# It seems too good to be true but apparently it is true. (Free Carnival cruise) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 18, 2014, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-seems-too-good-to-be-true-but-apparently-it-is-true-free-carnival-cruise/681662 "2014-02-18T22:36:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-seems-too-good-to-be-true-but-apparently-it-is-true-free-carnival-cruise/681662/21 "2014-02-20T00:47:14Z")
> [@Mikemike2](#): > > There seem to be some poor sports on this board. Nice find Nars. Thanks. This is nothing compared to what’s going on on the cruise board. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-seems-too-good-to-be-true-but-apparently-it-is-true-free-carnival-cruise/681662/22 "2014-02-20T01:26:12Z")
Pit of liver-spotted vipers, is it? ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-seems-too-good-to-be-true-but-apparently-it-is-true-free-carnival-cruise/681662/23 "2014-02-20T14:55:48Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Any condo sales pitches you have to sit through? > [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > That’s some serious funny right there. I have to say that was my first thought as well. To me, “free holiday” usually spells “sales pitch”, so I don’t see why you think it’s funny. If I had got that letter I’d be expecting the anchor to drop and a cohort of salesmen from the Carnival Cruise Affiliated Lifestyle Golf & Spa Aparthotel Club to swarm into the lounge and hold us hostage for hours. But then I have never been on a cruise and know very little about the cruise industry, so perhaps that just isn’t a thing that happens? ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-seems-too-good-to-be-true-but-apparently-it-is-true-free-carnival-cruise/681662/24 "2014-02-21T02:18:27Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > I have to say that was my first thought as well. To me, “free holiday” usually spells “sales pitch”, so I don’t see why you think it’s funny. If I had got that letter I’d be expecting the anchor to drop and a cohort of salesmen from the Carnival Cruise Affiliated Lifestyle Golf & Spa Aparthotel Club to swarm into the lounge and hold us hostage for hours. > But then I have never been on a cruise and know very little about the cruise industry, so perhaps that just isn’t a thing that happens? If it had come from anyone but Carnival then yes, I’d expect to be locked in condo hell. Cruises just don’t work that way. Once you’re on the boat, you’re on your own and free to do whatever you want other than the mandatory muster drill. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_Tightlips](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/57b2e6/32.png) [@Joey\_Tightlips](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_Tightlips)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-seems-too-good-to-be-true-but-apparently-it-is-true-free-carnival-cruise/681662/25 "2014-02-21T19:41:16Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > And BTW, if you did get a letter from them in the last week or so and threw it away, you can still go to the offers section of their website, enter your VIFP # and see if they gave you one. It can’t hurt. > > The reservation process was a little wonky on their website because after I picked the cruise that I wanted and went to select a deal, the only thing that showed up was their regular price. There was a little link that said “Show offers” or something like that that I clicked on, entered my wife’s VIFP # again, and then the free option showed up. Arghhhh!!! I didn’t get anything in the mail, but got a call offering a free Carnival Cruise a week or two ago. I was at work and they called my cell phone, so I politely told them I wasn’t interested and hung up quick before I got the details (I’m certain it was the same thing though, because I remember “by March 1” being part of the initial spiel. Guess who’s feeling dumb now! I had just taken a cruise with them over Christmas so I figured I ended up on some marketing list and it was a scam and didn’t give it a second thought. Nars, when you went on the Carnival website, did you see it listed under special offers, or did you have to book the cruise first and only THEN see the free offer? I just logged in per your suggestion, but the only offer I see is the free 2 category upgrade. Dang, guess I missed out by outright declining it over the phone. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-seems-too-good-to-be-true-but-apparently-it-is-true-free-carnival-cruise/681662/26 "2014-02-21T19:56:16Z")
> [@Joey\_Tightlips](#): > > Arghhhh!!! > > I didn’t get anything in the mail, but got a call offering a free Carnival Cruise a week or two ago. I was at work and they called my cell phone, so I politely told them I wasn’t interested and hung up quick before I got the details (I’m certain it was the same thing though, because I remember “by March 1” being part of the initial spiel. Guess who’s feeling dumb now! I had just taken a cruise with them over Christmas so I figured I ended up on some marketing list and it was a scam and didn’t give it a second thought. > > Nars, when you went on the Carnival website, did you see it listed under special offers, or did you have to book the cruise first and only THEN see the free offer? I just logged in per your suggestion, but the only offer I see is the free 2 category upgrade. Dang, guess I missed out by outright declining it over the phone. IIRC, I saw it on the initial offers page but only after I gave it my wife’s VIFP #. There’s a link to look up other people’s numbers so if I were you, I’d check everyone that’s sailed with you. Like I said, this offer was for my wife, not me. I logged into the website but it gave me her offer after I looked her up. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-seems-too-good-to-be-true-but-apparently-it-is-true-free-carnival-cruise/681662.md?page=1)