Carnival loyalty means nothing anymore

[BlerkOne]

2 hours ago, Oletruckdude said:

Been on 20+ Carnival cruises. I like it the way it is. I've dropped more cash in the casino over the years than it would have cost me just for the cruise fare without gambling. I've earned my platinum status same as everyone else. 

If it ain't broke don't fix it. Or risk making happy customers unhappy ones.

Feel free to disagree. That's why these boards are called cruise "critic". All critical thought processes welcome here. 😁

Would you have dropped cash in the casino regardless of casino offers?

[Oletruckdude]

1 hour ago, BlerkOne said:

Would you have dropped cash in the casino regardless of casino offers?

Without the casino offers I wouldn't have been on the ship. TBH, we get similar offers from other lines as well, and we utilize those offers when they work for us. We do love the cruising lifestyle but the casinos are the biggest draw for us. And with the casino offers we can enjoy a week of gambling for less than most people spend on a week's land based vacation (we used to do Disney World but who can afford that any more).

So to answer your question, no, we wouldn't be dropping cash in the casinos without the casino offers. 

Kind regards.

[Stick93]

5 hours ago, AmanaCruise2 said:

So Carnival - how about leveling the playing field? Cruisers sailing on free offers do not have the free nights count toward the loyalty level. The rest of us paying cruisers have the paid nights count toward loyalty levels. Seems fair to me. 

Also don’t give points to cheap fares and 3rd and 4th passengers who pay less. Then double the suits and maybe people who have balances over 3k on changes. 
 

[BlerkOne]

3 minutes ago, Stick93 said:

Also don’t give points to cheap fares and 3rd and 4th passengers who pay less. Then double the suits and maybe people who have balances over 3k on changes. 
 

Points aren't based on how much you spend. Casinos are notorious for money laundering. 

[Stick93]

7 minutes ago, BlerkOne said:

Points aren't based on how much you spend. Casinos are notorious for money laundering. 

The government has a bigger game called printing money. It’s all accounted for somewhere.
 

A night on the ship is a point. How you get there and where you sleeps make no difference. That is really my point to anyone who thinks someone should not get a point. If it’s not a level field then it’s not a level field for everyone.  

[BlerkOne]

1 hour ago, Stick93 said:

A night on the ship is a point. How you get there and where you sleeps make no difference. That is really my point to anyone who thinks someone should not get a point. If it’s not a level field then it’s not a level field for everyone.  

No, it isn't. That's the point. People paying for cruise cabins vs people in free cruise cabins is not a level playing field no matter how some try to spin it.

[Oletruckdude]

40 minutes ago, BlerkOne said:

No, it isn't. That's the point. People paying for cruise cabins vs people in free cruise cabins is not a level playing field no matter how some try to spin it.

Of course it's a level playing field. Follow the money. People that don't gamble pay near full price for a cabin. People that spend enough money in the casino get free cabins. Either way Carnival gets the $$$. If you want free cabins you gotta spend time and money in the casino. If not, you pay the going rate. Either way it's gonna cost you. 

That's about as level as it gets. You're gonna pay either way. 

I think I've beat this poor dead horse long enough. 

Continue the spirited debate! I'm on the sidelines on this one.

 

[BlerkOne]

1 hour ago, Oletruckdude said:

Of course it's a level playing field. Follow the money. People that don't gamble pay near full price for a cabin. People that spend enough money in the casino get free cabins. Either way Carnival gets the $$$. If you want free cabins you gotta spend time and money in the casino. If not, you pay the going rate. Either way it's gonna cost you. 

That's about as level as it gets. You're gonna pay either way. 

I think I've beat this poor dead horse long enough. 

Continue the spirited debate! I'm on the sidelines on this one.

 

There is a huge number in the middle that pay for cabins and play in the casino. I have about 800 points and am up about $800. That's good enough for me. But none of that is the point.

 

People with free casino cabins are going to cruise with the highest bidder. Carnival's loyalty program has no impact on them, but does have an impact on those who pay for cabins. No VIFP points for free cruises is how it should be.

[mfs2k]

3 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

I have about 800 points and am up about $800

Keep playing. The odds are not in your favor.  You’ll give it back. You’re not up because of skill. You’re up because of luck. 

[Stick93]

5 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

No, it isn't. That's the point. People paying for cruise cabins vs people in free cruise cabins is not a level playing field no matter how some try to spin it.

You would be somewhat right if everybody paid the same amount to go on the ship. But you have some people paying very little to go in an inside room and some people paying a lot to go in a suite. Then you have all the customers who our third and fourth add-ons into a room who sometimes pay next to nothing. You also have some people spend a lot on the ship and those who spend absolutely nothing extra. No matter who you are if you’re sleeping on the ship, every person get one point per night. So it really doesn’t matter how you got on the ship every night is a point whether you like it or not. Crying over casino customers is just finding a villain for the people’s point envy. 

[Ilovesailaway]

The formula Holland America uses for thier loyalty program gives points for nights on and amount spent. I have just started cruising HA in the last few years and I have built points and moved up the ranks a lot faster there.

Maybe Carnival should base thier loyalty program soley on the cost paid for the cruise and the amount spent on board. This certainly would have been helpful when I was booking multiple rooms for family vacation.

[mar214]

BINGO!!! Loyalty programs based on cost paid for the cruise has my vote! And to acknowledge the casino cruisers who cruise for free, how about providing a casino loyalty program? This would certainly encourage these cruisers to sail on Carnival ships and not just book the best offers from all cruise lines. 

[jimbo5544]

51 minutes ago, mar214 said:

BINGO!!! Loyalty programs based on cost paid for the cruise has my vote! And to acknowledge the casino cruisers who cruise for free, how about providing a casino loyalty program? This would certainly encourage these cruisers to sail on Carnival ships and not just book the best offers from all cruise lines. 

agreed, one can argue they (casino cruisers) already have a loyalty program.

[JMAE]

39 minutes ago, jimbo5544 said:

agreed, one can argue they (casino cruisers) already have a loyalty program.

I agree, according to friends they sailed using a casino offer for taxes and port charges, it was their 3rd or 4th cruise on CCL.  While I paid for all my cruises to achieve Platinum.  I understand they play a lot in the casino, but a free cruise is a good benefit that is not offered in the VIFP program.     

[jimbo5544]

3 minutes ago, JMAE said:

I agree, according to friends they sailed using a casino offer for taxes and port charges, it was their 3rd or 4th cruise on CCL.  While I paid for all my cruises to achieve Platinum.  I understand they play a lot in the casino, but a free cruise is a good benefit that is not offered in the VIFP program.     

yup

[angelsfort]

I stand by my comment (either in this thread or maybe it was in another one) 

 

Carnival should move to a points based system, (like Chick-Fil-A and McDonalds and other fast food chains) and have certain "perks" available to be picked by redeeming your points.

different perks mean different things to cruisers.  Some folks really like the early boarding / first off the ship perk.  Others would like the pin, still others a bag... 

 

Carnival can throw in a free dinner at a specialty restaurant for a certain number of points... or a ride on their sky-coaster...  or a free drink at the Blue Iguana...  (so many things could be on the list of "perks" to redeem points for)

 

this would ensure that 1.) the perks might actually be appreciated more (I don't know about you but if I've got three belly packs with the Carnival logo on them, I'm not too thrilled with getting yet another one) and 2.) they can have a limited number of certain perks, the more costly the perk, the fewer that would be available and 3.)Carnival can get a pulse on what their loyal cruisers actually want

 

have folks choose which perks they want when they are filling out their documents or doing their online check-in

[RoperDK]

14 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

Would you have dropped cash in the casino regardless of casino offers?

Good question.  We've cruised on Carnival for 20+ years and have spent some time in the casino for most of those years. I might spend more time in the casino now than I used to, but that is because we don't spend as much time on the pool deck anymore.  I've done my time in the sun and am tired of getting cut on by the dermatologist.  I don't remember getting casino offers until maybe 10 or so years ago. We did get a nice military discount back in the day, which seems to have disappeared for the most part. We never get a free room because our offers are for inside cabins and we always upgrade to at least a balcony.  It does seem that there are more people that cruise very often on casino offers.  I also see how high their point counts are.  I can only imagine what they are spending.  It is way more than I can afford.  

[AllenF]

Just my opinion but casinos are everywhere now compared to years ago where LV and AC were  the place most went to gamble. So I'm guessing cruise ship casinos have to do something to get gamblers onboard now since in some states you have slot machines on every corner. Hence the *free* offers. Now me personally when I use to play cards a lot I went to LV because of the *bigger venues* and variety. To me gambling on a cruise ship is like buying your groceries at a 7/11  instead of a major grocery store but hey what do I know both have food. But I do agree that there should be 2 loyalty programs one for cruisers and 1 for degenerate gamblers j/k on the degenerate part couldn't resist , But if you enjoy cruising and love to gamble which many do I can see the appeal  and I also understand the frustration some who cruise to cruise pay full price and get the same loyalty program. But most gamblers lose so the cruise really isn't free free I don't care how many say that they win. Back when I was a degenerate gambler if I broke even over a few days in LV I counted that as a win too 😉 unfortunately I usually lost what I took to lose which is most likely the case with a lot of people. Hence the *free* offers

[illinoisfive]

6 hours ago, Stick93 said:

You would be somewhat right if everybody paid the same amount to go on the ship. But you have some people paying very little to go in an inside room and some people paying a lot to go in a suite. Then you have all the customers who our third and fourth add-ons into a room who sometimes pay next to nothing. You also have some people spend a lot on the ship and those who spend absolutely nothing extra. No matter who you are if you’re sleeping on the ship, every person get one point per night. So it really doesn’t matter how you got on the ship every night is a point whether you like it or not. Crying over casino customers is just finding a villain for the people’s point envy. 

Bingo!  

[BlerkOne]

5 hours ago, AllenF said:

Just my opinion but casinos are everywhere now compared to years ago where LV and AC were  the place most went to gamble. So I'm guessing cruise ship casinos have to do something to get gamblers onboard now 

There have always been some casino offers, but they skyrocketed after covid when cruising restarted. Demand for cruising was still slow. Carnival knew if they lowered the cost of cruising people would sail. Enter the gambler.

 

Not only did it get some people on ships, it also got cash flow going. It served it's purpose, but is now overkill and time to throttle back 

[CantWait08]

19 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

There is a huge number in the middle that pay for cabins and play in the casino. I have about 800 points and am up about $800. That's good enough for me. But none of that is the point.

 

People with free casino cabins are going to cruise with the highest bidder. Carnival's loyalty program has no impact on them, but does have an impact on those who pay for cabins. No VIFP points for free cruises is how it should be.

I could get a free offer from any cruise line, but stay with Carnival because I also get the VIFP perks. If the perks are gone with the offers, there is no reason to not try the other lines free offers. 

[BlerkOne]

Nobody is irreplaceable, and as I mentioned, Carnival needs to cut back on the free cabins. Cash deposits by paying customers is fundamental for available cash for Carnival.

[AmanaCruise2]

"I could get a free offer from any cruise line, but stay with Carnival because I also get the VIFP perks. If the perks are gone with the offers, there is no reason to not try the other lines free offers"

 

This is exactly what I've been saying! So the Carnival cruisers who pay out of pocket, perhaps take a limited number of cruises depending on what they can afford, may take years to achieve Platinum or Diamond status, may finally achieve the higher status due to their loyalty to Carnival and see that free casino cruisers have had those higher loyalty levels handed to them and have been enjoying those perks for years, should feel that Carnival appreciates them? As stated above, remove the perks given away for free and the casino cruisers may try other cruise lines. Give the free casino cruisers their own loyalty program and make every cruiser feel appreciated!! 

[aborgman]

On 9/23/2024 at 3:24 AM, BlerkOne said:

 

People with free casino cabins are going to cruise with the highest bidder.

 

Not inherently true.

 

People with free casino cabins are going to cruise with the best cost-benefit ratio.

 

" Carnival's loyalty program has no impact on them, but does have an impact on those who pay for cabins"

 

It has an impact on both - and the impact on those paying for cabins is it probably LOWERS the cost of their cabin.

[BlerkOne]

1 hour ago, aborgman said:

 

Not inherently true.

 

People with free casino cabins are going to cruise with the best cost-benefit ratio.

 

" Carnival's loyalty program has no impact on them, but does have an impact on those who pay for cabins"

 

It has an impact on both - and the impact on those paying for cabins is it probably LOWERS the cost of their cabin.

Inherently true. They will go with perceived values. 

 

The casino probably pays rock bottom prices for cabins and inflates the cost for everyone else