Targeted email offer - Complimentary Verandah cabin

[HUNKY]

Yesterday I received a targeted email offering a COMPLIMENTARY verandah (obstructed) cabin.  HAL has many cruises this summer and into fall.  Alaska, New England and a few out of Europe.

 

We booked Konigsdam out of Vancouver this morning, too good to pass up.

 

Anyone else get this email and book a cruise?

[Mary229]

wow, lucky you.  Was it a casino offer?

[DaveOKC]

Now that the US is lifting the Covid testing requirements for flights from Canada, this deal is a more viable option IMO.  Sounds like a good casino offer.

 

[HUNKY]

DaveOKC - This is NOT a casino offer!

[Mary229]

4 minutes ago, HUNKY said:

DaveOKC - This is NOT a casino offer!

Wow. Lucky you.  Do you have any insight as to why you were made this offer?   

[FlaMariner]

Any direct mail/email offer I've ever gotten requires me to pay.  

 

(I never win anything and I'm never on the "free" cruise list.  LOL)

[HUNKY]

Mary229 - No idea why I was targeted.  I'm two star with HAL, we've booked inside and verandah cabins.  No expensive spa or shorex.

 

Today I received an email survey from HAL that will take twenty or thirty minutes to complete.  Trying to influence my responses?

[Florida_gal_50]

4 minutes ago, HUNKY said:

Mary229 - No idea why I was targeted.  I'm two star with HAL, we've booked inside and verandah cabins.  No expensive spa or shorex.

 

Today I received an email survey from HAL that will take twenty or thirty minutes to complete.  Trying to influence my responses?

I got that same survey.  No free cruise for me ;).

[lazey1]

I also got the same Complementary Veranda offer must cruise before 11/5/22.  Since I just got off the Konigsdam in a veranda I am not going to take advantage.  Too bad there was nothing for 2023.

 

[BermudaBound2014]

I also received the offer. Just pay port and taxes. 

[*Miss G*]

[DaveOKC]

WOW - if HAL is now giving away free cabins to non-gamblers, they must really be hurting!  At least the gamblers will very likely generate good revenue and profits for HAL.

 

[kangforpres]

I filled out the survey today. so maybe my free offer is forthcoming?

[KAKcruiser]

I would love to get this offer.  Wonder how to get on the mailing list.

[sfaaa]

Dang. How come I don't get emails like this?

[whee-sailing]

Pardon my total ignorance, but does this mean a completely free cabin? Or does it mean you pay the lowest price but get a complimentary upgrade to veranda?

 

If it's completely free, why would HAL offer this for people who don't have a history of spending on casino, spa, etc?

[BermudaBound2014]

23 minutes ago, whee-sailing said:

Pardon my total ignorance, but does this mean a completely free cabin? Or does it mean you pay the lowest price but get a complimentary upgrade to veranda?

 

If it's completely free, why would HAL offer this for people who don't have a history of spending on casino, spa, etc?

 

My offer was completely free for the cabin, but I had to pay taxes and port fees. I won't buy until the possibility of quarantine is removed, but obviously that's just me.

 

My guess right now is that HAL is targeting customers who haven't sailed with them in awhile. Trying to tap into returning guests who may have been electing to sail other lines. My last HAL trip was about 5 years ago with HAL. 

 

For what it's worth, it is not uncommon for incentive programs to be offered to guests who are less than loyal as they are banking on loyal guests remaining loyal. This is one of the reasons I have zero brand loyalty in most things.  

[whee-sailing]

Interesting. Thank you for the info.

[Florida_gal_50]

2 hours ago, DaveOKC said:

WOW - if HAL is now giving away free cabins to non-gamblers, they must really be hurting!  At least the gamblers will very likely generate good revenue and profits for HAL.

 

How so?  They are giving free cabins to gamblers.  How much exactly are they making especially when people say they hardly gamble and get offers? 

[cruisin'mama]

My husband just got another casino offer but unfortunately we still can’t take advantage of it. Next month my friend and I leave for a 3 week hiking trip to Yellowstone, Glacier and Grand Teton. Then my brother and I are doing a military trip to Wake Island in Micronesia where our father was captured at the start of WWII then spent 44 months as a Japanese POW. And then we are visiting grandkids in Texas for Christmas. But I did book an Alaska June 2023 cruise today! 😁 ( paying for that one, not a freebie)

[BermudaBound2014]

3 minutes ago, cruisin'mama said:

My husband just got another casino offer but unfortunately we still can’t take advantage of it. Next month my friend and I leave for a 3 week hiking trip to Yellowstone, Glacier and Grand Teton. Then my brother and I are doing a military trip to Wake Island in Micronesia where our father was captured at the start of WWII then spent 44 months as a Japanese POW. And then we are visiting grandkids in Texas for Christmas. But I did book an Alaska June 2023 cruise today! 😁 ( paying for that one, not a freebie)

 

We spent last October hiking just Yellowstone and Grand Teton. Amazing trip. Glacier is equally stunning. This is why I'm not in any hurry to sail again until the quarantine requirements have vanished. There is so much to see and do on land that, as much as I love cruising, I'm not willing to take the risk.  You are going to have a great time!

[BermudaBound2014]

17 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

How so?  They are giving free cabins to gamblers.  How much exactly are they making especially when people say they hardly gamble and get offers? 

 

It's obvious that the market for those willing to pay to cruise is limited, and it appears to be getting smaller by the month (if financial releases are to be believed). At some point then need bodies as there are other revenue generators once people are onboard. It seems as though those getting free cruises are willing to spend more onboard (again, if the quarterly releases are to be believed).

 

I'm sure CCL has it down to a science. I know that RCL just published that in order for them to make a profit on a sailing they need to have 90% occupancy. Occupancy in the first quarter was only 54% for CCL. Summer should bring that up, but then we move into the historically slow season of the fall.

[ChinaShrek]

I like the free cruise offers. I took one in February on the Rotterdam and I have another one booked on the Koningsdam for Christmas. I travel solo so I am not sure they are making that much money on me. I usually set a limit of around $500 that I am willing to lose in the casino and if I hit that I stop. Because I have been to a lot of the ports already once or twice, I am not really booking a lot of shore excursions with HAL. Yes, I am bringing them some cash but it probably isn't that much. 

[DaveOKC]

13 hours ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

How so?  They are giving free cabins to gamblers.  How much exactly are they making especially when people say they hardly gamble and get offers? 

IMO, what HAL is banking on is that while some gamblers will only lose a small amount, others will lose alot.  Its a matter of averages.  Plus, if the ships are only sailing half full, the "marginal" cost to them to give away a cabin is minimal and most people will spend money on onboard items - empty cabins do not provide this extra revenue.

[Florida_gal_50]

47 minutes ago, DaveOKC said:

IMO, what HAL is banking on is that while some gamblers will only lose a small amount, others will lose alot.  Its a matter of averages.  Plus, if the ships are only sailing half full, the "marginal" cost to them to give away a cabin is minimal and most people will spend money on onboard items - empty cabins do not provide this extra revenue.

It would be interesting to see an onboard account of someone that gets a free cruise.  Maybe they spend a lot, I don’t know.  I can see someone that bets a lot have a larger account balance, maybe not so much for someone that spends $5 a day.  But who knows.  I spend enough for 10 people.