Carnival Redesigning the VIFP program?

[2wheelin]

What about the recent rash of free casino (and other) cruise offers. Should those folk who cruise basically free on multiple cruises per year receive the same points as someone who paid for a balcony or suite?

[DrSea]

  

1 hour ago, 2wheelin said:

What about the recent rash of free casino (and other) cruise offers. Should those folk who cruise basically free on multiple cruises per year receive the same points as someone who paid for a balcony or suite?

Personally, not a fan of tying $$ to points. CL that do have sky high point tiers that are almost impossible to reach mid tier if you only sail insides, which is what I prefer personally. 

 

But I never book off of these loyalty programs. So I am not their target audience. If they gave stronger incentives, then maybe it would attract me to remain loyal. But I have yet to see any program that would pull me in yet. 

 

I know some cruise with a specific CL bc of the perks. To each their own. 

 

Disclosure: My bias is that I am mid tier on many lines and not higher tiers on any one line. I am close to Pl on princess

[DrSea]

23 hours ago, kicia said:

Be careful what you wish for.  Holland and Princess have more passengers with a lot more days than Carnival.  I think even as Diamond we would fall farther down the line. 

Yes, it feels like everyone is at least a 3* on HAL or Pl or Elite on PCL. They skew older ages, are retired, and can sail w/o restrictions for long periods of time. 

[ShakyBeef]

1 hour ago, 2wheelin said:

What about the recent rash of free casino (and other) cruise offers. Should those folk who cruise basically free on multiple cruises per year receive the same points as someone who paid for a balcony or suite?

I would say yes, if they are dumping enough $$$ into the cruiseline casino's coffers while on those "free" cruises.  It all comes down to $$$, however it is handed over from passenger to cruiseline, be it booking higher end accommodations, onboard spending, etc.  

[2wheelin]

7 hours ago, ShakyBeef said:

I would say yes, if they are dumping enough $$$ into the cruiseline casino's coffers while on those "free" cruises.  It all comes down to $$$, however it is handed over from passenger to cruiseline, be it booking higher end accommodations, onboard spending, etc.  

Not really a fan of tying points to amount spent but even that would come down to what you Paid for the cruise (and possibly onboard spending to some degree) but those free offers are not a reflection of what you have given the cruise line. According to these boards many who got free offers never spent a dime in the casino.

It also wouldn’t automatically be more points for a balcony than an inside since some people score a balcony for less than others pay for an inside cabin.

I don’t really care since I will never get past gold anyway.

[DrSea]

2 hours ago, 2wheelin said:

Not really a fan of tying points to amount spent but even that would come down to what you Paid for the cruise (and possibly onboard spending to some degree) but those free offers are not a reflection of what you have given the cruise line. According to these boards many who got free offers never spent a dime in the casino.

It also wouldn’t automatically be more points for a balcony than an inside since some people score a balcony for less than others pay for an inside cabin.

I don’t really care since I will never get past gold anyway.

Novel idea. Give double points for tipping. Lol

[2wheelin]

6 hours ago, DrSea said:

Novel idea. Give double points for tipping. Lol

I see a rabbit hole.

[DrSea]

  

On 8/31/2022 at 10:39 PM, Wennfred said:

I agree with most, the Perks, other than the free wash so I don't have to pack as much, and the 25.00 Free Play isn't worth the Level compared to other brands like Royal.

 

You get free drinks at the Platinum/Diamond party, I don't Drink so that's a wash, I have so many pins, I will probably sell them on eBay, the old school pins with ships funnel to me were way better than this white circle pin. The gift you get is a joke, I don't call for the chocolate dipped strawberries anymore, I don't eat them and now they mix in some other crap, macaroons or something with less Strawberries.

 

I got Magic in November, then B2B on Mardi Gras Nov 2023 and that's it for Carnival, I will be Diamond by then. I have a 16 day on Princess that will take me to Ruby or Emerald status in January and then the rest will be on Royal, Celebrity and or NCL.

 

As far as the Topic, they are looking to hire someone to revamp this Loyalty program, nothing has been said about what's to come.

 

 

Just wondering, has anyone tried to ask for more strawberries instead of the other stuff they give you? I would imagine it would be easy to accomodate, but idk if CCL would. 

 

[DallasGuy75219]

On 8/31/2022 at 1:50 PM, Top_of_the_Cube said:

They have such a high number of repeat cruisers that they don't necessarily put much emphasis on "rewarding" them, but instead try to maintain a consistent experience that attracted them in the first place.

Does Carnival seriously think they're accomplishing this? The only consistent thing about Carnival is the consistently worsening onboard experience due to all their cuts.

 

They made a huge strategic error years ago when they decided (and publicly stated) they weren't going going to try to compete with RCL and NCL for the biggest ships with the newest, most innovative venues and attractions.  This left them competing on price and in a race to the bottom of the barrel as the WalMart/Golden Corral of the Seas, which attracted the uncouth, uncultured, and ill-mannered passengers who are now making Carnival's reputation even worse and, together with the massive cuts, are driving their formerly loyal guests to their competitors. 

[DallasGuy75219]

On 9/2/2022 at 2:57 PM, kicia said:

Be careful what you wish for.  Holland and Princess have more passengers with a lot more days than Carnival

...most of whom wouldn't step foot on a Carnival ship. The bigger risk is Carnival Platinums and Diamonds jumping ship (pun somewhat intended) for equivalent status on a more upscale line.  Carnival Corp. would gave to take into account the relative price points in figuring out how calculate loyalty to Carnival Corp. for people looking to jump ship to a more upscale brand or with cruise history across multiple Carnival Corp. brands.

[DallasGuy75219]

On 9/3/2022 at 2:25 PM, ShakyBeef said:

I would say yes, if they are dumping enough $$$ into the cruiseline casino's coffers while on those "free" cruises.  It all comes down to $$$, however it is handed over from passenger to cruiseline, be it booking higher end accommodations, onboard spending, etc.  

Yes, we on comped casino cruises still pay for our cruises one way or another. 

[DallasGuy75219]

54 minutes ago, DrSea said:

  

Just wondering, has anyone tried to ask for more strawberries instead of the other stuff they give you? I would imagine it would be easy to accomodate, but idk if CCL would. 

 

I imagine they are pre-plated, not made-to-order.  Which may explain why they mold so quickly (or even arrive growing fuzzy stuff already).

[DrSea]

7 hours ago, DallasGuy75219 said:

I imagine they are pre-plated, not made-to-order.  Which may explain why they mold so quickly (or even arrive growing fuzzy stuff already).

gross

[DrSea]

7 hours ago, DallasGuy75219 said:

...most of whom wouldn't step foot on a Carnival ship. The bigger risk is Carnival Platinums and Diamonds jumping ship (pun somewhat intended) for equivalent status on a more upscale line.  Carnival Corp. would gave to take into account the relative price points in figuring out how calculate loyalty to Carnival Corp. for people looking to jump ship to a more upscale brand or with cruise history across multiple Carnival Corp. brands.

While I strongly disagree with your characterization of "uncouth, uncultured, and ill-mannered passengers", I cannot disagree with the idea that more ppl from CCL will jump ship to HAL/PCL/etc. On those boards, they cr*p all over CCL for being booze cruises, which I personally have fun and enjoy. 

 

I don't mind the race to the bottom, provided that the price point matches the product that they are selling. 

[DrSea]

On 8/31/2022 at 7:59 AM, NCTribeFan said:

@Tom-n-CherylYou think the free Diamond steakhouse dinner is pathetic? 

 

So do I!  As a solo cruiser, who has paid 200% to Carnival for years, I asked whether I would get two dinners.  After all, if 1 person is Diamond, the dinner for the couple is free.

 

Nope.  I just get it for me.

 

Yet another way that Carnival totally screws over their solo sailors.

I think the biggest redesign of the VIFP plan needs to be double points for single cruisers. I was quite shocked that I didn't receive 2x the credit for the cruises that I did in a solo room. It's simple and a quick fix. Many other CL do it and I thought that it is very penny pinching of CCL to not do that. 

[jimbo5544]

On 8/31/2022 at 1:47 PM, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

I'd be ok with "Double Diamond" - it would give me something to look forward to  (and only be a few sailings away)  🙂

 

Like was previously mentioned, this will likely take some time (they haven't even hired anyone yet, let alone given them a YEAR OR TWO to bounce around and implement ideas)!

 

Tom

Sounds good to me

[jimbo5544]

On 9/2/2022 at 3:57 PM, kicia said:

Be careful what you wish for.  Holland and Princess have more passengers with a lot more days than Carnival.  I think even as Diamond we would fall farther down the line. 

Can you point me to a reference for these numbers?  Seems it would be reversed to me.

[DallasGuy75219]

6 hours ago, DrSea said:

While I strongly disagree with your characterization of "uncouth, uncultured, and ill-mannered passengers"

Like it or not, there's an enormous difference in the behavior (and entitlement) of Carnival passengers (or at the least the worst behaved of them) compared to my first Carnival cruise 20 years ago. 

 

Carnival might been trying to rid itself of the booze cruise image but started attracting more of those very passengers when the only way they could compete was by having the lowest price once their onboard product was no longer competitive with RCL and NCL.

[jimbo5544]

25 minutes ago, DallasGuy75219 said:

Like it or not, there's an enormous difference in the behavior (and entitlement) of Carnival passengers (or at the least the worst behaved of them) compared to my first Carnival cruise 20 years ago. 

 

Carnival might been trying to rid itself of the booze cruise image but started attracting more of those very passengers when the only way they could compete was by having the lowest price once their onboard product was no longer competitive with RCL and NCL.

LOL, you believe what you read way to much.  

[icft]

6 minutes ago, DallasGuy75219 said:

Like it or not, there's an enormous difference in the behavior (and entitlement) of Carnival passengers (or at the least the worst behaved of them) compared to my first Carnival cruise 20 years ago. 

 

Carnival might been trying to rid itself of the booze cruise image but started attracting more of those very passengers when the only way they could compete was by having the lowest price once their onboard product was no longer competitive with RCL and NCL.

I fear you are correct. Due to something like 15% of passengers the average passenger these days is greatly rougher, less mannered, and less considerate than in days past. But the greatest change is pre vs. post covid. We are hoping that is due to the very cheap prices Carnival has offered to fill the ships and they will raise prices and things will reverse. 

 

[DrSea]

2 hours ago, DallasGuy75219 said:

Like it or not, there's an enormous difference in the behavior (and entitlement) of Carnival passengers (or at the least the worst behaved of them) compared to my first Carnival cruise 20 years ago. 

 

Carnival might been trying to rid itself of the booze cruise image but started attracting more of those very passengers when the only way they could compete was by having the lowest price once their onboard product was no longer competitive with RCL and NCL.

I get that lots of fights break out of CCL. Tons of videos online.

 

The one incidence where someone actually physically assaulted my guest was the one cruise I did with HAL. The buffet supervisor wouldn't do anything and was actually mad at me and my guest for yelling at the offending assailant who assaulted my guest and for demanding that the buffet supervisor call security.

Edited September 5, 2022 by DrSea

[jimbo5544]

On 9/5/2022 at 2:34 AM, DallasGuy75219 said:

Does Carnival seriously think they're accomplishing this? The only consistent thing about Carnival is the consistently worsening onboard experience due to all their cuts.

 

They made a huge strategic error years ago when they decided (and publicly stated) they weren't going going to try to compete with RCL and NCL for the biggest ships with the newest, most innovative venues and attractions.  This left them competing on price and in a race to the bottom of the barrel as the WalMart/Golden Corral of the Seas, which attracted the uncouth, uncultured, and ill-mannered passengers who are now making Carnival's reputation even worse and, together with the massive cuts, are driving their formerly loyal guests to their competitors. 

Something else appears to be consistent, saw it before I got to the walmart referene…have not seen that before.🤔

[wemjam]

12 hours ago, DallasGuy75219 said:

Like it or not, there's an enormous difference in the behavior (and entitlement) of Carnival passengers (or at the least the worst behaved of them) compared to my first Carnival cruise 20 years ago. 

 

Carnival might been trying to rid itself of the booze cruise image but started attracting more of those very passengers when the only way they could compete was by having the lowest price once their onboard product was no longer competitive with RCL and NCL.

I agree about the change in behavior, but let's put this in perspective though.  Think about people in general in society today versus 20 years ago.  I think it is more about society as a whole then the cruise line you sail on.  I don't care WHERE you go, you find a huge change in manners.  More and more people are entitled and care only about themselves and what is in it for them, and *#$&! everyone else as long as they are happy.

[ledges1]

Major cities with shoplifting issues. Defund anything that supports security and safety. They bring these values with them on the cruise ship. Cutbacks are not the issue. I do not think a mint on the pillow will solve the problem.

[Guest BasicSailor]

16 minutes ago, ledges1 said:

Major cities with shoplifting issues. Defund anything that supports security and safety. They bring these values with them on the cruise ship. Cutbacks are not the issue. I do not think a mint on the pillow will solve the problem.

No, but in my belly, it makes me think Carnival appreciates me😉