Carnival Platinum Passengers

[TNcruising02]

What age did you reach Platinum with Carnival or anticipate reaching Platinum?

[TNcruising02]

Thanks for responding!  This is a spin off of the Past Passenger Party thread where people were discussing the passenger parties and target demographics.  It was mentioned that first time cruisers may spend more money on the cruises.  I think that is definitely possible, but I also believe that as the cruiser ages they are able to afford to cruise more frequently.  

I took my first cruise in 2013 and only cruised once that year.  I may have spent a lot on that cruise, but I spend much more money now that I can afford to cruise more often.  So, it seems like Carnival should market to all demographics since there are advantages with the first time cruiser and other advantages with the loyal platinum and diamond passengers.

[PhillyFan33579]

2 minutes ago, TNcruising02 said:

Thanks for responding!  This is a spin off of the Past Passenger Party thread where people were discussing the passenger parties and target demographics.  It was mentioned that first time cruisers may spend more money on the cruises.  I think that is definitely possible, but I also believe that as the cruiser ages they are able to afford to cruise more frequently.  

 

Carnival tracks how much passengers spend on a cruise and blue and red cards consistently spend the most amount of money on a cruise. I have heard this from multiple senior staff members I have gotten to know on Carnival ships. 

 

Carnival is more interested in how much a passenger spends per cruise, not on how often a passenger cruises. Carnival is going to make significantly more money selling cabins to 5 separate blue cards, than selling those same 5 cabins to someone like me who never buys excursions thru Carnival, doesn’t spend too much money on the ship, never buys photos or any other over priced items during the cruise, and frequently stays on the ship at ports, thereby not spending money at shops that often directly benefit Carnival. 

[TNcruising02]

All I know is that Carnival makes more money from me now than they did when I first cruised on Carnival.  I spend MUCH more to cruise three times in a year than I did on my first Carnival cruise.

[jmcathome]

2 hours ago, TNcruising02 said:

What age did you reach Platinum with Carnival or anticipate reaching Platinum?

61 but I did not start crusing until was 57.

[TNcruising02]

1 minute ago, jmcathome said:

61 but I did not start crusing until was 57.

You may have started late, but you sure made up for it!   That was fast.  

[Stick93]

I actually booked a suite for my first cruise. Didn’t realize you could do it cheaper and get a great room! Have done 12 more on carnival since and never saw the need to get a suite for myself again (not knocking those who get them - just talking about me). 

 

Took me 5 years an a bit to become platinum. My daughter who is 7 will never know she was basically born into this! 

Edited August 13, 2019 by Stick93

[Fourkids4us]

Me at 34

husband 36

daughter 7

daughter 10

son 9

son 13

 

We definitely spend less money now. When my youngest daughter turned 1 we started cruising multiple times a year. Now that we cruise so much nothing is “needed”. We buy a ship magnet every time and we still buy some port of call photos but those are payed for by the $100 per room stock credit. 

 

We we used to spend in the arcade but they get a few games free each with platinum status. 

 

I can can definitely see where they would get the cruise more spend less although I’m sure it can be the opposite too.

[NCTribeFan]

I didn't start sailing until 2001.  Not sure what my age has to do with anything!

 

I made Platinum before they changed the criteria, so I got in with 10 sailings, most of which were 5-nights.  It's taken me a long time to get from Platinum to Diamond simply because I didn't have that many nights when I reached Platinum.  I'll be Diamond on my October sailing.

 

DD is also Platinum, since it was the two of us sailing until she was out of college.  She's only been on one Carnival cruise since then (her honeymoon almost 7 years ago).  She sailed with me in May on MSC to Cuba.

 

So, she was in her early 20s; I was rather older. 😋

 

I've always booked mostly inside cabins since it is much more important to me to be able to sail more often than to sail occasionally in a "nicer" cabin.  I haven't bought a photo in years.  I rarely do ship excursions (but have one booked for Bermuda simply because Carnival is using the vendor I want so can't booked directly; and the cost is the same).  I purchase a wine package but never Cheers.  I do gamble, so they get money from me in the casino, for sure.  About every 5 years, I purchase a new watch in the shops.

 

I don't think I'm spending a lot more now or a lot less.  I purchase what I "need" and that's it.  I'm not a frivolous spender.  I do have more disposable income now that I did when I started sailing, so I don't keep the purse strings quite so tight, but I don't spend just because I can!

[Anyislandwilldo]

We didn't start cruising until our late 40's and take one cruise a year so we received our platinum status in our late 50's.

[xDisconnections]

Carnival Platinum was a nice 18th birthday gift for me. At the time, it was great but now I find the benefits very lackluster and boring with a cruise experience that just isn’t what I enjoy anymore. It only took two years to reach Carnival Platinum since my first cruise. Afterwards, it only took three years to reach Elite on Princess. These days, I’m much more content with my Princess Elite status and Lifetime Platinum with my preferred hotel group.

Edited August 14, 2019 by xDisconnections

[auscgguysgirl]

23 hours ago, TNcruising02 said:

All I know is that Carnival makes more money from me now than they did when I first cruised on Carnival.  I spend MUCH more to cruise three times in a year than I did on my first Carnival cruise.

 

Same for us!  We pretty much live in the spa.  Always book a spa balcony or a suite.  There are not many perks to being in those cabins (say like there are for those who live in the casino).  We usually book our own excursions outside of the ship unless the schedule is tight ... and still manage to average a few $K on every cruise.

 

I'll be diamond on my last cruise in 30 days ... we started cruising a few years ago.  I turn 50 in Dec.

[Eliot Ness]

Turned Platinum on our 2012 cruise on the Dream under the old 10 cruise rule.  Since then we've acquired enough cruise days to more than legally qualify under the new guidelines.  I guess the main perk we use is the priority boarding, although our uncle was pretty impressed when I showed my platinum S&S card and he and I got whisked right onto a tender to Belize on that same cruise on the Dream. 

[Micahs Grandad]

Turned platinum about 12 years ago in late 50's. Agree that people like me do not give them as much revenue as folks with blue cards who will spend a lot more on the ship than we do.

 

Been a long time since we booked excursions thru the cruise line.

[cdm289]

On 8/13/2019 at 2:24 PM, PhillyFan33579 said:

 

Carnival tracks how much passengers spend on a cruise and blue and red cards consistently spend the most amount of money on a cruise. I have heard this from multiple senior staff members I have gotten to know on Carnival ships. 

 

Carnival is more interested in how much a passenger spends per cruise, not on how often a passenger cruises. Carnival is going to make significantly more money selling cabins to 5 separate blue cards, than selling those same 5 cabins to someone like me who never buys excursions thru Carnival, doesn’t spend too much money on the ship, never buys photos or any other over priced items during the cruise, and frequently stays on the ship at ports, thereby not spending money at shops that often directly benefit Carnival. 

Thanks for the info and that makes sense.  I can understand on why Carnival is more interested in how much a passenger spends.  The cost of cruising alone wouldn't be enough to sail the ship.  If no one spent money on the ship, the cost of cruising would go up for everyone.  My last cruise happened to be an "Elite" cruise for people who spend a lot of money in the casino.  They are treated better than any class.  Again, this is understandable because they are making much more on them per sailing with a free cabin than me.  

I turned Platinum at 49.  My kids will turn Platinum  when they are 18 and 15 (they have one more sailing left at Gold and then they will be Platinum).  The ship doesn't make that much money off of us.  My kids spend $75 each in the arcade and the occasional milk shake.  I buy a bottle of wine every second night.  DH and I get a fancy drink for the show.  I buy a Christmas ornament.  I buy usually 2 of the formal pictures.  I have bought watches and some jewelry in the past but haven't for a while.  I never go to the spa (I learned that on my first cruise that it is much cheaper to get my pedicure at home and all other services are way overpriced).  We do gamble but less than $100 during the week.  We never buy excursions as we have been to all the ports before.  

 

So, Carnival doesn't make that much money when we sail.  

 

 

[auscgguysgirl]

1 hour ago, cdm289 said:

Thanks for the info and that makes sense.  I can understand on why Carnival is more interested in how much a passenger spends.  The cost of cruising alone wouldn't be enough to sail the ship.  If no one spent money on the ship, the cost of cruising would go up for everyone.  My last cruise happened to be an "Elite" cruise for people who spend a lot of money in the casino.  They are treated better than any class.  Again, this is understandable because they are making much more on them per sailing with a free cabin than me. 

 

Funny you should mention this ... we have a friend who is a casino cruiser.  We sail w/ her occasionally.  It is amazing the perks they get!  She gets off EVERY cruise w/ a free one.  I went to Cuba w/ her on a 6 day out of Tampa.  We sailed ocean view for $161 PP for 6 days.  I got ALL of her casino perks traveling as her guest, which included free drinks in the casino, entry into ALL of the casino drawings, etc.  I am NOT a gambler by any stretch.  However, I was in the casino w/ her on the 1st night of sailing & got called for the 1st raffle ~ won $500.  Our last night in Havana I was exhausted.  We got back on the ship @ 11:00.  They had a drawing @ 11:30 & we had been out off the ship since 8:00 AM.  She bugged me to go w/ her for the drawing.  I reluctantly did.  I was the 4th out of 6 people to get called for "Fill my Bag".  I was the next to the last person to be called out - that equaled $600 in cruise cash, a free massage at the spa, dinner for 2 in the steakhouse and a bunch of other stuff (hat, tshirt, umbrella, bag & a stuffed duck).  I got off the ship w/ more money than I put in to go or spent!

 

In addition to that, we got wine EVERY night in the dining room ... pretty nifty casino gift (leather luggage tags, leather bound writing book and pens) and another option for free dinner in the steak house.  AND she got a slip for her next free booking.  Now mind you ~ she spent $3K in the casino on that cruise, which is about what I spend on a balcony cabin when I sail w/ my husband.  They make money, no doubt.

[NCTribeFan]

I get casino offers but have never received a "free" cruise from Carnival.  I just don't have the funds to go to the casino and throw down $25 or $50 a spin on the Roulette wheel!  Those free cruises aren't really free!  At least not if you don't win big, which I never do!

 

Funny though, I did just receive an offer of a free cruise on HAL, which I've only sailed 3 times and not for almost 2 years.  Unfortunately, all the free cabins were gone by the time I checked, but I could go in a deeply discounted cabin.  Timing just didn't work for me. 😥

 

The perks are nice on the casino sailings, but the casino is always so packed, and so overflowing with smokers, that it's hard to play at certain times.  I do enjoy the free drinks and the special games.  And the gifts are usually something I'll actually bring home, unlike the Platinum gifts.

 

I never get my nails done on the ship.  Always just before I sail for a fraction of the cost.  I will sometimes do a port-day special for a massage & facial, but those offers aren't as good as they used to be.  Those, too, can be had for much less on land.

[Shaded Lady]

You didn't have a poll selection of 'Older than Dirt'!  Because that's what I expect I'll be when I finally reach Platinum!

[vicky3vicky]

Shaded Lady; I love your posts, so when I noticed you had a review for your Carnival Breeze, Sept. 2017 cruise, I had to read your review. [We will be taking a Journey cruise on the Breeze in November] I loved your review! I too am in love with, and live by, "the list." It was so interesting. We too go to our timeshare and leave our suitcases partially pcked for the cruise!

Edited August 16, 2019 by vicky3vicky
forgot year

[scpirate]

On 8/13/2019 at 4:09 PM, TNcruising02 said:

Thanks for responding!  This is a spin off of the Past Passenger Party thread where people were discussing the passenger parties and target demographics.  It was mentioned that first time cruisers may spend more money on the cruises.  I think that is definitely possible, but I also believe that as the cruiser ages they are able to afford to cruise more frequently.  

I took my first cruise in 2013 and only cruised once that year.  I may have spent a lot on that cruise, but I spend much more money now that I can afford to cruise more often.  So, it seems like Carnival should market to all demographics since there are advantages with the first time cruiser and other advantages with the loyal platinum and diamond passengers.

First time cruisers will probably spend more money.i know I did.now I don't spend hardly any on the ship just in Port and that's limited too.

[PhillyFan33579]

6 minutes ago, scpirate said:

First time cruisers will probably spend more money.i know I did.now I don't spend hardly any on the ship just in Port and that's limited too.

 

That’s consistent with most cruisers, although there are exceptions like TNcruising02, who mentioned she spends more as she cruises more. I know after 30 cruises I have learned a lot about what to and what not to spend money on. I have come a long way from my first cruise on Carnival when I thought I was fortunate to be on a ship with a great sale on tee shirts. 

[AmBear]

On 8/13/2019 at 2:10 PM, TNcruising02 said:

What age did you reach Platinum with Carnival or anticipate reaching Platinum?

We made Platinum on Carnival  in 11 months!

During that 11 months, we did 4 straight weeks cruising on 2 ships, twice!

 

[MEUB1112]

On ‎8‎/‎13‎/‎2019 at 11:10 AM, TNcruising02 said:

What age did you reach Platinum with Carnival or anticipate reaching Platinum?

52, we started in 2008 and made Platinum in 2016.

[pianoplayerla]

We started cruising in 2006 with another cruise line. Did 2 Alaska cruises then didn't cruise again till 2012, but have not looked back. We made Platinum 2018. There were a LOT of 5 day cruises in there, but that has allowed us to cruise a lot more. We enjoy the total ship experience as much (or more) as the ports, especially when we sail a lot of repeat ports. Probably did spend more money when we first started cruising. Today we can cruise for 7 days or longer with a zero dollar balance due. I agree, it would be nice to have some extra perks once you reach Platinum...other than priority boarding and gift. A heavily discounted cruise a year would be wonderful. 

Back to happy thoughts for October, December & January. 

Happy cruising to all!!!

[PhillyFan33579]

7 minutes ago, pianoplayerla said:

I agree, it would be nice to have some extra perks once you reach Platinum...other than priority boarding and gift. A heavily discounted cruise a year would be wonderful. 

 

If what I have been hearing is correct, perks associated with the current Platinum level are going to be decreased, not increased.