Dixie24 Posted November 15, 2013 #1 Share Posted November 15, 2013 I am going to be Platinum on my Elation cruise in December and am excited about the perks. I see people mention all the time that when they changed the loyalty program a couple years ago that Carnival took away perks Diamond/Platinum used to have. However, I never see anyone state what they were. So.....what other stuff did Carnival give you before the switch to the VIFP program? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jamman54 Posted November 15, 2013 #2 Share Posted November 15, 2013 I am going to be Platinum on my Elation cruise in December and am excited about the perks. I see people mention all the time that when they changed the loyalty program a couple years ago that Carnival took away perks Diamond/Platinum used to have. However, I never see anyone state what they were. So.....what other stuff did Carnival give you before the switch to the VIFP program? Used to have Guaranteed Dining and Steakhouse reservations, now it is just Priority. Free Casino tournament entry is now BOGO (buy one get one) Unlimited wash and fold laundry service is now limited (based on amount of days). Might have missed something, but the above didn't affect us at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sargent_Schultz Posted November 15, 2013 #3 Share Posted November 15, 2013 I am going to be Platinum on my Elation cruise in December and am excited about the perks. I see people mention all the time that when they changed the loyalty program a couple years ago that Carnival took away perks Diamond/Platinum used to have. However, I never see anyone state what they were. So.....what other stuff did Carnival give you before the switch to the VIFP program? No Diamond perks were eliminated. In fact, the Diamond level was ADDED at that point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phlybice Posted November 15, 2013 #4 Share Posted November 15, 2013 Used to have Guaranteed Dining and Steakhouse reservations, now it is just Priority. Free Casino tournament entry is now BOGO (buy one get one) Unlimited wash and fold laundry service is now limited (based on amount of days). Might have missed something, but the above didn't affect us at all. Only thing I can see missing is that Milestone cruisers were led to believe that they were going to be grandfathered to Diamond, and that apologies shortly followed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GROUCHPUSS Posted November 15, 2013 #5 Share Posted November 15, 2013 No Diamond perks were eliminated. In fact, the Diamond level was ADDED at that point. Diamond maybe be a new level but they still don't get free entry to slot or black jack tournament as in the past. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sargent_Schultz Posted November 15, 2013 #6 Share Posted November 15, 2013 Only thing I can see missing is that Milestone cruisers were led to believe that they were going to be grandfathered to Diamond, and that apologies shortly followed. an incorrect perception on the part of some, including John. it was never an official announcement by Carnival, because it was never true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phlybice Posted November 15, 2013 #7 Share Posted November 15, 2013 an incorrect perception on the part of some, including John. it was never an official announcement by Carnival, because it was never true. If John Made the announcement, he certainly speaks on behalf of Carnival. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sargent_Schultz Posted November 15, 2013 #8 Share Posted November 15, 2013 Diamond maybe be a new level but they still don't get free entry to slot or black jack tournament as in the past. as a new level, they never had. I would gladly take the free steakhouse dinner and cruise upgrade over a lifetime of free entriees. I still have a stack of free entries I've never used. Added to both Platinum and Diamond since, on ships with FTTF, is priority luggage and cabin readiness. These also did not, at least officially, exist. I don't mind people paying to subsidize my benefits. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sargent_Schultz Posted November 15, 2013 #9 Share Posted November 15, 2013 If John Made the announcement, he certainly speaks on behalf of Carnival. He certainly does NOT. http://johnhealdsblog.com/disclaimer-thingy/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jamman54 Posted November 15, 2013 #10 Share Posted November 15, 2013 as a new level, they never had. I would gladly take the free steakhouse dinner and cruise upgrade over a lifetime of free entriees. I still have a stack of free entries I've never used. Added to both Platinum and Diamond since, on ships with FTTF, is priority luggage and cabin readiness. These also did not, at least officially, exist. I don't mind people paying to subsidize my benefits. :D Hey Sarge!! You can send those unused tournament entries to me!! :D My wife and I like to play both slot and blackjack tournaments on each cruise, so when they changed it to BOGO it didn't bother us since we were buying additional entries anyway. What bothered us was them raising the entry fee to $25. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sargent_Schultz Posted November 15, 2013 #11 Share Posted November 15, 2013 Hey Sarge!! You can send those unused tournament entries to me!! :D My wife and I like to play both slot and blackjack tournaments on each cruise, so when they changed it to BOGO it didn't bother us since we were buying additional entries anyway. What bothered us was them raising the entry fee to $25. Sort of like Sail and Sign cards, they have evolved over the years and I have my doubts if they could even be used now. Having Complimentary Tournament Ticket on them might raise a flag. :eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
golfadj Posted November 15, 2013 #12 Share Posted November 15, 2013 They did first tell us the platinum program would be improved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jamman54 Posted November 15, 2013 #13 Share Posted November 15, 2013 Sort of like Sail and Sign cards, they have evolved over the years and I have my doubts if they could even be used now. Having Complimentary Tournament Ticket on them might raise a flag. :eek: On our last cruise the tournament entry cards were the same ones they have used for years. You should try using them up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare jimbo5544 Posted November 15, 2013 #14 Share Posted November 15, 2013 If John Made the announcement, he certainly speaks on behalf of Carnival. Can't help myself...is that like a president stating no one will lose their healthcare plans? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
golfadj Posted November 15, 2013 #15 Share Posted November 15, 2013 Can't help myself...is that like a president stating no one will lose their healthcare plans? Not his fault, it was not shown on his teleprompter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare jimbo5544 Posted November 15, 2013 #16 Share Posted November 15, 2013 Not his fault, it was not shown on his teleprompter. Ha Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app from my IPhone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sargent_Schultz Posted November 15, 2013 #17 Share Posted November 15, 2013 They did first tell us the platinum program would be improved. It has been with priority luggage and cabins. Who is "they"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sargent_Schultz Posted November 15, 2013 #18 Share Posted November 15, 2013 On our last cruise the tournament entry cards were the same ones they have used for years. You should try using them up. I guess the GO part of BOGO probably does still say complementary? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
golfadj Posted November 15, 2013 #19 Share Posted November 15, 2013 It has been with priority luggage and cabins. Who is "they"? Overall platinum is not as good as it used to be. You know very well who I was talking about. Better that we do not comment on each others posts. Lets keep it that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miller_KC Posted November 15, 2013 #20 Share Posted November 15, 2013 Another change is the Canapés. Platinum used to get a plate of Canapés one night and a plate of sweets on another. Like you need more free food on the ship. I think the plate you get now with chocolate covered strawberries is worth more to me than the 2 plates from before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miller_KC Posted November 15, 2013 #21 Share Posted November 15, 2013 Unlimited wash and fold laundry service is now limited (based on amount of days). I still send out as much or more laundry than I did before. On a 7 day cruise 3 bags has been plenty. If we need more we can use DWs folio number too for another 3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jamman54 Posted November 15, 2013 #22 Share Posted November 15, 2013 I guess the GO part of BOGO probably does still say complementary? Got the same cards for the BO and the GO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jamman54 Posted November 15, 2013 #23 Share Posted November 15, 2013 I still send out as much or more laundry than I did before. On a 7 day cruise 3 bags has been plenty. If we need more we can use DWs folio number too for another 3. Same with us. On our recent 8 day Splendor cruise, all three of us being Platinum, we could have sent out up to 9 bags, but we only sent out 3. We did get 4 back though!! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
golfadj Posted November 15, 2013 #24 Share Posted November 15, 2013 Another change is the Canapés. Platinum used to get a plate of Canapés one night and a plate of sweets on another. Like you need more free food on the ship. I think the plate you get now with chocolate covered strawberries is worth more to me than the 2 plates from before. Last month on the Liberty we got only 2 choc covered strawberries and several other sweets. This one is no big deal. Laundry we get 6 bags in 7 days and that is more than enough. Do miss the free entries to BJ tourney and guaranteed dining times. Would not be thrilled if we went up to the guest services line and found a bunch of FTTF people in front of us. Does bother me that they took stuff away and sold some benefits to others. Does this bother me enough to stop sailing Carnival? No but this and a downgrading of entertainment offered has made us reconsider our loyalty and will be cruising on other lines in the near future starting with Princess next year and than mostly likely an RCCL or NCL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRUZBUDS Posted November 15, 2013 #25 Share Posted November 15, 2013 Would not be thrilled if we went up to the guest services line and found a bunch of FTTF people in front of us. This is the only thing that does bug me (just a little ;)) Nothing else affected us at all --- just did 14 days B2B -- between us 12 bags of laundry was adequate. Makes you wonder why they changed it, did some people actually use more than that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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