- P&O Cruises Australia is merging with Carnival Cruises, but loyalty points have become complicated.
- Points from P&O have traditionally been counted towards Princess’s loyalty program
- However, now some cruisers feel they should have the option of transferring points to Carnival – given that they’ll essentially be sailing on the same ships.
As P&O Australia becomes Carnival Cruise Line, it’s been confirmed that those who used to sail with P&O won’t receive any loyalty points on Carnival for past sailings.
Why you might ask? The answer is: P&O has never had a proper loyalty program. P&O Australia cruisers have historically counted towards Princess Cruises’ loyalty program, with the only benefits for frequent sailers of P&O being occasional perks for past passengers or access to exclusive sales.
While it could be argued that cruisers shouldn’t get points simply because the ships are part of Carnival, many feel it isn’t fair. Especially given that the initial indications are that the ships won’t greatly change, and will still carry largely a P&O feel, but under the Carnival name.
Two people could be on Carnival Encounter or Carnival Adventure, one who has cruised on the ship for years, while the other, a Carnival faithful who is on the ship for the first time. The Carnival cruiser will have a wealth of loyalty perks, yet the P&O cruiser will have nothing.
This is because Carnival does have a rewards program, the VIFP (Very Important Fun Person) Club, which rewards cruisers for how many days they have been at sea.
There are four different tiers for those who have cruised between one to 24 days, 25 to 74 days, 75 to 199 days, and 200+ days. The more days a guest accumulates, the more they can start getting perks like priority boarding and debarkation, complimentary laundry, complimentary beverages, complimentary treats, dining room preferences, specialty dining meals for free, and plenty more.
Loyal P&O cruisers will have to accept having fewer perks than their Carnival counterparts, even if they’ve sailed an equal amount of time on ships that will become the current Carnival fleet.
While P&O cruises do get perks with Princess Cruises, the Princess Cruises experience is very different from P&O and Carnival, offering more of a focus on tranquility and elegance, rather than family fun and activities.
Carnival wrote in a statement to Cruise Passenger: “They are two different loyalty programs so we aren’t able to transfer them across.”
“They will keep the points they accumulated for the Princess Loyalty Program and will be invited to take part in the Carnival loyalty program so when they sail on the ships they will accumulate points there.”
Many cruise passengers are hopeful but sympathetic to the system, understanding the reasoning behind why the points can’t transfer.
Kristy Lee wrote: “I wish they could transfer over, considering P&O was already a Carnival brand. But P&O didn’t have a loyalty program on their ships, so I don’t see the difference.”
Other cruisers like Donna Osborne accepted the need to just “move forward.”
“P&O loyalty points have always gone to Princess, so you can’t double dip and have those also added to Carnival as well. Use them on Princess Cruises if points are a concern.
“All cruise lines have their loyalty systems so just have to move forward.”
There is also the issue that many P&O cruise passengers may actually prefer to have their loyalty points with Princess, than with Carnival, especially as Princess’s rewards program is much more comprehensive.
However, the question raised is whether they should have been given a choice.
For example, Kim Mitchell wrote: “I wish we had a choice where our points go, as I won’t be on Princess in the near future but will definitely book cruises with Carnival.”
What do you think?
yep just checked! Platinum on P&O but a lonely red tier on Carnival as we generally sailed out of Brisbane. Yet my P&O and Carnival loyalty count to my Princess tier? I do think they need to do better.
So I’m booked on a p &o cruise for may 26th which when we sail will be carnival, will I get points on carnival loyalty program or princess??
Absolutely the P&O nights sailed should count towards Carnival. I’ve never sailed on Princess, and am unlikely to in the future, but I sail quite a bit on Carnival. There needs to be a choice!
If you’re a diamond cruiser on carnival ships you have reached the pinnacle of points. Now, after staying loyal for a number of years, if you’re like me, you want to make a change and try something different. If you are giving same status on one of the other carnival ships you will probably book with them, like a Princess ship. But if you’re not going to receive any, then you’re definitely going to book with someone else.
Carnival has only recently been cruising from Brisbane, so passengers previously had no option but to cruise with P&O (unless they were prepared to fly interstate or internationally). The rebranding came as a shock to loyal cruisers, especially since Carnival’s original promise “not to change anything” was broken before the ink dried. Would a compensation of one VIFP point per x-number of P&O days or cruises be out of the question?
I wont sail princess but will carnival, i wish i had a choice where my pts go, i feel they now wasted
Does this also included the p&o players club, as we do alot of cruising and we accumulate every cruise to recieve a great offer from the casino host. It would be a shame for our loyalty of p&o for all the years to be just thrown away.
Does this also included the p&o players club, as we do alot of cruising and we accumulate every cruise to recieve a great offer from the casino host. It would be a shame for our loyalty of p&o for all the years to be just thrown away.
Hi.
My cruise on pacific explorer was cancelled so had my fare transferred to Exmouth cruise on 3rd of February which is next Monday. So dissapointed because my fare doubled. I tried to upgrade my room and said I wasn’t entitled to. So all in all very sad because this is my first time cruising just for
4 nights to see if I can go on other cruises because I get so sea sick.
So princess cruises I won’t be cruising with you ever again
Regards
Barbara Anderson
Of course P&O Australia loyal customers should be treated just the same as Carnival Cruise customers as both are Carnival Corporation as is Princess. Bad decision that needs to be changed.
P and o gone downhill. Did caribbean cruises with other cruise line. Exceeded p and o by miles