VIFP program

[CCLcruiser91]

It's been almost a year now...

 

Has anyone heard anything lately?

 

Just curious to see if they change the number of days needed for each level and/or add new levels...

[glrounds]

On 2/11/2019 at 11:46 AM, BenjiRodney said:

Thre needs to be a level between Platinum and Diamond. 75-199 is a huge jump. Currently at 115 days with 19 more days booked. Will take awhile to hit that Diamond Status. 

 

Think about that cruiser who went on a slew of 3 and 4 day cruises in order to get to the magic 10 cruises which was the OLD magic plateau to attain Platinum. He could be sitting with 35 nights on a cruise and be Platinum now looking at 200 for Diamond.:-)

[glrounds]

On 2/12/2019 at 6:08 AM, ProgRockCruiser said:

I find threads like this one amusing.

 

This forum is full of folks complaining that Carnival doesn't do enough to recognize their loyal customers, and MSC or RCI or whoever do this and that for their long-term customers, and all Carnival wants is Blue cards every cruise to maximize revenue.

Carnival is probably sitting back saying: "Well, the CC people are unhappy on both fronts, so taking the average we are probably doing just fine.  Don't change a thing."

 

Precisely. Carnival makes its money off the newbies and blue-carders. Carnival, quite frankly,  would probably just as soon Platinums and Diamonds move on. As a general rule, we don't blow money gambling as much as the newbies and blue-carders. We probably tend to take less excursions (we've learned to buy them over the internet at a fraction of the price Carnival charges). With digital cameras we take a lot more of our OWN photos, avoiding a lot of the expensive shipboard photography. We tend to do our heavy drinking in the ports for a fraction of the shipboard pricing. We've mastered the booking process strategies online instead of walking into a travel agency and announcing we want to go on a cruise. In short, we know too much and we ***** constantly over minor price raises or the cutting of some stupid perk. That's Carnival cruising with the masters of the cheap cruise, folks. 🙂

 

 

 

Edited January 7, 2020 by glrounds

[Organized Chaos]

Holy cow, enough with the, "Carnival doesn't love us Platinum and Diamonds" rhetoric. Every company wants to attract new customers. Show me one that doesn't and I'll show you one that isn't going to last long. So yes, they care about bringing in newcomers, but that's because it's good business, not because they want to purge their long-time cruisers.

 

It's not that Carnival hates its P/D's, but I'm willing to bet what they don't care for are all the ungrateful P/D's who continuously go around the internet complaining about their free gift, complaining that some of their precious perks are sold as FTTF, and complaining that Carnival doesn't give them more. No company wants that kind of bad PR from their so-called "loyal" customers. A few years ago, a couple of Carnival execs said it themselves...they didn't want their customers basing brand loyalty on free stuff. I don't blame them.

 

Something else they said was that they were looking into ways to attract those who cruised once or twice to bring them back for a third time. Their data showed that when their cruisers hit #3, they tended to be more loyal to the brand and kept coming back. Carnival classified them from people who were just trying it out to full-fledged "cruisers" (their word). That's all it took, three cruises. The only people impressed by your Platinum & Diamond cards are yourselves. If they want to find ways to encourage one and two-time cruisers to reach that magic number three, which then indicates they're more likely to keep returning, then how is it true that they only want newcomers? The whole idea that Carnival only cares about newcomers is a load of bunk put out there by bitter P/D's.

 

Gamblers are going to gamble, regardless of what color their card is. While it's usually true that booking excursions independently can often be cheaper, there are also plenty of Carnival excursions that are cheaper. In fact, I've been looking into two of them for our upcoming Horizon cruise and Carnival's are considerably cheaper than multiple independent operators. Plus, many people like the convenience of booking through Carnival and the peace of mind that they won't be left behind. Again, regardless of their VIFP status. There are countless Gold, Platinum, & Diamonds who buy Cheers, so your theory that experienced cruisers don't spend much on alcohol onboard doesn't hold water.

[ray98]

5 hours ago, glrounds said:

 

Precisely. Carnival makes its money off the newbies and blue-carders. Carnival, quite frankly,  would probably just as soon Platinums and Diamonds move on. As a general rule, we don't blow money gambling as much as the newbies and blue-carders. We probably tend to take less excursions (we've learned to buy them over the internet at a fraction of the price Carnival charges). With digital cameras we take a lot more of our OWN photos, avoiding a lot of the expensive shipboard photography. We tend to do our heavy drinking in the ports for a fraction of the shipboard pricing. We've mastered the booking process strategies online instead of walking into a travel agency and announcing we want to go on a cruise. In short, we know too much and we ***** constantly over minor price raises or the cutting of some stupid perk. That's Carnival cruising with the masters of the cheap cruise, folks. 🙂

 

 

 

 

Uhhhh....yeah.  Nice fantasy world you created.  The Platinums I know spend more on a ship than any 'blue card' I know.  How you decided Platinum and Diamond equals frugal is rather amusing.

[Roscoe13]

Gamblers gonna gamble...drinkers gonna drink...and itchers gonna itch!

[Joebucks]

If I had a magic wand, I'd love to see more drink vouchers. Royal has their Diamond lounge and the 3 vouchers per day. Heck, I'd be stoked to get 1 included Alchemy drink per day.

 

Probably won't happen as it would eat into Cheers sales. Royal makes more off of their fares than Carnival does.

[wsr523]

Not sure if this is where I can get the answer or not but thought I'd give it a shot.  On our next scheduled cruise my wife will be a Platinum member and I will still be Gold for 1 more cruise.  If she has priority boarding will I be able to go along with her or will she have to stay back with me?  Same with the water shuttle boarding and the P&D party.

[audcc77]

31 minutes ago, wsr523 said:

Not sure if this is where I can get the answer or not but thought I'd give it a shot.  On our next scheduled cruise my wife will be a Platinum member and I will still be Gold for 1 more cruise.  If she has priority boarding will I be able to go along with her or will she have to stay back with me?  Same with the water shuttle boarding and the P&D party.

 

You may board with her. 
You may get on the first tender with her. 
You may go to the P&D party with her. Some will say you can’t go to the P&D party. Just ignore them.  

[dallasdan]

My wife and I are platinum with over 14 cruises on Carnival and we are on the April 25 Panorama sailing.  I am spend the same amount of money as a platinum cruiser as I did when I was a Red card Cruiser, mostly in the casino.  I don't cruise Carnival for the perks we receive, although early boarding and room being ready to me is a good enough perk.  We chose Carnival because of the pricing and itineraries. 

[glrounds]

6 hours ago, ray98 said:

 

Uhhhh....yeah.  Nice fantasy world you created.  The Platinums I know spend more on a ship than any 'blue card' I know.  How you decided Platinum and Diamond equals frugal is rather amusing.

 

32 Carnival cruises, usually SOLO. What keeps me coming back ?

PRICE

I usually give away the "gift" and pin to a newbie (I like the Tervis tumblers and the shoulder pack, however). Set the moldy strawberries in the hallway. Have no interest in the top deck turned into a Disneyland (at different times, I've lived a mile from Disneyland and a mile from Magic Mountain). Mix with the locals in ports enjoying $1 beers. Am mildly amused in a ship's casino where there is no State governing authority overseeiing the whole process. Looking forward to my 25% off cruise on the PANORAMA in 12 days.

 

If Carnival REALLY wanted to have a fair LOYALTY program they would base it on a database containing the combined totals of what you spend for your stateroom and your sign'n'sail account in past cruises. Unfortunately, this would shoot me in the butt.😁

 

Edited January 7, 2020 by glrounds

[Eli_6]

I wish they would change it to however many cabins you pay for (or how much you spend) to benefit those of us paying for family and friends to sail with us as opposed to days you sail, but I suppose people might try to get around that system then.

 

For me, the free laundry perk and early boarding and departing would be nice.

 

Honestly, I really don't think people cruise one line over another to become diamond or platinum.  For me, I have had Carnival treat me right on two cancelled cruises (Vista and Mardis Gras) and I have now learned their system (website, schedule, etc.) and it seems like less trouble than switching to someone else and learning a new system. Plus, when I have gone elsewhere I either felt like service/experience was subpar (my NCL cruise was a disaster) or not worth the extra money.  

Edited January 7, 2020 by Eli_6

[Organized Chaos]

The idea that loyalty status should correlate with how much one spends has been mentioned now & again. I'm sorry, but the concept of "I spend more so I deserve more" is elitist and ridiculous.

 

We continue to sail Carnival because we enjoy the product. If the time ever comes when the scales are tipped in the other direction, I don't have a problem taking my business elsewhere. But I also don't have a problem admitting that the loyalty program is also a factor. Not as big of a factor as price and enjoyment of the product, but still a factor. We could easily take a cruise on another line, if the price was right for us, but then we'd feel like that would take us a step backwards in relation to Carnival's VIFP program. If we cruised another line, that's one less cruise on the way to Platinum. We don't want Platinum to give us something to brag about, to flash a Platinum card around, or to get a free gift. Although, we'll be appreciative of that gift no matter how insignificant others think it is. No, none of that. We want to reach Platinum someday so we no longer have to pay extra for the perks we get with FTTF. We thoroughly enjoy our FTTF perks...enough that we still find value in it...but it'd sure be nice to get those perks without paying extra. That's the only reason we'd want to reach Platinum.

[glrounds]

4 hours ago, Organized Chaos said:

The idea that loyalty status should correlate with how much one spends has been mentioned now & again. I'm sorry, but the concept of "I spend more so I deserve more" is elitist and ridiculous.

 

We continue to sail Carnival because we enjoy the product. If the time ever comes when the scales are tipped in the other direction, I don't have a problem taking my business elsewhere. But I also don't have a problem admitting that the loyalty program is also a factor. Not as big of a factor as price and enjoyment of the product, but still a factor. We could easily take a cruise on another line, if the price was right for us, but then we'd feel like that would take us a step backwards in relation to Carnival's VIFP program. If we cruised another line, that's one less cruise on the way to Platinum. We don't want Platinum to give us something to brag about, to flash a Platinum card around, or to get a free gift. Although, we'll be appreciative of that gift no matter how insignificant others think it is. No, none of that. We want to reach Platinum someday so we no longer have to pay extra for the perks we get with FTTF. We thoroughly enjoy our FTTF perks...enough that we still find value in it...but it'd sure be nice to get those perks without paying extra. That's the only reason we'd want to reach Platinum.

 

Well, certainly "elitist", but hardly ridiculous. I suggested this as a "fair" way for Carnival, of determining who their best customers are and the ones they would prefer to keep returning. A program like this would function to my own dread. Carnival would probably tell me, "Gary, just go rent a rowboat", as I purchase the cheap seats and spend very little onboard. I'd probably still be a blue-carder. 🙄

 

"Flashing" a PLATINUM card today is ridiculous, however. When there were only 15-25 PLATINUMs on board, it drew immediate bar service, got you a FREE (not 2 for 1) entrance into the slot pull, head of the line for ATD seating, raised eyebrows with your cabin steward, and was truly "elitist" in that sense. Today up to 1/3 of the guests are P&Ds. Kind of like the grade school tournament where everybody gets a trophy. 😉

 

I quite agree with you, however on the early boarding. Makes embarkation painless no matter when you show up and dumping your carry-ons in the cabin immediately is a nice touch. Paying for this does strike me as "elitist". I occasionally use the FREE laundry, but the rest of the perks are lame, IMHO. Fine with me, however, because I book Carnival because I know in advance what I'm getting at a great solo  price. With 25% put onto my OBC next week on the PANORAMA and an opportunity to "wave" that white card around I should be beside myself.😄

Edited January 8, 2020 by glrounds

[glrounds]

5 minutes ago, glrounds said:

 

Well, certainly "elitist", but hardly ridiculous. I suggested this as a "fair" way for Carnival, of determining who their best customers are and the ones they would prefer to keep returning. A program like this would function to my own dread. Carnival would probably tell me, "Gary, just go rent a rowboat", as I purchase the cheap seats and spend very little onboard. I'd probably still be a blue-carder. 🙄

 

"Flashing" a PLATINUM card today is ridiculous, however. When there were only 15-25 PLATINUMs on board, it drew immediate bar service, got you a FREE (not 2 for 1) entrance into the slot pull, head of the line for ATD seating, raised eyebrows with your cabin steward, and was truly "elitist" in that sense. Today up to 1/3 of the guests are P&Ds. Kind of like the grade school tournament where everybody gets a trophy. 😉

 

I quite agree with you, however on the early boarding. Makes embarkation painless no matter when you show up and dumping your carry-ons in the cabin immediately is a nice touch. Paying for this does strike me as "elitist". I occasionally use the FREE laundry, but the rest of the perks are lame, IMHO. Fine with me, however, because I book Carnival because I know in advance what I'm getting at a great solo  price. With 25% put onto my OBC next week on the PANORAMA and an opportunity to "wave" that white card around I should be beside myself, I guess.😄

 

[Lottacruises]

Lol cruisers are cruisers no matter their color. What are you all bitching about??

[#55worktoplay]

On 2/18/2019 at 8:22 PM, masterty said:

They should make it 1 point per $1k spent per pax. Leave everything else alone. JM2C.

 

I agree with this.  I don’t even think I am Gold do I don’t have any bun in this fight.  I think it they based it on $spent that would be the fairest solution. That will help with the overcrowding In each category with the highest levels going with the biggest spenders. On Royal some people (not me, I’m far too cheap) spend 10-20 thousand $ for the biggest suites.  I just don’t think it makes sense that those spending thousands get the same benefits of those spending hundred (like me).

[pacruise804]

On 1/7/2020 at 8:55 PM, #55worktoplay said:

I agree with this.  I don’t even think I am Gold do I don’t have any bun in this fight.  I think it they based it on $spent that would be the fairest solution. That will help with the overcrowding In each category with the highest levels going with the biggest spenders. On Royal some people (not me, I’m far too cheap) spend 10-20 thousand $ for the biggest suites.  I just don’t think it makes sense that those spending thousands get the same benefits of those spending hundred (like me).

On the flip side, is it fair that someone who has 100 days on Carnival (but booked insides) should get less than someone who spent 10 days but in suites?

[elainmir]

We are finally platnium on our next cruise..it's taken 13 years to get to this point because we have to take vacations when we can.  I feel like we've earned it.  I'm pretty much happy with whatever we get perk wise. I just love to cruise. But don't take away what I've earned so far like you did when we turned gold..no more party...not cool

[quickrate]

On 1/7/2020 at 7:00 AM, ray98 said:

 

Uhhhh....yeah.  Nice fantasy world you created.  The Platinums I know spend more on a ship than any 'blue card' I know.  How you decided Platinum and Diamond equals frugal is rather amusing.

I politely disagree. I never buy pictures anymore, we don't book Carnival excursions, we know how to maximize our experience without spending a lot of money from booking cabins to booking our own excursions.

Pat

[Organized Chaos]

One person said that, instead of going off of days cruised, they should benefit more because they've paid for family and friends. Then how do those family and friends earn their VIFP credit for those cruises? Do they not?

 

Another person thinks that basing VIFP points/status off of money spent is the "fairest solution." Are you kidding me, how is that fair? So those who have more money to spend deserve more than those who don't? Or in other words, the higher income folks deserve more than the lower income folks? That's the "fairest solution" to you? No, not even close. The VIFP system as it exists today is about as fair as you can get. No matter what cabin you stay in, no matter how much money you drop on a cruise, 1 day at sea = 1 VIFP point. It doesn't get any more fair than that.

 

Here's the thing. Those who spend more on a cruise DO benefit more, in a way. They get more specialty meals, they get more souvenirs, they get more spa sessions, whatever. They get more because they buy more. It's not necessarily better, it's just better to them. You also reach higher VIFP levels quicker because you can afford to take cruises more often. So you see, you already benefit from spending more.

 

A lot of people say they've "earned" their Platinum or Diamond status and they say it in such a way as if it was some kind of difficult task. It's not like we work hard to reach a certain VIFP level. We're all going on vacation. We're gifted these loyalty levels and perks for going on vacation. I've seen some very angry Platinums who say they hate FTTF because they don't appreciate that Carnival sells perks that they've earned. You went on a bunch of cruise vacations. Stop acting like you climbed Mt. Everest to get those perks. I've seen a lot of them say they paid a lot of money for those perks. No, you paid a lot of money for cruises. The perks are just a bonus that came as a result.

 

I do hope we reach Platinum someday. We'll certainly take advantage of the perks and will appreciate them greatly. It'll be nice not to have to buy FTTF. But in the end, the cruise vacation is the real payoff.

[#55worktoplay]

3 hours ago, pacruise804 said:

On the flip side, is it fair that someone who has 100 days on Carnival (but booked insides) should get less than someone who spent 10 days but in suites?

If it equals the same spent yes.

[Galatz]

On 1/10/2020 at 4:29 PM, pacruise804 said:

On the flip side, is it fair that someone who has 100 days on Carnival (but booked insides) should get less than someone who spent 10 days but in suites?

Thats how most programs work. United hasn't done actual miles traveled in years, you get 5x what you paid for your ticket. If you fly first you get more miles than if you fly economy. 

 

The purpose of loyalty programs is to give back to loyal customers so they keep spending money. They care more about the person who took 15 cruises in a suite than someone who took 15 cruises on deck 1 in an interior cabin. Thats just how businesses work.

 

Also going based on amount spent it would enable Carnival, Princess, HAL, etc to merge loyalty programs, as it puts what you spend on par with each other.

[pacruise804]

24 minutes ago, Galatz said:

Thats how most programs work. United hasn't done actual miles traveled in years, you get 5x what you paid for your ticket. If you fly first you get more miles than if you fly economy. 

 

The purpose of loyalty programs is to give back to loyal customers so they keep spending money. They care more about the person who took 15 cruises in a suite than someone who took 15 cruises on deck 1 in an interior cabin. Thats just how businesses work.

 

Also going based on amount spent it would enable Carnival, Princess, HAL, etc to merge loyalty programs, as it puts what you spend on par with each other.

But do they care more about the person who took 1 cruise in a suite and took advantage of the included perks more but spent little else on board than someone who took 15 cruises in an interior but purchased FTTF, books spa treatments and specialty dining?

 

My grocery store rewards are based only on that purchase (but rewards can carry over multiple purchases) while my Dad's store (in a different area) keeps a running total of all purchases.  The person who shops every week but only spends $40 would get no points at my store while a one time shopper of $120 would get points, my Dad's store would treat both the same.

[Isasprings]

On 1/7/2020 at 7:00 AM, ray98 said:

 

Uhhhh....yeah.  Nice fantasy world you created.  The Platinums I know spend more on a ship than any 'blue card' I know.  How you decided Platinum and Diamond equals frugal is rather amusing.

I agree with you!!!!