Just off Magic, Gold VIFP just so so

[Cruisingzs]

We just got off the Magic yesterday. Great time. We were gold level on the new VIFP program and wanted to give some info as it is so new.

 

Upon arrival in cabin you will find a lapel pin (cute) and a half sheet (long ways)sized card welcoming you. There is a perferated coupon for your free drink. You must take this in to the MDR with you with a Sail and Sign card to confirm it is really you trying to get the drink. It's very easy to lose this thing with all the paperwork of the first day. Our server looked a little peeved to deal with it. But as my DH noticed. They will not get the auto gratuity from this and it slows them down from serving others who may have that tip. And we lost two of our four and we tried very hard to keep up with them. FYI...

 

The invitation to the cocktail party comes to the room as they always have but again with the perferated personalized card to take to the party. It was scheduled for 45 minutes but most people were gone after 30. I would say less than 75 people were there

 

Thoughts on the party- Yes there are better appetizers- a faccacia bread with pesto, mozzerella and thin ham, fried cheesy chicken ball and fried zucchini (VERY small bites) and a cup of cold mashed potatoes with a cold square of steak on top. They were yummy (except for the cold potatoes). But at the past parties, you got a choice of several drinks, including wine and beer. You were given a punch drink (tasted like a Mai Tai) and only one and then another similar but different drink- no deviations. Though the drinks were good, it was too much sweetness for us. And dont try to get refills, the servers were in no hurry to serve the first drink and actually ignored a few passengers who were trying to get more.

 

The two passengers with the most cruises logged were called on stage and given 20 free raffle tickets for the future cruise drawing and they got their picture with the captain

 

They had a nice video of the history of Carnival but if you saw it more than once, not so much. Then the main crew members were presented like at the old captain cocktail parties and then they did a little conga line and threw Mardi Gras beads to honor the Mardi Gras ship (1st Carnival ship). Then the cruise director had 20 people come on stage and do line dancing. That part was very boring most people left..

 

For my family, in the future we will skip this party. Too much trouble for two free drinks that we personally would not usually drink. But if you like the freebies, by all means go. But it was a step down to us from the old parties where there was variety of choices in drinks.

 

Just wanted to give an overview since it is so new and I know how we all like our info.

 

For us, the main benefit for this program will come when you receive the free laundry service at Diamond and Platinum..

[firefly333]

Ive never ordered anything special during this party, they are too busy and lucky to get a drink or two during the old party. So no difference to me. I usually skipped it, more times than I went. Dont like the old free drinks.

[Cruisingzs]

I know our first few cruises, if you are near the bar, they would get you a beer instead of wine or whatever. Other cruises had beer and wine on the tray. We did the Farewell party last summer on the Liberty and they actually took orders. Some variety would have been nice.

But even if they gave you info about future iteneraries or something, it would have been nicer than watching people line dancing.

In the end we figured it wasn't worth our time and we wont go next time. But then again maybe that is what Carnival is hoping for. I wanted it to reflect what CCL had said about it not being a cost cutting measure. But it sure looked like it.

 

And before those folks chime in about me not going will just be more drinks for them.. the servers are obviosly told to not be over generous..

[grozas]

And people spent $$$ of dollars and vacation days to earn these "perks"?

[DEBnGAB]

I know our first few cruises, if you are near the bar, they would get you a beer instead of wine or whatever. Other cruises had beer and wine on the tray.

 

In the past we tipped a few bucks and they'd bring us whatever we wanted....just wondering if you might have tried it and it didnt work.

[dadof2boys]

Ive never ordered anything special during this party, they are too busy and lucky to get a drink or two during the old party. So no difference to me. I usually skipped it, more times than I went. Dont like the old free drinks.

 

I don't think the OP was saying they ordered something special. It sounds like it went from the large selection they used to offer (beer, wine, blue margarita, whisky sour, fruit punch sans alcohol or with, rum punch, etc.) I mean there was quit a few choices. I for one am sad to see them go. Apparently you didn't drink any of the old drinks and skipped the party, but for the rest of us it was actually a rather nice time.

 

I haven't had the chance to attend any of the new parties yet. OP, I hope this was just your experience and it will get better as they get used to the new program. I guess we shall see. Thanks for reporting back.

[maggieworkman]

We are going on the Dream at the end of August and I expect to be Gold on that cruise (will reach the 25 day mark during cruise). So I am interested in what you had to say.

 

The appetizers sound better. There wasn't anything at the old party that I would eat. All of them had something that I didn't like on it. But the new ones sound good.

 

However, I do not like Mai Tais so I hope I am not limited to that. At the past parties, the servers usually had a tray of a variety of drinks and I was able to pick one from there that I liked.

 

Was Funship Freddy there?

 

Thanks for the review.

 

Maggie

[golfadj]

Thanks for the review. Guess the party was not quite brilliant.

[Cruisingzs]

The cruise director said the party was "hosted" by the Prime Steak house, Cucina de Capitano and the Red Frog pub which is why there were three different appetizers- one from each.

 

Yes, the person next to me tried to order a beer. The server said they only had the offered drinks. They were actually offered one at a time. The first round was one drink. The next round was the other. There were virgin versions offered. The folks next to me wanted a glass of water and it took forever.

[rh3]

I'll skip it too not because I'm not curious, but because my friend is new to cruising and has too few days on ccl. I've been platinum for a while and seem to recall that a quest could come along. May be wrong about that but won't leave her for a couple of free foo foo drinks. She'll be gold after legend next week when we sail Destiny over New Years Eve.

[nybumpkin]

The two passengers with the most cruises logged were called on stage and given 20 free raffle tickets for the future cruise drawing and they got their picture with the captain

Geez, on Pride two weeks ago we got the photo with the Captain but no raffle tickets.:p

 

We're Platinum. We never used the drink coupons because they were good only at breakfast or lunch in the MDR and we stayed with Lido for both meals. Did use the laundry service; for five of us (four Platinum, one my nephew who was a first-time cruiser), we used a total of five laundry bags for the week. With three bags allotted per Platinum passenger, we could have sent out seven more bags but just didn't have the laundry to justify doing so. Platinum gifts were small backpacks and binoculars - we sent one each home with our first-time-cruiser nephew. Didn't use priority dining reservations or tender service. Liked both the embarkation and debarkation - we were on and off the ship in no time. The ship-specific pin is cute, but DH jokes that if I pin too many of these on my Carnival baseball cap with my past guest pins I'm going to break my neck.:p

 

 

As for the VIFP party - I liked it better than the old past guest party, even with the limited drinks. The first one was a Funship Special, the second was a Mai Tai, and the third was a pina colada. 12 YO son got a Coke - before he was always limited to the non-alcoholic fruit punch, which he liked, but the Coke was fine too. Jaime the CD made it a much more interactive party, with a Mardi Gras conga line and learning a couple of dances on stage.

 

We like the benefits (especially the laundry), but we don't cruise because we're Platinum - we just like to cruise. Right now Carnival suits our family's lifestyle. Someday, when we can take longer cruises and/or sail without our kids, we may try something different.

[Cruisingzs]

Each person had to present their invitation and give it to the entertainment staff upon entering the theater. They worked very hard to collect them all.

 

I was shocked to see how few people were there. The first section of the floor of the theater was not full and that is where everyone was directed to sit

[grima625]

Thanks for the info on the new program. DW and I will be gold on the Fascination in September. Good to know what to expect.

[Cruisingzs]

The first one was a Funship Special, the second was a Mai Tai, and the third was a pina colada. 12 YO son got a Coke - before he was always limited to the non-alcoholic fruit punch, which he liked, but the Coke was fine too. Jaime the CD made it a much more interactive party, with a Mardi Gras conga line and learning a couple of dances on stage.

 

We were offered the first two but never a pina colada- I would have preferred that! LOL! But they actually stopped serving the drinks after 30 minutes. And they did a conga line but just with the crew and staff. And only 20 people were invited on stage to learn the dance. Everyone else sat in their seats and watched. So if you were number 21 on, that part was pretty boring.

[Cruisingzs]

nybumpkin,

 

our pin for gold was not ship specific and was only the circle part of your pin. I guess, platinum gets a nicer pin?

[golfadj]

Geez, on Pride two weeks ago we got the photo with the Captain but no raffle tickets.:p

 

We're Platinum. We never used the drink coupons because they were good only at breakfast or lunch in the MDR and we stayed with Lido for both meals. Did use the laundry service; for five of us (four Platinum, one my nephew who was a first-time cruiser), we used a total of five laundry bags for the week. With three bags allotted per Platinum passenger, we could have sent out seven more bags but just didn't have the laundry to justify doing so. Platinum gifts were small backpacks and binoculars - we sent one each home with our first-time-cruiser nephew. Didn't use priority dining reservations or tender service. Liked both the embarkation and debarkation - we were on and off the ship in no time. The ship-specific pin is cute, but DH jokes that if I pin too many of these on my Carnival baseball cap with my past guest pins I'm going to break my neck.:p

 

 

As for the VIFP party - I liked it better than the old past guest party, even with the limited drinks. The first one was a Funship Special, the second was a Mai Tai, and the third was a pina colada. 12 YO son got a Coke - before he was always limited to the non-alcoholic fruit punch, which he liked, but the Coke was fine too. Jaime the CD made it a much more interactive party, with a Mardi Gras conga line and learning a couple of dances on stage.

 

We like the benefits (especially the laundry), but we don't cruise because we're Platinum - we just like to cruise. Right now Carnival suits our family's lifestyle. Someday, when we can take longer cruises and/or sail without our kids, we may try something different.

 

would they have given you a second of any of the drinks?

[cyntil8ing]

We attended the 'new' past guest party on the Freedom two weeks ago. It was held on a port day just before departure. We found the invitation in our cabin after we returned, so we had about an hour's notice.

 

I may be getting past guest parties confused (with Celebrity or Holland America), but I thought there used to be a door prize drawing. I seem to remember a bottle of champagne that had to be substituted when a kid won. Anyway, there was no drawing.

 

We arrived about 5 minutes late and had a terrible time getting drinks for our kids. Getting two fruit punches took nearly 10 minutes and required us to ask at least half a dozen servers. We got one more later on, but never did get the second. There was a fruity drink, beer and wine on the servers' trays. DH and I each had two. The server with the appetizers came around while the video was playing, so it was dark and I couldn't hear what it was, so we just declined.

 

There were two separate videos featuring towel animals. Even my kids weren't amused by them. Then the staff marched in carrying beads and a beach ball or two was batted around. The band played three or four songs including the Macarena. And that was it.

 

I don't plan on attending another.

[Cruisingzs]

would they have given you a second of any of the drinks?

 

Nope. As a matter of fact, the couple sitting next to use did not like the first drink, Funship special, and had a nearly full glass in front of them. When the Mai Tai came around, they asked for one and the server asked why they still had a nearly full one and wanted another....

 

The live music was nice and we did truly enjoy the very short video on the history of the cruise line. But agreed, what was up with the towel animal video????

[nybumpkin]

would they have given you a second of any of the drinks?

Yes - They kept coming by to offer DH the Funship Special about 3-4 times. (He only had one - being borderline diabetic, his doctor would prefer none!) I went with one Funship Special and one Mai Tai. And son had refills on his Cokes.

[firefly333]

Each person had to present their invitation and give it to the entertainment staff upon entering the theater. They worked very hard to collect them all.

 

I was shocked to see how few people were there. The first section of the floor of the theater was not full and that is where everyone was directed to sit

 

I think there are a lot more newbie cruisers than people on CC expect. Ive seen the list of platinum and its not that long on any ship. I always used to get to see it when I signed up for the slot pull in the casino.

 

Now that its 25 days, this will cut the party way back in numbers. They were having to do two parties a cruise on my last ones. This makes it easier on Carnival. I can see this being good.

 

I would like a platinum and up party too .. just to be honest..think it would be a nice perk when they feel they have enough platinums it is enough to throw us a party.

[nofishforme]

I have gone to two past guest party's i thought the old ones were a real snoozer so why should the new one be any different . what people will do fo a free drink

[Cruisingzs]

 

I would like a platinum and up party too .. just to be honest..think it would be a nice perk when they feel they have enough platinums it is enough to throw us a party.

 

We are platinum on RCCl- of course they require less than CCL to get there. But they had a separate Platinum and up party- VERY NICE!!!

[dclark]

 

The live music was nice and we did truly enjoy the very short video on the history of the cruise line. But agreed, what was up with the towel animal video????

 

They used to have a video with JH. That was replaced with a video with Cahill doing the talking. That was replaced with talking towel animals. My theory is that they replaced Cahill video with towel animal video because people might have booed when Cahill spoke.:p

[shellgoodman]

Cruisingzs, I completely forgot about the party and didn't use the coupons for the drinks in the MDR. We didn't make the M & G either because I was snoozing on deck that first sea day.

 

I thought that they could be used in the MDR for dinner and then I read that it was only for Breakfast and Lunch. I ended up not using any the coupons and even my kids were given a drink coupon apiece.

 

On the other hand, I had to use the dry cleaning services for my husband's suit (he'd been traveling overseas with it) and the laundry bag for all his dirty clothes. I paid for both and it was well worth the money. They even ironed my kids underwear and they did a superb job. Today I have been doing post-cruise laundry and now my husband is asking me if I plan to press every piece like Carnival did. I wish a Carnival laundrymat was near me because now my husband is noticing what pressed laundry really looks like.

[footballbabe3]

I cruise because it is over all the best value for my money. I didn't start booking cruises thinking WOW what will I get for free. Why do you have to get anything? I think the fact that they offer previous cruisers a discount is enough.