VIFP Revamp - What are YOUR Ideas?

[Earthworm Jim]

Everyone here, as customers, is in favor of enhancing benefits. If Carnival changes the VIFP program their motivation will be to save money, not to spend more by enhancing benefits.

[Eli_6]

Totally agree on it shouldn't just be based on days you cruise.  I think some of the other lines give you 1.5 days or points for suites. 

 

Instead of changing the points, I would suggest do something beyond diamond...like you can become double diamond once you get to 400 days or triple diamond at 600 days.  Maybe for each additional level, you could get extra OBC.  

 

I like the idea of once you go diamond, you should get free upgrades on rooms if they remain unsold once you are on board. 

 

Also, I wish they would give more drink rewards or free wifi.     

[Kevin308]

What they do is just have one plan across all of the Carnival Corp cruise lines.  

[Elaine5715]

If they are giving perks for status, then the perks need for be exclusive for those with status. Pretty hard  to be jazzed about an invite to a party for those who earned high status when the room is filled with those '''in the know""

 

'

[EngIceDave]

52 minutes ago, mz-s said:

 

You're describing what a lot of land-based venues do as I'm sure you are aware. Thus far it doesn't seem like the cruise lines are so interested in loyalty. Likely because there is still so much growth in the industry. Once the market is more saturated and it mostly becomes a game of lines poaching customers from each other (as MSC and Virgin are trying to do), we'll see more of this type of thing.

Yes, and have to have a foundation to work with, I used a combo of land casinos and airlines.

I can't help if they want to change their business model away from loyalty. My understanding of the question was revamping the VIFP program, which is a loyalty program.

[staceyglow]

2 hours ago, Earthworm Jim said:

Everyone here, as customers, is in favor of enhancing benefits. If Carnival changes the VIFP program their motivation will be to save money, not to spend more by enhancing benefits.

Not exactly correct.  Changes to VIFP,  just like any other change a company would make, are done to maximize profit. That can be done by increases in revenue as well as decreases in expenses.  If they think changes to the loyalty program will induce people will stay with or switch to Carnival, that increases revenue.

 

There are plenty of things that  Carnival can do to enhance the loyalty program that would cost them little or no additional money.  For example,

-guaranteeing a private table or booth in the MDR

-priority seating in popular venues like the piano bar or the comedy club

-one free photo per cruise

 

[Illbcruzn4life]

13 hours ago, talkorpi said:

Bored on a slow monday morning at work where 90% of the employees are off for the holiday, so here we are.

 

There have been some rumors of Carnival planning to overhaul the VIFP program sometime in the near future, and so I was wondering what everyone's ideas were if this were to happen.  What do YOU want to see?  What do you expect to see?  What tweaks should be made?

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Personally, I think that there should be a system that considers cabin category and assigns different value to that.  Someone paying for an inside and a suite should not get the same number of VIFP points, for example.  Maybe it can be something like Interior x1, OV x1.5, Balcony x2, and Suite x3?

 

Also think there needs to be a tweak in the upper levels.  Maybe something in between Gold and Diamond (Emerald ???), and then the slots for loyalty can be adjusted accordingly.  Maybe something like:

 

Blue: First Sailing
Red: 1-24 Points

Gold: 25-69 Points

Emerald: 70-149 Points

Platinum: 150-249 Points

Diamond: 250+ Points

 

Of course if we combine both of these ideas then the point thresholds would likely be higher.

 

Finally, there need to be better perks for the higher levels.  I think starting with Gold and moving up things should be bulked up.  Maybe give the Gold + the free laundry perk.  Emerald starts to get the appreciation parties.  Platinum starts to get a free speciality dining credit per cruise.  Maybe Diamond can get a set amount of OBC per sailing - $25 - $100 depending on length?

 

Would love to hear everyone's ideas.  This is meant to be a fun discussion about your ideas for changes.  Chat away!

I have been hearing that for the last 10 years. Nothing ever changes. Also considering the debt they are in I doubt they will be bulking up and levels of the loyalty programs.

 

Not what you asked but trying to keep it real.

[Chip1]

14 hours ago, jsglow said:

I believe adding a 'spend' component is reasonable, possibly measured by S&S expenditure or your proposed cabin bonus system, but probably not both.  That said, your curve is much too steep in my opinion. Perhaps 1-1.5x from Inside to Balc; 2x for Suites.

 

I also think they need to further elevate and enhance benefits for the highest levels. Some would be zero cost to Carnival such as Guaranteed Table for 2 at Fixed Dining for Diamonds, for example.  Some would be optional items that have a modest up-charge. Princess does a free wine tasting for their highest tier while other pax are charged. Free once a cruise secondary up-charge restaurant (think Cucina) might be a solution. Also, there has to be some inter-CCL line points crossover.  Not full matching mind you but something other than Blue Card status if one is at least Platinum status on Carnival. It encourages corporate loyalty.

According to Diamond perk list I have from 2012 Diamond members are supposed to get guaranteed reservations for the main dining room. Under the previous program where Platinum was the top tier, they were supposed to get guaranteed dining reservations. Based upon my experience the guaranteed dining reservation perk is very rarely done. In the 10 sailings where I was supposed to get guaranteed dining reservations, I only received it once.

[Joebucks]

7 hours ago, staceyglow said:

There are plenty of things that  Carnival can do to enhance the loyalty program that would cost them little or no additional money.  For example,

-guaranteeing a private table or booth in the MDR

-priority seating in popular venues like the piano bar or the comedy club

-one free photo per cruise

 

You'd be surprised. Take the free photo for example. Let's just say it has a negative impact on photo sales. Not only that, but research shows it has no bearing on improving retention, revenue per customer, etc etc. It will quickly go on the chopping block. 

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Well, they've already trimmed costs associated with some of the "gifts/perks" by requiring you to go on a treasure hunt to find them. Most of it is junk anyway, but I did like the nifty new wristband !!

 

 

Tom

[Earthworm Jim]

11 hours ago, staceyglow said:

Not exactly correct.  Changes to VIFP,  just like any other change a company would make, are done to maximize profit. That can be done by increases in revenue as well as decreases in expenses.  If they think changes to the loyalty program will induce people will stay with or switch to Carnival, that increases revenue.

 

 

True in theory, but in reality it's a distinction without a difference. Everyone seems to agree that the VIFP perks, while nice, aren't a big enough deal to influence who they cruise with. That being the case, the loyalty program inducing people stay with Carnival doesn't happen. Leaving us back to Carnival's motivation being to save money.

[jsglow]

10 hours ago, Chip1 said:

According to Diamond perk list I have from 2012 Diamond members are supposed to get guaranteed reservations for the main dining room. Under the previous program where Platinum was the top tier, they were supposed to get guaranteed dining reservations. Based upon my experience the guaranteed dining reservation perk is very rarely done. In the 10 sailings where I was supposed to get guaranteed dining reservations, I only received it once.

They DO for their slot (Early, Late, and YTD).  They DO NOT for a specific table type during assigned Early/Late times.

[staceyglow]

1 hour ago, Earthworm Jim said:

 

True in theory, but in reality it's a distinction without a difference. Everyone seems to agree that the VIFP perks, while nice, aren't a big enough deal to influence who they cruise with. 

I am guessing  that is what they are trying to fix.

[Moviela]

The loyalty program rewards those who spend the most TIME on the water. They could improve the things that save me the most time. One is boarding. Set aside an area out of sight from the throng, and check in the guests and allow immediate boarding. Take their luggage ASAP to the cabin. Have the cabin turned and ready. Stock the fridge. Reserved seats at shows. Front of the line at tender ports landside. Offer upgrades for no shows.

 

Now, sometimes you cannot offer such perks as there are too many platinum and diamond pax.

 

Something they tried on Panorama for anytime diners, those who would come at opening each day could have an assigned table. I loved it. I mentioned the plan to dining officers on Mardi Gras, Spirit, and Miracle but they never heard of such an idea. 

[EngIceDave]

24 minutes ago, Moviela said:

Something they tried on Panorama for anytime diners, those who would come at opening each day could have an assigned table.

We were on Horizon a year ago and while we had anytime dining, we usually ate about the same time each time, early, and we sat at the same table each time

[Eli_6]

I have had anytime dining before when they allowed us to have the same table at the same time every night.  And I wasn't diamond or platinum.

[Chip1]

8 hours ago, jsglow said:

They DO for their slot (Early, Late, and YTD).  They DO NOT for a specific table type during assigned Early/Late times.

Not always, I request late seating and yet on 1 of the cruises I was assigned to early seating.

 

[Rudyard]

12 hours ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

Well, they've already trimmed costs associated with some of the "gifts/perks" by requiring you to go on a treasure hunt to find them

 

Yep. As gold I don't get much, but the bottles of water are nice. Completely forgot to go by and get them last time. Only remembered the pins because I was at Pixels and overheard someone else ask about them. We didn't have the reminder with the QR code in our cabin this time. Makes me wonder if that was a deliberate move to save money, although our steward did seem to be new to the job and could have just forgotten to set it out. 

[BlerkOne]

1 hour ago, Chip1 said:

Not always, I request late seating and yet on 1 of the cruises I was assigned to early seating.

 

I have never heard of late seating being full. It should be trivial to switch.

[BlerkOne]

All loyalty programs are marketing programs and every perk, no matter how small, costs something.

 

Resources on cruises ships are limited. No program is sustainable without change.

 

If anything, Carnival will beef up the lower tiers, since that is more in line with their target market.

[Chip1]

11 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

I have never heard of late seating being full. It should be trivial to switch.

During embarkation day dinner I talked to either the Maitre'd or assistant Maitre'd snd was told they would work on it - than nothing. Neither one ever came to the table to let us know about the new dining reservation, no letter / business card left in the cabin and no phone call.

[sc4125]

I will become Diamond on my next cruise in February - hope they don't make the suggested change that it moves to 250 days.  Seriously the perks aren't that important, but I do like being able to board early and having a separate waiting area (if that ever comes back) particularly when sailing out of Miami (which I try to avoid).  I will be on a back to back in February and plan to use the laundry service. 

 

I appreciate getting anything - I eat out at a particular restaurant at least once a month for the past 10 years and don't get crap - so I'll take advantage of the perks I like from CCL.

[kdr69]

On 12/20/2022 at 5:19 AM, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

Well, they've already trimmed costs associated with some of the "gifts/perks" by requiring you to go on a treasure hunt to find them. Most of it is junk anyway, but I did like the nifty new wristband !!

 

 

Tom

Not much of a Treasure Hunt when the locations to go get them never change? Dining room for water, photo shop for pin/gift.  Easier than finding Ducks let me tell you.

[dbrucern]

On 12/20/2022 at 7:19 AM, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

Well, they've already trimmed costs associated with some of the "gifts/perks" by requiring you to go on a treasure hunt to find them. Most of it is junk anyway, but I did like the nifty new wristband !!

 

 

Tom

I got so many of them I could make an entire shirt 

[BlerkOne]

3 hours ago, Chip1 said:

During embarkation day dinner I talked to either the Maitre'd or assistant Maitre'd snd was told they would work on it - than nothing. Neither one ever came to the table to let us know about the new dining reservation, no letter / business card left in the cabin and no phone call.

I would have asked again and if it wasn't handled on the spot, asked for the food manager or perhaps the hotel director. You should have received some sort of response.