As Diamond, I still get guaranteed dining times and Captains invite and unlimited laundry and a party or two, and...
Yes, the laundry and VIFP party are extra perks. But for the $49.95 they get immediate access to their cabin, and priority delivery on their luggage, as well as the priority embark.
Considering that pricing is per person, not per cabin... for many of the perks I'd say they are paying much less than most did to get to Platinum or Diamond.
Perhaps Carnival will extend the "extra perks" to those repeaters too
Plus, they are adding people to the "priority boarding" areas, which are sometimes already overly busy.
Actually pricing is per cabin since only one person has to book it for the entire cabin to get it.
Holland America already guarantees this for everyone as early as 11:30 shipwide.
But I still think its a good idea - but you certainly do have a point that it conflicts with the loyalty members.
Once again, it is about making money. I almost hate to say this but watch for this - an annual fee to maintain your loyaty membership status - but they add more perks like this one for everyone.
__________________
I am the editor, but I also speculate, ask questions and play devil's advocate. I reserve the right to change my mind.
Holland America already guarantees this for everyone as early as 11:30 shipwide.
Indeed, and it covers everyone, at no extra fee.
And isn't it Princess (know it's someone - "oldtimes disease" setting in ) who allows passengers to pay extra to stay on the ship later into the day on the day they disembark.
Yes, the laundry and VIFP party are extra perks. But for the $49.95 they get immediate access to their cabin, and priority delivery on their luggage, as well as the priority embark.
Considering that pricing is per person, not per cabin... for many of the perks I'd say they are paying much less than most did to get to Platinum or Diamond.
Perhaps Carnival will extend the "extra perks" to those repeaters too
Plus, they are adding people to the "priority boarding" areas, which are sometimes already overly busy.
Actually there will be a separate check in area per John Heald (who once again got blindsided).
For some time I have suggested Carnival do away with the Loyalty Program since there were so many whiners and complainers. They went one better - found a way to level the playing field somewhat, subsidize my perks, AND probably make money to boot.
I think it will be a big seller but lines won't be too bad since it will be capacity controlled.
I think it will be a big seller but lines won't be too bad since it will be capacity controlled.
I don't believe the "capacity controlled" crap. If they are already selling the FTTF, how do they know how many Platinum/Diamond members will book between now and the sailing date?
I am also a Platinum (just short of Diamond) member, and I am not going to go bonkers over this as many are over at the Blog. We will also get the Early cabin access and luggage delivery without having to pay for it. My only concerns are,upon arrival at the pier, the FTTF people being channeled thru the VIP line security scanner, (at least initially), creating a bottleneck. Also how many people can have priority tendering? With those that have early shore excursions, Platinum / Diamond members, and now FTTF people, I guess the first 4 or 5 tenders will be "priority" tenders!! I can see arguments occuring over this!! I know that this doesn't affect the majority of cruises, but will be an issue to me in some ports. HMC & Grand Cayman come to mind. Other than that, I'm OK with it.
__________________ Next Up: August 2013 - Carnival Splendor - 8 Days from New York to Grand Turk, Half Moon Cay, & Nassau.
Its been awhile since I took a cruise but the way the cruielines nickle and dime people today they are really destroying the total ambience of a cruise. And really,why rush to get to your stateroom anyway. When i walk in to my stateroom I want it nice and clean and do not want the staff to feel rushed.
Since (supposedly) the whole purpose of the new Loyalty Program,
which demoted Milestone back to Platinum and made Platium and Diamond harder to reach,
was because the current number was "unsustainable" (according to Carnival).....
just trying to figure out how Carnival selling MORE spots jives with their reasoning for all the previous cuts???
Leave it to Carnival to say "scratch our back (by booking cruises) and we will scratch yours (with perks) and really mean....
"scratch our back and we will put a knife in yours...for the right price"
__________________
COMPLETES THE FLEET
If it is Carnival and it floats....we have sailed it!
Hubby ... DIAMOND (every ship except the Carnivale)
Me ... DIAMOND (every ship starting with the Tropicale)
20 year old son ... DIAMOND (every ship starting with the Tropicale...he is the only DOUBLE Milestone under the age of 21)
24 year old son ... DIAMOND
Yes, the laundry and VIFP party are extra perks. But for the $49.95 they get immediate access to their cabin, and priority delivery on their luggage, as well as the priority embark.
Considering that pricing is per person, not per cabin... for many of the perks I'd say they are paying much less than most did to get to Platinum or Diamond.
Perhaps Carnival will extend the "extra perks" to those repeaters too
Plus, they are adding people to the "priority boarding" areas, which are sometimes already overly busy.
According to the FAQ about the new program Platinum & Diamond guests will receive all the FTTF perks.
__________________ Snoozeman Moderator
My Personal Cruise Blog: Ray's Cruise Blog
Booked Cruises: Carnival Legend 9/1/2013, Carnival Sunshine 11/1/2013, Carnival Sunshine 2/16/2014, Navigator of the Seas 3/23/2014.
I don't believe the "capacity controlled" crap. If they are already selling the FTTF, how do they know how many Platinum/Diamond members will book between now and the sailing date?
Similar to what they do with some shore excursions now.
Only sell a certain number of packages and save the rest for closer to the sail date when you do have good numbers (vs holding back some shore excursion tickets for sail on the ship).
According to the FAQ about the new program Platinum & Diamond guests will receive all the FTTF perks.
Wasn't John just talking about Carnival making the room available for everyone by noon???
If they are going to do that anyway....how is that a new "perk" for F2F and VIP???
__________________
COMPLETES THE FLEET
If it is Carnival and it floats....we have sailed it!
Hubby ... DIAMOND (every ship except the Carnivale)
Me ... DIAMOND (every ship starting with the Tropicale)
20 year old son ... DIAMOND (every ship starting with the Tropicale...he is the only DOUBLE Milestone under the age of 21)
24 year old son ... DIAMOND
Since (supposedly) the whole purpose of the new Loyalty Program,
which demoted Milestone back to Platinum and made Platium and Diamond harder to reach,
was because the current number was "unsustainable" (according to Carnival).....
just trying to figure out how Carnival selling MORE spots jives with their reasoning for all the previous cuts???
Leave it to Carnival to say "scratch our back (by booking cruises) and we will scratch yours (with perks) and really mean....
"scratch our back and we will put a knife in yours...for the right price"
I agree completely.......so tired of my perks being diluted......I think I'll save myself some money (in the form of not buying 3 or 4 drinks upon boarding) and start getting to the pier around 2pm.
Quote:
Originally Posted by zydecocruiser
Then everyone else was mistaken. It was clearly identified as a separate program on the Carnival website.
We may have been mistaken as to the letter of the law, but the application of the law was that those of us that are milestone were being treated as though it was a separate level....
Quote:
Originally Posted by platinum
Another Carnival FUBAR. The cheerleaders will no doubt continue to cheer.
Well, I consider myself a cheerleader up to this point, but I'm really starting to shake my head.....not thrilled that there will be even more people in the security line or at the VIP line at guest services.......as for the rooms being ready and early luggage......that's never been a concern for me...
The worst part of cruising for me is getting through security, standing in the guest services line and VIP debarkation........all of which are now going to be even worse........
My main complaint all along as been that Carnival has a history of NOT being able to manage things like this well....
and guess what....
I just posted the loophole on John's Facebook page that proves my point.
Currently at Carnival if ONE VIP wants to....they can bring as many NON VIP cabins with them that they want to...
how? All they have to do is secure the Sail and Sign cards of these extra cabins with their credit card.
EVERYONE secured under a credit card must check in together....
this kind of cheating in the VIP lounge has been going on for years.
Guess what....ONE cabin buys the F2F and now brings as many other cabins with them as they want to BECAUSE.....they have secured their Sail and Sign cards with the one credit card.
Then AFTER they have gotten the special embarkion....they go Guest Services and change their Sail and Sign accounts.....
So there is NO WAY Carnival can control the capacity of this new program...
now this is yet another example of Carnival NOT knowing what they are doing...
OR another example of Carnival knowing that what they are telling VIP folks is not true..... yet again!!
Sadly most of us know... it is probably the latter.....
__________________
COMPLETES THE FLEET
If it is Carnival and it floats....we have sailed it!
Hubby ... DIAMOND (every ship except the Carnivale)
Me ... DIAMOND (every ship starting with the Tropicale)
20 year old son ... DIAMOND (every ship starting with the Tropicale...he is the only DOUBLE Milestone under the age of 21)
24 year old son ... DIAMOND
We may have been mistaken as to the letter of the law, but the application of the law was that those of us that are milestone were being treated as though it was a separate level....
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