Never seen this many plats and diamonds on a cruise

[BlerkOne]

6 hours ago, Sailor75 said:

I don't know if this is entirely true. My first few cruises, I did a shore excursion at every port, played bingo, drank a lot, spent a lot of money; now, I rarely do excursions or activities. In fact, I will stay on the ship while in many ports and I know a number of other people who do the same thing. The cruise and ports just get very repetitive; but, I enjoy the relaxation and time away from work and a cell phone. I have also heard other diamonds brag about not having a bill other than maybe gratuities. It's just my opinion but it seems to me blue cards spend the most money.

Then we agree. 

[BlerkOne]

5 hours ago, stobe1 said:

I think this whole "Carnival doesn't want Plats/Diamonds" narrative is a CC created urban legend. 

 

. 

Bingo. Carnival wants repeat cruisers and clearly gets them. The urban legend is convenient cover for those who overvalue themselves. Nobody is irreplaceable, and some need to be 

[BlerkOne]

2 hours ago, RD64 said:

Here is your data - would you - personally - rather have $5 in your pocket or $25? Now imagine that on a much larger scale. Ask any Business / Accounting Economics professors- which I am - marginal profit and profit maximization is what it is all about. # Truefacts

 

If you are happy with the $5, please feel free to send me the Marginal $20 which I will gladly take off of your hands.

Staying in business and out of jail is what it is all about. Ask Bernie Madoff.

[jimbo5544]

6 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

Staying in business and out of jail is what it is all about. Ask Bernie Madoff.

That would be difficult…..🤔

[jsglow]

12 hours ago, RD64 said:

Agreed - Carnival and the other cruise lines do not want the veteran cruiser that truly does not contribute to the bottom line. There are so many cruisers who brag about not paying anything additional - and honestly - I am going to make the assumption that they stiff on gratuities as well. All those people claiming that they tip the waiter and the bar tender $5 per drink is just an urban myth created by keyboard warriors. The cruise lines do not want the veterans who want every possible freebie - and live to get an elusive free bag of laundry. They want the newbies who will spend freely at the spa, shops, cabanas, excursions, bars, etc - as these are the true profit centres.

 

I have a friend that lives in Miami - 700+ sailing days - only on Carnival - because for whatever reason being diamond / gold/ pinnacle / etc will tell you that she never has - and has no intention of - spending more than her basic fare which is often last minute. I have no doubt that she is not the only one in this situation.

While I agree with you that a Blue/Red card is likely to spend more on a specific cruise than a Diamond for a variety of reasons, I push back hard at your completely unsupported claim that seasoned 'modest spenders' are removing their gratuities. You have no evidence for this. 

 

I also reject your notion that the cruise lines 'do not want veterans'. That group provides outstanding word of mouth advertising. I personally know people who have cruised Carnival again in the last year after more than a decade away precisely because WE recommended it. While difficult to quantify, Carnival most certainly values that.

[Joebucks]

On 9/23/2023 at 12:33 PM, mz-s said:

Lots of folks cruised a lot over the past 2 years when cruises were cheap and we had lots of vacation time and onboard credits to spend. So there's a "bumper crop" of platinum guests right now.

 

Cruising was shut down for 15 months, with people earning no points. Then, cruises were sailing for about a year at far less than full capacity. Those numbers don't add up to some golden age of people cruising more than ever and reaching platinum. 

[mar214]

Surprised no one is talking about the plats and diamonds who achieved these levels via free cruise offers. Their accrued free nights on board vs. the nights accrued by paying full price all get lumped into the same category. Is Carnival really going to "punish" those of us paying full price by adding new levels into the loyalty program? There has been mention here of loyalty programs taking into account how much is paid to be on board. Maybe it's time........

[balcony bound]

11 minutes ago, mar214 said:

Surprised no one is talking about the plats and diamonds who achieved these levels via free cruise offers. Their accrued free nights on board vs. the nights accrued by paying full price all get lumped into the same category. Is Carnival really going to "punish" those of us paying full price by adding new levels into the loyalty program? There has been mention here of loyalty programs taking into account how much is paid to be on board. Maybe it's time........

There really are no "free" cruises, there is cost one way or another. Even a comped casino cabin you pay taxes fees and gratuities, not to mention the money they made off you in the casino.

 

Besides, it's not like suite guests get more points because they spent more on their cabin vs an inside guest.  So money doesn't even factor into it.

[Paelos]

Comparatively to other lines, I don't think Carnival would get enormous pushback if they offered real rewards instead of what the program is now. Their lunches and parties are mild perks compared to what Royal or Norwegian does. I'd take cue from them and do the following:

 

It really boils down to the fact that other lines are giving out more free drinks as a regular perk at higher levels, and better discounts on on-board purchases. If Carnival wanted to start doing more of that, I think it helps the bottom line rathan that hurting it. Example, if you upped limit on Diamond cruisers but gave out 4 free drinks a day, you're getting more cruises out of those mid-tier levels to get there and you're giving a real benefit at the upper end.

 

 

Edited September 25, 2023 by Paelos

[jimbo5544]

31 minutes ago, mar214 said:

Surprised no one is talking about the plats and diamonds who achieved these levels via free cruise offers. Their accrued free nights on board vs. the nights accrued by paying full price all get lumped into the same category. Is Carnival really going to "punish" those of us paying full price by adding new levels into the loyalty program? There has been mention here of loyalty programs taking into account how much is paid to be on board. Maybe it's time........

Not sure whether that is an issue with them, maybe more so with the “paying “ customers.

[jiggs]

On 9/23/2023 at 3:47 PM, 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 

 

Exactly, they like to keep people around and probably love mining data with the loyalty program, but until the ships stop sailing full, there isn't much need to enhance the program.

 

Priority debark at the end of the cruise and wash and fold are the only real perks I care about.  I'd really like some type of perks for the family of CCL Brands, but I know those folks don't want their programs flooded with us. 

[jimbo5544]

16 minutes ago, jiggs said:

Exactly, they like to keep people around and probably love mining data with the loyalty program, but until the ships stop sailing full, there isn't much need to enhance the program.

 

Priority debark at the end of the cruise and wash and fold are the only real perks I care about.  I'd really like some type of perks for the family of CCL Brands, but I know those folks don't want their programs flooded with us. 

Your last two sentences are exactly why their redo of the loyalty program has never come to fruition.  

Edited September 25, 2023 by jimbo5544

[pc_load_letter]

On 9/23/2023 at 10:30 AM, mz-s said:

There's nothing to do on the ship except eat until at least 1:30, so what's the rush.

 

Jacuzzi's with no kids & start drinking!

[TravelBluebird]

On 9/23/2023 at 12:35 PM, Tapi said:

Seeing this makes me wonder if the loyalty program will get “revamped” to make it harder to obtain certain perks and thin out “the herd”. When too many people qualify for perks, they stop being perks.
 

Look at what Delta just did with their loyalty program, in part because their Sky Clubs are now overrun with too many people who have access

 

It’s a fine line for the company to walk. Lots of the Delta frequent fliers (me included) are so upset with the changes that we are going to drop the co-branded Delta cards and also no longer have loyalty to Delta.  

 

That said, I think Carnival, going forward, will end up implementing a $$ measure to their programs (Delta has gone full $$ spent, miles don’t even count to achieve status). Why should I get the same 7 points for the expensive suite cruise I’m taking on Jubilee next year as for the discounted gambling cruise I’m taking on Celebration this year? Something to think about. 

[LHARTWICK]

On 9/23/2023 at 11:35 AM, Tapi said:

Seeing this makes me wonder if the loyalty program will get “revamped” to make it harder to obtain certain perks and thin out “the herd”. When too many people qualify for perks, they stop being perks.

My thoughts exactly - well said.  We were on the Dream out of Galveston week before last.  Embarkation looked just like OP's photo.  And when the ship was cleared for boarding, as in usual CCL fashion, it was every man for himself. Didn't matter what order you arrived in. Debarkation was just as crowded.  I sometimes wonder if people who aren't P/D hear about priority debarkation and just join in - noone checks cards for status. But for once, debarkation was very organized - CCL crew made sure that "first in line, first to debark" was followed.  It was SO MUCH better! No idea why this process isn't followed on all CCL ships.

[Capitan Obvious]

24 minutes ago, TravelBluebird said:

That said, I think Carnival, going forward, will end up implementing a $$ measure to their programs (Delta has gone full $$ spent, miles don’t even count to achieve status). Why should I get the same 7 points for the expensive suite cruise I’m taking on Jubilee next year as for the discounted gambling cruise I’m taking on Celebration this year? Something to think about. 

 

I dunno. The VIFP loyalty program is designed to reward loyalty as measured by nights onboard. Which I believe it does in a fair and honest manner. (The decision on an economical inside vs an expensive suite is the cruiser's to make). If you want to be rewarded for the money you spend, then do all of your spending through the CCL credit card where they reward you for exactly that. You spend 3x what the other guys spends, and you get 3x the rewards. Again, in a fair and honest manner.

 

You can have both.

 

The funny thing about loyalty programs is that when they are successful, they will result in many people reaching the upper level status tiers. All of those Platinum and Diamond cruisers just means that Carnival has many repeat customers...which is exactly what their loyalty program is designed to create. All of this carping from people reminds me of a bunch of students, all who have received an "A" on an exam, arguing with the professor to find out who has the better "A". 🙄

Edited September 25, 2023 by Capitan Obvious

[Capitan Obvious]

Dup, sorry

Edited September 25, 2023 by Capitan Obvious

[BlerkOne]

1 hour ago, Capitan Obvious said:

 

I dunno. The VIFP loyalty program is designed to reward loyalty as measured by nights onboard.

 

It was designed based on points, and not necessarily nights onboard.

 

VIFP Points may not be awarded for certain charters and/or non-revenue fares, as reasonably determined by CCL.
 

[BlerkOne]

3 hours ago, Paelos said:

Comparatively to other lines, I don't think Carnival would get enormous pushback if they offered real rewards instead of what the program is now. Their lunches and parties are mild perks compared to what Royal or Norwegian does.

 

 

It isn't a competition and there is no need for Carnival to change. Carnival doesn't want cruisers who cruise for perks/bribes. They want cruisers who like the brand.

[Tapi]

To add more fuel to the fire, what if Carnival decided to place an expiration on people’s status in an effort to “thin out the herd”? Or if cruises that are more than “X”number of years stopped counting towards status? For me, there was a time when I cruised Carnival exclusively (which is when I attained Platinum status), but now I only sail on them once every few years. I’d loose my current status for sure. 
 

An example is MSC. Unless you’ve sailed on them at least once every 3 years, you loose your status and start from the bottom. That actually has been an incentive for me to sail on them every couple of years; to maintain my status with them (which ironically I attained by matching my Carnival platinum to their program). 

[TravelBluebird]

6 minutes ago, Tapi said:

To add more fuel to the fire, what if Carnival decided to place an expiration on people’s status in an effort to “thin out the herd”? Or if cruises that are more than “X”number of years stopped counting towards status? For me, there was a time when I cruised Carnival exclusively (which is when I attained Platinum status), but now I only sail on them once every few years. I’d loose my current status for sure. 
 

An example is MSC. Unless you’ve sailed on them at least once every 3 years, you loose your status and start from the bottom. That actually has been an incentive for me to sail on them every couple of years; to maintain my status with them (which ironically I attained by matching my Carnival platinum to their program). 

That’s an interesting point. Airline and Hotel loyalty programs are year by year; that would not work for cruise lines, but what about must cruise on Carnival once every 5 years or you lose your status? That would thin out the elites a bit, and indeed would give people an incentive to keep “current” with Carnival.  

[carsastic]

All programs change, in my opinion sooner than later it will be money spent .. sometimes they walk it back a bit , like delta did a couple years ago, but the march  to dollars spent is clearly underfoot for most perk programs. And from a  ccl cruising standpoint , the perks/ loyalty program were not significant to sway me in any way.

[Illbcruzn4life]

53 minutes ago, BlerkOne said:

It isn't a competition and there is no need for Carnival to change. Carnival doesn't want cruisers who cruise for perks/bribes. They want cruisers who like the brand.

There ya go. That wasn't so hard was it? 😃

[jsglow]

1 hour ago, Tapi said:

To add more fuel to the fire, what if Carnival decided to place an expiration on people’s status in an effort to “thin out the herd”? Or if cruises that are more than “X”number of years stopped counting towards status? For me, there was a time when I cruised Carnival exclusively (which is when I attained Platinum status), but now I only sail on them once every few years. I’d loose my current status for sure. 
 

An example is MSC. Unless you’ve sailed on them at least once every 3 years, you loose your status and start from the bottom. That actually has been an incentive for me to sail on them every couple of years; to maintain my status with them (which ironically I attained by matching my Carnival platinum to their program). 

I personally think that's a fantastic idea and a step in the right direction.  Airline miles can and do expire if you don't fly the specific carrier occasionally on some airlines.  I guess one could do it a couple ways.... 1) ALL your historic VIFP points count if you cruise at least once in 'recent' years. 2) If it's been more than 3 years (for example), all your VIFP points older than 10 years old vanish. 3) If you haven't cruised in 5 years you start at ground zero. Obviously you can cut this any way you like. But somebody who took 10 cruises in the 1990s to achieve Platinum (perhaps as a child with their parents) and haven't cruised since aren't showing 'Loyalty'.

Edited September 25, 2023 by jsglow

[BlerkOne]

To really add fuel to the fire, terminate the program and lower cruise prices across the board.

 

Carnival is a family cruise line and if you expire points, you penalize families who can only afford to cruise every few years. Who would benefit? Live aboard gamblers who don't pay for cruises to begin with.