"Great Vacation Guarantee"

[lablover61]

Totally agree! It will be us (the loyal customers who pay and never complain) who are paying for free vacations for the whiners. RC- you just got yourself a new customer. While I am looking forward to next week on Carnival Dream, this was enough to push me to try the Allure of the Seas next year. Why be loyal to a cruise line that is going to cater to the whiners and free loaders? Bad move.

 

 

Exactly !

[kwbound]

So what happens if your plumbing or AC goes out say at hour 36, and they can't get it fixed, but you're outside the first 24 hrs? How will they make that right? Everything that could go wrong is not necessarily going to happen within the first 24 hrs.

[Midwestgal]

Now come on people , why look at it as the glass half empty?

Too much negativity on CC:rolleyes:

[Bill&Karen]

Totally agree! It will be us (the loyal customers who pay and never complain) who are paying for free vacations for the whiners. RC- you just got yourself a new customer. While I am looking forward to next week on Carnival Dream, this was enough to push me to try the Allure of the Seas next year. Why be loyal to a cruise line that is going to cater to the whiners and free loaders? Bad move.

 

You're here complaining now! Aren't you?

[IMKTDQT810]

I wonder what will happen if someone is sailing with other documentation (not passport) and the first port is not a US port? Doesn't that mean they can not fly home? SO what about those folks. I personally have passport in hand for such an occasion (emergency at home and then can fly at any time from anywhere). Ummm...there must be something in there about that. Maybe everyone will need to have a passport to travel on a cruise next?

[billet]

Since this is really a revamp of existing policy I think Carnival already has the stats for how it works. This re-marketing of it seems to provide an incentive for those who are nervous of taking a cruise having read all the media crap that has been published over the past year. I am not a Carnival cheerleader at all but they do seem to be listening to their customers and potential customers.

[cjknox]

So what happens if your plumbing or AC goes out say at hour 36, and they can't get it fixed, but you're outside the first 24 hrs? How will they make that right? Everything that could go wrong is not necessarily going to happen within the first 24 hrs.

 

They'll do exactly what they did in the Triumph situation and reimburse all expenses and send passengers home.

[cjknox]

This is basically a way for Carnival to improve it's brand image and re attract first time and no so experienced cruisers. This is a great idea.

[onegroundcafe]

The headline on Yahoo about this is: "Carnival pays you to spend 24 hours on its ships" I am not joking. Interesting take.

[Midwestgal]

Since this is really a revamp of existing policy I think Carnival already has the stats for how it works. This re-marketing of it seems to provide an incentive for those who are nervous of taking a cruise having read all the media crap that has been published over the past year. I am not a Carnival cheerleader at all but they do seem to be listening to their customers and potential customers.

 

Yes I tried to smash the bug on my I Pad!!:eek:

[Tutankhamen]

You are missing my point totally. People who enjoy cruising with CCL , and have had fun with no problems but have not yet reached Diamond or Platinum status are largely ignored by CCL. If fact , this group has lost benefits they once enjoyed ( i.e. - the past guest party ). So they are NOT being

" constantly " rewarded . Far from it. With 30 years plus experience in Marketing , I fail to understand why CCL would introduce this program other than possibly trying to attract first time cruisers. I truly believe this is a mis-guided and wasteful effort by CCL.

 

The number of people that have taken cruises has doubled in 10 years. And still a large part of the population has never cruised.

 

Makes perfect sense to try and tap that.

 

However, I am surprised a cruise line hasn't instituted a "Nautical Miles" program. I am NOT talking about a credit card. Just a loyalty program. They could design it in a way that you earn nautical miles for every dollar you spend on Carnival. Just like the points I earn at my local super market, where I earn free food in the form of points that I can spend. Anything other then that, i am not going to be loyal to a cruise line because they give me a special bathrobe or priority embarkation and the like. Honor me with points towards a future cruise and you will have a loyal customer....as long as you provide a nice product. The best part is that from day one you would be enrolled and earning miles. That would get people to return faster then sailing a billion cruises to get some stupid freebies.

 

 

Cruises that arent selling well, offer double miles. If you spend over $1,000.00 on board you get bonus miles. Have a new excursion that isn't selling well, bonus miles. Book air through Carnival, more miles. Refer a new customer, miles.

 

Miles can be exchanged for OBC. Miles could be exchanged for tips. Miles could be used for upgrades. Even a free cruise.

[CheapieD]

Cool free airfare home. I really thought the refund would be a carnival credit but it is cash and return of the money paid back to the payment source. So lets see I can book a es balcony, pay full price, get some obc from price reductions, fly into whatever port city I want to take vacation in, spend a week on vacation, board a carnival boat, blow my obc from price reductions on drinks or better yet go to the casino and get the money back as cash. Within 24 hours complain. . Get off the boat, put up in a hotel until a flight is available to take me home so I can just book a one way flight and save on the return trip.

 

Sounds like it is time to plan a vacation to a port city :).

[kazbar]

What a shame that this could be so true, especially if the cruise leaves on Saturday, board early Saturday morning, complain Sunday afternoon, leave the ship, fly home and get $100 OBC on Monday.. a weekend away courtesy of Carnival... :(

 

 

That would be more than 24 hours

[Maxiecat3]

That would be more than 24 hours

 

The T&C says 24 hours from departure, not embarking.

 

Gregg

[Midwestgal]

Trust me they know what going on and its not going to be so easy to scam them.

[Midwestgal]

You are missing my point totally. People who enjoy cruising with CCL , and have had fun with no problems but have not yet reached Diamond or Platinum status are largely ignored by CCL. If fact , this group has lost benefits they once enjoyed ( i.e. - the past guest party ). So they are NOT being

" constantly " rewarded . Far from it. With 30 years plus experience in Marketing , I fail to understand why CCL would introduce this program other than possibly trying to attract first time cruisers. I truly believe this is a mis-guided and wasteful effort by CCL.

I'm thinking there's a lot of fine print;)

[christa]

You're here complaining now! Aren't you?

 

Yes! You got that right! You see, I'm tired of paying my fair share, sailing along (literally) always making the best of a situation and giving others the benefit of the doubt only to turn around and realize that I'm going to be paying for the complainers and freeloaders! No. Can. Do. I don't like the feeling that others are going to be REWARDED for their complaining or freeloading motives! Bad bad policy and it will NEVER work!

[falkcor]

However, I am surprised a cruise line hasn't instituted a "Nautical Miles" program. I am NOT talking about a credit card. Just a loyalty program. They could design it in a way that you earn nautical miles for every dollar you spend on Carnival.

 

Miles can be exchanged for OBC. Miles could be exchanged for tips. Miles could be used for upgrades. Even a free cruise.

 

that's really a great idea.

 

i have also always thought they should have some model of rewarding those, especially for the actual money spent ON the ship, rather than just the number of days / cruises sailed.

 

some have the time / access to take quite a few very inexpensive cruises a year, in the cheapest 1a cabin, then don't spend a dime on board. they can easily attain platinum, diamond, etc. status and reap the benefits (however unimpressive).

 

by contrast, i tend to sail at less 'off peak' times, in balcony cabins, and i always spend more onboard (drinks, shops, casino, etc.) than the cruise cost! this is the type of cruiser that contributes to carnival's bottom line, and that they should seek. yet, they don't reward that type of customer proportionally.

 

i really like your concept though - they could learn a few things by studying frequent flyer mile programs, such as the one for united. i even get miles for ordering stuff online, through their portal. THAT would be a far superior loyalty program!

[christa]

If "loyal" customers have to constantly be "rewarded", then they're not very loyal, now are they?

 

What?????? That makes NO sense. Look up the definition of loyalty. And, absolutely Carnival should spend this money on their loyal customers instead of freeloaders! They should spend it discounting (even a small percentage) for each new cruise booked by a past guest. It's a win/win for the past guest and Carnival! With the guarantee program it is only rewarding cruisers who complain! WTH? Incentive to find something wrong and complain if you ask me!

[christa]

The number of people that have taken cruises has doubled in 10 years. And still a large part of the population has never cruised.

 

Makes perfect sense to try and tap that.

 

However, I am surprised a cruise line hasn't instituted a "Nautical Miles" program. I am NOT talking about a credit card. Just a loyalty program. They could design it in a way that you earn nautical miles for every dollar you spend on Carnival. Just like the points I earn at my local super market, where I earn free food in the form of points that I can spend. Anything other then that, i am not going to be loyal to a cruise line because they give me a special bathrobe or priority embarkation and the like. Honor me with points towards a future cruise and you will have a loyal customer....as long as you provide a nice product. The best part is that from day one you would be enrolled and earning miles. That would get people to return faster then sailing a billion cruises to get some stupid freebies.

 

 

Cruises that arent selling well, offer double miles. If you spend over $1,000.00 on board you get bonus miles. Have a new excursion that isn't selling well, bonus miles. Book air through Carnival, more miles. Refer a new customer, miles.

 

Miles can be exchanged for OBC. Miles could be exchanged for tips. Miles could be used for upgrades. Even a free cruise.

 

Awesome idea! Carnival should hire you! An incentive program that rewards "good" behavior instead of freeloaders/complainers. Haven't these people ever dealt with a toddler? Rule 1: reward good behavior not bad!

[Sh1035]

Yea it's worth it for few free days on the ship???? Have any of you ever been to the Nassau or san Juan airports. Yes,I want to sit there for 8 hours for my connecting flight in abc. No ill pass an sit on my balcony and take up smoking?

[CheapieD]

What?????? That makes NO sense. Look up the definition of loyalty. And, absolutely Carnival should spend this money on their loyal customers instead of freeloaders! They should spend it discounting (even a small percentage) for each new cruise booked by a past guest. It's a win/win for the past guest and Carnival! With the guarantee program it is only rewarding cruisers who complain! WTH? Incentive to find something wrong and complain if you ask me!

 

They have zero incentive to spend extra rewarding people that are going to sail on them anyway. If you leave to cruise another line because you are mad they are spending money to retain unhappy customers you have just become an unhappy customer and they will than spend money to garner your business. (And yes I do understand that common sense would dictate trying to keep your loyal customers happy..but this is business not common sense.)

 

The cruise line would rather spend a dollar on you later than today. This will lead to higher earnings per share, better executive bonuses and share price appreciation. They are managing earnings not experiences.

[CarnivalBreeze319]

http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/9881-new-carnival-guarantee-part-of-plan-to-recover-pricing-.html

[CarnivalBreeze319]

"Those range from Carnival’s $300 technology upgrade fleet-wide to upcoming product concepts which will be announced this fall and into wave season"

 

Interesting :)

[pungo3]

Well darn. I guess I won't be cruising once a month in 2014. :( I have loved the low prices.