banditswife]

We've been getting these offers & we've only sailed HAL 2x.  The last offer was for a free OV guarantee.  So we booked a B2B using these offers.  Total cost for 14 days, 2pp was $1800.  Offer includes $800 OBC & $800 casino credit.  We do play in the casino, but are not big gamblers.  Even though we booked for Nov/Dec of this year, we continue to get offers.  Most are for inside cabins.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

3 hours ago, FlaMariner said:

OK, I'm jealous......

 

....I want those offers......

 

For the folks that get them, do you spend lots of $$$$ when onboard?  I'd love to know the algorithm for this.....

 

 

My husband has been getting these offers weekly since we came home from the Rotterdam in July. He has never set foot in a ship casino to gamble, he also seldom ever spends any money on board. I am the only one who spends the money usually for spa. His side of the spending is usually zero. These emails never come to me but I know the reason for that. The only thing I can think of is that we do not currently have a Holland America Cruise booked and we are just 11 days away from 300 days with HAL and if we do a 11 day cruise we will also hit 5 Star.

I have been chalking it up to the fact he is not currently booked for a Future cruise and has several Future Cruise Deposit under his Mariner number. It does not matter last cruise was booked with a Travel Agent or direct with HAL but he has never been booked directly with HAL only with a Travel Agent..

[Florida_gal_50]

I’m not sure why people keep talking about the casino.  Those are not the same as the free random cruises hal is giving out.  Two different things.  There are multiple threads at any given time talking about those casino freebies.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

17 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

I’m not sure why people keep talking about the casino.  Those are not the same as the free random cruises hal is giving out.  Two different things.  There are multiple threads at any given time talking about those casino freebies.

I think the reason they are talking about the Casino offer and comparing it is that this offer is very similar and works very much the same. Both a Casino offer requires a $200.00 non refundable deposit that with the Casino offering the $200.00 cash back to you as Casino play money, with this offer it comes back to you as ship board credit. The details and rules are both very similar. As well as the cost for upgrading is also the same. These offers are more alike than they are different.

 

In conclusion just my personal opinion HAL is getting desperate. They need to fill cabins, they have quotas to meet and prove to CCL Corp that they are selling berths. It is an old proven fact that if they can get them on the ship many will spend more on board,especially if they did not spend much for the cruise to begin with. HAL is trying to generate as much possible Future revenue as they can.

 

But it brings up the question of why they are not opening up more itineraries for later 2023???

[Anne614]

1 hour ago, LAFFNVEGAS said:

I think the reason they are talking about the Casino offer and comparing it is that this offer is very similar and works very much the same. Both a Casino offer requires a $200.00 non refundable deposit that with the Casino offering the $200.00 cash back to you as Casino play money, with this offer it comes back to you as ship board credit. The details and rules are both very similar. As well as the cost for upgrading is also the same. These offers are more alike than they are different.

 

In conclusion just my personal opinion HAL is getting desperate. They need to fill cabins, they have quotas to meet and prove to CCL Corp that they are selling berths. It is an old proven fact that if they can get them on the ship many will spend more on board,especially if they did not spend much for the cruise to begin with. HAL is trying to generate as much possible Future revenue as they can.

 

But it brings up the question of why they are not opening up more itineraries for later 2023???

I agree.  The format looks exactly like the casino offers except that ours says your offers.  It looks like the cruises are identical.  Also people have no idea why they are getting them so they think it’s related to the casinos.