Won a free cruise - what would you do?

[Kambird]

We sailed last summer on the Westerdam to Alaska and loved it. During one of the bingo games, we actually won a free cruise. :cool: The way this works is that you get a cruise certificate worth the cost of 2 people sailing the least expensive cruise in the least expensive class of cabin (MM). So for the "free" to work, there needs to be two people going to either the Caribbean or Bermuda. However, you can also take that certificate and apply it towards any cruise or any class cabin.

 

Here's my question: would you use the certificate for a free cruise (excluding airline tickets and port charges, etc) getting the cabin offered? Or would you use the certificate and upgrade your cabin? Or apply the certificate towards another cruise altogether?

 

Not a bad dilemma to have - I know. Just thought I'd throw this out to you experts out there. :)

 

Thanks!

[mamaofami]

I did win a cruise playing bingo and we upgraded to the cabin we wanted.

[ziggypup]

We sailed last summer on the Westerdam to Alaska and loved it. During one of the bingo games, we actually won a free cruise. :cool: The way this works is that you get a cruise certificate worth the cost of 2 people sailing the least expensive cruise in the least expensive class of cabin (MM). So for the "free" to work, there needs to be two people going to either the Caribbean or Bermuda. However, you can also take that certificate and apply it towards any cruise or any class cabin.

 

Here's my question: would you use the certificate for a free cruise (excluding airline tickets and port charges, etc) getting the cabin offered? Or would you use the certificate and upgrade your cabin? Or apply the certificate towards another cruise altogether?

 

Not a bad dilemma to have - I know. Just thought I'd throw this out to you experts out there. :)

 

Thanks!

 

I'd say that question can only be answered by you. If you are happy with the free cabin offered, then have a great time. If you want to dip into your pocket and upgrade the cabin, go for it. Either way, enjoy.

[Randyk47]

Personally I'd leverage the "free" cruise for a higher category cabin.

[Krazy Kruizers]

This sounds like you have another cruise in mind -- otherwise you would not be here asking us what we would do.

 

If I won a free cruise -- I would select the itinerary that I want and upgrade to a cabin I want.

[fann1sh]

I've *been told* the "book value" when you upgrade is very low (ie., less than you'd spend to book a MM for 2, week in the Caribbean).

 

No personal experience. I would need to know exactly how many $$$ credit I'd get in order to make a decision.

[Australian family]

I didn't know that you could use that credit to any cruise. I didn't go to bingo that day, as we weren't interested in a cruise in the caribbean because of the cost of getting there.

[elycelynne]

I'm glad you pointed out that it was for the very least expensive category. Assuming that I couldn't get at least a large interior cabin for "free", I'll probably upgrade to at least an outside when I finally determine which cruise I want to book. I've only been back a month, so I have a bit of time to decide where I want to go in the next 18 months.

 

Others have previously mentioned that the "value" for two people is $1,200, so I assume that's what they would credit you if you took a more expensive cruise.

[RuthC]

I wouldn't book a cruise I didn't want to take (Caribbean) just because it was "free". I would put the assigned value toward a cruise of my choice. Then I would take a look at the cabins on that cruise and pay for a higher category if that seemed like a better choice.

[sail7seas]

I'd upgrade. Hopefully they will give you a reasonable credit for the value of the 'free cabin' so that you can upgrade to a cabin that is more to the style you want.

In any case, enjoy.

[SusieKay]

When we won a free cruise from the raffle a few years ago on the Maasdam, we upgraded to a longer cruise, and higher cabin category. It ended up, when we subtracted the credit from the free cruise, only one of us went for free on the cruise we booked. Still not a bad deal.

I think it has to be used within one year, so don't wait too long to decide.

[mindydaile]

When I won the "free cruise" at bingo my original though was to use the credit toward a cruise I'd been REALLY wanting but the amount they offered (400-500 dollars - I can't remember the exact amount) still didn't bring the sailing I wanted down into the affordable range. I ended up using it on a MM guarantee on a Caribbean sailing and when the cabin got assigned it was an HH obstructed view outside so it ended up not being bad. And any week on a ship is better than a week at home in February in Illinois!

[FightOnRon]

I'd upgrade to at least a window,,but I would go no doubt.

[karlsselindh]

Aren't income taxes owed on gambling winnings, including a free cruise? Does HAL inform the IRS of these "winnings," and send the winner a 1099? If so, how do they price the amount of winnings?

[hartjanet]

Nothing wrong with the inside mm cabins. I'd take the freebee and plan on spending my time on the deck or in the public areas rather than the cabin. Congrats!

[robertmnch]

Aren't income taxes owed on gambling winnings, including a free cruise? Does HAL inform the IRS of these "winnings," and send the winner a 1099? If so, how do they price the amount of winnings?

I won 75,000 miles on an airline promotion! I got a 1099 to pay the taxes on the "dollar value' of those miles. Interesting Note: Everytime I went to book a flight, only thing available was "First Class" and needed 50,000+ miles/person!:oComputers are "smart" as my Frequent Flyer" Account knew I had won those miles!:rolleyes:

[pris993]

Aren't income taxes owed on gambling winnings, including a free cruise? Does HAL inform the IRS of these "winnings," and send the winner a 1099? If so, how do they price the amount of winnings?

 

I won $1150 on bingo a few years back, learned I did not have to pay taxes on winnings of $1200 or less. Boy was I happy.

[Sunshine91]

John & I only get a limited number of vacation days & aren't into spelunking. Right now it's easier for him to find coverage once a year for 10-12 days than 2-3 times for a week a piece. So I know we'd use the credit towards the cruise/cabin of our choice.

 

Also - be absolutely sure to read all the tiny little print that usually requires an attorney & a magnifying glass to decipher. There may be time limits or other restrictions to consider.

 

What a great dilemma to have......sigh. :)

[NMLady]

Since I loved Curacao the 2 times we had port stops there I'd use the certificate on a Caribbean itinerary that included Curacao as a port stop, even if it were an inside cabin. Free is free, and I'd still have airfare to pay and gratuities as well. Does your certificate include port charges? Some don't.

[PathfinderEss]

We won a free cruise playing the cruise loto. We switch to a different location and upraded to a better cabin, it was nice saving some money on that cruise. I would do what you wanted and not what Holland is offering unless you like what that is...........we're not inside cabin cruisers as my husband gets claustrophobic.

[karlsselindh]

"I won $1150 on bingo a few years back, learned I did not have to pay taxes on winnings of $1200 or less. Boy was I happy"

 

 

Gambling winnings--casino, bingo, etc.--are always taxable income. Also prizes, free trips, etc. You definitely are supposed to pay taxes on winnings of $1200 or less. It's just that the cruise ship, (or church, or bingo hall) does not have to report your bingo earnings under $1200 to the IRS and withhold taxes from your earnings. So maybe you can get away with not paying the taxes if you're lucky.

 

http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc419.html

[mudscraper]

Can you use your TA (lower prices) or do you have to deal strictly thru HAL and their pricing?

 

 

Rich

[Spinner2]

We applied the amount that HAL said the cruise that we won in a ship lottery to an entirely different cruise than what we won; the value they assigned was just about what a Caribbean cruise, cheapest rate, was going for at the time. We thought it was very fair and easy to cash in the certificate. Don't lose the certificate; you will have to send it in.

[callmedeb]

Less than a month before my sister and I go on the Eastern Caribbean cruise that I won playing BINGO on the Statendam last May.

 

We got $1200 USD subtracted from the end price of our cruise, we upgraded to a veranda (VE) for a reasonable price.

 

Can't wait.

 

Deb

[world~citizen]

This is obviously a stressful situation to find yourself in.:(

 

My recommendation: Sign the free cruise over to me and don't risk your health by bearing the weigh of this troubling, anxiety ridden decision on your shoulders.

 

It is a burden that I freely offer to bear on your behalf.:)

 

Smooth sailing whichever choice you make...