Are there going to be New VIFP levels be added?

[IPlayWithString]

My guess is they're going to raise the number of days needed to attain platinum status, throw another level in there where platinum used to be and call it something else and screw those who are almost platinum again like they did when people turned gold and they took away the past guest party.

[wemjam]

I really believe that Carnival believes that once a cruiser reaches platinum, they don't have to provide much in the way of rewards to retain that passenger. Carnival's more interested in investing in first time cruisers to bring them back to Carnival because that equals more profit.

 

Unfortunately I still have to work for a living and have only been able to take off work enough to do about 3 cruises per year the last few years. And that's only because I have a lot of years on the job to enjoy max vacation time. I'm pretty sure most Carnival passengers aren't even that fortunate. I'm happy for you that you are in a situation that allows 7+day average with Carnival. I just book when work allows me. Hopefully in retirement I'll be able to take advantage of longer cruises that you enjoy.

 

 

I agree, same here. Also, for those of us who don't live close to a port to just hop a ship makes the cost involved with each trip even more. When I tell people here in Michigan I am going on my 29th cruise they are shocked (and I am only in my 40's not retired or anything). I still have like 50 days to go to make Diamond.

 

It isn't so much about the "perks" as I agree I think Carnival kind of forgets about ya once you hit Platinum because from there the minority of people will ever make Diamond.

[saharaga]

:') :')

 

would be nice if they added a level between gold and platinum, maybe no priority boarding/party but maybe free laundry?

[easyboy]

I'd heard awhile back Carnival was going to add one or two new VIFP levels. Who has any updated information if this will or won't be happening? :confused:

With many changes across cruise lines, I guess it is possible.

[Ziggy7]

They need to do a little more for Gold level! It's insulting compared to platinum! JMHO :P

[pe4all]

I agree! A new level around 150 days would be great. My level hasn't changed since Carnival last updated VIFP. That seems like a very long time ago.

 

I agree, same here. Also, for those of us who don't live close to a port to just hop a ship makes the cost involved with each trip even more. When I tell people here in Michigan I am going on my 29th cruise they are shocked (and I am only in my 40's not retired or anything). I still have like 50 days to go to make Diamond.

 

It isn't so much about the "perks" as I agree I think Carnival kind of forgets about ya once you hit Platinum because from there the minority of people will ever make Diamond.

I agree with all the above! Have been "stuck" on Platinum for quite a while, and still need 52 days to make Diamond - this after 21 cruises , all 7 days or longer. And to rub salt in the wound a bit, I just made Platinum on NCL after 7 cruises!!

[Cinders411]

And when they do you will be grandfathered in what ever status you are in, or moved up depending on what the break is. They won't downgrade you.

 

We stayed the status we were twice when changes came in the past. We lost the Past Guest Party with the first change. Sadly when we got back up to that tier, Carnival made changes again and we lost the party again. For us it really wasn't about the "party" because we don't cruise for the perks and that is really not much of a one anyway. For us, it was more feeling as though Carnival didn't really care about our loyalty. Maybe because it happened twice? In hindsight, I am glad it happened now because that is what convinced us to try another line. Not sure we would have done so before. I hope to sample them all one day. There is always a silver lining. :D

[Micahs Grandad]

I agree with all the above! Have been "stuck" on Platinum for quite a while, and still need 52 days to make Diamond - this after 21 cruises , all 7 days or longer. And to rub salt in the wound a bit, I just made Platinum on NCL after 7 cruises!!

 

They make more off of new cruisers so they want to fill the ships with them. Do not see them doing much of anything for the rest of us

[evandbob]

Gold to Platinum is bad, but getting from Platinum to Diamond is worse lol! :o I am hoping for something between that 75 day mark and 200 day mark!

 

 

A few Journey cruises and B2b's can get you there sooner than you think. Happened to me, I was postingthat I would never reach Diamond, and then, well, I did.

[evandbob]

I agree, same here. Also, for those of us who don't live close to a port to just hop a ship makes the cost involved with each trip even more. When I tell people here in Michigan I am going on my 29th cruise they are shocked (and I am only in my 40's not retired or anything). I still have like 50 days to go to make Diamond.

 

It isn't so much about the "perks" as I agree I think Carnival kind of forgets about ya once you hit Platinum because from there the minority of people will ever make Diamond.

 

 

I take your figures of being 50 days away from Diamond level and divide by 29 and it looks like you averaged a little more than 5 days per cruise.

 

I know everyone's circumstances are different, (work, kids, salary, other vacation plans, etc.) but I got to Diamond on my 29th cruise by doing mostly weeklong cruises with a few Journeys extended cruises thrown in.....and I got more bang for my flying dollars since I needed less flights to get there.

[evandbob]

We stayed the status we were twice when changes came in the past. We lost the Past Guest Party with the first change. Sadly when we got back up to that tier, Carnival made changes again and we lost the party again. For us it really wasn't about the "party" because we don't cruise for the perks and that is really not much of a one anyway. For us, it was more feeling as though Carnival didn't really care about our loyalty. Maybe because it happened twice? In hindsight, I am glad it happened now because that is what convinced us to try another line. Not sure we would have done so before. I hope to sample them all one day. There is always a silver lining. :D

 

 

How true - except for the casino and for some, Cheers. I don't drink alcohol, ! I don't buy pictures, perhaps I'll do a Carnival excursion but odds are that I'll be off on my own or an independent tour, I bring enough personal items that I don't need to buy anything at the Carnival shops on board, I don't go to the art auctions, and I don't do bingo.

 

However, I must spend enough time in the casino that Carnival thinks it's good to offer me reduced fares, so they get their profit out of me anyway.

[Moviela]

I think the rewards should be changed from "sea days" to a system that is similar to airlines where everyone gets awarded miles, but you get more miles for higher class of service like business or first, and you can move up the airline tiers for the amount you spend.

 

Carnival's current system rewards discounted inside cabin passengers the same as those who have paid for a penthouse.

[evandbob]

I agree with all the above! Have been "stuck" on Platinum for quite a while, and still need 52 days to make Diamond - this after 21 cruises , all 7 days or longer. And to rub salt in the wound a bit, I just made Platinum on NCL after 7 cruises!!

 

 

How do the perks compare from Carnival Platinum to NCL Platinum? I've got my 4th NCL cruise now and I'll be hoping to do a few more.

[evandbob]

I think the rewards should be changed from "sea days" to a system that is similar to airlines where everyone gets awarded miles, but you get more miles for higher class of service like business or first, and you can move up the airline tiers for the amount you spend.

 

Carnival's current system rewards discounted inside cabin passengers the same as those who have paid for a penthouse.

 

 

And it discriminates against solo cruisers who have to pay double fares for any cabin category they book but only get credit for one person's sea days.

[watermelonqueen99]

We're only 4 cruises away from Platinum. As long as they don't do something that will change that, I'm good! :D

[tropicaledrink]

We're only 4 cruises away from Platinum. As long as they don't do something that will change that, I'm good! :D

 

 

I feel you on that one - when they started talk at the beginning of the year, I was hoping it would be the normal drawn out process. I hit Platinum in May and DH will hit it in December. :)

[wemjam]

I take your figures of being 50 days away from Diamond level and divide by 29 and it looks like you averaged a little more than 5 days per cruise.

 

I know everyone's circumstances are different, (work, kids, salary, other vacation plans, etc.) but I got to Diamond on my 29th cruise by doing mostly weeklong cruises with a few Journeys extended cruises thrown in.....and I got more bang for my flying dollars since I needed less flights to get there.

 

In the beginning we did not have enough vacation time to take long cruises so they were 3-5 days. Then when we did get more vacation time it was a cruise and then some camping/family time with kids. Then in recent years it has been 2 longer cruises at year. If I devoted ALL my vacation time to cruising I could easily have been there, or be there in another year... but I like to experience new things. So, we cruise a couple times a year, go to Europe or some place else exciting once a year, etc.

 

With the high stress job I have I have to spread my vacation time out to where I am doing something every 8 week or so to keep my sanity. The option of lumping a bunch of vacation time together for a 2 week long or something would leave me with long spells of work with no time off.

 

Can't wait till I retire and time is not so critical!

[Saint Greg]

A few Journey cruises and B2b's can get you there sooner than you think. Happened to me, I was postingthat I would never reach Diamond, and then, well, I did.

 

If you're retired and can do that I guess. But if you're working and can just cruise twice a year you're looking at around a decade...a decade of spending two vacations a year (a lot of people don't get that) with them every year. That's a long time to wait on the next level. For a person who can only cruise once a year that's 17-25 years.

[mahan92]

I'm finally about to hit Gold in November when I go on my next 5 day cruise. (I'm pretty excited!) I know I will be at Gold for a long time! I could happily spend months at a time cruising but right now with mine and my husband's work schedules, we can only take 1 cruise a year and most of those are 3 to 5 day ones. Dreaming of a day when I can take multiple cruises a year!!

[Cyber Kat]

And when they do you will be grandfathered in what ever status you are in, or moved up depending on what the break is. They won't downgrade you.

 

 

 

My husband got downgraded from gold to red last time they did changes.

 

 

 

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[pe4all]

How do the perks compare from Carnival Platinum to NCL Platinum? I've got my 4th NCL cruise now and I'll be hoping to do a few more.

This is what Platinum on NCL get:

- priority check-in

-priority embark and debark

-15% discount in onboard shops

-bottle of champagne in room

-15 free internet min. with 100 minute package purchased, 30 min. with 250 min pkge purchase

- 30 free internet minutes (no purchase required)

- free artwork for attending art auction

- onboard latitudes rewards rep

- monthly insider offers on select sailings

- complimentary lattitudes online magazine

- exclusive cocktail party

- 15% discount on shore excursions

-30% discount of photos

-25% discount on spa treatments

-1 bottle (liter) water in cabin

-free bag of laundry

- priority tender tx

-dinner for 2 at Moderno or La Cucina (Brazilian or Italian)

-behind the scenes tour

-concierge service to book dinners, spa, entertainment

 

I did cruises on NCL I wouldn't normally do on Carnival- Hawaii, Western Med., Bermuda, all due to better dates that fit into my family's schedule on NCL. I didn't even realize I made Platinum until I happened to look into book another cruise. NCL gives double points at different times, which helped! I got 14 points for booking 9 months in advance for one cruise, and 14 points for some promo they were doing for Western Med. this past August. I have also bought a number of cruisenext certificates on our cruises - 4 $250 certificates for $1,000, but they give you an immediate $500 back in obc! Plus there are times you can use 2 certificates per booking, as we did for Hawaii and Med. cruises. All in all, it works for us. We still cruise Carnival, but have now "spread our wings" a bit to see what else is out there.

[sanmarcosman]

At the pace I collect points the new level above Diamond may as well be called Carnival Death.

[Micahs Grandad]

My husband got downgraded from gold to red last time they did changes.

 

 

 

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That is why I do not expect much this time around. We were platinum than and instead of gettting benefits we lost a bunch of stuff

[Ziggy7]

I'm finally about to hit Gold in November when I go on my next 5 day cruise. (I'm pretty excited!) I know I will be at Gold for a long time! I could happily spend months at a time cruising but right now with mine and my husband's work schedules, we can only take 1 cruise a year and most of those are 3 to 5 day ones. Dreaming of a day when I can take multiple cruises a year!!

Don't get too excited, it wont get you much! 1 drink and a lapel pin!

 

[evandbob]

If you're retired and can do that I guess. But if you're working and can just cruise twice a year you're looking at around a decade...a decade of spending two vacations a year (a lot of people don't get that) with them every year. That's a long time to wait on the next level. For a person who can only cruise once a year that's 17-25 years.

 

 

When I was working I was able to average 3 week long cruises and 3 weeks of AI's a year with the 6 weeks I was allotted. I realize I was fortunate but I also realized I earned it.

Gotta go - My flight for NOLA leaves at 7am for my Dream Oct 1 cruise, c ya!