Quicker Way To Get Platinum

[RjayB]

The Platinum program is 2-3 years old, if that. There was nothing before that. So they come up with a recognition plan and all you people bitch because they don't just give it to you. I qualified for Platinum years before there was a Platinum program. Should I whine and cry that they owe me something?

 

 

Gratitude, wonder when they'll remove that word from all dictionaries?

 

Dan

 

Woops, someone got peepee in their cherios this morning:rolleyes:

 

I think the number of days makes perfect sense, thats the way most hotel chains handle their reward programs.

[The4Cruisers]

Wow, if CCL listened and implemented what people suggest, they'd be a completely different cruise experience!

 

Platinum status for a few long cruises or several short 3 or 4 day jaunts, no more singing waiters, no jeans allowed near the ships, family soda cards for the price of one person, civil unrest allowed if ports are missed due to medical emergency, sashe back to the ship from excursions anytime you feel like it... the ship will wait, and oh yeah, the heck with port contracts, never go back to Jamaica ever again!

[maxamuus]

I chuckle anytime i hear any adult that says something "isnt fair" They sound EXACTLY like 2 five year olds and one just got the bigger ice cream cone.

 

 

In case no one told you when you were a child -

 

 

 

LIFE ISN'T FAIR!

[Froufie]

That's right life in general is not fair - all the more reason to institute fair practices wherever and whenever they can be applied - like cruising - # of days sounds more reasonable than # of cruises - but I guess that would result in too many platinum cruisers? Is that even possible? :D

[dan40]

Woops, someone got peepee in their cherios this morning:rolleyes:

 

I think the number of days makes perfect sense, thats the way most hotel chains handle their reward programs.

 

Nope, it was poop in the Post Toasties. And I was on the road when when most hotel reward programs started. They went thru a lot of variations in the early days and the programs were terrific. I earned 2 weeks in the Munich Holiday inn including RT airfare for 2 in less than a year. And other easy and great awards. Then they all went thru so many "qualifiers" that I stopped paying attention. Seems to me they all went from "Days" to "Stays" so my multi day stays only counted as 1. Instead of 120 to 140 points I'd get 49 or 50. And the prize points became near worthless. The Munich award was like 75 points and went to some hundredS of points for the same trip

In any case, Carnival's program is fairly new still, and is better than nothing. Competition, more than anything else will improve it if necessary.

But my self interest comment stands because it is simply true.

 

Dan

[DarthGrady]

Everybody and their friends , neighbors and relatives should all be Platinum, then they can do away with the program, because it won't matter anymore. Just a different line. Its already started, with the amount of people Platinum and in suites. The places they have for VIP won't hold that amount of people.

 

Very true.

 

I say this after doing no research whatsoever, but I believe that Carnival's Platinum status requires the highest number of past cruises when compared to it's competitors.

 

Even with the 10 cruise requirement, it seems as if there are lots of Platinum people around. I saw a list that Wennfred posted in his "Galley tour" thread, and it was like 60 people on one cruise.

 

If the number of Platinum guests continues to grow that fast, it seems like they will either have to lessen the personalized service (like the escorts to the tenders, escorts off the ship, escorts on the ship,,,,you get the picture) or raise the number of required cruises to make the program apply to less people again.

 

I don't pretend to know what they should or should not do. But it seems like they would have to modify things or else they will have larger and larger groups of Platinum guests as time goes by. Kind like when this guy makes it in January. Some folks have suggested steps like RCCL does.

[Doug910]

...Am I reading this correctly??? Are people complaining that SOMEONE ELSE is reaching Platinum status too quickly? The Platinum program is not fair because some take short cruises and other take longer cruises?? Can someone PLEASE tell me why someone is worried about MY cruising status??

 

...A cruise is a cruise. 10 of them... and you'll reach Platinum status. It's really very simple.

 

...How about we use the cost of the cabin as a benchmark. Should I get more credit towards Platinum because I booked a Cat 12 suite for my 7 day cruise and someone else booked a Cat. 4A for their 10 day cruise???

 

...My last cruise I dropped $1,500 in the Casino (I happened to make over twice that on the cruise before, but who's counting!) Again, should I get more credit than someone who lost a couple of rolls of quarters. Obviously, someone who spends time in the Casino is worth more as a customer to Carnival... Shouldn't that be rewarded?

 

...We can talk about the money spent on drinks, photos, shore excursions, bingo, supper clubs, heck, even Camp Carnival! Maybe they should link the Platinum Status credits to our Sign & Sail card??

 

...Let's face it. We cruise Carnival because we enjoy it. If there weren't a Platinum program, we'd probably continue to cruise Carnival because, again, we enjoy it.

[ruskatab]

Yes RC has a better loyalty program but RC cruises cost alot more money than Carnival cruises so your really not saving any money. I am platinum with RC after 4 cruises because one was in a JR suite so I got 2 credits. But even with the 150 off a cabin RC still costs alot more than me paying normal price on Carnival. But I do get an interline rate so the price difference is huge even after the RC coupon. It was also an act of congress to get RC to credit my account after using the coupons they give you when you board. I gave up on that after several attempts. The RC gifts are cheezy also so no need to cruise them for a fake leather picture frame.

[PINEVIEW01]

I would like to see the per days too. I have done long and short cruises. It also may keep Platinum status in check. If you read RCCL boards, they complain about too many Diamond (same as Platiumn on Carnival) status. With Carnival offering the discounts for past guest, I have started taking shorter ones to get there. Than I'll book the long one with the discounts.

 

One cruise lines used to use days. I remember reading the program and it stated you could change levels mid cruise. I'm thinking it might have been Princess:confused:

[pba20493]

Most hotels do not figure it on how many days you stay. It is based on the dollar amout you spend before taxes. If your room rate is $89 per night, at best western, and all choice hotels you will receive a 10 to 1 ratio. That means you will get 890 points. I know it is the same at red roof, hilton, sheraton.

 

Not to mention that every hotel differs on how many points it will take for a free night, based on time of year ( seasons ). Right now the hotel I work at is 12000 points for 1 free night. That means you have to spend $1200 to get that one night. Other hotels are more.

 

Personally, I think it would be a bad idea to create MORE class envy. Thats all the more day=more credit thing does. Not everyone can afford to take 12 day cruises. Not everyone gets that much vacation time from work, and if they do, they may not be able to take it all at the same time.

 

I have a 4 day, 5 day, and 2-7day cruises, getting ready to take my 3rd 7day in 2 weeks on a CCL ship. I also have 1 4day on RCI. I do have a 12 day booked for next year, so that will be 6 on CCL by May of 2009. Looks like I will be platinum sometime in 2011. Thats ok for me.

 

Enuff from me

 

Tim

[cathyoo]

From the tone of your post, they've already deleted "grace". Perhaps they'll soon get to "gratitude". ;)

 

 

Very few posts make me LOL but yours did.

[LHP]

I like the idea of rewards based on "bucks spent" (like hotels).

 

It is not just a matter of folks cruising less than 7 days. Some ships are more expensive than others. If someone has only cruised the smallest, oldest (cheapest) ships...then those who have cruised on the newest more expensive ships are not being treated fairly.

 

Also, if someone books balconies and suites and spends more than the person that booked an inside on the same cruise....is someone being "gipped" by only getting one credit?

 

Our entire family was Platinum before they even came out with the program...so we definately are not cruising to reach any "level".

 

I think Carnival simply went with an industry standard that was the easiest to maintain.

[halos]

With Carnival offering the discounts for past guest, I have started taking shorter ones to get there. Than I'll book the long one with the discounts.

 

 

You would seriously start booking short cruises just to get to Platiinum??? :confused:

 

Wow...are there others out there who book shorties for this purpose only?????

[Flip2cruise]

You would seriously start booking short cruises just to get to Platiinum??? :confused:

 

Wow...are there others out there who book shorties for this purpose only?????

I think she has about 20 CCL cruises, so she well past the requirement.

 

I doubt many are actually booking short cruises to get to Platinum. Unless you live close to port its just not worth it for the benefits.

[CrystalKat]

I've been booking shorter cruises simply because that's what fits into my husband's and my work schedules. Whether that helps us get to platinum or not is irrelevant - we love to cruise, we'd get there anyway.

[lsp]

Wow, I didn't realize this was going to cause disruption to so many. I was just saying maybe longer cruises get a 1/2 credit or something. No way do I want to take anyone's platinum status away. Just that I don't live where I can take a lot of short cruises without airfare being thrown in. I will cruise regardless of my standing in the "caste" system I just was curious if anyone else felt the same way. In reality, my husband is the one pushing this because he doesn't like doing our laundry on the long cruises when I am out having fun. Just joking, I make him stay up late at night to do the laundry so I don't hear him snoring.

 

And I know life isn't fair and we all have to be big boys and girls and suck it up.

 

Linda

[Captain Funtime]

WHAT perk is so important for all this worry ? I really don't see a concern that "soon" every cruiser will be Platinum..... I still see a lot of red white and blue S&S cards !

[lsp]

No perk is that important as long as I get to cruise. Thanks to the two that gave me the correct address. We all need something to strive for and I am aiming for the Platinum as soon as possible. Problem is, some of our fellow cruisers from last year on the Freedom were already Platinum and we are all re-united on the Splendor in August and I don't want them to feel like they are "slumming" by hanging around us measly "gold cards". This time they will problem have that dumb old card hanging around their neck for us to look at and envy. I wonder how long before we can get counterfite cards on ebay.

Not to use but just flash around, make us feel important. But if I am going to do that, might as well make it a "Diamond" card.

 

Linda