Milestone after new "platinum" changes

[yogimax]

When RCCL made the conversion from number of cruises to number of cruise days, they began by making the assumption that every previous cruise taken was a 7 day cruise...

 

Thus, even if you had ten 5 day cruises, you were given credit for 70 days.

 

It would be nice if Carnival does the same.

[firefly333]

When RCCL made the conversion from number of cruises to number of cruise days, they began by making the assumption that every previous cruise taken was a 7 day cruise...

 

Thus, even if you had ten 5 day cruises, you were given credit for 70 days.

 

It would be nice if Carnival does the same.

 

And then they added 3 bonus days, i.e Iv done 8 cruises, one in a JS (double), so thats 9 plus 3 bonus days, so Im short of being diamond (10 cruises) by only 4 days.

 

So, I would not be so worried on Carnival if you are not quite to the next tier. Im sure Carnival would not do something awful, knowing people would be upset.

[Buffettfan 225]

When RCCL made the conversion from number of cruises to number of cruise days, they began by making the assumption that every previous cruise taken was a 7 day cruise...

 

Thus, even if you had ten 5 day cruises, you were given credit for 70 days.

 

It would be nice if Carnival does the same.

In times where customer service is what makes you stand out...give cruisers what they want, recognition (it really doesn't cost that much)..give credit for longer cruises,bonus for upgraded amenities and perhaps as someone said..how about amount a person has spent. Yes, two people may cruise ten times and get Platinum, how about the family of five and on top of it bring a friend or their elderly parents, but sail barely every two yers because of cost? I am sure some cruiserers have paid many more nights for "others" in their party than shows in their status.

Cut some slack and figure out how to get take into account what competeing cruiselines loyalty programs are doing and even your sister ship line.

[yogimax]

In times where customer service is what makes you stand out...give cruisers what they want, recognition (it really doesn't cost that much)..give credit for longer cruises,bonus for upgraded amenities and perhaps as someone said..how about amount a person has spent. Yes, two people may cruise ten times and get Platinum, how about the family of five and on top of it bring a friend or their elderly parents, but sail barely every two yers because of cost? I am sure some cruiserers have paid many more nights for "others" in their party than shows in their status.

Cut some slack and figure out how to get take into account what competeing cruiselines loyalty programs are doing and even your sister ship line.

 

The dilemma for Carnival is that they are driven by pricing. Their cruises, on average, are significantly cheaper than RCCLs. This means there is less money to spend on extras like their loyalty program.

 

RCCL, on the other hand, charges more for cruises and can therefore spend more on their loyalty program which is significantly better than Carnival's.

 

One has to therefore make a decision... spend less and receive less in the way of a Carnival loyalty program OR spend more and receive more in the way of an RCCL loyalty program.

[SNJCruisers]

When RCCL made the conversion from number of cruises to number of cruise days, they began by making the assumption that every previous cruise taken was a 7 day cruise...

 

Thus, even if you had ten 5 day cruises, you were given credit for 70 days.

 

It would be nice if Carnival does the same.

 

Why should Carnival continue to reward those that accumulate short cruises. Under the current program, you could achieve platinum in only 30 days if all 10 cruises were 3 days each. If you were able to achieve it, more power to you. But if you're going to be grandfathered in at the new platinum level of 75 and you receive those benefits even though you only have 30 days...well, you can't have it both ways. You don't deserve to gain an additional 45 days without spending a dime. You'll still get the benefits of achieving platinum at the 75 day mark, but it'll just take you many more cruises to ever reach the 225 level.

[Buffettfan 225]

The dilemma for Carnival is that they are driven by pricing. Their cruises, on average, are significantly cheaper than RCCLs. This means there is less money to spend on extras like their loyalty program.

 

RCCL, on the other hand, charges more for cruises and can therefore spend more on their loyalty program which is significantly better than Carnival's.

 

One has to therefore make a decision... spend less and receive less in the way of a Carnival loyalty program OR spend more and receive more in the way of an RCCL loyalty program.

That is a great point, just which it was more uniform.

[firefly333]

Why should Carnival continue to reward those that accumulate short cruises. Under the current program, you could achieve platinum in only 30 days if all 10 cruises were 3 days each. If you were able to achieve it, more power to you. But if you're going to be grandfathered in at the new platinum level of 75 and you receive those benefits even though you only have 30 days...well, you can't have it both ways. You don't deserve to gain an additional 45 days without spending a dime. You'll still get the benefits of achieving platinum at the 75 day mark, but it'll just take you many more cruises to ever reach the 225 level.

 

Id take a wager on this .. I bet that they will grandfather in people with short cruises at full value (7 days probably), and only cruises going forward count for the exact days.

[imatexan]

Silly question here;

 

Say you book a cruise, pay for it fully and for some reason, can't go. Do you still get credit? For either program?

[firefly333]

Silly question here;

 

Say you book a cruise, pay for it fully and for some reason, can't go. Do you still get credit? For either program?

 

No cruiseline gives you credit for a cruise that you dont actually take.

 

Not carnival or any other line.

[Buffettfan 225]

Silly question here;

 

Say you book a cruise, pay for it fully and for some reason, can't go. Do you still get credit? For either program?

Have to admit...got me scratching my head on that question..will be interesting to read replies.

[kicia]

I don't see anywhere that 75 days equal Platinum.

 

There are four tiers: tier one is 1 - 24 days which would be equal to the current Gold; tier two is 25 - 74 days which would be equal to the current Platinum; tier three is 75 - 224 days which would be equal to the current Milestone; and tier four is 225+ days which is a new category.

 

Where are people seeing that you have to have 75 days to be equivalent to the current Platinum level?

[coachj]

24-74 days would create a gazillion platinum members and would not reach carnival's goal of reducing special favors. 75 and above with those being grandfathered in would be more reasonable to the beancounters. This change is generated by too many at a certain level. They certainly are not going to further break the model to please anyone except the beancounters. Just my opinion.

[Dorene1]

I thought it was already changed, just did a cruise (5 day) and I have done 18 cruises with Carnival. I didnt get any notification of the wash/fold nor did I get anything about the $20.00 casino slot.

 

I was very dissapointed, would like to know what to expect next time.

 

 

Dorene

[breenw]

Dorene1: Seriously? After 18 cruises you don't know how platinum works???? You need to review the benefits for each level on the Carnival website then when you board, you will know what to "ask" for. The $20 casino benefit is for the slot or blackjack tournament. It is up to you to go to the casino to get your free entry ticket. If you want your laundry washed, you put it in the paper bag in your cabin closet, write your name, cabin # and "Platinum" on it, and leave it for your room steward.

[geckog]

I don't see anywhere that 75 days equal Platinum.

 

There are four tiers: tier one is 1 - 24 days which would be equal to the current Gold; tier two is 25 - 74 days which would be equal to the current Platinum; tier three is 75 - 224 days which would be equal to the current Milestone; and tier four is 225+ days which is a new category.

 

Where are people seeing that you have to have 75 days to be equivalent to the current Platinum level?

 

I agree with you. 75 days is 25 3-day cruises. The range of 25 to 100 cruises correlates more with the large range of this category. Everyone seems to be assuming that they are adding a level on the low end, but I think they are adding a level at the high end.

[Dorene1]

Dorene1: Seriously? After 18 cruises you don't know how platinum works???? You need to review the benefits for each level on the Carnival website then when you board, you will know what to "ask" for. The $20 casino benefit is for the slot or blackjack tournament. It is up to you to go to the casino to get your free entry ticket. If you want your laundry washed, you put it in the paper bag in your cabin closet, write your name, cabin # and "Platinum" on it, and leave it for your room steward.

 

wow, do you have a life!!!!

 

never did I need to request anything.....I had alway.....had a letter attached to the bag in my cabin stating all the information , and for the slot tournament, it was in my cabin as well a paper stating to bring this to the casino for a free chance. Yes, this was always but only for 8 other cruises but not this one.....

 

BTW.....you are rude......Seriously

 

Dorene

[near the beach]

About the only Gold card perk is the past guest party if the cruise is over five days.

 

I wonder if they will change the amount of Platinum perks if they add new levels. When Carnival said that Milestone cruises will not be effected. I guess they mean in the percentage of on board credit for the Milestone cruise.

 

I keep reading the middle of 2012 is when it takes effect. I would think that they would announce what it the new and improved Past Guest Recognition Program will be some time before it actually take place.

 

I for one hope they don’t copy RCCL.

[Cruiser_SG77]

I for one like the idea of becoming platinum after 75 days at sea with Carnival as I always book 8 day cruises out of NYC. I will become platinum after 9.375 cruises instead of 10!! :p

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

But, it seems a new program is on the way. Knowing Carnival it will be a trend setter.

 

I take that as humor... right?

 

:)

 

Tom

[okgirl]

I don't see anywhere that 75 days equal Platinum.

 

There are four tiers: tier one is 1 - 24 days which would be equal to the current Gold; tier two is 25 - 74 days which would be equal to the current Platinum; tier three is 75 - 224 days which would be equal to the current Milestone; and tier four is 225+ days which is a new category.

 

Where are people seeing that you have to have 75 days to be equivalent to the current Platinum level?

 

My impression is that Tier one (1-24 days) is equal to a Blue card with maybe some invitation to the past guest party if it's actually your 2nd cruise within that tier.

 

Tier two is 25-74 days and is equivalent to Gold card.

 

Tier three is 75-224 days which is Platinum

 

Tier four is 225+ and get's you to your milestone credits.

 

The problem with this is how are they going to actually count cruises toward milestone? With tier three being up to 224 days that could be anything from 74.6 three day cruises to 32 seven day cruises and so on.

 

If you are suppose to get 25, 50, 75% credit after those corresponding cruises then there is the potential for a person that only takes 3 day cruises to get their 25% credit when they only have 75 points.

[SNJCruisers]

I don't see anywhere that 75 days equal Platinum.

 

There are four tiers: tier one is 1 - 24 days which would be equal to the current Gold; tier two is 25 - 74 days which would be equal to the current Platinum; tier three is 75 - 224 days which would be equal to the current Milestone; and tier four is 225+ days which is a new category.

 

Where are people seeing that you have to have 75 days to be equivalent to the current Platinum level?

 

Tier one is the current BLUE...tier two is the current GOLD...tier three is the current PLATINUM...tier four is the current WHITE. How can milestone, which you need 25 cruises to make, be able to be accomplished in the future with only 75 days sailed? Oh, I know, you're aiming to get milestone with 25 three day cruises and that's how you came up with your wrong assumption about the proposed new program.

[SNJCruisers]

I agree with you. 75 days is 25 3-day cruises. The range of 25 to 100 cruises correlates more with the large range of this category. Everyone seems to be assuming that they are adding a level on the low end, but I think they are adding a level at the high end.

 

 

Another poster living in fantasyland....why don't you switch your allegiance to Disney Cruise Line...you'll fit in better there.;)

[Litewait]

wow, do you have a life!!!!

 

never did I need to request anything.....I had alway.....had a letter attached to the bag in my cabin stating all the information , and for the slot tournament, it was in my cabin as well a paper stating to bring this to the casino for a free chance. Yes, this was always but only for 8 other cruises but not this one.....

 

Dorene

 

I also have 18 cruises with Carnival and 2 children that are platinum..Never received a letter telling me about the laundry or slot tournament. I asked the steward and went to the casino and asked..

 

What ships have you been on that they gave you that??

[geckog]

Another poster living in fantasyland....why don't you switch your allegiance to Disney Cruise Line...you'll fit in better there.;)

 

Anyone with the slightest bit of marketing sense knows that you do not create new loyal customers by making it harder to get perks that have value to a customer but cost next to nothing. Carnival, if nothing else, knows how to invest in its marketing.

 

The most expensive perks Carnival gives its repeat customers are the Past Guest Party and the Milestone OBC at 25, 50, 75, and 100 cruises. Those little gifts, VIP, and laundry are chump change, and an investment in future business. Carnival would be stupid to make these things harder to get. You will see Past Guest parties reduced before you will see them force you to take more than 10 short cruises to get VIP and free laundry.

[imatexan]

OK, so question;

 

We have 8 cruises with 64 days. Number 9 & 10 are booked (April 2012/7 days & Oct 2012/12 days)

 

That would put me at 73 cruising days upon completion. Now I could squeeze in a 4 day before Oct 2012 which would put me at 77 days upon completion of all.

 

Under the new guidelines, will I be platinum when I board in Oct 2012 or does it start on the 76th day?