Best sale ever frustrations

[azbirdmom]

2 minutes ago, Travelingfreckles said:

My cabin category was also all sold out and that's why other princess travel people kept saying I couldn't refare with the BSE promotion. I just don't know why it's such a hassle and why so many people get different responses. Obviously it really comes down to someone knowledgeable and finding ways around the blocks. 

 

Yes but you lost your original perks which in your case seemed to be fine since you wound up in a better place.  The math worked for you too but in our case fares have increased for both cruises.  Like I said, my TA will keep trying but at the end of the day I do have a good deal, it just would be nice if I could add the buy up option that everyone else can buy!

[lstone19]

Since this has turned into BSE and casino rates, seems like a good place to ask. Currently have a Hawaii cruise booked for Jan 2021 under Cyber (Internet, OBC, wine, specialty dining) plus BEST2DG (beverage package and gratuities) promotion. Then received the casino brochure pushing BSE (strangely, the casino host on that last cruise where I played a lot and after sending chocolate strawberries to the room said at end of cruise that I didn't play enough to qualify for anything).

 

I'm sure there are different brochures for different levels. Mine offers $50 casino play and "save up to 35%". If I am reading the fine print right, rebooking with this makes the deposit non-refundable (I assume we can still use a FCD) and since it's a Hawaii cruise, that "up to 35%" becomes 25% for insides and 20% for oceanview (we're in an obstructed oceanview (one that has no straight-out obstructions!) - I assume it's still only 20% even though Princess now sells obstructed under the inside drill-down on the web site). Do I understand how this works correctly? By my math, switching to the casino rate and BSE and factoring in the value of other promotions given up saves us about $160 per person but at the risk of making the deposit non-refundable.

 

Have not talked to TA yet due to the holidays.

 

[azbirdmom]

9 hours ago, lstone19 said:

Since this has turned into BSE and casino rates, seems like a good place to ask. Currently have a Hawaii cruise booked for Jan 2021 under Cyber (Internet, OBC, wine, specialty dining) plus BEST2DG (beverage package and gratuities) promotion. Then received the casino brochure pushing BSE (strangely, the casino host on that last cruise where I played a lot and after sending chocolate strawberries to the room said at end of cruise that I didn't play enough to qualify for anything).

 

I'm sure there are different brochures for different levels. Mine offers $50 casino play and "save up to 35%". If I am reading the fine print right, rebooking with this makes the deposit non-refundable (I assume we can still use a FCD) and since it's a Hawaii cruise, that "up to 35%" becomes 25% for insides and 20% for oceanview (we're in an obstructed oceanview (one that has no straight-out obstructions!) - I assume it's still only 20% even though Princess now sells obstructed under the inside drill-down on the web site). Do I understand how this works correctly? By my math, switching to the casino rate and BSE and factoring in the value of other promotions given up saves us about $160 per person but at the risk of making the deposit non-refundable.

 

Have not talked to TA yet due to the holidays.

 

 The casino host probably was referring to the CBS offers which are the letters that you receive on the last day of the cruise indicating what amount of free play and / or free cruise level you earned for a future cruise that they are enticing you to book.  That is completely separate from how they determine the folks who receive the other casino offers.

 

You do have it right.  For an obstructed OV cabin, you would get 20% off the entire fare inclusive of the BSE amenities.  Your TA should be able to refare for you by using the "CASINO" code and you should be able to keep your same cabin.  That particular promo says new bookings only but a seasoned TA should be able to figure it out for you.  And if you use a TA that discounts, you'll get that discount on top of the casino savings.  Your FCD applies as well.

 

As for the non refundable deposit, that is a new wrinkle for this particular promotion.  "Regular" BSE has a refundable deposit and I did book a cruise with a casino discount for 2021 with BSE perks + refundable deposit.  It wasn't one of the cruises listed in the brochure but then I'm not getting any free play, well at least for now.