VIFP Revamp - What are YOUR Ideas?

[BlerkOne]

The original Concierge Club

In addition to the rewards for significant milestone cruises, all Platinum cardholders are entitled to the following shipboard benefits and features:

• Petit fours and/or canapés delivered to cabin one evening
• Personalized stationery
• A special Carnival logo item
• Guaranteed dining times and supper club reservations
• Complimentary entry fee into blackjack or slot tournament
• Spa Carnival priority reservations and complimentary treatment upgrade
• Complimentary wash and fold laundry service
• Complimentary arcade tokens for members under age 18
• Priority tender boarding
• Priority embarkation and debarkation

 

 

Neither table size nor dining room was guaranteed.

Edited December 25, 2022 by BlerkOne

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

2 minutes ago, BlerkOne said:

The original Concierge Club

...

• Complimentary entry fee into blackjack or slot tournament

 

Better than the BOGO it morphed into. But not as nice as the $25 cash each they've been giving out of late due to no tournaments. I'm surprised that they have not resumed them yet. I wonder how many eligible people never pick the cash up. That, and the water, is all we bother with. What the current "gift" now anyway?

 

Tom

[ninjacat123]

4 minutes ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

Better than the BOGO it morphed into. But not as nice as the $25 cash each they've been giving out of late due to no tournaments. I'm surprised that they have not resumed them yet. I wonder how many eligible people never pick the cash up. That, and the water, is all we bother with. What the current "gift" now anyway?

 

Tom

I will find out in 19 days!!😃

[BlerkOne]

11 minutes ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

That, and the water, is all we bother with. What the current "gift" now anyway?

 

Tom

Pipe insulators

 

[ninjacat123]

7 minutes ago, BlerkOne said:

Pipe insulators

 

BlerkOne did you run outside and do this on Christmas Day?🤣

[BlerkOne]

3 minutes ago, ninjacat123 said:

BlerkOne did you run outside and do this on Christmas Day?🤣

I stole the picture on Christmas Day!

[Chip1]

2 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

The wording of any year would include near the top the program terms and conditions includes the program is subject to change with or with notice.

 

There are always some people switching tables on any given cruise. Did you ask the maitre d' to move you to a larger table?

 

As for wording in 2012

Platinum (75 to 199 cruise days): Benefits include priority embarkation, debarkation, tender service, and dining times (including main dining room and specialty restaurants, if applicable), an enhanced logo gift item, along with a ship- and year-    specific pin each voyage that will be redesigned annually, a dedicated phone number and concierge desk on board, complimentary wash and fold laundry service, casino buy-one-get-one tournament entry, complimentary arcade $5 play for guests under   18, as well as all of the benefits of the Red and Gold level memberships.

 

https://carnival-news.com/2012/06/11/carnival-cruise-lines-rolls-out-revamped-guest-recognition-program-offering-array-of-exciting-perks-and-benefits/

 

 

I did ask to be moved to a different table, but they did not move me to another table.

[DallasGuy75219]

5 hours ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

Better than the BOGO it morphed into. But not as nice as the $25 cash each they've been giving out of late due to no tournaments. I'm surprised that they have not resumed them yet. I wonder how many eligible people never pick the cash up. That, and the water, is all we bother with. What the current "gift" now anyway?

 

Tom

Me too.  With all or almost all other COVID protocols dropped, I'm shocked they haven't brought back the tournaments and gone back the the BOGO.  The BOGO entry costs them nothing, except possibly the opportunity cost from people who would have otherwise bought in again. 

 

Handing out $25 cash on ships where the casino can't support a separate promotional slot bank certainly isnt helping their already abysmal financial situation. But if they keep offering I'll take it.

[PA Dutchman]

On 12/19/2022 at 5:23 PM, pzsdd6 said:

As a longtime Diamond member, I think Diamond and above should get a free “axe” throwing with Christine Duffy as the target!

Diamond gets what, they pushed Platinum's to almost the same as Diamonds, 

 

[LandlockedCruiser01]

The current VIFP program feels very flawed.  Blues get nothing, that's fine.  Reds get only a bottle of water.  Well, OK; but something like a drink coupon (actually a feature of the old VIFP program), or a one-time souvenir glass for the price of a regular glass would be nice. 

 

Golds basically get the shaft!  What do they get?  A ridiculously restrictive drink coupon and a "made in China" trinket that quickly turns to clutter upon arriving home.  Where's the VIFP party?  (also a feature of the old VIFP program)  Where's a free Steakhouse Selections entree, even if at one dinner per sailing?  Something extra would be nice, given how much Golds paid into Carnival.

 

Then you have the Platinums and the Diamonds basically getting the same benefits, with the only difference that P's get priority dining reservations and D's get guaranteed dining reservations.  Also, D's get more free laundry service.  In other words, there's minimal incentive in moving up from P to D.  And most P and D benefits can be purchased via the FTTF add-on.

Edited December 27, 2022 by LandlockedCruiser01

[BlerkOne]

1 hour ago, LandlockedCruiser01 said:

The current VIFP program feels very flawed.  Blues get nothing, that's fine.  Reds get only a bottle of water.  Well, OK; but something like a drink coupon (actually a feature of the old VIFP program), or a one-time souvenir glass for the price of a regular glass would be nice. 

 

Golds basically get the shaft!  What do they get?  A ridiculously restrictive drink coupon and a "made in China" trinket that quickly turns to clutter upon arriving home.  Where's the VIFP party?  (also a feature of the old VIFP program)  Where's a free Steakhouse Selections entree, even if at one dinner per sailing?  Something extra would be nice, given how much Golds paid into Carnival.

 

I think Carnival is more likely to beef up the lower levels but you're dreaming if you think they are going to give away too much. Perhaps a small discount off of a purchase.

[bucfan2]

6 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

I think Carnival is more likely to beef up the lower levels but you're dreaming if you think they are going to give away too much. Perhaps a small discount off of a purchase.

Agree. Santa is back at the North Pole, and the ‘give away too much’ days have ended.  They’re back in survival mode, and rightfully so. 

[vwrestler171]

My personal thoughts is Carnival will keep blue cards until 10 pts, Red from 11-30, Gold from 30-100, Platinum from 100-250, Diamond from 250-500, Emerald for 500+.  They have no reason to make it easier to get perks which some people seem to cry for.  They have already made it too easy to get to Diamond and platinum as many times the perks of priority boarding isn't happening due to the sheer number of those cruisers.  I do think everyone will be grandfathered into their current level though.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

@firefly333 mentioned that they were at 197 VIFP points with Carnival on another thread. My reply there I'll cut/paste here, as it pertains to this topic (even more so):

 

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Too bad that Carnival doesn't offer PUP (Power Up Points) like Celebrity does. It's an EASY way to add on a few points here and there to get you to that next tier prior to boarding !! 10 PUP's translates into 1 Captain's Club point. I've probably managed ~20-25 points that way. I'm currently at just over 1,500 points - though 3,000 is the next/final tier. That's a LONG HAUL, not sure if I'll make it or not! 🙂

 

Most of these points earning activities involve watching destination webinars (typically earning 50 PUP's = 5 points) or a link to some info to read and take an easy quiz (typically 2 points).

 

Carnival should do something along these lines !

 

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

 

Earn Points From Home

 

Introducing Power Up Points—an exclusive new way for Captain’s Club members to earn points even when you’re not sailing. We’ll email you different activities—including sharing your preferences and social media content—and you’ll earn Power Up Points just for participating. We’ve created this program as a way for you to earn points from the comfort of your own home—and have some fun.

 

Not a Captain's Club member? Enroll now.

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

 

Tom

[DallasGuy75219]

58 minutes ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

Carnival should do something along these lines !

Why? So it will be easier for more people to make Platinum and Diamond, without cruising, so those benefits can be diluted?

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

10 minutes ago, DallasGuy75219 said:

Why? So it will be easier for more people to make Platinum and Diamond, without cruising, so those benefits can be diluted?

 

It keeps people engaged - and, when the top tier (as is the case w/Celebrity) is 3,000 points, a couple/few here and there doesn't amount to much. 

 

Tom

[DallasGuy75219]

1 minute ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

It keeps people engaged - and, when the top tier (as is the case w/Celebrity) is 3,000 points, a couple/few here and there doesn't amount to much. 

 

Tom

Apples and oranges compared to Carnival where Diamond is 200 points/days.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

15 minutes ago, DallasGuy75219 said:

Apples and oranges compared to Carnival where Diamond is 200 points/days.

Correct. I'm not proposing that carnival award 2-5 points for every little project.

 

Whatever they do, the whole system needs to get revamped, as Platinum and Diamonds are a dime a dozen now.

[DallasGuy75219]

4 minutes ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

Correct. I'm not proposing that carnival award 2-5 points for every little project.

You literally said, "Carnival should do something along these lines!"

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

3 minutes ago, DallasGuy75219 said:

You literally said, "Carnival should do something along these lines!"

Yes, but not "exactly" this, just "something along these lines". Obviously, one size doesn't fit all.

 

Tom

[BlerkOne]

38 minutes ago, DallasGuy75219 said:

Apples and oranges compared to Carnival where Diamond is 200 points/days.

Princess, and older cruise line, tops out at 150. Their solution is the only possible sustainable one.

[rs45thompson]

On 12/19/2022 at 10:08 AM, 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?

 

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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!

Your idea about point value for the room may have merit.  I have been in everything but a suite and it is only because I don't see the advantage.  There are really no perks that come with it worth the extra money to me.  

 

Now about the loyalty program.  l feel like I have been gold forever!  Like literally forever!!!!  I don't think taking 6 points from gold and creating emerald where the time is even longer before moving up is the answer.  Like 79 points, what????  I agree that there should be something between gold and Platinum (After I personally have reached Platinum only 😜).    Maybe:

 

Blue: First Sailing
Red: 2-30 Points

Gold: 31-70 Points

Emerald: 71-110 Points

Ruby: 111-199 Points

Platinum: 200 - 299

Diamond: 300+ 

 

I think that the pin at Gold,  free laundry should start at Emerald, 3 free drinks a day at Ruby ( and do away with the party with free drinks), a free specialty meal at Platinum (do away with the lunch), and a nice gift at diamond.

 

That's my thought. 

Edited December 31, 2022 by rs45thompson