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Since Mar'20, we've had about 30 casino deals cancelled now, between Royal, Princess & Carnival. But for each, we only pay the port charges & cruise Ins (live in FL.) And get it all back as refunds in about 10 days each. The cruise lines didnt know that far in advance when they would start up again. But we didnt want to miss out on the great deals we were getting. Now we have more booked thru Dec '21.

And started in Dec'20, if you put your cancelled booking # in, instead of you C&A # at the clubroyaleoffers site, they give you replacement cruises. They have also replaced both our 2 cancelled annual tier free cruises from 2019-2020 & 2020-2021 with later ones.

On 12/30/2020 at 10:12 AM, Mikew0805 said:

At my current rate of 6-9 times a year for the past three years, I can say that I miss it terribly. 

 

We needed a change in 2015, and moved to Florida primarily to be closer to cruise ships. There is a lot I tolerate in this state because of my love for being on these ships. March 16th will be one year since I have been aboard, and it is killing me.

 

I just had to use 100 hours of PTO (Currenlty on PTO until Jan 4) to stay home, or I would lose it at the end of the year, because I am only allowed to roll over 200 hours. Having this much PTO is ridiculous. Personally, if I am not on a cruise I want to work... so sitting at home doing nothing is making me long for a cruise so very badly. I am hoping that we can sail by June, but something tells me it may not be until September. I hope that RCI & CCL can come out of that. If the cruise industry should go under, it's back to Colorado for me. 

Yep, us also-we were on Oasis till Mar15'20. Will never forget the captain on the speaker in our cabin on Fri Mar 13 (Friday the 13th!!!!), telling us about the virus & the coming shutdown-Could not believe it after all these years cruising- never would believe this could happen with all our modern technology etc.

6 hours ago, Happy2cruise said:

Wondering if anybody who received the Casino offer with the $100 free casino play were able to apply the free play to more than one cruise.  We booked 3 cruises and got the 35% off on all cruises but only got the $100 free casino play on one cruise.  Called Princess and said to save the flyer we booked under and check once on board....the cruises are in December 2021.

Our casino offer was a free cabin & the princess plus items(grats,wifi,drinks) included, on a max of 3, but $500 casino play only on one of them-in the very small print. We also do Carnival, but there they give you the same casino play on each one booked. Also they charge $100, or $200 per cabin deposit-that goes to the onboard credit.(Princess is $200 per person or $400 - cabin).

41 minutes ago, Italy52 said:

8991 - $100 Casino Freeplay (vip)  Here is what my entry looks like.  What does it mean????  How do I use it?  When I first set up my casino account does it automatically show in my bank?

VIP is Princess'es casino group program. You may have a free or discounted cabin with the offer. We recently got a VIP flyer in the regular mail. There are specific dates for it-books fast in usual times. During the week, there are casino events & gifts- a lot of fun. Call the casino dept & ask about it. 

We also always got mailed casino flyers, but not since covid started.

Now, on our online acct, it only says the amount of casino freeplay,(book by Mar2'21) but nothing else.

When I called , they told me we had a free balcony, up to a 20 day sailing, to go with it. Why dont they tell us that on our online offer also?? 

2 minutes ago, CineGraphic said:

 

This just made my day!

Thanks!

They're open till 8pm EST tonite

3 hours ago, CineGraphic said:

Lately, I have not been receiving any emails with casino offers, whether it's because of spam filters on my email client, or because they simply aren't sending any, but I have been finding that there was casino cash available for future bookings on Princess.com

Here's how to check:

 

1) Sign in to Princess.com

 

2) Click on "Future Cruise Credits"

 

3) Click on Onboard Credits

4) If there's an offer of casino cash available to you, you'll see it here

 

 

When booking, I simply tell my TA that I have some casino cash available and give him the "credit ID number" (blacked out far left)

Thanks, just found out we had an offer there, that gave the casino cash, but thats it. Called, & turned out its along with a free balcony, need to book by Mar2'21. Dont know why we never got an email, or mailed flyer about it?? The other offer there is the VIP one which we did get the mailed flyer about. 

1 hour ago, lazydayz said:

 

So far I am batting 0.00.  Twelve cruises cancelled, including October, November, December, January (added after original post), February and March (Mardi Gras).  However, still have Carnival Horizon for late April, Mardi Gras for early June, and Allure for mid-August.  Hopefully one or more of these will sail! 

Over 20 for us cancelled. All we've been doing this year is getting great casino offers, booking them & then they are cancelled. Lucky we dont have to worry about airfare. So we have a bunch now from one in March & then May thru Dec. (on both Carnival & Royal). Who knows when they will start up!!

17 minutes ago, Scurvy Seadog said:

That's great to know! I was trying to figure out how I was going to burn through that much OBC. Usually my OBC goes towards my bar bill, but that won't be necessary on these cruises. Thanks for sharing!

Remember that many are going to have the extra $600 OBC cause of all the cancellations. So I figure we wont be able to use as much as we want to with many others doing it also. Reservations for the steakhouse will go fast for the week, the excursions will also get sold out fast, etc. (And we wont need to use it on drinks!)

1 hour ago, Scurvy Seadog said:

I booked both of the 7 day Mardi Gras Elite cruises (06/05 and 07/10) yesterday. My offer included a free* balcony. I managed to grab the same stateroom for both cruises, a category 8L extended balcony on deck 10.

 

The 06/05 cruise came to a total of $127.74 and includes $800 OBC. The 07/10 cruise came to a total of $118.74 and also includes $800 OBC. Couple those incredibly low rates with the paid parking at the port, free drinks everywhere on the ship and all of the other Elite Cruise perks...it was impossible to pass up. Now fingers are crossed hoping those cruises actually sail.

We just did the same, moved our canceled March Magic Ultra to a Mardi Gras Ultra casino deal Aug7. And has the $800 OBC on it. Found out that if you dont use all of the onboard credit, you can buy carnival giftcards with whats left, in the ice cream/candy store, to use onboard a future cruise.

9 hours ago, cruisinmommyTX said:

I had two $250 credits from "Royal Caribbean Cruises" show up on my credit card Dec 1, and I cannot figure out where they came from. Last summer we used the Lift n Shift to move one cruise (2 cabins, 5 guests) from July 2020 to July 2021. We also cancelled a different cruise (2 cabins, 4 guests) and received a full refund on the fare, but had them hold the credit for Cruise Planner purchases to apply to our next cruise at 125%. We have not yet applied the obc because as I understand it, those credits may be non-refundable if we end up changing the cruise we apply them towards. Our cruise for next July is still showing in our RCCL account. I don't know how to check that the obc from the planner purchases is still there, but the amounts would not match anyway. We don't have any other cruises scheduled or deposits outstanding. Any ideas where the 2 x $250 may have come from? I appreciate the gift from RCCL, but I am concerned it may come with an unwelcome surprise later. 

Every time we get a refund from a cancelled cruise by Royal, they give us several refunds to equal the total amount that we paid. So, we'll get one refund for our port charges, & one refund for the insurance, etc.

23 hours ago, mustgo said:

I don't gamble enough to get good casino offers but I do love the casino discounts.  I just noticed this week that the discounts are once again showing up on the website.  It has been years since they did that.  So far I get them when using safari but not with chrome.  Have not yet tried firefox

Princess.com website?

All we've been doing in 8 months, is booking great casino deals & then getting refunds for those when canceled. Crazy-so far 16 canceled Carnivals, 11 Royals, & 2 Princesses.(we live in FL.) And probably more to happen.   🥺

Just found this topic -interesting to see how other states are coping. Here in West Palm Beach, FL. we have to wear a mask at public places (good). Inside dining (spaced accordingly) has been allowed since June, you wear the mask to your table & then when you leave your table. Buffets are open, you also wear the mask when you go to the buffet. They have gloves & your own serving spoon available. Since we like to eat out, we've been doing it since June. Felt very safe, they were extremely clean, & waiters have masks always. Down here we are lucky that many restaurants are large, unlike NYC etc . Also have gone to many of the large chains like Olive Garden & Chilis. Larger places have it easier to separate the tables & keep the distancing. Publix & Target have been the best in keeping the distancing & cleanliness. I also go mid week, like 1pm when it is much quieter. And many times, I have the aisles to myself.

35 minutes ago, MarinerBoy said:

 

Also shame on you for complaining that its 200$ vs 100$ deposit for a FREE CRUISE! This promo is the reason cruise lines are in trouble why you so ungrateful? Horrible mistake to give away free cruises like this, 3k per person free cruise and you complainin? 99% of people don't qualify, can't believe we got this offer. We are the poorest of the poor, and we are about to ride 3 free cruises haha what a great Xmas, how come others are not amazed at this offer?

 

People wake-up Princess is giving away free cruises and people pretending like they knew about this and act like it's normal? Wow.

If you play in the casino, you know that to qualify for these 'free' cruises, you have to spend a lot of money & hours in the casino-win or lose. Most of the time we pay much more in there, than the price of the cabin & drinking in there. They make money by getting us on the ship. We do about 20 a year, only 1 or 2 are Princess(live in FL). By having the deposit doubled, they are smart-forcing you to pay more for onboard things like drinks, excursions, shops, etc. We dont do excursions anymore(been to all those places many times) or spend on drinks(which Royal-no deposit & Carnival-$100 each deposit, gives us only while in the casino no charge-we only tip them).

Since March, Royal & Carnival (not Princess) have sent us many casino offers -wanting to get us back on the ships. Many of their paying cruisers are afraid & not booking, so whatever it takes, the ships will do for now.

On 11/19/2020 at 7:40 PM, CalLuvsCrusingToo said:

Latest offer is Princess Ultimate VIP cruise. Choice of dates thru Jan. 2022. 

Later the better, IMO.  Must book by Jan. 5

 

Has anyone done these Ultimates vs. other casino comp offers?

Is this where theres tons of casino players & you can't hardly play, every seat taken?

 

We are offered a mini suite & $500 Freeplay, which is nice.

But our regular comp cruise offers are more freeplay, but balcony.

First time I've been comped minisuite....

 

Any info appreciated.

 

 

 

We just got the same offer in the mail - to book by Jan 5. (1st offer since before the pandemic started!) Also for us, first time minisuite!  But ours said its a VIP offer, & if you go on them, you have a chance to get the Ultimate VIP invite later. Also now noticed there is a deposit of $200 each-$400 per cabin-to be used as onboard credit. In the past it was a more reasonable $100 each-$200 per cabin. This also said that all gratuities(also drinks & internet) were covered, so  we wouldnt be using the onboard credit for grats., as we did in the past.

1 hour ago, SteelMagnolia9 said:

I believe it is just marketing/public relations to create more excitement and anticipation for cruising and their brand. No way are they going to fly in a random person to participate in a test cruise. I live in Florida and don’t believe they’ll just take random people from around the state.  The test passengers will be hand selected and vetted. 
 

Now they have the names, emails, phone numbers, C&A, etc. of people who are anxious to cruise and can begin targeting them as a group who want to immediately get on board once they can sail. That’s the real reason they are collecting this information under the guise of recruiting volunteers.

Based on the projected results of the U.S. presidential election, I don’t see cruising going forward until 2022 from the U.S. Had the election gone the other way, cruising would likely be under way by spring.

😠😠

7 hours ago, Cruisesfun65 said:

Anyone experienced this? Last week Carnival had a new offer called Hot Streaks bonus. (OTM)

This offer includes Free Drinks on Us while playing in the casino.

Lots of us switched to this rate code because of the perks.

Now, a couple of days later, the Free drinks on us is no longer offered as part of the offer and Carnival's casino dept basically says that it's been taken off the rate code. 

This is bait and switch!

Our offer still shows the free drinks, inside cabin & $200 casino cash, & exp Dec30'20

On 11/2/2020 at 7:11 PM, bafinegan said:

Anyone heard when/if a new group of Premier cruises will be posted?

 

Thanks,

 

baf

We got the new Premiere offer flyer in our regular mail today. Also was on our online offers.

They should have us casino cruisers as the volunteers. Then they can make money, while we play in the casino!!

17 hours ago, nycruiser2006 said:

Does anyone have recent experience with cancelling one of the " free" cruises. I know I will loose all the perks that came with the offer, but what about my actual money paid for port fees and taxes, and the $100 per person deposit that was to be given back as OBC?  Our is scheduled for January 10, and just not feeling confident that they will be ready.

We waited for Princess to cancel our compt casino cruses. Then  requested & got the refund of all that we paid-port chgs, $200 casino deposit, & insurance. But Princess took the longest  to get our refund to us, compared to Royal & Carnival.

17 hours ago, gaylemh said:

I'm not sure if you are aware, but if you go to your offers page and put in your canceled December reservation number, instead of your C & A number, there are offers to take it's place.  

Wow, how did you find this out?  Thank you!!

Was so looking forward to our Dec26 New Years Symphony! It was a rare freebie balcony offer that was only for holidays. Oh well.

10 hours ago, gaylemh said:

I'm not sure if you are aware, but if you go to your offers page and put in your canceled December reservation number, instead of your C & A number, there are offers to take it's place.  

Wow, how did you find this out? It worked for our canceled Dec one, but not for our canceled Nov ones, maybe already expired. Gave us so many, thru end of Sept, mostly jr suites. To see all of them easily, I downloaded & then sent us an email with the download. Thank you!!

Yep, we were also grandfathered in. We had 9 cruises back then. So we were told now, we only needed 4 days to become diamond. So we purposely took a 4 nite cheap Majesty, before our 14 nite transatlantic two months later, to get the diamond cocktail hrs each nite!

Used to be so easy, didnt matter how long cruise was 3 nite or 14 nite, each cruise was 1 point, to get to 10 pts for diamond. But also many didnt cruise like they do now. In the 90's we would cruise, after labor day,  & the dining room would be half empty (& the buffet wasn't open at dinner then).Many unused cabins.