Well, this sucks....I logged into the VIFP site...

[helen haywood]

What I don't understand is that a yellow box popped up and said if you were "close" to platinum then if you took a cruise in the next 12 months you'd automatically advance to Platinum. But what exactly is "CLOSE?" Five points, 10 points, 2?

[Tapi]

Guess the "grandfathering" into the level you already were was another lie. :mad:

 

Not a lie to me. I was Platinum, and still am Platinum even though I only have 55 cruise days

 

I think that the only ones that got really screwed were the lower end Gold members who are now Red.

[yogimax]

Not a lie to me. I was Platinum, and still am Platinum even though I only have 55 cruise days

 

 

The lie was that no benefits would be taken away and we would be "happy" with this "brilliant" program.

 

Benefits were indeed taken away. Who we be happy with that?

[maxamuus]

Not a lie to me. I was Platinum, and still am Platinum even though I only have 55 cruise days

 

Well we have been downgraded from Gold to Red. Its a "brilliant" change.

 

So Carnival's loyalty to me is now a 13 cent glass of soda at lunch. Thanks Carnival!

[DGP1111]

. . . what do we teach our kids??? nothing is sugar coated.. we all should know this.

 

Have you been down a cereal aisle recently??

 

.

[Tapi]

What I don't understand is that a yellow box popped up and said if you were "close" to platinum then if you took a cruise in the next 12 months you'd automatically advance to Platinum. But what exactly is "CLOSE?" Five points, 10 points, 2?

 

If you either have 8 or 9 cruises under the old program, Carnival will still allow you to move to Platinum by taking the required number of cruises (regardless of length) in the next 12 months.

[hulksmash]

It does not show any of my cruises.

[gone_cruisin]

What I don't understand is that a yellow box popped up and said if you were "close" to platinum then if you took a cruise in the next 12 months you'd automatically advance to Platinum. But what exactly is "CLOSE?" Five points, 10 points, 2?

 

I am not sure what Carnival is constituting as "close". I can tell you that my BF with 5 sailings and 27 sea days, was not "close" enough to get the gold box.

[tanyaewa]

I am going on my first cruise with carnival next Fall so the VIFP program Wasn't o. My radar at all.

 

However, I am really wondering what sort of gains can be made from changing the program like this? Can someone play devils advocate and expian to me what benefits the company gains from downsizing a program that means so much to travelers? And when I see red level gold level and platinum... How many people can that actually effect?

 

Being in the customer service business it makes me aware that I. Order to spend 3 years making changes they must have some real reasons behind the changes. And be thinking it would be for the best.....

[MrPete]

you people are really truly something else... why is it that people get all bitchy about not getting anything for free?? you are dealing with a business that has spent billions of dollars on these ships to make your vacation better.. and your bitching because you lost 40 points or you lost your unlimited laundry service.. plain stupid.. cruise else where if you dont like it. damn!

 

For free? I know I have probably dumped 75G's into this company over the years. Even bars in New York still buy back.

[vacation_junkie]

I have 4 VIFP points until I hit the next level..which will happen during my next cruise!

 

Does that mean I have to wait until the cruise AFTER my next to take advantage of any new perks??

[Tapi]

Benefits were indeed taken away. Who we be happy with that?

 

I'm fully aware that a lot of people are unhappy, specially the ones that went from Gold to Red (and I would be too).

 

For me, the only thing that I will truly miss will be the unlimited laundry (I will live with the 3 free bags now) and to a lesser degree the free slot tournament entry (about the ONLY time that I set foot in a casino during a cruise, so I won't miss it THAT much).

[durdenpb]

Look.. i realize that many people were lied to but heres the thing..

 

 

just stop and think.. nothing is right in this world.. not everyone is going to be honest with you or me for that matter..

 

 

For everyone that wants to come back with smart comments or snide remarks..

 

 

ITS POINT BLANK... if you dont like the change LEAVE.. what happens when you got to a restaurant and they stop serving your favorite beer.. you stop going.. so do the same with carnival. either they will change again.. or they will keep on rolling without you.. which i think they will do..

 

im done arguing with this.. sorry but i dont agree with anyone nor carnival (but im still sailing)

[durdenpb]

For free? I know I have probably dumped 75G's into this company over the years. Even bars in New York still buy back.

 

i understand that. thats your hard earned money.. but again.. if you dont like the change go to NCL or XXX or wherever (thats the black and white writting, not being mean_)

[Tapi]

I am not sure what Carnival is constituting as "close". I can tell you that my BF with 5 sailings and 27 sea days, was not "close" enough to get the gold box.

 

Only people with 8 or 9 completed cruises will be considered "close" and will be allowed to move to Platinum if they complete the required number of cruises within the next 12-18 months

 

You are 5 cruises away, so yes, you are nowhere near.

[Dymediva]

It is not showing any of my cruises. I called Carnival and the told me I have been demoted from Gold to Red....that really sucks! If they let people without the correct number of days remain platinum then gold members should remain gold JMO! It's not the end of the world but I must say it does rub me the wrong way to get demoted with this so called "Brilliant" loyalty program:(

[durdenpb]

[quote name='tanyaewa']I am going on my first cruise with carnival next Fall so the VIFP program Wasn't o. My radar at all.

However, I am really wondering what sort of gains can be made from changing the program like this? Can someone play devils advocate and expian to me what benefits the company gains from downsizing a program that means so much to travelers? And when I see red level gold level and platinum... How many people can that actually effect?

Being in the customer service business it makes me aware that I. Order to spend 3 years making changes they must have some real reasons behind the changes. And be thinking it would be for the best.....[/QUOTE]



its business.... the economy is in a mess and they have to do what they can do to stay afloat.. its like walmart or mcdonalds. they can afford to lose a good 20,000 sailors.

[L_K]

For me at 43 days (7 cruises) i win a gold pin but i am know at least 5 cruises away from platinum.

[helen haywood]

OK, thanks for the answer! I had 9 previous cruises, or 60 points total. So I was surprised that someone else with 55 points was still Platinum. I have a cruise on Legend in September so I guess that means I'll advance then. Thanks as always for you CCers!

[Onetrufan]

Noted that Platinum laundry is 2 bags for 3 - 6 night cruises; 3 bags for 7+ nights. A change from the leaked version or I missed this on that chart.

[OnePsychLynne]

[quote name='helen haywood']OK, thanks for the answer! I had 9 previous cruises, or 60 points total. So I was surprised that someone else with 55 points was still Platinum. I have a cruise on Legend in September so I guess that means I'll advance then. Thanks as always for you CCers![/quote]


I'm 47 days (with 10 cruises) and Platinum :D

[waiting4acruise]

[quote name='Tapi']I'm fully aware that a lot of people are unhappy, specially the ones that went from Gold to Red (and I would be too).

For me, the only thing that I will truly miss will be the unlimited laundry (I will live with the 3 free bags now) and to a lesser degree the free slot tournament entry (about the ONLY time that I set foot in a casino during a cruise, so I won't miss it THAT much).[/quote]
With the loss of the slot machine tourney the casino will lose a lot of our business as we won't be speaking so much time there.

[IslandToIsland]

I got the yellow box as well stating....

Close to advancing to Platinum in our old program? Cruise two times in the next 18 months and you’ll automatically advance to Platinum in the VIFP Club.

I have 8 cruises with 2 booked, so it looks like I will be platinum when I was expecting anyway. :)

Of course never being Platinum I'm happy with the perks, but I can certainly see where long time cruisers who have been platinum are upset with certain things being taken away and nothing added. It really has nothing to do with people wanting free things, it's just how most good companies reward their loyal customers for spending their hard earned $$ on their product instead of the competition. It's more of a slap in the face than anything else.

[dclark]

I posted in several loyalty program threads in the past (this would be back in March or April) that I thought there would be cuts in the program, not additions.
Why? Because I got by the facts:
1) CCL only makes cuts
2) CCL already made "changes" to the platinum level, by taking away stationary, canapes and special galley tour. When i posted that, the cheerleaders responded with "Who cares? I don't use the stationary, the galley tour isn't great, blah blah". But, like mindless cheerleaders, they missed the point. It doesn't matter whether you like it or not, it is cutback.

[MrPete]

[quote name='OnePsychLynne']I'm 47 days (with 10 cruises) and Platinum :D[/QUOTE]

I guess theoretically, you could have 20 days, with 10 2 day cruises to no where, and be Platinum.