Does Carnival Have a Loyalty Program Anymore?

[Angelica1104]

It’s interesting. I’ve been cruising Carnival since 1979 and I’ve seen changes. Most recently I’ve seen the degradation of Carnival’s Loyalty program to the point of believing Carnival Corporate is watching it die by a thousand papercuts 

We know of all the cutbacks (Loyalty lunch to single drink and snacks, for example), too many pax for Priority Boarding, the scavenger hunt for free bottle of water and koozie, etc. My question is WHY hasn’t Carnival Corporate revamped the Loyalty program? If there are “too many” Platinums and Diamonds, is that the Pax responsibility? Why hasn’t the Loyalty Program been revamped? 
 

My guess is because the Loyalty Program has been so watered down it essentially has lost most of its value. Death by a thousand paper cuts. Essentially it’s just the color of your Sail&Sign 

 

[nascartim]

Actually I believe it is in the works. A few months back they were assembling a team to look into the current state of affairs with the loyalty program. So, I think changes will be coming, no one knows when though. And I wouldn't expect for it to be that much better. There are lots of Platinum & Diamonds out there. They will water it down I'm sure.

[787cruiser]

JH has already confirmed that VIFP is being looked at for a revamp.

[Angelica1104]

2 minutes ago, 787cruiser said:

JH has already confirmed that VIFP is being looked at for a revamp.

I guess it’s just wait then. It’s easier to build from essentially nothing I suppose 

[Elaine5715]

Cruisers have contributed to the degrading by sharing perks.  If Carnival made the VIFP perks absolutely exclusive, they would have more value.  On a plane, if you get a seat upgrade, you can't swap back and forth with someone back of the plane so you both enjoy the benefits.   

[shof515]

The last time they changed the program I was downgraded a level. Hopefully with the new program they improve grandfathering people into the new levels better

[Angelica1104]

1 minute ago, shof515 said:

The last time they changed the program I was downgraded a level. Hopefully with the new program they improve grandfathering people into the new levels better

To me it’s not about the level but rather what is offered for the loyalty. % Discounts on limited cruise cabins, free Wi-Fi,  a few free drinks/day at certain levels, grautuities included at certain levels. 
Seriously I know we can’t expect free cabins like the Player Club pax get but something of value would be thoughtful 

[NYcruzzer]

Carnival's Loyalty program comes complete with a fun onboard scavenger hunt to locate and obtain all your benefits/gifts ??

[Angelica1104]

2 minutes ago, NYcruzzer said:

Carnival's Loyalty program comes complete with a fun onboard scavenger hunt to locate and obtain all your benefits/gifts ??

Yes it does. 

[BigJoe70]

I would imagine that they change the number of days on board to 100 for platinum and add a tier between platinum and Diamond. I don't think the perks will be any better.

[ProgRockCruiser]

Q: Why does any cruise line (or corporate entity) have a Loyalty Program?

 

A: To encourage former customers to return, because there is perceived value in that.  The more value in a returning customer, the more sense a "valuable" loyalty program makes sense.

 

Carnival does not seem to be hurting for customers - their financial stuff released today indicated over 100% capacity sailings, on average, IIRC. 

 

And supposedly, the most revenue-generating pax (other than perhaps casino folks) are the blue and low-number red cards.

 

What incentive does Carnival have to expand/improve their VIFP program?  The current perks are "just enough" to show that there is a program in place, without actually impacting the bottom line significantly.  Why does Carnival need to offer additional 25% discounts for Gold/Plats/whatevers when they are selling out cabins anyway?

 

If all the Plats/Diamonds suddenly lost their ever-so-valuable perks, how many would change lines?  Would Carnival still be able to fill their cabins, but now with more Blues and Reds?

 

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[finoky]

I am of the opinion that Carnival is more interested in Blues and Reds. After 25 Carnival cruises we are moving on.

[ProgRockCruiser]

1 hour ago, Angelica1104 said:

To me it’s not about the level but rather what is offered for the loyalty. % Discounts on limited cruise cabins, free Wi-Fi,  a few free drinks/day at certain levels, grautuities included at certain levels. 
Seriously I know we can’t expect free cabins like the Player Club pax get but something of value would be thoughtful 

Just to riff on my previous post:

 

If Carnival did this, would their revenues increase or decrease?  That's the question at the heart of it all.

 

I suspect their revenues would decrease, because they don't need discounts to attract their clientele.

 

So why bother?

 

I mean, I love perks as much as anyone, and a 25% discount (on top of current "everyday discounts") would be great, but I don't think Carnival needs to offer it to get "enough" returning customers and fill their cabins.

[starstruck05]

I don't cruise Carnival for their loyalty program. I honestly don't care. I am Platinum and yes, I enjoy the perks, it's a bonus not a mandate. I cruise Carnival because I get more value for my money and enjoy the ships and Carnival's social interaction with its guests. The perks are nice but I wouldn't stop cruising Carnival if my fanny pack got taken away.

[hard_eight]

I still think Suite stays should earn more than interior like on RC...makes more sense to me.

Edited June 26, 2023 by hard_eight

[sailingships]

3 hours ago, Angelica1104 said:

 

LOL

[dallasdan]

is walking to pixies to get your pin and gift a scavenger hunt these days??  My last several cruises I didn't even pick them up.  To me early boarding if I chose and free laundry are good enough perks.  

[Angelica1104]

1 hour ago, ProgRockCruiser said:

Just to riff on my previous post:

 

If Carnival did this, would their revenues increase or decrease?  That's the question at the heart of it all.

 

I suspect their revenues would decrease, because they don't need discounts to attract their clientele.

 

So why bother?

 

I mean, I love perks as much as anyone, and a 25% discount (on top of current "everyday discounts") would be great, but I don't think Carnival needs to offer it to get "enough" returning customers and fill their cabins.

As long as the reds and blues come on back 2-3 times a year I suppose Carnival doesn’t need a loyalty program. In my opinion they should just abolish it but as long as people perceive value they won’t. They will continue to chip away and keep handing out the silver and white cards 

[Angelica1104]

15 minutes ago, dallasdan said:

is walking to pixies to get your pin and gift a scavenger hunt these days??  My last several cruises I didn't even pick them up.  To me early boarding if I chose and free laundry are good enough perks.  

It is to me when this items were previously delivered I’d be interested to know how many silver and white cards even bother. 

[Old Fart Cruisers]

3 hours ago, Elaine5715 said:

Cruisers have contributed to the degrading by sharing perks.

 

Totally agree.  I actually witnessed a diamond hard holder sharing their can koozie with a gold card holder.  Hopefully, both of them were kicked off and banned for life🙃 

[Lee Cruiser]

6 hours ago, 787cruiser said:

JH has already confirmed that VIFP is being looked at for a revamp.

This has been discussed for years, yet it still hasn't been revamped.  Several years ago, before we became platinum, we had a cruise booked on one of the newer RC ships that was being built at the time.  We booked that cruise two years before because it was "rumored" that the program was about to receive major changes, including raising the number of days to reach platinum.  We were thinking that if they raised the number of days, then it really wouldn't matter if we tried another line and we had a super rate.  In the meantime, the months go by and nothing changed.  We then had enough days that if we took a cruise on Carnival instead, we would reach platinum on that cruise.  So we cancelled the RC cruise and booked another cruise on Breeze.  At the time we were so excited to reach platinum.  Fast forward several years later and now there are 10's of thousands more platinums and they are still talking about changing the program.

 

One of the perks we looked forward to the most was having our room ready when we boarded.  That perk is now gone away and most  likely won't return with any new changes, so for us being platinum doesn't mean near as much anymore.

[Lee Cruiser]

6 hours ago, shof515 said:

The last time they changed the program I was downgraded a level. Hopefully with the new program they improve grandfathering people into the new levels better

They did grandfather people into the platinum level.  They also gave people who were close to reaching the 10 cruise level under the old program several months to reach that level and be grandfathered in.  I have a relative that had eight cruises and took two shorter cruises (three and four day) to reach platinum.  They were able to reach platinum in under 50 days.

[Elaine5715]

3 hours ago, Old Fart Cruisers said:

 

Totally agree.  I actually witnessed a diamond hard holder sharing their can koozie with a gold card holder.  Hopefully, both of them were kicked off and banned for life🙃 

You know that is not what I mean.  Platinum and Diamond parties have more non P/D attendees than P/Ds and the quality of refreshments is seriously poor.  People play games with booking cabins and switching once onboard to double up how many people can get priority boarding, luggage, debark.  How many extra people can be brought onto water shuttles?  Priority water shuttles don't seem like a perk when a solo Diamond can't get onboard

[Elaine5715]

2 minutes ago, Lee Cruiser said:

They did grandfather people into the platinum level.  They also gave people who were close to reaching the 10 cruise level under the old program several months to reach that level and be grandfathered in.  I have a relative that had eight cruises and took two shorter cruises (three and four day) to reach platinum.  They were able to reach platinum in under 50 days.

I took 2 sets of 3/4 day b2bs during that year to go from 6 cruises to 10 cruises to make Platinum, then 9 years to make Diamond.  A ton of people hit Diamond with 25 two day cruises.  

[Old Fart Cruisers]

You can be Platinum on Carnival after you spend a boatload of money and a bunch of days on board. So, now you get a few extra perks.  Then Carnival decides to sell the FTTF package and dilutes whatever benefits you have earned with their LOYALTY program.  I'm sure if Carnival does anything to revamp the VIFP program, it isn't going benefit their loyal customers at all.