Latest news with #VIFPs
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
Miami Herald
18-06-2025
- Miami Herald
Carnival Cruise Line takes on a new passenger problem
Loyal Carnival passengers who join the cruise line's VIFP (Very Important Fun Person) Club loyalty program can earn a variety of rewards just for cruising on board Carnival ships. Passengers get one VIFP point for each day they cruise, and once they rack up 24 points, they reach the Red level, which means they're entitled to begin redeeming onboard rewards. Related: Carnival Cruise Line warns against another bad cruise behavior The first onboard benefit offered to Red-level Carnival cruisers and above is a complimentary 1.5 liter-bottle of water, redeemable during their sailings. Many passengers appreciate and make a point to enjoy this bottle of water while on board, but lately there's been some confusion and controversy around this particular perk. Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald, who regularly addresses passenger concerns on his popular Facebook page, found himself in the middle of a new cruise controversy after sharing a complaint related to the complimentary bottle of water in a post on his page. "I had a scathing message sent to me from a very angry, shouty Platinum guest that they were charged for drinking the bottle of water from their cabin," Heald shared. It turned out that this wasn't the only passenger who was confused and upset that the bottles of water placed in staterooms are not provided as the VIFP Club benefit. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise. After receiving the Platinum-level cruiser's complaint, Heald wanted to clarify for all passengers that the cruise line currently requires VIFPs to pick up their complimentary bottle of water at an onboard bar. Bottles of water placed in the staterooms are not meant to be the VIFP benefit. "The water that is in the cabin comes from the housekeeping inventory whereas the complimentary bottle of water comes from the bar inventory," Heald explained as the reasoning for this. "I understand that having to collect the free bottle of water is not the best scenario for some, but this is how we are currently doing it and I wanted to make sure I mention this again in case there is any confusion," Heald added. Related: Carnival Cruise Line testing new dining option passengers want It turns out there was a lot of confusion about this because according to the Carnival Cruise Line website, the VIFP bottle of water benefit is "redeemable at any bar, restaurant, or stateroom." A number of passengers pointed this out to the brand ambassador in the comments on his post. Some also noted that the cruise line used to make a point to place the complimentary bottles of water in staterooms for their VIFPs. "I think it lies in the fact that it used to be placed in the room with a nice welcome back greeting. When I cruised in March, I thought they forgot my bottles and was disappointed. I let it slide and realized after my cruise that I had to go to the bar to request it," Michelle Gray commented. "Perhaps going back to those little extra touches like leaving it in the room is the way to go." Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. Heald takes passenger feedback very seriously and immediately began investigating the disconnect between what's listed on the website and how the VIFP bottled water benefit is being handled on board. "I wasn't aware that it said that on the website and to be very honest a couple of the beards [Carnival executives] that I've been speaking to weren't certain of that either," Heald said in a video update about the situation. "It seems that some ships were doing one thing and some were doing another and there was not the consistency that we needed in telling you where to collect this bottle of water." More Carnival cruise news: Carnival Cruise Line ship pivots to avoid Hurricane BarbaraCarnival Cruise Line bans more passengers after another brawlCarnival Cruise Line shares new warning for parents Heald assured passengers that he and his team are working to come up with a solution and will promptly communicate it to loyalty program members. In the meantime, the brand ambassador asked VIFPs to please continue going to an onboard bar to collect their complimentary bottle of water. "I'll be back with more direction on that in the coming days," Heald promised. "Thank you for your patience and enjoy from the bar your complimentary bottle of water or complimentary bottles of water." (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
