Booking 2 Rooms with promos

[UGACamper]

I am considering booking two rooms with different promo codes. Hubby’s VIFP would be used for one and mine for the other. Our friends would be guests. I understand it’s fairly common to request extra room keys from guest services once on board, but do you actually change the cabin mates or just carry two cards? Also, I assume that people go to guest services the last day to sort out charges? If one “cabin” is platinum, can the other “cabin” tag along? What about pre purchased shore excursions? Do they actually look at names on tickets? If 3 of the four people have DOU, is the additional drink package purchased once on board? Thanks for your help!

[mz-s]

There are no names printed on tickets.

 

You can probably actually have guest services change out who is assigned to the rooms, but it's easier just to ask for room keys.

 

Yes you'd have to purchase the fourth drink package once onboard. Note that they will only allow a single Cheers purchase if the other cruiser in that cabin has Drinks on Us Everywhere, not just Drinks on Us while Playing.

 

If the guests in one cabin are not platinum then they cannot be part of the platinum benefits.

[BlerkOne]

My shore excursion tickets have names on them.

 

If Carnival actually read CC, they would put an end to the casino nonsense.

[mz-s]

12 minutes ago, BlerkOne said:

My shore excursion tickets have names on them.

 

If Carnival actually read CC, they would put an end to the casino nonsense.

 

There's really nothing they can do to prevent people from doing what OP is talking about here. I think the collateral damage of not allowing guests to get room keys made would be too great.

Edited August 5 by mz-s

[BlerkOne]

3 minutes ago, mz-s said:

 

There's really nothing they can do to prevent people from doing what OP is talking about here. I think the collateral damage of not allowing guests to get room keys made would be too great.

Of course they can. Put in the terms and conditions of the offers if it isn't already. Banning them would be one way. Doing a better job of monitoring casino offers and withdrawing them another. All Carnival has to do is decide they want to.

 

So besides pulling tips I guess we have another reason for long lines at Guest Services the last day.

[Elaine5715]

29 minutes ago, mz-s said:

 

There's really nothing they can do to prevent people from doing what OP is talking about here. I think the collateral damage of not allowing guests to get room keys made would be too great.

They could.  Many of the people on casino offers are completely switching people and expecting the booking perks to follow them.  Just make sure the perks are locked into the original booked guests.  If you can't switch before the cruise, you shouldn't be able to switch onboard.  This scenario is discussed 3x a day in related Casino groups, they all think it is an original idea, also.     

[UGACamper]

Thank you for your responses. FWIW, I know that the any perks related to the offers follow the ones booked in the same cabin under whatever offer. It’s no different than each parent booking in a separate room then putting the kids in there. Taking advantage of a good price isn’t a bad thing. We “prepay” our cruises in the casino. We tip big. Happy to keep supporting Carnival’s bottom line by filling ships. 
 

I was wondering if when you book, is it one confirmation number? Also, when booking excursions ahead of time, would all 4 people on the booking be listed and I could choose the “correct” guests for the excursion?
 

This booking isn’t an example of trying to get serious perks like Elite for all guests. Just trying to get our friends an opportunity to cruise for a reduced price.

[mz-s]

38 minutes ago, Elaine5715 said:

They could.  Many of the people on casino offers are completely switching people and expecting the booking perks to follow them.  Just make sure the perks are locked into the original booked guests.  If you can't switch before the cruise, you shouldn't be able to switch onboard.  This scenario is discussed 3x a day in related Casino groups, they all think it is an original idea, also.     

 

Many people aren't switching rooms, they're just getting extra room keys. How could they put an end to that?

[Elaine5715]

19 minutes ago, mz-s said:

 

Many people aren't switching rooms, they're just getting extra room keys. How could they put an end to that?

The casino players on offers are switching rooms.  They are splitting up couples for booking and switching onboard to share with spouses.  

[Elaine5715]

26 minutes ago, UGACamper said:

Thank you for your responses. FWIW, I know that the any perks related to the offers follow the ones booked in the same cabin under whatever offer. It’s no different than each parent booking in a separate room then putting the kids in there. Taking advantage of a good price isn’t a bad thing. We “prepay” our cruises in the casino. We tip big. Happy to keep supporting Carnival’s bottom line by filling ships. 
 

I was wondering if when you book, is it one confirmation number? Also, when booking excursions ahead of time, would all 4 people on the booking be listed and I could choose the “correct” guests for the excursion?
 

This booking isn’t an example of trying to get serious perks like Elite for all guests. Just trying to get our friends an opportunity to cruise for a reduced price.

Each stateroom has one confirmation code.  I have never seen them ask for ID on excursions, just for tickets.   

[BlerkOne]

If the casino had wanted the friends to cruise at a reduced rate they would have made them an offer. 

[BlerkOne]

22 minutes ago, Elaine5715 said:

Each stateroom has one confirmation code.  I have never seen them ask for ID on excursions, just for tickets.   

I don't recall having to show id, but many excursions have passengers sign waivers including cabin numbers. I doubt anyone checks that unless there is an accident of some sort.

[bugeater2]

But the casino did make them an offer for their friends.

 

The husband booked a room with his individual offer and it included one other person to sail with him.

 

The wife booked her room with her own offer separate from her husbands and she was also allowed to bring a friend.

 

These scenarios only work when both people have their own offers.

[BlerkOne]

1 hour ago, bugeater2 said:

But the casino did make them an offer for their friends.

 

The husband booked a room with his individual offer and it included one other person to sail with him.

 

The wife booked her room with her own offer separate from her husbands and she was also allowed to bring a friend.

 

These scenarios only work when both people have their own offers.

and what about all the hocus pokus with swapping people/keys around, adjusting statements, etc.

 

Can it be done? Currently probably, but it isn't the intent of the offer. If husband and wife slept in their own cabin, okay. The other person's offer clearly isn't as good.

Edited August 5 by BlerkOne

[UGACamper]

I stand by that it is no different than a family of 4 or more booking two or more rooms.  Each room has to have a VIFP number attached to it.  Mom and Dad with their teens aren't sleeping apart - the kids are in the other room.  Same thing here - "Mom and Dad" aren't sleeping apart and the "kids" are in the other room. The only benefit other than OBC is DOU, which we have for 3 of the 4 guests, hence the need to purchase another package at full price. 

 

I've paid way more than full price for each of our cruises on the back end - it's just nice to only pay taxes and gratuities on the front end. And it sure feels good to be able to offer a better vacation than one could afford on their own. A honeymoon at that! 

[BlerkOne]

Mom and Dad are adults paying for the rooms. They aren't abusing the system. 

 

If all gamblers lost as much as they pretend, Carnival would be debt free. Perhaps the IRS should look at the perks as income.  

[john91498]

20 hours ago, mz-s said:

 

If the guests in one cabin are not platinum then they cannot be part of the platinum benefits.

 

That's not always true.

One of the perks is priority boarding for tenders and there was a group of 3 cabins at Catalina. The first group were platinum while the 2 other groups were first time cruisers. The platinum said to stick with them to the blues. At the priority assembly area, a staff checked the platinums, but didn't bother to check the blues. All 10 people got priority boarding, when only 2 should of. Was going to say something, but it wasn't my business.

[dallasdan]

You don't have to switch statements on board.  When you check in online you can set up 2 different on board accounts with a person from 2 different rooms.  No line at guest services.   

[mz-s]

5 hours ago, john91498 said:

 

That's not always true.

One of the perks is priority boarding for tenders and there was a group of 3 cabins at Catalina. The first group were platinum while the 2 other groups were first time cruisers. The platinum said to stick with them to the blues. At the priority assembly area, a staff checked the platinums, but didn't bother to check the blues. All 10 people got priority boarding, when only 2 should of. Was going to say something, but it wasn't my business.

 

Tailgaters are the exception and not the rule.

[BlerkOne]

5 hours ago, john91498 said:

 

That's not always true.

One of the perks is priority boarding for tenders and there was a group of 3 cabins at Catalina. The first group were platinum while the 2 other groups were first time cruisers. The platinum said to stick with them to the blues. At the priority assembly area, a staff checked the platinums, but didn't bother to check the blues. All 10 people got priority boarding, when only 2 should of. Was going to say something, but it wasn't my business.

Some are always trying to take advantage and get more than they are entitled to.

[StephPS79]

7 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

Mom and Dad are adults paying for the rooms. They aren't abusing the system. 

 

If all gamblers lost as much as they pretend, Carnival would be debt free. Perhaps the IRS should look at the perks as income.  

This isn’t abusing the system.  Two people with two separate VIFP accounts each earned an offer that allows them to cruise and bring a companion.  So they choose to bring friends as companions.  Who cares what room someone sleeps in?

I think it’s hilarious that about 50% of you will say gamblers are liars because they claim to win so much, and the other 50% say they are liars because they are lying about how much they are losing.

[BlerkOne]

13 minutes ago, StephPS79 said:

This isn’t abusing the system.  Two people with two separate VIFP accounts each earned an offer that allows them to cruise and bring a companion.  So they choose to bring friends as companions.  Who cares what room someone sleeps in?

I think it’s hilarious that about 50% of you will say gamblers are liars because they claim to win so much, and the other 50% say they are liars because they are lying about how much they are losing.

This isn't spin the pineapple. The offers are non-transferable, but that is exactly what is being attempted in terms of cabin pricing. Some other gambler with a legitimate offer might have wanted that cabin. They probably care.

 

Many gamblers know someone who is mistaken about how much they lose. Sometimes they guess high and sometimes low. Not very many keep detailed records.

 

Karma will sort things out.

[StephPS79]

1 hour ago, BlerkOne said:

This isn't spin the pineapple. The offers are non-transferable, but that is exactly what is being attempted in terms of cabin pricing. Some other gambler with a legitimate offer might have wanted that cabin. They probably care.

 

Many gamblers know someone who is mistaken about how much they lose. Sometimes they guess high and sometimes low. Not very many keep detailed records.

 

Karma will sort things out.

They each have an offer for themselves and a companion.  That’s 4 people.  No where does the offer say “You and your spouse.”  You can bring whoever you want as your companion.  Nothing is being transferred.  These are 100% legitimate booking of offers. 

[BlerkOne]

2 minutes ago, StephPS79 said:

They each have an offer for themselves and a companion.  That’s 4 people.  No where does the offer say “You and your spouse.”  You can bring whoever you want as your companion.  Nothing is being transferred.  These are 100% legitimate booking of offers. 

One of them isn't sleeping in the cabin they obtained with their offer. Your spin doesn't change that. It is a transfer 

[BecT]

My husband and I  frequently receive casino offers. His offers are typically better than mine and when we sail we frequently use just his offer and forfeit mine. One time after we booked a cruise a couple of friends who had never sailed Carnival wanted to join us. When DH called to see about getting them a cabin the agent recommended removing me from his cabin and using my own offer for a cabin and he put one of our friends in each of our rooms. Then he said once on board we could get extra keys so couples could stay together and  that's what we did. 

 

I doubt Carnival has a problem with cabin switching if their agents actively promote it. It's actually a way to draw more potential gamblers onto the ship and in the casino. The friends who joined us gambled more than us and now receive better offers than us after just one cruise on Carnival. Seems like a win-win for all. 

 

As a side note, Carnival doesn't allow offers to be combined into one cabin (we've tried several times) so if we are sailing on an ultra cruise or similar we book separate cabins so we each get to participate fully in all perks associated with the sailing and we sleep in only one cabin.