RomanceMama Posted April 12, 2016 #51 Share Posted April 12, 2016 (edited) Why do you say "Free Cruise" in quotations? Is it not really free? I've always wondered what kind of restrictions, if any, they put on those free cruises. Are there date restrictions? Restrictions on cruise length, destination, ship? Is there a dollar amount attached? Or is it truly a "take any cruise on any ship anywhere you want for free" kind of thing? It's free to a point. You get an Inside or Outside Cabin. You can Upgrade for a fee. You pay port charges and taxes. Since we were on a Caribbean Cruise that is where we can go. There are Blackout dates -holiday weeks, July/August, and no ships less than 1 year old. I think that was everything. Don't get me wrong - it's great. We upgraded to a balcony and after all is said and done $800 including tips on Allure next month. I'm NOT complaining. It's just not completely free. Edited April 12, 2016 by RomanceMama Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matj2000 Posted April 12, 2016 #52 Share Posted April 12, 2016 We did the Navigator in 2013 over Thanksgiving. Grand Cayman was cancelled due to weather so they came up with indoor activities including a huge drawing in the promenade. Some guy kept coming on the microphone every 10min announcing a big countdown for over 2 hours. As time grew closer so did the crowd because there was nothing else to do. At the time of the drawing there must have been a couple hundred people gathered, all worked up to a frenzy. Final the big countdown and reading of the numbers. 7 3 5 5 4 9!!!! The lucky winner was screaming with excitement. Only to be presented with a "t-shirt". And not even a nice one, It was a cruddy one they sell for 3 for $20 on day 4 of every cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulette3028 Posted April 12, 2016 #53 Share Posted April 12, 2016 It's free to a point. You get an Inside or Outside Cabin. You can Upgrade for a fee. You pay port charges and taxes. Since we were on a Caribbean Cruise that is where we can go. There are Blackout dates -holiday weeks, July/August, and no ships less than 1 year old. I think that was everything. Don't get me wrong - it's great. We upgraded to a balcony and after all is said and done $800 including tips on Allure next month. I'm NOT complaining. It's just not completely free. When you take your cruise to you get the points that get added to your C&A status? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gingee Posted April 12, 2016 #54 Share Posted April 12, 2016 I won the drawing at a Meet and Mingle. I think it was Royal. Trying to remember what I got. I think a hat, water bottle and some other things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerif Posted April 12, 2016 #55 Share Posted April 12, 2016 Won a "cruise in review" video several years ago (do they still have those things?) on I think Voyager. Was so glad I hadn't paid for one - completely useless with mostly "canned" footage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted April 12, 2016 #56 Share Posted April 12, 2016 Won a "cruise in review" video several years ago (do they still have those things?) on I think Voyager. Was so glad I hadn't paid for one - completely useless with mostly "canned" footage. Yes, they still have them, and they are still mostly PR for Royal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starrcards Posted April 12, 2016 #57 Share Posted April 12, 2016 What about the free casino "Spin to Win?" Anybody ever win anything with this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted April 12, 2016 #58 Share Posted April 12, 2016 What about the free casino "Spin to Win?" Anybody ever win anything with this? Polo shirt once. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John&LaLa Posted April 12, 2016 #59 Share Posted April 12, 2016 What about the free casino "Spin to Win?" Anybody ever win anything with this? 3 polo shirts, but I had 180+ coins as I recall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tazaria Posted April 13, 2016 #60 Share Posted April 13, 2016 We won the "Selfie Scavenger Hunt" and scored a lanyard each... I also won a silver medal in the "Eating Fried Rice with Chopsticks" competition... and a $40 voucher for the Spa in the second chance raffle, but when I called the spa they were completely booked out, so I didn't get to use it. I also scored a bingo t-shirt during The Quest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron-Maiden's-No1-Fan Posted April 13, 2016 #61 Share Posted April 13, 2016 I was the winner at bowling on independence..won a gold royal caribbean medal 😀 I say gold.. more like brass 😂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PudgiPoo Posted April 13, 2016 #62 Share Posted April 13, 2016 DH won a gold by the inch necklace twice. I think it was because we were in the right place at the right time. DH also won a free cruise playing Texas Holdem. Again like RomanceMama said not really free since I upgraded, we did get cruise credit for the cruise. It might be because I upgraded us. Lots of free stuff on the free Texas Holdem cruise. Wish he would hurry up and win again.:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iahawkfan21 Posted April 13, 2016 #63 Share Posted April 13, 2016 On our Indy cruise last April I bought a couple liters of Capt Morgan and we happened to be nearby when they were doing the drawing later on in the cruise to get your receipt paid for. Low and behold, they drew my receipt out! They credited the $20 back and the real win came on the last night when they delivered the boxes and for some reason they delivered two boxes of two bottles each instead of one! Being the honest to a fault person I am, I went down to GS and mentioned this to them. They said they weren't sure what happened, but since it was delivered to not worry about it and enjoy. Got 4 liters of rum for $.01, and they didn't try to take the two extra back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joandian Posted April 14, 2016 #64 Share Posted April 14, 2016 One of our early cruises we did the Spa tour and won a Massage and Facial. it was really good. We had to be at the drawing. We really don't bother with the drawings any more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spa girl nana Posted April 14, 2016 #65 Share Posted April 14, 2016 I attended a presentation on excursions, just to see what might be available that I might enjoy. I didn't know they were giving away things, but had registered as part of getting information. Most of the things I wouldn't have been able to do, then the guy held up a really pretty necklace from Diamonds International.....I won it !!! They give out lots of stuff at the shopping presentation as well, didn't catch anything there. On one cruise the shopping lady was randomly throwing things, but you had to be sitting pretty close. The last cruise, the shopping lady was picking who she gave things to, no tickets. I guess it was either people she had met and they made an impression on her; or she just liked something about them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thetrail Posted April 14, 2016 #66 Share Posted April 14, 2016 Total.....Waste..... Of Time Go enjoy your cruise Won the Crown Loft Suite on Allure with a raffle ticket at the casino!!......K.O.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John&LaLa Posted April 14, 2016 #67 Share Posted April 14, 2016 Won the Crown Loft Suite on Allure with a raffle ticket at the casino!!......K.O.:) Did you have to buy the tickets. Pretty sure the original question focussed on giveaways. It's fun to hear stories like yours, but I don't think bingo, raffles, and tournaments fit the bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulette3028 Posted April 14, 2016 #68 Share Posted April 14, 2016 Did you have to buy the tickets. Pretty sure the original question focussed on giveaways. It's fun to hear stories like yours, but I don't think bingo, raffles, and tournaments fit the bill I did not read the OP to seem to matter whether you "paid to play" or simply by attending the event got entered for free.....a raffle win is a raffle win, to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John&LaLa Posted April 14, 2016 #69 Share Posted April 14, 2016 I did not read the OP to seem to matter whether you "paid to play" or simply by attending the event got entered for free.....a raffle win is a raffle win, to me. Well, we will just need to disagree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thetrail Posted April 14, 2016 #70 Share Posted April 14, 2016 Did you have to buy the tickets. Pretty sure the original question focussed on giveaways. It's fun to hear stories like yours, but I don't think bingo, raffles, and tournaments fit the billJohn the tickets were given away as a raffle on day one and the crown loft suite was given away on day two. They gave away 625 tickets. Talk about a shock when my wife's ticket was called!...K.O.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRUISING ADDICT Posted April 14, 2016 #71 Share Posted April 14, 2016 I had never gone to any of the drawings, however on our Adventure cruise in 2014 my husband convinced me to go to the gym for the spa drawing. I never win so i did not want to waste my time. So glad he talked me into it because they went through all the prizes and once again i was thinking great another wasted trip. Then the very last drawing was $250 in spa credit and i won... I got two massages on that cruise. Next cruise was this past March on the Allure and my twin sister did not want to go, but we talked her into it and she won $125.00 so she was happy we all went. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John&LaLa Posted April 14, 2016 #72 Share Posted April 14, 2016 (edited) John the tickets were given away as a raffle on day one and the crown loft suite was given away on day two. They gave away 625 tickets. Talk about a shock when my wife's ticket was called!...K.O.:) Was it for an upgrade on the cruise you were on? It seems that is often a bingo prize. We were in a GS next to the RS on Brilliance and they "gave" it away the first night. New tenants moved in just after mid night. :eek: Very annoying. :mad: This was in 2010. If it was today I'd probably be at GS's demanding compensation. ;) Edited April 14, 2016 by John&LaLa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andynalex66 Posted April 16, 2016 #73 Share Posted April 16, 2016 We went to the excursion presentation and won a draw for a percentage off one of the ones we chose. Not sure i would have attended the presentation just for a win option but we did find it helpful as we didn't do any pre trip research and figured we would do it all on the ship. I won a spa raffle previously and as mentioned it does come with restrictions (signature service only) we weren't aware of this and booked a service. After the treatment found out it wasn't eligible to use the certificate for. So rule of thumb now if nothing else is going on or we are going by at the proper time then yes but not worth going out of our way for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cpayne Posted April 17, 2016 #74 Share Posted April 17, 2016 I've won several things over the years: 3 carat mystic topaz earrings Free dinner for 2 at a specialty restaurant Free hydro massage Husband even won the $1000 bingo jackpot once....ok, that wasn't "free"! But the best thing I ever "won" on a cruise ship.....HIM! I met him on a cruise ship in 1997 and now married almost 19 yrs ago. Ok, he hasn't been "free" either! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DM_KidAtHeart Posted April 17, 2016 #75 Share Posted April 17, 2016 My mom has won at the spa raffle 3 times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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