Please be honest about your casino offers. I am curious.

[BermudaBound2014]

1 hour ago, RynoWally said:

 

I am speechless, I am without out speech.....

 

But you still have those drinks, correct? 🙂 

[Florida_gal_50]

48 minutes ago, Vict0riann said:

 

Do they?

Nope.  It maybe $100 or $200 off and I bet they go out to anyone who has sailed hal and doesn't have a marketing block on their account.  That's hardly deeply discounted 

[BermudaBound2014]

3 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

Nope.  It maybe $100 or $200 off and I bet they go out to anyone who has sailed hal and doesn't have a marketing block on their account.  That's hardly deeply discounted 

 

This is likely correct. Cruise lines have never given much to loyal customers. That's why I have zero brand loyalty in return. I select the line I want, on the itinerary I want, at a price I want. Easy Peasy.

[RynoWally]

13 minutes ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

 

But you still have those drinks, correct? 🙂 

For sure, I'll be on the Rotterdam all of May. Get Some

[OlsSalt]

Even taking the "highest bidder" for suite upsells is a gamble - not sure who gets to decide what and when they get the highest offer,, because once we turned down an offer, counter-offered and was turned down. Only to learn later when cabin numbers were announced, that  we got a Neptune suite anyway, for no extra cost.

 

They took a gamble they would get more than what we counter-offered, but apparently they did not so the roles got reversed on that one. Too bad they were not on top of our former offer, because we would have been willing to pay them that amount. 

 

Sometimes there are Neptunes available  with some major, but not material, flaws, like a large crack in the verandah window (behind the curtains) that they know they can't sell to a full price Neptune customer, but still  can book it as a throw away "free" to someone who might be a little more forgiving - like the higher star Mariners,  who pretty much know the ups and downs of the HAL brand by then, and like HAL anyway.

 

We  always have a per diem in mind - how much more will we pay per day for an upsell to a Neptune and if we get close to that, we take it. If not we stick with our original choice. And we still look very carefully at the location of any upsell, because they can be some clinkers even at the higher suite levels. We don't think there is much benefit if the Neptune Lounge is on another floor or even a long passage way away on the larger ships. 

 

I recall one complaint about a Neptune Suite located right under the ping pong table in the Lido on one ship - hadn't thought about that but they found it was a pretty annoying sound intrusion. So that would not be a bargain upsell at any price. (maybe!)

[madera1]

I am a 4 star mariner who normally books through a big box company and have been receiving  free cabin offers for about one year. My 100 year old mom has been getting these offers as well. I probably spent a total of $20 over the years on slots.

[BermudaBound2014]

1 minute ago, madera1 said:

I am a 4 star mariner who normally books through a big box company and have been receiving  free cabin offers for about one year. My 100 year old mom has been getting these offers as well. I probably spent a total of $20 over the years on slots.

I love this!!! 🙂

[Florida_gal_50]

9 minutes ago, madera1 said:

I am a 4 star mariner who normally books through a big box company and have been receiving  free cabin offers for about one year. My 100 year old mom has been getting these offers as well. I probably spent a total of $20 over the years on slots.

That can’t possibly be the case.  You have to spend thousands and thousands to get them according to a few people on this thread 😂.

[idiebabe]

3 hours ago, albingirl said:

It would be nice if 4 and 5* people got these offers.  Of course they don't want to be reminded that they have paid thousands of dollars per cruise, while Carnival Corp. is just giving it away to gamblers.  I was hoping for some insight. In my world, I pay alot and others do not.  So, just checking to see what's the deal. It's pretty simple.

We’re 5 Star and get these Offers now because we spend money in the Casino!  We have taken four  Cruises since the Restart.  Two were Non-Casino Offers and two were Casino Offers.  Our next Cruise on May 28th is a Casino Offer (two more booked after that and before the end of the Year are not).  We have Family joining us and there are a total of five rooms booked.  Two with Casino Offers and three Non-Casino.  Those three Rooms are booked as a result of us going with our Casino Offer and HAL is making a lot of money because of it!
 

All our Casino Offers we have paid to upgrade the Room,  we buy Wine Packages, drinks at Happy Hour, Shore Excursions and pay Crew Incentive, etc. not to mention what we spend in the Casino itself.  We cannot add any Promo like the HIA or apply Stock for  OBC.  So our Casino Offers are far from “free” Cruises.
 

I enjoy seeing when people post their Offers even when their Offers are better than mine and happy for people who have strung their Offers together and have taken B2B2B (something we haven’t been able to do because of commitments), etc.  

 

If you can’t be happy for people and it’s eating you up with resentment then come join us all at the Slots.  At any rate be happy because life is way too short!  

 

 

[KAKcruiser]

I have never heard of auctions for cabins on HAL.  They have them on other cruise lines.  Are you sure?

[Xubery]

I’ve gotten many fabulous offers and get them constantly. Often a free balcony and $500 credit and I’ve been on at least 15 or more free ones with a friend along. Sometimes it’s a mini suite, recently they give free drink package, internet, gratuities, a free specialty dinner and casino credit with a balcony at least.

[Petersonfcu]

Deleted.

Edited April 29, 2022 by Petersonfcu

[DaveOKC]

8 hours ago, KAKcruiser said:

I have never heard of auctions for cabins on HAL.  They have them on other cruise lines.  Are you sure?

Neither have I heard of this on HAL.  I have tried to make an offer to HAL for an upsell, but they have rejected them, even when I was quite reasonable on my price.  For example, once I really wanted an upsell to a Neptune and made them an offer of $400 to move from a Signature.  They turned me down, but two days later they sent me an email (I think it was a mass mailing) offering the exact upsell for $250!  Obviously I accepted!  

[VermeulT]

14 hours ago, albingirl said:

This is a policy decision by Carnival Corp.   Carnival owns Holland America.  Rather than reward loyal customers, they have chosen to reach out in a different direction, toward gamblers. Business models would show that.  New cruisers, new gamblers, the demographics are getting old anyway.  It costs more to get new customers than to retain old ones.  It's a new direction, and I doubt the end of the pandemic will change things that much.  Younger people are gravitating to RCL and Celebrity and so on.  

These are loyal customers.  They are previous cruisers that [mostly] spend in the casino.  They're not trying to convince these people to try HAL and fall in love and pay full price next time. 

Now Carnival is saying - show us your loyalty card from on land casino and cruise for near-to-free.

[albingirl]

12 hours ago, idiebabe said:

We’re 5 Star and get these Offers now because we spend money in the Casino!  We have taken four  Cruises since the Restart.  Two were Non-Casino Offers and two were Casino Offers.  Our next Cruise on May 28th is a Casino Offer (two more booked after that and before the end of the Year are not).  We have Family joining us and there are a total of five rooms booked.  Two with Casino Offers and three Non-Casino.  Those three Rooms are booked as a result of us going with our Casino Offer and HAL is making a lot of money because of it!
 

All our Casino Offers we have paid to upgrade the Room,  we buy Wine Packages, drinks at Happy Hour, Shore Excursions and pay Crew Incentive, etc. not to mention what we spend in the Casino itself.  We cannot add any Promo like the HIA or apply Stock for  OBC.  So our Casino Offers are far from “free” Cruises.
 

I enjoy seeing when people post their Offers even when their Offers are better than mine and happy for people who have strung their Offers together and have taken B2B2B (something we haven’t been able to do because of commitments), etc.  

 

If you can’t be happy for people and it’s eating you up with resentment then come join us all at the Slots.  At any rate be happy because life is way too short!  

 

 

Trust me, no one is being eaten up by resentment.  Seems thats a fallacy floating around this thread.  I wondered how people are getting these great discounts.  I'd love to pay for wine packages, drinks at happy hour, shore excursions and crew incentive only on a cruise.  Your cruises may not be free, but they are far and away a real bargain. You can't put words in people's mouths; I've never expressed resentment or anger or jealousy over your great deals. This is something you are making up.

[VermeulT]

20 minutes ago, albingirl said:

You can't put words in people's mouths; I've never expressed resentment or anger or jealousy over your great deals. This is something you are making up.

I think many of us are confused what your position is.  You started this thread to have people honestly tell you the deals they get, and they you seem negative that you have to pay so much for the same cruise.  But you're not jealous or angry or expressing resentment...

[albingirl]

9 minutes ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

 

You absolutely have expressed resentment, anger, and jealousy toward those with casino offers, both in this thread and in other threads on the same subject. We aren't making anything up, it's right here in black and white.......

 

 

 

I believe it is clear to most people in this thread that you are envious of the casino deals. You are allowed to feel that way, just own it. Denial at this point is futile. 

 

 

If you would care to notice, my cause for upset has been about the people bragging about their free cruises.  No where have I been resentful about the deals.  I'm tired of you feeling so compelled to constantly correct me.  I'm done with this thread.  You have been obsessed with my prior remarks which concern the bragging and boasting about their deals.  I'm allowed to "feel that way, just own it" is way out of bounds.

[Wendy-Europe]

I recommend here to think about the "free cabin" in a different way - think like this: how many hours do you have to play in the casino to maybe get such an offer? Some here say they are "a few hours a day" in the casino. If that is their vacation pleasure - perfect. Money well spent at the casino and you even get something out of it.
If it's just to get a free cabin - what could you do in that time that would be more fun? What is the cost of your time? And how much money do you have to lose to even be a candidate?
I don't like being in the casino and I like losing money even less. I prefer to spend my valuable time in other ways.

 

So I will never qualify for a free cabin, I know that and I don't have one minute of regret about it or envy for other people.

 

[kangforpres]

So not to brag but for our 7 day Alaska cruise, RT Vancouver on the K-dam leaving May 7. We were GTY a VH on Deck 4 using a free cabin casino offer and have been assigned a VA on deck 8. This is a "in-category" upgrade which costs $0.

 

TGIF everyone! Remember Gamblers are loyal customers too!

 

-Paul

[kangforpres]

57 minutes ago, Wendy-Europe said:

I recommend here to think about the "free cabin" in a different way - think like this: how many hours do you have to play in the casino to maybe get such an offer? Some here say they are "a few hours a day" in the casino. If that is their vacation pleasure - perfect. Money well spent at the casino and you even get something out of it.
If it's just to get a free cabin - what could you do in that time that would be more fun? What is the cost of your time? And how much money do you have to lose to even be a candidate?
I don't like being in the casino and I like losing money even less. I prefer to spend my valuable time in other ways.

 

So I will never qualify for a free cabin, I know that and I don't have one minute of regret about it or envy for other people.

 

Wendy from Germany I love your avatar!

[daisy-mae]

34 minutes ago, kangforpres said:

So not to brag but for our 7 day Alaska cruise, RT Vancouver on the K-dam leaving May 7. We were GTY a VH on Deck 4 using a free cabin casino offer and have been assigned a VA on deck 8. This is a "in-category" upgrade which costs $0.

 

TGIF everyone! Remember Gamblers are loyal customers too!

 

-Paul

Great to hear! That means that there is hope for the rest of us "freeloaders" (ours is not until September so I will keep my fingers crossed...)

[DaveOKC]

1 hour ago, kangforpres said:

So not to brag but for our 7 day Alaska cruise, RT Vancouver on the K-dam leaving May 7. We were GTY a VH on Deck 4 using a free cabin casino offer and have been assigned a VA on deck 8. This is a "in-category" upgrade which costs $0.

 

TGIF everyone! Remember Gamblers are loyal customers too!

 

-Paul

We got lucky on our Neptune guarantee in Dec - got assigned an SA near the Neptune Lounge!

Surprised me and made our day.

[BermudaBound2014]

7 hours ago, DaveOKC said:

We got lucky on our Neptune guarantee in Dec - got assigned an SA near the Neptune Lounge!

Surprised me and made our day.

 

How wonderful for you! Congratulations. 🙂 🙂 🙂 

[Julia McCoun]

I got one in March and am 7 days away. I haven't gambled as much as my husband so I jumped on a free ocean view cruise.  It appears that the cruises offered were off peak hence the 'free' offer.  Why me?  Maybe they felt sorry for our quarantined Panama Canal cruise.  Since I'm long haul Covid. I'm really upset about reading that smoking has returned to the casino.  Double masked and face shield and gambling as quick as possible.  My husband said he would rather just walk up and hand them $100  since its quicker. 😁.  Anything to finish a bucket list visit to Greece 😍.  Trust me.  They are getting plenty of $$ since I buy all my shore excursions through HAL!!