Carnival Cruise Line’s loyalty program, when compared to its primary competitor Royal Caribbean, offers fewer notable rewards. Unlike Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor program, which provides top-tier members with free daily drinks and exclusive lounge access, Carnival’s Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) club members do not receive these perks.
Despite having fewer perks, Carnival’s Diamond and Platinum members, the highest levels in the program, are given gifts on every cruise. These gifts have included items such as Carnival-branded beer cozies, various bags, blankets, towels, and other branded merchandise.
Recently, Carnival introduced a new gift that has drawn some criticism. Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald presented the new gift, a baseball hat featuring the VIFP Club logo, on his Facebook page. The hat, predominantly blue with accents of Carnival’s signature red, was met with immediate backlash.
A substantial number of followers commented on Heald’s post. In response, Heald addressed one specific negative comment, expressing disappointment over the language used and suggesting that dissatisfied members could pass the gift on to someone else instead.
While some members, like Glenda McLarty, appreciated the gesture, they expressed a preference for previous gifts, such as a blanket. Others, including Stacy Schneider, offered a more positive perspective, suggesting that members could give the hat to someone at a lower loyalty level, which could brighten their experience.
Despite some criticism, there were passengers who welcomed the gift. Kimberly Auld-Bartone, a female passenger, expressed no issue with wearing the baseball hat, preferring it over a blanket. Glenda Jackson McFarland also found it useful for outdoor activities, such as boating.
Many passengers appreciated receiving any gift at all, recognizing it as a gesture from Carnival. Mary Neubauer and Bill P. Beaudin were among those who valued the effort regardless of personal preference, suggesting that unwanted items could be gifted to others, spreading goodwill.
Lisa Cunningham echoed this sentiment, sharing her positive experience with a previous gift and expressing gratitude for the thought behind the gesture, regardless of her personal taste. Overall, while opinions varied, there was a shared understanding of the value behind the tokens of appreciation provided by Carnival Cruise Line.
