Carnival Vacation Club

[Cheeky]

My mistake. I don't know what I did wrong the first time, but there is a site for Carnival Vacation Club.

 

Unfortunately, you can't enter if you're not a member. So from what I can see, there's a hard sell on the ship and that's the only way you can become a member. Things that make you go "Hmmm"...

 

From the Travel Agent Frequently Asked Questions page:

 

Carnival Vacation Club is currently offered exclusively onboard select Carnival cruise ships. A kiosk will be set up onboard those select ships for general information about the program and guests will have the opportunity to attend a general presentation on Carnival Vacation Club if they are interested.

 

Strange that it's not owned by Carnival, but it's using their logo. Interesting.

 

Managed and sold by Solutions at Sea. "Carnival", "Carnival Vacation Club" and other Carnival related trademarks and logos are used by Solutions at Sea under license from Carnival Cruise Lines. Solutions at Sea is not an agent for, affiliated or in partnership with, Carnival Cruise Lines.

[Wennfred]

Yep, Cheeky you have to be a Member to get into the VIP Website, as for Dollar Value Savings... here is one example. My Friend book using my Membership (Friends and Family) plan. They will soon have a website for them so they can log on as a Friend or Family using our Membership account number, for now they call the 1-800 number and talk to a cool Rep. He called Costco, and AAA and then did some research online with various online TA, then he call CVC, they locked him in 300.00 pp, lower then all agencies stated above, and that include port taxes etc. That really blew me away, even the guys at his office that cruise couldnt beleive it also, I say if anything just get the Bronze membership and when the points run out... you still get 5 years of better rates as a Member.

 

Oh as far as Carnival not owning the agency that runs it... Carnival doesnt own the Spa nor the Casino either, Let Carnival concentrate on what they do best, Cruising :)

[GPGUY987]

I just got off the Conquest on Sunday, great cruise! I listened to the CVC club presentation, after looking at it and studying it, it has little or no monetary value to it, you can book through a good internet TA and get the same rate. When I looked at what we paid for a 8B, and studied the points, there was no value to it, other than priority embarkation and debarkation, oh boy, so I get on the ship at noon instead of 12:30!! And the bad side is, this company is NOT owened by Carnival, if they go bankrupt, is Carnival really going to honor things? maybe or maybe not. And the big down side is, you have to shell out between 3-7000 dollars within 180 days, who wants to do that after coming off a cruise??? And also, they reserve the right to change how many points it takes to take a particular cruise at any time!! If you take other land vacations, it can help. We only cruise close to home, so no airfare is needed by us. I think Carnival should just reward loyal customers better and get rid of this CVC. I am not ready to invest this much money in something so new!

[blackwing]

I don't feel that you necessarily save money in booking prices yet but it is nice to know that the next several cruises are paid for.

Well, the difference is that you dropped a bucketful of money up front. I don't see why you would want to pre-pay for your cruises. If you don't save money, what's the point? :confused:

 

I don't think the extra perks are worth shelling out a huge cash investment up front. Basically, what they are doing is selling you future cruises now. They are locking you in to using Carnival (or Carnival's affiliates). What if you wanted to try out RC's new Freedom of the Seas? You're locked into Carnival for the next few cruises. Unless you wanted to shell out more money.

 

If you're doing it because you think it's a great deal, I'd be wary of it. If you're joining because you want to feel like a VIP, then I guess by all means do it.

[Wennfred]

GPGUY987, Read my Thread again, My friend saved 600.00 total on his cruise when using the Friends and Family plan and he isnt a member, I dont think any TA would give you that cut... he did the research and no one could touch it... There is a ton of other benefits that are listed above and others coming soon, as much as I love to cruise I dont have to deal with saving money, its paid for already. See ya on RCCL :)

[waterbound]

Wennefred.. I just emailed ya!! I have a question for you..

 

There are other perks to the membership that make it worthwhile.. Yes you can get good deals on cruises without doing the club especially if you are willing to go in offpeak season or inside cabins... you can also make the points work for you if you do this same thing to get more bang for your buck.. Personally after cruising another cruiseline a few weeks ago I prefer Carnival.. so I already know I dont want to go anywhere else.. The cruising is not the only thing part of the club..

[waterbound]

Wennefred.. I tried to send email but it says you dont accept emails.. I just have a question and wondered if you might know..

[Wennfred]

Hi waterbound, I have to rescue you guys from the Dreaded Spam Blocker, If that was you, I sent you a copy of that review. Have fun.. take care.

 

Email is Wennfred@cox.net

[ISLABONITA]

Where do you get the points as a first time cruiser?

[waterbound]

You get the points once you join the club.. depending on which level you chose you get a specific # of points.. Then you go on the website and search for the different cruises and the #of points is listed..