Why Would anybody have Loyalty to CCL?

[taki183]

They have none to YOU

[Bert64]

I think a majority of cruisers (not the cruisers on CC) are loyal to the almighty dollar...meaning Carnival will continue to care less about brand loyalty and more about luring in new passengers, as well as those currently dissatisfied with the changes their preferred cruise line is making.

[bruadhin]

That was pretty much my thought. My wife saw it on Facebook this morning.

 

Quite frankly, I feel that NCL is much more interested in getting me on their ship. They have good deals, similar itenaries, often kids sail free AND you can get free drink or dining packages during promotions.

 

I won't say that I will never sail Carnival again, but baring changes my next cruise won't be on Carnival.

[Rottweiler Puppy]

They have none to YOU

Brand fanaticism. Same for any brand for the most part.

 

I am not loyal to any brand.

[Rottweiler Puppy]

That was pretty much my thought. My wife saw it on Facebook this morning.

 

Quite frankly, I feel that NCL is much more interested in getting me on their ship. They have good deals, similar itenaries, often kids sail free AND you can get free drink or dining packages during promotions.

 

I won't say that I will never sail Carnival again, but baring changes my next cruise won't be on Carnival.

 

I sailed them and they were in the same price range and I found the experience to be great. It would have been worth 2-300 more easily.

 

Still, I sail whoever goes to where I want to go when I want to go. That happens to be Carnival in November.

[ohiogymrat]

That was pretty much my thought. My wife saw it on Facebook this morning.

 

Quite frankly, I feel that NCL is much more interested in getting me on their ship. They have good deals, similar itenaries, often kids sail free AND you can get free drink or dining packages during promotions.

 

I won't say that I will never sail Carnival again, but baring changes my next cruise won't be on Carnival.

 

The funny thing about that is the NCL board is on fire about the almost weekly changes to the product and talking about jumping ship.The product that you bought might differ from the product you get when you board.

 

I show loyalty to friends, family members and loved ones..

Edited May 6, 2015 by ohiogymrat

[klfrodo]

Loyalty in and of itself is from a bygone era.

 

Employers have no loyalty to their employees and vis versa

Customers no longer have brand loyalty as proven by consumers purchasing choices.

Therefore I don't believe it's fair to blame a corporation for changing their loyalty program. After 11 cruise on Carnival, my last cruise was on a rival brand. Where was my loyalty?

[bruadhin]

The funny thing about that is the NCL board is on fire about the almost weekly changes to the product and talking about jumping ship.

 

I show loyalty to friends, family members and loved ones..

 

Who knows. I may like it more, I may like it less. All I know is they are working to get people on board. When the time comes, I'll decide where to go based on the cruise offered, the amenities and the rate.

 

All I know, is if a change to your loyalty program has people thinking of trying your competitor, it wasn't a good change.

[Lurkyloo]

I will continue to cruise Carnival if they are going where I want to go and have the better price. I have cruised Royal and Princess as well and while I loved the ships, I have to say, Carnival cruises have been my favorite so far. To each their own, and I will probably cruise other lines depending on price and destination, but I like Carnival.

 

Getting bumped from a crowded party that I didn't really enjoy anyway does not upset me and with so many more people are cruising now than they did in the past, I get that they have to make the incentives more limited and meaningful to the select few that cruise them constantly. I will still have a great cruise, and that is the bottom line for me... I cruise Carnival because I always have a great time - not for the incentives.

[ScottsSweetie]

I really don't get the loyalty thing. I don't feel the need to be loyal to a business - and that is what makes the world go 'round!

 

If you are an entrepreneur starting your own company, you have to count on people not being loyal, otherwise you will never get any business.

 

I can count maybe 2 products in my household that I am "brand" loyal to - otherwise, make me an offer and I might buy your product. Cruise lines are included in this.

 

I'm not loyal to one grocery store or one department store. I shop for convenience, selection and budget. Cruise lines are included in this, also.

[gtalum]

Loyalty to a corporation is stupid. Every cruise (like every other purchase) should be selected after a total cost/benefit analysis.

[ohiogymrat]

Who knows. I may like it more, I may like it less. All I know is they are working to get people on board. When the time comes, I'll decide where to go based on the cruise offered, the amenities and the rate.

 

All I know, is if a change to your loyalty program has people thinking of trying your competitor, it wasn't a good change.

 

 

 

I'm no longer a shareholder, so I welcome people to try every line they can. Never a reason to lock yourself in to one cruiseline.

They are all making tons of profit, so I wouldn't worry to much about any of them.

 

Hope you have a fabulous cruise.

[Lurkyloo]

I really don't get the loyalty thing. I don't feel the need to be loyal to a business - and that is what makes the world go 'round!

 

If you are an entrepreneur starting your own company, you have to count on people not being loyal, otherwise you will never get any business.

 

I can count maybe 2 products in my household that I am "brand" loyal to - otherwise, make me an offer and I might buy your product. Cruise lines are included in this.

 

I'm not loyal to one grocery store or one department store. I shop for convenience, selection and budget. Cruise lines are included in this, also.

 

Exactly! :)

[sparks1093]

They have none to YOU

 

I am loyal to my wallet and whichever cruise line can give me the best deal when I book gets my business. If I get any loyalty perks as a result it's icing on the cake.

[Retired_to_Cruise]

One would think that some of the posters here have the Gold level at Carnival as their only experience with a loyalty program. Every airline, other cruise line, etc. that have loyalty programs have sometime or other (many multiple times) made changes to their loyalty programs that have excluded "less" frequent users or reduced the benefits for all levels of users or raised the thresholds for all levels of users. This is nothing new in the loyalty world. To claim that you deserve loyalty perks because you have spent a bunch of money is interesting. You continue to cruise with Carnival because you like what they provide and believe that you are getting your money's worth. If that is not true, then you people are not as smart as you think you are. Threatening to leave because of a change in loyalty perks sounds really childish. I would bet large amounts of money almost all of these people will stay right where they are. If you do leave and you can prove that you said you were going to leave and did, I will buy you a $9.00 drink on the last day on every future cruise on the other cruise lines.

 

It is also interesting that some of these same people were, at one time, complaining that the MDR drink coupon should be allowed for any bar. Now they have that and are complaining that it is not enough.

 

How would you like it if the cruise lines told you that if you did not cruise in a calendar year you would lose all of the cruising days you currently had accumulated like most of the airlines do with accumulated miles?

[misstiffany]

Coming from someone who is 30 years old, is a long-time Florida resident, and has never taken the amount of airfare/travel into consideration when choosing a cruise (because I don't need it), I usually end up going with Carnival for price alone. I usually book last minute, like to be able to take a 4 or 5 day trip over holiday weekends, and Carnival usually has what I'm looking for. No "loyalty" and I don't think that Carnival cares one bit :D

 

 

I get all the mailers about NCL's drink packages, which I think would be fun to try...but often the price difference between an NCL interior (no drink package) versus an oceanview or higher (which qualified for the free drink package) is huge. There's obviously deals during hurricane season or dead of winter but that's not when I cruise.

[eponym]

Loyalty to a corporation is stupid. Every cruise (like every other purchase) should be selected after a total cost/benefit analysis.

 

True.

 

But when you book and pay in full for something in advance, and then the benefits are in fact changed before delivery date, it should be viewed by consumers to be deceptive. Changing benefits after payment in full changes the cost/benefit analysis.

 

Some people love the social aspects of being invited to and attending a party, a recognition party, regardless of the quality or amount of food and beverage for the hour.

[eponym]

One would think that some of the posters here have the Gold level at Carnival as their only experience with a loyalty program. Every airline, other cruise line, etc. that have loyalty programs have sometime or other (many multiple times) made changes to their loyalty programs that have excluded "less" frequent users or reduced the benefits for all levels of users or raised the thresholds for all levels of users.

 

Yes, we have been screwed by almost every major airline over the years with tweaks they made to their loyalty/frequent flier programs. I think many people have experienced that, but most held out the hope that the 800 pound gorilla would not start mirroring that present day. Most of those airline loyalty programs have long settled in from dramatic and sweeping changes previously , including many credit cards. Some of the points I read too are that carnival is doing things hit, miss, back and forth, and pesky like a middle schooler navigating their first real life decisions.

[Gardeneroflove]

I think a majority of cruisers (not the cruisers on CC) are loyal to the almighty dollar...meaning Carnival will continue to care less about brand loyalty and more about luring in new passengers, as well as those currently dissatisfied with the changes their preferred cruise line is making.

 

so? I don't cruise for a past guest party. I cruise whoever is sailing out of new orleans who isn't royal or ncl. lol.

 

We cruise based on our budget. I'd rather Disney, I'm not loyal to a cruise line, i'm loyal to cruising, and the port of new orleans (no flight, only driving to gal, Tx for Disney).

 

IMO, though i haven't cruised carnival in a few year or with dd yet, they still have pluses I'm looking forward to-pillow mints, bath robes, chocolate melting cake, lobster bisque (rccl had no lobster in their lobster bisque).

 

As long as I'm not doing the cooking, cleaning, laundry, i'm good. I'll still enjoy my coffee and ice cream on the balcony.

 

I'll focus on relaxing and making memories with my family.

[DaytonCruiser]

 

Some people love the social aspects of being invited to and attending a party, a recognition party, regardless of the quality or amount of food and beverage for the hour.

It would be interesting to see if they had a gold only party sans food and drink. How many would actually show up to be recognized.

Edited May 6, 2015 by DaytonCruiser

[Bellicheck Brain Trust]

They have none to YOU

 

Actually as a platinum cruiser they have a ton of loyalty to me.... I get VIP boarding, free laundry, special gifts, a VIP party, free drink, etc. Not to mention the free cruises the casino has given me, discounted rates, free upgrades, etc. So when you earn your spot they will prove their loyalty

[crewsweeper]

Well DW is a loyal CCL cruiser. Every year I try to talk her into looking at other cruise lines other itineraries. She won't budge. Price point, Cloud 9 Spa, she's Platinum, yada yada.

[Confuzzled]

Why would a person have loyalty to ANY corporate entity? I don't understand the concept.

 

I book with the cruise line that offers the itinerary, dates, and price I want. Loyalty is not a factor in my decision and I certainly don't expect any loyalty from any cruise line.

 

Why invest emotional energy into an impersonal business relationship?

[amyh13]

I really don't get the loyalty thing. I don't feel the need to be loyal to a business - and that is what makes the world go 'round!

 

If you are an entrepreneur starting your own company, you have to count on people not being loyal, otherwise you will never get any business.

 

I can count maybe 2 products in my household that I am "brand" loyal to - otherwise, make me an offer and I might buy your product. Cruise lines are included in this.

 

I'm not loyal to one grocery store or one department store. I shop for convenience, selection and budget. Cruise lines are included in this, also.

 

I agree. Looking at cruises for next year for a family of 4 over spring break. The next cheapest alternative to Carnival is $1100 more. Same itinerary. It would be in a suite so it comes with a slightly better room and suite perks. Is that worth $1100?? And the one next to that is $1000 more with no suite. And we would be gold on our next Carnival Cruise. If they can not include me in a past guest party and save me $1100 so be it.

 

I still haven't decided but other cruise lines have different loyalty programs be cause YOU are paying for it, not because they love you!!! One free drink at brunch and a past guest party does not equal $1000 to me.

[eponym]

Why would a person have loyalty to ANY corporate entity? I don't understand the concept.

 

I book with the cruise line that offers the itinerary, dates, and price I want. Loyalty is not a factor in my decision and I certainly don't expect any loyalty from any cruise line.

 

Why invest emotional energy into an impersonal business relationship?

 

I don't think its much emotion, except for those who appreciated being invited to and attending a repeat customer recognition party.

 

As someone else on this board indicated, most consumers do a cost/benefit analysis of their intended purchases. If the benefits go down after you make your purchase, that might just get a little emotional.

 

Consumer loyalty is driven by so many factors. Benefits in terms of cost, value perception, and perks are almost always key elements.