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Loyalty Program Changed

the nurse

By the nurse,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

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firemanbobswife

firemanbobswife

Posted
Posted
Wait,wait, wait. Trying to get my normal thinking head around this again. Meet capt party changed because too many people were at it. Farewell party cancelled because too few people were at it? More problems for my normal thinking mind. lol

 

 

And the latest and greatest - drink coupon discontinued for only Red and Gold VIFP because it was too restrictive for where and when it could be used. So instead of lifting the cumbersome restriction, they did away with the benefit completely for some while leaving the restriction in place for those that still get the coupon.

 

Oh, and everyone gets water.

 

Makes absolutely no dang sense to me! I think I'm going to have a stroke trying to understand that one.

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ASchaff

ASchaff

Posted
Posted
So Carnival does not care about returning customers because they are no longer offering a free drink. Really?? :confused:

According to a few posters they did a survey of some sort to get feedback to lead to them making this decision.

As for finding better prices elsewhere, that does not happen often. Not impossible, but not likely. For all of our cruises(6 past, 2 future, 1 not with Carnival) Carnival was always the cheapest. Always.:)

 

Them taking away several of the return cruise incentives shows a lot to me. They don't care that they may lose cruisers to other lines who offer better loyalty bonuses. Does it really hurt them to offer the drink? Personally I have never used it, it is the action that speaks to me.

 

I have sailed with RC in the past because it was cheaper for a balcony on RC than it was for an interior on Carnival. Right now I can get a 7 night with RC cheaper than I can get a Carnival cruise that is equivalent. Carnival has gotten bad about extra/hidden fees. Like having to pay extra to get a regular interior cabin rather than an upper lower etc. RC doesn't do that, the price you see listed is the price. Like I mentioned above, they also offer discounts for their first responders, which Carnival doesn't do. That's what makes it cheaper for us, which everyone is not entitled to, so for the average person, they probably aren't cheaper often.

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BBfan316

BBfan316

Posted
Posted

Some people just don't get it. Who are we to decide what is important to other people? What is important to some is unimportant to others, and vice versa. This is a place where people should be able to voice their own opinions without anyone hiding behind a screen name calling people names and deciding what is good for others. Childcare!

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jimbo5544 "Live from...." Rare

jimbo5544

Posted
Posted
I like the idea of just crediting a free drink to each gold and above guest. That would have been a nice treat! My wife and i have gotten the coupons on five cruises and we never once used them. I didn't want to fight the brunch crowds and we were always busy with other activities. Didn't bother us that we had a coupon that we didn't use and it doesn't bother us that the coupons are gone now. Actually, having a couple of liters of water in the cabin just might the break that my liver needs on a cruise! It amazes and confuses me how people seem to cruise for the perks and not for the adventure and leisure of cruising. I read a couple of threads a few weeks ago about people complaining that there was no free toothpaste or other SAMPLE crap in their cabin bathroom. All this talk and complaints about cutbacks and "woe is me, I'm such and such color and I don't get this or that .. . " just makes me shake my head and fix another rum and coke.

I was somewhat hesitant to post, but decided for it as I thought removing a drink is no reason to either leave or stay, but to each their own.

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gfountain1

gfountain1

Posted
Posted (edited)
So you would rather they significantly increase fares just for a free drink and Captains reception? I like the fact that I am still paying close to what I paid for a cruise in 2005...sometimes even less.

 

Have you seen a drop in cruise prices in absence of the reception? I certainly haven't. This is about short gains and appealing to share holders.

Edited by gfountain1
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dabear99211

dabear99211

Posted
Posted
I also will book my future cruises on RC and Princess instead of Carnival...I want to be respected, the loyalty program to me is a way of Carnival showing us that they value my business....yes, taking away a drink coupon and replacing it with a silly bottle of water that I can get water anywhere for free is nonsense! I rather have Carnival take away the program if it is too costly for them and just give us all the same color cards.

Yes, I will book RC and Princess for future, unless I get casino or premier casino offers...have to admit Carnival does treat its "casino" people well and makes us feel good about it.

 

for all you people that would quit cruising with Carnival over a free drink, I say good bye, Carnival doesn't need your kind anyway. The free drink should have never been given to blue, red or gold.

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ASchaff

ASchaff

Posted
Posted
From a business point of view it was much better to let you use the coupons at any bar, because the chance that you are buying a second one is much bigger than when you are having brunch in the mdr.

 

This is a good point as well. If I have a coupon for a drink, I may use it while I am lounging out and about, and decide I like the drink, and order another the next time a bar service walks by. I haven't used mine in the past, because I prefer to skip dining room service for anything other than dinner. My last cruise, I did not purchase a single drink. There was little to no bar servers wandering other than the first day, and I never actually felt like going up to a bar. It's one of those things where, if you come to me, I might decide I want one, where as if you don't, out of sight out of mind.

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gfountain1

gfountain1

Posted
Posted

People like you? I booked my upcoming cruise with carnival with the anticipation that my benefits would be there for me upon embarkation. Now that I'm not receiving what I was told, I believe it's understandable to have a problem with that.

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topofE

topofE

Posted
Posted
for all you people that would quit cruising with Carnival over a free drink, I say good bye, Carnival doesn't need your kind anyway. The free drink should have never been given to blue, red or gold.

 

Wow. It must be difficult to look down on us mere gold members from up there on top of that tower! :).

 

And I am surprised by the sheer number of people who are so quick to jump on a train here. The poster said it was ONE of the reasons causing them to look to other cruise lines. Absolutely no one has said they are leaving because they didn't get a $7 drink...

 

 

(For the record I never use the coupon either. I don't need to wait for an hour for a drink in the mdr at lunch on some sea day. You're better off spending those $8 on 4 beers in port)

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ASchaff

ASchaff

Posted
Posted
Wow. It must be difficult to look down on us mere gold members from up there on top of that tower! :).

 

And I am surprised by the sheer number of people who are so quick to jump on a train here. The poster said it was ONE of the reasons causing them to look to other cruise lines. Absolutely no one has said they are leaving because they didn't get a $7 drink...

 

 

(For the record I never use the coupon either. I don't need to wait for an hour for a drink in the mdr at lunch on some sea day. You're better off spending those $8 on 4 beers in port)

 

Well said. I couldn't think of a non-rude way to say it. lol

 

 

If I can get the same cruise, with a different line, for a little less, why wouldn't I? We have, for the most part, been loyal to CCL, and have enjoyed working up our days, and looking forward to the "perks" and feeling appreciated. It isn't about the drink, I personally end up buying those bottles of water on the ship(so I like that they are giving one free), I just don't like feeling unappreciated(taking things away-whether used or not), when I already feel that way. When RCCL offers discounts for first responders, they make us feel appreciated, which everyone likes. Carnival doesn't offer that, so all we have for loyalty through the years is the little gestures, that actually mean a lot.

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spleenstomper

spleenstomper

Posted
Posted
15k on your cabin, or others as well?

 

The fantasy was 5 in a grand suite. One room paid, IIRC something like 4k

 

The 7 night mexico i also believe was 5 in a suite. One room, 5 people 7 day cruise: about 5k IIRC

 

The 7 night florida an Bahamas was DH and I in a balcony so say what 3k.

Kids in room across hall, so i guess that one doesnt count.

 

In process of booking a 5 day elation, so dh and i will be in a suite: 2k

Kids in room across hall: doesnt count.

 

So, yes, for rooms i have been in, i will be at a total of around 14k and for that i get red level.

 

Im guessing at amounts, seriously not going to dig out paperwork... 3 suites (5 people, 5 people, 2 people) and 1 balcony.

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Freckles_51

Freckles_51

Posted
Posted

(For the record I never use the coupon either. I don't need to wait for an hour for a drink in the mdr at lunch on some sea day.

 

I used my drink coupon but did not eat brunch and did not wait an hour for it. I just walked up to the dining room entrance and asked for my drink to go. It did not take any longer than going to any other bar.

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