Platinums - Regret Having Future Bookings With CCL?

[MT_Sea_Cruisers]

We are almost to the  Platinum level. When I look at the benefits of reaching that level, never once have I been focused on the "free Carnival Logo gift".  There are still many perks that those purchasing FFTF do not receive (complimentary wash and dry service, Casino buy-one-get-one free tournament entry, etc).   And, don't Platinum and Diamond guests board before FFTF? 

We love to cruise and choose Carnival for the value.  Reaching the Platinum level will be a bonus for the few little extras we will receive to make our vacation just a bit more enjoyable, but certainly not the sole reason for choosing Carnival for our cruise line.  

[Lottacruises]

41 minutes ago, azrayne said:

I honestly thought when I went platinum I would cruise Carnival more often, but since going okay in 2015, I find that I'm cruising RCCL more.   Their prices have been better than on Carnival lately.   

Being platinum is not a big deal any longer.   Lots of us there.

 

 

Same with me but diamond. I've enjoyed my cruises but find myself enjoying them less.

[Lottacruises]

53 minutes ago, cruizergal70 said:

Who are Carnival's newest cruisers? What do you mean?

 

you and I don't have a lot in common either

[Joebucks]

For my hotels, at the moment I am not considering anything else besides Hilton because of my loyalty status. The free breakfast, occasional room upgrade, bonus points, and a few other things, it is the best for me.

 

With that said, most cruise loyalty programs are not that compelling. Even the ones that do, you are spending a ton of extra money to get something for "free". I find the OPs list of complaints to be peculiar. I'm not sure how FTTF is diluting P/D other than a mental piece of being mad at them for being able to buy getting on and off the ship at quicker. I think the free gift piece needs to also go away. The whole program needs some retooling.

[cruizergal70]

1 hour ago, Lottacruises said:

 

you and I don't have a lot in common either

Why would we? We're internet strangers. Just odd that you expect to have things in common with random strangers on a cruise. You seem to be differentiating between new and old cruisers when they all have been random strangers. 

[vicky3vicky]

13 hours ago, Lottacruises said:

I have several booked with carnival but currently booking with others. I'm finding less and less in common with carnival's newest cruisers.

 

I hear variations on that comment. I am not exactly sure what it means. I am hoping that it does not mean either people of lower income or "people of color." I know that there are more 'people of color" and also, more people are now able to afford to go on a cruise who wouldn't have been able to in the past, since, adjusted for inflation, cruises cost less than they used to. I am hoping that the 'newest cruisers" that you are referring to do not fit into either of those groups. That wouldbe very sad.

[jjjhill]

31 minutes ago, vicky3vicky said:

 

I hear variations on that comment. I am not exactly sure what it means. I am hoping that it does not mean either people of lower income or "people of color." I know that there are more 'people of color" and also, more people are now able to afford to go on a cruise who wouldn't have been able to in the past, since, adjusted for inflation, cruises cost less than they used to. I am hoping that the 'newest cruisers" that you are referring to do not fit into either of those groups. That wouldbe very sad.

Could be race and/or age. Looking forward to @Lottacruises clarification on this statement. 

[Crazy4Cruisin225]

I am Platinum on Carnival. Became Platinum by doing 10 cruises in 6 years. . Since then I have only gone on 3 or so. Has nothing to do with FTTF or the Platinum gift. I just realized I wasn’t enjoying myself as much as I used too. And like someone else posted, the newer cruisers. It’s not a race thing as one poster may have suggested. I don’t care who goes on a cruise. It’s not an age thing...I’ll chat with anyone. It’s just that on my last 3 Carnival cruises there have been too many instances of rudeness by fellow passengers of all ethnicities and ages. It’s almost as if all social skills disappeared as soon as they embarked. It was like being in line at Walmart on Black Friday with the pushing, shoving, & cutting in line. I would chalk it up to a bad cruise, but 3 in a row?  Haven’t had that problem yet on other cruise lines which is why Carnival is not my first choice anymore. 

[bburk00]

We had 5 Carnival cruises booked after our last one in July 2019. After that cruise I cancelled all of them and rebooked with Royal.  On our July 2019 Sunrise cruise I was attacked in the hallway by a large group of mid to late teenagers after I asked them to stop running through our hallway at 2am in the morning banging on doors. My youngest son who is 10 was attacked in the arcade and his arcade tickets stolen. We contacted John Heald while we were on the cruise, we called security every night due to the aforementioned teenagers running up and down the halls between 11pm and 2am. We even contacted corporate. Absolutely nothing was done. On the second to the last night of our 8 night sailing, one of the security guards point blank asked us what he was supposed to do about it. We even asked if the captain could enforce an 11pm curfew for 18 and under but nothing. We literally got less than 4 hours of sleep every single night of the 8 day cruise. We have since booked one cruise on Carnival just for my wife and I, we've had such wonderful experiences up until that point with Carnival.

 

There were multiple huge fights, one in the casino where a lady got her top ripped off and was completely exposed. One was right in front of us during lunch on the Lido. We were basically scared to come out of our room because we were targeted multiple times.

Edited September 23, 2019 by bburk00

[rebelcruiser]

16 hours ago, JKrise said:

Given the current quality of the platinum loyalty gift,  and/or coupled with the company selling your loyalty perks via FTTF, thus diluting your value to CCL, do you regret having a future cruise booked with CCL?

Will you book a future cruise with CCL or move on to another line?

Honestly, these two factors have left DW and I feeling under appreciated as a long term loyal returning customer.

Guessing that the cost of new customer acquisition has dropped so significantly CCL is willing to wave good bye to a loyal customer base.

Those are our thoughts.

Just curious to hear from others.

 

I don't cruise for a gift.........

[manmachine]

8 minutes ago, bburk00 said:

We had 5 Carnival cruises booked after our last one in July 2019. After that cruise I cancelled all of them and rebooked with Royal.  On our July 2019 Sunrise cruise I was attacked in the hallway by a large group of mid to late teenagers after I asked them to stop running through our hallway at 2am in the morning banging on doors. My youngest son who is 10 was attacked in the arcade and his arcade tickets stolen. We contacted John Heald while we were on the cruise, we called security every night due to the aforementioned teenagers running up and down the halls between 11pm and 2am. We even contacted corporate. Absolutely nothing was done. On the second to the last night of our 8 night sailing, one of the security guards point blank asked us what he was supposed to do about it. We even asked if the captain could enforce an 11pm curfew for 18 and under but nothing. We literally got less than 4 hours of sleep every single night of the 8 day cruise. We have since booked one cruise on Carnival just for my wife and I, we've had such wonderful experiences up until that point with Carnival.

 

There were multiple huge fights, one in the casino where a lady got her top ripped off and was completely exposed. One was right in front of us during lunch on the Lido. We were basically scared to come out of our room because we were targeted multiple times.

The new demographic...

[buddylover]

1 hour ago, vicky3vicky said:

 

I hear variations on that comment. I am not exactly sure what it means. I am hoping that it does not mean either people of lower income or "people of color." I know that there are more 'people of color" and also, more people are now able to afford to go on a cruise who wouldn't have been able to in the past, since, adjusted for inflation, cruises cost less than they used to. I am hoping that the 'newest cruisers" that you are referring to do not fit into either of those groups. That wouldbe very sad.

I totally disagree with your sentiment that "Cruises cost less than they used to" (inflation or not)......cruises have doubled since we started cruising....they cost MORE today than ever.  Sure CCL may cost less than Princess or Celebrity, but they still cost MORE today than they used to for sure.  We cruised for years in a balcony cabin for 2 or 7 days way under $100/day.....many around $60-$75/day...which is under $700 per person in a balcony cabin for a week.....find me that pricing today???  We are paying $1100 + per person today on CCL (and that is cheap today) now.....almost double per person!!!  We are platinum and we do have a cruise booked for 2021, but have been cruising other lines who have different itineraries and fleets for almost the same price as CCL!  The Platinum perks don't mean a thing to us (with the exception of laundry if we cruise longer than a week).

[cruizergal70]

16 minutes ago, manmachine said:

The new demographic...

Which is? Your demographic doesn't sound too pleasant right now.

Edited September 23, 2019 by cruizergal70

[katiel53]

I don't care if someone buys FTTF as doing so keeps the prices lower overall.  II don't cruise for the gift that we get as Platinum with just a couple more cruises until Diamond.

 

My concern is the newer passengers and their behavior overall rather than the above.  I think now that the prices are in the range of "everyone can afford to cruise" there are some who have no idea how to act in public.  Getting drunk as quickly as possible, yelling in the hallways at night, treating staff as sub-human etc. seems to be happening more often.

 

We have been cruising other lines as I guess perhaps due to the number of years we have cruised, but I no longer have the patience to  put up with the above.  My concern though is that we may have to keep changing lines as it appears there are more and more Carnival cruisers switching lines, to Royal Caribbean, as an example because their alcohol package is unlimited as opposed to 15 drinks daily.  

 

There have been many posts from former Carnival cruisers stating this is why they have changed and can't wait to get onboard and get a drink and get their monies worth.  There are also complaints from Carnival cruisers on Royal Caribbean that there isn't enough partying and fun, so perhaps those cruisers will resume cruising Carnival.  

 

Fortunately there are many cruise lines and ships that we are able to pick and choose what's best for each of us.

[ABQrobin]

This conversation... so sad.

No, I don't need to be paid off to return to Carnival cruises.  I don't need to get paid off to stay with my husband either.  

 

Fights onboard ship?  Never seen one in 11 cruises.  Just got back 2 days ago from a cruise on Vista.  The loudest rowdiest guests were a group of 30-40-50 yrs olds, about 20 of them from a FB group.  All got together every day to go singing and drinking around ship, floor by floor.  Drunk off their booties all day long.  New demographic?  I think not.  That has been the norm of every cruise ship since cruise ships begain.....  there are always a group or two on every ship that get too drunk and too rowdy.

 

Wild teenagers... yup, had those on one ship.  During spring break, really crazy, rude and wild, and never again during that time of year for us.  Was it a "Carnival" thing.  Nope.  I used to live in Daytona beach and we had spring breakers jumping from balcony to balcony in hotels, jumping in pool from balconies, you name it...and that was in the 1970s.  Nothing new, and not exclusive to Carnival.  

 

I hear this complaint every day on CC.... Carnival ships are full of tattooed wild people with no class.... well... 

 

There are other cruise lines with an older more sedate, conservative demographic.  Maybe somebody needs to explore those and leave the Fun Ships to people having fun.  

 

sign me a tattooed 63 yr old lady

 

[manmachine]

23 minutes ago, cruizergal70 said:

Which is? Your demographic doesn't sound too pleasant right now.

Carnival is looking for inexperienced cruisers right now... first timers.  Along the way, that means sometimes inexperienced travelers.  And sometimes people who apparently don’t know how to behave while in a public place.

 

Everything  to do with behavior, and nothing to do with what some are implying.  

 

[TNcruising02]

After my next cruise, I will be platinum on the following one.  I couldn't care less about people who purchase FTTF.  Platinum and diamonds board first and exit the ship first.  All I really care about with reaching platinum is being able to board first, leave first, dropping off carry-ons, and priority line at guest services.  The rest of the perks don't really matter.

I have noticed that the port and time of year make a difference with the general passengers.  When I cruised on the Breeze out of Port Canaveral earlier this month, there were a large number of retired people.  One of the comedians would go out into the audience during every one of his shows and ask people what they did for a living.  The majority were retired.  I found that cruise to be very relaxing.  To me, the older the crowd, the better behaved.  Same thing when I cruised on the Pride out of Baltimore in September of last year.

I have never been on a Carnival cruise any time of year and witnessed horrible behavior or fights though.  The summer crowds do tend to be more energetic with a lot more kids and college-aged adults running around.  My favorite time of year to cruise is September and favorite ports for the general passengers are Port Canaveral and Galveston.

 

[N7786W Flyer]

1 hour ago, buddylover said:

I totally disagree with your sentiment that "Cruises cost less than they used to" (inflation or not)......cruises have doubled since we started cruising....they cost MORE today than ever.  Sure CCL may cost less than Princess or Celebrity, but they still cost MORE today than they used to for sure.  We cruised for years in a balcony cabin for 2 or 7 days way under $100/day.....many around $60-$75/day...which is under $700 per person in a balcony cabin for a week.....find me that pricing today???  We are paying $1100 + per person today on CCL (and that is cheap today) now.....almost double per person!!!  We are platinum and we do have a cruise booked for 2021, but have been cruising other lines who have different itineraries and fleets for almost the same price as CCL!  The Platinum perks don't mean a thing to us (with the exception of laundry if we cruise longer than a week).

 

Depends upon your start time relative to cruising.  From my perspective, I do think the cruises are cheaper when adjusted for inflation...however, I started cruising in 1974 on Eastern Steamship's SS Bahama Star.  While I don't have records from that cruise, I do have memorabilia from a 7 day cruise on NCL's Skyward in 1980.  On that trip, I paid $900/person. 

 

Think about it...a 7 day cruise in 1980 dollars for $900/person...and that was an outside room (porthole) on a 16,000 ton ship, which is minuscule by today's standards.   But, I do agree that pricing has increased over the past 10 years or so, but I chalk that up to the economy recovering from the latest recession and the ever-present rule of supply and demand.

 

Garnett

[Bases5]

None  We sail multiple lines but like to come home to carnival every now and then.  We like Platinum benefits but they don't make or brake our feeling for Carnival. We don't feel cheated.

Edited September 23, 2019 by Bases5

[eaflorida]

I am diamond on Carnival, and Diamond Plus on Royal. It used to be such that Carnivals cruise rates were much less than Royals rates. Not anymore. The loyalty benefits on Royal are FAR SUPERIOR to those on Carnival. We can goto the diamond lounge on RCL ships and consume free alcoholic beverages every evening, or use our 3 free drinks at any bar or in the dining room. Royal also offers discounted internet and free pictures. In addition, their speciality restaurants are buy one, get one free on the first 2 nights of the cruise. Carnival to my knowledge lacks big time when it comes to loyalty benefits and if their prices are higher than Royals then I won't cruise with them. 

 

So based on my cruising criteria and related loyalty benefits from Royal, I cruise them much more than Carnival.

[seashell77]

I will be going on my first Carnival Cruise in April 2020. Pretty sure I can behave pretty well 😉. Have done five cruises before this, NCL and RCCL. This cruise is out of Sydney, Australia and Carnival Australia does not sell alcoholic beverage packages, mainly because Aussies and Kiwis are known to drink a fair bit and odds are they were losing money! lol

Seriously though, there have been several instances in the media over here about Carnival cruises where large groups had to be thrown off the ship due to fighting, intimidating and disorderly behaviour which is why I imagine they have put in this policy. Maybe they need to do the same in the US?

 

[tkportersat]

I don't cruise for gifts and FTTF doesn't bother me.  Every time I try to book with another cruise line (just for variety), I end up booking with Carnival because of price.  

[jimbo5544]

Diamond on Carnival and frankly either reason the op stated would keep me from sailing on Carnival.  Fttf is a purchase that has NEVER impacted my perks as a Diamond or Platinum, frankly cannot imagine how they could.  I am so tired of hearing the squawking, and complaining about a free gift, I really hope they do away with the gift.  Get a grip😎   Just my humble opinion, yours may vary.

Edited September 23, 2019 by jimbo5544

[MEUB1112]

19 hours ago, JKrise said:

Given the current quality of the platinum loyalty gift,  and/or coupled with the company selling your loyalty perks via FTTF, thus diluting your value to CCL, do you regret having a future cruise booked with CCL?

Will you book a future cruise with CCL or move on to another line?

Honestly, these two factors have left DW and I feeling under appreciated as a long term loyal returning customer.

Guessing that the cost of new customer acquisition has dropped so significantly CCL is willing to wave good bye to a loyal customer base.

Those are our thoughts.

Just curious to hear from others.

 

No regrets at all, we have four cruises booked. We didn't set out cruising for the loyalty perks, but are happy with them. We really like the free laundry, it saves a lot of time. We actually have only cruised Carnival, we enjoy them and just haven't felt the need to look elsewhere.

[Towel Critter]

Nope. No regrets.