Latest news with #CarnivalRewards
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Carnival cruise passengers are fuming over another ‘money grab'
Carnival cruise passengers are fuming over another 'money grab' originally appeared on TravelHost. One of the biggest complaints Carnival passengers have about its recently announced Carnival Rewards loyalty program is that it appears to be designed to reward passengers for spending more than sailing. Replacing the cruise line's current VIFP Club loyalty program that rewards passengers simply for the amount of time they spend at sea, the new loyalty program rolling out in June 2026 will work more like airline rewards a first-of-its-kind move for the cruise industry, Carnival Rewards will link status to spending, rewarding passengers more for higher spending than for the time they spend sailing with the cruise line. Many passengers have called it a 'money grab,' insisting that Carnival has turned its back on true loyalty in favor of higher profits. Although Carnival had a valid reason for changing up its loyalty program, the cruise line seems to have gone too far by turning the program on its head. With the current VIFP Club program, Carnival learned the hard way that a program based solely on frequency isn't sustainable long term as they struggled to properly reward the huge number of passengers who earned top-tier status in recent years. Now, the cruise line is also learning that its passengers won't back down easily from a fight when they feel betrayed. The new loyalty program has made some passengers hyperaware of other new steps the cruise line is making to boost profits at the expense of passengers — like not allowing passengers to use their drink packages at its new exclusive destination in The Bahamas, Celebration cruise passengers question Celebration Key drink policy Some Carnival passengers booked on summer cruises to Celebration Key, which opens July 19, have recently expressed frustration that Carnival has decided not to allow passengers to use their Cheers and Bubbles beverage packages at Celebration Key. 'Please explain to everyone why the drink package isn't valid on the island? We've already paid for our drinks,' Andrew Wood commented on one of Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald's recent posts about Celebration Key. For many passengers, Celebration Key seems equivalent to Royal Caribbean's private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, or Norwegian's Great Stirrup Cay, where drink packages are is using a technicality to justify charging extra for beverages on Celebration Key. 'This is not an island. It's part of the Grand Bahama and in the same as Grand Turk and Cozumel and other places that you go with our ships, the Cheers program is not part of those locations and it's not part of this one,' Heald explained. The brand ambassador suggested walking back to the ship to use your drink package as an alternative to buying drinks separately at Celebration passengers say Celebration Key beverage policy is another 'money grab' For Wood and other passengers, the island technicality isn't a good excuse. The fact that Carnival passengers can pay for drinks and other items with their onboard Sail & Sign accounts shows that Carnival could honor drink packages at Celebration Key, if the cruise line wanted to do so. 'It should have Cheers included. What a cop out explanation. If your Sail and Sign card is good there, the Cheers program should be good there too. More money grabbing like the new rewards (not) program. Cast the people aside who made Carnival the most popular cruise line,' David Tuthill many Carnival passengers, it looks like the cruise line has simply found a way to charge passengers again for drinks that they already paid for with the Cheers and Bubbles beverage packages. 'They are still selling alcohol in Carnival-owned venues. Carnival is receiving the money for the food and drinks purchased. None of the other cruise lines own the island their private area is on and they are all on a Bahamian owned island, yet the pre-paid drink packages work on the private 'island.' Carnival is simply double dipping,' Carol Lee added. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) , or email Amy Post at or call or text her at 386-383-2472. This story was originally reported by TravelHost on Jul 11, 2025, where it first appeared. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Carnival Cruise Line promises loyalty will be better rewarded
Carnival Cruise Line promises loyalty will be better rewarded originally appeared on Come Cruise With Me. Carnival Cruise Line is speaking out amid the fallout from the announcement about its new loyalty program, Carnival Rewards, set to launch in June 2026. The cruise line introduced the new program a year in advance of its rollout in order to offer ample time for passengers to digest the details of the new program, as well as to gather feedback about the clearly didn't need a year to gather opinions on Carnival Rewards, however — the June 18 announcement about the program opened the feedback floodgates. A radical departure from the traditional cruise loyalty program, in which passengers earn higher status based on the number of nights spent at sea, the new Carnival Rewards program is centered around spending. To many loyal Carnival cruisers, a spending-based cruise loyalty program doesn't sound like much of a loyalty program at all. The initial details shared about Carnival Rewards left many passengers feeling like the cruise line was choosing profits over passengers with its new approach to cruise loyalty. But maybe a botched announcement about the new loyalty program is the reason for response to the controversy surrounding the new loyalty program, Carnival issued a detailed letter to passengers, which Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald shared on his popular Facebook page on June 23. In the letter, Carnival executives assured passengers that they received their feedback, much of which was shared in comments posted on Heald's Facebook page, where he addresses hundreds of passenger questions daily. 'Please know we are reading your comments and taking in your feedback. To be clear, no changes will be implemented until June 1, 2026, nearly 12 months from now. We will be answering all your questions well in advance of the program launch,' the letter cruise line also reaffirmed its commitment to a fun vacation experience for all. 'We are committed to making sure each and every guest – no matter their status – feels welcome and has a fun and memorable vacation. Our terrific onboard team has kept you coming back again and again, and that won't change,' the letter promised. Additionally, the letter emphasized some key points about Carnival Rewards that passengers should keep in mind as dialogue about the program continues in the coming months.'Please remember these key points: Our VIFP Club members automatically retain their current loyalty level for the next three years, until June 2028 – Diamond members for the next seven years, until June 2032. This means that with the combination of status privileges and rewards, everyone will receive greater benefits than what members are eligible for today. And all members have the ability to reach a higher status for their cruising activity through May 2026. We will continue to track the total number of cruise days people have earned in the new program, and members will receive recognition for achieving important milestones. The new Carnival Rewards program is designed to give people more flexibility for redeeming loyalty benefits, allowing guests to choose the specific benefits they want to redeem at the time that works for them. Benefits can be redeemed pre-cruise, onboard, or both. Today's program structure does not allow this. The new co-branded Carnival Rewards Mastercard is not required to achieve status. It is simply an option for those guests who want additional opportunities to earn status and points that can be used to purchase a cruise and offset onboard spend. Remember, with the new co-branded card, you can earn points and status through everyday spending. We believe these changes will allow us to reduce the growth challenges of the current program, which today often result in us being unable to fulfill the current benefits on sailings with large numbers of VIFP Club top tier guests.'Overall, the message is that the new Carnival Rewards program is designed to offer more opportunities and better benefits for loyal passengers. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) , or email Amy Post at or call or text her at 386-383-2472. This story was originally reported by Come Cruise With Me on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared.
Miami Herald
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Carnival Cruise Line responds to troubling Netflix documentary
Netflix probably couldn't have chosen a worse time to release its documentary on the infamous Carnival Triumph disaster of 2013. The new documentary looks back on the truly crappy results of an engine room fire on board the cruise ship that left a cruise carrying 4,000 passengers stranded in the Gulf of Mexico for five days amid a foul mess. Related: Carnival Cruise Line makes sudden cruise cancellation After the ship lost electricity as a result of the fire, passengers were no longer able to flush toilets, and the situation quickly turned dire and disgustingly unsanitary. Netflix's new documentary released on June 24, "Trainwreck: Poop Cruise," covers all the nasty details and the media frenzy surrounding the ordeal. As if reliving the awful incident through the documentary wasn't bad enough, Carnival just so happens to be dealing with another public relations nightmare at the moment of the documentary's release. Carnival's most loyal passengers are currently revolting against the cruise line's plan to link status to spending through a new Carnival Rewards loyalty program rolling out in 2026. Despite these setbacks, Carnival Corporation is well positioned for continued growth and success after reporting record-breaking financial results for Q2. Doug Parker shared details on Carnival's response to the new Netflix documentary, as well as its record revenue, on the June 25th edition of Cruise News Today. Want the latest cruise news and deals? Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. Transcript: This is Cruise News Today with Doug Parker. Good morning, here's your cruise news for Wednesday, June 25th. Carnival Cruise Line has released a statement regarding the Carnival Triumph incident, which unfolded 13 years ago and is now the subject of a Netflix documentary called "Trainwreck: Poop Cruise." The statement says in part that the Carnival Triumph incident was a teachable moment for the entire cruise industry. It goes on to say that it resulted in a thorough investigation that revealed a design vulnerability, which was corrected. Carnival then spent more than $500 million dollars to implement a fleet-wide program dealing with everything from fire prevention and suppression to enhanced management systems. You can read the entire statement from Carnival Cruise Line as well as our review of the Netflix documentary at Related: Carnival Cruise Line promises loyalty will be better rewarded And Carnival Corporation just posted record profits saying that demand has never been higher. The cruise giant reported $6.3 billion dollars in second quarter revenue driven by strong onboard spending and last-minute bookings. It also hit a record $8.5 billion dollars in customer deposits with more guests booking further in advance than ever. Adjusted net income - well it was also up there as well - it tripled over the same quarter last year, and all of their ships are now sailing over 100% occupancy. Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. And Disney Cruise Line is raising prices at its adult-only restaurants, but only on select ships. Dining venues like Palo, Remy, and Enchanté are seeing five to 10-dollar price hikes. The changes are rolling out gradually starting with Disney Wish and Disney Treasure and then reaching Disney Fantasy in November. For now, only U.S. and Vancouver sailings are impacted. This comes just days after Disney lowered its cruise deposit requirements. Related: Disney Cruise Line quietly makes big change passengers will love And cruise stocks ended higher on Tuesday. Carnival Corporation: up 7 percent, 25.70. Royal Caribbean: up 2 percent, 280.47. Norwegian: up 4 percent, 19.40. And Viking: up 3 percent, 51.38. If you have a lead on a story let us know. Tips@ Have yourself a great Wednesday. I'm Doug Parker with Cruise News Today. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) Make a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me's Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at amypost@ or call or text her at 386-383-2472. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Miami Herald
25-06-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Carnival Cruise Line makes sudden cruise cancellation
On the heels of its unpopular Carnival Rewards loyalty program announcement, Carnival Cruise Line was forced to deliver some disappointing news to passengers booked on one upcoming summer sailing. While many loyal Carnival cruisers are still reeling from the news that Carnival is turning its loyalty program upside down beginning next summer in favor of a spend-based rewards system, certain passengers sailing soon got even more distressing news. Related: Carnival Cruise Line pledges greater cruise loyalty benefits Following a wave of spring 2026 cruise cancellations caused by changes to the schedule for Carnival cruise ship dry dock maintenance and refurbishment, Carnival is adding one more cruise to the list of those canceled this year. Although cruise lines will always try to give as much notice as possible when schedule changes and cancellations must be made, sometimes last-minute changes can't be avoided. Unfortunately, this was this case for the latest Carnival cruise cancellation, as well as an unexpected itinerary change for Princess Cruises' World Cruise that's currently sailing in Africa. Doug Parker shared details on the unexpected reason behind the last-minute Carnival cruise cancellation, as well as why Princess Cruises' World Cruise was diverted in Africa, on the June 24th edition of Cruise News Today. Want the latest cruise news and deals? Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. Transcript: This is Cruise News Today with Doug Parker. Good morning, here's your cruise news for Tuesday, June 24th. Carnival Cruise Line has canceled the July 6th sailing of Carnival Liberty due to labor issues at a shipyard over in Europe. Yeah, the ship currently in dry dock was moved from Cadiz, Spain to Marseille, France after labor disputes delayed its refurbishment. Passengers were just notified two weeks before departure of this cancellation. All guests will receive full refunds and a future cruise credit. Carnival will also cover up to $200 per person for that non-refundable airfare. The ship's next sailing, July 13th out of New Orleans, is supposed to go on as scheduled. Related: Carnival Cruise Line promises to listen about loyalty changes And Carnival Cruise Line is showing off the first completed images of its new private destination, Celebration Key, set to open up next month on Grand Bahama Island. The 65-acre site features massive freshwater lagoons, a 10-story sun castle with waterslides, and the world's largest swim-up bar. Yeah. You'll also find floating cabanas and a coral-themed splash pad for the kids, while adults have an upscale beach club. Built over the past three years at a cost of $500 million, Celebration Key will be exclusive to Carnival guests starting on July 19th. Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. And severe weather is forcing Princess Cruises' Crown Princess to change course, skipping a planned stop in Cape Town, South Africa. Now the ship is on a 113-night World Cruise, and has encountered strong winds and heavy swells along South Africa's southern coast. The captain says it's unsafe to proceed as planned, with warnings in effect for damaging waves and gale-force winds. Crown Princess began the voyage in late May and is scheduled to return to New Zealand in September. Related: Princess Cruises' ship tilts in rough seas; crew member overboard And cruise stocks ended the day mostly flat on Monday. Carnival Corporation: 23.94, Royal Caribbean: 273.08, Norwegian: down 1%, 18.58, and Viking: 49.48. I'm Doug Parker with Cruise News Today. Have yourself a great Tuesday. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) Make a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me's Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at amypost@ or call or text her at 386-383-2472. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Miami Herald
25-06-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Carnival Cruise Line fixes a big loyalty program problem
Shortly before Carnival Cruise Line made a problematic announcement that its current loyalty program will be replaced with a new spending-based Carnival Rewards program, the cruise line faced another issue with one of its perks for loyal passengers. With the cruise line's current VIFP (Very Important Fun Person) Club loyalty program, passengers can earn onboard rewards just for spending time cruising on Carnival ships. Related: Carnival Cruise Line promises loyalty will be better rewarded While the new Carnival Rewards loyalty program will allow passengers to earn points and status through spending when it launches in June 2026, the current VIFP Club rewards passengers based on the number of nights they spend at sea. And with the current reward system still in place for nearly another year, passengers are still eligible to receive all their existing VIFP Club benefits when they sail with the cruise line now until June 1, 2026 when the new Carnival Rewards program takes effect. That means that along with taking in passenger feedback about the new Carnival Rewards program, the cruise line also needed to address an issue that recently arose with an onboard reward that most returning Carnival cruisers are currently entitled to redeem during their sailings. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise. As Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald responded to questions and concerns raised on his popular Facebook page recently, he uncovered an onboard problem that left some VIFPs frustrated and confused about one of their benefits. Thanks to his attention to passenger feedback, Heald discovered that there was a lack of consistency across the fleet when it came to the process for how to redeem an onboard reward that most repeat passengers are entitled to receive - a complimentary 1.5-liter bottle of water. Although the cruise line used to provide these complimentary bottles of water in staterooms for their VIFPs, Carnival updated its process, requiring passengers to pick up their bottle of water from an onboard bar. Related: Carnival Cruise Line takes on a new passenger problem However, the Carnival Cruise Line website confusingly states that the VIFP bottle of water benefit is "redeemable at any bar, restaurant or stateroom." And as Heald investigated the situation, he found that not all ships in the fleet were handling the benefit redemption in the same way. On his Facebook page, Heald promised passengers that he and his team would quickly sort out the process internally and communicate a resolution to passengers. On June 23, Heald delivered on his promise, providing new direction for VIFPs on how to redeem their complimentary bottle of water. "If you are entitled to a complimentary bottle of water, you may take that from the cabin," Heald shared in his June 23rd three-minute video update for his followers. "Again, you may take it from the cabin. You do not have to go to a bar to get that, but everything else will remain unchanged." Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. In the video, Heald also took a moment to acknowledge the many questions and comments he's received in the wake of the announcement about the new Carnival Rewards program. Heald emphasized that beyond ironing out a better, more consistent process for redemption of the VIFP bottle of water perk, Carnival has changed nothing about the current VIFP Club program yet. The new Carnival Rewards program does not take effect until June 1, 2026 and until that date, Carnival passengers can continue to enjoy all their VIFP benefits. "Between now and June the 1st, if you're entitled to a gift, or your pin, or the Platinum and Diamond Party, the Diamond Lunch - all of that is unchanged," the brand ambassador stressed. More Carnival cruise news: Carnival Cruise Line answers a question cruise lines avoidCarnival Cruise Line's Project ACE vs. Royal Caribbean's Discovery ClassCarnival Cruise Line raises red flag over new cruise 'hack' Heald also noted that as passengers continue to write to him with feedback about the new Carnival Rewards loyalty program, he's passing the comments on to Carnival executives through his detailed weekly reports. But although he's gathering feedback, he doesn't intend to make further statements about the new loyalty program. "I can't really comment, I don't want to comment. I've said everything else that needs to be said. I'm on your side, I'm here to pass on your comments. And thank you to everybody who's taken the time to write to me in such a respectful and kind way," he added. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) Make a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me's Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at amypost@ or call or text her at 386-383-2472. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
