Time for a new past guest level?

[LHP]

A couple of us have been pushing for a "Black" elite card for 25 or more cruises for some time now. We put it down on our comment cards. We send letters to Carnival a couple of times a year asking for it.

 

Personally I believe to keep it simple, it should be based on the number of cruises. Is it fair probably not. Some folks cannot afford the longer cruises or to be away from work that length of time.

Dave

 

We put this one EVERY comment card (which has been 25 this year alone) and "send the message" at every opportunity we get.

 

A Black Elite Card for 25 cruises would be perfect.

 

Currently I think that the perks are in line with the price you pay for a Carnival cruise....but once you reach Milestone (like 3 of our 4 family members) I think there should be more.

 

We have been pushing for reciprocating perks among sister cruise lines like RCCL and Celebrity do (and Princess and Cunard).

 

Carnival Corporation could use that to encourage their Carnival cruisers to "move on up the food chain" into one of their more expensive sister cruise lines!!!

 

It would work for me....but I would still cruise Carnival too!!!

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

My "suggestions" to Carnival:

 

25+ cruises:

 

60 free internet minutes

 

Buy one, get one free : Spa, Supper Club

 

Choice of multiple gifts (instead of a thermos) - perhaps photo or drink coupons

 

Private cocktail party with CD and senior officers

 

Private lounge for debarkation with coffee, juice, danish

 

A HOT breakfast menu for room service

 

50+ cruises: (Only mentioning changes to 25+)

 

120 free internet minutes

 

One FREE Spa treatment and dinner for TWO in the Supper Club

 

All future cruises receive 10% cruise fare as OBC

 

TWO free entries to slot/blackjack tournament

 

Ability to receive full dining room menu for room service

 

100+ cruises:

 

Unlimited Internet

 

Two Spa treatments - 4 cover charges at Supper Club

 

All future cruises receive 20% cruise fare as OBC

 

------------------------------

 

With some of those perks, Carnival would REALLY start to appear as though they give something back. Granted the Platinum and Milestones Rewards program represent something which they offer that was not there in the past, but in times like these - they REALLY need to show some THANKS... I mean really, after 50 cruises that represents A LOT of $ spent on their product ... easily $100,000 in many cases! (Well, for TWO at any rate)

 

Tom

[UCSD]

I really don't care what color my card is. I really don't even check what other peoples card colors are. As long as I have a good time. ;)

Carnival has a very strange system for awarding platinum cards anyways. It is done by the number of cruises you do...not how many days at sea or miles sailed. I can take 9 three night cruises and on my 10th cruise be platinum. While other people can take 9 seven night cruises to become that level. So someone has cruised 27 nights and on their next cruise they get to be platinum. While someone who has 63 days at sea is still not platinum.....

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm................:confused::eek::(

Yeah. I have same wondering.... maybe they should use how much you paid for calculation. Some spent more than thousand for a suite while others paid less....

[DarthGrady]

I like the idea of a reception just for Platinum, I think 'll put that on my comment cards.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

I like the idea of a reception just for Platinum, I think 'll put that on my comment cards.

 

Grady - you will have a review for everyone after your Monarch of the Seas cruise, right???

 

I hope you have a good time - though if you are a fan of Fantasy class ships.... well, time will tell!!!

 

 

Enjoy that sailing on the Spirit!!! - I sure would have :) (for those "not in the loop" - we had to cancel that one...)

 

Tom

[DarthGrady]

Grady - you will have a review for everyone after your Monarch of the Seas cruise, right???

 

I hope you have a good time - though if you are a fan of Fantasy class ships.... well, time will tell!!!

 

 

Enjoy that sailing on the Spirit!!! - I sure would have :) (for those "not in the loop" - we had to cancel that one...)

 

Tom

 

Oh yeah, I'll post it up with pics. I may do it as a reviw/comparison and post it on both forums. I think it's gonna be a fun time. Almost like being a new cruiser all over again!

 

The next one will be the batchelor party, so I don't know how many pics will be "CC friendly"! :eek: Just have to play that one by ear.;)

[glrounds]

I really would like to see the Platinum cruisers and above have the ability to order room service from the dining room menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner. :)

 

I agree . . . at least breakfast menu in the cabin. (for those who spend hours in the library and sleep in) :rolleyes:

Next level at 25 cruises IMHO should be the BLACK CONCIERGE CARD. Loaded with zillions of perks, many of them worthless of course, but just an acknowledgement of past patronage and loyalty.

A special party for the PLATINUM cruisers would be a nice touch also.

[dan40]

I really don't care what color my card is. I really don't even check what other peoples card colors are. As long as I have a good time. ;)

Carnival has a very strange system for awarding platinum cards anyways. It is done by the number of cruises you do...not how many days at sea or miles sailed. I can take 9 three night cruises and on my 10th cruise be platinum. While other people can take 9 seven night cruises to become that level. So someone has cruised 27 nights and on their next cruise they get to be platinum. While someone who has 63 days at sea is still not platinum.....

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm................:confused::eek::(

 

When the Platinum program was announced, it was NUMBER OF CRUISES period. If they were to change to number of days, someone would be whining and bitching about number of hours, minutes, seconds. Or S&S card totals, or number of lobsters stuffed down their necks.

 

I would not be a bit surprised if the 3 day cruisers expenditures per day are noticeably higher than the 7 day cruisers.

 

Go back 5 years and there was NO PG recognition level other than PG.

I had 14 Carnival cruises before they instituted the Platinum program. Should I ask them to give me some money because they were too slow with the program?

 

Dan

[aggieastrosfan]

Like someone said earlier, platinum is soon not going to mean anything as everyone gradually reaches that point. I think a black card after 25 cruises is a great idea. Plus, it gives me something to work for now that I've hit platinum. ;) They could model it after the Princess elite program - free mini-bar setup, 15% off all gift shop purchases, upgraded in-cabin toiletries (maybe the stuff they give to the spa cabins?).

 

The past guest parties are becoming a zoo, I think a platinum party would be a good idea.

 

It was last year or the year before last when Princess changed its program to number of cruises or number of days sailed. Then again, they really had to do this when a 49-day cruise was counting the same as a 7-day. That's a much bigger difference than a 3-day vs. 8-day!

[dan40]

Don't they already have 25% off the 25th cruise, 50% at 50, free at 100?:confused:

 

I very much like the idea of a Platinum only PG party, in addition to the reg. PG party.:)

 

Can my cousin's boy friends, younger brother's, classmate, on their first cruse attend the Platinum party?:rolleyes:

 

Dan

[lanoitarus]

It was last year or the year before last when Princess changed its program to number of cruises or number of days sailed. Then again, they really had to do this when a 49-day cruise was counting the same as a 7-day. That's a much bigger difference than a 3-day vs. 8-day!

 

Completely true-- but princess' new system is either/or... very similar to how airlines use number of miles OR number of segements to hit elite status. I think the hybrid system is the most fair, personally.

 

So instead of 10 cruises, you say, "10 cruises or 60 days". That way someone who ALWAYS does 8 day cruises gets a slight bump over someone who always does 3 day jaunts. I certainly don't think its fair to say a 7 night should be worth more than double a 3 night, but it should be worth at least SLIGHTLY more.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Don't they already have 25% off the 25th cruise, 50% at 50, free at 100?:confused:

 

...

 

Dan

 

Yes, and the 25% "off" of my cruise fare ended up being something like $300 OBC... that was used up in the casino in about 5 minutes... MY BAD... :(

 

So, from that point, I need to take 25 more cruises - spending perhaps $30,000 in cruise fare and maybe that much (or more :eek:) in the casino. But hey, then I have ~$600 in OBC -- translating to an approximate 1% "REBATE" :rolleyes:. Yes, by that statement, I am looking a gift horse in the mouth. Where is DERF when you need a quick GOOGLE search to find the origin of a saying --- :D

 

Speaking of DERF, is he still around??? :confused:

 

I think I am going to go up to Carrabba's and purchase a $100 gift card for someone, and get a $20 gift card for myself FREE.... INSTANT 20% return. Now THAT get's my attention (and I have never even eaten there, LMAO).

 

Tom

[LHP]

Don't they already have 25% off the 25th cruise, 50% at 50, free at 100?:confused:

 

I very much like the idea of a Platinum only PG party, in addition to the reg. PG party.:)

 

Can my cousin's boy friends, younger brother's, classmate, on their first cruse attend the Platinum party?:rolleyes:

 

Dan

 

Yes they do. We used hubby's on the Legend in May and mine and DJ (our 17 year old) on the Freedom last month.

 

It averaged about $200.00 a person OBC...which was nice!!!

[LHP]

Yes, and the 25% "off" of my cruise fare ended up being something like $300 OBC... that was used up in the casino in about 5 minutes... MY BAD... :(

 

So, from that point, I need to take 25 more cruises - spending perhaps $30,000 in cruise fare and maybe that much (or more :eek:) in the casino. But hey, then I have ~$600 in OBC -- translating to an approximate 1% "REBATE" :rolleyes:. Yes, by that statement, I am looking a gift horse in the mouth. Where is DERF when you need a quick GOOGLE search to find the origin of a saying --- :D

 

Speaking of DERF, is he still around??? :confused:

 

I think I am going to go up to Carrabba's and purchase a $100 gift card for someone, and get a $20 gift card for myself FREE.... INSTANT 20% return. Now THAT get's my attention (and I have never even eaten there, LMAO).

 

Tom

 

Tom:

 

We bought 10 Certificates on the Freedom. They were $100 each. You have 5 years to use them....you get your $100.00 back (applied to the final payment of the cruise) AND $50 to $200 OBC (depending on the length of the cruise).

 

And if you don't use them before the 5 years is up...you can send them back for a full refund. And this is done by CARNIVAL...NOT a 3rd party like ICE.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Tom:

 

We bought 10 Certificates on the Freedom. They were $100 each. You have 5 years to use them....you get your $100.00 back (applied to the final payment of the cruise) AND $50 to $200 OBC (depending on the length of the cruise).

 

And if you don't use them before the 5 years is up...you can send them back for a full refund. And this is done by CARNIVAL...NOT a 3rd party like ICE.

 

Interesting - I have never heard of that!!!

 

Do you know if there any limitations - such as if used in conjunction with military rates and/or when you already have OBC from the Stockholder's credit??

 

Can you use 1 per person, or per booking??

 

Is this something new, or have I been living under a rock?? :D

 

Tom

[LHP]

Interesting - I have never heard of that!!!

 

Do you know if there any limitations - such as if used in conjunction with military rates and/or when you already have OBC from the Stockholder's credit??

 

Can you use 1 per person, or per booking??

 

Is this something new, or have I been living under a rock?? :D

 

Tom

 

They just started it on a couple of ships.

 

There are no black out dates....and it can be used in conjunction with anything. You use your own PVP or TA as usual. And it can be combined with Stockholder (or any other OBC) that you are receiving.

 

It is brand new. We just happen to run across it on the Freedom.

 

"The lady" (who we dealt with) is a PVP with Carnival. She has worked for Carnival since 1985. So it is definately being sold BY CARNIVAL. Our PVP knows her and "vouched" for her...so to speak.

 

Not sure which ships other than the Freedom that they are doing this on. I did not see it on the Splendor.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

They just started it on a couple of ships.

 

There are no black out dates....and it can be used in conjunction with anything. You use your own PVP or TA as usual. And it can be combined with Stockholder (or any other OBC) that you are receiving.

 

It is brand new. We just happen to run across it on the Freedom.

 

"The lady" (who we dealt with) is a PVP with Carnival. She has worked for Carnival since 1985. So it is definately being sold BY CARNIVAL. Our PVP knows her and "vouched" for her...so to speak.

 

Not sure which ships other than the Freedom that they are doing this on. I did not see it on the Splendor.

 

Great - I'll be on the lookout for that for our Valentine's Day cruise... THANKS!

 

(I assume you can only use one per booking, rather than per person?)

 

Tom

[tlw440]

Just off my recent cruise and I was thinking that maybe a good time for CCL to start a new past guest level. Currently they have the blue card for your first cruise and gold card for 2-9 cruises and platinum for 10 or more. My last cruise on Splendor, and yes being a new ship it would have lot's of past guest's on it, I saw so many platinum's that it got me thinking. So, I thought for 20 or more cruise they may call it Platinum plus or Diamond level (I know I am greedy:D). I know after 25 cruises you get 25% of total fare paid as an OBC, which is great and almost there.

 

Thoughts?

 

What kind of perks would you like to see over and above the platinum?

 

I have 2:

 

1. A free bottle of wine w/dinner

2. Free spa treatment or 50% off (don't want to be too greedy:))

I think that the platinum level should be based on the cost of your cruise. Five, seven day cruises cost more than ten, three day cruises.

[cateyes2u]

I think it works fine as it is, but it would be nice if Platinum kicks in after cruise #5 and not 10. After 10 it could be Diamond and 25 concierge.

 

The past guest party on the Liberty in September had 1700 past passengers. They used the big show lounge and I would say over half of the past guests showed up. I did, I enjoy the free drinks. I had nine free melon balls...YUM!!!!

 

 

A new drink to try. What is a mellon ball?

 

My cruise in May is my 10th, can't wait for the perks.

 

PJ

[Ms Belvedere]

They just started it on a couple of ships.

There are no black out dates....and it can be used in conjunction with anything. You use your own PVP or TA as usual. And it can be combined with Stockholder (or any other OBC) that you are receiving.

It is brand new. We just happen to run across it on the Freedom.

"The lady" (who we dealt with) is a PVP with Carnival. She has worked for Carnival since 1985. So it is definately being sold BY CARNIVAL. Our PVP knows her and "vouched" for her...so to speak.

Not sure which ships other than the Freedom that they are doing this on. I did not see it on the Splendor.

 

We ran across this promo on the Valor out of Miami and bought two for future cruises. The ship had a Loyalty Ambassador who had a desk right across from the Latte/Coffee Shop, and they had a Loyalty Party where they served all the free drinks you wanted while they explained the program! :D:p:D

 

On the Glory we were ready to buy some more but when we asked about it at the Pursers Desk they looked at us like we spaketh in tongues; they told us there was nothing like that. Finally one guy came out of the back who heard us and said they were just starting the program and it wasn't on all the ships yet.

Ms B

[dan40]

I think that the platinum level should be based on the cost of your cruise. Five, seven day cruises cost more than ten, three day cruises.

 

5 OV 7 day cruises out of Miami, $599. X 5 =$2995

10 OV 3 day cruises out of Miami $329 X 10 = $3290

 

But I'm old and don't know new math.

 

 

As I said in an earlier post, NO MATTER how they set it up, someone will whine and cry it should be some other way.

Maybe that IS why they chose NOT to have ANY program until 5 years ago.

 

Dan

[mjmiller]

We bought 10 Certificates on the Freedom. They were $100 each. You have 5 years to use them....you get your $100.00 back (applied to the final payment of the cruise) AND $50 to $200 OBC (depending on the length of the cruise).

 

And if you don't use them before the 5 years is up...you can send them back for a full refund. And this is done by CARNIVAL...NOT a 3rd party like ICE.

 

We "bought" ours in Jan on Destiny. It's like a down payment on a yet-to-be-chosen cruise. We had a heck of a time using the darn thing. After we sent it in to the address on the back of the certificate (after we booked our upcoming cruise), we got $100 OBC. hmm.... Nothing towards a down payment or reduction of cost. Our TA called Carnival three times, spent a LOT of time on the phone with them, to get CARNIVAL to understand their own stupid certificate. Good thing we kept a photocopy of it that we could fax to her. She finally got them to understand the concept, and we had $100 applied taken off the price of our cruise. If our TA hadn't taken charge, I think I'd have gone ballistic.

 

So this is great in theory, just don't expect it to go smoothly unless folks at Carnival start seeing these more and learning how to deal with them.

 

Oh, and if you have stock and get that OBC - it's just that much more difficult getting Carnival to understand that there are two separate items both requiring OBC.

[LHP]

A new drink to try. What is a mellon ball?

 

My cruise in May is my 10th, can't wait for the perks.

 

PJ

 

Oh melon balls are my FAVORITE....it is one of the free drinks at the Past Cruiser's Party (but not the Captain's Party).

 

If you like a sweet fruity drink...they are great!!!

[LHP]

We "bought" ours in Jan on Destiny. It's like a down payment on a yet-to-be-chosen cruise. We had a heck of a time using the darn thing. After we sent it in to the address on the back of the certificate (after we booked our upcoming cruise), we got $100 OBC. hmm.... Nothing towards a down payment or reduction of cost. Our TA called Carnival three times, spent a LOT of time on the phone with them, to get CARNIVAL to understand their own stupid certificate. Good thing we kept a photocopy of it that we could fax to her. She finally got them to understand the concept, and we had $100 applied taken off the price of our cruise. If our TA hadn't taken charge, I think I'd have gone ballistic.

 

So this is great in theory, just don't expect it to go smoothly unless folks at Carnival start seeing these more and learning how to deal with them.

 

Oh, and if you have stock and get that OBC - it's just that much more difficult getting Carnival to understand that there are two separate items both requiring OBC.

 

For some reason it is always hard for Carnival to get things "right at the beginning".

 

Our PVP told us to simply let him know when we mail one in and one which booking and he would handle it from there.....

 

of course, working for Carnival... I would imagine he has more "contact" than a TA. (just walk across the hall...so to speak)

 

Glad it worked out. We have no worries he will handle it. We have used him for YEARS. (and according to other PVPs...he is "legendary" ~ their words not his!)

[LHP]

We ran across this promo on the Valor out of Miami and bought two for future cruises. The ship had a Loyalty Ambassador who had a desk right across from the Latte/Coffee Shop, and they had a Loyalty Party where they served all the free drinks you wanted while they explained the program! :D:p:D

 

On the Glory we were ready to buy some more but when we asked about it at the Pursers Desk they looked at us like we spaketh in tongues; they told us there was nothing like that. Finally one guy came out of the back who heard us and said they were just starting the program and it wasn't on all the ships yet.

Ms B

 

Hey...are y'all getting ready for the Pride (you lucky people!!!)