Shut Out on the Free Cruise? How do you feel?

[Aeeo]

Is this post still about Carnival treatment of Past Guest?

 

I thank the Carnival Fascination Bar Staff for the full sized, alcohol loaded drinks at the Past Guest Party. No small samples here!

Ardi, Oscar, Mary Grace, Cholada, and Donald you are the best..... See you in April.

Diamond Here I Come!!!

Edited February 22, 2014 by Aeeo

[elliair]

Yes but where does a free cruise come into plat and diamond perks? People are mad they didn't get the free cruise

 

 

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If I could, I'd gladly hand my "not free" cruise over to anyone who wants it. Unfortunately Carnival doesn't allow that to happen. Next time we go on a Carnival cruise it will be because we want to people watch and go to the returning guest party, it's way better than Princess.

[ScottsSweetie]

Carnival does not care if you're Platinum. Carnival does not care about guest loyalty. If they are trying to reward their loyal guests, why would they remove benefits that they have earned, all the while claiming the changes are "brilliant," nothing will be removed, milestone would be grandfathered into Diamond and other similar statements? Your Platinum status, to them, is worth only $50.

 

I'd like to ask you a question, and I'm not trying to be rude - I am looking for a serious answer. According to your list of past cruises, you last cruised on Carnival in March of 2012, but you continue to post (negative) responses on the Carnival board. Why do you visit the Carnival board when you've had nothing to do with them for 2 years? :confused: I have sailed RCCL - I perused the RCCL boards during that time. Same with NCL. As I have no current cruises scheduled with either of those cruise lines, I usually don't pop over to those boards to disparage any aspect of a cruise I took with them years ago.

 

I'm truly curious why someone who has sworn off Carnival just can't seem to let it go? Kind of like saying you're over an ex, you don't like them anymore - but you want to make sure that everyone is aware of all their negative traits so no one else will like them, either.

[Disconnections]

I'd like to ask you a question, and I'm not trying to be rude - I am looking for a serious answer. According to your list of past cruises, you last cruised on Carnival in March of 2012, but you continue to post (negative) responses on the Carnival board. Why do you visit the Carnival board when you've had nothing to do with them for 2 years? :confused: I have sailed RCCL - I perused the RCCL boards during that time. Same with NCL. As I have no current cruises scheduled with either of those cruise lines, I usually don't pop over to those boards to disparage any aspect of a cruise I took with them years ago.

 

I'm truly curious why someone who has sworn off Carnival just can't seem to let it go? Kind of like saying you're over an ex, you don't like them anymore - but you want to make sure that everyone is aware of all their negative traits so no one else will like them, either.

 

Last time I checked, this is a public message board where registered users are able to join in on discussions. It shouldn't matter if I currently sail with them or not, anyone is allowed to join in. After fourteen cruises with Carnival in three years, I feel that I am pretty seasoned with Carnival Cruise Lines and that is enough of a reason, at the minimum, to be able to join in and respond to topics or start new topics, without planning a future Carnival cruise.

 

In addition, I am a shareholder with Carnival Corporation & Plc. and feel I should continue reading the Carnival boards to see how a company I invested in, is doing. I do look at the boards for other Carnival Corporation lines occasionally, as well.

 

Unfortunately, this is not like your significant other situation. Obviously that would be something involving a personal relationship. However, Carnival Cruise Lines is a business. If someone has a great dining experience, hotel stay, cruise, etc. they may not tell anyone, or just tell a few people. However, when someone has a bad experience, they tell more people and it spreads from word of mouth. Not only am I a member on Cruise Critic, but I also partake in Flyertalk (Starwood/Hilton/various airlines,) DISboards (Disney,) Yelp and Tripadvisor. It is important that these websites exist so that guests may share their experiences with certain companies or restaurants so that other people do not go in blindly.

 

Also, not all of my posts are negative. Sometimes, I respond to questions on the Carnival boards. Thanks for noticing my posts.

 

Edit: I also have not "sworn off" the cruise line. I am simply taking a very long break. I am not ready to return to Carnival at this time. However, if my next cruise is as bad as my Magic or Ecstasy sailings or anywhere close to my Miracle sailing, I may at that time decide to never return. Check my posts, I haven't said that, yet.

Edited February 22, 2014 by Disconnections

[ScottsSweetie]

Last time I checked, this is a public message board where registered users are able to join in on discussions. It shouldn't matter if I currently sail with them or not, anyone is allowed to join in. After fourteen cruises with Carnival in three years, I feel that I am pretty seasoned with Carnival Cruise Lines and that is enough of a reason, at the minimum, to be able to join in and respond to topics or start new topics, without planning a future Carnival cruise.

 

In addition, I am a shareholder with Carnival Corporation & Plc. and feel I should continue reading the Carnival boards to see how a company I invested in, is doing. I do look at the boards for other Carnival Corporation lines occasionally, as well.

 

Unfortunately, this is not like your significant other situation. Obviously that would be something involving a personal relationship. However, Carnival Cruise Lines is a business. If someone has a great dining experience, hotel stay, cruise, etc. they may not tell anyone, or just tell a few people. However, when someone has a bad experience, they tell more people and it spreads from word of mouth. Not only am I a member on Cruise Critic, but I also partake in Flyertalk (Starwood/Hilton/various airlines,) DISboards (Disney,) Yelp and Tripadvisor. It is important that these websites exist so that guests may share their experiences with certain companies or restaurants so that other people do not go in blindly.

 

Also, not all of my posts are negative. Sometimes, I respond to questions on the Carnival boards. Thanks for noticing my posts.

 

I also partake in Trip Advisor - but understand that someone may discount any information or review I have submitted if my experience is 2 years old.

 

I certainly wasn't insinuating that you weren't allowed, I was just curious as to why it would matter to you.

 

And, you answered my question - if I was an interested shareholder, I would also be keeping up with discussions about my investment. Thank you for sharing.

[myangel]

I think ANY cruise is better then NO cruise. End of discussion.

[tarmand]

I got the offer and booked a cruise for my family over Easter break. Do you think it has anything to do with the amount you charge on your sail and sign card during your cruise? We average about $1,000 between drinks, shopping, and camp carnival extras. That is the only thing I can think of since I have only cruised twice with Carnival.

 

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[gnocchi_mommy]

I got the offer and booked a cruise for my family over Easter break. Do you think it has anything to do with the amount you charge on your sail and sign card during your cruise? We average about $1,000 between drinks, shopping, and camp carnival extras. That is the only thing I can think of since I have only cruised twice with Carnival.

 

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We usually spend much more than this, we get the booze package and that alone rings it up.

 

I'm guessing we may have sailed TOO many times to get the offer, maybe they are trying to lure in the "sailed a few times, not totally committed to the brand yet" passengers.

[tarmand]

We usually spend much more than this, we get the booze package and that alone rings it up.

 

I'm guessing we may have sailed TOO many times to get the offer, maybe they are trying to lure in the "sailed a few times, not totally committed to the brand yet" passengers.

 

Wow, how do I learn about this booze package?

 

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[Rosethorn40]

I think ANY cruise is better then NO cruise. End of discussion.

 

I would say those on that drifted for 5-days on the Triumph last year, and the poor souls on the last sailing of the Costa Concordia would beg to differ.

[LCTXcruiser]

I was reading several threads about the free cruise offer a number of Carnival Cruisers, but not all, received. To be honest, I really didn't have much of an opinion (Good for Them!, Not Fair, Why not me? etc.) UNTIL I got an email from a good friend today. She got one of the offers and is now booked to go in June as soon as school lets out (She's a teacher). The funny thing is I was the one that introduced her to cruising in 2011. Her first cruise, my first time on Carnival. Since that date she has sailed twice with Carnival with her husband, and I have sailed 3 times with mine. Neither one of us spends any money in the casino, and I know my on-board bill is always much higher than hers.

 

Anyway, happy for her, but now that someone I know got the offer and I didn't I have to admit that I am just a little bit annoyed with Carnival. Doesn't mean I will never sail with them again-Guess I'm just not feeling the love.

 

 

I'm one of the "lucky ones". Its funny how things work - not much of a gambler either. Have taken over 10 cruises through Carnival, and didnt take one last year. This year we were trying to figure out what we were going to do (times are really tight), and we got this wonderful gift. All 3 of us are going on a 4 day trip in a premium balcony for 500.00 (tax included). Sometimes you get lucky - sometimes you don't. We just got lucky this time.

 

One thing to keep in mind... they couldn't offer everyone a free cruise at the same time. Maybe, just maybe, you're time is coming soon and we were just the first round. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

[CruzCrazy]

I'm one of the "lucky ones". Its funny how things work - not much of a gambler either. Have taken over 10 cruises through Carnival, and didnt take one last year. This year we were trying to figure out what we were going to do (times are really tight), and we got this wonderful gift. All 3 of us are going on a 4 day trip in a premium balcony for 500.00 (tax included). Sometimes you get lucky - sometimes you don't. We just got lucky this time.

 

One thing to keep in mind... they couldn't offer everyone a free cruise at the same time. Maybe, just maybe, you're time is coming soon and we were just the first round. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

 

Congrats! Enjoy.

[Rosethorn40]

I'm one of the "lucky ones". Its funny how things work - not much of a gambler either. Have taken over 10 cruises through Carnival, and didnt take one last year. This year we were trying to figure out what we were going to do (times are really tight), and we got this wonderful gift. All 3 of us are going on a 4 day trip in a premium balcony for 500.00 (tax included). Sometimes you get lucky - sometimes you don't. We just got lucky this time.

 

One thing to keep in mind... they couldn't offer everyone a free cruise at the same time. Maybe, just maybe, you're time is coming soon and we were just the first round. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

 

Thank you, that is very sweet of you. I hope you have a fabulous time on your cruise. :)

[Hummer Guy]

The IRS will tax prize winnings. They don't tax discounts given by a company. This wasn't a contest and nobody won a "free" cruise. Nobody "entered" themselves in this perceived contest. It was simply a 100% discount offered by Carnival on a category of available cabins. All other associated costs must still be paid by the consumer. The IRS doesn't tax your savings at the Mattress Warehouse when you buy the mattress and get the box spring for free. They don't tax your savings at Target either when you save a bundle at their 90% off sales. But, hey, anybody who is worried they will suddenly have a larger tax burden next year, consult your accountant.

 

Thank you - even though it was a week or two back, the suggestions that there may be tax implications to this offer were getting to be too much. This is just a large discount, it is not a giveway, prize, lottery, raffle, etc.

[Hummer Guy]

Okay, I'm trying to be objective about this...

 

I've been reading how some people don't understand why others can't understand that this free cabin offer is (or seems to be) random/luck of the draw....

 

From a marketing standpoint, wouldn't it make more sense to target the offers? In this day and age of technology, it shouldn't be too hard to predict from whom the offers would bring the biggest return on investment for the cruise line (for instance, those who used to cruise Carnival frequently but haven't in a while, those whose S&S bill was higher than average, on average, etc.--people who, if given a "free" cabin, would drop some bucks on the cruise and make it worth the investment by the cruise line).

 

You're being too guarded about this opinion - this is exactly what Carnival is doing. You run a promotion based on certain criteria, run the ROI figures, and run again based on what you learn. It may be random once but never after that. They figure out what works then do more of it. Carnival has smart people and a ton of data - there is no way they aren't measuring the outcomes based on past habits.

[lowroller]

I received the offer while cruising on NCL a few weeks ago. My Carnival history was on the Magic in June 2011. I have often gotten casino offers, most with free casino money, once in a while a free very limited "gambling" cruise, certain dates and ports. I booked yesterday on the Pride, upgraded to an aft balcony, total price for upgarde and port fees/taxes for two, $357.02 So I'm happy for the offer, as I would not be sailing in a few months. I was surprised that the offer wasn't from the casino side of Carnival.

Glenn

[ibcnusoon]

I received the offer while cruising on NCL a few weeks ago. My Carnival history was on the Magic in June 2011. I have often gotten casino offers, most with free casino money, once in a while a free very limited "gambling" cruise, certain dates and ports. I booked yesterday on the Pride, upgraded to an aft balcony, total price for upgarde and port fees/taxes for two, $357.02 So I'm happy for the offer, as I would not be sailing in a few months. I was surprised that the offer wasn't from the casino side of Carnival.

Glenn

 

Was there much left to choose from?

[ShanteS]

I received the offer while cruising on NCL a few weeks ago. My Carnival history was on the Magic in June 2011. I have often gotten casino offers, most with free casino money, once in a while a free very limited "gambling" cruise, certain dates and ports. I booked yesterday on the Pride, upgraded to an aft balcony, total price for upgarde and port fees/taxes for two, $357.02 So I'm happy for the offer, as I would not be sailing in a few months. I was surprised that the offer wasn't from the casino side of Carnival.

Glenn

 

Hey I'm sailing with my best friend (her first cruise) on the 6/15 sailing too. I also received the free cruise offer. Do you know if there's a roll call yet? I'm going to go check it out.

[nokidz]

I want a free cruise. Carnival, email me the offer.......:D

[ShanteS]

I want a free cruise. Carnival, email me the offer.......:D

 

Log on to Carnival.com and check under your VIFP offers. Good luck!