Changes to Carnival Loyalty Program

[jimbo5544]

50 minutes ago, aborgman said:

 

 

I very specifically said they almost always make money off each room, but not each cruiser.

 

...and you disagreed with me.

well then you are right.  Now we can move on.

[JMAE]

4 hours ago, Joebucks said:

 

It would be interesting if they do count onboard spend. Today, most gamblers "only gamble like $200 total" and get free cruises and drinks. I bet the algorithm will be off again where all of these people will hold the top-tier titanium diamond++. 

On board spend has fluctuated but as of Q4, avg onboard spending per passenger was slightly over $600PP line wide.  

[firefly333]

20 minutes ago, JMAE said:

On board spend has fluctuated but as of Q4, avg onboard spending per passenger was slightly over $600PP line wide.  

I wonder how they count it? If I have $250 obc and spend $300, so end up with $50 billed, did I spend $50 or $300?

[MaryZ]

3 hours ago, tidecat said:

FWIW, sister line Holland America does take into account onboard spend:

 

https://www.hollandamerica.com/en/us/plan-a-cruise/get-ready-for-your-cruise/mariner-society

 

So in the case of HAL, someone who drops $15,000 in the casino would get 50 credits. There's also nothing that would prevent casino spending from being excluded if Carnival wanted to adopt something similar.

All casino charges, cash advances, Future Cruise deposits, and associated fees are excluded.
Direct from HAL's site
I'm a member of HAL also. 

[jimbo5544]

1 hour ago, JMAE said:

On board spend has fluctuated but as of Q4, avg onboard spending per passenger was slightly over $600PP line wide.  

I would put little faith in those numbers.  I trust they are accurate but totally misleading.  

[tidecat]

Per Carnival Corporation's Q4 financial statements, average onboard revenue per passenger cruise day (PCD) for fiscal year 2023 was approximately $82.34 ($7.526 billion / 91.4 million PCD).

[Elaine5715]

6 hours ago, Joebucks said:

 

It would be interesting if they do count onboard spend. Today, most gamblers "only gamble like $200 total" and get free cruises and drinks. I bet the algorithm will be off again where all of these people will hold the top-tier titanium diamond++. 

Yes, the infamous "I only spend" lie.  Can't even count the number of people I have watched feed $100 after $100 into a machine and then tell the spouse ""Still on my $40".   

A woman sat next to me and furiously fed a couple hundred into the machine without her S&S in the machine and wanted to know how to cash out.  Told her she needed to put her card in but she said she didn't want to.  I was "Why"? She said she didn't want "them" to find out so she spun until it was zero.  

[tha sista]

Just now, Elaine5715 said:

Yes, the infamous "I only spend" lie.  Can't even count the number of people I have watched feed $100 after $100 into a machine and then tell the spouse ""Still on my $40".   

A woman sat next to me and furiously fed a couple hundred into the machine without her S&S in the machine and wanted to know how to cash out.  Told her she needed to put her card in but she said she didn't want to.  I was "Why"? She said she didn't want "them" to find out so she spun until it was zero.  

🤦🏼‍♀️

[Elaine5715]

9 minutes ago, tidecat said:

Per Carnival Corporation's Q4 financial statements, average onboard revenue per passenger cruise day (PCD) for fiscal year 2023 was approximately $82.34 ($7.526 billion / 91.4 million PCD).

Which includes infants and kids...Cruise line profits come from onboard spend not cruise fare.

[VentureMan_2000]

Glad I turn Platinum in June.  

[ChinaShrek]

18 hours ago, anastasia3939 said:

Well, as a measly gold level cruiser, I hope they don't touch my (whoop-dee-doo!) free bottle of water!!

And that free drink on the last night! I always forget to do use that one!

[ChinaShrek]

I am slightly worried if they move to a spending model. What if someone gets a "free" room from the casino? How would I get credit for the room cost? What is the real room cost on a "free" room?

[staceyglow]

7 minutes ago, ChinaShrek said:

I am slightly worried if they move to a spending model. What if someone gets a "free" room from the casino? How would I get credit for the room cost? What is the real room cost on a "free" room?

Wouldn't you be spending in the casino?

[ChinaShrek]

10 minutes ago, staceyglow said:

Wouldn't you be spending in the casino?

Well, yes, but I don't always "lose" that much.

[Earthworm Jim]

18 hours ago, MaryZ said:

You certainly don't want Carnival to start consider spending as part of your loyalty status.

 

You may not want them to, and I may not want them to, but we both have to admit from a profit standpoint it makes sense that Carnival might want to encourage those who spend more to cruise more often via their loyalty program.

Edited March 23 by Earthworm Jim

[Earthworm Jim]

7 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

That said a change is coming, way overdo and totally needed to put some reality into the program.  

 

I can see why Carnival might think that, but I don't see why a passenger would think that. From a passenger point of view, what's the worst case result of there being too many platinums/diamonds? You only get some of the normal perks if there happens to be too many plat/dia on a particular cruise?

 

I guess it depends on whether the passenger thinks they'll still qualify for whatever status even if higher thresholds are put in place, so the passenger would be less likely to lose priority boarding/tendering on a given cruise under a revised loyalty system.

[jimbo5544]

1 hour ago, Earthworm Jim said:

 

I can see why Carnival might think that, but I don't see why a passenger would think that. From a passenger point of view, what's the worst case result of there being too many platinums/diamonds? You only get some of the normal perks if there happens to be too many plat/dia on a particular cruise?

 

I guess it depends on whether the passenger thinks they'll still qualify for whatever status even if higher thresholds are put in place, so the passenger would be less likely to lose priority boarding/tendering on a given cruise under a revised loyalty system.

There is only one road out.  Either they continue to dilute the product until it is meaningless and goes away or they make changes.  You simply cannot have 1/2 to 2/3 of the ship going for free drinks for an hour, or boarding early, or free laundry or whatever the perk is.  It is not a matter of who wins and who loses but whether they can make loyalty rewards work.  If they cannot it will be over.   

[jimbo5544]

2 hours ago, ChinaShrek said:

I am slightly worried if they move to a spending model. What if someone gets a "free" room from the casino? How would I get credit for the room cost? What is the real room cost on a "free" room?

There is no such thing as a free room.

[Colorado Beach Bum]

3 hours ago, tidecat said:

Per Carnival Corporation's Q4 financial statements, average onboard revenue per passenger cruise day (PCD) for fiscal year 2023 was approximately $82.34 ($7.526 billion / 91.4 million PCD).

Average means some will be less, some will be way more.  I’d be willing to bet they lose money on many passengers and it’s more than offset by the big spenders. 

[jimbo5544]

8 minutes ago, Colorado Beach Bum said:

Average means some will be less, some will be way more.  I’d be willing to bet they lose money on many passengers and it’s more than offset by the big spenders. 

You really think big spenders cover the cost for everyone that gets elite or ultra perks?

[Earthworm Jim]

5 minutes ago, jimbo5544 said:

You simply cannot have 1/2 to 2/3 of the ship...  

 

Is it really that bad? You would know better than I do, but based on my one platinum experience a couple of weeks ago on Horizon, I'd say there was maybe 200 people in the platinum, diamond, and suites lounge waiting to board. Sure, there was no doubt more of them arriving later, but 1/2 the ship seems impossible.

 

On a Discovery cruise I'd guess the numbers are higher of course.

[jimbo5544]

1 minute ago, Earthworm Jim said:

 

Is it really that bad? You would know better than I do, but based on my one platinum experience a couple of weeks ago on Horizon, I'd say there was maybe 200 people in the platinum, diamond, and suites lounge waiting to board. Sure, there was no doubt more of them arriving later, but 1/2 the ship seems impossible.

 

On a Discovery cruise I'd guess the numbers are higher of course.

It is certainly headed in that direction.  I have seen sailings where 2/3 of the ship are plat and diamond.  More and more get added every single sailing’

[Colorado Beach Bum]

1 minute ago, jimbo5544 said:

You really think big spenders cover the cost for everyone that gets elite or ultra perks?

I never said anything about elite or ultra perks.  Someone said carnival makes money on all passengers and I said it’s an average, some more, some less. 
 

But to answer your question - elite and ultra perks are covered by casino spending not other passenger non-casino spending

[mz-s]

2 hours ago, ChinaShrek said:

I am slightly worried if they move to a spending model. What if someone gets a "free" room from the casino? How would I get credit for the room cost? What is the real room cost on a "free" room?

 

Carnival knows who butters their bread. They're not going to piss off their gamblers. Don't worry.

[jimbo5544]

53 minutes ago, Colorado Beach Bum said:

I never said anything about elite or ultra perks.  Someone said carnival makes money on all passengers and I said it’s an average, some more, some less. 
 

But to answer your question - elite and ultra perks are covered by casino spending not other passenger non-casino spending

I am awayre of casino perks and who pays, I guess I misunderstood your post.