Free Stateroom offers

[pollux]

The offers are for real.

My cruise friend had 3 already from Carnival.

Also casino cash.

I got casino cash from Hal and Carnival.

Small gambler.

Just like Vegas you play they pay.

[take us away]

I'm curious - is the casino a separate business on the ship, in the same way the spa is? If so, then it could be the casino company that is giving away the cruise, and not HAL? Just a thought.

 

It is my understanding that the casino is a private industry similar to the spa but not totally independent so would guess it is part of the parent umbrella.

Edited July 13, 2015 by take us away

[diane.in.ny]

I find this thread very interesting. My husband and I are both gamblers and usually spend some time every night in the casino. While I wouldn't say we were large gamblers, I would certainly put us above those playing the minimum on the penny slots.

 

And yet neither of us has ever gotten any kind of offer. I'm wondering what we are going wrong.

[Laminator]

I find this thread very interesting. My husband and I are both gamblers and usually spend some time every night in the casino. While I wouldn't say we were large gamblers, I would certainly put us above those playing the minimum on the penny slots.

 

And yet neither of us has ever gotten any kind of offer. I'm wondering what we are going wrong.

 

Ask the host for a second players card. Tell the host sometimes you like to play 2 machines at once. They will give you a generic players card that will be tied to your account. Then you use your room card and your husband uses the players card. All of the play will show as being played by one person. As 2 players playing separately you may not warrant any offers. All of the play under 1 account may get you those offers.

[diane.in.ny]

Ask the host for a second players card. Tell the host sometimes you like to play 2 machines at once. They will give you a generic players card that will be tied to your account. Then you use your room card and your husband uses the players card. All of the play will show as being played by one person. As 2 players playing separately you may not warrant any offers. All of the play under 1 account may get you those offers.

 

Thanks!

[zackiedawg]

My family all cruise often - sometimes together and sometimes separately - my brother the least at around 8 cruises, with me next at 30 cruises, and my mother and stepfather who are at the top at around 160 cruises. We've all sailed HAL often - I'm a very light gambler (no more than $10 per day), my stepfather maybe a notch above me at around $20 per day, and my mother more frequent though not what Vegas would call a 'high roller', a guestimate of roughly $50-80 per day depending on what she gets back and how long the cruise is. Rarely tables, mostly slots.

 

My mother got the free cruise offer last week...if that helps determine the threshhold for getting the offer. Though with the frequency with which she cruises, it's also possible that her per-year total 'gift' to the casinos is well above a 1-2 cruise-per-year cruiser, so that might have been something that pushed her over the limit for the offer.

 

We'll be taking advantage of the offer in October - we booked a Neptune suite on a 7-day eastern on the Westerdam via the offer. The inside cabin was free, and all the way up to the Neptune suites was still quite low at $450 PP plus port charges. Total for the Neptune suite was $1230 - works out to a bit over $600 PP. Hard to pass up at that rate for sure, even though I just did the same ship and itinerary in 2013.

[cruz chic]

My family all cruise often - sometimes together and sometimes separately - my brother the least at around 8 cruises, with me next at 30 cruises, and my mother and stepfather who are at the top at around 160 cruises. We've all sailed HAL often - I'm a very light gambler (no more than $10 per day), my stepfather maybe a notch above me at around $20 per day, and my mother more frequent though not what Vegas would call a 'high roller', a guestimate of roughly $50-80 per day depending on what she gets back and how long the cruise is. Rarely tables, mostly slots.

 

My mother got the free cruise offer last week...if that helps determine the threshhold for getting the offer. Though with the frequency with which she cruises, it's also possible that her per-year total 'gift' to the casinos is well above a 1-2 cruise-per-year cruiser, so that might have been something that pushed her over the limit for the offer.

 

We'll be taking advantage of the offer in October - we booked a Neptune suite on a 7-day eastern on the Westerdam via the offer. The inside cabin was free, and all the way up to the Neptune suites was still quite low at $450 PP plus port charges. Total for the Neptune suite was $1230 - works out to a bit over $600 PP. Hard to pass up at that rate for sure, even though I just did the same ship and itinerary in 2013.

 

Thx for describing the threshold. The way some posters talk you'd think people were dropping thousands and thousands in the casino.

[winddawn]

A friend of mine just received an offer of a FREE stateroom on any of a number of HAL Caribbean cruises on Westerdam, Zuiderdam, or NA this fall/winter as a "valued casino player". The offer is for FREE inside stateroom or upgrades to each of the categories - all the way to Neptune Suite which is only $450 per person. This sounds absolutely wonderful to me! Unfortunately, not being a casino player I did not receive this offer, and my friend says he is eligible for only one stateroom on the offer. I don't remember seeing this discussed on CC. Is this something new? I might have to become a "valued casino player" if this is the result:)!

I wouldn't get too excited about it. I got this same offer in snail mail today and called right away to book. When I called all 14 sailings offered in the letter were not available. Not one of the ships, sail dates, or categories offered I the letter. So I got a worthless offer in the mail today! What a joke!

Edited July 16, 2015 by winddawn

[zackiedawg]

Unfortunately winddawn, the offer was valid and good, but it seems the mailings were extremely varied, and the rooms available on each ship in each category were limited - so those lucky enough to have gotten their notices in the mail early got first dibs, and those who got it late either had to settle for what's left or were out of luck. We got our offer on Tuesday this week, and already all of the 10-day cruises were gone, which were the ones we wanted. We asked if anything else was available, and they said there were some 7-day cruises left - three at the time (Wed), so after finding that an aft-corner Neptune suite was available on Westerdam, and it happened to be the most desirable cabin on the ship in my opinion (5190 with the massive balcony), I couldn't pass it up. If your offer came yesterday, you might well have been one of the last to receive it...by then, sounds like you were just too late to get any remaining rooms. I certainly would lodge a light complaint with HAL on that - they may not be able to do anything now, but maybe give you a 'priority' notice next time such an offer is made, since you missed out this time due to slow mail.

[serendipity1499]

Hmmm.. My limit is about $20-$30 at one time or about $100 for the week & DH thinks that's too much..:D[

 

If I gambled $50 to $80 a day, I believe we would be divorced! LOL DH has an aversion to gambling, as those were his parents biggest arguments he rememberes when they were growing up...

 

If we had an unlimited income, I probably could become a gambler.. My best Friend won a sizable amount on one of our cruises & put all her winnings in the ship safe.. She never touched it the rest of the time.. She always wins though.. When we played the quarter slots together, we won a small jackpot, but I spent my portion the rest of the week..

Edited July 17, 2015 by serendipity1499

[retiredkid]

I enjoy the slots, and I am not by ANY stretch, a heavy gambler. I imaging I average about $50 per day. I *WAS* getting offers of casino cash ($250) for several sailings and mailings. But, as soon as I booked our next cruise ...not one of the ones offered..., all mailings offering the casino cash stopped. I called HAL and was told " Right at this time, you have all of the special offers available". (read None) LOL

[HELENPSL]

I wonder if it makes any difference if you play the slots or the tables. My SO and I were on the 24 day cruise in May on the Eurodam and were in the casino for 2-3 hours per night playing 3 card poker. We also played a little on the slots. Since we live in Florida we are often at the Seminole Indian casino. We have never received any offer for any free cruise. We were told by someone at the Hard Rock Casino that it's not the amount of money that you're spending that counts but the time you actually spend gambling. A friend received 2 offers from NCL but she is a pretty big gambler. We spend a lot of time in the casino but usually end up making a little, breaking even or losing a little. Never a big swing in any direction.

 

Maybe HAL will read this and send me an offer but...I'm not counting on it!

 

Helen

[wanderinggirl]

I went on one of these last year with a friend who got the same offer (I got it too). She went on another one in April and we just got the offer for this fall and booked the 11 day cruise for Nov 30.

 

My friend bids more than I do, but I usually have $200-250 for a week. I play the slots exclusively--usually all of the lines, but the lowest bet. And that would be on the penny or two cent machines. I usually put what I win back in the machines, but I enjoy it and build the cost into my cruise. I don't drink much or buy a lot of souveniers or eat at the pay restaurants, so this is my fun.

 

Last year, we spent two hundred and something for a balcony room and a one week cruise. Got two cocktail parties, a few extra drinks from the asst casino manager, and free entries into the slot tournaments. This year, we paid the port charges of $372 (Panama Canal), $120 for an outside room and a $100 deposit we get back in room credit (this is per person). We live in Florida, so we just have to drive down to Fort Lauderdale.

 

What does HAL get? Well, we will be gambling, though not enough to make up the $1000 difference in cruise prices. We will pay the daily tips. We might buy some drinks and a tshirt or two. We will probably take a shore excursion or two as this is hitting 4 new ports for me. Do they win? I don't know, but I'm sure as heck going to enjoy it.

[CruisinHarvey]

I'm just trying to figure out when or why they send the free cruise offers. We got one for March this year. Upgraded to Neptune suite for the same $450 pp. It was great on the Nieuw Amsterdam . We had only sailed HAL once before in the med, about 4 years ago. We do gamble, but hadn't heard anything from them in 4 years. It was really a surprise. I have no idea why they sent it, or how we get them to send it again. We'd sure use it, if they did. And yes, I think we lost a couple grand on the cruise in March. It was still cheaper than paying full price for the cruise.

 

If anyone has any ideas on how we could contact them to get another cruise, it would be greatly appreciated.

[cp556]

My question is: if you get the offer and accept it, does anything special/extra happen onboard? Is there a welcome letter from the casino in the cabin? Any surprise Casino Cash? Are you recognized at all as a "valued player" onboard?

 

Just wondering......

[CruisinHarvey]

My question is: if you get the offer and accept it, does anything special/extra happen onboard? Is there a welcome letter from the casino in the cabin? Any surprise Casino Cash? Are you recognized at all as a "valued player" onboard?

 

Just wondering......

 

For the one we went on in March, there were a number of people they invited. There was a welcome gathering with drinks and munchies. Then at the end of the week, there was a thank you kind of gathering with drinks.

[boze9999]

I don't disparage Hal's desire to market to a select group. However, One of our sailings was a Club 21 sailing. As Neptune guests and 4/5 star guests, we were awaiting pre-boarding. HAL not only escorted all of their Club 21 guests into the pre-boarding area, but they also invited them to board ahead of the Pinnacle, Neptune and 4/5 star guests - all of which were quite upset, especially after listening to the Club 21 guests all brag about their "almost free fares"!

[ss70chev]

For the one we went on in March, there were a number of people they invited. There was a welcome gathering with drinks and munchies. Then at the end of the week, there was a thank you kind of gathering with drinks.

 

I received my first casino offer for only a discounted cruise. I have only sailed once with HAL back in 2009 to the Mediterranean. I usually cruise on Carnival about once a year. We booked a good deal for Thanksgiving on the Westerdam. Does anyone know if we will be receiving the invite to welcome gathering also if only offered a discount and not a free cruise? :)

[msmayor]

We didn't get offered a free room, but did receive an offer of a 'casino rate' for select sailings.

 

My husband and I enjoy gambling and treat it as a form of entertainment. We probably spend as much in the casino as others may spend on shore excursions.

 

Now that the tables are taking your card and entering your 'buy-in' amounts, its better for table players. Slot player dollars gambled is easy to track. We always bought in to a table with cash, so it may have seemed like we were gambling a lot, but it was usually because we'd cash out our chips at the end of a session and then buy back in later in the day.

 

I did win the Blackjack Tournament on board, and they took my name and stateroom information. I suspect that win might have gotten me on a casino list for these special rates.

[LMHSRN]

What does the price of your cabin have to do with this post? Just a place to grumble?

[LMHSRN]

They don't seek me out. I think that's all these people can talk about because getting cheap deals are the highlight of their life. Sad really. There were quite a few on our roll call talking about their free cruise last year. Now there was a lady on my Veendam cruise that really liked to gamble. I think she gave a couple of thousand to the Casino. I could see someone like that getting a free cruise. I just tired of posters trotting out the supply and demand argument for high prices further out on cruises. If supply is so low why is Hal giving away cruises?

 

Actually Stud, I want to thank you for paying the high price so I can go free. thanks!

[swscruiser]

Slots are easier to track than table games. if playing table games ask the pit boss keep track or "Rate your play" during your cruise

[msmayor]

Slots are easier to track than table games. if playing table games ask the pit boss keep track or "Rate your play" during your cruise

 

I think that used to be the case...but now every time we sit down to a table they ask for our room card. It is swiped, and they enter our cash buy in. That identified the individual at the seat #, the time they started, and opening bank. Every additional cash buy in is entered into the machine. When we leave the table, they log us out...so they track who we are, how long we are sitting and how much $$ we have put into play.