Carnival loyalty means nothing anymore

[JMAE]

I agree with a time interval to maintain a level. 

 

I wonder when the new program is established will CCL provide a period of time prior to implementation to allow cruises reach a higher program level like last time.  But knowing the issue of the number of cruisers at higher levels, I can see CCL saying no to new bookings to achieve a higher level but allowing you to achieve a new level if you were booked prior to the announcement date.  But with that said, in 2012 when VIFP was established CCL's transition plan allowed individuals to purchase a cruise(s) during the transition period to achieve a high program level prior to the switch from the number of cruises to cruise day counts to achieve a level, this was good for marketing plan.     

[jimbo5544]

38 minutes ago, JMAE said:

I agree with a time interval to maintain a level. 

 

I wonder when the new program is established will CCL provide a period of time prior to implementation to allow cruises reach a higher program level like last time.  But knowing the issue of the number of cruisers at higher levels, I can see CCL saying no to new bookings to achieve a higher level but allowing you to achieve a new level if you were booked prior to the announcement date.  But with that said, in 2012 when VIFP was established CCL's transition plan allowed individuals to purchase a cruise(s) during the transition period to achieve a high program level prior to the switch from the number of cruises to cruise day counts to achieve a level, this was good for marketing plan.     

All good questions.  While this would be the easiest way to implement changes to the program, it may not even be what they change.  

[AmanaCruise2]

I'm almost dreading to hear what the changes will be to the updated loyalty program. I am not offered any casino offers. We have reached diamond level by paying for each and every cruise, balconies or suites only. We also pay for our own drinks, specialty restaurant meals, etc. We have made our choices willingly and appreciate the perks offered to us. We have talked to fellow cruisers who are booked on many free casino offers per year, some averaging 15 free cruises yearly. To hear that there may be higher loyalty levels to be achieved and knowing the guests who have paid a small percentage of what I have spent will soon be in those higher levels, while it might take me many years to reach the same level, is discouraging to say the least. I've read ALL the posts stating the casino cruisers are the ones bringing in the highest revenue to Carnival. Maybe it's time for paying guests to have their own loyalty program different from the casino cruisers who not only cruise for free, but are offered gifts, drinks, $$, specialty restaurant meals, transportation to the port, etc. etc. I'm in the same loyalty level as casino cruisers who tell me that it DOESN'T pay for them NOT to cruise, and I'm choosing the few cruises yearly that we can afford. Maybe it really is time to start booking with other cruise lines not owned by Carnival. 

[Diamond-56-Plus]

8 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

All opinions are valid, posting here and the back and forth is what makes this site better.  I could care less if someone posts a couple times or tens of thousands.  It has absolutely nothing to do with the discussion….but that is JMHO.  

Sorry it was not directed towards you, just an observation to the original OP but please continue, always fun reading material for the john.😉

[jsglow]

I fully support a program where VIFP lifetime points can be sunsetted if the individual doesn't somewhat regularly cruise.

[BlerkOne]

I don't see points expiring. Carnival is a family cruise line and families can't cruise as often as gamblers. I can see those on free cruises not accumulating any loyalty points - that's what helped wreck the program in the first place.

 

I can see a menu of perks to pick from with limits on each cruise. When the limit is reached, oh well. Those that still have availability can be sold to those who wouldn't otherwise qualify.

[jimbo5544]

2 hours ago, Diamond-56-Plus said:

Sorry it was not directed towards you, just an observation to the original OP but please continue, always fun reading material for the john.😉

"the John"?

[jimbo5544]

5 hours ago, AmanaCruise2 said:

I'm almost dreading to hear what the changes will be to the updated loyalty program. I am not offered any casino offers. We have reached diamond level by paying for each and every cruise, balconies or suites only. We also pay for our own drinks, specialty restaurant meals, etc. We have made our choices willingly and appreciate the perks offered to us. We have talked to fellow cruisers who are booked on many free casino offers per year, some averaging 15 free cruises yearly. To hear that there may be higher loyalty levels to be achieved and knowing the guests who have paid a small percentage of what I have spent will soon be in those higher levels, while it might take me many years to reach the same level, is discouraging to say the least. I've read ALL the posts stating the casino cruisers are the ones bringing in the highest revenue to Carnival. Maybe it's time for paying guests to have their own loyalty program different from the casino cruisers who not only cruise for free, but are offered gifts, drinks, $$, specialty restaurant meals, transportation to the port, etc. etc. I'm in the same loyalty level as casino cruisers who tell me that it DOESN'T pay for them NOT to cruise, and I'm choosing the few cruises yearly that we can afford. Maybe it really is time to start booking with other cruise lines not owned by Carnival. 

With any luck and true insight, the two programs will be mutually exclusive, in all facets.

[jimbo5544]

1 hour ago, jsglow said:

I fully support a program where VIFP lifetime points can be sunsetted if the individual doesn't somewhat regularly cruise.

agreed

[mz-s]

Coming to this thread late. Carnival is sailing full by and large. My last minute free cruise offers are nowhere near as plentiful as they were. That said it's really crappy they offered priority to suite guests but not VIFP. If there are too many people to have priority using their rubric (suites, VIFP diamond and platinum), then the only fair way to do it is nobody gets it. But Carnival doesn't ask us what is fair, they write the rules.

[mz-s]

52 minutes ago, jimbo5544 said:

"the John"?

commode

[jimbo5544]

54 minutes ago, mz-s said:

commode

Got it, was just adding a little more humor….I thought,

[jimbo5544]

56 minutes ago, mz-s said:

Coming to this thread late. Carnival is sailing full by and large. My last minute free cruise offers are nowhere near as plentiful as they were. That said it's really crappy they offered priority to suite guests but not VIFP. If there are too many people to have priority using their rubric (suites, VIFP diamond and platinum), then the only fair way to do it is nobody gets it. But Carnival doesn't ask us what is fair, they write the rules.

Just like every other cruise line.  

[mz-s]

16 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

Just like every other cruise line.  

 

Why is that always the retort? Does that somehow excuse the behavior, or make it unworthy of discussion? Two wrongs don't make a right.

[mz-s]

16 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

Got it, was just adding a little more humor….I thought,

 

Humor doesn't always come across over text, especially to me - I can be a little slow on the uptake sometimes.

[staceyglow]

18 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

I don't see points expiring. Carnival is a family cruise line and families can't cruise as often as gamblers.

It's a loyalty program. If you are only cruising on Carnival every 3 or 4 years, are you really all that loyal? 

 

Loyalty programs are meant to incentivize the members to use their product instead of the competition's. In other words, they want those families you mention to take a Carnival cruise as their annual vacation instead of going on Royal Caribbean or to the beach. Now, whether Carnival's program is actually successful in that regard is a separate conversation. 

 

Most airline loyalty programs take points away from you if you haven't flown with them in a few years. There is no reason why a cruise line couldn't do the same. 

[BlerkOne]

10 minutes ago, staceyglow said:

It's a loyalty program. If you are only cruising on Carnival every 3 or 4 years, are you really all that loyal? 

 

Loyalty programs are meant to incentivize the members to use their product instead of the competition's. In other words, they want those families you mention to take a Carnival cruise as their annual vacation instead of going on Royal Caribbean or to the beach. Now, whether Carnival's program is actually successful in that regard is a separate conversation. 

 

Most airline loyalty programs take points away from you if you haven't flown with them in a few years. There is no reason why a cruise line couldn't do the same. 

If you are a young family that could easily be all you can afford and yes, you are loyal.

 

Carnival is absolutely NOT interested in a bribe war with other cruise lines and airlines are irrelevant. I expect Carnival to beef up the lowest and lower levels of their program and cut from the top. Get rid of some of the biggest complainers and keep the ships fun.

[JMAE]

I think there should be one exception on time limits, if you cruise on one of CCLs family of cruise lines. 

[staceyglow]

44 minutes ago, JMAE said:

I think there should be one exception on time limits, if you cruise on one of CCLs family of cruise lines. 

One hundred percent.  And my #1 request for improvement of the loyalty program is to have one overall loyalty program among all of the Carnival lines.

[jimbo5544]

3 hours ago, mz-s said:

 

Why is that always the retort? Does that somehow excuse the behavior, or make it unworthy of discussion? Two wrongs don't make a right.

It is the answer when it applies.  If all cruise lines do it, then it is an accepted practice, in my view, it makes a difference if it were unique (just Carnival) as opposed to the way the industry operates.  Keeps everyone on an even keel. Another way of stating it, if they all do it, then it is not wrong, it is what they do. Does not mean a poster has to like it.

[jimbo5544]

3 hours ago, JMAE said:

I think there should be one exception on time limits, if you cruise on one of CCLs family of cruise lines. 

While I might agree, it will never happen.

[jimbo5544]

2 hours ago, staceyglow said:

One hundred percent.  And my #1 request for improvement of the loyalty program is to have one overall loyalty program among all of the Carnival lines.

Same answer as post 101

[Ghia]

I recently completed a transpacific cruise and there were so many platinum and diamond cruisers that there was no priority embarking or debarking and no diamond/platinum line at guest services. I did love that I could get several bags of laundry done and came home with most of my clothes already cleaned and they gave a cute little tote bag that I will put to use. 

[jimbo5544]

1 hour ago, Ghia said:

I recently completed a transpacific cruise and there were so many platinum and diamond cruisers that there was no priority embarking or debarking and no diamond/platinum line at guest services. I did love that I could get several bags of laundry done and came home with most of my clothes already cleaned and they gave a cute little tote bag that I will put to use. 

That is def not uncommon for unique longer cruises that tend to attract Diamonds and plats.  While unique in nature, it does emulate the problem that they have.

[BlerkOne]

1 hour ago, Ghia said:

I recently completed a transpacific cruise and there were so many platinum and diamond cruisers that there was no priority embarking or debarking and no diamond/platinum line at guest services. I did love that I could get several bags of laundry done and came home with most of my clothes already cleaned and they gave a cute little tote bag that I will put to use. 

I think likely many were casino cruisers which just makes things worse