$25 dollar cruise!

[IntrepidFromDC]

On 12/17/2021 at 1:06 PM, TechDiva said:

I think that once you book a cruise at that low rate, they don't offer it again to you until you have taken the cruise.  I had the same happen to me.  I booked a $25 cruise for October.  The low rates disappeared after that.  Since returning, I've been getting the $25 cruise offers again.

That usually happens to me too.  But several times the super-low rates (e.g., $25, $100 w/$200obc + $250 casino cash) remained active after I booked the first so I immediately booked a second.  Just have to keep looking at your deal of the day, I think.

[HarborHermit]

I've had some good offers since cruising started up again, but nothing like last year before the vaccines rolled out. I think they sent me some $25 offers back then. Wish they would throw some more of those my way now.

[SNJCruisers]

No idea how the algorithm chooses who gets or doesn't get one of these deals.  I know many are tied into the west coast sailings on the Panorama or promotions through the casino.  Have done 20 sailings over the past 35 years and currently have 5 bookings on Excel Class.

[rolaur]

Booked Alaska August 2022 and New Year 8 day 2022/23 each for $100 plus fees with $1000 casino cash and DOU everywhere. The deals are just amazing right now.

[hurricane0226]

30 minutes ago, rolaur said:

Booked Alaska August 2022 and New Year 8 day 2022/23 each for $100 plus fees with $1000 casino cash and DOU everywhere. The deals are just amazing right now.

Me too. 

[Markmom18]

1 hour ago, rolaur said:

Booked Alaska August 2022 and New Year 8 day 2022/23 each for $100 plus fees with $1000 casino cash and DOU everywhere. The deals are just amazing right now.

   
   Ok, I bit …just went to Carnival. August 2022 Alaska 7 Day Cruise. Lowest price of the MONTH .…   $539pp.
 
  Whatever the great deals you guys are getting, I’m not part of that Group. I just don’t understand.  I’m figuring Carnival still needs cruisers who pay a regular rate, in order to give some the unbelievable deals.

 

  I’m Platinum in March. We’ve been cruising a lot of years & have a few between Carnval & Royal, but whatever magic dust ya need …. we aren’t sprinkled with it … 😒😒

 

  🛳🛳

  Bobbi 

[SNJCruisers]

2 hours ago, Markmom18 said:

   
   Ok, I bit …just went to Carnival. August 2022 Alaska 7 Day Cruise. Lowest price of the MONTH .…   $539pp.
 
  Whatever the great deals you guys are getting, I’m not part of that Group. I just don’t understand.  I’m figuring Carnival still needs cruisers who pay a regular rate, in order to give some the unbelievable deals.

 

  I’m Platinum in March. We’ve been cruising a lot of years & have a few between Carnval & Royal, but whatever magic dust ya need …. we aren’t sprinkled with it … 😒😒

 

  🛳🛳

  Bobbi 

Bobbi... regular cruisers only get deals if the algorithm bestows it to you.  The majority of these deals are casino deals for the gambling crowd.  Carnival gets them on board, gives them OBC, gives them drinks in the casino or if they are higher rated, all over the ship.  Carnival will make their money back in spades because of the donations that the gamblers leave behind.

There recently were many people mentioning about rock bottom prices on the Panorama.  Maybe west coast people are being targeted, don't know and don't care.

I've sailed on Carnival 20 times over the past 35 years and I have 5 more booked in the next 13 months on the Excel Class.  All of the other classes are in my rearview mirror unless there is some port I wish to go to that another line doesn't have a newer larger ship on than one of the older Carnival ships.

[Markmom18]

Hi SNJ,

 

   Thanks for replying. It IS what it is …. I have to let this go. 🌌

 

  I  just stop reading about the $25 to $100 Balcony cabins people post here on CC. 
Long Beach is our Home Port, it’s less than an hour away.  We’ll be on the Panorama for the second time in March. And had 1 cancelled with Covid.  So, locals cruising on Panorama hasn’t produced those magical numbers other people receive.

 

  For many years I’ve taken the 3 - 7 day cruises offered on whatever ship is in the Port . But, yeah, I consider gambling anything more than $20-$40 a day on a cruise a waste of my money. Per day savings could be going towards another cruise 🛳😁❣️

  My husband gambles, it’s his “fun” on the cruise. He also is happy going just once a year (or no cruises a year 😂).  He’s never gotten any reduced offers from Carnival. But, during the last 2 years, Royal has offered a free Interior for weekend cruises. So far, the timing has not worked out.

 

  I’m booked on a Royal B2B in a few weeks. All vaccinated & the have booster, I have no problem wearing masks. Collectively I’d say the majority of us have been following California’s guidelines or mandates. For my personal safety & for those who can’t or won’t look after their own.  
 

🛳🛳

Bobbi 

 

 

[ArchieCruise]

18 minutes ago, Markmom18 said:

Hi SNJ,

 

   Thanks for replying. It IS what it is …. I have to let this go. 🌌

 

  I  just stop reading about the $25 to $100 Balcony cabins people post here on CC. 
Long Beach is our Home Port, it’s less than an hour away.  We’ll be on the Panorama for the second time in March. And had 1 cancelled with Covid.  So, locals cruising on Panorama hasn’t produced those magical numbers other people receive.

 

  For many years I’ve taken the 3 - 7 day cruises offered on whatever ship is in the Port . But, yeah, I consider gambling anything more than $20-$40 a day on a cruise a waste of my money. Per day savings could be going towards another cruise 🛳😁❣️

  My husband gambles, it’s his “fun” on the cruise. He also is happy going just once a year (or no cruises a year 😂).  He’s never gotten any reduced offers from Carnival. But, during the last 2 years, Royal has offered a free Interior for weekend cruises. So far, the timing has not worked out.

 

  I’m booked on a Royal B2B in a few weeks. All vaccinated & the have booster, I have no problem wearing masks. Collectively I’d say the majority of us have been following California’s guidelines or mandates. For my personal safety & for those who can’t or won’t look after their own.  
 

🛳🛳

Bobbi 

 

 

i just recently booked the Panorama for January and had a fare of $293 per person for a deluxe ocean view including the port taxes.  This wasn’t as low as some other offers but still a great deal compared to non-COVID times.  

[NutsAboutGolf]

Another datapoint, I just booked a cruise using a casino offer (Premiere Cruise, pretty selective to week long Caribbean sailings) which had more free play than the entire cost of the sailing including gratuities.  I looked to book a second sailing with a different offer with half of the free play and to my surprise the original Premiere Cruise offer pops up and allowed me to book the second sailing with the same offer as the first.  So then I go to book a third 3rd cruise using the unused offer and it let's me again use the Premiere Cruise or allows me to book three sailings with the same offer although I haven't fully checked out on this one.  Is this normal?  lol

[icft]

20 minutes ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

Another datapoint, I just booked a cruise using a casino offer (Premiere Cruise, pretty selective to week long Caribbean sailings) which had more free play than the entire cost of the sailing including gratuities.  I looked to book a second sailing with a different offer with half of the free play and to my surprise the original Premiere Cruise offer pops up and allowed me to book the second sailing with the same offer as the first.  So then I go to book a third 3rd cruise using the unused offer and it let's me again use the Premiere Cruise or allows me to book three sailings with the same offer although I haven't fully checked out on this one.  Is this normal?  lol

I think this is common these days and not just for Premiere Cruises. We had booked five cruises under a "Plan Now - Pay Later" offer that was free balcony, free drinks everywhere  (for me only - DW free in casino only) and a thousand casino cash. They are paying us to cruise. After I booked the first cruise the offer was still there. In fact it is still there now - but only for sailings in the second half of 2022. We have already gone of two of those.

[Roger88]

3 hours ago, ArchieCruise said:

i just recently booked the Panorama for January and had a fare of $293 per person for a deluxe ocean view including the port taxes.  This wasn’t as low as some other offers but still a great deal compared to non-COVID times.  

Sounds like a good deal to me. Panorama is a great cruiser and 293$ per person doesnt seem like too much. Deluxe ocean view sounds very nice. I wonder how long the entire cruise is? If its like 5 to 7 days - its perfect, simply perfect 

[NutsAboutGolf]

7 minutes ago, icft said:

I think this is common these days and not just for Premiere Cruises. We had booked five cruises under a "Plan Now - Pay Later" offer that was free balcony, free drinks everywhere  (for me only - DW free in casino only) and a thousand casino cash. They are paying us to cruise. After I booked the first cruise the offer was still there. In fact it is still there now - but only for sailings in the second half of 2022. We have already gone of two of those.

 

Interesting, thanks for sharing!  Sounds like we have the exact same offer.  I booked MG and Horizon and both let me book Aft balconies.  My big problem is I only have so much vacation time, I had planned on using other offers for a Carnival Iceland sailing and another for a Carnival Norway sailing, but now I'm thinking of more Premiere Caribbean ones.  I also have some Australia offers but they're Oceanviews.

[icft]

18 minutes ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

 

Interesting, thanks for sharing!  Sounds like we have the exact same offer.  I booked MG and Horizon and both let me book Aft balconies.  My big problem is I only have so much vacation time, I had planned on using other offers for a Carnival Iceland sailing and another for a Carnival Norway sailing, but now I'm thinking of more Premiere Caribbean ones.  I also have some Australia offers but they're Oceanviews.

When we went on our first of these cruises we assumed they were Premier Cruises with the casino cash and all. But when we asked about the first evening gathering they usually have on Premier Cruises we found out it is not a Premier Cruise. So when the usual gift perks don't arrive and there is nothing to tell you how to get them don't freak out - they ain't coming.

[NutsAboutGolf]

58 minutes ago, icft said:

When we went on our first of these cruises we assumed they were Premier Cruises with the casino cash and all. But when we asked about the first evening gathering they usually have on Premier Cruises we found out it is not a Premier Cruise. So when the usual gift perks don't arrive and there is nothing to tell you how to get them don't freak out - they ain't coming.

 

Free $1K in fun cash, most sailings w/tipping are around $450/person all in, I can't complain.  Anyone can 18+ can get a cheap AARP account, they sell the Carnival $500 near-instant e-GC's for $450 which sweetens the deal even more.

[Rudyard]

We got the e-mail a couple of weeks ago. $25 pp for an interior, $200 pp for a balcony for a five day on Breeze. We're probably going to book one for the end of February. We don't gamble that much. Last cruise a couple of months ago we gambled less than $50 between us. 

[nwcruiselover]

I got a balcony on a 7 day Panorama sailing in January for $223.50 solo.  It wasn’t a casino offer, as I’m not a gambler.  Maybe because I’m a West Coaster.  They required pre-paid gratuities to be paid along with cruise fare.  What a deal!

[SNJCruisers]

5 hours ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

  I also have some Australia offers but they're Oceanviews.

Must be tough to turn down a reduced price or free down under cruise because it's only in an Oceanview and not the free balcony you're accustomed to.

I've sailed on Carnival 20 times, 18 in an inside cabin.  The other two were balconies via Amex points on one and with my Dad on the other, who didn't do insides.

[SNJCruisers]

5 hours ago, icft said:

So when the usual gift perks don't arrive and there is nothing to tell you how to get them don't freak out - they ain't coming.

😭😭😭😭

[rolaur]

On 12/21/2021 at 10:45 PM, Markmom18 said:

   
   Ok, I bit …just went to Carnival. August 2022 Alaska 7 Day Cruise. Lowest price of the MONTH .…   $539pp.
 
  Whatever the great deals you guys are getting, I’m not part of that Group. I just don’t understand.  I’m figuring Carnival still needs cruisers who pay a regular rate, in order to give some the unbelievable deals.

 

  I’m Platinum in March. We’ve been cruising a lot of years & have a few between Carnval & Royal, but whatever magic dust ya need …. we aren’t sprinkled with it … 😒😒

 

  🛳🛳

  Bobbi 

Yes we spend a good amount of time in the casino but you don't have to lose to get these deals. It is based on the amount of time you spend there and the average amount of your bet. We have lost $ on some cruises and hit $15K jackpots on others. Even on losing cruises, we would rather give it to the casino with a chance of winning then to corporate with no chance...lol!

[beanie315]

On 12/21/2021 at 9:36 PM, rolaur said:

Booked Alaska August 2022 and New Year 8 day 2022/23 each for $100 plus fees with $1000 casino cash and DOU everywhere. The deals are just amazing right now.

I booked a spa balcony to Bermuda in June with this offer also I booked a spa Oceanview on the Mardi Gras for next NYE . I used another offer to book a panama canal balcony on the freedom in September but on that one they only give me $500 funplay . I consider these offers as free because the $100 we put out we get back in OBC.

[Joebucks]

On 12/16/2021 at 5:03 PM, glrounds said:

Just passed on a total of $201.86 solo, including ports & taxes on the 7-day PANORAMA . . . not interested in pre-testing or masks on board. Have had all shots and booster. 35 cruises on Carnival. I can wait.

 

I'm sorry, but I don't understand this. Passing up a trip purely because of a mask (in some instances) and having to test. If that is so stressful, what is the alternative to happiness? I understand it more for those who have poor health or do not want to be vaccinated.

 

We do not gamble and selected a "more expensive" $650 Panorama fare. It has been far too long. There is zero chance we aren't going to enjoy ourselves.

[Anyislandwilldo]

Boyfriend got free balcony offer.  We booked 5 different cruises off that offer.  And it came with on board credit!!  Can't beat that!

 

[DrSea]

2 minutes ago, Anyislandwilldo said:

Boyfriend got free balcony offer.  We booked 5 different cruises off that offer.  And it came with on board credit!!  Can't beat that!

 

Do you mean that you are sailing for free?

[DrSea]

17 minutes ago, Joebucks said:

 

I'm sorry, but I don't understand this. Passing up a trip purely because of a mask (in some instances) and having to test. If that is so stressful, what is the alternative to happiness? I understand it more for those who have poor health or do not want to be vaccinated.

I don't get it either. Literally makes zero sense to me. It's another piece of cloth that I wear on my face in addition to the cloth I wear on my torso and legs. But to each their own.