Loyal Carnival Cruiser heading for Royal treatment

[ILCruzr]

Wait...how are people notified of the cruise deals?@ I got a call two weeks ago about a cruise for the cost of ports fees and taxes and I assumed it was a scam/timeshare and told them to not call e again!! They dId say carnival! (And other lines I think too)

 

Yea we've gotten calls like that too . They are normally scams to get you to see a timeshare.

[topofE]

Yea we've gotten calls like that too . They are normally scams to get you to see a timeshare.

 

 

Maybe I won the cruise lottery though!

 

Actually, I found them to be fishy because the port fees and taxes for a 7 day out of new Orleans was like $350. I told him I'm going in a balcony for 7 days in two months and y port fees and taxes are <$100!

[ILCruzr]

Maybe I won the cruise lottery though!

 

Actually, I found them to be fishy because the port fees and taxes for a 7 day out of new Orleans was like $350. I told him I'm going in a balcony for 7 days in two months and y port fees and taxes are <$100!

 

No the free cruises are sent via us mail and email. We know ppl who got them.

[buddylover]

Wait...how are people notified of the cruise deals?@ I got a call two weeks ago about a cruise for the cost of ports fees and taxes and I assumed it was a scam/timeshare and told them to not call e again!! They dId say carnival! (And other lines I think too)

 

Actually, in this last round of Free Cruises....some people have said that their PVP called them, and one said she went online to book and the pricing came back (she was logged in with her Past Guest #) as only taxes. In this case she called CCL and sure enough had a FREE cruise. But I do think that in all cases, it is posted online when you log in under your VIFP profile it appears in the "Offers" folder.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

You really don't have your facts all lined up. For starters, RCI is NOT always more....we just booked the Allure for a D3 balcony during their "sale", which truly was a sale, for $760 p/p which is LESS $$ than our Valor cruise in a regular balcony cabin coming up in January.

 

Secondly, RCI's itineraries are not BLAH!!! What drew us to RCI for our first cruise was in fact an itinerary CCL did NOT offer....as is our January 2015 cruise on RCI. We are going to Martinique and Grenada (which is NOT a typical CCL itin and wasn't offered at the time of our RCI booking) and which are 2 ports that have been on our "bucket list". RCI also cruises regularly to Bonaire, Falmouth, Labadee which CCL does NOT....so I don't know where you are getting your info from.

 

It is precisely BECAUSE of the "lack of creativity" in CCL's itin why a lot of the more seasoned cruisers jump "ship" literally...... looking for "different" un-offered ports and intineraries that CCL does NOT sail to. CCL is a great cruise line, and we have enjoyed each and every cruise on CCL, but to expand horizons, if travelling to see the world, one must do their due diligence and research other options. Sorry, but I don't agree with your thinking.

 

We also got good deals for our RCI upcoming cruises. Paid $727pp for a B1 balcony which is also the last one on the end overlooking the aquatheater and we also got $150 OBC from RCI. Cruise is November 29.

 

Our 10 day cruise on the Grandeur was about $713pp for next April.

 

Bill

[Xina143]

When comparing cruises there are so many factors that go into it. Someone said they paid about 1 1/2 times for their RCCL cruise than they did for their Carnival cruise.

 

Ok, same intineraries?

 

How many days?

 

Which ships?

 

When did you sail?

 

Etc, etc

 

If you took a 7 day on the Pride in October VS a 7 day on the Allure in July....

 

 

 

 

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[DKane]

Husband and I will be going on our ninth Carnival cruise next month and our third Royal Caribbean cruise over Thanksgiving. We love all cruise lines - we're not picky people. We enjoy the fact that we are sailing and not at work:)

[sc4125]

I feel that I am a loyal Carnival cruiser, so why wasn't my name picked to get a free cruise? I know married couples who both got each a free cruise. It's really irritating because I have spent some hard earned money on their cruises and because I am booked on one, I probably wont get one.

 

I am also not jumping ship just because of the free cruise, I want to try something new. And Carnival doesn't go to Haiti. And I also really want to try a freedom class ship. I hear they are super nice.

 

I am really excited about my IOS cruise :)

 

 

I'm not sure if you're a member of the Players Club (Casino) with Carnival or not, but that's where this latest rash of "free" cruises came from. I've been on 10 cruises with Carnival & have always been a member of the Players Club - yet this is the first time I've been given the free cruise offer, so see, it's not just you. I feel differently about it though - I have stopped expecting anything for being a loyal customer to any company - so whatever I get I truly appreciate it. I'm new to the Platinum ranks, so where everyone else is complaining about all the things that were taken away from them, I'm like "wow, thanks Carnival!!" Just a glass half empty/half full kind of thing.

 

I do hope that you enjoy your IOS cruise, and I certainly think that we should all try new things. The only reason I haven't is because I've just managed to find good prices and my family members (especially the 20-somethings) always have fun on Carnival & don't want to spend anymore than they have to.

[gnocchi_mommy]

Have fun! Our next 2 cruises booked, are on RCCL. You will love it I have personally never had a bad cruise no matter what the line or ship, they all differ and some are a little more spectacular than others. Our previous sole RCCL cruise was definitely the nicest one we have been on.

[jonbgd]

If you sail in a balcony, the prices for RCCL can be a lot lower than CCL, the higher up you go in loyalty

 

At Diamond level (CCL Platinum) we get $225 discount off our cruise besides, 3 hrs of free cocktails every night.

 

Our last cruise on RCCL was $840 total, including taxes and fees for 2 in a center hump balcony for 7 days

 

My calculations say our bill is a lot cheaper on RCCL than CCL

 

OP enjoy your cruise

[islandwannabee]

I am a diamond member on carnival with over 40 cruises (300 plus days) and have never received a free cruise or discount. Only for my 25th I got 25 percent off as on board credit. I sail 6-7 times per year. My last carnival cruise was in March and I am jumping ship. I guess you get to a point where you don't feel as though you are appreciated. And then when you read all of the free cruise offers, it kinda sucks. So I think it's time to explore other options.

[ILCruzr]

I am a diamond member on carnival with over 40 cruises (300 plus days) and have never received a free cruise or discount. Only for my 25th I got 25 percent off as on board credit. I sail 6-7 times per year. My last carnival cruise was in March and I am jumping ship. I guess you get to a point where you don't feel as though you are appreciated. And then when you read all of the free cruise offers, it kinda sucks. So I think it's time to explore other options.

 

 

atleast I am not the only one who feels this way. It's a complete dis regard to a loyal customer.

[ILCruzr]

If you sail in a balcony, the prices for RCCL can be a lot lower than CCL, the higher up you go in loyalty

 

At Diamond level (CCL Platinum) we get $225 discount off our cruise besides, 3 hrs of free cocktails every night.

 

Our last cruise on RCCL was $840 total, including taxes and fees for 2 in a center hump balcony for 7 days

 

My calculations say our bill is a lot cheaper on RCCL than CCL

 

OP enjoy your cruise

 

 

and that is precisely why I am switching lines! RCL appreciates their customers because without us, they would have no jobs. Carnival needs to learn that!

[pungo3]

I am a diamond member on carnival with over 40 cruises (300 plus days) and have never received a free cruise or discount. Only for my 25th I got 25 percent off as on board credit. I sail 6-7 times per year. My last carnival cruise was in March and I am jumping ship. I guess you get to a point where you don't feel as though you are appreciated. And then when you read all of the free cruise offers, it kinda sucks. So I think it's time to explore other options.

 

I agree with you. I'm still 23 days from Diamond, but I doubt I make it. Carnival hasn't shown its loyal customers much appreciation. It's time to start investigating prices on other lines.

[Arod1313]

Labade is an excellent port. Great beach area, zip line over the beach and roller coaster. I personally prefer royal over carnival because Royal has more activities and larger boats. Not to mention I can reserve a dinner table for two via email and carnival you cannot. However, carnival is often a lot cheaper which is why I'm sailing with them in august.

 

 

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[ILCruzr]

Labade is an excellent port. Great beach area, zip line over the beach and roller coaster. I personally prefer royal over carnival because Royal has more activities and larger boats. Not to mention I can reserve a dinner table for two via email and carnival you cannot. However, carnival is often a lot cheaper which is why I'm sailing with them in august.

 

 

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hey we were on the same destiny sailing! Good times :)

[graphicguy]

While it doesn't matter to me who's loyal to whom. I do find it interesting how both Carnival and Royal loyalists will defend their preferred line to a fault. One thing's for certain, it doesn't take much for a cruise line to get people's undying loyalty. Looks like all it takes is a few free drinks and letting folks get on/off the ship a few minutes early. That's about it.

 

I'm one of those who can't see the need to be loyal to any single cruise line either. Whatever "perks" either offers, none of it is worth it to me to limit myself to one cruise line that offers a similar experience over and over again (regardless of the ship that's sailed).

 

Both Royal and Carnival offer a very similar product. Whenever anyone asks me which cruise line to sail (since I've sailed the major ones) I tell them to find the one that fits their budget and desired itinerary the best. Can't go wrong doing that.

Edited June 18, 2014 by graphicguy

[Arod1313]

hey we were on the same destiny sailing! Good times :)

 

 

I enjoyed that cruise a lot. One of these days I'll make it on the Sunshine to see all of the changes.

 

 

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[ILCruzr]

I enjoyed that cruise a lot. One of these days I'll make it on the Sunshine to see all of the changes.

 

 

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Yah that was a fun cruise. It was my first cruise after my disasterous Victory cruise. I wanted to give Carnival another chance and I was pleased by this cruise. But wish Carnival would appreciate my business more.

 

Speaking of the sunshine, I almost was going to book that ship instead of the RCL one but I really want to try RCL. The Sunshine is going to Bonaire in Jan 2016 and that was such a selling point, but I didn't want to go out of Port Canaveral.

[fuddrules]

I'm about this (...) close to booking on NCL.

 

I see they offer 15% off pictures once you're silver. Now THAT is a perk worth switching over:D

[cruise_girl2002]

I did the unthinkable yesterday. After cruising with Carnival for the past 8 years, I have decided my next cruise after the Valor will be on Royal Caribbean. As much as I love Carnival and enjoy my cruises on them, I am kind of disgusted at how little perks they give loyal customers like myself. Royal Caribbean gives great perks to past guests including a nice discount on future cruises. That would be nice if Carnival gave that for their guests.

 

I am also choosing to sail RCL because I am going with a friend of mine who has never cruised, and since I am so used to Carnival, I thought going on another line would be a fun. I hear RCL has the WOW factor on their ships, so I am very excited to finally step aboard one.

 

I am also choosing RCL because Carnival does the basic itineraries and since I have done a lot of them, I really don't want to waste money to repeat places I have already been to. Even though I have been to Jamaica, I have never been to Falmouth, so I am looking forward to that. But I am really excited about going to Labadee, which is one of the other reasons I booked RCL.

 

But what really made me switch over to RCL, was that Carnival is recently handling out free cruises to people. I realize I am booked on the Valor in January, but I have been reading people just getting back from cruises are getting free cruises. I find this practice unfair. I realize Carnival wants to keep people sailing with them, but what about the people who are loyal and sail with them? Do they not deserve a free cruise after spending a lot of money on Carnival Cruises?

 

Well Carnival, you might have lost a loyal customer and now Royal this your turn to impress me!

 

I am platinum with carnival, I haven't received a free cruise offer, but that isn't going to stop me from cruising with them. I tried royal a few times, and bottom line....not my taste and not for me. I was disappointed. i never received any past guest perks or discounted rates/resident rates like i do on carnival.

[fastmedic]

I will never understand why one would only cruise one cruise line.

 

 

Laundry

[DirtDiver]

I have cruised on both Carnival and Royal. I don't find Royal to be that much more, but I do find it to be nicer. To be fair, I was on the Liberty of the Seas, and it really had a WOW factor.

 

I found the fellow cruisers to be a bit higher class, but most importantly there was just more to do on the ship. Granted, I haven't been on CCL's largest ships, but even those can't compare in size to something like the Liberty or the Allure.

 

I like them both, and would never limit myself to a single cruise line. At least not until I check them all out.

 

I will say this: I've had a much better experience on the pre-cruise planning with RCCL than CCL. The PVP's, silly policies, and extremely pushy tactics have really pushed me away from CCL. I am still cruising (again) on the Victory, but it's simple, there really isn't as much to do, or as many places to eat, on the Victory as on similarly sized RCL ships. Again, this is just my opinion.

 

 

 

 

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[ILCruzr]

That's why I cant wait to go on IOS, for the WOW factor

[ILCruzr]

I am platinum with carnival, I haven't received a free cruise offer, but that isn't going to stop me from cruising with them. I tried royal a few times, and bottom line....not my taste and not for me. I was disappointed. i never received any past guest perks or discounted rates/resident rates like i do on carnival.

 

 

You must not be checking in the right places for past discount rates. My parents have sailed on RCL and they got a past discount rate of 25% on the RCL ship they just booked. You might want to call RCL if you don't see that.

 

I find that perk very appealing since I just starting to cruise more and the more money I save on one cruise, it carry over to another one ;)