Shut Out on the Free Cruise? How do you feel?

[Disconnections]

I'm not too concerned... I'm not ready to return to Carnival anytime soon.

[Faith Girl]

My husband got the free offer but I did not. He has cruised twice with Carnival and I have cruised six times. Called Carnival and asked about

how past guests were chosen for promotion and they said it was a random

drawing/computer generated. We did take advantage of the promotion and

booked a cruise. Upgraded to a balcony and only spent $200 for a five night.

Saw where some who were quicker then myself booked eight night cruises for $316. Feeling blessed!

[CarnivalCruising]

Congratulations to those of you who received a free cruise! How exciting! I'm so jealous! I want a free cruise. I'm upset that they don't reward many of us who are always sailing on Carnival. How do those of you who are Platinum and didn't receive a free cruise feel?

 

I have sailed with Carnival on 18 cruises since 2004. I will be sailing on the Carnival Liberty in 4 weeks! They're having great deals now! I can't wait.

[Georgiagolfer]

Congratulations to those of you who received a free cruise! How exciting! I'm so jealous! I want a free cruise. I'm upset that they don't reward many of us who are always sailing on Carnival. How do those of you who are Platinum and didn't receive a free cruise feel?

 

I have sailed with Carnival on 18 cruises since 2004. I will be sailing on the Carnival Liberty in 4 weeks! They're having great deals now! I can't wait.

 

Sure, DW and I would love to receive one of these offers, but never have and probably never will.:( I am not mad, and I do congratulate those who have received the offer.

 

CCL, even with the low rates and small deposits, is obviously still having problems filling cabins. Thus, they offer the free rooms in hopes of recovering the costs in onboard spending.

[DarthGrady]

Congratulations to those of you who received a free cruise! How exciting! I'm so jealous! I want a free cruise. I'm upset that they don't reward many of us who are always sailing on Carnival. How do those of you who are Platinum and didn't receive a free cruise feel?

 

I have sailed with Carnival on 18 cruises since 2004. I will be sailing on the Carnival Liberty in 4 weeks! They're having great deals now! I can't wait.

 

Carnival snubbing long-time past guests is nothing new. I've almost become numb to it.

 

I go on another cruise line to feel like a valued returning guest. I go on CCL for the low fares and relaxed party atmosphere.

 

That being said, if they DO offer me a free cruise I'll be there with bells on. ;)

 

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[IPlayWithString]

If Carnival offered us a free cruise, expecting they'd make up the cost of the room with our onboard accounts..the joke would be on them as we don't drink, gamble or buy cokes on board.

[Disconnections]

Carnival does not care if you're Platinum. Carnival does not care about guest loyalty. If they are trying to reward their loyal guests, why would they remove benefits that they have earned, all the while claiming the changes are "brilliant," nothing will be removed, milestone would be grandfathered into Diamond and other similar statements? Your Platinum status, to them, is worth only $50.

[CarnivalCruising]

When I last sailed on the Liberty, they were taking care first of the other guests at Guests Services, and ignoring those of us at the platinum line.

[crusinpsychRN]

When I last sailed on the Liberty, they were taking care first of the other guests at Guests Services, and ignoring those of us at the platinum line.

 

I've seen that on numerous occasions.

[cindyanne]

It is sad but you see this more and more. Companies spend so much money trying to bring new business in while ignoring their loyal returning customers. It is not just Carnival.

[fuddrules]

Carnival does not care if you're Platinum. Carnival does not care about guest loyalty.

 

All cruise lines care about shareholder profit or value. That's it.

 

How they go about obtaining that shareholder value varies.

 

Carnival is not the best line for those that like to feel pampered, special, appreciated or have smoke blown up their kazoo.

Edited February 22, 2014 by fuddrules

[vols_159]

why do people expect so much from a cruise line.. Carnival is in the making money business.. I dont get the sense of entitlement just because you are plats or diamonds.. I would think carnival would care more about the stock holders

[The4Cruisers]

I posted in another thread that I wasn't too happy with CCL as I was about ready to plunk down a hefty deposit for my next cruise and other folks were getting better accomodations on free cruises.

 

So yes, I was disappointed and it did irk me some. However, I don't begrudge those who had fortune smile on them. I hope they have wonderful cruises!

 

As for me, well I just put on my big-boy pants and made the call to book our next cruise. Paid the initial deposit and we're all set.

 

Can't wait to enjoy my next vacation, no matter who pays for it! :cool: Maybe one day the mailman will bring an extra cruise for me! :)

[PunkyH]

When I last sailed on the Liberty, they were taking care first of the other guests at Guests Services, and ignoring those of us at the platinum line.

 

This just happened to us on the Elation also. They said they had to take care of the others first!!! We did complain. Never needed to go back, so don't know the results.

[elliair]

Congratulations to those of you who received a free cruise! How exciting! I'm so jealous! I want a free cruise. I'm upset that they don't reward many of us who are always sailing on Carnival. How do those of you who are Platinum and didn't receive a free cruise feel?

 

I have sailed with Carnival on 18 cruises since 2004. I will be sailing on the Carnival Liberty in 4 weeks! They're having great deals now! I can't wait.

 

We're platinum and received the free cruise. I believe we received the offer because we haven't been booking with Carnival lately. We tossed the free cruise - wasn't worth it to us. We're certainly not going to buy airline tickets, hotel, meals, port fees and taxes, and upgrade to a balcony--it's NOT FREE! I don't get why people are upset that they didn't get the offer. For some who live near the port and can stand to have an inside room it might be worth it to them. I bet 75% of the people who got them tossed it in the garbage.

[elliair]

why do people expect so much from a cruise line.. Carnival is in the making money business.. I dont get the sense of entitlement just because you are plats or diamonds.. I would think carnival would care more about the stock holders

 

Carnival set the rules for platinum and diamond members. They are only asking for the perks Carnival has given them. It's not a sense of entitlement, it's a reward for being loyal.

[Disconnections]

why do people expect so much from a cruise line.. Carnival is in the making money business.. I dont get the sense of entitlement just because you are plats or diamonds.. I would think carnival would care more about the stock holders

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1655257

 

Post #19

[rickechambers1@aol.com]

I am plat and don't care that I didn't get a free cruise...they don't owe me anything but I appreciate the generosity shown just because I choose to cruise a lot. I got plat in two years...not a big deal.

Edited February 22, 2014 by rickechambers1@aol.com

[Dave85]

It'll be interesting to see what happens. I'm Platinum, sailed Carnival Breeze's first NYE cruise a little over a year ago, and although we had a very good time I don't have any immediate plans to return to Carnival because we just enjoy the offerings of our other lines more right now. That's all it is, plain and simple. Free market competition, we prefer Royal Caribbean's product and loyalty benefits. Free market competition, NCL enticed us to try them by bringing the brand new Breakaway with all of it's bells and whistles to our backyard.

 

That said, if Carnival offers us the... I won't say free, how about very, very heavily discounted cruise ;)... we would take it. We live in New York City and could easily hop on the Splendor or get relatively inexpensive airfare down to Florida.

 

Truthfully, it's probably the only way Carnival would get us back on board right now, which presents an excellent marketing opportunity for them. Perhaps they get us back on board and we have such a wonderful time that, at minimum, we decide to book Vista for 2016... Just my $.02. As I said, we'll see what happens... it's entirely possible that Carnival for reasons all its own doesn't care about my business anymore and would prefer to spend to attract new customers. It's just business!

[Shipbound]

Carnival snubbing long-time past guests is nothing new. I've almost become numb to it.

 

I go on another cruise line to feel like a valued returning guest. I go on CCL for the low fares and relaxed party atmosphere.

 

That being said, if they DO offer me a free cruise I'll be there with bells on. ;)

 

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

Every thing you said I agree with CCL does have the lowest cruise fares at sea especially for me because I go solo most of the time. I am a Diamond if you look at the " perks" Diamond guests get not one perk will cause Carnival is loose money maybe with the exception of the one time cabin up grade to an outside cabin. I know for a fact that a first or second time guest(s) are more likely to get an cabin up grade then me. This April will be my 32nd with CCL and I only remember twice going from an inside cabin to a outside cabin. I did e-mail my PVP an basically said the same thing. So I'll see what happens if anything.

 

Gary

[samiam0403]

Carnival snubbing long-time past guests is nothing new. I've almost become numb to it.

 

I go on another cruise line to feel like a valued returning guest. I go on CCL for the low fares and relaxed party atmosphere.

 

That being said, if they DO offer me a free cruise I'll be there with bells on. ;)

 

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

Exactly. My upcoming Carnival cruise is a freebie from a Vegas casino. I'll likely sail them again some time in the future if I get another freebie or if they continue to run the no-solo-supplement promo. Beyond that, there are other cruise lines that do reward me for sailing with them, and for close to the same low price. I like Carnival fine, but they're no longer my go-to cruise line.

 

Oh, and yes - I'm perfectly happy for the folks that got the free cruises. :)

[Sarah@Sea]

It is sad but you see this more and more. Companies spend so much money trying to bring new business in while ignoring their loyal returning customers. It is not just Carnival.

 

:mad: Cable and cell phone companies come to mind!

[vols_159]

It is sad but you see this more and more. Companies spend so much money trying to bring new business in while ignoring their loyal returning customers. It is not just Carnival.

 

 

The goal is to make new cruisers.. That's there business keep a fresh set of new clients each week

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[vols_159]

Carnival set the rules for platinum and diamond members. They are only asking for the perks Carnival has given them. It's not a sense of entitlement, it's a reward for being loyal.

 

 

Yes but where does a free cruise come into plat and diamond perks? People are mad they didn't get the free cruise

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[Tapi]

When I last sailed on the Liberty, they were taking care first of the other guests at Guests Services, and ignoring those of us at the platinum line.

 

It's been like that for years. Nothing new.