Winner winner, chicken dinner

[Ima Desert Diva]

Earlier in the year, I went on a 7 day Mexican Riviera cruise.....  A great time was had!  Especially with the good luck I had in the casino playing video poker.  My winnings were certainly no big windfall, but it was $2,000.00 ~ and that's a pretty big win for a cruise casino!  Anyway, in these nine months since that cruise, I receive a multitude of post cards inviting me to book another cruise at A FANTASTIC CASINO RATE.  I also get phone calls from a Carnival vacation planner.  Thus far, I've not responded to either.  Oh I'm going cruising again be sure of that!  Love it......  But when I'm ready, I'll let Carnival know.  Getting down to my "query," are these "special promo deals" really that special??  Can I save a couple of hundred dollars booking another cruise.......or will I simply get an offer to encourage me to gamble more?

[ALWAYS CRUZIN]

2 hours ago, Ima Desert Diva said:

Earlier in the year, I went on a 7 day Mexican Riviera cruise.....  A great time was had!  Especially with the good luck I had in the casino playing video poker.  My winnings were certainly no big windfall, but it was $2,000.00 ~ and that's a pretty big win for a cruise casino!  Anyway, in these nine months since that cruise, I receive a multitude of post cards inviting me to book another cruise at A FANTASTIC CASINO RATE.  I also get phone calls from a Carnival vacation planner.  Thus far, I've not responded to either.  Oh I'm going cruising again be sure of that!  Love it......  But when I'm ready, I'll let Carnival know.  Getting down to my "query," are these "special promo deals" really that special??  Can I save a couple of hundred dollars booking another cruise.......or will I simply get an offer to encourage me to gamble more?

That totally depends. You first check to see the price for the cruise you are considering. Do that on Carnivals web site. Then, I strongly suggest using a very good travel adviser to get you the price. Not the cruise line. The offer usually comes with a promo code. Many times that is the lowest price. It usually includes some gambling money $50 or so and free drinks for you and your guest while gambling. So you need to consider the drink savings. Even though the drinks are available only while you gamble. When we are ready to leave the casino we order a drink each. When we get them, we leave. My TA usually gives us additional OBC.

[Sebleo]

I hear sometimes they are great. I got a Premier cruise offer but it was $100 more per person than if I booked past guest. It included $50 obc for first two guests and drinks on us for first two guests. An okay deal if both people will gamble enough to take advantage of the drinks. 
Some people get close to free cruises. It just depends. 

[silvercrikhix]

The offers really vary. We are not huge gamblers but receive very good offers including $500 casino cash, drinks on us and a reduced cabin fare.  Sometimes the cabin is $100 for an inside, but we upgrade to at least a balcony. 

[Cruise Cynic]

I think Carnival just wants their $2000 back......