Never seen this many plats and diamonds on a cruise

[Tapi]

2 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

I am a BIG Delta fan.  Do not travel like I used to when working, but have been Gold or Platinum for the last 10 years.  The new plan is to do exactly what you describe, in spades.  The best I will make is MAYBE Silver.  I currently have a Delta Reserve Amex, hefty annual fee, but in my view worth it for the perks.  That is history.  Flying Delta, was a priority, now (after 2024) they will be another airline to consider.  

I’ve been scratching my head over the drastic changes, but Delta claims that the revamp will preserve the privileges and perks that those all the way at the top of the food chain currently enjoy. The changes are in part in response to the complaints from those top tier passengers who felt the perks were being diluted among too many frequent flyers in lower tiers. I guess that the loyalty of those top passengers is what Delta truly wants to preserve. 
 

I wonder how Carnival would respond if Diamond guests started with similar complaints en masse. Would they revamp the program to maintain their loyalty at the expense of screwing Platinums and lower? Would they remove perks and limit access to VIP lounges and onboard events if they become more crowded than they are now? 

Edited September 23, 2023 by Tapi

[ninjacat123]

29 minutes ago, Tapi said:

I’ve been scratching my head over the drastic changes, but Delta claims that the revamp will preserve the privileges and perks that those all the way at the top of the food chain currently enjoy. The changes are in part in response to the complaints from those top tier passengers who felt the perks were being diluted among too many frequent flyers in lower tiers. I guess that the loyalty of those top passengers is what Delta truly wants to preserve. 
 

I wonder how Carnival would respond if Diamond guests started with similar complaints en masse. Would they revamp the program to maintain their loyalty at the expense of screwing Platinums and lower? Would they remove perks and limit access to VIP lounges and onboard events if they become more crowded than they are now? 

I think Carnival is about more revenue and if it makes upper tier cruisers upset, oh well.  As long as the benefits are cost effective (ie. a brunch drink, leaving luggage in room, early embarkation, special line at guest services) then Platinum should be keeping those benefits.  The welcome back guest party and Diamond lunch may be phased out or modified.  I don't want that to happen but I could see Carnival making those choices for their bottom line with the massive increase of P & D passengers.

[BlerkOne]

1 hour ago, Tapi said:

I wonder how Carnival would respond if Diamond guests started with similar complaints en masse. Would they revamp the program to maintain their loyalty at the expense of screwing Platinums and lower? Would they remove perks and limit access to VIP lounges and onboard events if they become more crowded than they are now? 

Delta is clearly sucking up to the business traveler. If anything, Carnival would add/beef up the lower levels and leave Platinum/Diamond alone. Carnival knows who butters their bread.

[jimbo5544]

1 hour ago, icft said:

About the time the mask mandate ended we started feeling a bit uneasy. People were being quite rude and ignoring all the rules with no reaction from Carnival. Then we saw people yelling at others and occasionally threatening others with no reaction from Carnival and we started talking about moving on. Then my wife was assaulted on the Glory this last spring and we stopped booking Carnival, except for Journeys cruises.

 

We've never had concerns with the safety and seaworthiness of the ships.

I have been on 9 cruises since the restart and seen nothing like you describe. 

[glrounds]

7 hours ago, Eli_6 said:

Not even on a European cruise.  This is the platinum/diamond waiting area at Galveston waiting to board the Vista right now at 10:53 am.  Does not include  fttf.

 

Definitely waiting to show up until later next time.   

I

I always mentally compare these posts with the "good ole days". Back when PLATINUMS got a free entrance into the slots tournament (not buy one, get one free), I always asked the teller at the casino cage how many PLATINUMS were onboard because she always had a list right there for handiing out free slot tickets. Usually the number was 20 to 35 depending on how new the ship was. At the port in Long Beach a separate building by the DOME housed all the PLATINUMS complete with coffee, croissants, and orange juice. That red PRIORITY stamp on your boarding pass got you to the front automatically of every kind of line.

 

All watered down now, I see major changes into any kind of "loyalty" program.

.

 

[jimbo5544]

1 hour ago, Tapi said:

I’ve been scratching my head over the drastic changes, but Delta claims that the revamp will preserve the privileges and perks that those all the way at the top of the food chain currently enjoy. The changes are in part in response to the complaints from those top tier passengers who felt the perks were being diluted among too many frequent flyers in lower tiers. I guess that the loyalty of those top passengers is what Delta truly wants to preserve. 
 

I wonder how Carnival would respond if Diamond guests started with similar complaints en masse. Would they revamp the program to maintain their loyalty at the expense of screwing Platinums and lower? Would they remove perks and limit access to VIP lounges and onboard events if they become more crowded than they are now? 

I think Delta is making a HUGE mistake.  I hope their top tier fills the empty seats. My Amex was never under 75K/year.  Cap One in the new go to in our house..

 

You raise interesting points in your hypothetical on Diamond status and potential changes.  I feel differently than Blerk, I think they will have to raise the bar for the top tier.  We will see.

[jimbo5544]

59 minutes ago, ninjacat123 said:

I think Carnival is about more revenue and if it makes upper tier cruisers upset, oh well.  As long as the benefits are cost effective (ie. a brunch drink, leaving luggage in room, early embarkation, special line at guest services) then Platinum should be keeping those benefits.  The welcome back guest party and Diamond lunch may be phased out or modified.  I don't want that to happen but I could see Carnival making those choices for their bottom line with the massive increase of P & D passengers.

The dollar is always king.  The question becomes can you make both groups happy.

[jimbo5544]

6 minutes ago, glrounds said:

I always mentally compare these posts with the "good ole days". Back when PLATINUMS got a free entrance into the slots tournament (not buy one, get one free), I always asked the teller at the casino cage how many PLATINUMS were onboard because she always had a list right there for handiing out free slot tickets. Usually the number was 20 to 35 depending on how new the ship was. At the port in Long Beach a separate building by the DOME housed all the PLATINUMS complete with coffee, croissants, and orange juice. That red PRIORITY stamp on your boarding pass got you to the front automatically of every kind of line.

 

All watered down now, I see major changes into any kind of "loyalty" program.

.

 

Bingo

[Tapi]

36 minutes ago, jimbo5544 said:

I think Delta is making a HUGE mistake

I’ve read so much pushback and negativity online since it was announced, that I wouldn’t be surprised if they make some additional modifications if they anger enough people. We’ll see! 

[Tapi]

46 minutes ago, glrounds said:

I always mentally compare these posts with the "good ole days". Back when PLATINUMS got a free entrance into the slots tournament (not buy one, get one free)…

 

 

I became platinum back in the days when all you needed were 10 cruises (no matter if they were 3 or 10 day cruises). I remember the free slot tournaments, and the unlimited laundry, and checking in at a VIP lounge that truly felt exclusive since you were the only one in there. 
 

The changes that have happened since then have diluted those perks, but they didn’t make me want to sail on another cruise line (I chose to broaden my horizons and look at other cruise lines for other reasons). I still appreciated what Carnival offered, even if it wasn’t as generous as when I first joined the ranks. 

Edited September 24, 2023 by Tapi

[BlerkOne]

1 hour ago, glrounds said:

I always mentally compare these posts with the "good ole days". Back when PLATINUMS got a free entrance into the slots tournament (not buy one, get one free), I always asked the teller at the casino cage how many PLATINUMS were onboard because she always had a list right there for handiing out free slot tickets. Usually the number was 20 to 35 depending on how new the ship was. At the port in Long Beach a separate building by the DOME housed all the PLATINUMS complete with coffee, croissants, and orange juice. That red PRIORITY stamp on your boarding pass got you to the front automatically of every kind of line.

 

All watered down now, I see major changes into any kind of "loyalty" program.

.

 

On my current cruise, they simply handed me $25 cash, which is just as good as money. They can keep the tournaments.

 

You are correct that all cruise lines have cut back on loyalty programs. No program is sustanable without change. 

[BlerkOne]

1 hour ago, Tapi said:

I became platinum back in the days when all you needed were 10 cruises (no matter if they were 3 or 10 day cruises). 

The good old days still exist on Princess. They still count cruises or cruise days toward loyalty levels.

[staceyglow]

1 hour ago, jimbo5544 said:

I have been on 9 cruises since the restart and seen nothing like you describe. 

I have been on 16 cruises since the restart and  my experience has been the same.  The rudest thing I have seen anyone do is say "no, thank you" to a crew member who offered them a mask.

 

 

[BlerkOne]

2 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

I think Delta is making a HUGE mistake.  I hope their top tier fills the empty seats. My Amex was never under 75K/year.  Cap One in the new go to in our house..

 

 

One of the concessions made in the new contracts is more first class seats reserved for non-rev crew, and so fewer available for even the tip toppest of tiers. Some of the perks for paying customers are now perks for employees. They don't have a choice.

 

I think American is the easiest to buy status on without having to fly the airline.

[BallFour4]

If Carnival could cancel the program or at least drop Platinum they would. It's laughable. I could care less about the free blanket, mug, binoculars, game board, fanny pack or the now (in)famous slap bracelet. In the cruises since Covid the Past Guest Party was about fifteen minutes of formal presentation and introductions of officers and staff members that clearly wanted to be anywhere but in a area with a bunch of people telling their cruise history.

 If you haven't cruised in awhile they finally gave up and changed the invitation to allow you to bring a guest. We have given our invitations away more than once to a younger couple we met aboard celebrating on a honeymoon or a military veteran returning from service. Guilt level for that is less than zero. Go guess how many beans are in the jar, have fun.

 Carnival wants new cruisers to step aboard every sailing, drop a cash deposit or credit card information and spend like crazy. They work you into a frenzy with sail away music at 100 decibels with promotions of shipboard specials mixed in between the Cupid Shuffle and Wobble.

 Am I getting to old for Carnival? Maybe. We cruised on the Quantum to Alaska in June and it was a much different experience at the prestigious level of Emerald.
 

 Have fun on your vacation; life is short. Monday I start chemo for post-surgery cancer. I'll survive, but every cruise from Fun Ship Freddy to the Mammoth of Seas is a great vacation.

See you at sea...

.

[stobe1]

1 hour ago, BlerkOne said:

One of the concessions made in the new contracts is more first class seats reserved for non-rev crew, and so fewer available for even the tip toppest of tiers. Some of the perks for paying customers are now perks for employees. They don't have a choice.

 

I think American is the easiest to buy status on without having to fly the airline.

 

That isn't entirely true. I just need to clarify a point that has been widely mis-represented in media write-ups about recent contract improvements. I don't work for Delta but I am a pilot for another major airline so I can speak generally about it and tell you what my  airline's contract says. I am sure Delta's is similar to ours.

 

These first class seats are for deadheading on-duty pilots being repositioned to work other flights. Other regular off-duty non revs (pilots or otherwise) wouldn't get priority to a 1st class seat over a frequent flyer with status. Employees would go to the bottom of the list in that case. To be clear, these contracts amendments are for on-duty deadheading pilots. I am not aware of any flight attendant contracts that require 1st class seats for deadheading flight attendants. So when you say "crew" I include flight attendants since they are part of the "crew" and are my eyes and ears behind the flight deck door.

 

When pilot pairings are being generated (pairings meaning "trips" that would be flown by the pilots) by crew planning 2 or 3 months in advance, any pairings with deadheads built in would automatically block off a 1st class seat, so that seat would never have been bookable, or available for an upgrade in the first place. The only time where a last minute deadheading pilot would "bump" someone hoping for an upgrade would be if a pilot was called out from home or pulled off another trip last minute to cover another flight somewhere downline due to some other issue (sick call, delay, cancellation, weather, crew time out issue, etc).

 

My contract does allow for the pilot to "opt out" of the 1st class seat in exchange for a premium economy window or aisle seat in exchange for additional pay. If it is a short 2 or 3 hour flight, I personally go for "downgrading" myself for the extra $$$. If its a transcon or anything over 3 hours, I take the 1st class seat.

Edited September 24, 2023 by stobe1

[JCrewz]

I can't stand the smug and entitled Platinum guests cheerfully walking by us at embarkation and priority debarkation.

 

I can't wait to be one of them in February! 

[stobe1]

And for what it's worth, I never nonrev for cruises. I just pay for my flights like a regular Joe. I want to make sure I get there lol.

Edited September 24, 2023 by stobe1

[BlerkOne]

2 hours ago, stobe1 said:

 

That isn't entirely true. I just need to clarify a point that has been widely mis-represented in media write-ups about recent contract improvements. I

Thank you. But still, some resources are now being reallocated. Flight attendants don't have the juice that pilots have, so may not end up with similar perks. Not saying that employees don't deserve more, especially considering the compensation upper mismanagement receives.

[glrounds]

3 hours ago, Tapi said:

I became platinum back in the days when all you needed were 10 cruises (no matter if they were 3 or 10 day cruises). I remember the free slot tournaments, and the unlimited laundry, and checking in at a VIP lounge that truly felt exclusive since you were the only one in there. 
 

The changes that have happened since then have diluted those perks, but they didn’t make me want to sail on another cruise line (I chose to broaden my horizons and look at other cruise lines for other reasons). I still appreciated what Carnival offered, even if it wasn’t as generous as when I first joined the ranks. 

I also became platinum during this period, although most of  mine were on 7 day cruises. There were "newbies" talking about a month of 3 and 4 day cruises to acquire the 10 cruises and qualify for platinum in a month ! 😗

I'm a few cruises away from Diamond and I hope it doesn't sound like SOUR GRAPES, but I see very little difference between platinum and diamond. Number of FREE laundry uses, which I've seldom taken advantage of anyway. I usually give away my pin or little jack-in-the-box gift to younger cruisers.  I've always loved Carnival and will continue to cruise with them no matter what happens to the loyalty program, although, of late, Princess has some great priciing,  when you consider that some of their cruises have a SOLO adjustment that is guite nice. 

 

[Illbcruzn4life]

10 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

Carnival has no need to make changes to the marketing program. Those who like the brand, and there are millions, will continue to cruise on Carnival. Other cruise lines are happy to bribe customers 

 

Delta is too expensive for either cash or award tickets these days. I see future bailouts for airlines given their new contracts.

The wash n fold bribe is a nice one but you are right. Other cruise lines have better bribes.ie:perks

[Honolulu Blue]

13 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

We did a 14 day Journey on the Breeze in 2019, and there were almost 2,600 Diamonds and Plats.  I called it the entitlement cruise. 

I had a 14-day Journeys cruise on the Breeze in 2020 (my last on Carnival before You Know What) and out of about 3800 passengers, 1579 were Platinum and 429 were Diamond.  That's the most high status passengers I've seen, though my upcoming Journeys cruise on the Dream in January will probably come close to that.

[Rudyard]

I think, as do a lot of others, that Carnival will add a new tier between Plat and Diamond. I see some Plat perks going away such as the welcome back party and maybe the free gift, but probably not early embarkation. They've already done away with early cabin entry and I don't see that coming back at all. If they feel there are too many Plats I could see Carnival doing away with the free laundry. I think the new tiers to keep people from reaching the top tiers too quickly will be...

 

Gold- 35 days (not much of an increase but saves Carnival a little money on pins and bottles of water)

Plat- 100 Days

Plat Plus- 200 to 250 Days

Diamond- 500 Days

 

Existing VIFP levels would be grandfathered in and something like 60 days notice may be given so that those that are close can get in those last couple of cruises to reach a higher level. I don't see Carnival losing a lot of people over this, and if they do then they save in the long run because they won't need to give out gifts, etc. to the new blue and red cards that take the place of those leaving. 

 

These are just my thoughts and I'm sure a lot of you have way different ideas as to how this may play out. 

[TERTOG]

For those interested, currently on the Venezia. No split of Diamond/Platinum or Suites for embarkation. Just a general announcement for all the above to go at the same time. There appeared to be a few hundred people all trying to embark together. Then picking up the Platinum/Diamond gift and it was a 10 cent luggage tag. 

[ray98]

I really don't think Carnival has as much angst over their loyalty program as the internet does.  The vast majority of the things they offer as perks cost them little to nothing.  The percentage of platinum/diamonds will only continue to increase.  Cruising exploded in popularity years ago and many of those passengers are still around.  It is what it is.