FREE CRUISE

[Florida_gal_50]

5 hours ago, friendswithdave said:

While it's probably obvious to most, the free trips being given away are trips HAL is CERTAIN that will not sell out - at least for inside rooms. Their algorithms probably also tell them that the people being offered these free trips will NOT be booking that or a similar trip. Two of the cruises mentioned are ones I have my eye on in December because they are typically very undersold. I cruise on these because rates are rock bottom making it affordable for me. I probably won't get a free cruise since they know I tend to book these less popular cruises already. 

 

While there are a few people frustrated they have to pay for something someone else gets for free, I'm sure this works in HAL's favor in terms of revenues. They know these cruises will not sell out so the goodwill and extra on-board spending they get out of free cruises make up for the frustration those on these boards feel. 

While I can buy that to a degree how do they know 8 months before that a cruise isn't going to sell out?  Why not give a price break if it isn't selling well instead of charging top dollar to some and giving it away to others.  I have a cruise booked for late next year and I'm just annoyed enough to cancel it.

[Florida_gal_50]

3 hours ago, Haljo1935 said:

I agree w/the poor customer service, but at same time w/o being a HAL cheerleader (as I do believe all lines have their issues) I am trying to find compelling reason to stay loyal, as a 4* Mariner who appreciates that status.

We are fortunate to be able to cruise at all, but don’t have unlimited resources, so we need to be frugal w/our budgets and make good choices w/our vacation $$. Utilizing the free and discounted offers are ways we can do that.

At least you are getting these offers.  I'm a 5 star and I'm seeing zip.

[Haljo1935]

5 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

At least you are getting these offers.  I'm a 5 star and I'm seeing zip.

I've received 1 this year; the others were early last year, so big gap between them. My sister 3* got 2 this year.

[Haljo1935]

12 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

While I can buy that to a degree how do they know 8 months before that a cruise isn't going to sell out?  Why not give a price break if it isn't selling well instead of charging top dollar to some and giving it away to others.  I have a cruise booked for late next year and I'm just annoyed enough to cancel it.

I was shocked to learn AK and landcruises were on a list. Someone sent it to me (I didn't receive it) - it had more than 2 pages!! 

I thought it was just "regular" cruises like 7 day Caribbean, for example, that they were giving away or reducing. Nope! Even 28 day Europe someone else said.

I'd gladly pay the air and taxes to get the cruise portion. 

[Haljo1935]

Every time I see this topic come up, I tell myself I'm not even going to read the posts cuz I know it will just tick me off, but then I get sucked back in.

And here I am again. 🤧😥😱

[friendswithdave]

I'm sure HAL and the rest have lots of data analysts who can predict very accurately which ships will be undersold and need to go on sale or give out freebees. I expect they start looking at this 6-9 months out. Maximizing the revenue from every customer is key to their business model. This means there are some routes that need sales (and free cruises) while others can command near full price. Flexible and savvy consumers can determine which cruises will be sold on the cheap and can pursue those to their advantage. As to who gets the free cruise offers, that's a real tough one!

[rodndonna]

I could be mistaken, but I always thought it was actually The Players Club (Casino) that was footing the bill for the comped  cabins  by paying HAL for them, and that they were separate financially from HAL. I assumed  HAL was getting some minimal cabin rate from the Players Club (enough to cover HAL's cost) and then anything spent outside Casino would be profit for HAL.

 

This is how I had "imagined" it might work - 

 

HAL would offer the blocks of cabins out to the Players Club on selected sailings (projected low occupancy?) along with a corresponding Mariner list with  preference to those with higher non-Casino spend patterns. The Players Club would then put together the complimentary cabin offers based on what they get from HAL together with what they see of our Casino play. 

 

 

 

[Hobby3333]

Lightning hits again.   I just received another set of free inside cruises.   This time Alaska, Canada and some Northern Europe cruises.  Kinda afraid to show my wife.   

[Momsbuyer]

Are these emails coming from a Holland American email account? Is it clear who is sending the email? Want to make sure it is not going into the junk folder.  😆

 

[SweetsugarNL]

8 hours ago, friendswithdave said:

While it's probably obvious to most, the free trips being given away are trips HAL is CERTAIN that will not sell out - at least for inside rooms. Their algorithms probably also tell them that the people being offered these free trips will NOT be booking that or a similar trip. Two of the cruises mentioned are ones I have my eye on in December because they are typically very undersold. I cruise on these because rates are rock bottom making it affordable for me. I probably won't get a free cruise since they know I tend to book these less popular cruises already. 

 

While there are a few people frustrated they have to pay for something someone else gets for free, I'm sure this works in HAL's favor in terms of revenues. They know these cruises will not sell out so the goodwill and extra on-board spending they get out of free cruises make up for the frustration those on these boards feel. 

Which are undersold?

[rodndonna]

26 minutes ago, Momsbuyer said:

Are these emails coming from a Holland American email account? Is it clear who is sending the email? Want to make sure it is not going into the junk folder.  😆

 

 

HAL account - 

hollandamerica@em.hollandamerica.com

 

[Momsbuyer]

Just now, rodndonna said:

 

HAL account - 

hollandamerica@em.hollandamerica.com

 

Thank you!

 

[Florida_gal_50]

3 hours ago, Haljo1935 said:

I was shocked to learn AK and landcruises were on a list. Someone sent it to me (I didn't receive it) - it had more than 2 pages!! 

I thought it was just "regular" cruises like 7 day Caribbean, for example, that they were giving away or reducing. Nope! Even 28 day Europe someone else said.

I'd gladly pay the air and taxes to get the cruise portion. 

I’ve seen a couple people say they got a deeply discounted or free 28 day Amazon cruise next February.  That’s insane.  Like you say a 7 day Caribbean is one thing.  That’s quite another. I really don’t care about Alaska.  I’ve been there a few times and that’s enough.  It’s cold 10 months of the year here so it holds little appeal.

[Haljo1935]

1 minute ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

I’ve seen a couple people say they got a deeply discounted or free 28 day Amazon cruise next February.  That’s insane.  Like you say a 7 day Caribbean is one thing.  That’s quite another. I really don’t care about Alaska.  I’ve been there a few times and that’s enough.  It’s cold 10 months of the year here so it holds little appeal.

I saw that free 28 day Amazon one mentioned, too, and thought "why didn't HAL send me that offer? They know my birthday is in Feb" lol.

I understand them doing it on the heels of Covid to jumpstart the industry and get us back on the water and show investors the ships are filling up, but not now when people are tripping over each other to get away from home.

[rodndonna]

6 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

I’ve seen a couple people say they got a deeply discounted or free 28 day Amazon cruise next February.  That’s insane.  Like you say a 7 day Caribbean is one thing.  That’s quite another. I really don’t care about Alaska.  I’ve been there a few times and that’s enough.  It’s cold 10 months of the year here so it holds little appeal.

 

I've only seen on mention of the 28 day Amazon cruise being comped (alone with others) - but amazingly enough they say they have never been in the Casino. That is one I really can't fathom...

[Haljo1935]

1 minute ago, rodndonna said:

 

I've only seen on mention of the 28 day Amazon cruise being comped (alone with others) - but amazingly enough they say they have never been in the Casino. That is one I really can't fathom...

Yeah I just can't think about that part - I've never been in casino but previously got many many free casino rate offers. It's too painful & confusing to go down that Memory Lane. Makes no sense.

[Florida_gal_50]

7 minutes ago, rodndonna said:

 

I've only seen on mention of the 28 day Amazon cruise being comped (alone with others) - but amazingly enough they say they have never been in the Casino. That is one I really can't fathom...

And that’s what bothers me.  I don’t like give away casino fares that much either but at least the person is dropping some money there.  I’m really not buying people spend a lot on board.  I’d put my spending up against others  and I do pretty good in that area.  I really don’t care about the casino fares that offer 20 or 30 percent off.  That’s not a big deal.

[Florida_gal_50]

16 minutes ago, Haljo1935 said:

I saw that free 28 day Amazon one mentioned, too, and thought "why didn't HAL send me that offer? They know my birthday is in Feb" lol.

I understand them doing it on the heels of Covid to jumpstart the industry and get us back on the water and show investors the ships are filling up, but not now when people are tripping over each other to get away from home.

That was different for sure.

[friendswithdave]

1 hour ago, SweetsugarNL said:

Which are undersold?

The undersold ones I am most familiar with are seven day in the Caribbean in early to mid December and one-way seven day Alaska cruises. When we sailed in December last year they said our boat was 70% full. I think that is common for these cruises before the Christmas break.

[AllTheSun]

1 hour ago, Hobby3333 said:

Lightning hits again.   I just received another set of free inside cruises.   This time Alaska, Canada and some Northern Europe cruises.  Kinda afraid to show my wife.   

With how much I spent on air, HIA, hotels on either end & shore excursions for my “free” casino cruise this Fall I understand this fear

[Haljo1935]

2 hours ago, Hobby3333 said:

Lightning hits again.   I just received another set of free inside cruises.   This time Alaska, Canada and some Northern Europe cruises.  Kinda afraid to show my wife.   

Triple checked my email - received nothing, nada, zilch from HAL.

So, apparently I will not be going to AK, Canada or No Europe at a discounted rate. You're welcome, HAL, for the extra $$ from me.

[Hobby3333]

Just now, Haljo1935 said:

Triple checked my email - received nothing, nada, zilch from HAL.

So, apparently I will not be going to AK, Canada or No Europe at a discounted rate. You're welcome, HAL, for the extra $$ from me.

Really not sure why I got two emails from HAL….  

[Haljo1935]

8 minutes ago, Hobby3333 said:

Really not sure why I got two emails from HAL….  

Cuz they like you better? LoL🤔

I do genuine hope you find one or two to enjoy and have a great time. 🙂

Edited June 14, 2023 by Haljo1935
Typo

[Hobby3333]

Just now, Haljo1935 said:

Cuz they like you better? Lo

I am a likable guy.   

[Haljo1935]

1 minute ago, Hobby3333 said:

I am a likable guy.   

You have to be - you live in TX!!