El Cheapo Cruises Thread

[arxcards]

4 hours ago, B'Elanna said:

Was that in your "My Offers"? Or just when you were looking at cruises?

I was just in browsing for this cruise and being logged-in, it showed me the available offers. It also shows in 'My Offers"

[arxcards]

On 3/9/2024 at 10:25 AM, B'Elanna said:

Was that in your "My Offers"? Or just when you were looking at cruises?

Check your inbox/junk box as well. I received an email on this promo from Carnival yesterday.

[CDaze71]

6 hours ago, arxcards said:

Check your inbox/junk box as well. I received an email on this promo from Carnival yesterday.

I never get these offers and I'm PLATINUM. Ggrrgghh. I check spam folder and my offers almost daily. 

[icat2000]

1 hour ago, CDaze71 said:

I never get these offers and I'm PLATINUM. Ggrrgghh. I check spam folder and my offers almost daily. 

Do you spend much money on board? I think that sometimes plays into who gets offers and who doesn't.

[arxcards]

2 hours ago, icat2000 said:

Do you spend much money on board? I think that sometimes plays into who gets offers and who doesn't.

CDaze is much more of a Carnival candidate than I am.

 

I didn't realise this was a selective offer. Maybe my history on other Carnival brands plays a part, but we aren't big spenders or casino goers. Sorry for those not getting the offer. I would rate it as somewhat unfair.

[SinbadThePorter]

4 hours ago, CDaze71 said:

I never get these offers and I'm PLATINUM. Ggrrgghh. I check spam folder and my offers almost daily. 

 

Maybe you didn't see it because you're Platinum. Nowadays rewards go to new passengers not loyal ones. 🤑

[icat2000]

They not going to give offers to people who don't spend onboard.  They want you to be loyal and spend on board 😄 

[Jean C]

43 minutes ago, icat2000 said:

They not going to give offers to people who don't spend onboard.  They want you to be loyal and spend on board 😄 

So being loyal and booking sufficient cruises with them to achieve platinum loyalty status isn't enough for them (not to mention paying additionally for balcony/mini suite cabins). That stinks 😩

[rkmw]

7 hours ago, SinbadThePorter said:

 

Maybe you didn't see it because you're Platinum. Nowadays rewards go to new passengers not loyal ones. 🤑

I agree they don’t care if your platinum which I am and I don’t get those offers but I don’t spend much money either or play the pokies, one good thing we get $25 loyalty bonus every cruise 

 

Pre covid on Princess we used to get a good loyalty bonus but that has stopped now 

Edited March 12 by rkmw

[jspqld]

It's really just an algorithm lottery lol. My wife & I are both platinum and have not received any such offers recently. Last year though I received and booked an offer for a 7 day cruise in a balcony for total of $540 with $500 obc, was just about free. Only I got that offer, my wife didn't. Dad who is only a red got same offer. We have had some other ok offers come through randomly but not as good as that one. Some people also mention of getting the offers emailed. I haven't seen an email offer in a long time...

 

[CDaze71]

8 hours ago, Jean C said:

So being loyal and booking sufficient cruises with them to achieve platinum loyalty status isn't enough for them (not to mention paying additionally for balcony/mini suite cabins). That stinks 😩

Our last Carnival Luminosa cruise was over NYE and it cost us $5k for and Aft-View Extended Balcony. 

[resordanis]

2 hours ago, rkmw said:

I agree they don’t care if your platinum which I am and I don’t get those offers but I don’t spend much money either or play the pokies, one good thing we get $25 loyalty bonus every cruise 

 

Pre covid on Princess we used to get a good loyalty bonus but that has stopped now 

Bob, I am still getting those Casino offers which we have spoken about before. Very cheap inside cabins with lots of benefits I.e. OBC as much as the cruise basically and drinks. Never been on Carnival and definitely not a Casino user…very strange.

[rkmw]

27 minutes ago, resordanis said:

Bob, I am still getting those Casino offers which we have spoken about before. Very cheap inside cabins with lots of benefits I.e. OBC as much as the cruise basically and drinks. Never been on Carnival and definitely not a Casino user…very strange.

Yes Cheryle very strange especially when you haven’t been on a Carnival ship

 

maybe when you get the offer ring Carnival and see if you can upgrade to a balcony and pay the extra if they agree 

[resordanis]

9 hours ago, rkmw said:

Yes Cheryle very strange especially when you haven’t been on a Carnival ship

 

maybe when you get the offer ring Carnival and see if you can upgrade to a balcony and pay the extra if they agree 

I tried even for an oceanview, no luck, just inside.

[arxcards]

9 hours ago, rkmw said:

Yes Cheryle very strange especially when you haven’t been on a Carnival ship

 

maybe when you get the offer ring Carnival and see if you can upgrade to a balcony and pay the extra if they agree 

That is the carrot Bob. The usual way to get a cheap balcony via a casino offer is via high turnover in the casino.

[resordanis]

41 minutes ago, arxcards said:

That is the carrot Bob. The usual way to get a cheap balcony via a casino offer is via high turnover in the casino.

What’s strange with me, is we rarely play the Casino on any ship and if so maybe $10. I gave RKMW the details when I first got the offer, but it didn’t work for him, but I now get regularly. They are extremely attractive.Basically a free cruise, OBC, Casino credit and drinks! Just wish I could try one.

[aussielil]

[aussielil]

Just now, aussielil said:

Not that cheap, but interesting...

[bazzaw]

2 minutes ago, aussielil said:

Not that cheap, but interesting...

We have done the 3Queens cruises twice - 5 years apart . The first was for the celebration of the Queens Silver Jubilee. 

[bazzaw]

I wouldn't be bothered with this one for a few reasons - 1. Three nights in Seattle!! Look up the Youtube video called "Seattle is dying" 2. We were really happy with our 5 nights in New York at the end of our Transatlantic on QM2 back in 2018 - but I wouldn't even think about staying in New York City today 3. Have already done the "Crossing" on QM2 

Edited March 14 by bazzaw

[arxcards]

I gather this isn't 4 queens together in Southampton or New York, but a bundle that allows you to hop between all 4 ships over a 2 month period.

 

Looks awesome. We could happily find a dozen things to do in Seattle over 3 nights. Those would be the things we didn't get time to do on either of our last two visits there.

 

I would love to do another trip on QM2, but the other 3 don't hold the same attraction. I think we would rather 1 long cruise on QM2 vs 4 cruises on 4 ships. Great concept, but I gather it isn't very El Cheapo?

[bazzaw]

Yes - I think you are right. Our first 3 Queens they were all together for the Queens Jubilee - but the second one was just a back to back to back 🙂

[LittleFish1976]

1 hour ago, arxcards said:

I gather this isn't 4 queens together in Southampton or New York, but a bundle that allows you to hop between all 4 ships over a 2 month period.

 

Looks awesome. We could happily find a dozen things to do in Seattle over 3 nights. Those would be the things we didn't get time to do on either of our last two visits there.

 

I would love to do another trip on QM2, but the other 3 don't hold the same attraction. I think we would rather 1 long cruise on QM2 vs 4 cruises on 4 ships. Great concept, but I gather it isn't very El Cheapo?

I've sailed on QE a number of times and to be honest prefer that ship to QM2 which is that much larger. Same vibe, but more intimate without being the slightest bit small.

 

I'd say that advertised price of 13k is pretty cheapo for 60+ days on board and including flights and land accomodation.

 

[arxcards]

58 minutes ago, LittleFish1976 said:

I've sailed on QE a number of times and to be honest prefer that ship to QM2 which is that much larger. Same vibe, but more intimate without being the slightest bit small.

 

I'd say that advertised price of 13k is pretty cheapo for 60+ days on board and including flights and land accomodation.

 

As far as I can tell, 21 of the 61 nights are on land as part of lining up from ship to ship. At that price, I would be curious to know if the hotels match the quality of the ships. Transfers are not included, which is an El cheapo move. 

 

Value, sure.

El Cheapo, no.

[aussielil]

Crazy half world cruise prices for departure 30 April 24 on Princess website today.

Sydney to Capetown - Oceanview starting $1898 pp

Capetown to Dover  -   Oceanview $3398 pp

Doubt if it lasts long.....

Edited April 16 by aussielil