Why I’m done with Carnival cruise line

Carnival Cruise Line used to be one of my favorite ways to cruise, but lately I’ve found myself looking at other cruise lines first. And as a Platinum Carnival cruiser, that’s not something I say lightly. I’ve spent a lot of time—and money—cruising with Carnival and working my way up through the VIFP loyalty program. Part of the appeal of staying loyal to a cruise line is knowing that your loyalty will be recognized and rewarded. But the changes surrounding Carnival’s loyalty program have made me question how much that loyalty really matters anymore. When you reach Platinum status, you expect the years of cruising and money spent with the company to mean something. Loyalty programs are supposed to give longtime customers a reason to keep coming back. When the program changes significantly, longtime cruisers naturally start asking: Why should I remain loyal instead of trying Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Princess, Holland America, MSC, Norwegian Cruise Line or Virgin Voyages? Another concern for me is the number of videos circulating on YouTube and social media showing fights and disruptive behavior aboard Carnival ships. To be fair, fights can happen anywhere. Carnival carries millions of passengers, and a collection of viral videos doesn’t necessarily represent what happens on the average Carnival cruise. I’ve personally enjoyed many Carnival cruises. But perception matters. When I’m spending thousands of dollars on a vacation, I want to relax. I want good food, entertainment, friendly service and an atmosphere where my wife and I can enjoy ourselves without unnecessary drama. Seeing repeated videos of confrontations and fights aboard cruise ships doesn’t exactly make me more eager to book. Carnival still has plenty going for it. The ships can be fun, the crew members often work incredibly hard, and Carnival can provide a good vacation at a competitive price. I’m certainly not saying I’ll never sail Carnival again. I’m saying Carnival is no longer automatically my first choice. At this stage of my life, I increasingly value service, food quality, a relaxing atmosphere, fewer disruptions and a loyalty program that makes longtime customers feel appreciated. For cruisers over 50 in particular, there are now a lot of alternatives worth considering. Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises and Holland America Line offer a different type of cruise experience, while Royal Caribbean, MSC, Norwegian and Virgin Voyages each have their own advantages. So I want to hear from other Carnival cruisers—especially my fellow Platinum and Diamond VIFP members. Do you still feel Carnival rewards your loyalty? What do you think about the changes to Carnival’s loyalty program? Have the fight videos and reports of disruptive behavior affected your willingness to cruise Carnival? And most importantly: If Carnival isn’t your first choice anymore, which cruise line replaced it? Share your experience in the comments. This isn’t about attacking Carnival. It’s about having a conversation among cruisers about whether the Carnival experience—and the value of loyalty to the brand—has changed. Subscribe for more honest cruise discussions, cruise reviews, cruise news and comparisons of Carnival, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Princess, Holland America, MSC, Norwegian Cruise Line and Virgin Voyages. #CarnivalCruise #CarnivalCruiseLine #CarnivalVIFP #VIFP #PlatinumCruiser #CruiseNews #CruiseReview #CruiseTips #Cruising #CruiseLife #CarnivalPlatinum #CruiseLoyalty #Cruises #Over50Travel #CruiseVacation #CelebrityCruises #RoyalCaribbean #PrincessCruises #HollandAmerica #NorwegianCruiseLine