VIFP program

[pyropoodle]

at the rate I'm going (around 1 cruise per year *some years*)  I will be platinum at some point in 2021..unless they add more days to get to platinum, in which case, I might die

 

not that I'm cruising for platinum or perks, but I'm 4 cruises away from that goal and I have 3 currently booked. 

[SNJCruisers]

4 minutes ago, pyropoodle said:

at the rate I'm going (around 1 cruise per year *some years*)  I will be platinum at some point in 2021..unless they add more days to get to platinum, in which case, I might die

 

not that I'm cruising for platinum or perks, but I'm 4 cruises away from that goal and I have 3 currently booked. 

Besides the early embarkation and roped off line at guest services, what Platinum perks are you looking forward to, which are completely worthless IMHO.

[pyropoodle]

I'm happy to get the free gift.  people keep complaining about the most recent gift of the blanket and I'm over here like, "my feet are cold, i'll take it off of your hands".

 

and early embark would be cool.   I refuse to pay for FTTF, so it would be nice to have those perks

Edited February 20, 2019 by pyropoodle

[SNJCruisers]

1 minute ago, pyropoodle said:

I'm happy to get the free gift.  people keep complaining about the most recent gift of the blanket and I'm over here like, "my feet are cold, i'll take it off of your hands".

 

and early embark would be cool.   I refuse to pay for FTTF, so it would be nice to have those perks

Having been Platinum for 10 years, I can say that the free gift has been junk at times. Tote bag, shoulder bag, tervis tumbler and toiletry kit are positive ones.  Note pad, picture frame, binoculars and night light on the negative side of the ledger.  I know I am forgetting many that were given out while I cruised other lines.

[pyropoodle]

For me, I'm not in a position to travel more than once a year.  (next year is kind of freakish because I have a summer cruise booked and a NYE cruise in the same year)  other than that, I'm not one to really cruise twice in one year. I think 2012 was freakish as well because I took my mom on a cruise and I had a separate cruise with my DH, so again...not the norm)  wish I could cruise all the time but I'm not retired nor made of money, soooo, I take what I can get.

 

that being said, for those of us who do have to take a long, winding journey to things like platinum, it just really sucks when people are like "oh, I made platinum in 3 years and I hate all the junk they give me".  or other saying 'there are too many platinum, they should up the days or take things away from them"   I'm happy that people can make platinum in 3 years,and I'm happy it was a fast, easy journey for them.  it's great to be able to spend your free time doing something you love and getting a tervis tumbler for your trouble..... and now that my kids are cruising with us, they'll be platinum before they are adults, so that's cool too.  I just don't want them to take anything for granted.  I work really hard to be able to cruise, and that one little 7 day stretch out of a year is sometimes the only positive thing I look forward to.  so, while being platinum might suck for others or might be gained quickly for others, it really is a mini goal that I'm looking forward to reaching and it has taken over a decade to get there.   I don't need priority or free drinks or blankets or hugs from the captain, but I want my little platinum card. I just do.   I really hope they don't add days to get there.   i'll never be diamond, so add as many tiers in between plat and diamond as you want to, but don't take things away or move the goal dates.  it's frustrating.

Edited February 20, 2019 by pyropoodle

[gkbiiii]

Why don't they bring back like a Midnight Buffet, have it as a Luxury Brunch for Gold and above?  Why can't Gold be comped a drink a day, 2/3 for Platinum/Diamond respectively?  Why not extra daily points for Cloud 9, Havana, and Suite accommodations? While we're at it, why not make Havana a fully private club, for those booked in Havana accommodations?  It has its own facilities and private dining room, so all is ready to go.

Edited February 20, 2019 by gkbiiii

[xDisconnections]

1 hour ago, SNJCruisers said:

Having been Platinum for 10 years, I can say that the free gift has been junk at times. Tote bag, shoulder bag, tervis tumbler and toiletry kit are positive ones.  Note pad, picture frame, binoculars and night light on the negative side of the ledger.  I know I am forgetting many that were given out while I cruised other lines.

For years, it was that picture frame. It’s nice to see some variation of the more recent gifts.

Edited February 20, 2019 by xDisconnections

[xDisconnections]

1 hour ago, pyropoodle said:

For me, I'm not in a position to travel more than once a year.  (next year is kind of freakish because I have a summer cruise booked and a NYE cruise in the same year)  other than that, I'm not one to really cruise twice in one year. I think 2012 was freakish as well because I took my mom on a cruise and I had a separate cruise with my DH, so again...not the norm)  wish I could cruise all the time but I'm not retired nor made of money, soooo, I take what I can get.

 

that being said, for those of us who do have to take a long, winding journey to things like platinum, it just really sucks when people are like "oh, I made platinum in 3 years and I hate all the junk they give me".  or other saying 'there are too many platinum, they should up the days or take things away from them"   I'm happy that people can make platinum in 3 years,and I'm happy it was a fast, easy journey for them.  it's great to be able to spend your free time doing something you love and getting a tervis tumbler for your trouble..... and now that my kids are cruising with us, they'll be platinum before they are adults, so that's cool too.  I just don't want them to take anything for granted.  I work really hard to be able to cruise, and that one little 7 day stretch out of a year is sometimes the only positive thing I look forward to.  so, while being platinum might suck for others or might be gained quickly for others, it really is a mini goal that I'm looking forward to reaching and it has taken over a decade to get there.   I don't need priority or free drinks or blankets or hugs from the captain, but I want my little platinum card. I just do.   I really hope they don't add days to get there.   i'll never be diamond, so add as many tiers in between plat and diamond as you want to, but don't take things away or move the goal dates.  it's frustrating.

That’s a nice goal to look forward to. I hope you get that Platinum card before it becomes a Medallion.

[plettza]

As an Australian Carnival cruiser, I'm surprised Americans can reach Diamond at all.  Looking at the US Carnival website, I'm seeing mostly 3 and 4-day cruises.  In Australia, we typically have 8-night cruises and a lot of 9+ night ones.  We also have a few 3-night weekend "sampler" cruises as well as the odd 4 and 5 night.  It must take an eternity to reach Platinum let alone Diamond on Carnival in the US.

[Hotdog 52]

We enjoy the priority embark and debark. I enjoy the free laundry. The free bottles of water. We usually give the free gifts away.  It's a consideration when booking a cruise.

[SNJCruisers]

20 minutes ago, plettza said:

As an Australian Carnival cruiser, I'm surprised Americans can reach Diamond at all.  Looking at the US Carnival website, I'm seeing mostly 3 and 4-day cruises.

The majority of cruises are 6, 7 & 8 days in length.  There are shorter ones that are primarily on Fantasy Class ships.  The Vista and Magic classes are all 6-8 days.

[plettza]

5 minutes ago, SNJCruisers said:

The majority of cruises are 6, 7 & 8 days in length.  There are shorter ones that are primarily on Fantasy Class ships.  The Vista and Magic classes are all 6-8 days.

 

Oh, OK.  I just had a quick look and selected Find a Cruise.  There seems to be dozens of 3 and 4 day cruises with the odd 5 day one.  Are there now mainly shorter cruises as it's winter in the US?

 

Here in Australia, we only get Spirit-class ships (Legend and Spirit) with Splendor positioning to Sydney in November this year.

Edited February 20, 2019 by plettza

[SNJCruisers]

4 minutes ago, plettza said:

 

  Are there now mainly shorter cruises as it's winter in the US?

The older, smaller Fantasy class ships do the 3-5 day cruises and the larger ships do the 6-8 day ones in general.  There are occasional exceptions, but with 25 ships in the fleet, more do 6+ than do 3-5.

[IPlayWithString]

39 minutes ago, plettza said:

As an Australian Carnival cruiser, I'm surprised Americans can reach Diamond at all.  Looking at the US Carnival website, I'm seeing mostly 3 and 4-day cruises.  In Australia, we typically have 8-night cruises and a lot of 9+ night ones.  We also have a few 3-night weekend "sampler" cruises as well as the odd 4 and 5 night.  It must take an eternity to reach Platinum let alone Diamond on Carnival in the US.

It took us about 5 years to reach Platinum...and except for our first cruise and I think one 4 day that we took when DS was in the 6th grade, we've ever only done 7 or 8 night cruises. DH doesn't like 4-5 night cruises because they're just too short, in his opinion.

[plettza]

10 minutes ago, IPlayWithString said:

 DH doesn't like 4-5 night cruises because they're just too short, in his opinion. 

Frankly, nor do I like shorter ones. It fells like I've just completed the safety muster and then it's time to pack my bags and disembark!  However, I have a 5-night Tasmanian cruise booked for March to take the other half on a birthday cruise (and yes, Nouveau has been booked).  We're on an 8-night cruise in April and then a 3-night cruise in June where I booked my mum into a balcony cabin for herself whilst the other half and I are across the corridor in an interior room.  This'll be our first interior room so a 3-night cruise will be long enough to test the value/economy of an interior room (we've always had balcony).

 

I'm really trying to get my 75 nights to get to Platinum.

Edited February 20, 2019 by plettza
Clarified some info.

[BlerkOne]

1 hour ago, plettza said:

As an Australian Carnival cruiser, I'm surprised Americans can reach Diamond at all.  Looking at the US Carnival website, I'm seeing mostly 3 and 4-day cruises.  In Australia, we typically have 8-night cruises and a lot of 9+ night ones.  We also have a few 3-night weekend "sampler" cruises as well as the odd 4 and 5 night.  It must take an eternity to reach Platinum let alone Diamond on Carnival in the US.

 

No lack of 7 day or longer cruises. My average cruise length on Carnival is over 7 days and I've never been to Australia. 

[BlerkOne]

7 hours ago, xDisconnections said:

Sorry, I have to disagree. There’s a huge difference between Rewards Programs and Loyalty Programs.

 

 

Not really. They are both marketing gibberish promotions, subject to change without notice, and if desired return on investment isn't achieved, perhaps disappear altogether.  In the non-cruise world, largely geared as bribes for business people. They really should be taxed to the consumer, which would make them a lot less attractive.

[bury me at sea]

3 hours ago, pyropoodle said:

For me, I'm not in a position to travel more than once a year.  (next year is kind of freakish because I have a summer cruise booked and a NYE cruise in the same year)  other than that, I'm not one to really cruise twice in one year. I think 2012 was freakish as well because I took my mom on a cruise and I had a separate cruise with my DH, so again...not the norm)  wish I could cruise all the time but I'm not retired nor made of money, soooo, I take what I can get.

 

that being said, for those of us who do have to take a long, winding journey to things like platinum, it just really sucks when people are like "oh, I made platinum in 3 years and I hate all the junk they give me".  or other saying 'there are too many platinum, they should up the days or take things away from them"   I'm happy that people can make platinum in 3 years,and I'm happy it was a fast, easy journey for them.  it's great to be able to spend your free time doing something you love and getting a tervis tumbler for your trouble..... and now that my kids are cruising with us, they'll be platinum before they are adults, so that's cool too.  I just don't want them to take anything for granted.  I work really hard to be able to cruise, and that one little 7 day stretch out of a year is sometimes the only positive thing I look forward to.  so, while being platinum might suck for others or might be gained quickly for others, it really is a mini goal that I'm looking forward to reaching and it has taken over a decade to get there.   I don't need priority or free drinks or blankets or hugs from the captain, but I want my little platinum card. I just do.   I really hope they don't add days to get there.   i'll never be diamond, so add as many tiers in between plat and diamond as you want to, but don't take things away or move the goal dates.  it's frustrating.

 

I fully understand your feelings and in no way wish to see perks diminished.

 

My post was a reflection of what I fear will happen eventually, not what I hope will happen.

 

Meanwhile, like you I am doing one a year and enjoying the heck out of each one.  One year I got to cruise twice, under very unusual circumstances.

[SNJCruisers]

20 minutes ago, plettza said:

This'll be our first interior room so a 3-night cruise will be long enough to test the value/economy of an interior room (we've always had balcony).

 

I'm really trying to get my 75 nights to get to Platinum.

The interior cabins are a true value if you're considering a Havana area cabin on the four ships that have them.

[pyropoodle]

4 minutes ago, bury me at sea said:

 

I fully understand your feelings and in no way wish to see perks diminished.

 

My post was a reflection of what I fear will happen eventually, not what I hope will happen.

 

Meanwhile, like you I am doing one a year and enjoying the heck out of each one.  One year I got to cruise twice, under very unusual circumstances.

 thanks for clarifying.  i didn't mean to pick on anyone specifically, just kinda voicing my frustration with the whole thing.  i really hope that if they do make changes, they don't change the platinum days to get to platinum.  i am totally ok with them adding other tiers between plat and diamond and i actually think that there should be a tier past diamond.  the tier past diamond (or maybe a milestone like 100th cruise or 75th cruise) should almost get a free cruise.   i know those tiers are really not as productive on their own, like say the casino people who can cruise virtually free on many cruises simply by losing a lot of money to carnival, but gosh golly if someone has 100 cruises under their belt, they ought to be given something for loyalty. just my .02. 

[Florings]

20 hours ago, plettza said:

 

Oh, OK.  I just had a quick look and selected Find a Cruise.  There seems to be dozens of 3 and 4 day cruises with the odd 5 day one.  Are there now mainly shorter cruises as it's winter in the US?

 

 

If you select "find a cruise", I believe they are listed in total dollar value, so you are going to see a bunch of short cruises first.   

[CCLcruiser91]

Could someone on this board who has Facebook access (I don't use FB), reach out to John Heald and see if he has heard any news recently on the status of updating the VIFP program and report back?

 

Thank you

[BlerkOne]

45 minutes ago, thorengstrom said:

Could someone on this board who has Facebook access (I don't use FB), reach out to John Heald and see if he has heard any news recently on the status of updating the VIFP program and report back?

 

Thank you

 

It really doesn't matter. Nothing is official until Carnival says it is. They have thrown John under the ship numerous times.

[xDisconnections]

57 minutes ago, thorengstrom said:

Could someone on this board who has Facebook access (I don't use FB), reach out to John Heald and see if he has heard any news recently on the status of updating the VIFP program and report back?

 

Thank you

Heald is the most unreliable person when it comes to loyalty program enhancements.

 

I would hate to beat the dead horse and reference his incompetency and misinformation in regards to the timeline, the loss of benefits and the fiasco involving Milestone.

 

If anything, Heald will say it will be “brilliant, mate” and to expect the changes to be very soon.

Edited February 22, 2019 by xDisconnections

[xDisconnections]

13 minutes ago, BlerkOne said:

 

It really doesn't matter. Nothing is official until Carnival says it is. They have thrown John under the ship numerous times.

For the first time, there’s something we agree on.

Edited February 22, 2019 by xDisconnections