Casino Insiders offer does not work.....

[Laminator]

3 minutes ago, Mestizaqueen said:

That's interesting to note.  My offer came on Wednesday and I received another one today for a lower class stateroom but with more selection of sailings to choose.

 

I am an idiot. I received an offer yesterday and another one a few hours ago. I just returned from Vegas and am still exhausted. I am sure the same one you received.

 HEP2331CI_A_USD.pdf (hollandamerica.com)

[POA1]

9 hours ago, Mestizaqueen said:

I have a Campaign ID in the email.  Is that the promo code?  I logged into my account and tried to enter the ID in the "OFFER CODE" box but it says "Offer code invalid".  Not sure why...would have liked to have just booked directly online.

There are promo codes & campaign codes. From what I can tell, and bear in mind that we don't receive casino offers, only Mariner ones, campaign codes start with HEP for email and HAL for postal mail. When you go to the website, you're lucky to see one or two rates. Promo codes are usually 3 characters.

 

I've tried to put the codes in the website, but 9 times out of 10 we simply had our TA do the work for us. If you have a good TA or PCC, I'd let them do the work. It costs the same and we didn't have to worry about learning how to use all the various systems. Of course, you have to find someone good first.

[Laminator]

31 minutes ago, POA1 said:

There are promo codes & campaign codes. From what I can tell, and bear in mind that we don't receive casino offers, only Mariner ones, campaign codes start with HEP for email and HAL for postal mail. When you go to the website, you're lucky to see one or two rates. Promo codes are usually 3 characters.

 

I've tried to put the codes in the website, but 9 times out of 10 we simply had our TA do the work for us. If you have a good TA or PCC, I'd let them do the work. It costs the same and we didn't have to worry about learning how to use all the various systems. Of course, you have to find someone good first.

The casino division must have at least 100 different HEP code combinations running at once. They send out different amount of free and discounted cabin offers along with a combination of free or discounted cabin that will include different amounts of casino cash included. Then then are offers that are for different amounts of casino cash only. And then all of the aforementioned offers that will include drinks while playing in the casino, free drinks everywhere or the HIA package. Plus every week players are given come back and sail offer codes. I do not believe it is realistic for HAL's backend personnel to be able to enter all of those various offers and tie them to the various mariner numbers they are offered to. HAL has enough trouble maintaining their basic website. 

[Mary229]

6 hours ago, Laminator said:

I do not believe it is realistic for HAL's backend personnel to be able to enter all of those various offers and tie them to the various mariner numbers they are offered to. HAL has enough trouble maintaining their

Thanks for all of the great information over time.  I got my first offer and called the number on the email.  It ended up with a HAL reservationist.   I explained I was willing to enter the offer myself and he insisted it was no problem and easily took care of the reservation. I had all the info he needed and he did walk me through it so I could be able to do it next time. 
 

on a side note perhaps we all could leave feedback on the website that one of the cruise search filters be offer codes 

[Laminator]

4 hours ago, Mary229 said:

Thanks for all of the great information over time.  I got my first offer and called the number on the email.  It ended up with a HAL reservationist.   I explained I was willing to enter the offer myself and he insisted it was no problem and easily took care of the reservation. I had all the info he needed and he did walk me through it so I could be able to do it next time. 
 

on a side note perhaps we all could leave feedback on the website that one of the cruise search filters be offer codes 

Congrats on receiving your first offer. I would highly recommend using a PCC for booking a casino offer. Your chance of an upgrade or a very good upsell offer increases dramatically. Obviously this depends on having a good PCC. My offer is for a free NS and I have no intention of upgrading to a PS as we love the aft wrap but we know several pax that receive great upsell offers on their casino bookings. 

[DaveOKC]

4 hours ago, Laminator said:

Congrats on receiving your first offer. I would highly recommend using a PCC for booking a casino offer. Your chance of an upgrade or a very good upsell offer increases dramatically. Obviously this depends on having a good PCC. My offer is for a free NS and I have no intention of upgrading to a PS as we love the aft wrap but we know several pax that receive great upsell offers on their casino bookings. 

The upsell to Neptune at the time of booking a casino free cabin deal is usually very reasonable, so we upgrade then and not wait for an upsell.  The only negative to this approach is that you only get a guarantee cabin, and on some ships I am not happy with some of the Neptune locations.  In the post Covid sailings this was not an issue, but now with more people cruising it is becoming one.  Just something to keep in mind.

 

[Mestizaqueen]

2 hours ago, DaveOKC said:

The upsell to Neptune at the time of booking a casino free cabin deal is usually very reasonable, so we upgrade then and not wait for an upsell.  The only negative to this approach is that you only get a guarantee cabin, and on some ships I am not happy with some of the Neptune locations.  In the post Covid sailings this was not an issue, but now with more people cruising it is becoming one.  Just something to keep in mind.

 

I ended up using the reservation line to book our offer, as I did not hear back from the PCC assigned to my account.  I was disappointed to learn that the offers that both my husband and I received were for a guarantee cabin, as I thought we could be able to choose a specific stateroom.  Is it like that with all casino offers?

[Haljo1935]

1 minute ago, Mestizaqueen said:

I ended up using the reservation line to book our offer, as I did not hear back from the PCC assigned to my account.  I was disappointed to learn that the offers that both my husband and I received were for a guarantee cabin, as I thought we could be able to choose a specific stateroom.  Is it like that with all casino offers?

That is very common. The cost to upgrade to a specific cabin is usually minimal, but they can give you exact cost when you call. Oftentimes best option to select specific stateroom is to add CO.

[DaveOKC]

1 hour ago, Haljo1935 said:

That is very common. The cost to upgrade to a specific cabin is usually minimal, but they can give you exact cost when you call. Oftentimes best option to select specific stateroom is to add CO.

In my experience the cost to pick an exact cabin when using a free cabin offer is very high.  Maybe its just me, but every time I have tried it it was crazy high.  Now, on a normal booking the cost to select a specific cabin is not that much.

 

[Haljo1935]

1 minute ago, DaveOKC said:

In my experience the cost to pick an exact cabin when using a free cabin offer is very high.  Maybe its just me, but every time I have tried it it was crazy high.  Now, on a normal booking the cost to select a specific cabin is not that much.

 

My most recent one on Koningsdam 11 days Mexican Riviera & Sea of Cortez - free inside, $200pp OV, $499pp Unob Verandah, $549 Vista Suite; all able to select exact cabin. I thought that was a good deal and no need to add CO.

Are those prices high? I may need to level set my expectations. 

[DaveOKC]

19 hours ago, Haljo1935 said:

My most recent one on Koningsdam 11 days Mexican Riviera & Sea of Cortez - free inside, $200pp OV, $499pp Unob Verandah, $549 Vista Suite; all able to select exact cabin. I thought that was a good deal and no need to add CO.

Are those prices high? I may need to level set my expectations. 

Those are very reasonable IMO, especially since they let you select your cabin.  The last time I booked a Neptune for 7 days only it was $1099 and that was only for a guarantee.  As I recall, the OV was about $200.  Perhaps they have changed the program once again, so I will have to check it out on next booking.

Edited July 9, 2023 by DaveOKC