Past Passenger Party

[jimbo5544]

24 minutes ago, FiredogCruiser said:

What I am trying to understand is why the consternation over what is a relatively small percentage of passengers currently. What any business is looking for is growth. Preferably profitably growth in all sectors. That said I would believe that the corporation, not necessarily the specific line, would want to grow those numbers and be interested in how they could do that. My thought has been you do that by offering cross brand programming and marketing. Differing profit centers. I don't want to generalize, but older passengers tend to drink less than they used to. Less bar revenue. But they often book more expensive cabins and suites. Maybe not at the same enormous profit margins as the alcohol, but never the less dollars. As a shareholder, I would like to see marketing aimed at more demographic specific customer. And then finding a way to reward the demographic category IN ADDITION to the brand. In my opinion that creates growth.

While relatively small number, some here place a high emphasis on their value, even have pride in the attainment of these levels.  

 

Carnivals main focus IS first time cruisers and their plan is to have as many homeports as possible so that potential cruisers are within a five hours drive of a port.  While they want all cruisers, they retain a fair share once they start cruising (some here would say that's a detriment).   That and they are the fun ships.  

Edited August 13, 2019 by jimbo5544

[buddylover]

On 8/8/2019 at 9:15 PM, Nic6318 said:

Hi

 

I don't see a "past passenger" party working. The reason they limited it to start was because there were just too many people. Well now, there would be even more. They would need hold it in the theatre. I don't think that would allow for much of a party atmosphere. 

 

I think a few more details would be needed to even speculate.  

They DO hold these so called parties in the "theatre" these days already......and they are packed!

[PhillyFan33579]

2 hours ago, Micahs Grandad said:

I believe plats and diamonds are older folks with either more vacation time or retired and can take longer journey type cruises so those would obviously tend to have a larger number of those two categories.

 

It has not been my experience that D&Ps are older folks. While I have met a lot of older D&Ps, especially Ds, I have also met a lot of D&Ps that most people would call younger. I have met Ds as young as 12 at a D special event and Ps as young as 6 at the D&P party. 

[PhillyFan33579]

1 hour ago, jimbo5544 said:

While relatively small number, some here place a high emphasis on their value, even have pride in the attainment of these levels.  

 

I have never understood that mind set, but than again I don’t think you have attained anything or accomplished anything by reaching a certain loyalty level on any cruise line. 

[Florings]

Complete speculation IMO

[Micahs Grandad]

7 minutes ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

 

I have never understood that mind set, but than again I don’t think you have attained anything or accomplished anything by reaching a certain loyalty level on any cruise line. 

Not an accomplishment but nice to reach loyalty levels that make cruises extra special. For example,  nice to have affair with captain on each cruise we now go on.

[Micahs Grandad]

12 minutes ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

 

It has not been my experience that D&Ps are older folks. While I have met a lot of older D&Ps, especially Ds, I have also met a lot of D&Ps that most people would call younger. I have met Ds as young as 12 at a D special event and Ps as young as 6 at the D&P party. 

My logic is that older people have had more opportunities to take cruises and build up cruising days. Have met young children who are Diamond but not very many.

[linbobky]

1 hour ago, Micahs Grandad said:

My logic is that older people have had more opportunities to take cruises and build up cruising days. Have met young children who are Diamond but not very many.

but, they are tagging along with grandma and grandpa. lol.

[sanmarcosman]

2 hours ago, Micahs Grandad said:

 For example,  nice to have affair with captain on each cruise we now go on.

Does Sheila know? 

[TomCruise48]

5 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

While true, the demographics say otherwise.  Diamond and plat cruisers spend WAY less on a cruise then new cruisers.

While it is likely true that frequent cruisers generate less onboard revenue, I think the point that Carnival may be missing is referrals.  Between DW and myself, we have introduced about 30 friends and family to their first Carnival cruise.  Word of mouth from experienced cruisers should give a much better return than lots of advertising.

[jimbo5544]

1 hour ago, sanmarcosman said:

Does Sheila know? 

Lol

[bitemyfly]

Very interesting thread here. I’m not sure if I differ from many of carnival cruisers , I do think I differ than most of the regulars here on this site. I made platinum years ago , I think you had to have 75 days or so to get it. My kids were home , there was always 4 of us getting two rooms and the product was a value .. that drove us to carnival it was a value , we were a young family ..and we stayed for several years ..

Kids grown ,we kinda went to other lines when we cruised the value issue wasn’t a driver any longer .. , we also did not do as many cruisers , now it’s 3 land trips to one cruise ..the loyalty program really did not drive any behavior in me .. again not sure if I differ from the guests or just  who those who frequent the cruise sites like this . I also think the program is awfully old fashioned and behind the times being built as it is today.. the party , trinkets does little for me..

[sanmarcosman]

OK

[jimbo5544]

42 minutes ago, bitemyfly said:

Very interesting thread here. I’m not sure if I differ from many of carnival cruisers , I do think I differ than most of the regulars here on this site. I made platinum years ago , I think you had to have 75 days or so to get it. My kids were home , there was always 4 of us getting two rooms and the product was a value .. that drove us to carnival it was a value , we were a young family ..and we stayed for several years ..

Kids grown ,we kinda went to other lines when we cruised the value issue wasn’t a driver any longer .. , we also did not do as many cruisers , now it’s 3 land trips to one cruise ..the loyalty program really did not drive any behavior in me .. again not sure if I differ from the guests or just  who those who frequent the cruise sites like this . I also think the program is awfully old fashioned and behind the times being built as it is today.. the party , trinkets does little for me..

So what would make a difference?

[elcuchio24]

23 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

Which is why it needed overhaul then, and again now.  

 

still remember drinking like 5 mellon ballers in 45min...#heartburn....

[Warm Breezes]

4 minutes ago, elcuchio24 said:

 

still remember drinking like 5 mellon ballers in 45min...#heartburn....

LOL.  The last past guest party we went to before they changed the program and our gold status no longer got us in, DH drank about that many rum punches in 45 minutes.  I couldn't even get 1 down because they were strong and in the larger glasses.  Needless to say we missed dinner that night as DH spent the evening the rest room while I made my way to the buffet and then down to the casino by myself.  He also missed Grand Turk the next day too while I got off to do a little shopping.  I don't think DH has had a rum punch since then🤢.  I don't think he really missed the party that much either.

[jimbo5544]

31 minutes ago, elcuchio24 said:

 

still remember drinking like 5 mellon ballers in 45min...#heartburn....

LOL

[elcuchio24]

1 hour ago, Warm Breezes said:

LOL.  The last past guest party we went to before they changed the program and our gold status no longer got us in, DH drank about that many rum punches in 45 minutes.  I couldn't even get 1 down because they were strong and in the larger glasses.  Needless to say we missed dinner that night as DH spent the evening the rest room while I made my way to the buffet and then down to the casino by myself.  He also missed Grand Turk the next day too while I got off to do a little shopping.  I don't think DH has had a rum punch since then🤢.  I don't think he really missed the party that much either.

 

Precious memories of our misspent CCL youth!

[Micahs Grandad]

11 minutes ago, elcuchio24 said:

 

Precious memories of our misspent CCL youth!

So true, hard to believe how much we used to be able to drink at one of these parties

[taram999]

On 8/11/2019 at 2:49 PM, DallasGuy75219 said:

People are mixing up two different things...

 

1. On the first formal night (before it was "elegant" night) there was a Captain's Party or Captain's Celebration in the main lounge for the entire ship, including free drinks (beer, wine and watered down cocktails from tray service) and hors d'oeuvres. There were actually two separate parties (one for early MDR seating and one for late MDR seating--this was before YTD).  To cut costs, Carnival changed this to (a) a Captain''s Toast on the Promenade(?) deck with $1 off drinks and (b) the Fun Farewell party (free drinks and hors d'oeuvres) on the last full day of the cruise. 

 

The Fun Farewell party was planned to be a failure so they could eventually cut it.  It was advertised in the Fun Times (actually Capers at the time, I believe) at the beginning of the cruise and the only other mention of it was a single line in the Fun Times activity schedule on the day of.  I had a close friend on the Cruise Director's staff at the time, and he confirmed they were not allowed to advertise the party beyond that.  The party wasn't heavily attended because it wasn't well publicized or people were busy packing on the last day, so Carnival cut it with the excuse it wasn't popular or well attended.

 

The Captain''s Toast originally had $1 off drinks at Promenade deck bars for a specific time before and after the toast.  I believe that's now been cut to $1 off a specific drink (maybe champagne or bellinis).

 

2. There used to be a past guest party with free drinks and hors d'oeuvres for everyone who had cruised Carnival before.  When this got too big (or likely more expensive than Carnival wanted to spend), Red cards got cut and it became the Gold/Plat/Diamond Party.  All past guests got a free bottle of water in their cabin as a consolation to Red cards.

 

Carnival then cut it down to the Plat/Diamond party, with Golds getting a coupon for a free "appreciation" drink after 5 pm on the last full day of the cruise.

 

 

And that's the story of how two free parties with free drinks and hors d'oeuvres got cut down to what you see today.

We are platinum and have no desire to waste our time trying to get free drinks and food.  The food is in the buffet, and we have the beverage package.  Sitting packed in with a bunch of strangers all vying for a free drink does not seem like a good use of time.   Thanks for the explanation 🙂

[jimbo5544]

1 hour ago, Micahs Grandad said:

So true, hard to believe how much we used to be able to drink at one of these parties

But I also remember some mornings after and some whopper headaches.....

[sanmarcosman]

22 minutes ago, jimbo5544 said:

But I also remember some mornings after and some whopper headaches.....

Please finish that sentence. 😉

[jimbo5544]

Was using discretion ..... the worst one was on the Spirit, Alaskan cruise.  Not a lot of partiers... so the wait staff at the party recognized us and for some reason I could not say no.  The following morning was Sitka and I was in a group that was going Salmon fishing, starting with tenders to the pier.....not pretty.

[evandbob]

23 hours ago, buddylover said:

They DO hold these so called parties in the "theatre" these days already......and they are packed!

 

Years ago, the past guest party was usually held in the main theater with a live orchestra and couples invited up on stage to dance towards the end of the show.

 

I've attended recent past guest parties in either the comedy club or the theater, depending on how many P&Ds were on board that sailing.

[evandbob]

6 minutes ago, jimbo5544 said:

Was using discretion ..... the worst one was on the Spirit, Alaskan cruise.  Not a lot of partiers... so the wait staff at the party recognized us and for some reason I could not say no.  The following morning was Sitka and I was in a group that was going Salmon fishing, starting with tenders to the pier.....not pretty.

 

But did you catch any fish?  Or were you just providing the chum?