What is the Platinum Gift

[VolzCruiser]

Since Carnival has started sailing again, I was wondering what the Platinum Gift is at this time.

[Ohio Bucki]

I heard that it was going to be the leftover luggage tags for the first month or so after sailing returned.

[sgttami]

The gift is that cruises are sailing!

 

Seriously, no clue but in January 2020 I got a luggage tag.

[BlerkOne]

Luggage tags for the foreseeable future and no, they can't be exchanged. Your choice is gift or no gift, as it should have been all along.

[tm_aw_love]

John Heald specified that because of the shutdown and lack of funds, they are going the luggage tag route for now. 

[NavyCruiser]

Free covid test...

[tallnthensome]

So people who strive to reach platinum by staying with Carnival get ….. a luggage tag. People like me that that sail multiple lines and  have only sailed Carnival twice got the $200 cabin offer for the Panroama 7 day Mexican river Cruise for august ….. while platinums didn’t. Makes sense ….. 

[ProgRockCruiser]

3 minutes ago, tallnthensome said:

So people who strive to reach platinum by staying with Carnival get ….. a luggage tag. People like me that that sail multiple lines and  have only sailed Carnival twice got the $200 cabin offer for the Panroama 7 day Mexican river Cruise for august ….. while platinums didn’t. Makes sense ….. 

But it does make sense.  Marketing incentives.  Why waste money attracting a client who is very likely to return?  Focus on attracting a client who may return, or a first-timer, but clearly needs some bait to pull them in.

[tm_aw_love]

4 minutes ago, tallnthensome said:

So people who strive to reach platinum by staying with Carnival get ….. a luggage tag. People like me that that sail multiple lines and  have only sailed Carnival twice got the $200 cabin offer for the Panroama 7 day Mexican river Cruise for august ….. while platinums didn’t. Makes sense ….. 

Tons of things play into this, and you are comparing apples to oranges. For example, it is clearly no secret that casino (gambling) offers are significantly better than any other type of VIFP offer. Also, regardless of the offer somebody is booked under (ie. a $200 cruise) they would still qualify for the perks associated with their loyalty tier. 

[carib1]

7 minutes ago, tallnthensome said:

So people who strive to reach platinum by staying with Carnival get ….. a luggage tag. People like me that that sail multiple lines and  have only sailed Carnival twice got the $200 cabin offer for the Panroama 7 day Mexican river Cruise for august ….. while platinums didn’t. Makes sense ….. 

I'm platinum and got the same casino offer!

[cruisingguy007]

6 minutes ago, tallnthensome said:

So people who strive to reach platinum by staying with Carnival get ….. a luggage tag. People like me that that sail multiple lines and  have only sailed Carnival twice got the $200 cabin offer for the Panroama 7 day Mexican river Cruise for august ….. while platinums didn’t. Makes sense ….. 

 

I got that deal too, a lot of folks did. I don't think it was some special deal. I think it was more to fill cabins. 

[tallnthensome]

5 minutes ago, cruisingguy007 said:

 

I got that deal too, a lot of folks did. I don't think it was some special deal. I think it was more to fill cabins. 

I read when that deal was being discussed that a whole lot of people that had way more carnival cruises under their belt didn’t get that offer on Panorama. There were plenty that wanted it. The point I was trying to make is, while not really one, was the platinum gift is weak and real bonuses were being offered to those with few carnival cruises taken. 

Edited July 22, 2021 by tallnthensome

[cruisingguy007]

20 minutes ago, tallnthensome said:

I read when that deal was being discussed that a whole lot of people that had way more carnival cruises under their belt didn’t get that offer on Panorama. There were plenty that wanted it. The point I was trying to make is, while not really one, was the platinum gift is weak and real bonuses were being offered to those with few carnival cruises taken. 

 

I think most people are loyal not for some small perks but because they get the value that they are looking for overall. Even if they ended the little perks altogether, the overwhelming majority would still sail with Carnival because the alternatives aren't the same experience, and more importantly, aren't the same price/value. I shop at certain grocery stores because of location, convenience, and price. I shop their stores frequently, even though I don't get to cut in line, get free chocolate strawberries, or trinkets. I think folks appreciate some of the perks but don't sail because of them, but in spite of them.     

Edited July 22, 2021 by cruisingguy007

[firefly333]

29 minutes ago, tallnthensome said:

I read when that deal was being discussed that a whole lot of people that had way more carnival cruises under their belt didn’t get that offer on Panorama. There were plenty that wanted it. The point I was trying to make is, while not really one, was the platinum gift is weak and real bonuses were being offered to those with few carnival cruises taken. 

I didnt get any offers for cheaper cruises. None, zero. 

 

I did get a offer to book with cheers for slightly more $. Lol

 

As you can see carnival has its loyalists same as rcl. Whatever they do is right. You will be argued with if you suggest otherwise. 

 

Of course I'd have liked a $200  cruise lol. But will enjoy cheers.

[ScottsSweetie]

58 minutes ago, tallnthensome said:

I read when that deal was being discussed that a whole lot of people that had way more carnival cruises under their belt didn’t get that offer on Panorama. There were plenty that wanted it. The point I was trying to make is, while not really one, was the platinum gift is weak and real bonuses were being offered to those with few carnival cruises taken. 

There certainly appears to be no rhyme or reason in how these offers are issued. I have 10 more days on Carnival than DH, but we both have over 100. Right now, my best offers on Panorama are for 8/28 at $499pp and 9/11 at $409pp. His offers list $275pp and $285pp, respectively. Go figure.

[Georgie562]

2 hours ago, tallnthensome said:

So people who strive to reach platinum by staying with Carnival get ….. a luggage tag. People like me that that sail multiple lines and  have only sailed Carnival twice got the $200 cabin offer for the Panroama 7 day Mexican river Cruise for august ….. while platinums didn’t. Makes sense ….. 

 

Not necessarily the case for everyone.

I have no favorite line I go with the price and itinerary. I am Platinum with Carnival and too have the same deal

On Holland America I also have a similar deal.

Any cruise line favors casino players immensely. 

Edited July 22, 2021 by Georgie562

[NCTribeFan]

I have 30 Carnival cruises and only recently got the "free" casino offer.

 

I've sailed HAL 3 times.  After the first (and I was the 3rd passenger on the booking), I got a deeply discounted offer and sailed solo on an 11-night partial Panama Canal cruise for about $500.

 

Started getting free offers then but the timing never worked, or by the time I reached my PCC, those cabins were sold out.

 

Now, I'm getting crazy offers.  I'm sailing for 10 nights on Eurodam for $200.  I got a $200 offer for a 21-night Panama Canal sailing from Seattle to FLL.  Sadly, I can't go because of a work deadline. 😪

 

I couldn't care less about the Platinum gift.  I'm Diamond because for most of my early cruises, I was a single mom and the prices on Carnival (and the interior cabin sizes compared to other lines, which is important when cruising with a teenage girl) kept me with them.  Now, I sail on whatever line has the itinerary I want at the time of year I want at the price I want.  I continue to sail Carnival because my "cruise buddies" love it.

 

I have 10 cruises booked - 2 on HAL, 5 on Carnival, 1 on Celebrity, 2 on NCL.  And I have two FCCs for MSC I need to use.

 

I'm not going to book Carnival because of the perks.  If I can sail HAL for $200 for 10 nights but I don't have priority boarding, oh well!  I'll just suffer with standing in line.  It's totally worth it.  If I can sail MSC with a drinks & wi-fi package for less than Carnival, I'll sail MSC.

[Georgie562]

A Kit Kat bar

[csm5986142]

We were recently on the Breeze and there was a confusion in regards to the platinum gift.  Initially we asked guest services about it, and were told to pick it up at pixels, but the staff there had no idea what we were talking about.  We gave up at that point - we were mostly just curious what it was.  We have other cruises booked this year and can try again.  

Same with the water.  We'd ordered a case of water and decided we wouldn't try to get the larger size complimentary bottles (usually 1 per platinum passenger,  already in the cabin when we arrive) unless we ran out (and we didn't).

[crzndeb]

1 hour ago, firefly333 said:

I didnt get any offers for cheaper cruises. None, zero. 

 

I did get a offer to book with cheers for slightly more $. Lol

 

As you can see carnival has its loyalists same as rcl. Whatever they do is right. You will be argued with if you suggest otherwise. 

 

Of course I'd have liked a $200  cruise lol. But will enjoy cheers.

Same with me Firefly...I never get Cheers, but will enjoy it in Dec.

I don’t gamble a cent, so I never expect to get those offers, but people sure never talk about the money they lose gambling, just what they won, and their great offers. 
My daughter’s ex was a poker player. Always talked about big winnings. She found out the hard way about loses. That’s why he’s an ex....😉
 

I always find something to do with the Platinum gift. Some in the past have definitely been better than others. I will take anything over those Croc visors they had at one point.

Edited July 22, 2021 by crzndeb

[NCTribeFan]

I am most definitely not a high roller.  My HAL offers are for "free" inside cabin with maybe DOU and maybe $100 casino credit.  You don't have to lose a bunch of $$s to get decent casino offers.  At least that's what I've found with HAL.  Of course, maybe if I sail them more often, I won't get as many offers.  Carnival has always known I'd come back, so why offer that much incentive?

 

I'm sailing HAL in November and December.  We'll see if I continue to get good offers from them.  Even when I don't get the free offers, my fares are typically 30% off, which as a solo, makes them often comparable to Carnival, where I have to pay 200%. 

 

Anyway, luggage tag.  If you get one and don't want it, turn it back in at the Service Desk or give it to someone with a Blue or Red card.  I've returned or given away more Platinum gifts that I've brought home.

[LHARTWICK]

5 minutes ago, NCTribeFan said:

If you get one and don't want it, turn it back in at the Service Desk or give it to someone with a Blue or Red card.  I've returned or given away more Platinum gifts that I've brought home.

Definitely!  I've given them to others who weren't Platinum yet.  You'd be surprised at how appreciative people are.  Instead of complaining about the gift, let's pay it forward and make someone smile.  😀

[Indiansbaseball]

To me the gift is a bonus. I appreciate the party, the laundry and the priority line for customer service and tenders ! Like above has said …. Pass it on and enjoy your cruise ! 

[Jasonsterling]

4 hours ago, ProgRockCruiser said:

But it does make sense.  Marketing incentives.  Why waste money attracting a client who is very likely to return?  Focus on attracting a client who may return, or a first-timer, but clearly needs some bait to pull them in.

Yes and no- attracting new clients is definitely a huge focus in marketing and busines but so is, typically, maintaining an existing client base. Maybe you'll keep the new client, maybe not, with a great offer BUT you can almost assure you'll keep an existing client by extending them the same offer. In a market where increasing competition from other lines moving to non-traditional ports with greater numbers of ships and increasing prices on Carnival's side along with moves placing it in line with it's rivals in regard to economic stratification within the experience i.e. reserved areas, higher end suites, upcharge eating, upcharge entertainment and so on maintaining your base takes on greater importance because the base in a field of identical choices needs a reason not to move. 

 

In my case Carnival has always been an excellent choice because the port was nearby, they placed newer ships there quickly better insuring there was availability when I was free on a nicer ship and the price was competitive on top of that. Plus, I figured the difference between the lines would not be great enough to go on RCL to justify the price difference or flying to Miami. Now with RCL preparing to move their massive mega liner to Galveston, something I've always wanted to sail on, in addition to Carnival's increasing ala carte schedule of pricing I have to say that I'm tempted to at least try RCL and if I try them I might stick with them, I might like them better. Most companies don't ever want to give you a reason to try anything else. They don't want to give you a chance to find out if it's better. That's what Loyalty Programs are meant to do always give you the reason, the little nudge or edge to stay with what you know over something else.   

[BlerkOne]

2 minutes ago, Jasonsterling said:

Yes and no- attracting new clients is definitely a huge focus in marketing and busines but so is, typically, maintaining an existing client base.

Repeat customers don't grow a business - that is what new clients do. You'll never get 100% repeat business.

 

 

2 minutes ago, Jasonsterling said:

 

 That's what Loyalty Programs are meant to do always give you the reason, the little nudge or edge to stay with what you know over something else.   

Loyalty programs are nothing more than marketing gimmicks, and it appears they have you hooked.