Free interior stateroom

[Roz]

Last year on my South American cruise I spent $594 on bingo.  Didn't win a dime.  The only players who won were those who purchased the machines.  Sit there in a semi coma and watch the machine 😴 do all the work.  On my next cruise,  I didn't play bingo at all. 

 

I've been sailing on HAL since 2001.  Never had an offer of a free or reduced fare cabin.  

[YourWorldWithBill]

5 hours ago, newtocruiseinblue said:

The HOB means high onboard spending - that’s why you received it. 

I've received offers with the codes CSA, CIZ and CPG at the bottom. Any idea what these stand for? Cheapskate gambler?

[newtocruiseinblue]

26 minutes ago, YourWorldWithBill said:

I've received offers with the codes CSA, CIZ and CPG at the bottom. Any idea what these stand for? Cheapskate gambler?

CPG is Chief Party Guy - he always gets in free 🤷🏼‍♀️

[dockman]

12 hours ago, Mary229 said:

Play in the casino.   

Generally not going to be free but i know that is a way to get offered a cruise...but i see some say they get offers with no casino play and that is the list i would like to know how you get your name on.

[dockman]

11 hours ago, AroundWithMAPTravels said:

We have been on one HAL cruise, never set foot in the shops or casinos…received the same offer 8n yesterday’s snail mail.  
if we do book it, how would an upgrade to a different cabin class work? (Inside cabin not our thing, would want at minimum ocean view, but prefer balcony)

also, would club orange be able to be booked and/or be of any “help” here?

 

So you go on one cruise, no casino and no shops and get offered free cruise?  While there are thousands of us that have been on a dozen or more and never a whiff of an offer....good for you. 

 

Must be nice to get that kind of offer.  I will sit by my computer and wait for my free cruise offer to arrive in my mailbox.....i suspect it will be a very very long wait.

[AroundWithMAPTravels]

Like you… I don’t understand how the offers are made…

 

[Marelaine]

14 hours ago, dockman said:

Must be nice to sail  with HAL and get an offer for a free cruise??  Did OP spend a massive amount of $$ or play a ton in the casino?  If so maybe i can understand.

 

 I have been on 20 HAL cruises and never ever got any offer for free anything.

 

How do i get on the give me a free cruise list??  

After our first HAL cruise in November, I received an offer from the casino of a free inside cabin. It also included a $150 casino credit and free drinks while 

playing in the casino. There were many cruises to choose from. I didn’t respond because I thought it sounded too good to be true. 
 

My qualifications are one 9 day HAL Caribbean  cruise in a balcony cabin with the HIA package. On the days I went to the casino, I invested $25 to $50. On the next to last day, I won $500 and cashed out. Back in my cabin, I checked our account and discovered our cabin charges for the cruise tallied $504. Im not exactly a high roller or a big spender. 
 

If I get another offer, I’m going to book with upgrade to a window cabin and CO. 

 

 

Edited February 8 by Marelaine

[tymike]

Hi all,

Anyone know what CV4 at the end of the code means??   I'm so curious!   The beginning from mine is HEP but ends in CV4.

 

Thanks!

[dockman]

29 minutes ago, AroundWithMAPTravels said:

Like you… I don’t understand how the offers are made…

 

I have convinced several friends to go for their first ever cruise on both HAL and Princess.  First time cruising friends got upgraded nicely and even though we  booked and paid same rate I got nada.

 

  I guess the wisdom is that they already have me as a loyal customer and maybe by upgrading a first timer they will become loyal customers.  Not exactly a great way to reward your loyal customers but it's their company and I guess they can do whatever they want even if it does rub me and many others the wrong way.  I did warn my friends not to expect upgrades on their next cruise.  

[Gigi1977]

21 hours ago, grannyshell said:

Still a relative cruising newbie here (all on HAL). Just got an email offering free interior staterooms on select sailings. In order to book, one has to call. Hoping the experts here can enlighten me: what's the catch?

No catch.  You do have to pay port fees.  They go fast.  

[CCMP]

15 hours ago, dockman said:

Must be nice to sail  with HAL and get an offer for a free cruise??  Did OP spend a massive amount of $$ or play a ton in the casino?  If so maybe i can understand.

 

 I have been on 20 HAL cruises and never ever got any offer for free anything.

 

How do i get on the give me a free cruise list??  

Me, too!  I never even get offered free upgrades anymore.

[TabithaK]

1 hour ago, dockman said:

So you go on one cruise, no casino and no shops and get offered free cruise?  While there are thousands of us that have been on a dozen or more and never a whiff of an offer....good for you. 

 

Must be nice to get that kind of offer.  I will sit by my computer and wait for my free cruise offer to arrive in my mailbox.....i suspect it will be a very very long wait.

I have a sister who is a 4* Mariner and has never received a free offer. My other sister and I have only cruised with HAL a couple of times. No casino play or high onboard spending yet we get these free offers periodically. Definitely not fair to those of you who are longtime HAL cruisers. 

[POA1]

HEP is HAL email promo. The number part is the year and the cycle. 2406 would would be 2024 cycle 6. The C means casino. CI is casino insiders. I think CV is casino VIP. Someone who has the offers can probably decode the rest.

[YourWorldWithBill]

3 hours ago, newtocruiseinblue said:

CPG is Chief Party Guy - he always gets in free 🤷🏼‍♀️

About time that was recognized! It's probably because of that night I stayed up past ten. 😁

[rbelshaw]

I have had three such offers over the last three months - all HOB. I've been on two, maybe three, HAL trips to Alaska in the past year with another coming up in July. Still a two star mariner.  I try very hard to not go beyond my OBC - maybe popped it by a $100 last cruise. (too much excurtin')  I  never go into the casinos. I stay away from the up-charged dining venues except when included in the HIA package.

 

I like to think its because I'm pretty.

 

The most recent offer was for a cruise I had just, two days prior, already paid for - but departing a week earlier.

 

Anybody have a guess/experience as to what the upgrade would cost to a veranda from the freebie on a seven day to Alaska?

 

 

 

 

 

 

[dockman]

1 hour ago, TabithaK said:

I have a sister who is a 4* Mariner and has never received a free offer. My other sister and I have only cruised with HAL a couple of times. No casino play or high onboard spending yet we get these free offers periodically. Definitely not fair to those of you who are longtime HAL cruisers. 

Well sadly some cruise exec that comes up with this obviously thinks it is a good system to reward new cruisers and take loyal cruisers for granted..  As elite/4 star I get free laundry and a mini bar set up...this after a ton of cruises and cruise days and having spend thousands of $$ over the years....and not to mention how many friends I have convinced to try a cruise and recommended HAL or Princess. 

 

A free upgrade offer or especially a free cruise offer would be a wonderful perk but i won't hold my breath. 

 

Meantime don't go on many cruises and get free offers and upgrades.  Not my idea of a way to treat your most loyal customers but of course I do not think they care.

[dockman]

6 minutes ago, rbelshaw said:

I have had three such offers over the last three months - all HOB. I've been on two, maybe three, HAL trips to Alaska in the past year with another coming up in July. Still a two star mariner.  I try very hard to not go beyond my OBC - maybe popped it by a $100 last cruise. (too much excurtin')  I  never go into the casinos. I stay away from the up-charged dining venues except when included in the HIA package.

 

I like to think its because I'm pretty.

 

The most recent offer was for a cruise I had just, two days prior, already paid for - but departing a week earlier.

 

Anybody have a guess/experience as to what the upgrade would cost to a veranda from the freebie on a seven day to Alaska?

 

 

 

 

 

 

May i ask approx how much total you spent on average per cruise not including gratuties as HOB seems to mean high onboard spender?  I am not pretty so for sure won't qualify in that regard.

[oakridger]

1 minute ago, dockman said:

As elite/4 star I get free laundry and a mini bar set up.

 

I have a mini bar set up in my cabins as everyone else does (except some on Volendam and Zaandam I believe).  It's not free though, is yours??   

 

~Nancy

[dockman]

Just now, oakridger said:

 

I have a mini bar set up in my cabins as everyone else does (except some on Volendam and Zaandam I believe).  It's not free though, is yours??   

 

~Nancy

Yes i get a free mini bar /booze at least on Princess.

 

Yes get some cokes/small wine bottle etc on Holland but not free and i remove it all.  As i recall my best perk on Holland for 4 star is free laundry and maybe a discount on paid dining.

[oakridger]

@dockman Okay, that's it.  On Princess you have free mini bar, not on HAL.  Yes, it's 50% off mini bar for 4 star on HAL.

 

 

~Nancy

[TiogaCruiser]

2 hours ago, POA1 said:

HEP is HAL email promo. The number part is the year and the cycle. 2406 would would be 2024 cycle 6. The C means casino. CI is casino insiders. I think CV is casino VIP. Someone who has the offers can probably decode the rest.

So I have a current promotion coded “U”. Any ideas?

[POA1]

7 hours ago, TiogaCruiser said:

So I have a current promotion coded “U”. Any ideas?

U, usually with 2 other characters, is the promo code that gets entered or shows up when they price your booking. The HEP (email) or HAL (postal mail) offer codes are the ones that indicate the "deal" you're booking under.

 

TAs and HAL reps can probably provide more detail. I think the U promo codes are often part of casino offers. It's the offer code HEP/HAL that you enter, which "brings along" the promo codes for your deal, that ultimately determine what you are getting. I see my proko codes in the fine print under my offer emails.

[POA1]

8 hours ago, oakridger said:

@dockman Okay, that's it.  On Princess you have free mini bar, not on HAL.  Yes, it's 50% off mini bar for 4 star on HAL.

 

 

~Nancy

Does my 4* half-off, mini bar discount make it a micro bar? 😉

[newtocruiseinblue]

18 minutes ago, POA1 said:

Does my 4* half-off, mini bar discount make it a micro bar? 😉

What are your favorite 4* benefits? (Off topic) I would imagine using the discount on wine packages and the wine tasting….

[FlorenceItaly]

5 minutes ago, newtocruiseinblue said:

What are your favorite 4* benefits? (Off topic) I would imagine using the discount on wine packages and the wine tasting….

half off wine packages, complimentary laundry, half of mini bar and half of most specialty restaurants.  All these benefits combined with the casino deal is a great deal.  For us, we feel we are farther ahead not purchasing HIA.  For internet we are fine with accessing on our phones while in port.  The complimentary drinks in casino is nice.  We typically tip $2 per drink.  And, we attend happy hour.  Also, when adding HIA one must consider it does add to the cost of your insurance as it is based on what you paid for the cruise.

Edited February 8 by FlorenceItaly