Heald: New Loyalty Program

[bythehex]

Carnival seems to want to do all their risk taking beforehand, by testing the response to proposed change on forums such as CC. All they have to do is throw something out there - then just sit back and read page after page... a VIRTUAL program change if you will !! ;) We are but a small portion of the cruising public, but we are a very vocal and opinionated lot! :)Tom

 

Exactly why it was a SURVEY. The asked people their opinions, and people are speaking out.

 

Before sweating about it, people need to realize that nothing has yet been written in stone. It's not a done deal yet! Be grateful that Carnival is ASKING for opinions rather than stating "this is it" and letting the fur fly afterwards.

[cybercon]

I think the most important thing, based on past threads on the loyalty program, is that the cruise card has enough distinguishing features on it to make it clear to everyone around a person that he or she is someone special LOL.

;) I agree. As a PLAT. member I feel they should leave it alone. If they do anything they can add to it, but not take anythig else away from it.

[happy cruzin]

Exactly why it was a SURVEY. The asked people their opinions, and people are speaking out.

 

Before sweating about it, people need to realize that nothing has yet been written in stone. It's not a done deal yet! Be grateful that Carnival is ASKING for opinions rather than stating "this is it" and letting the fur fly afterwards.

 

Exactly!!

How long have we been hearing about "changes soon" to the loyalty program....2 years :confused:???? If it has taken that long to get to this point there is no reason to believe that suddenly this is on some sort of fast track for implementation.

[Topo Gigio]

Carnival has the worst loyalty program in the (cruise) industry.

[Kudos2Fly]

My question does anyone really know what the % of repeat customers does Carnival have? And how many Platinum cruisers there are on each sailing?

 

I think survey's are a good ideal for Carnival to do.. But they need to lay it out with what Perks you will get pre-level.

 

Personally the days and number of cruises is a good ideal. So it would work for people that do 3-5 days more then 7 day cruises. My husband and I plan on doing 3-4 cruises a year by doing the shorter cruises. Plus mixing in some 7 days cruises when we can. So we probably spend as much or if not more then some one that only does 1 7day cruise a year. Plus we are not big spenders when it comes to the casino or spas, but do spend money on some drinks and excursions.

 

Hopefully Carnival is listening...

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

With the (proposed) 225 point top tier level, you have to wonder if - once the whole program is laid out - they will allow accelerated earning of credit like other lines do:

 

 

 

 

 

Tom

[happy cruzin]

My question does anyone really know what the % of repeat customers does Carnival have? And how many Platinum cruisers there are on each sailing?

 

I think survey's are a good ideal for Carnival to do.. But they need to lay it out with what Perks you will get pre-level.

 

Personally the days and number of cruises is a good ideal. So it would work for people that do 3-5 days more then 7 day cruises. My husband and I plan on doing 3-4 cruises a year by doing the shorter cruises. Plus mixing in some 7 days cruises when we can. So we probably spend as much or if not more then some one that only does 1 7day cruise a year. Plus we are not big spenders when it comes to the casino or spas, but do spend money on some drinks and excursions.

 

Hopefully Carnival is listening...

 

Obviously, I don't have a % - but my sense it that it's an ever growing number. Carnival has done a good job encouraging repeat cruising - because it is a very reasonable way to vacation.

I know that we see many more "gold" and "platinum" cards than "blue" cards when we cruise. I think that is the real problem here....there are so many repeat cruisers that it has created the need to revamp the program - because of Carnival's popularity. Currently it is fairly easy to get to the Platinum level at just 10 cruises - of any length. I know it must be hard to make such a large group of cruisers feel "special".....but, when the VIP lines are longer than the regular check in lines.....something has to be done ;)

[happy cruzin]

FYI......Another update post from John's fb page today:

The survey on the new loyalty program is over and I had an e mail from the Senior Beard in charge who comes from a loyalty background and he sent me an e mail than simply says " please tell your readers it is my intention is to beef up our existing program to the benefit of all guests." So the survey is over and I will be interviewing him soon and asking the questions you want to hear.

[martinchem]

Carnival perks are not great, but their product is great for the value, that's why they have so many repeat customers.

[happy cruzin]

Carnival perks are not great, but their product is great for the value, that's why they have so many repeat customers.

 

Exactly....

[Captain Carnival]

Um...Why not just leave it 10 cruises to platinum?

 

 

Agreed!

[gary2835]

Being new to Carnival, can anybody tell me what you would get with each of the new tiers?

[AuntieBon]

Being new to Carnival, can anybody tell me what you would get with each of the new tiers?

 

Nothing has been released yet.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Being new to Carnival, can anybody tell me what you would get with each of the new tiers?

 

ahhh--- the $64,000 question!!

 

Being that they have only been working out the details of the new program for ~3 years (queuing DON) - that has yet to be determined... really! ;)

 

:D

 

Tom

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Being new to Carnival, can anybody tell me what you would get with each of the new tiers?

 

By the way - how did you enjoy your recent Carnival cruise?

 

Tom

[DarthGrady]

Agreed!

 

Same here. Unfortunately if they are already doing surveys and designing cards the smart money would be on a revamped program. :(

[gary2835]

By the way - how did you enjoy your recent Carnival cruise?

 

Tom

 

I had a good time. The Ecstasy is a older ship, but I thought it looked nice, the crew was great. We cruise to be on the ship, so we went with a Grand Suite. That cabin came in handy when our CC group did a cabin crawl, it was the last stop.

We enjoyed it so much that we went by and bought a future cruise certificate. As of now we have no idea when we might use it, but we have two years to find out.

Thanks for asking

[ccruisequeen]

I am a Platinum Cruiser with 14 cruises under my belt and a 8 day cruise planned for March, 2012. This will amount to 116 cruise days and puts me in the third level (75 to 225 days). I got out the calculator to estimate what it would take to get to the 4th level (Milestone). If I take one 7 day cruise a year, I will be 88 years old to reach level 4 assuming I am healthy and can cruise every year without problems for the next 15 years. So it looks for us old timers like level 3 is about where you will get and where you will stay. Now I certainly am not complaining. I enjoy the Platinum status and plan to continue sailing with Carnival. I just did the numbers to see if any thing really changes with the new program. For old timers (Seniors), it really doesn't matter unless you plan on cruising several times a year. Wish I could!

I'm getting Close to Platinum now (maybe late 2012 or early 2013, depending on how many we get booked after May 2012). I'm early 2nd tier (according to the new proposed system) I just want to increase my level! If we hadn't "sampled" other lines, we'd be that much closer, but CCL is the line of choice from now on, just because we don't need to travel to the port.

[Aplmac]

Being new to Carnival,

can anybody tell me what you would get with each of the new tiers?

It's mainly about status, making people feel 'important'.

 

Stuff like Priority Boarding

(not a huge issue to me, but to people who fancy themselves VIP I have to ask..

why are you messing around with lowly Carnival

and not at the quayside for Yachts of Seabourn???)

 

 

 

 

The actual material stuff you get is tacky stuff, freebies junk,

but people are into this game big time! :)

 

 

These posts make me ever more thankful I can see thru the whole thing.

It's so transparent

but it works wonders for Carnival's bottom line as they all madly scramble to be King of the Mountain!! :D

 

.

[Captain Carnival]

Just so as to keep a running tally of my number of cruises Vs. my number of sea days, I have added the number of total sea days accumulated along side in my signature line too.

[happy cruzin]

Just so as to keep a running tally of my number of cruises Vs. my number of sea days, I have added the number of total sea days accumulated along side in my signature line too.

 

I imagine we will see more tallies like yours - as this develops and when it goes in to effect ;)

[izzypooch]

It's mainly about status, making people feel 'important'.

 

Stuff like Priority Boarding

(not a huge issue to me, but to people who fancy themselves VIP I have to ask..

why are you messing around with lowly Carnival

and not at the quayside for Yachts of Seabourn???)

 

 

 

 

The actual material stuff you get is tacky stuff, freebies junk,

but people are into this game big time! :)

 

 

These posts make me ever more thankful I can see thru the whole thing.

It's so transparent

but it works wonders for Carnival's bottom line as they all madly scramble to be King of the Mountain!! :D

 

.

 

Well, geez Louise, it's not like you can decline becoming plantinum. If you like to cruise and you like Carnival, after 10 cruises that's just what you are.

 

The "perks" aren't monumental but they are nice (especially the priority boarding and the free laudry service) I certainly don't feel privileged or better than anyone else using them but I'm not going to refuse them!

 

Perhaps you've experienced seeing people with big egos flaunt their plantinum status as if it was some sort of big deal, but honestly I never have. It's just Carnival's way of acknowledging past loyalty.

[izzypooch]

It's mainly about status, making people feel 'important'.

 

Stuff like Priority Boarding

(not a huge issue to me, but to people who fancy themselves VIP I have to ask..

why are you messing around with lowly Carnival

and not at the quayside for Yachts of Seabourn???)

 

 

 

 

The actual material stuff you get is tacky stuff, freebies junk,

but people are into this game big time! :)

 

 

These posts make me ever more thankful I can see thru the whole thing.

It's so transparent

but it works wonders for Carnival's bottom line as they all madly scramble to be King of the Mountain!! :D

 

.

 

Well, geez Louise, it's not like you can decline becoming plantinum. If you like to cruise and you like Carnival, after 10 cruises that's just what you are.

 

The "perks" aren't monumental but they are nice (especially the priority boarding and the free laudry service) I certainly don't feel privileged or better than anyone else using them but I'm not going to refuse them!

 

Perhaps you've experienced seeing people with big egos flaunt their plantinum status as if it was some sort of big deal, but honestly I never have. It's just Carnival's way of acknowledging past loyalty.

[ugagal07]

What are the "proposed" tiers? I didn't get the survey and can't find the questions/ideas proposed.

[klmorg]

Most reward/loyalty programs are based on dollars spent, which makes total sense to me.