Cruise line passengers who earn status in a loyalty program tend to study the benefits they get.
For Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor members, those benefits become truly meaningful when a passenger hits Diamond. Reaching that level requires earning 80 Crown & Anchor points.
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That's not an easy task as members earn 1 point for each night they spend onboard. That doubles to 2 points if they're sailing solo or in a suite. Passengers can, however, earn 3 points per night if they sail solo in a suite.
Once you hit that level you get some very meaningful perks including access to a dedicated Crown Lounge, which has a concierge who can help with reservations and other problems. You also get four drink vouchers each day which can be redeemed at any bar on the ship or on the cruise line's private island, Perfect Day at Coco Cay.
Carnival Cruise Line's benefits for comparable-level members of its VIFP loyalty program are much more modest. It also has a simpler system where all passengers earn one point per night sailed in any room with any number of people.
VIFP members don't earn access to a lounge, but they do get some complimentary drink benefits, which the cruise line just made easier to use.
Image source: Carnival Cruise Line.
Carnival improves a VIFP benefit
Carnival recently made a change to the two free drinks it offers top tiers of its VIFP program. Under the old system, the drinks could only be redeemed at very specific times.
That's something that has changed and Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald explained the changes in a July 21 Facebook post.
"So, as you are aware today marks the start of cruises where guests no longer have to wait until the last day of the cruise and the previous restrictions on being served their complimentary drink and it was brilliant to see how most were very, very pleased," he wrote.
Heald noted that he has received a lot of questions about how the various bartenders and waiters will know that a passenger is entitled to the free drinks.
"The complimentary drink will now become the Welcome Aboard – Welcome Home beverage," he said. "So, if you are Gold, Platinum, or Diamond the bartenders and bar waiters will see from your Sail and Sign card (or boarding pass if you haven’t collected it yet from outside your cabin) that you are entitled to your complimentary beverage and so will not charge you anything at all."
Heald also noted that the free drinks don't need to be alcoholic.
"The complimentary drink can be used at the Java Blue so if your first drink is a specialty coffee or milkshake then that’s all covered for you," he added.
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Carnival passengers like the change
Over 600 people commented on Heald's post which also received over 2,000 thumbs up or hearts.
"That's such a great move. I always thought having it be the last drink was a slap in the face; like you didn't want us to use it. A welcome drink is much more impactful and kicks off the cruise on a right tone. Thank you," Randy Young wrote.
Many commenters appreciate the added flexibility.
"Awesome! Often times I didn’t get the complimentary drink because it had to be redeemed at a certain place," posted Teri Martin-Abed.
A lot of commenters also appreciated that the drink can be a coffee or milkshake.
"I love that my complimentary drink can be used for a milkshake or specialty coffee. Thank you, John and the Beards," wrote Carol Donlon.
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Some passengers did note that if you get the Cheers beverage package, the benefit becomes meaningless as you don't get an added free drink.
"This is great! I usually get Cheers, so it won’t make much of a difference, but it will for those who don’t," shared Lisa Jania.
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