No More $25 Casino Credit

[JGB]

I am sailing in 9 days carnival sent me an email outlining sever Perks Including  thethe $25. Casino

i suppose they could not honor it but I will show them the email 

[mz-s]

52 minutes ago, JGB said:

I am sailing in 9 days carnival sent me an email outlining sever Perks Including  thethe $25. Casino

i suppose they could not honor it but I will show them the email 

 

The decision may indeed end up being reversed if enough casino rats revolt. Carnival's entire house of cards collapses without the casino.

[jimbo5544]

2 hours ago, simplelife said:

I think it's just flat wrong that people can purchase the same perks loyalty members have earned over time.

Can you give me an example on that?

 

[tree.critter]

I’m one of the cruisers that just gets the free play. If cash it goes in my pocket, if chips I go to roulette wheel and play it all on one spin, win or lose I walk away. I was thinking well over a year ago that this was a perk that I might as well enjoy while it lasted. Could see it going away with so many on each cruise being able to get it. Have seen the writing on the wall. Let’s face it, cruising has become so affordable and it’s so easy to make progress with VIFP levels.

 

Discussion has been made for several years now about revamping the VIFP project. I know none of us wants to lose benefits but many of us also own stock and it’s good as an investor that wants this company to be profitable. I’d enjoy a complete makeover, get rid of the gifts and strawberry/chocolate plates and diamond/platinum party, free play. Keep the pins and better offers for free drinks, early access to cabins, priority boarding and line as GS desk, laundry, none of these are expensive to provide . Whatever they do they need to revamp what qualifies as a cruise for accruing days and raise the bar for reaching the new levels.

 

I’ll still be cruising with Carnival, the VIFP program has nothing to do with the choice I make for which cruise to book. I’ll take whatever they give and either enjoy it or gift it to another.  

 

[jimbo5544]

5 minutes ago, tree.critter said:

I’m one of the cruisers that just gets the free play. If cash it goes in my pocket, if chips I go to roulette wheel and play it all on one spin, win or lose I walk away. I was thinking well over a year ago that this was a perk that I might as well enjoy while it lasted. Could see it going away with so many on each cruise being able to get it. Have seen the writing on the wall. Let’s face it, cruising has become so affordable and it’s so easy to make progress with VIFP levels.

 

Discussion has been made for several years now about revamping the VIFP project. I know none of us wants to lose benefits but many of us also own stock and it’s good as an investor that wants this company to be profitable. I’d enjoy a complete makeover, get rid of the gifts and strawberry/chocolate plates and diamond/platinum party, free play. Keep the pins and better offers for free drinks, early access to cabins, priority boarding and line as GS desk, laundry, none of these are expensive to provide . Whatever they do they need to revamp what qualifies as a cruise for accruing days and raise the bar for reaching the new levels.

 

I’ll still be cruising with Carnival, the VIFP program has nothing to do with the choice I make for which cruise to book. I’ll take whatever they give and either enjoy it or gift it to another.  

 

Wait…..you cruise Carnival, but not for the perks.  How radical….🤔   Do you feel insulted that you were not given 6 months notice?

[Jamman54]

We knew that this was going to end sometime, but I thought it would be when they reinstated the blackjack and slot tournaments. But now that just about every cruise is an Elite or Ultra casino cruise, there is no way they are going to give up blackjack tables or slot machines to hold those tournaments. So now it's over, but we're not going to complain. In 16 cruises post Covid we have been given $800 in free play or cash, some of it resulting in even more free money. It was fun while it lasted. 😎

[jimbo5544]

2 minutes ago, Jamman54 said:

We knew that this was going to end sometime, but I thought it would be when they reinstated the blackjack and slot tournaments. But now that just about every cruise is an Elite or Ultra casino cruise, there is no way they are going to give up blackjack tables or slot machines to hold those tournaments. So now it's over, but we're not going to complain. In 16 cruises post Covid we have been given $800 in free play or cash, some of it resulting in even more free money. It was fun while it lasted. 😎

You think the house of cards will dissolve because of this?

[Jamman54]

5 minutes ago, jimbo5544 said:

You think the house of cards will dissolve because of this?

Explain house of cards Jimbo. 

[jimbo5544]

1 minute ago, Jamman54 said:

Explain house of cards Jimbo. 

Post 127

[BlerkOne]

Casino rats seriously overvalue themselves. If any revolt, Carnival should ban them. Nobody is irreplaceable. No shortage of people willing to take free cruises.

[Jamman54]

7 minutes ago, jimbo5544 said:

Post 127

Got it.  No. 

[jimbo5544]

6 minutes ago, BlerkOne said:

No shortage of people willing to take free cruises.

Of this we can be sure.

[RoperDK]

18 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

I wonder how many people declared the $25 casino comp (or the free cruise comps) as income? It's all taxable, isn't it?

The $25 casino comp is no different than the VIFP gift, Diamond lunch, or free drinks at the Platinum/Diamond party.  They are small token gifts that the IRS has no interest in.  A free casino comp is considered a promotional benefit due to your prior status, level of play, or just because they want to offer it to you. It is no different than a free flight due to frequent flyer miles or a free hotel room due to points earned by staying at that hotel chain.   

[jimbo5544]

23 minutes ago, Jamman54 said:

We knew that this was going to end sometime, but I thought it would be when they reinstated the blackjack and slot tournaments. But now that just about every cruise is an Elite or Ultra casino cruise, there is no way they are going to give up blackjack tables or slot machines to hold those tournaments. So now it's over, but we're not going to complain. In 16 cruises post Covid we have been given $800 in free play or cash, some of it resulting in even more free money. It was fun while it lasted. 😎

I actually felt guilty getting it.  

[IntrepidFromDC]

2 hours ago, mz-s said:

 

The decision may indeed end up being reversed if enough casino rats revolt. Carnival's entire house of cards collapses without the casino.

 

[Jamman54]

11 minutes ago, jimbo5544 said:

I actually felt guilty getting it.  

I wouldn't go that far. 😃

[Moz]

20 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

But the really good news, is the bashing will continue here full force.  😏  for some, that is the real FUN. 

Have been absent from the Carnival boards for a couple of years since we have been on other lines but are taking a Firenze cruise this fall,  I see that the same adamant Carnival cheerleaders and know it alls are still in full force.  

[IntrepidFromDC]

2 hours ago, mz-s said:

 

The decision may indeed end up being reversed if enough casino rats revolt. Carnival's entire house of cards collapses without the casino.

 

First Mate: Captain, it's an emergency!  The casino rats are revolting again!

Captain: Make an announcement, number one. Casino is closed until all valued guest shower.

[BlerkOne]

43 minutes ago, RoperDK said:

The $25 casino comp is no different than the VIFP gift, Diamond lunch, or free drinks at the Platinum/Diamond party.  They are small token gifts that the IRS has no interest in.  A free casino comp is considered a promotional benefit due to your prior status, level of play, or just because they want to offer it to you. It is no different than a free flight due to frequent flyer miles or a free hotel room due to points earned by staying at that hotel chain.   

Casino comps are considered gambling winnings or sometimes it doesn't matter. If not for gambling, the comps wouldn't be offered.

 

Flights on miles or hotel rooms on points are considered rebates or discounts and there is no real guidance on them, so the IRS won't accuse you of understating your income.

[jimbo5544]

33 minutes ago, Moz said:

Have been absent from the Carnival boards for a couple of years since we have been on other lines but are taking a Firenze cruise this fall,  I see that the same adamant Carnival cheerleaders and know it alls are still in full force.  

Ahh come on. We do not think of you like that.  

Edited June 9 by jimbo5544

[RoperDK]

4 minutes ago, BlerkOne said:

Casino comps are considered gambling winnings or sometimes it doesn't matter. If not for gambling, the comps wouldn't be offered.

 

Flights on miles or hotel rooms on points are considered rebates or discounts and there is no real guidance on them, so the IRS won't accuse you of understating your income.

Casino comps are not considered gambling winnings.  They are no more than a promotional offer.   

[jimbo5544]

1 minute ago, RoperDK said:

Casino comps are not considered gambling winnings.  They are no more than a promotional offer.   

No more a wishful thought. 

[BlerkOne]

45 minutes ago, Moz said:

Have been absent from the Carnival boards for a couple of years since we have been on other lines but are taking a Firenze cruise this fall,  I see that the same adamant Carnival cheerleaders and know it alls are still in full force.  

Same cheerleaders and same jeerleaders. 🙂

 

[seannyice81]

2 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

Can you give me an example on that?

 

Faster to the Fun as a whole? At least at first conception I guess. Really the best benefit for it now is being able to use the D&P line at Guest Services. 

[jimbo5544]

7 minutes ago, seannyice81 said:

Faster to the Fun as a whole? At least at first conception I guess. Really the best benefit for it now is being able to use the D&P line at Guest Services. 

FTTF was made first as something to sell, and then added to the loyalty program.  Everybody values things differently, my view would be the free laundry as number one, if we are talking the entire program, the Diamond event (mainly luncheons now), but used to events with the senior staff (which we truly enjoyed) until Covid and the numbers grew out of control.

Edited June 9 by jimbo5544