speculation on change to the vifp program past guest party

 

My first and better-not-be-the-last past guest party this spring break on the Elation was far from packed. .

It almost seems as though you are threatening someone. What do you mean better not be?

On the Valor for spring break a couple weeks ago and there were two past guest parties, also, one at 4:15 and one at 5:30. Our invitation told us which one we were to attend. The servers were standing in the aisles waiting for us and drinks were flowing. I would much rather have the salmon and cocktails served to me here than stand in line at the taste bar, myself. I mentioned to my husband that a server had beer, and he was pleasantly served 3 in a row. I think this was one of our most crowded cruises, but best organized past guest parties. We had a great time! Can't wait to hear what is next!

It has to get smaller! Too many repeat passengers to fit in one event. It would seem to be likely than it will go to different levels of days sailed with separate parties held at different times in smaller venues.

 

MARAPRINCE

I have finally re-reached gold...watch now, no party for gold. ;)

I missed ours last week on the Pride - there was no way we were leaving the Serenety area to get to a cocktail party at 4:15. Wjhat an odd time.

Maybe that was their plan.... Hoping fewer people will come. BUT sad that CCL would do such a thing. Just a thought.

I was on 10 Carnival cruises last year. Several, had more than one repeater party as there were so many qualified people on board. At EVERY one of these parties, while I was waiting in line, there were "additional" people, some bragging, that shouldn't have been there, as they were not Gold, Platinum or Diamond. A whole group of at least 10 people, were with a single gold person behind me. I saw, blue tags on most of them. I always see people walking out with additional drinks. One time, a couple were carrying 3 each.

With the large numbers of people, I can see, more restrictive policies being started.

I wish they would do a party for each level. The party on the Valor this past cruise was packed. Way too many people and not enough servers. They had to do 2 parties.

We turned gold on our cruise last week so went to the party. It was held in the theater. Drinks were flowing, no problem getting one or three. The appetizers were not great. I'm sure this big change won't be the great thing it's being hyped as. Hopefully it won't end up being a cutback.

On our dream repo cruise last April they did two parties. We went to the earlier one (per our invite) and it was not crowded at all. It was a huge improvement over the old past guest parties where every repeat cruiser attended. The drinks were full sized and you could get plenty. I am hoping for not big changes. I like it as is. I don't see it moving to just plats and diamonds unless they move it to another venue. We are platinum but our kids are not. I'd just assume they left that part the same.

With the beards so some quick bits of news

 

There will be more dancing of the ships news this week, the first of which will be tomorrow.

 

There will be some fun changes to the past guest party or VIFP party which I will be telling you about towards the end of the week.

 

that is a quote from John's facebook page. I wonder what's up????

I agree, I don't like being teased. Just tell me what it is when you can. Otherwise, speculation then only gets people irked when the announcement does not live up to everyone's hype. ;)

Our last one on the Conquest was packed to the point that by the time we got served one drink the party was over.

Oh ffs

The only change I'd like to see is them lowering the VOLUME !

The piped music was so loud the past 2 Cruises that I could smell the breath of the server as they were trying to tell me what the appetizer was... But I could'nt hear them... And I'm not hard of hearing.

Same goes for Lido and Promenade, but thats another thread.

The past guest parties are a hit or miss with me (meaning, I have attended some, but mostly don't)

There is nothing too special for me to attend. I have to be totally not busy enjoying other things to attend.

The only one that stands out was the last one last month as one of the officers (cannot remember which one), fell down the stairs when being introduced and cracked his head.

But, I do want to say, that it is funny how all of the gold members treat red card members on this forum (with their cracks about not deserving..."whatever"), yet when Platinum or diamond members say the same thing about gold card carriers, Gold Card members get upset.

Too funny.

But...that is just me.

Andy

They had two return guest parties?

Yes lounge wasnt big enough for their to be only one and not enough drink servers.

The past guest parties are a hit or miss with me (meaning, I have attended some, but mostly don't)

There is nothing too special for me to attend. I have to be totally not busy enjoying other things to attend.

The only one that stands out was the last one last month as one of the officers (cannot remember which one), fell down the stairs when being introduced and cracked his head.

 

But, I do want to say, that it is funny how all of the gold members treat red card members on this forum (with their cracks about not deserving..."whatever"), yet when Platinum or diamond members say the same thing about gold card carriers, Gold Card members get upset.

Too funny.

But...that is just me.

Andy

I'm still Gold and I don't crack on the Red members. So it's not all of us! :P

Who knows what is coming, although if they eliminate Gold from the party, I'll be disappointed. Right now, that's about the only difference between Red and Gold. And even after the Pride, I'm still going to be 25 days from Platinum......

I was on 10 Carnival cruises last year. Several, had more than one repeater party as there were so many qualified people on board. At EVERY one of these parties, while I was waiting in line, there were "additional" people, some bragging, that shouldn't have been there, as they were not Gold, Platinum or Diamond. A whole group of at least 10 people, were with a single gold person behind me. I saw, blue tags on most of them. I always see people walking out with additional drinks. One time, a couple were carrying 3 each.

 

With the large numbers of people, I can see, more restrictive policies being started.

I hear they are going to tattoo your VIPF/FTTF status on each cruiser's forehead so there is no question about who should be there as well as who should be using the various lines, who is actually allowed to be chair hogs, to clearly define who should be first on the tenders and the lifeboats, and to save the voices of those who preface every comment with "I'm Platinum" before they expound on what should be given to them for paying for something that is in and of itself worth the money they paid for it. This will mark the first step in the return of the cruise industry to the caste system by defining which decks are reserved for which classes of passengers and who can use which restrooms, bars, pools, dining rooms, and hot tubs. The tattoo will also define who has to row when the Captain wants to water ski and who is exempt from that privilege. Let the games begin and "May the odds be ever in your favor."

I hear they are going to tattoo your VIPF/FTTF status on each cruiser's forehead so there is no question about who should be there as well as who should be using the various lines, who is actually allowed to be chair hogs, to clearly define who should be first on the tenders and the lifeboats, and to save the voices of those who preface every comment with "I'm Platinum" before they expound on what should be given to them for paying for something that is in and of itself worth the money they paid for it. This will mark the first step in the return of the cruise industry to the caste system by defining which decks are reserved for which classes of passengers and who can use which restrooms, bars, pools, dining rooms, and hot tubs. The tattoo will also define who has to row when the Captain wants to water ski and who is exempt from that privilege. Let the games begin and "May the odds be ever in your favor."

Well said.....

I wouldn't mind if they separated the colors at the past guest party. They are usually packed to capacity and it takes awhile before I can get my first drink. Towards the end of the party, it's easier to get drinks as everyone already has one.

I would hate to see gold lose out on the party even though we will be platinum on our next cruise, so we wouldn't lose anything. I do agree, though, that taking this away from gold would make the gold status pretty pointless. If they take this away, they'd better replace it with something just as useful--maybe a drink coupon good any time.

As for the time--I don't have a problem with it. It can't really get much later. As it is, it pretty much is right before dinner time. After dinner, it would interfere with the evening entertainment in both the main lounge or the comedy club--so when do people think it should be held, and where since those two locations would be out in the evening. Besides, it's a cruise...a lot of people don't care what time they drink. And late afternoon (4:30ish) isn't an unreasonable time for this sort of thing IMO.

On our Conquest cruise last month (Spring Break) the party was held in the theater, and it was beyond crowded. When we arrived, they weren't letting anyone enter on the main deck of the theater (Deck 3?) and were motioning us toward the stairwell so we could enter via deck 4/5. Up on those decks, no one was checking invitations, so I suspect that there were some party crashers. The entire balcony area of the theater was full. There were servers up there with drinks and food, but they kept running out by the time they reached our seating area.

It was chaos! Not fun at all.

(On a positive note though, the drinks they were serving were in full-sized glasses.)

CeleBrat

I hear they are going to tattoo your VIPF/FTTF status on each cruiser's forehead so there is no question about who should be there as well as who should be using the various lines, who is actually allowed to be chair hogs, to clearly define who should be first on the tenders and the lifeboats, and to save the voices of those who preface every comment with "I'm Platinum" before they expound on what should be given to them for paying for something that is in and of itself worth the money they paid for it. This will mark the first step in the return of the cruise industry to the caste system by defining which decks are reserved for which classes of passengers and who can use which restrooms, bars, pools, dining rooms, and hot tubs. The tattoo will also define who has to row when the Captain wants to water ski and who is exempt from that privilege. Let the games begin and "May the odds be ever in your favor."

:confused: but if they tatoo you red, gold etc, and then you finally get to platinum...how do they fix that?:confused: and even if you get three or four tatoos, how do they then know which tatoo is the right one?:D Ok...Im kidding, as I know you are...., but the caste system you refer to does already exist, and moreso on some other cruise lines. Just saying.:)

LOL....wait for it.

 

I've only been following JH a couple of years and already over his dangling bits and over hyped announcements. He seems like a nice guy. I just think he should chill with the pre-announcements and just say what he has to say when it's ready to be said. ;)

Amen...:)

Amen...:)

But then we would have nothing to speculate about here for weeks and weeks:D

It almost seems as though you are threatening someone. What do you mean better not be?

Um, I wasn't really being serious and I certainly wasn't threatening anyone. :rolleyes: I would be disappointed if gold members were shut out of the party, as I probably won't have enough nights to be platinum for about ten more years, but I honestly don't think that's the fun news. It may be a separation of the colors into two different parties. I can't imagine that would be for all sailings though, because my last cruise had very few platinum (and exactly one diamond).

I've got 26 Carnival cruises under my belt and went to my first past guest party 2 Carnival cruises ago. I only went that time because it was just down the promenade from the casino where I was gambling and I got hungry. I thought I'd just stop in to grab a snack. I walked in and there were no seats to be had, and it was so busy I could not get waited on period. So I just walked out. That is my one and only experience with a past guest party. It wouldn't matter to me if they stopped the past guest party. I can think of other perks I'd favor.

When will we find out about the changes?