Free cruise

[dacsmom]

Congratulations and have a great trip. I am a past Carnival cruiser and now prefer Royal Caribbean, but I would never turn down a free cruise.

[MonaCK]

My dad got one of these, and he's currently deciding when to go.

[stretchcruz]

Wow.

I hope I didn't get the letter and throw it away....I certainly may have!

We did not enjoy our Carnival cruise but would we do it for free? Or cheap? Yes!!!!

[Big_G]

Congratulations and have a great trip.

[sailingawaysoon]

Congratulations and have a great trip. I am a past Carnival cruiser and now prefer Royal Caribbean, but I would never turn down a free cruise.

Yes, that was our thoughts too. Can't turn down a free cruise for sure! We've never seen these ports, so we are excited!

[sailingawaysoon]

My dad got one of these, and he's currently deciding when to go.

Yes, they gave us several options of which ship and itinerary we wanted to take. Congrats to your dad!

[sailingawaysoon]

Wow.

I hope I didn't get the letter and throw it away....I certainly may have!

We did not enjoy our Carnival cruise but would we do it for free? Or cheap? Yes!!!!

I always throw Carnival mail away and I definitely would have tossed it had I not heard about offers going out the day before. The letter didn't stand out (to me) as anything but the typical offers I always get from them. If you cruised with them before, go to their website and check to see if the offer was sent to you. I read that others have done that since hearing about these letters. You can also just call carnival and give your name and ask if there are any offers that were sent. Good luck!

[starfish216]

My son (age 25) received an offer for a free cruise (fare only for an inside cabin). Called my rep at Carnival and he did indeed have an offer for a free cruise from the Casino promotion department. I was able to verify it by logging into Carnival and putting in his past guest number a whole list of cruises showed up.

 

He was able to get 8 night cruise for two people on the Breeze for $700 total. This included the cost for an upgrade to a Spa Balcony Cabin, Port Fees & Taxes, Gratuities and Insurance.

 

Last time he cruised on Carnival was 2009 at most spent $100 in the casino for the week since he was still in college and DH & I were suppling his spending money.

 

My DH and I have been on several Carnival cruises since 2009 and he would spend a couple hours a day in the casino and go through a few hundred dollars a day and the offer he received was $300 casino cash but not the free cruise offer.

 

Our thinking as to why my son got the free offer is it was either random or they are targeting a specific demographic. The only thing he spent money on on that cruise was liquor. It was the first cruise he was of age to drink and he and his friend took every advantage of it. Maybe Carnival is thinking he is young, probably employed, likes to drink. Put that all together with easy access to a Casino and they may see someone who could bring in extra cash via liquor/casino.

 

Either way the offer was legit, just pay taxes.

 

Other notes about the offer, the deposit was $300 pp and the cruise fare is non-refundalble even if you cancel prior to the full payment date. So just make sure you are able to go.

[patsfan78]

Fine go to Carnival. Your no longer welcome here. Just kidding have a great time. Cant go wrong for free. :)

[CoachT]

I have seen these offers, but after my one and only Carnival experience on Dream, I won't ever set foot on a Carnival ship again free or not!

[sailingawaysoon]

My son (age 25) received an offer for a free cruise (fare only for an inside cabin). Called my rep at Carnival and he did indeed have an offer for a free cruise from the Casino promotion department. I was able to verify it by logging into Carnival and putting in his past guest number a whole list of cruises showed up.

 

He was able to get 8 night cruise for two people on the Breeze for $700 total. This included the cost for an upgrade to a Spa Balcony Cabin, Port Fees & Taxes, Gratuities and Insurance.

 

Last time he cruised on Carnival was 2009 at most spent $100 in the casino for the week since he was still in college and DH & I were suppling his spending money.

 

My DH and I have been on several Carnival cruises since 2009 and he would spend a couple hours a day in the casino and go through a few hundred dollars a day and the offer he received was $300 casino cash but not the free cruise offer.

 

Our thinking as to why my son got the free offer is it was either random or they are targeting a specific demographic. The only thing he spent money on on that cruise was liquor. It was the first cruise he was of age to drink and he and his friend took every advantage of it. Maybe Carnival is thinking he is young, probably employed, likes to drink. Put that all together with easy access to a Casino and they may see someone who could bring in extra cash via liquor/casino.

 

Either way the offer was legit, just pay taxes.

 

Other notes about the offer, the deposit was $300 pp and the cruise fare is non-refundalble even if you cancel prior to the full payment date. So just make sure you are able to go.

Our trip is on the Breeze also. I don't know how it worked that we got the offer, but it is nice to get it. I hope Royal sends us a free offer, then we will be set for the year, haha. (I can dream)

[sailingawaysoon]

I have seen these offers, but after my one and only Carnival experience on Dream, I won't ever set foot on a Carnival ship again free or not!

The Dream was the only Carnival cruise we had. I told my husband after that cruise that I would only go back on Carnival if they gave me a free cruise. Maybe they heard us talking? This cruise on Carnival is about the destinations for us. I've never been on a Southern Caribbean cruise, so having the opportunity to see those ports makes it awesome for us. Happy future cruising.

[mommabean]

Anyone with a VIFP number can apparently just call Carnival and ask if they qualify. There are multiple offers.

 

Here is the promotion:

http://www.carnival.com/legal/exclusive-offers.aspx

 

Scroll down to this line for the free cruise:

FREE BALCONY STATEROOM PLUS CASINO CASH (PC1)

 

There are many other free offers along with 55% off offers and OBC etc....

[starfish216]

Mammabean, thanks for the link.

 

There are so many offers. I called Carnival when my son got the offer for a free stateroom and was told my DH had $300 casino cash but no free cruise. The offers vary from past guest to past guest. I usually try everyone's VIFP number to see who has which offers, then pick the best.

 

The $300 casino cash offer still wasn't enough for me to give of one of my two up coming cruises on Royal. Now if we had a free cruise, I would have considered going back to Carnival.

 

It's nice when cruise lines offer you something.

[summersigh]

People on these boards never cease to amaze me! I contacted Carnival directly and was immediately quoted the offer that was sent to me. Call it a scam, or "nothing in life is free", but it was. Do your homework and check out the carnival boards, many people have received similar offers. As they told me, they want to earn our business back. For that, we'll take it. Instead of negativity when people post things, can't people just say things in a nice, or caring manner?

 

I don't think folks intention was to be mean .... but rather a desire to NOT see you get scammed. Normally with cruise ads and letters thatarrive in the mail it IS a scam.

Please be glad that the respondents to your post DO CARE about you. :)

[mistshar]

I don't think folks intention was to be mean .... but rather a desire to NOT see you get scammed. Normally with cruise ads and letters thatarrive in the mail it IS a scam.

Please be glad that the respondents to your post DO CARE about you. :)

 

That's how I felt too. I have gotten those scam letters and would be very skeptical but since she has already talked to Carnival I am sure it is real.

 

I hope she has a wonderful cruise and it will be all the better because it is FREE!!!

[stretchcruz]

I've got to admit, I did call Carnival to get my number...we've been on 2 Carnival cruises. We're Elite on Princess, Diamond on RCI, have sailed NCL several times, Holland America (once, never again), Costa (once, never again), and done a few river cruises. After over 45 cruises I always said never Carnival (or HA,or Costa), but never say never. If it was free I'd do it just to see. So we'll see what shows up on our profile.

In the meantime, can't wait for the Legend on 2/3!! We love the smaller ships in the off season with no kids!

[sailingawaysoon]

I've got to admit, I did call Carnival to get my number...we've been on 2 Carnival cruises. We're Elite on Princess, Diamond on RCI, have sailed NCL several times, Holland America (once, never again), Costa (once, never again), and done a few river cruises. After over 45 cruises I always said never Carnival (or HA,or Costa), but never say never. If it was free I'd do it just to see. So we'll see what shows up on our profile.

In the meantime, can't wait for the Legend on 2/3!! We love the smaller ships in the off season with no kids!

Good luck and I hope you get a free cruise also! Wow, your cruise is almost here! Have a blast!

[asylum575]

It was free, it's booked thru carnival and a done deal. No online scam, or otherwise. We spoke with carnival directly. We pay nothing. Guess they want our business back. We'll go for the free deal, but we do love Royal....

 

We were getting calls from Carnival and ignoring them. I threw out whatever mail I got from them.

A couple of nights ago, my cell phone goes off during dinner and I see it's a 305 area code. Knowing it's Fl, I figured it was a cruise line. I answered to let them have it and the person asks for my wife. On my cell phone!!

The guys says he's from Carnival. I verify that he is from CCL and not a travel agent.

We got a free cruise.

Booked the Legend for 7 nights and upgraded to OV for $35 each, so it was $150 each including port charges/taxes.

We found a quad room to bring the kids, they're 10 and 6.

I'm paying more for airfare than the cruise.

 

On the CCL board, there are people loosing their minds that people with two CCl cruises got the offer.

 

After our last CCL cruise , we decided never again. I gave an honest review on the survey.

 

Well, their marketing strategy worked.

I'm hoping for the best.

[cruisegirl1]

No, it's a balcony, otherwise I wouldn't cruise. Great deal for free!

 

Not even for free?

 

M

[DrD]

Sounds great. I have to admit I'm one of the "no Carnival" snobs, prob because when I first decided to go on a cruise back in the early 90's I bought a book about cruising (no internet then!), and it described Carnival as the "McDonald's of the cruise industry." Since then I've not heard much good about them, and generally when I've run into large groups on shore from Carnival they are all drinking and smoking and very loud. I would've liked that in my 20's but those were a long time ago. I guess I'd give it a try for free though.

[kamari]

No it is not a scam it’s absolutely free and many of the platinum members on the carnival board are upset. Some saying that they are spent over $50,000 and weren't offered the deal. So from what I gathered it’s some type of casino promotion. Some people are offered free interior cabins or can upgrade to an outside stateroom for $50.00. Some are offered free balconies. There is no restriction on the length of the cruise. You can sailed for 3, 4 5 7 even 8 days cruises. Also you can sail on their new ships (Breeze and Dream). Just an FYI you don't have to wait to receive your offer via mail. You can look up your offers on their website under your VIP number. Several members of the carnival board states they check their offers almost daily. I have taken 14 Carnival Cruises and I am Diamond Plus with Royal Caribbean. I feel that Royal Caribbean's loyalty program is better than other cruise lines. Simply because all passengers are rewarded through the Crown and Anchor Program upon completion of your first cruise with coupon certificates and welcome back gifts. In 2010 38 of my family members sailed on the Inspiration. Most of the group were first time cruisers. My two aunts recently received the free cruise offer through Carnival's casino offer. Both are currently booked on the Dream in May using their free cruise offer. They were required to pay taxes and port charges, that's it. My aunt said that she was told that Carnival hired a consultant agency to assist with sale increasing tactics. The agency randomly selected customers based on certain criteria. In my opinion it’s not random if stipulations were used to determine who will or will not be offered the deal. I guess their big hope is the offer will pay off with the lucky cruisers create a huge tab from purchasing drinks, excursions and don't forget their casino donation.

[Ravens Fan 2k14]

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[Alyrica]

My husband and I both got the free cruise offer. They had at least two promotions; one for gamblers and one for non-gamblers. It was a great offer and I appreciate that we received it but the dates didn't work out for us, unfortunately.

[cage keeper]

It was free, it's booked thru carnival and a done deal. No online scam, or otherwise. We spoke with carnival directly. We pay nothing. Guess they want our business back. We'll go for the free deal, but we do love Royal....

 

You can give them my name. I'd love to go.