Carnival Cruise Line's loyalty program is arguably much less rewarding than that of its chief rival, Royal Caribbean.
Its top Very Important Fun Person club members don't get the free daily drinks and dedicated lounge access that similar-level Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor members receive.
Still, while the overall perks may not be as nice, Carnival Diamond and Platinum members (the top two levels) do get gifts on every sailing. These have ranged from Carnival-branded beer cozies to various bags, blankets, towels and other company swag.
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The latest gift, however, has met with some backlash.
Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald showed off the gift on his Facebook page — it's a baseball hat with the VIFP Club logo on it. It's a blue hat with hints of Carnival red, and the pushback was pretty immediate.
Image source: Carnival Cruise Line.
Carnival passengers push back on loyalty gift
Hundreds of Heald's followers commented on the new gift. The brand ambassador acknowledged deleting one of the comments.
"I did delete your comment 'J.,'" Heald wrote. "I know you are both Diamond members and I truly appreciate your loyalty. However, I don’t appreciate being told to shove a baseball cap up my ass.
"Besides, you not spelling it correctly, missing the R, I think it was rather rude. If you don’t like the gift, perhaps I may kindly suggest you collecting it and then passing it on to someone else.
"It is a gift to show our appreciation for your loyalty. Like it, don’t like it. I respect both of those things. I do not respect what you suggested I do with the hat."
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Many people appreciated the gift without really liking it.
"My first platinum gift was the blanket in a bag. Best gift ever. While I’m grateful for the concept of a gift, this one is definitely more for men than women," wrote Glenda McLarty.
"Carnival — maybe something more generic than a ball cap would have been better. So I will say thank you, but I won’t be picking up my gift. Disappointed. This is only marginally better than the beer cozy."
Stacy Schneider had a better idea than simply not picking up the gift.
"Glenda McLarty you might consider getting it and gift it to a blue card. You will literally make their day and cruise. I do this and it is more fun," she wrote. (A blue card is someone who is at a lower loyalty-program level.)
Some passengers like Carnival's gift
Not every passenger thinks that baseball hats are purely for men.
"I am a woman and I will wear this without an issue! I would actually prefer this to a blanket," said Kimberly Auld-Bartone.
Glenda Jackson McFarland feels the same way.
"I always wear a ball cap while on the pontoon or fishing boat. Keeps my hair from tangling," she added.
Many people are simply happy to be getting a gift at all.
"I’m appreciative of any gift no matter what it is! It’s an extra something that Carnival does not have to do people! I, for one, will use this on my cruises," shared Mary Neubauer.
"I agree with those who are suggesting that if you get a gift you don't like, simply make someone else's day by giving it to them," wrote Bill P. Beaudin.
"Depending on the gift, maybe a blue card passenger, a child, etc. Those who blast you for the 'bad' gifts are probably not the giving type and don't get any joy out if making others happy."
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That's a sentiment that Lisa Cunningham echoed.
"I was on the Breeze last week and got a tote — used it the whole time and absolutely loved it! A baseball cap, not so much. I still appreciate the thought and will just give it to someone who will enjoy it. I get you can’t please everyone all the time, but everyone should be thankful for the effort to give a thank you gift and either use it or give it to someone else to use," she shared.
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