Free Stuff & Shopping in Port?

[NickyKnack]

I was reading someone's trip report and they were talking about shopping talks and getting tips and coupons for picking up free items while in port. Do you have to buy things in order to get the free stuff, or just show up and ask?

Why, yes... I do feel really cheap asking this question.

 

[Gigi22]

It varies. The stores give away things as promotions, hoping that once you are in the store, you will buy more things. In some cases a minimum purchase is required. The shopping adviser on the ship will explain how each free offer works as well as distributing coupons during the shopping talks, there will be extra copies on a table in the room where the shopping talk is held--also extras at the shopping desk.

 

[com_op_2000]

At the actual shopping talk they give away items in drawings. Some of the items have been jewelry, booze ( I won a bottle of tequila), baskets of items, and t-shirts.
You can also win free stuff at the DVC meeting and the family trivia games.

 

[lbgraves]

In Alaska DD saw the ad for the charm bracelet where you picked up the different charms to spell out Alaska and the year in various stores in each port. I told her that we would try it. I went in and showed them the paper and said I just wanted the charm. The guy started trying to get me to try on rings. DH got annoyed. I told him I only wanted the charm. He kept showing jewelry. DH walked out. I told him to forget it if that is what it took. He gave me the charm. Luckily it was a K so instead of spelling out Alaska, DD has the first initial of her first name. I told her that was all she was going to see of those charms.

 

[Tolson70]

My wife chased the charms at the Diamonds International stores in the Caribbean on our cruise in February, they push hard for you to look and buy other things. So hard that at one point I just stopped going in. It started to get annoying and I was on vacation trying to relax. They also had coupons for free loose gems, but of course they wanted you to buy them set in ear rings or a pendant, or to apply the cost towards a diamond. Ugh, save yourself the hassle unless you are fine with being hounded at the stores.

 

[Gigi22]

On the other hand--the 'free' tote bag given away with a minimum purchase at Del Sol is quite nice. Just saying that not everything the stores give away is bad news, and I have never been hassled at any Del Sol store.
If you go to the Jewelry Talk onboard, the Port Shopping Expert holds a lottery for a piece of jewelry--you have to be at the talk when the draw occurs to win.

 

[newbie2011]

We went to the talk on the Dream, picked up the coupons, and we were never hassled in any of the stores in Nassau.

I would ask for the freebie, they would ask if i wanted it set, or matching earrings, I would say, no thanks...these are for my daughters on the ship. They handed me the freebie and I went on my way. My mom was right next to me asking for the same thing and she didn't get hassled either.

Guess it depends on the sales person. I enjoy window shopping, and browsing, and it was a nice couple of hours with my mom. And...I actually did find a nice Tanzanite ring that was incredibly reasonable.

 

[MelissaLG]

On the other hand--the 'free' tote bag given away with a minimum purchase at Del Sol is quite nice. Just saying that not everything the stores give away is bad news, and I have never been hassled at any Del Sol store.
If you go to the Jewelry Talk onboard, the Port Shopping Expert holds a lottery for a piece of jewelry--you have to be at the talk when the draw occurs to win.

Agree on Del Sol - we went to the one in St. Maarten and their freebies are very cool. I got the tote bag plus some little rings. The rings were perfect souvenirs for the kids of the family that was watching our house for us. I chased a lot of the other freebies, too, and didn't have anyone hard selling me. Some of the freebies are nicer (and more usable) than others. Of course, I did some "actual" shopping at a couple of the stores, too!

Also ... I won the jewelry drawing at the Jewelry Talk on my Eastern cruise in '09! It's a sapphire pendant necklace - not huge but very nice and I still wear it.

Having said that, it's definitely not for everyone; some folks simply don't enjoy store hopping, especially when your (freebie) treasure hunt yields a bunch of trinket-y things. My DH and I had a great time with it, though.

Oh, and you have to purchase the coupon book. It's like $20 or $25 ... at least it was for me in '09. The tote bag alone made it worth it for me, as Del Sol sells them for $25. Also worth it if you really do plan on buying, as a lot of the stores have discount coupons in addition to a freebie.

 

[jilljill]

To me the easiest 'freebies' to pick up are the free semi-precious gem stone pendants from Effy. We've always just walked in and shown them the paper and they offer us the matching earrings for $10, we just say no thanks and walk out with a pretty necklace.

 

[jilljill]

Oh, and you have to purchase the coupon book. It's like $20 or $25 ... at least it was for me in '09. The tote bag alone made it worth it for me, as Del Sol sells them for $25. Also worth it if you really do plan on buying, as a lot of the stores have discount coupons in addition to a freebie.

DCL has done away with the book you have to purchase. They have coupons for various stores in each port.

 

[MelissaLG]

DCL has done away with the book you have to purchase. They have coupons for various stores in each port.

Sweet! Good to know

 

[mickeyfan1]

I have gotten a lot of free jewels in the past from EFFY, I get the DI charms, I got some nicely coated Mystic Topaz from Kays in St Maarten. I have yet to be hassled. I may or may not look at anything else, I may or may not buy. The stores want you to come in and look and hopefully buy, but I have never seen anyone being hassled. Maybe the salesperson in AK was having a bad day. But if I was being hassled, I would ask for a manager and explain it, and I would let the on board shopping CM know.

BTW, those DI charms are as cheap as they come and lose their gold finish almost as soon as you put them on the bracelet. I collect them as a reminder of my cruises. I collect the real thing if I want to wear it!