Milestone after new "platinum" changes

[SNJCruisers]

The whole point of Carnival giving you something is that it is a logo item. Something with their name on it that will give advertising to people when someone sees you using it. It's also something that you will have long after the cruise to remind you of the good times you had. If you get drink coupons, OBC, etc. you don't have anything to take with you. The problem with the logo items is when people cruise frequently, which most Platinum and Milestone cruisers certainly do, then they accumulate a large quantity of logo items that are either given away or stored someplace. How many of anything can you use? I still like the original tote bags the best but the new backpacks are nice too. There probably is no one thing that everyone will like and use so I wish there was a selection to choose from. They also need to change the available items at least once per year and still have a selection. I hope all this happens soon because I want it in place before the end of Auugst. If it's supposed to be announced in the Spring then we have two more months. We'll see how they really do with this.

The marketing strategy of giving away a logo item makes sense, but it does bug me that Royal Caribbean gives their diamond members a 2 1/2 hour open bar each evening from 530-800 and we can't even get some buy one get one free drink coupons from Carnival.

[mcfam5]

FYI - Just read this info on John's blog....

 

Brenda asked:

Hi John

We have sailed with you twice now on the Carnival Freedom in the Med and this past summer on the Carnival Magic in the Med. We are currently Platinum with 22 cruises (my 10 yr old has 22 cruises too!). How will this work with the new loyalty program. We are only three cruises from Milestone with three future cruises booked (Dec. 2012 July 2013 and Dec 2013). How close do we have to be to be grandfathered into the milestone program? This will be a real bummer if we miss it and we are this close! Please let me know. Lastly, will you be on the Legend in the Baltic in 2013? Thanks.

John says:

Hello Brenda

I am getting lots of questions like this and it is quite understandable, of course. We are now just a very short time away from announcing the new loyalty program and the four different levels that this will be based on. Looking at the fact that you are this close to Milestone and with three cruises booked you should have no worries or concerns about you getting the top level. More details to come soon and yes indeed, I will see you on the beautiful Carnival Legend.

Best wishes and thanks for your brilliant loyalty.

John

[michiganirish]

I called Carnival yesterday to book 2014 and change 2013 sailing and asked about the program and when it was going to be announced. the answer was within the next 2 weeks - i voiced my concerns about what i like about being plat etc and didn't want to loose any of the benefits. she kept telling me no to worry it was going to be better and i would like it. well see

[Snorkel2Much]

...<snip>... Seriously, can anyone here really think of an item that would be loved by everyone?

 

Cash

 

So true! :p

Doubt it. Some of the loyalist/employee/shareholder/cheerleaders here would complain about the loss of Carnival profit.

[jameshills]

To those of you who are anticipating the Past Guest Party being cut in the new program, or "harder to reach" as a perk - that is pretty much a marketing shtick ... get all of us "likely future cruisers" in a room, get us liquored up (or at least on a sugar high since there seems to be very little actual alcohol in the free drinks) and then sell us on the cool upcoming itineraries and news about Carnival.

 

Let's face it - it is a fun event, but I am sure it also results in a sales lift for the organization.

 

Assuming that's true, I doubt that will be made more difficult!

[PAPERBKWRITER]

Why someone would actually take extra cruises so they can achieve some sort of VIP status doesn't make sense to me. Yeah, the free laundry is nice, so is priority emb. and beb. but IMO the past guest party and the free slot/blackjack tourney are no big deal. The logo gifts are nice and so is the choclate strawberries but I think the majority of Carnival cruisers choose Carnival because of competative prices. I sail on most lines and look for bargains. I just booked a 15 day Celebrity (great price and itinerary not out of loyality) I think Carnival is very generous with platinum guests (no so much with milestone) but would like to see match play coupons (casino) like RCCL does.

[martinchem]

Some of us cruise because we like to cruise and any VIP status is just a bonus.

[BommeRRang]

I kinda like all the free stuffs they give me. Except does anyone want a notebook and pen. I got 5 of them. Now thy gonna take away the free laugndry wash. I know I read abou t that here.

[wanderingjew]

on fb carnival said august for the new plan i guess my guess of june 31 was wrong LOL

[cruzn buckeye]

on fb carnival said august for the new plan i guess my guess of june 31 was wrong LOL

 

when was this on facebook? Was it the JH facebook page of CCl fb page?

[cruiserguy11]

Some of us cruise because we like to cruise and any VIP status is just a bonus.

 

Exactly.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

on fb carnival said august for the new plan i guess my guess of june 31 was wrong LOL

 

Basically at this point no matter what you are told (or what you read), no matter by who, is worthless. When it happens, it happens... and when it does, expect problems!!!

 

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[Texarribean Chick]

Basically at this point no matter what you are told (or what you read), no matter by who, is worthless. When it happens, it happens... and when it does, expect problems!!!

 

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

No doubt on that statement! I am cruising next month (#23), in September (#24) and was hoping to book next October 2013, 15 day Hawaiian for our Milestone, 10th wedding anniversary cruise. If CCL screws me out of that - I am NOT going to be happy!

[golfadj]

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?

 

Until they announce the new program how could anyone here give you a correct answer?

[ChefSusan]

Whatever the new Carnival Loyalty program is, we will be happy with it.

 

With the current Carnival Platinum program:

• Complimentary laundry? Love it and we use it at least 2-3 times a cruise.
  
• Priority Embarkation/Debarkation at the ships's home port? Love the priority embarkation, sometimes we use the priority debarkation and sometimes we don't. All depends on our mood and how quickly we want to go home.
  
• Priority debarkation for tender ports? Again, sometimes we use it and sometimes we don't. All depends on what type of excursion we have planned.
  
• Guaranteed Dining Option (Priority)? Love it, especially if we book late and YTD is not available. Also love that this extends to the "for pay" dinner areas (Cucina, Steakhouse).
  
• Carnival logo item? Like it but we wish that we were able to choose from a variety of items.
  
• Complimentary appetizer/dessert item? Like it but we wish that we were able to choose from a variety of items.
  
• Entry into the slots or blackjack tournament? I use it my husband does not. I wish we could get both!
  
• Past Guest Cocktail Party? It's a joke with the number of Past Guests. They should have three - one for those who are at the Past Guest level, one for those that are at the Platinum level, and one for those who are lucky to be Milestone cruisers.
  

THAT BEING SAID.....

 

What I would love to see as benefits for Platinum and above:

• Priority embarkation for tender ports. If they ever offered it, we may or may not use it. Not really ever in a rush to get back on board, as we usually select Your Time Dining for our dinner option.
  
• Drink coupons for at least two complimentary cocktails that can be used at any bar.
  
• A discount on Internet service, and/or complimentary up to a certain point.
  
• A private lounge for Platinum and above so that we have an opportunity to meet others at this level. This lounge would also serve light breakfast, lunch, and appetizers before dinner.
  

Will these ever come to fruition? Wild dream but you never know...

[Mizzouaholic]

What i would like to see added at the platinum level would be reserved seats to all of the shows. Maybe block off the first 5 or 6 rows in the theatre for platinum cruisers and just make them available to everyone else about 10 minutes before show time if they havent already filled up.

[TheTravelista]

• A private lounge for Platinum and above so that we have an opportunity to meet others at this level. This lounge would also serve light breakfast, lunch, and appetizers before dinner.
  

 

This is all I want. Seriously. I am so JEALOUS of RCIs Diamond Lounge!

 

And a cocktail party just for Platinum and above. The past guests parties are so overcrowded now, I can kind of see why they had to cut back on the quality of the appetizers they serve. Not saying the other past guests don't deserve a party, they do. I just would like something separate and a bit more intimate.

[golfadj]

Whatever the new Carnival Loyalty program is, we will be happy with it.

 

• Priority embarkation for tender ports. If they ever offered it, we may or may not use it. Not really ever in a rush to get back on board, as we usually select Your Time Dining for our dinner option.
  
• 
  

 

According to John we already have this and have used it at HMC and GC

[golfadj]

Basically at this point no matter what you are told (or what you read), no matter by who, is worthless. When it happens, it happens... and when it does, expect problems!!!

 

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

Will it ever happen? Based on their taking stuff away from us so far they might take even more stuff away with the new program.

 

The best thing they give us is the free laundry and if they reduce it to once we would be rather upset.

[AtSeaWithChris]

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.

I think they will do that. They will grandfather those already platinum and for everyone, platinum and those below, will get days to substitute cruises. Any cruises less than 7 days will score 7 days. Platinum Members will have 75 or more days. People with 9 cruises will have 63 days. Etc. Jmo

[SNJCruisers]

Will it ever happen? Based on their taking stuff away from us so far they might take even more stuff away with the new program.

 

The best thing they give us is the free laundry and if they reduce it to once we would be rather upset.

Stu....read on another thread that a PVP said that she had just seen a training video that stated that cruises from 3-5 days would be reduced to 2 free days of laundry and 6 or more days would be reduced to three.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1631933

[golfadj]

Stu....read on another thread that a PVP said that she had just seen a training video that stated that cruises from 3-5 days would be reduced to 2 free days of laundry and 6 or more days would be reduced to three.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1631933

 

I read that this morning. Carnival is in the process of losing us. We have another Carnival cruise in Sept and than an NCL at which point we will decide which one is better for us.

 

Right now with declining entertainment on Carnival and lots of people telling us NCL has better entertainment thinking we will say bye to Carnival, especially if these platinum cutbacks continue.

[SkyMaster]

What i would like to see added at the platinum level would be reserved seats to all of the shows. Maybe block off the first 5 or 6 rows in the theatre for platinum cruisers and just make them available to everyone else about 10 minutes before show time if they havent already filled up.

 

GREAT idea IMO! One of the main things I cruise for is the entertainment, and I LOVE sitting first row center. In order to sit there, I usually arrive in the theater 45 minutes to one hour before showtime. The perk mentioned above would be absolutely wonderful,,,,at least for me!

 

"SKY"

[NCTribeFan]

Seriously? You'd leave because you can only get free laundry every other day?

 

I don't even use it. I don't live in cotton t-shirts and cargo shorts. Would never think of sending my clothes to be put through those industrial washers and dryers, let alone change cruiselines because I didn't a freebie as often as I wanted. :rolleyes:

 

The only perk I use is embarkation, tendering, the rare visit to the purser's desk, and whatever edible goodies they deliver to the cabin.

 

I don't "do" the entertainment very often, either. I actually prefer that vocalists have good voices and be good singers! I rarely find the comedy amusing. I don't care about jugglers or magicians. I detested the steel bands at poolside because they made me feel like my ears were going to bleed they were so awful.

 

I honestly do not see all these "cutbacks" that everyone whines about here. I'm just as happy with my cruises now as I was 10+ years ago.

 

The only reason I research other cruiselines is because I'm mostly solo now and since Carnival did away with their 150% solo rate, I need other options.

 

Whatever cruiseline gives me the best value for my cruising dollar is where you'll find me.

 

Really think there's just WAY too much fuss being made about all this. Have said from Day One that I feel a system more like HAL's is much more equitable (#days plus onboard spending plus bonus for suites).

 

If people are really going to base their cruise choices on whether or not they get a perk or two, then so be it. Go to another line. As long as Carnival's prices are as low as they are, they'll continue to sell out. As a shareholder, I'm fine with that, too!

[lucigo]

There are no Gold benefits.. If they stick with the days as have been posted people will be Gold waaaay longer. I think thats the point at Gold you get nada and you stay there longer. When you hit what looks like the "Platinum" level your there from 75 to 224 night (which is BS in my opinion) again creating a looong wait to get to the next tier. They are speculating the new program will start mid 2012. I'd be trying to get the current platinum before that happens.. as they are saying you will be grandfathered into it.

 

This will be a change for the worse for new cruisers, I have 13 cruises completed and only 70 days at sea.