falkcor Posted January 28, 2015 #1 Share Posted January 28, 2015 (edited) Carnival has announced that they will no longer provide the coupon for a free drink to red and gold VIFP members. John Heald posted the following: Well I see some of you have already been sent the change so i will post it here now rather than wait to 10:30am Discontinued Sea Day Brunch Beverage Coupon . The complimentary beverage coupon that is redeemable during the Sea Day Brunch in the Main Dining Room will be discontinued for VIFP Club Red and Gold members effective with sailings departing on or after February 7, 2015. Introduction of Complimentary 1 Liter Bottle of Water Every returning VIFP Club Red, Gold, Platinum and Diamond member will receive a large, complimentary bottle of water (1 liter), placed in their stateroom on embarkation day. (For example, if there are four past guests in one stateroom, each of those guests will receive a complimentary 1L bottle of water.) We’re making these changes because members told us they felt the drink coupon was overly restrictive in terms of where and when it could be used. We believe the complimentary 1L bottle of water will be more appreciated and more widely used, either on board or ashore. The rest of your VIFP Club benefits remain unchanged. Thoughts please here and I will let the beards know. Thanks to you all for your brilliant loyalty - cheers The rationale granted is that the existing coupon was reported to be too restrictive. Would you prefer that the existing coupon (for any drink up to 8.95, currently restricted to seaday brunch / main dining room) simply be less restrictive, or would you really just prefer a bottle of water in your room? My proposal would be they simply lift the restrictions of time and place on the coupon, and make it so it is redeemable at any bar, any time, INCLUDING for a free one liter bottle of water. Your thoughts? Edited January 28, 2015 by falkcor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollandAvery Posted January 28, 2015 #2 Share Posted January 28, 2015 I just want the drink coupon back, period. I don't care how restrictive it was, it was really quite easy to get the drink. Now I get to miss out on a free drink I was looking forward to and instead get a bottle of water I won't use...water on the ship is free and plentiful, a bottle of water just seems SO silly to me. I'm pretty upset about this change and am losing a little respect towards Carnival. I feel this was a cheap cut and it's offensive that they think I'm dumb enough to see this as a reward. I want my free mimosa/mojito back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bury me at sea Posted January 28, 2015 #3 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Free water all over the ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bury me at sea Posted January 28, 2015 #4 Share Posted January 28, 2015 I haven't voted in the poll. I would like to see a third option: coupon for choice of free alcoholic drink, non-alcoholic drink, or bottle of water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firemanbobswife Posted January 28, 2015 #5 Share Posted January 28, 2015 I haven't voted in the poll. I would like to see a third option: coupon for choice of free alcoholic drink, non-alcoholic drink, or bottle of water. That's option number one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falkcor Posted January 28, 2015 Author #6 Share Posted January 28, 2015 I haven't voted in the poll. I would like to see a third option: coupon for choice of free alcoholic drink, non-alcoholic drink, or bottle of water. that's the first option. the coupon as it stands is good for any drink - 'free alcoholic drink, non-alcoholic drink, or bottle of water' - up to 8.95. you can use the coupon for a coke, bottle of water, or DOD - whatever, as it stands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falkcor Posted January 28, 2015 Author #7 Share Posted January 28, 2015 That's option number one. great minds ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare CruisinCrow Posted January 28, 2015 #8 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Option 1. I avoid bottled water as much as possible because I think the plastic bottles are a waste and bad for the environment. So giving me a plastic bottle of water is not a "perk"! The VIFP program was a dud to begin with and now it's even more so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firemanbobswife Posted January 28, 2015 #9 Share Posted January 28, 2015 great minds ;) Agree :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pixelate Posted January 28, 2015 #10 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Brilliant! Innovative! Revolutionary! Just another cutback with a lie behind it in an attempt to lower costs, as if many even used the coupon at brunch. The natives are restless on the brand ambassador's page. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falkcor Posted January 28, 2015 Author #11 Share Posted January 28, 2015 I just want the drink coupon back, period. I don't care how restrictive it was, it was really quite easy to get the drink. Now I get to miss out on a free drink I was looking forward to and instead get a bottle of water I won't use...water on the ship is free and plentiful, a bottle of water just seems SO silly to me. I'm pretty upset about this change and am losing a little respect towards Carnival. I feel this was a cheap cut and it's offensive that they think I'm dumb enough to see this as a reward. I want my free mimosa/mojito back. agreed. it's not hard to redeem - albeit far more restrictive than it needed to be. i wouldn't say i so look forward to it - but the alternative is absurd. you're right - there's water everywhere. and i'd rather pay for the 4.95 1.5 liter water int he room, than a classic cocktail. it's not the few dollar difference it's more the principal - and in this case i think they totally missed the mark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klfrodo Posted January 28, 2015 #12 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Why not the poll answer option of Shut the heck up and stop whining about stupid stuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falkcor Posted January 28, 2015 Author #13 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Brilliant! Innovative! Revolutionary! Just another cutback with a lie behind it in an attempt to lower costs, as if many even used the coupon at brunch. The natives are restless on the brand ambassador's page. for once i agree with your sentiment :) i don't typically follow his page's natives and don't intend to now, but expect that they're just as miffed as the majority is here, as evidenced by the poll results thus far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pixelate Posted January 28, 2015 #14 Share Posted January 28, 2015 (edited) for once i agree with your sentiment :) i don't typically follow his page's natives and don't intend to now, but expect that they're just as miffed as the majority is here, as evidenced by the poll results thus far. There are almost 2,000 comments (and not including threaded replies) in just a short period of time. I thought he always had the information first though... kinda surprising to read it elsewhere and waiting for him to confirm it. :rolleyes::eek:;):D:p And it isn't as friendly as Cruise Critic when things get "heated." Edited January 28, 2015 by Pixelate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falkcor Posted January 28, 2015 Author #15 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Why not the poll answer option of Shut the heck up and stop whining about stupid stuff because it is really a pretty simple question. so long as carnival is dictating what guest feedback is, and using a method of subterfuge to justify a cutback in this form, i figured i'd put up a poll to see if that was accurate. apparently it is not. this is how we got we got shrimp back, right? lol. chill out :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adaptabl Posted January 28, 2015 #16 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Keep the water. There are not many perks now. Just another cutback. Give a free drink coupon without the restrictions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pixelate Posted January 28, 2015 #17 Share Posted January 28, 2015 (edited) because it is really a pretty simple question. so long as carnival is dictating what guest feedback is, and using a method of subterfuge to justify a cutback in this form, i figured i'd put up a poll to see if that was accurate. apparently it is not. this is how we got we got shrimp back, right? lol. chill out :p Falkcor, we both have this entire thing wrong. We should be happy Carnival is listening to our guest feedback about the restrictions, thereby eliminating the problem and removing it. You know... how nobody attended Fun Farewell; how nobody purchased Future Cruise Certificates; and most certainly as you mentioned #Shrimpgate2011! :eek::rolleyes::D;):p Edited January 28, 2015 by Pixelate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanderingjew Posted January 28, 2015 #18 Share Posted January 28, 2015 If they announced this last week Jim berra would have gotten an earful last Sat in NYC from ME:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meatloafsfan Posted January 28, 2015 #19 Share Posted January 28, 2015 I don't think an "anytime, anywhere, any drink" coupon is going to be quite the same as the "brunch only" coupon. A more realistic compromise would be that the coupons are able to be used before 2pm at any bar. More difficult to enforce perhaps (with lots of whining about "it was only 2:05 and the bartender wouldn't serve me my free drink :mad:") but certainly lifting some of the restrictions that people complained about making it easier to redeem but not having the "no restrictions" clause that CCL seems to want to avoid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Reid Posted January 28, 2015 #20 Share Posted January 28, 2015 As they try to slip the curve ball by their customers, consider this. They are hoping that many will say I would rather have the water. If they were really addressing customer concerns, they could put a check box on your voucher to select a bottle of water in your stateroom, leaving it for the room steward who would bring the water during an ensuing room servicing. And if your thought is more work for the steward, it would be far less than bringing a bottle to every red card and up room. It's smoke and mirrors, a deception, a takeaway. The feedback gathered wasn't that water was preferred over the drink voucher. It is a shallow excuse for a cut. Again, I am more bothered by the deception than the cut. It's assuming that many customers will be fooled into thinking it's a favor. Water in room or drink at brunch is addressing the feedback. Water only, no drink at brunch is a thinly veiled cutback. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pixelate Posted January 28, 2015 #21 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Even after leaving the company, penny pinching Gerry Cahill strikes again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klfrodo Posted January 28, 2015 #22 Share Posted January 28, 2015 because it is really a pretty simple question. so long as carnival is dictating what guest feedback is, and using a method of subterfuge to justify a cutback in this form, i figured i'd put up a poll to see if that was accurate. apparently it is not. this is how we got we got shrimp back, right? lol. chill out :p So, it's not so much a poll to find out how people feel about something,,,,it's actually a poll with answers skewed to see how many people agree with you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRock59 Posted January 28, 2015 #23 Share Posted January 28, 2015 No problems with this change as we are Diamonds and Dia/Plat will still get the coupon for a free drink along with the bottle of water. Win-Win for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bwlr1985 Posted January 28, 2015 #24 Share Posted January 28, 2015 I would so much rather have the drink coupon - even if the restrictions stay the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanedoyle Posted January 28, 2015 #25 Share Posted January 28, 2015 You would figure with dropping fuel costs helping there bottom line they would extend perks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now