Are people not booking Carnival?

[PhillyFan33579]

I am curious if Carnival is struggling when it comes to future bookings. For awhile now they have had by far the most  enticing incentive in the industry offering up to $600 in OBC to rebook cruises. Now for the first time ever they are offering Cheers for free (don’t confuse this with casino drinks on us offers which is a completely different animal). Actions like these make me think bookings must be way down, not to mention ships are likely to cruise with reduced capacity when cruising resumes. These actions are definitely not consistent with a cruise line that continues to have ships booked close to capacity, whatever that may be, during this pandemic. 

[quattrohead]

People are not booking anything, the future is too unknown ATM.

Every hospitality business is offering anything they can to attract your hard earned cash, I would too if I was them.

However, it is completely obvious the dodo is going to hit the economic fan and I suggest everyone hold onto your cash for your own financial safety cushion. Susie Orman say's so 🤑

[pe4all]

I think people are hopeful now that there is a vaccine(s) in the future.  They are looking forward to getting away.  On the other hand, for many people disposable money may be short, due to loss of job income, fear of getting covid, etc.  I have rebooked cancelled cruises 3x, hopeful that cruising would resume in the future.  My thought was that I had spent the money (deposit, fcc) anyway, so let it ride on another cruise.  I might think differently when my balance is due at end of December.

[audcc77]

I think I am going to book. I have not given Carnival any money since the beginning of the pandemic. 
 

I have been waiting for my casino offers to allow me to book November 2021 and forward. That has now happened. 😎

 

hopefully by then a vaccine will be in play. If not, then I can afford to lose a little money if Carnival walks off with it. 
 

 

 

[jimbo5544]

6 minutes ago, pe4all said:

I think people are hopeful now that there is a vaccine(s) in the future.  They are looking forward to getting away.  On the other hand, for many people disposable money may be short, due to loss of job income, fear of getting covid, etc.  I have rebooked cancelled cruises 3x, hopeful that cruising would resume in the future.  My thought was that I had spent the money (deposit, fcc) anyway, so let it ride on another cruise.  I might think differently when my balance is due at end of December.

WHat I go out of your post is that you......are unsure on what to do.  Kind of fits the rest of us.

[pe4all]

41 minutes ago, jimbo5544 said:

WHat I go out of your post is that you......are unsure on what to do.  Kind of fits the rest of us.

Right now I am going with the flow.  If I feel unsafe to cruise in any way, I will cancel my March cruise.  March is a long way away - a lot can happen by then in our crazy world- both good (hopefully) and bad.

[pe4all]

7 minutes ago, fyree39 said:

I cancelled our February cruise and it took only two weeks to get the refund. I don't know why I keep coming to the Carnival board. Habit, I suppose. I am so finished with Carnival and the cheerleaders that circle around it in sharp defense of any complaint. We have the Panorama next December, then I think we're moving right along. Of course, DH is a fan, but my evil plan to show him there is a world of "better" out there in the cruising world is working.

I giggled at your last sentence.  There is definitely more out in the cruising world than CCL - but I will be hanging on to booking her for my next 2 cruises  (1 booked right now) as I only need 14 days to make Diamond.  We use NCL for more "exotic" cruises - Greece, Med., Hawaii, etc. as their itineraries are better, and it is a nice change from the "same old same old" on CCL.  

[jerseyjjs]

2 hours ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

I am curious if Carnival is struggling when it comes to future bookings. For awhile now they have had by far the most  enticing incentive in the industry offering up to $600 in OBC to rebook cruises. Now for the first time ever they are offering Cheers for free (don’t confuse this with casino drinks on us offers which is a completely different animal). Actions like these make me think bookings must be way down, not to mention ships are likely to cruise with reduced capacity when cruising resumes. These actions are definitely not consistent with a cruise line that continues to have ships booked close to capacity, whatever that may be, during this pandemic. 

 

 

A lot of people (mostly repeat cruisers) already have multiple bookings reserved.  How many does one need in a given year?......especially a year of uncertainty to the level we've just had.  Also, LOTS of dissatisfied people still waiting on refunds for cancelled cruises aren't going to be eager to fork over more money to hold cruise lines over for unintentional loans to keep the industry intact.

 

Almost everybody I know that aren't avid or repeat cruisers ask me why I'm nuts enough to book at all.  (Just have one sailing booked for Sept 2021).  And if sailings start, I, along with those people, find it undesirable at best to the proposed protocols of future cruising.  It will be NOTHING close to what it was prior to this mess. 

[xDisconnections]

I haven’t booked anything on Carnival but I have on others.
 

I agree- promotions like this aren’t normal for Carnival... they’re certainly trying to lure some people in.

Edited November 13, 2020 by xDisconnections

[stellarose]

but odd it is very selective with the "free" drinks and other promotions. I have had MG booked since March (for winter 2021). why entice me now? you already have my money and business? (well deposit).

 

[firefly333]

3 hours ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

I am curious if Carnival is struggling when it comes to future bookings. For awhile now they have had by far the most  enticing incentive in the industry offering up to $600 in OBC to rebook cruises. Now for the first time ever they are offering Cheers for free (don’t confuse this with casino drinks on us offers which is a completely different animal). Actions like these make me think bookings must be way down, not to mention ships are likely to cruise with reduced capacity when cruising resumes. These actions are definitely not consistent with a cruise line that continues to have ships booked close to capacity, whatever that may be, during this pandemic. 

I haven't seen cheers for free. Is that a casino offer?

 

I'd trade my booking for cheers for free in a minute.

 

How do I get it? I went to read the thread that some random, mostly lower loyalty level pax got the offer. Makes me feel less loyal. Kinda mad if some get drinks for free offer and not me if it's not casino.

 

Yea makes me not want to book carnival!!

Edited November 13, 2020 by firefly333

[stellarose]

3 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

I haven't seen cheers for free. Is that a casino offer?

 

I'd trade my booking for cheers for free in a minute.

 

How do I get it?

I got an email about free cheers if you book a cruise bw Jan -dec 2021.  it was in my VIFP account.

[firefly333]

1 minute ago, stellarose said:

I got an email about free cheers if you book a cruise bw Jan -dec 2021.  it was in my VIFP account.

I have 179 pts with carnival and got 6 emails about my upcoming cruise next sept, what to pack. No offers.

[stellarose]

1 minute ago, firefly333 said:

I have 179 pts with carnival and got 6 emails about my upcoming cruise next sept, what to pack. No offers.

double check again. I would inquire about your sept trip. I too got the what to pack then BAM free booze- it cost me an extra 120 more total for hubby and I to have cheers.  same reservation, etc. 

[MsTabbyKats]

16 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

I haven't seen cheers for free. Is that a casino offer?

 

I'd trade my booking for cheers for free in a minute.

 

How do I get it? I went to read the thread that some random, mostly lower loyalty level pax got the offer. Makes me feel less loyal. Kinda mad if some get drinks for free offer and not me if it's not casino.

 

Yea makes me not want to book carnival!!

DH and I are platinum.  DH got the offer.  He never spends any $$$...everything is on my credit card (I am the primary on the bookings).  I buy jewelry, I gamble...I spend a lot.  Neither of us has ever spent a penny on extra drinks or food.  We're already booked for Sept 2021.  Maybe they just send it to people that they know won't be using it because "it looks generous". 

 

If they had "jewelry on us"...there's an offer I couldn't refuse!

[firefly333]

33 minutes ago, stellarose said:

double check again. I would inquire about your sept trip. I too got the what to pack then BAM free booze- it cost me an extra 120 more total for hubby and I to have cheers.  same reservation, etc. 

I just checked again, nope, nothing under offers

[stellarose]

49 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

I just checked again, nope, nothing under offers

I am sorry.  Maybe soon. 

[cruisingguy007]

I've booked two cruises on Carnival right in the middle of the pandemic, with non refundable deposits, no FCC, and no free Cheers package. I took a gamble on April 2021 as I figured a vaccine would be out and things would be back to normal by then. Still feeling good about that sailing at this point. Carnival isn't going anywhere. Enticing folks to book cruises who haven't booked for a while (target marketing) is a good business decision IMO and makes perfect sense. Some "me too" folks are bitter about that but it makes sense from a marketing and strategic standpoint and in no way reeks of desperation when you take into account actual costs vs value added revenues. Customers place high value on alcohol and it's cheap. Win-win to generate new bookings from non frequent past cruisers. This type of quid-pro-quo when you've been bleeding money is a good way to slow the bleed and demonstrates good leadership. 

[pe4all]

3 hours ago, firefly333 said:

I have 179 pts with carnival and got 6 emails about my upcoming cruise next sept, what to pack. No offers.

Same - 186 points, emails about booking excursions, buy insurance, but no free cheers.  I do have 6 other different offers in my vifp section - 6 casino offers, 1 on getaway cruises.

[jetsfan58]

Let's hope that this miracle vaccine is made available to everyone; not just the privileged. We all need to share equally in whatever it's going to do. I feel a "proven" vaccine will play a huge factor in determining who and how many book cruises. Otherwise we are all still awaiting the "All Safe" message.    

[firefly333]

1 minute ago, jetsfan58 said:

Let's hope that this miracle vaccine is made available to everyone; not just the privileged. We all need to share equally in whatever it's going to do. I feel a "proven" vaccine will play a huge factor in determining who and how many book cruises. Otherwise we are all still awaiting the "All Safe" message.    

Actually I believe it will be available maybe by late spring to everyone.

 

When they said the vaccine might only last a year I was like oh no, I have to get it again in a year? Everyone or it comes right back? Lots to worry about. 

 

I'm not booked until april so I hope to get the vaccine by then. Crossing fingers.

 

Though I may be gone from carnival after my next booking....

[MsTabbyKats]

4 hours ago, firefly333 said:

I just checked again, nope, nothing under offers

Don't take it personally...the algorithm determine who gets what.

 

I go to the casino way more than my friend...yet she gets more freeplay than me.  The algorithm knows I'll be there anyway; she, otoh, needs to be enticed.

[firefly333]

6 minutes ago, MsTabbyKats said:

Don't take it personally...the algorithm determine who gets what.

 

I go to the casino way more than my friend...yet she gets more freeplay than me.  The algorithm knows I'll be there anyway; she, otoh, needs to be enticed.

I dont gamble so I'm always paying double. Never get any offers to get me to stay. 

 

Sorry, it does feel unfair and I'm taking it personal. If nothing else I'll annoy them. I'll ask my TA if he has anyone but guestadmin or guestcare to contact. I've already posted it to another group. I may not book carnival again, but I wouldnt leave without letting them know I think they should care about keeping my business too. I've also called lol and customer service said no you didnt get the offer lol. Which I didnt ask, I knew that, that's why I called. I said so you dont care and cant transfer me to someone who does. Coldly stating it's not offered to me, with nothing else said, they dont care if i leave, i get it. But i can post elsewhere so others are aware they have been passed up.

 

Of course you dont care, you said your husband got the offer so you got it too. Easy for those who got the offer to not care. I do care as i stated and feel carnival doesnt care to keep me. I do spend on excursions and in the shops etc. Seems we are always on opposite sides. I dont gamble so never get casino offers. Never once got a break in the price in over 15 years with carnival. It's no wonder I'm straying to other lines. 

[jetsfan58]

My family and I have been sailing with Carnival for many years. We have yet to get any "perks" for cruising. Still doesn't stop me from being loyal since they have provided us with an excellent vacation experience time and time again. That's enough perks for me.   

[sfaaa]

How do you figure? I have two cruises booked, one in 2021 and the other 2022.