VIFP Club Benefits Change(email from Carnival)

[Pixelate]

I guess I'm not that type of person that needs something free to feel special. Sorry it is just my own opinion.

 

 

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I don't need to feel special; just valued.

[ray98]

I will enjoy the bottle of water. I don't think we have ever used the drink coupon.

[Budget Queen]

I don't need to feel special; just valued.

 

I don't need it either. :)

[Cruisegirl6]

BudgetQueen- On Carnival I should of been Platinum but when the original loyalty program first started I didn't know about it until years later. I never booked at that time through Carnival directly for somebody to mention it to me but stood with the same cruise agent I used for nearly 8 years, then she retired and I started booking up with Carnival I believe in 2002, I can't recall which year I was told by Carnival when booking up a cruise about its loyalty program and was signed up...unfortunately Carnival could not retrieve my past cruise information from 2002 back, they said they were able to help if I to provide the past booking numbers, ship and they also wanted the dates of sailing which there was no way I could remember them, I only remembered the names of the ships, as a result, I was never credit for all my carnival cruises. :(

Today I only have 64 points.

 

With RC I also didn't go right into their plan, after my Oasis cruise I only need a 3 night cruise to become Emerald.

 

NCL I am currently gold, on Princess I just looked it up I turn Ruby on my next cruise, HAL I am only 2 star mariner, other cruise lines that I taken in the past I am not on their loyalty programs and then there are the cruise I taken that the cruise lines no longer exist. (Sitmar, Home Lines, Commodore, Italian Line)

Edited January 31, 2015 by lyndamr

[threetocruise]

I don't mind the change because having a bottle of water around is always nice. And as far as a "free" drink, for what we are paying for the cruise, that drink was far from free, lol. In my opinion, it just seems like a way for Carnival to save some bucks.

[Pixelate]

I don't mind the change because having a bottle of water around is always nice. And as far as a "free" drink, for what we are paying for the cruise, that drink was far from free, lol. In my opinion, it just seems like a way for Carnival to save some bucks.

 

I didn't realize people still paid to sail Carnival. These free cruise offers simply don't stop. :X

 

It isn't so much as the cutback itself but the way this particular cutback was executed.

Edited January 31, 2015 by Pixelate

[bandnurse]

I am absolutely amazed at how many people actually believe that this was a Free drink. It was not! The price of this Free Perk is built into the price of the cruise. As is the price of the Chocolate covered strawberries, laundry service, past guest party etc... Now with that in mind, it is a cut back.

 

Now if they had said "in order to make more profit..." or even sugar coat it a little and say "in order to keep from raising cruise prices..." I would have respected that, but to blow smoke up my butt by saying that it is for my own good to take something from me that I am technically paying for, well that is just a slap in the face to someone who has sailed with them exclusively for 5 years, 6 cruises and #7 already booked. Total of 38 days at sea times 4 (DH and 2 DD's). Yes, I can afford the cruises and I can afford to buy my own alcohol, but like I said, I am paying for that drink already. My thoughts are now that by the time I get to platinum there will be only a 'free drink' coupon.

 

I also remember, not so long ago, when John Heals swore on his FB page that "we will NEVER charge for any item in the MDR." First it was the specialty coffee, then they added steak house menu items in the MDR for a charge. This may just be a move toward charging for many regular MDR items. Perhaps they are just waiting for the masses to get complacent before charging for the MDR all together. Recently we have lost the Farewell party, seen the removal of the Sushi bar, yes we have the taste bar now, but it's not the same. Now the return guest coupon replaced with water, which is free all time all day and night. Who knows what is next.

 

Hubby has been trying to get me to try another line, I have insisted on staying with Carnival to try and build up more days at sea on their loyalty program. Thought it was better to stay where we are rather than split the points across many lines. Well, we are looking at #8, I am not writing off Carnival, but with all the other cutbacks perhaps this coupon vs. water issue is just the straw that breaks the camels back and gets me to try something different.

[abisha]

I didn't get the e-mail either. I find it interesting that instead of just making the coupons good for anywhere, they went with the bottle of water instead. While I do lilke the water, it seems that they went a cheaper route instead of a free drink.

 

Ditto. I usually get a non-alcoholic pina colada during the brunch with that coupon, so why wouldn't they justs change it to..use the free drink coupon at any time during the cruise.

 

Hence..another cutback.

[stobe1]

I'm astonished this thread is 8 pages over one lousy drink.

 

It's one watered down drink. If not getting one free watered down drink is going to ruin someone's vacation, maybe staying home would be a better option because I'd hate to see the reaction when things really go loco.

[Pixelate]

I'm astonished this thread is 8 pages over one lousy drink.

 

It's one watered down drink. If not getting one free watered down drink is going to ruin someone's vacation, maybe staying home would be a better option because I'd hate to see the reaction when things really go loco.

 

The other one reached 12 or so pages before it was locked.

[klsa]

My sister and I are cruising in March. I am platinum and she is red. We are booked in the same room so will she be able to board with me from the VIP lounge? I think I read where the platinum and diamond members are invited to the returning cruisers party. If this is true, then she cannot attend the party, correct?

 

Also, my daughter and niece (both 16) are going on same cruise. After we board, I can go to desk and ask them to link my daughter to my account and my niece to my sisters account, correct?

[Pixelate]

My sister and I are cruising in March. I am platinum and she is red. We are booked in the same room so will she be able to board with me from the VIP lounge? I think I read where the platinum and diamond members are invited to the returning cruisers party. If this is true, then she cannot attend the party, correct?

 

Also, my daughter and niece (both 16) are going on same cruise. After we board, I can go to desk and ask them to link my daughter to my account and my niece to my sisters account, correct?

 

All four passengers will be allowed to board with you. Although your mileage may vary, the other three passengers should be able to join you at the Gold, Platinum and Diamond Party.

 

Only the Platinum guest will receive the free drink coupon.

[Retired LEO]

My benefits have always remained the same on RC, I am currently still Platinum but after my next two cruises I go to Emerald. The only changes RC has done to their program called the "crown and anchor" was the concierge lounge will be for suite passengers, Diamond Plus might of been kicked out of the Crown Lounge (but this didn't really matter because there are two lounges one for Diamond the other for Concierge and they offer the same amenities, RC did this because the lounge was getting crowded and ADDED another lounge) and there was a new level added between Diamond and Pinnacle.

Carnival's red only offers water, gold which is 25-74 points only gets water and VIFP party...On RC Platinum which is 30-54 points gets onboard booking bonuses usually a booklet of coupons for discounts on the ship such as drinks, bottle wine, specialty dining, souvenirs, casino credit etc., you also get a welcome back party, priority check in, private lounge with continental breakfast, robes in cabin and you get $100 off the price of the stateroom....for Emerald which is 55-79 points you get the same as platinum but you also get a welcome gift/amenity such as a tote bag or whatever they give out changes each year and a choice of drink I am unsure how much off on the cruise you get I believe something like $150.

 

Don't forget once you reach Diamond on RCI at 80 points you get 3 free drinks every night at any bar. Plus the balcony discount goes up to $250.00 on a 7 night cruise.

[Sparky2]

I like the change. Of course, like another poster said, I'm platinum, so I didn't lose anything. I gained something.

 

I'm just now reading this as we were on a B2B from 1/17-2/1.

 

We always go to the MDR for breakfast & don't want our free drink then.

 

However, we go back to the MDR around 12 or so and order our chocolate mocha getaway to go. Then head up to Lido for lunch.

 

And yes, we gained something with the free bottle of water for each of us.

[Sparky2]

Fine with me. We only bring a 6 pack of water to drink during excursions anyway. No biggie although they could have just made it a free coupon drink period. We don't always get to the sea day brunch.

 

We just go to the MDR on brunch day around noon & get our free drink & take it up to Lido. We've already had b'fast in the MDR and don't want to go there again for lunch.

[jameyjg01]

I believe this is a slap in the face. They can keep the measly bottle of water. The free drink was a small symbol of appreciation for being a loyal customer. Changing it to a bottle of water makes me severally question if I should invest any more vacations with carnival. If they cut out the free drink today, what will be next? What if I invest my vacations to carnival and then they cut out some of the other perks after I do. I didn't cruise carnival for the free drink, but them changing it speaks volumes. Almost seems like they are saying "we'll teach them to complain..." I didn't complain as I can appreciate them limiting it to a certain area, certain times for logistical reasons. But the change to a bottle of water definitely is making me investigate other cruise lines where I normally wouldn't have. Something to think seriously about Carnival, bad call...

 

 

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[rocking-m-cruiser]

Don't forget once you reach Diamond on RCI at 80 points you get 3 free drinks every night at any bar. Plus the balcony discount goes up to $250.00 on a 7 night cruise.

 

Wow that is really nice. I never knew they gave so much.

[swilden79]

I do like the free booze but I have a 1 year old, 4 year old that are gold and for some reason they never let them order beer. So the coupon was pointless for them unless daddy drank them. I will get more use out of the water. I like the trade off.

[firemanbobswife]

I do like the free booze but I have a 1 year old, 4 year old that are gold and for some reason they never let them order beer. So the coupon was pointless for them unless daddy drank them. I will get more use out of the water. I like the trade off.

 

It didn't have to be used for alcohol. They could have gotten a virgin drink or soda. Although a one year old might be a little young for that still. However, I don't see them drinking a liter of water either, but whatever.

[FlorenceItaly]

Retired Leo - I did not realize this either. I am at Emerald with RCI, 56 points. I think I need to book my next few cruises with RCI. I knew Diamond Plus got the lounge, but, did not realize this was a Diamond benefit. Thank you!

[pe4all]

All four passengers will be allowed to board with you. Although your mileage may vary, the other three passengers should be able to join you at the Gold, Platinum and Diamond Party.

Not so sure they can go to the party. Every one we have been to has had people at the door collecting the invites. Don't be surprised if they are turned away.

[gfountain1]

I see the free laundry going away in the future as more and more people inevitably reach that status and increase the ships energy expenditures. What will priority boarding look like when half the ship is diamond?

[dclark]

Bottled water comes from a factory tap! Not a geyser, seriously? Old faithful water is full of sulphur, you would not want to drink it. I am so tired of the bottled water crap, it all comes from a tap. Get a filter and make your own purified water and help save the planet. I lived in Hawaii for 3 yrs and the number of plastic bottles washing up on the shore was disgusting, just think how many plastic bottles are floating out there in the ocean.

 

 

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Drive on the 395 south, about 2 hours south of Bishop, CA. In the middle of nowhere, off the side of the road in the high desert, you'll see a large building with "Crystal Geyser" on it, and a lot of semi's parked in the lot. That is where all the water bottles comes from. I'll assume they pump it from ground water.

[love my grandkids]

Not so sure they can go to the party. Every one we have been to has had people at the door collecting the invites. Don't be surprised if they are turned away.

 

They will usually allow you to bring a guest. On the Conquest two weeks ago nobody collected invites for first 10 minutes and than realized oops and walked around asking for them.:):)

[texast518]

I don't need to feel special; just valued.

 

I trust your value is truly more than a free drink minus water.

Edited February 10, 2015 by texast518