Too many Platinum / Diamond

[The7Harrisons]

Has anyone else noticed that there are so many Paltinum/Diamond cruisers now? Do you think Carnival should add another level???

[Cruiser_1977]

I don't. What tier someone else is does not affect my trip in any way.

[ProgRockCruiser]

"Too many" seems a bit pejorative - like there should be something done to reduce the number.  "If P/Ds don't cruise for a year, they lose a rank..."

 

"Wow, a lot of P/Ds these days, Carnival sure has loyal customers!" might be a better way to phrase it: yeah, sure, why not create a higher-level recognition like "Double Diamond" or "Titanium"?  As long as it doesn't diminish the current rewards levels.

 

I suppose the more P/Ds on board, the longer the wait for FTTF folks to board (in theory, if no P/Ds, then FTTF would be the first to board after suites, IIRC).  On the other hand, more P/Ds means the main line at Cust Serv is a bit shorter (assuming they would be there instead of in the Priority line).

 

But yeah, the difference in experience is negligible for us lowly Reds.

 

[The7Harrisons]

20 minutes ago, ProgRockCruiser said:

"Too many" seems a bit pejorative - like there should be something done to reduce the number.  "If P/Ds don't cruise for a year, they lose a rank..."

 

"Wow, a lot of P/Ds these days, Carnival sure has loyal customers!" might be a better way to phrase it: yeah, sure, why not create a higher-level recognition like "Double Diamond" or "Titanium"?  As long as it doesn't diminish the current rewards levels.

 

I suppose the more P/Ds on board, the longer the wait for FTTF folks to board (in theory, if no P/Ds, then FTTF would be the first to board after suites, IIRC).  On the other hand, more P/Ds means the main line at Cust Serv is a bit shorter (assuming they would be there instead of in the Priority line).

 

But yeah, the difference in experience is negligible for us lowly Reds.

 

LOL, we don't "lose a rank" its based on how many cruise days you have accumulated, my point is, the waiting room for P/D's is now crowded and lines sometimes just as long as you lowly red, blue & golds! LOL, JK, and yes, my question is, now that there are so many P/D's, maybe Carnival should add another level to spread things out again or just get rid of the stupid levels altogether!!!

[The7Harrisons]

36 minutes ago, JennyB1977 said:

I don't. What tier someone else is does not affect my trip in any way.

Me neither, I am just saying, being platinum or diamond is not that big of a deal anyway, platinum fosho, and its supposed to "reward" loyalty, but there are so many of us now it means very little! Personally, I wish the VIFP thing would go away but too many people fall for the gimmick!

[TravelE]

Nope!  If you add another level, you still have the same amount of people. Now they are angry people but still the same number.

[PhillyFan33579]

2 hours ago, The7Harrisons said:

Has anyone else noticed that there are so many Paltinum/Diamond cruisers now? Do you think Carnival should add another level???

 

I know you asked the question, but what are your thoughts on the subject?  Personally I think they should add a level between platinum and diamond and another level above diamond. 

 

I don’t think they should (or will) eliminate the VIFP program, but I have had a great time on every cruise I have taken on Carnival no matter what color my card was at the time.  

[IntrepidFromDC]

Their current strategy works on this cruiser.  I'm not at all interested in trying another line, but if I didn't have the platinum perks and the premier drinks-on-us and other benefits (the premier party is much better than the plat/diam party, better food and much more free-flowing alcohol, but I go to both), I would consider trying other lines.  It works for Carnival because I stay loyal, it works for me because I enjoy the perks, especially when combining the platinum and premier perks.

[serene56]

3 hours ago, ProgRockCruiser said:

"I suppose the more P/Ds on board, the longer the wait for FTTF folks to board (in theory, if no P/Ds, then FTTF would be the first to board after suites, IIRC). 

 

if there are many platinums / diamond they will not sell the last 15 cabins for FTTF

Our last 7 day cruise had ONE diamond   and just under 500 plats onboard

[tallnthensome]

2 hours ago, IntrepidFromDC said:

Their current strategy works on this cruiser.  I'm not at all interested in trying another line, but if I didn't have the platinum perks and the premier drinks-on-us and other benefits (the premier party is much better than the plat/diam party, better food and much more free-flowing alcohol, but I go to both), I would consider trying other lines.  It works for Carnival because I stay loyal, it works for me because I enjoy the perks, especially when combining the platinum and premier perks.

That's like saying you're a VIP at a chain Grocery Store and you have no other interest in trying any other restaurant besides Burger King.  You've missed so many other experiences industry wide by believing  that Carnivals silly low end perks are worth it over expanding your Horizons onto other lines and making you feel like a VIP all the time and not with priority boarding and a free drink or so ......... I would never ever trade my sailings on Carnival, Royal, NCL, Holland, MSC, and Princess for a Diamond/Platinum level only on Carnival ...... They've got you where they want you. 

[PhillyFan33579]

1 hour ago, tallnthensome said:

That's like saying you're a VIP at a chain Grocery Store and you have no other interest in trying any other restaurant besides Burger King.  You've missed so many other experiences industry wide by believing  that Carnivals silly low end perks are worth it over expanding your Horizons onto other lines and making you feel like a VIP all the time and not with priority boarding and a free drink or so ......... I would never ever trade my sailings on Carnival, Royal, NCL, Holland, MSC, and Princess for a Diamond/Platinum level only on Carnival ...... They've got you where they want you. 

 

I was reluctant the first time I cruised on Carnival, but I had a great time on the cruise. Since that cruise, my wife and I have agreed we would sail on a different cruise line when we have a bad cruise on Carnival. Twenty-two cruises later we have had nothing but great experiences on Carnival, so we continue to only book cruises on Carnival.  The VIFP program has a few benefits as you move up in levels, which can be an incentive to stay loyal to Csrnival. But the reason we have stayed loyal to Carnival is we have always had fun on every cruise we have been on. 

[nybumpkin]

We're Platinum. 24 cruises, because we've always enjoyed the cruises we've had with Carnival  and our sons have always loved Carnival. To me, the best Platinum perk is laundry - it's helped our packing greatly.  However, our sons are now grown and we want to try different itineraries - which why our next cruise is a two-week Transatlantic on QM2.  No free laundry, but the itinerary (includes 2 days in Iceland) is amazing. We'll be back on Carnival and the perks don't factor into that decision.

[Lottacruises]

How many are there?

[IntrepidFromDC]

2 hours ago, tallnthensome said:

That's like saying you're a VIP at a chain Grocery Store and you have no other interest in trying any other restaurant besides Burger King.  You've missed so many other experiences industry wide by believing  that Carnivals silly low end perks are worth it over expanding your Horizons onto other lines and making you feel like a VIP all the time and not with priority boarding and a free drink or so ......... I would never ever trade my sailings on Carnival, Royal, NCL, Holland, MSC, and Princess for a Diamond/Platinum level only on Carnival ...... They've got you where they want you. 

How is comparing cruise line to cruise line analogous to comparing grocery store food to crappy fast food?  I sense false logic, like saying "if a bear craps in the woods, is the pope really catholic"! 

 

In addition, VIP status is not what I'm after, it's all the things that are valuable to me - nothing to do with status and everything to do with value. 

 

And to be sure, it's not just "a free drink or so", I drink eight to twelve a day, always Grey Goose or other expensive ones, and they're always free.  Do the math - on a seven-day cruise, that perk alone is worth ~ $700. 

 

Pay attention!

[riclop]

THEY HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR YEARS.

Edited October 26, 2018 by riclop

[firefly333]

Last december i was on some premier casino cruise with over 500 diamond and platinum, (over 200 diamond). Had no idea there were that many and it did affect my cruise.

 

Tender in Belize, priority was also relative.

 

Boarding was a zoo, couldnt fit us all in the lounge

 

I have no idea what they can do about it, but i know i will hopefully not wind up on the biggest casino cruise again, boy are those guys frequent cruisers.

 

Of course you cant take away benefits, but dont know how they could have staggered things better. I was surprised that there were even 200 diamonds, let alone boarding my cruise. One lady kept yelling, come on, all you guys arent diamond when they called diamond to board first. 

[Joebucks]

If you enjoy cruising Carnival, then why would you leave? P/D perks only sweeten the pot

[Djptcp]

I really don't get the issue. We have 33 cruises on Carnival and we have paid for the priority boarding, getting into our cabins when we board, priority tender boarding, free and greatly discounted casino rates/casino cash, etc. Folks, it's called loyalty!

[evandbob]

I'm Diamond, and I think Carnival can add another level above Diamond with perks like a free Steakhouse Dinner for 2,  priority tendering and boarding BACK to the ship (which was removed some years ago), Dinner with the Captain and Officers in the MDR, free flowers for the cabin, etc.

 

Just sailed MSC last month, and my Carnival Diamond status was matched to their highest loyalty level.  I did hear some grumblings from MSC regulars who disliked first timers on MSC like me getting the same loyalty perks as they did.

[Davey Wavey]

17 hours ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

 

I was reluctant the first time I cruised on Carnival, but I had a great time on the cruise. Since that cruise, my wife and I have agreed we would sail on a different cruise line when we have a bad cruise on Carnival. Twenty-two cruises later we have had nothing but great experiences on Carnival, so we continue to only book cruises on Carnival. 

Agreed. I don't stay with Carnival because of a loyalty program. We say we will go on other lines one day, but haven't felt the need yet. We enjoy our Carnival cruises and the loyalty stuff is just a small plus. Once we want other itineraries, especially Asian and European, we will need to look at other lines.

[Taters]

We cruise to see different destinations.  Yes, I'm platinum on Carnival, and I agree that the free laundry is the best thing about it!  However, HAL offers unlimited laundry at $7 everywhere but Europe, which is $9 per day.  We've sailed on many lines, but Carnival doesn't go where I want to go most of the time these days.  Our next cruises are Southern Caribbean (Carnival Pride), Transatlantic (HAL Zuiderdam), and Transpacific (HAL Westerdam).  There is a big world out there, and I am going to see it! 

[InitialD]

For me the familiarity is a good thing. I've been on enough Conquest and Fantasy class ships I already know where everything is, I know what activities I like and don't like, I can maximize my time and spend more of it just relaxing. The platinum and premiere cruise perks are just a nice bonus.

 

That said, I'm not against other cruise lines but have never been on one. We're doing NCL next year because it's a family reunion cruise so that'll be interesting. 

 

EDIT: Also, next week we're doing a premier cruise to Bermuda and I imagine that will have the most Platinum/Diamond cruisers of any cruise we're been on yet. We'll see.

Edited October 26, 2018 by InitialD

[Silent Penguin]

On 10/25/2018 at 3:52 PM, serene56 said:

 

 

Our last 7 day cruise had ONE diamond   .....

 

I'm curious.  How does a person find out how many diamonds, platinums, etc. are onboard?

 

[SMSACE6]

I don't think that there can be too many of them...(well for now), as they are the base client that Carnival can count on to return for subsequent cruises.  I believe that they, platinum and especially diamond levels are valued by Carnival, for that very reason.

 

However, the day may come, when there are just too many platinum cruisers, to maintain the current level of perks that they receive, and Carnival may decide to reduce some of those perks as needed.  ( ie, back about 5 years or so, the gold level, were no longer included in the past guest party), supposedly because there were just too many to provide that perk. Whatever.

 

I will never reach Platinum on Carnival, so for me it is a moot point. But just saying..that there will always come a point when a company realises that their reward program is suddenly overloaded.  Some day  maybe Platinum, might find their perks diminished, and maybe not.  Will see.  

 

Though, have to say, that Platinum and especially Diamond cruisers, are Carnival's cruisers that they can pretty much count on returning, so it would be best for them to treat those cruisers well. JMO.

[Cobrakev]

10 hours ago, evandbob said:

I'm Diamond, and I think Carnival can add another level above Diamond with perks like a free Steakhouse Dinner for 2,  priority tendering and boarding BACK to the ship (which was removed some years ago), Dinner with the Captain and Officers in the MDR, free flowers for the cabin, etc.

 

Just sailed MSC last month, and my Carnival Diamond status was matched to their highest loyalty level.  I did hear some grumblings from MSC regulars who disliked first timers on MSC like me getting the same loyalty perks as they did.

And how did they give you those loyalty perks? Just ask for them?