Does Carnival Have a Loyalty Program Anymore?

[Purvis1231]

9 hours ago, NYcruzzer said:

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

I thought that was quite funny. Sure the water, drinks, and gifts are not delivered to cabins anymore but they are not hard to find.

[Angelica1104]

3 hours ago, Old Fart Cruisers said:

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.

This is true. I’ve begun to call them the silver and white cards. I’ll be getting on a ship with my white card in August. The revamp has been in planning stages for a long time and each cruise more pax have  silver and white cards that become more symbolic than anything else

I’ll take my white card to the casino to get my $25 loaded then cash it out. I doubt I’ll go to the white card snack party as I used to enjoy the white card lunch. I’ve decided to take what is booked upcoming then retire my carnival white card and cruise elsewhere. 

[Angelica1104]

3 hours ago, Old Fart Cruisers said:

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.

This is true. I’ve begun to call them the silver and white cards. I’ll be getting on a ship with my white card in August. The revamp has been in planning stages for a long time and each cruise more pax have  silver and white cards that become more symbolic and of less value. 

I’ll take my white card to the casino to get my $25 loaded then cash it out. Perhaps DH will send out a load of tight or whities. I doubt I’ll go to the white card snack party as I used to enjoy the white card lunch. I’ve decided to take what is booked upcoming then retire my carnival white card and cruise elsewhere. 

[Angelica1104]

3 hours ago, Old Fart Cruisers said:

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.

This is true. I’ve begun to call them the silver and white cards. I’ll be getting on a ship with my white card in August. The revamp has been in planning stages for a long time and each cruise more pax have  silver and white cards that become more symbolic and of less value. 

I’ll take my white card to the casino to get my $25 loaded then cash it out. Perhaps DH will send out a load of tight or whities. I doubt I’ll go to the white card snack party as I used to enjoy the white card lunch. I’ve decided to take what is booked upcoming then retire my carnival white card and cruise elsewhere. 

[BobbiSox]

I like the perk that allows me to pass by the thousand people sitting in the terminal waiting to board. I'm allowed go right up to my cabin ahead of all of them. I'm also first out of the terminal doors on disembark. Anything that allows me to skip a line is a great perk. 

[Old Fart Cruisers]

1 hour ago, BobbiSox said:

I like the perk that allows me to pass by the thousand people sitting in the terminal waiting to board. I'm allowed go right up to my cabin ahead of all of them. I'm also first out of the terminal doors on disembark. Anything that allows me to skip a line is a great perk. 

 

But when thousands of people on the cruise also have the same perk because they are platinum or diamond that perk is pretty much useless.   And Carnival then SELLS that same perk with FTTF to the people that are not platinum or diamond making that perk even more useless. 

[BobbiSox]

1 minute ago, Old Fart Cruisers said:

 

But when thousands of people on the cruise also have the same perk because they are platinum or diamond that perk is pretty much useless.   And Carnival then SELLS that same perk with FTTF to the people that are not platinum or diamond making that perk even more useless. 

I sail only two of the small ships, from the ports closest to my home. Liberty and Elation. I only sail off season. I've never had a problem getting right on. I always get there early. I know they used to sell that perk, because I used to buy it before I earn it, lol.

[Elaine5715]

1 hour ago, BobbiSox said:

I like the perk that allows me to pass by the thousand people sitting in the terminal waiting to board. I'm allowed go right up to my cabin ahead of all of them. I'm also first out of the terminal doors on disembark. Anything that allows me to skip a line is a great perk. 

Except like you posted, you can buy it these perks.  You can also just help yourself to these perks since they don't check other than at boarding by checking boarding passes at start of embarkation.  No one is stopped going to their rooms and no one is checking at debark.

Edited June 27, 2023 by Elaine5715

[BobbiSox]

Carnival (and most of the other lines I have cruised with) doesn't much care about our comfort when the cruise is done and we are getting off the ship. The cruise is over. They are done with us.

[jsglow]

We've discussed elsewhere the VIFP changes I'd like to see. Personally, diluting the lower end of seniority while simultaneously upgrading the top end (maybe even at a higher #days) would be the way I would go. For example, move the current Plat to 100, create Titanium at 200 and do Diamond at 300. And at the Diamond level, I'd offer corporate wide 50% loyalty point portability.  It's not lost on me that that equates to the threshold of Elite on Princess and gets close to 4-star on HAL. I think it's absolutely moronic that CCL doesn't do everything the can to retain lifetime customers.  I'd 'never' let one get away to the dark side if I could help it.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

12 hours ago, Elaine5715 said:

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.  

 

Really?

 

19 hours ago, 787cruiser said:

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

 

Well, then it's as good as done -- LOL  😉 

 

Tom

[Pyrate13]

17 hours ago, starstruck05 said:

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.

Like the above poster, we don't cruise Carnival for the perks. We do it for the cost. We recently booked a cruise for Dec 2024 out of Tampa on the Legend. The same date, cabin type and itinerary on RCL was over twice the cost of the Carnival cruise. No thanks. I've seen the same types of complaints about RCL as I see here about Carnival so why bother changing when we're happy with Carnival?

JMHO YMMV

[Purvis1231]

1 hour ago, Old Fart Cruisers said:

 

But when thousands of people on the cruise also have the same perk because they are platinum or diamond that perk is pretty much useless.   And Carnival then SELLS that same perk with FTTF to the people that are not platinum or diamond making that perk even more useless. 

There is no Carnival ship that has thousands of diamond, platinum, or even FTTF guest, a few hundred at the most. 

[hapytobehr]

18 hours ago, starstruck05 said:

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.

THIS!!!!

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

11 minutes ago, hapytobehr said:

THIS!!!!

 

Yep --- I definitely don't cruise Carnival for their perks. If I did, I wouldn't cruise them -- LOL

 

Tom

[hapytobehr]

22 minutes ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

Yep --- I definitely don't cruise Carnival for their perks. If I did, I wouldn't cruise them -- LOL

 

Tom

I have cruised MSC, Royal, NCL and Celebrity.  I keep coming back to Carnival.  

 

Why?  Because it truly is fun!!!! 

[Joebucks]

15 hours ago, Lee Cruiser said:

This has been discussed for years, yet it still hasn't been revamped. 

 

While this is true, you also have to consider the last few years have not been an environment to start giving away more free product and service. 

 

While this is a complete shot in the dark, I legitimately believe it is coming soonish. Prices are going up. I believe the new dinner menu at least presents a higher price perception than the old one. I think loyalty programs have a higher importance to a company when the margins are higher. 

 

With that said, people obsess too much about "free stuff." You might spend $5000 total on a vacation, but complain because 2% of it "wasn't free." Many people will overspend if they feel they are getting something free, and absolutely refuse to admit it. 

[ProgRockCruiser]

7 minutes ago, Joebucks said:

Many people will overspend if they feel they are getting something free, and absolutely refuse to admit it. 

Yup, like the Free Shipping meme seen so often on social media:

 

$14 + $4 shipping - no way, I'm not paying extra for shipping!

 

$19.99 w/ free shipping - oh yeah, that's more like it!

 

🙄

[staceyglow]

2 hours ago, Purvis1231 said:

There is no Carnival ship that has thousands of diamond, platinum, or even FTTF guest, a few hundred at the most. 

That is not correct.  I have been on several journeys cruises were I would bet the percentage of Diamonds and Platinums was at least 25%.

 

That being said, when there is priority embarkation and debarkation the FTTF people go after the Diamonds and Platinums, so those perks are not diluted.

[ProgRockCruiser]

40 minutes ago, staceyglow said:

That being said, when there is priority embarkation and debarkation the FTTF people go after the Diamonds and Platinums, so those perks are not diluted.

Exactly - as  D&P what do you care about how the rest of the hoi polloi rank themselves?!  As long as they are boarding after you...

 

😲

 

😉

[Old Fart Cruisers]

19 minutes ago, ProgRockCruiser said:

Exactly - as  D&P what do you care about how the rest of the hoi polloi rank themselves?!  As long as they are boarding after you...

 

😲

 

😉

 

It's not just the boarding time.  It's the D&P line at guest services, since FTTF uses the same line.  It's having your room ready when you board, since they have to also make up the FTTF rooms.  It's the disembarking.  It's early access to tenders. . . 

[Elaine5715]

4 hours ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

Really?

 

 

Well, then it's as good as done -- LOL  😉 

 

Tom

Yes, before the levels changed to numbeer of saling days. it was just number of cruise, no matter the length.  I hit Platinum with six 7 day cruises, two 3 day cruises and two 4 day cruises for a total of 10 cruises.  At the same time, you would hit Diamond with 25 cruises so 25 eight day cruises or 25 two day cruises to nowhere. or any combo.

[Jamman54]

39 minutes ago, Elaine5715 said:

Yes, before the levels changed to numbeer of saling days. it was just number of cruise, no matter the length.  I hit Platinum with six 7 day cruises, two 3 day cruises and two 4 day cruises for a total of 10 cruises.  At the same time, you would hit Diamond with 25 cruises so 25 eight day cruises or 25 two day cruises to nowhere. or any combo.

The Diamond level was added after the loyalty program was changed from cruises to number of days. There was no Diamond level before that! 😎

[tbjl24]

On 6/26/2023 at 4:10 PM, finoky said:

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

 

On 6/26/2023 at 4:06 PM, ProgRockCruiser said:

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)_/¯

 

18 hours ago, Old Fart Cruisers said:

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.

 

Exactly all of the above. If you are expecting a competitive loyalty program then I suggest you start looking elsewhere. NCL and Royal have actual real perks once you work your way up the ladder a few rungs.

[hard_eight]

I just hope whatever it is is retroactive. Especially if suites get more credit. We used to cruise in suites only for the extra room with the kids and Priority Embark/Debark but now that the kids have aged out, we're good with Balconies unless the upgrade fairy blows us away.

 

Yes, I want it all about me🤣