"Free Cruise" Hypothetical Question

[MsTabbyKats]

If one if offered "a free cruise"....you pay taxes/port fees and a $50/pp deposit.

If you take the offer...and then decide not to go (awful weather, awful cabin) I assume you get reimbursed for taxes/port fees....and just lose the $50/pp.

Is this correct?

[mfs2k]

6 minutes ago, MsTabbyKats said:

If one if offered "a free cruise"....you pay taxes/port fees and a $50/pp deposit.

If you take the offer...and then decide not to go (awful weather, awful cabin) I assume you get reimbursed for taxes/port fees....and just lose the $50/pp.

Is this correct?

Theres no such thing as a free cruise.

There are free cabins and expensive casino potential losses.  If you're a gambler, they got you.

but, this didn't answer your question.  

[MsTabbyKats]

12 minutes ago, mfs2k said:

Theres no such thing as a free cruise.

There are free cabins and expensive casino potential losses.  If you're a gambler, they got you.

but, this didn't answer your question.  

LOL...I know.  I've noticed that Carnival is giving me these "free cruises"....but if I book, and I get something like a bunk bed cabin, I'd just skip it, as long as my loss is only $50/pp.  So, that's my question!

[tha sista]

Yes you are correct.  As long as you cancel before the penalty period which I think is 90 days prior to cruising then you'd get a portion.  

[MsTabbyKats]

13 minutes ago, tha sista said:

Yes you are correct.  As long as you cancel before the penalty period which I think is 90 days prior to cruising then you'd get a portion.  

The cruises they're offering me are for "within" 2 days!

 

So, the question is, if I book today for a cruise that leaves tomorrow, and they assign me something awful....I guess I'll just be out my $50/pp.

[tha sista]

sorry I didn't see the within 2 days.  I think you'd lose it all, but if it were me, I'd call Carnival and ask.  Call the Casino department.

[Elaine5715]

Just now, MsTabbyKats said:

The cruises they're offering me are for "within" 2 days!

 

So, the question is, if I book today for a cruise that leaves tomorrow, and they assign me something awful....I guess I'll just be out my $50/pp.

You also risk no longer getting casino offers.  I haven't seen it tested for a solo but there is new language saying "no shows" will be charged under "Terms and Conditions" 

[MsTabbyKats]

@Elaine5715Thanks...interesting.  I don't want to end up paying "full fare"!

When I get a chance I'll call their casino dept and get the "possibly" incorrect information.

[mfs2k]

15 minutes ago, MsTabbyKats said:

@Elaine5715Thanks...interesting.  I don't want to end up paying "full fare"!

When I get a chance I'll call their casino dept and get the "possibly" incorrect information.

 

Agree, 

In their eyes, they want the "potential" casino revenue for the passenger in that cabin.  If you don't show, they lose all that potential income so they will make you pay for it.  

You're dealin with the devil. 

 

bunk beds aren't so bad.  you'll be in the casino anyway. 

[Essiesmom]

4 minutes ago, mfs2k said:

 

Agree, 

In their eyes, they want the "potential" casino revenue for the passenger in that cabin.  If you don't show, they lose all that potential income so they will make you pay for it.  

You're dealin with the devil. 

 

bunk beds aren't so bad.  you'll be in the casino anyway. 

If you are sailing solo, there is nothing wrong with an upper/lower cabin.  More space, ask your steward for a chair.  I did, and got a blue velvet reject from one of the MDRs.  EM

[Elaine5715]

1 hour ago, Essiesmom said:

If you are sailing solo, there is nothing wrong with an upper/lower cabin.  More space, ask your steward for a chair.  I did, and got a blue velvet reject from one of the MDRs.  EM

I love A1s as a solo.

[Haljo1935]

5 hours ago, MsTabbyKats said:

If one if offered "a free cruise"....you pay taxes/port fees and a $50/pp deposit.

If you take the offer...and then decide not to go (awful weather, awful cabin) I assume you get reimbursed for taxes/port fees....and just lose the $50/pp.

Is this correct?

Yes

[ZoeyVictoria]

4 hours ago, MsTabbyKats said:

The cruises they're offering me are for "within" 2 days!

 

So, the question is, if I book today for a cruise that leaves tomorrow, and they assign me something awful....I guess I'll just be out my $50/pp.

We took that offer once in February and again in March. In March, on the Freedom, we were assigned one of our favorite categories, a 4J (front-facing “interior” with a window).  We were assigned a regular interior on the Pride in February, in a location we liked. We intended to forfeit the $50 each if assigned a 1A, but did not need to. 

[MsTabbyKats]

4 hours ago, ZoeyVictoria said:

We took that offer once in February and again in March. In March, on the Freedom, we were assigned one of our favorite categories, a 4J (front-facing “interior” with a window).  We were assigned a regular interior on the Pride in February, in a location we liked. We intended to forfeit the $50 each if assigned a 1A, but did not need to. 

Thanks...

As far as the bunk bed issue....DH is almost 90 and uses a cane because he has balance issues; I'm a very short and non-athletic 75.  That, and a cabin with a high bathtub...maybe Carnival will have mercy!

[ZoeyVictoria]

12 minutes ago, MsTabbyKats said:

Thanks...

As far as the bunk bed issue....DH is almost 90 and uses a cane because he has balance issues; I'm a very short and non-athletic 75.  That, and a cabin with a high bathtub...maybe Carnival will have mercy!

For those very last minute bookings, I don’t think Carnival bothers to rearrange cabins to assign the cheapest category.  I think they just reassign the latest cabin that becomes available through cancellation. The other 4J cabins around us on the Freedom were friends or family, with at least one of them celebrating a birthday. We more than likely got the cabin canceled by someone who should have been with that group. 
 

We will book that deal again without hesitation if I receive another offer. 

[jimbo5544]

10 hours ago, mfs2k said:

Theres no such thing as a free cruise.

There are free cabins and expensive casino potential losses.  If you're a gambler, they got you.

but, this didn't answer your question.  

While I understand your point, and am not a real gambler, I might argue the first line is not true.

[ngrund]

My wife has received these last minute free cruise offers. I did test bookings, just to satisfy curiosity. I was able to select/see the actual cabin

[mfs2k]

12 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

While I understand your point, and am not a real gambler, I might argue the first line is not true.

so, argue.

[MsTabbyKats]

12 hours ago, ngrund said:

My wife has received these last minute free cruise offers. I did test bookings, just to satisfy curiosity. I was able to select/see the actual cabin

Thanks....I just did that on a random cruise that they've offered me, and was able to see the available cabins.

Now...I just have to patiently wait for a cruise I could actually take!

[ngrund]

5 minutes ago, MsTabbyKats said:

Thanks....I just did that on a random cruise that they've offered me, and was able to see the available cabins.

Now...I just have to patiently wait for a cruise I could actually take!

You will probably find that these free ones last minute are going to be the least desirable cabins, which is why they are still available.