Changes to Carnival Loyalty Program

[jimbo5544]

15 minutes ago, PA Dutchman said:

this has bee going on for about 10 years and nothing,  Carnival think

s they give good prices so they don't really need a loyalty program

Well, that is a thought....  I do not see the logic.  I do agree people cruise "partially" stay cruising on Carnival for price, but so much more than that as well.  Loyalty and perks are rarely the driver for doing that, simply a thanks for being loyal, nothing more or less.  Actually, Carnival is not even the pricing leader anymore.  

[Stick93]

3 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

Well, that is a thought....  I do not see the logic.  I do agree people cruise "partially" stay cruising on Carnival for price, but so much more than that as well.  Loyalty and perks are rarely the driver for doing that, simply a thanks for being loyal, nothing more or less.  Actually, Carnival is not even the pricing leader anymore.  

I just paid more for a 4 day summer cruise on carnival than a 7 day cruise on Royal out of NYC . Not sure what is so cheap?  Prices are up on all of them. 

[Elaine5715]

On 3/26/2024 at 1:36 PM, mz-s said:

I could see the credit card tying in to VIFP somehow. A lot of travel brands do that. But the program would have to be significantly overhauled and expanded to make it worth paying any amount of money for.

That method lost Delta Airlines much of its business travelers.

[Elaine5715]

15 hours ago, nydney1 said:

One point that no one has mentioned is that there are so many more ships to choose from. 
 

With Carnival adding more ships there are that many more opportunities for people to increase their status.

 

Random Thoughts:

Is a free drink that much of a perk if you have the drink package or a free drinks Casino deal?

 

I agree, that when you have 10 people that are Diamond it is easy to do something special. When there are 100 it is much more challenging.

 

I like the idea of a free dinner in one of the specialty restaurants. Carnival can control when it accepts the reservation for crowd control. Cost is also minimal for Carnival. 
 

I like the idea of reduced cost or free internet. If reduced cost still a revenue generator and no additional cost to Carnival.

 

I would offer free pictures. Ie 5x7 for Blue, 1 8x10 for Platinum, 2 for Diamond. Printing costs are minimal, while perceived value is high. Also if you get one photo you are likely to purchase more.

With the interactive TV in each room you could offer perks here as well. Free pay per view movie based on level. Again, minimal cost and easy to control.

 

 

 

Except when there is 100 Diamonds, the officers can escape from "that" guest.  I have been at a couple very small Diamond events and I swear the Cruise Director and Captain were about to fake an emergency to escape some Diamond guests who demanded their full attention.   

[mz-s]

6 hours ago, Elaine5715 said:

That method lost Delta Airlines much of its business travelers.

 

Luckily carnival doesn't have a very big business travel cohort.

[jimbo5544]

8 hours ago, Stick93 said:

I just paid more for a 4 day summer cruise on carnival than a 7 day cruise on Royal out of NYC . Not sure what is so cheap?  Prices are up on all of them. 

That was my point

[jimbo5544]

7 hours ago, Elaine5715 said:

That method lost Delta Airlines much of its business travelers.

Meh, sure it hurt.  They will adjust and things will change, simply has to go that way.  When that occurs, they return.  Business travelers are the ones still earning oerks, the rest of us ….not so much.

[jimbo5544]

7 hours ago, Elaine5715 said:

Except when there is 100 Diamonds, the officers can escape from "that" guest.  I have been at a couple very small Diamond events and I swear the Cruise Director and Captain were about to fake an emergency to escape some Diamond guests who demanded their full attention.   

It certainly not the same, so loved the way it used to be.  I am sure that covid had much to do with some of the changes.  Last year on Elation it was like the old days, senior staff and significant interaction.

[Joebucks]

On 3/28/2024 at 8:17 AM, nydney1 said:

Random Thoughts:

Is a free drink that much of a perk if you have the drink package or a free drinks Casino deal?

 

Absolutely. 

 

Maybe that "free drink" can also offer a 10% or so Cheers discount. Perhaps they could stimulate people to use their "perks" to buy more.

 

Also, free drinks in the casino are usually only good in the casino, right? It wouldn't hurt to be able to get one outside of it. 

[Elaine5715]

2 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

It certainly not the same, so loved the way it used to be.  I am sure that covid had much to do with some of the changes.  Last year on Elation it was like the old days, senior staff and significant interaction.

The officers were trying but these Diamonds "know" them from being repeat guests.  No one else was able to interact without them bringing the attention back to themselves.  Very easy to see why officers would see these events as uncomfortable

[jimbo5544]

21 hours ago, Elaine5715 said:

The officers were trying but these Diamonds "know" them from being repeat guests.  No one else was able to interact without them bringing the attention back to themselves.  Very easy to see why officers would see these events as uncomfortable

I cannot dispute what you say.  It again shows another example of what happens when way too many people qualify.  Our first Diamond event was 4 people and we had tremendous interaction with all senior staff.  Similar but larger numbers as they grew in size.  At some point, that is not feasible, hence the luncheons, now they have multiple of those.  The Diamond lnuch is excellent, but pales in comparison to past events.  Just MHO.

[MtnSeaGirl]

On 3/28/2024 at 11:14 PM, Stick93 said:

I just paid more for a 4 day summer cruise on carnival than a 7 day cruise on Royal out of NYC . Not sure what is so cheap?  Prices are up on all of them. 

Sometimes, Carnival is more costly; sometimes Royal is.  Until the most recent months, we found Royal to be a bit more expensive.  6 years ago, they ran a killer deal from San Juan.  It was an insane deal.  We sailed Royal.  Last year, Royal ran another killer deal and we cruise next week on them.  Yet, our hearts are with Carnival for the memories if that makes any silly sense at all  LOL  LOL  LOL.  We cruised so many times with our youngest son so that is part of it.  We have a Carnival cruise for next March already booked.  If money was not important, I would most prob stick with one line if they went where I wanted.  But, money and port choices are beginning to be a factor.  Carnival is doing a lot of the same Caribbean ports over and over. This may be to be more profitable to build back what was lost in the past years. They offer a solid cruise, and I find no real fault with them. To get a few of the other ports in the Carib, you have to do a longer cruise than we could do this year on Carnival or pick a different cruise line.  Just my thoughts. 

[MtnSeaGirl]

On 3/28/2024 at 11:58 PM, Elaine5715 said:

Except when there is 100 Diamonds, the officers can escape from "that" guest.  I have been at a couple very small Diamond events and I swear the Cruise Director and Captain were about to fake an emergency to escape some Diamond guests who demanded their full attention.   

This made me laugh.  I guess I would not make a very good Diamond member then.( don't worry, I'm no where near that )  I am a small town gal who doesn't even attend some of the functions I am invited to.  I met the Captain by accident on our last cruise.  Not sure if I was somewhere I did not need to be or I caught the end of the meet and greet for our current level or what.  I was like Thank you and yours for all you do for us, but I gotta get back to my cruising.....

[Elaine5715]

2 hours ago, MtnSeaGirl said:

This made me laugh.  I guess I would not make a very good Diamond member then.( don't worry, I'm no where near that )  I am a small town gal who doesn't even attend some of the functions I am invited to.  I met the Captain by accident on our last cruise.  Not sure if I was somewhere I did not need to be or I caught the end of the meet and greet for our current level or what.  I was like Thank you and yours for all you do for us, but I gotta get back to my cruising.....

You don't want to tell the Captain and CD about your dog's medical issues and how after the last cruise you found the toilet running? 

I can "muster" up something for the CD but for the Captain all I can do is resist asking "who's driving" so I just smile and compliment the Captain on the ship.    

[Elaine5715]

2 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

I cannot dispute what you say.  It again shows another example of what happens when way too many people qualify.  Our first Diamond event was 4 people and we had tremendous interaction with all senior staff.  Similar but larger numbers as they grew in size.  At some point, that is not feasible, hence the luncheons, now they have multiple of those.  The Diamond lnuch is excellent, but pales in comparison to past events.  Just MHO.

It wasn't the quantity, it was the quality of the guests. During a small gathering, the obnoxious guests are unavoidable.  A large group allows for the greeting line and they can avoid the tables of Mrs. Letmetellyouaboutmyrash.  When the same Diamonds are frequent repeat guests, the small gathering must be excruciating.    I would LOVE to have had the opportunity to tour the bridge instead of hearing Mr. and Mrs. Letmetellyouaboutmyrash brag that they have been there/done that.  

[ninjacat123]

2 minutes ago, Elaine5715 said:

   I would LOVE to have had the opportunity to tour the bridge instead of hearing Mr. and Mrs. Letmetellyouaboutmyrash brag that they have been there/done that.  

🤣🤣🤣

[jimbo5544]

41 minutes ago, Elaine5715 said:

It wasn't the quantity, it was the quality of the guests. During a small gathering, the obnoxious guests are unavoidable.  A large group allows for the greeting line and they can avoid the tables of Mrs. Letmetellyouaboutmyrash.  When the same Diamonds are frequent repeat guests, the small gathering must be excruciating.    I would LOVE to have had the opportunity to tour the bridge instead of hearing Mr. and Mrs. Letmetellyouaboutmyrash brag that they have been there/done that.  

I would counter the quality comes with the quanity.

[jimbo5544]

3 hours ago, MtnSeaGirl said:

This made me laugh.  I guess I would not make a very good Diamond member then.( don't worry, I'm no where near that )  I am a small town gal who doesn't even attend some of the functions I am invited to.  I met the Captain by accident on our last cruise.  Not sure if I was somewhere I did not need to be or I caught the end of the meet and greet for our current level or what.  I was like Thank you and yours for all you do for us, but I gotta get back to my cruising.....

The interaction (the way it used to be) was the best part of the experience.

[audcc77]

4 hours ago, MtnSeaGirl said:

Last year, Royal ran another killer deal and we cruise next week on them. 

Curious what your idea of a killer deal is.  

[audcc77]

4 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

The Diamond lnuch is excellent,

When is the Diamond lunch and how do you get invited?

[Elaine5715]

8 minutes ago, audcc77 said:

When is the Diamond lunch and how do you get invited?

You get an invite in your stateroom and it will be a sea day.

[MtnSeaGirl]

2 hours ago, audcc77 said:

Curious what your idea of a killer deal is.  

Same ports and number of days  from San Juan for the one 6 years ago.  We were going Carnival but Royal dropped their prices for about a week, and we snagged the one on Royal for about $600 less for an OV instead of the inside on Carnival.  We were at first apprehensive as we could not figure out why the difference.  For us, $ 600 is a lot of money.  That may be pocket change for others, and that's OK.    The one next week was right at $485 dollars diff, and we have a 9 day instead of 8 day with Grenada in it which we really wanted to return to.   The sad thing is if we had chosen Carnival for next week's cruise, we would have made Platinum.  Now, if they change the loyalty tiers prior to next March, we will not make it. At the time, Royal seemed the smarter decision.... Life is like a box of chocolates. Never know what ya gonna get.  

[ninjacat123]

6 minutes ago, MtnSeaGirl said:

Same ports and number of days  from San Juan for the one 6 years ago.  We were going Carnival but Royal dropped their prices for about a week, and we snagged the one on Royal for about $600 less for an OV instead of the inside on Carnival.  We were at first apprehensive as we could not figure out why the difference.  For us, $ 600 is a lot of money.  That may be pocket change for others, and that's OK.    The one next week was right at $485 dollars diff, and we have a 9 day instead of 8 day with Grenada in it which we really wanted to return to.   The sad thing is if we had chosen Carnival for next week's cruise, we would have made Platinum.  Now, if they change the loyalty tiers prior to next March, we will not make it. At the time, Royal seemed the smarter decision.... Life is like a box of chocolates. Never know what ya gonna get.  

Are you one cruise away?  When is your next cruise on Carnival?

Edited March 30 by ninjacat123

[MtnSeaGirl]

3 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

The interaction (the way it used to be) was the best part of the experience.

I remember the old days...well, maybe not old days but some 15 years ago. We enjoyed getting dressed in formal attire.  We would stand in line and met the officers.  It was surreal to be honest. I truly mean I am an old country gal.  Meeting officers was out of my wheelhouse of comfort, but it was kinda fun. DH, now he is used to meeting and greeting all kinds of people from various "levels of society".  He did not even blink.  I was terrified I would say some thing silly.   Last year on the Horizon, the officers were introduced on the middle stair of the three sets of stairs near the Fun Shops and Customer Service.  The first let of our B2B, we made sure to be there to cheer them on.  The second leg, we opted not to dress for elegant night and ate elsewhere.  I did not expect to see the officers in a line.  We must have hit the end of this as there were only three of them.  We began to walk around them but in the crowd of people there was not much room to gently curve away. The first office in line reached out and grabbed by hand and spoke, turned me over to the Captain who spoke briefly and the third immediately began to take my hand and express his gratitude for sailing with Carnival.  It was like a well oiled machine and faster than doing a right and left grand in square-dance.  I had to chuckle at how the officers made sure no one monopolized the Captain or maybe they were just very tired after a long day.  I was mortified I was underdressed as that seemed disrespectful to the Captain  

[MtnSeaGirl]

7 minutes ago, ninjacat123 said:

Are you one cruise away?  When is your next cruise on Carnival?

Yes, 8 days away.  Our next cruise is Mar 2025. We have our bucket list Yellowstone/Grand Teton/Glacier National Park this Sept.  We are not retired yet. DH does not get as much vaca as I do, and we wanted to do the bucket list trip while we can still hike a little.  Choices made is often like throwing dice.  I tend to second guess decisions, but we make the best one we can at the time.