Here is the new platinum diamond gift for May

[dmdiver]

I haven't been platinum very long & typically cruise once a year, so I've only gotten 2 gifts.  We've received packing cubes, which I love & use every vacation.  We've received headphones, which I gave one set to my grandson & the other hasn't been taken out of the box.  I already have Carnival lanyards that we got for photo purchases.  I have lanyards that we use instead of the Carnival ones because they are a thinner nylon that is comfortable & dries quickly.  I also have a pretty beaded lanyard.  So, it's not so much that the lanyard would be a cheap gift, it's just useless to us.  While I don't really need a tervis tumbler, at least I would be able to use it year round.  I would use blankets year round.  Even a beach towel would be handy by the hot tub.  I can see how Carnival would want to save money on the gifts as the number needed increases, but this would not be my favorite gift for sure.

[evandbob]

When they run out of lanyards, the next loyalty gift may be: 

 

A Carnival Pen!

 

🤣🙄

[declansdad]

LOL.

 

It's always funny when people complain about gifts.

 

 

[tallnthensome]

46 minutes ago, sc4125 said:

 

 

As for what Tallnthensome said - I go to several restaurants frequently and have never been given a free meal.  Now, if I eat enough subs from Subway I get a free 6" sub.  Not sure which restaurants you go to, but I've never had an upscale restaurant reward me for being a customer.  Some hotels do give you a free night, but unless they are so in demand that they are sold out every night (which seldom if ever happens), that free night costs them nothing.  As a matter of fact they probably make money because you will probably eat in their restaurant during that free night. 

 

What would you like for CCL to do?  If they were to give gifts that costs even $5, they would be spending thousands of dollars a year as they have a butt load of platinum and diamond cruisers.  Same goes for other lines.

 

 

If you’re diamond or platinum these cheap lanyards came at a price and aren’t free. You get what I’m saying about restaurants. Chain restaurants will give it to you a loyalty dinner. Can’t carnival give you a dinner? Maybe some small OBC? Onboard shop credit? Anything .... ?? Don’t have sympathy for Carnival if they gave platinums $5. The last thing we need is passengers feeling sorry for Carnival for having too many loyal customers . 

Edited April 24, 2019 by tallnthensome

[TNcruising02]

I think there's always going to be upset people when you go from giving a decent gift like a blanket to a very cheap gift like a lanyard.  That's pretty much one of the cheapest gifts they could give.  I like the idea of a Carnival towel.  Something collectible would be nice too.  I wonder what kinds of gifts other cruise lines give to their loyal members.  I haven't cruised on one line long enough to reach any type of status.

[sc4125]

32 minutes ago, tallnthensome said:

If you’re diamond or platinum these cheap lanyards came at a price and aren’t free. You get what I’m saying about restaurants. Chain restaurants will give it to you a loyalty dinner. Can’t carnival give you a dinner? Maybe some small OBC? Onboard shop credit? Anything .... ?? Don’t have sympathy for Carnival if they gave platinums $5. The last thing we need is passengers feeling sorry for Carnival for having too many loyal customers . 

Oh, I don't feel sorry for Carnival at all.  They are doing a bang up business.  However, I've been Platinum for quite a few years and, though I haven't found some of the gifts useful, I don't think I deserve a gift just because I'm a loyal customer.  I agree the lanyard may be "cheap" and I doubt that I would ever use it, but I disagree that my being Platinum came at a price.  I cruise with CCL because they meet my needs, not because I think they should give me something for free. 

 

Also, they do give you a free drink, but most people complain that there are restrictions - have to use the coupon at brunch, etc.  They also have a very nice cocktail party for Platinum & Diamond with unlimited drinks and appetizers - and, you guessed it, people complain that they give the party on the last sea day and it's not at a convenient time.  So, while I appreciate the fact that the free gifts aren't for everyone, to say that CCL doesn't do anything for their Platinum and Diamond passengers is just not factual.

 

 

 

 

[maldenmusic]

13 hours ago, beachbum53 said:

 

 

I'm betting this is a fake post. I searched back through an entire week of posts on JH's FB page (all the way back to April 16th) and found no such post. Looks like the fake "John Heald" is at it again.

I hope so.  

[pretzellover]

Hope these gifts are not next

[Micahs Grandad]

Rumor has it the next gift will be a ship on a stick😂

[cruizinisthebest]

5 hours ago, sc4125 said:

I 100% agree - how do you get upset about anything you are getting for free??  Doesn't make sense.

 

As for what Tallnthensome said - I go to several restaurants frequently and have never been given a free meal.  Now, if I eat enough subs from Subway I get a free 6" sub.  Not sure which restaurants you go to, but I've never had an upscale restaurant reward me for being a customer.  Some hotels do give you a free night, but unless they are so in demand that they are sold out every night (which seldom if ever happens), that free night costs them nothing.  As a matter of fact they probably make money because you will probably eat in their restaurant during that free night. 

 

What would you like for CCL to do?  If they were to give gifts that costs even $5, they would be spending thousands of dollars a year as they have a butt load of platinum and diamond cruisers.  Same goes for other lines.

 

I would have no problem if they stopped the gifts, but until they do, I will graciously accept anything they give me - and give it to someone else if I don't want it.

 

👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 VERY.WELL.SAID!

[sc4125]

12 minutes ago, cruizinisthebest said:

👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 VERY.WELL.SAID!

Thank You! 

[evandbob]

5 hours ago, TNcruising02 said:

I think there's always going to be upset people when you go from giving a decent gift like a blanket to a very cheap gift like a lanyard.  That's pretty much one of the cheapest gifts they could give.  I like the idea of a Carnival towel.  Something collectible would be nice too.  I wonder what kinds of gifts other cruise lines give to their loyal members.  I haven't cruised on one line long enough to reach any type of status.

 

I'll be getting a free dinner in NCL Epic next week.  That's for "earning" 80 pts and becoming a platinum on their loyalty list.  This is not a 1 timer; whenever I sail NCL, I will be comped a free dinner in Cagney's or LeBistro.

 

I'm Diamond on Carnival  which took way longer to get than NCL's platinum, and you want to give me what?  Guaranteed the 1st red or blue card I see will appreciate the lanyard I give them.

[Tampa Bay Irish]

To those who say “how can you complain about a free gift?” It’s insulting to give your best, repeat customers a lanyard. It screams “cheap.” I hope it’s not true and this was all a late April Fools joke. It doesn’t take an MBA from the Harvard Business School to figure this out. Carnival’s gift reward program is frequently criticized. Does anybody know if Carnival has ever surveyed their Platinum and Diamond cruisers as to what types of gifts they would appreciate and would motivate them to become even bigger fans of the Carnival brand? I like the idea of giving Platinums and Diamonds an Onboard Credit. Since Carnival is a lower tier brand I doubt they would ever go for it. People would be insulted by how small the OBC was. Another idea worth considering is allowing people to select their own reward. 

[Lee Cruiser]

Unfortunately it is no joke 

 

[gtonda]

WOW! This is a new low. This thing probably costs them $0.25, at the quantity they buy. It absolutely is insulting. Most casinos give you a junk trinket like this when you sign up for their player's club. 

[gtonda]

I guess the writing has been on the wall (if this is true). Three times, in the last 2 months, he has asked on FB, if anyone has carried their key in a lanyard. Shoot, he's asked that same question 2 years ago. 

[pe4all]

Just another item to throw in my junk drawer!

[Bookbug53]

On 4/23/2019 at 12:52 PM, Garth2 said:

If this is true, it will break the records for the cheapest and most unwanted gift they've ever offered.  

IMHO that distinction would belong to the croc visor. 

 

 

[devinc]

11 minutes ago, pe4all said:

Just another item to throw in my junk drawer!

 

Like the pins we have been given for gold status, Im not sure this would even make it off the ship.  We don't even unpin those from the paper but leave them on the desk.

 

Personally, Im not a lanyard wearer at all but hey, my phone goes in the safe as we leave and stays in there for the duration.  

[evandbob]

1 hour ago, pe4all said:

Just another item to throw in my junk drawer!

 Don't even bring it home.  I give anything I don't want or can use to a red or blue card who will appreciate it.

[13cheermom]

I'm not complaining about the "Free" gift we are given.  However compared to previous ones, like the YETI style insulated cup w/lid & crossbody strap bag, this lanyard seems to be lacking, lol.  Guess like some have mentioned there are so many D & P's now that it's almost like giving the entire ship a "free" gift.  We thoroughly enjoy our YETI style cups and bring them on each cruise as well as the crossbody bag that my husband carries for shore excursions.

The older I get I realize times are changing, and this is just another small little change in the grand scheme of things.  As long as I choose to sail with Carnival I will be appreciative for the "free" gifts and be happy.

[RRLLAL]

On 4/24/2019 at 6:33 AM, tallnthensome said:

To be honest, I think an insult like this could actually cause PR damage with the faithful much more so than a feeling of appreciation.  It’s silly, discouraging, a slap in the face and John Heald better realize that ....... 

 

Does John Heald make the decision?

[2Shoes2Go]

This is the only lanyard we’ll ever wear! Bring back Carnival Live! 😀

[kwokpot]

On 4/23/2019 at 12:48 PM, Keys2Heaven said:

How about a couple extra free drink coupons? Or elect to take the gift value as a OBC?

Would save Carnival some money.

Those drink coupons are worthless. I for one don't want to have an alcoholic drink for breakfast. They are being REALLY,REALLY cheap by not letting you use it at the bars (like it used to be for the last day of the cruise, which also was chintzy!) and ONLY in the Dining Room! 

[pe4all]

7 hours ago, devinc said:

 

Like the pins we have been given for gold status, Im not sure this would even make it off the ship.  We don't even unpin those from the paper but leave them on the desk.

 

Personally, Im not a lanyard wearer at all but hey, my phone goes in the safe as we leave and stays in there for the duration.  

Same here with our phones. And I hate lanyards.  I also haven't taken the pins home in forever!  I have used the free drink coupon only once, as we don't do brunch on our cruises. Otherwise, it gets thrown away the last day of the cruise.  

Edited April 25, 2019 by pe4all