Gold Member Past Guest Party

[CandyCruiser1106]

When I posted the question, I certainly was not whining, it was just a question, and to confirm when they changed it because on my last cruise (Jan. of this year) I got the invitation to the Past Guest Party and went. I’m also not much of a drinker; I had one free fruity drink at the last one I attended. I think the Past Guest Party is/was one of the benefits that give Red Members an incentive to make Gold. Just as the Gold Members wants to be Platinum for the better benefits. I remember when I was a Red Member, I booked more cruises just to be a Gold Member LOL!! I loved walking into the cabin, seeing the personal invitation with MY name on it – made me feel “special” and appreciated.

Being a Gold Member gives you 2 extra benefits from being a Red Member – the Appreciation Drink to be used on the last evening of the cruise, & the Gold VIFP Pin. The Past Guest Party was a FUN Benefit, BUT not having it anymore is NOT going to keep me from having FUN FUN FUN on the ship.

[Out to sea!]

I have been invited to 8 past guest parties. Now for my tenth cruise we are persona non grata. LOL, it doesn't bother me because we only ever attended a few of them, and did not find them to be much of a party anyway.

 

What I do find interesting is the complete failure of someone at Carnival to realize the public relations hit they would take from this. They may have been ok if they offered a free drink anytime during the cruise. Nope, someone decided to remove the party for a large group of customers and then rub it in their face with a restricted coupon. They are not fooling anyone, we know the coupon is restricted so fewer will be redeemed.

 

This all leads me to believe that the real motive behind this has less to do with the number of guests showing up foe the party, and much more about the number of free drinks being served during that 45min.

 

If the ships continue to sail full, there is no public relations hit. If the ships start to not sail full, then Carnival will change things.

[SeeBurd]

If the ships continue to sail full, there is no public relations hit. If the ships start to not sail full, then Carnival will change things.

 

A full ship does not indicate anything. They can easily fill a ship by constantly dropping rates until that is accomplished. There s nothing difficult about doing that.

[Out to sea!]

A full ship does not indicate anything. They can easily fill a ship by constantly dropping rates until that is accomplished. There s nothing difficult about doing that.

 

A full ship indicates most people don't care about whatever trivial complaint some folks are whining about and see Carnival as the best bang for the buck.

 

BTW, rates drop on other cruise lines as well prior to sailing to ensure the their ships are full. Nothing new or special there.

Edited July 24, 2015 by Out to sea!

[SeeBurd]

A full ship indicates most people don't care about whatever trivial complaint some folks are whining about and see Carnival as the best bang for the buck.

 

.

 

I will respectfully disagree. Just like the markdown basket at the store.

[Buckett]

I hear you. And it's a little annoying when everyone automatically assumes you only attended the party for the free drinks. And therefore, the bone they threw with that coupon that you can only use for a few hours on the last night when the moon is under just one cloud between Thursday - Friday when the ship is headed North but not coming from South is genuine. :D

 

OK I'm exaggerating but you get my point. If you're going to give me a coupon, give me one that I can use at any time during the trip. It's the same petty gripe I had with the sea day brunch coupon. I get limitations to a point, but the one free drink was limit enough IMO. I wouldn't have cared about being served any drinks at all at the guest party. I just liked going. I only got to go once and yeah it was corny, but corny is o.k. sometimes. And like you, the one I went to was not super crowded with people grabbing drinks like they didn't have good sense. It was nice little event that lasted about 40 minutes.

 

Perhaps by the time I've been invited to a dozen of them or more, yeah maybe the novelty will have worn off. But that's precisely the reason why the party is not that crowded now. Plats/Diamonds have been there done that. Seems to me like you would give them something else and keep the party for us. But what do I know. I guess you and I are in the minority as it seems most people are happy with the coupon. Oh well. Different strokes. I will still have a great time on vacation.

 

I'm on your team too, guys! :D I enjoyed the PGP, always looked forward to them.

[elliair]

So positive these days....................:rolleyes:

 

Maybe he would be happier if it were 24 cents.:rolleyes:

[maldenmusic]

Don't forget the nifty gold pin with the year on it that you get as well. In the past my gold pins didn't have the year. Truthfully I quit attending the past guest parties because they were too crowded. I'm ok with the bottle of water and free drink coupon.

[Havingfun2010]

It's not about the free drink, or the fact that Carnival does not care about loyalty. It's about the slap in the face by offering a $0.23 bottle of water in it's place.

 

Oh, we are taking these things away from you, but guess what! You will get a bottle of water! :D

[mousey]

I've attended enough past guest parties so I don't mind getting a complimentary bottle of water and drink ticket which I'll use for my last dinner on-board. I still get a pin to add to my collection...I'm good!;)

 

I also agree that this change has a lot to do with the fact that the privilege was much abused by greedy passengers taking friends/family with them that didn't have invitations. :(.

Edited July 24, 2015 by mousey

[Elaine5715]

No, I was eligible for the party and had my invitation. I was gold for one cruise before Carnival changed the past guest party to a platinum/diamond party. Thus, I was able to attend one past guest party. I followed the rules and did not bring my husband, who was still red. That party was in the comedy club and was not at all crowded, so my perspective on past guest parties is different than those who have experienced overcrowded parties. I really enjoyed the experience, and not just the drinks. At the party I attended, crewmembers were stationed at the doors and asked for invites. I assumed this was ONE of the reason it was not crowded, and asking for invites did not seem to slow the line or lead to any conflicts that I heard.

 

So, it was before the change to only Platinum/Diamonds. Thank you for clarifying.

[Out to sea!]

It's not about the free drink, or the fact that Carnival does not care about loyalty. It's about the slap in the face by offering a $0.23 bottle of water in it's place.

 

Oh, we are taking these things away from you, but guess what! You will get a bottle of water! :D

 

Anyone who thinks it is truly a "slap in the face" can easily take their cruising dollars elsewhere. I don't know about you but I wouldn't dream of giving money to someone who I thought was "slapping me in the face".

[KatieCharlotte]

Anyone who thinks it is truly a "slap in the face" can easily take their cruising dollars elsewhere. I don't know about you but I wouldn't dream of giving money to someone who I thought was "slapping me in the face".

 

How about I book an inside cabin, eat the most expensive meats and seafood on the menu, stop booking any excursions through Carnival, and leave the ship with a zero S&S? :D

 

Carnival cares about a PR hit if it affects the price they can sell a cruise for or how much people open their wallets once on board. This is not a big PR disaster, just a good reminder that we are nothing but wallets and should not feel "loyalty" to a corporation.

[Retired_to_Cruise]

By the last night of the cruise my DW and I have been using the "Drinks on us" card from the casino for at least a night or two. So there is not much value in the coupon.

 

If the coupon could be used any time, it would make it much better.

 

But you have to be sitting at a slot machine or table to use the DOU "benefit". You cannot go to a bar, including the casino bar, and use it. This gives you a chance sit quietly at a different bar on the last night after you have cashed out your casino stash and do something other than gamble.

[cruzincutie]

Wow,

Edited July 25, 2015 by cruzincutie

[cruzincutie]

The amount of crying going on in reference to a night of people getting their free "drinks" and ego's rubbed is astonishing.

Edited July 25, 2015 by cruzincutie

[tncap]

I'm platinum and my next cruise will be the first under the new format. I'm afraid it will be less fun than when golds were included. I loved the raucous, free-for-all attitude of it. That's fun to me. I'm envisioning a more intimate lounge with only platinums and diamonds to be much more "relaxed."

 

Does anyone have any firsthand comparisons?

[rocking-m-cruiser]

I'm platinum and my next cruise will be the first under the new format. I'm afraid it will be less fun than when golds were included. I loved the raucous, free-for-all attitude of it. That's fun to me. I'm envisioning a more intimate lounge with only platinums and diamonds to be much more "relaxed."

 

Does anyone have any firsthand comparisons?

 

Yes, our last cruise was the first one for us with no golds. The group was so small they had it in a lounge. It was a completely different atmosphere and very much relaxed. :/

[SeeBurd]

Yes, our last cruise was the first one for us with no golds. The group was so small they had it in a lounge. It was a completely different atmosphere and very much relaxed. :/

 

That's what we found on our second cruise years ago. It was in a small lounge, and we were actually surprised to find the people withe the most cruises under their belt had nine only them. And then thinking who goes on nine cruises? And then passing nine myself in the mid nineties,

 

And yet all I curing way before it was any perk in a loyalty program.

Edited July 26, 2015 by SeeBurd

[Maraprince]

Yes, our last cruise was the first one for us with no golds. The group was so small they had it in a lounge. It was a completely different atmosphere and very much relaxed. :/

 

It was much more relaxed and truly a change from the "grab all the free drinks that I can" mentality that existed before the change. Various little snacks were brought around to each table multiple times. I asked for a non-alcoholic beverage and received 2 refills without asking for them! The wait staff was able to provide better service to everyone in attendance. Everyone had a seat and was able to see and hear the presentations. We had a live band and 2 performers. Passengers were invited to dance. It was very organized.

 

MARAPRINCE

[The4Cruisers]

I was platinum for a while before I hit 75 days. I make no apologies for it. I started cruising in 2003. I do a lot of short ones because that's what fits my work and life schedule. I've also dragged along 3 kids on a lot of them, introduced cruising to, and made addicts of, 8 people, brought 1 Princess cruiser to the Fun side. I've been on 16 total Carnival cruises, #17 leaves Saturday. Nope, don't feel bad about my status at all.

 

I agree! I've been Plat for almost two years now and I still need three cruises to make it to the 75 point level. I have no regrets. We have taken a dozen 5 night cruises as a family too. The name of the game is that we played by the rules and earned our status.

 

Now, if someone on my next cruise wants to trade their Gold drink benefit for my party benefit, let's talk! :D

[CandyCruiser1106]

Yes, our last cruise was the first one for us with no golds. The group was so small they had it in a lounge. It was a completely different atmosphere and very much relaxed. :/

 

"Relaxed" as in "boring"?

[rocking-m-cruiser]

"Relaxed" as in "boring"?

 

Absolutely. I like all the hustle and bustle. :)

[Out to sea!]

How about I book an inside cabin, eat the most expensive meats and seafood on the menu, stop booking any excursions through Carnival, and leave the ship with a zero S&S? :D

 

That's pretty much what I do these days (except I shoot for PT cabins). :)

 

In fact, on my last cruise I took home $278 in OBC money and didn't even pay for the cruise! :D

Edited July 27, 2015 by Out to sea!

[linbobky]

That's pretty much what I do these days (except I shoot for PT cabins). :)

 

In fact, on my last cruise I took home $278 in OBC money and didn't even pay for the cruise! :D

 

now I am jealous!!:)