Here is the new platinum diamond gift for May

[Micahs Grandad]

2 hours ago, kwokpot said:

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! 

We typically use it at lunchtime but do think they set it up this way to limit how many free drinks they give away.

[kwokpot]

2 minutes ago, Micah's Grandad said:

We typically use it at lunchtime but do think they set it up this way to limit how many free drinks they give away.

Most definitely but the thing is alcohol is dirt cheap when the cruiselines buy in such quantity. Giving away a free alcoholic drink(well brand or beer, wine) would cost them less per person then those tumblers they were giving away; probably the same cost as the new lanyards! Do you know Royal gives their top loyalty customers an UNLIMITED Cocktail hour from 4:30-8pm EVERY NIGHT?

[Lee Cruiser]

5 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

Most definitely but the thing is alcohol is dirt cheap when the cruiselines buy in such quantity. Giving away a free alcoholic drink(well brand or beer, wine) would cost them less per person then those tumblers they were giving away; probably the same cost as the new lanyards! Do you know Royal gives their top loyalty customers an UNLIMITED Cocktail hour from 4:30-8pm EVERY NIGHT?

For those of us who don't drink alcohol and little to no soft drinks, that wouldn't be a benefit either. Plus it would take away a big money producer and probably raise the cruise price for everyone. 

[Joebucks]

21 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

Most definitely but the thing is alcohol is dirt cheap when the cruiselines buy in such quantity. Giving away a free alcoholic drink(well brand or beer, wine) would cost them less per person then those tumblers they were giving away; probably the same cost as the new lanyards! Do you know Royal gives their top loyalty customers an UNLIMITED Cocktail hour from 4:30-8pm EVERY NIGHT?

 

I believe Royal has probably the best loyalty program in the business. I definitely wouldn't mind if Carnival gave free drinks. However, there is more to this. Sometimes, we just care about what is "free," without actually knowing what we spent. We always think we know business models and costs more than the cruise lines do.

 

Royal Carribean tends to be higher in price. Cruzely claims to have analyzed 2500 cruises. Royal was on average, $200 higher. So how much extra did you spend to get "free drinks?" Obviously, Royal offers some more stuff as well. There is more to a business than "this guy does it!"

 

https://www.cruzely.com/11-major-differences-between-royal-caribbean-and-carnival/

[Wolfshair]

We're diamond and we don't sail for the free gifts. I sail on Carnival because I like their ships, their costs, and have a great time. Any gifts I get are an extra. They are not forcing you to take it and feel free to sail with any other line that you feel gives you more value for the money. You can turn it in and see if there is any thing else. My company used to give free gifts at certain times. Some of them I liked more than others. I have found newly weds and 1st time cruisers that I have shared some gifts with and they have appreciated them. Take a chill pill people.

[TrqoisWtrs]

2 hours ago, pe4all said:

I have used the free drink coupon only once, as we don't do brunch on our cruises.

 

I don't usually do brunch either, but I'll walk down to the dining room and snag a waiter.  They will bring me my free drink without having to sit and eat.  :)

 

[Micahs Grandad]

3 hours ago, kwokpot said:

Most definitely but the thing is alcohol is dirt cheap when the cruiselines buy in such quantity. Giving away a free alcoholic drink(well brand or beer, wine) would cost them less per person then those tumblers they were giving away; probably the same cost as the new lanyards! Do you know Royal gives their top loyalty customers an UNLIMITED Cocktail hour from 4:30-8pm EVERY NIGHT?

Nobody ever said that Carnival's loyalty program was one of the better ones. 

[CHOPPERTESTER]

2 hours ago, Joebucks said:

 

I believe Royal has probably the best loyalty program in the business. I definitely wouldn't mind if Carnival gave free drinks. However, there is more to this. Sometimes, we just care about what is "free," without actually knowing what we spent. We always think we know business models and costs more than the cruise lines do.

 

Royal Carribean tends to be higher in price. Cruzely claims to have analyzed 2500 cruises. Royal was on average, $200 higher. So how much extra did you spend to get "free drinks?" Obviously, Royal offers some more stuff as well. There is more to a business than "this guy does it!"

 

Nope. HAL has it. Free laundry, 50% off wine packages, 50% of in cabin mini bar, 50% off specialty restaurants, pri boarding, pri tender, pri disembarkation. Lots of one on one specials not advertised on their web site that bring the cruises into the Carnival pp/per night ballpark.

[Micahs Grandad]

After we started cruising and decided we liked it, the loyalty program helped to draw us in and give us incentive to keep coming back.

 

After getting free laundry for years it was a bit annoying when we started with Princess to have to do our own laundry once or twice on a two week cruise. 

[theboatahoy]

On 4/24/2019 at 7:36 AM, 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.

 

Oh no!!! A billion dollar company losing, as you low-balled, "thousands of dollars". How will they every survive.....

[Maraprince]

Since items that can be reused are a big thing/business these days, a nylon foldable tote bag would be a great gift that is both practical and would come in handy when shopping.

 

MARAPRINCE

[kwokpot]

7 minutes ago, Maraprince said:

Since items that can be reused are a big thing/business these days, a nylon foldable tote bag would be a great gift that is both practical and would come in handy when shopping.

 

MARAPRINCE

We have received one of those as Loyalty gifts and I LOVE IT! It folds into itself and unfolded it's a backpack. I use it every cruise when I go to the beach. I'm able to get everything in it that i need;towel, sunscreen, water...

 

THIS is a useful and nice gift. It's really not that hard!

[vicky3vicky]

I will be turning Platinum on my next cruise [November] and I am so excited to receive ANY gift. I think the lanyards are a nice token gift. I am also super excited about the free laundry and the chocolate strawberries!

[jimbo5544]

22 hours ago, Lee Cruiser said:

For those of us who don't drink alcohol and little to no soft drinks, that wouldn't be a benefit either. Plus it would take away a big money producer and probably raise the cruise price for everyone. 

Doesn’t that logic hold true for just about everything?

[jimbo5544]

19 hours ago, Micah's Grandad said:

Nobody ever said that Carnival's loyalty program was one of the better ones. 

Wait a minute Stu, YOU said that!!

[kwokpot]

5 minutes ago, jimbo5544 said:

So.....I am guessing you will say no thank you on your next Carnival cruise?

Yes, I would nicely give it back to my stateroom attendant or just leave it in the room, just like I leave the pins. Additionally if you're on on of those Carnival Players Club casino Premier, Ultra or Elite gambling cruises you automatically get one. 

 

One of the other past loyalty gifts that I loved (besides the folding backpack) was the nightlight. I use them in my bathrooms and kitchen at home! 

[jimbo5544]

Just now, kwokpot said:

Yes, I would nicely give it back to my stateroom attendant or just leave it in the room, just like I leave the pins. Additionally if you're on on of those Carnival Players Club casino Premier, Ultra or Elite gambling cruises you automatically get one. 

 

One of the other past loyalty gifts that I loved (besides the folding backpack) was the nightlight. I use them in my bathrooms and kitchen at home! 

I am sure it is tough to come up with ideas time after time on these items.  That said, there have been some true losers, like the croc hat.....  The lanyard certainly was not among the priciest and the advance reaction was enough for JH and Matt to yank the breads from their pages..... but free is free.

[Butterbean1000]

I'll be platinum on my next cruise.  I don't cruise for the perks.  I cruise because I love cruising.  Becoming platinum will be a hoot.  I don't care about free gifts,  free laundry  or being first to board,  I already pay to do that 😉. I just love to cruise.

[RRLLAL]

I cruise for everything but the gift. Who cares? The loyalty program is more than just a lanyard or blanket or tumbler. And I’d still cruise if there was no loyalty program. For those crying that we spend a lot of money, we should get better free stuff, the money is for the cruise. Anything else is just a bonus. Stop whining. 

[ccruisequeen]

On 4/23/2019 at 8:33 AM, lele100 said:

Per John Heald and Matt Mitchum 

I think it's very attractive. I wouldn't use it on other cruise lines though

[jimbo5544]

On 4/24/2019 at 2:41 PM, evandbob said:

 

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.

If that free dinner wets your whistle then go for it.

[gtonda]

I highly doubt anyone cruises for the free gifts, but that doesn't mean you can't call them out for handing out the cheapest of cheap junk. 

Any fool can see that you'll never please everyone with what they give out, but they've definitely scrapped the bottom of the barrel with this one. A lanyard is a tchotchke. It's something you give out in bulk to anyone that stops by your convention booth, much like a cheap pen or a squeeze ball. It's not something that should be part of a loyalty program and gifted to your most frequent customers. 

 

I'm embarrassed for them. Yes, the gifts are an added bonus, but when you stoop to this level of cheap, you mind as well skip it. 

[RRLLAL]

Any fool can see that the small gift isn’t the only thing you get for being platinum or diamond. Why do people think this gift is IT? 

[ledges1]

I have a drawer full of lanyards. One more for the collection.

[jmcathome]

Maybe they can make the gift a second free drink certificate, then raise the price of the drinks so you have to pay extra for most of the drinks. Raise the price, not the value of certificate.