The 7 Worst Overreactions To Carnival Rewards

It’s fair to say that the new Carnival Rewards program, replacing the VIFP loyalty program, has gone down like a lead balloon. Many hoped that Carnival would backtrack quickly, but as yet, the changes stand.

The vast majority of reactions online have been negative. And of course it’s absolutely fine that people are unhappy with it, and want to express that opinion to the cruise line in the hope of getting it changed.

But there have also been some serious overreactions from a small number of Carnival fans. Some of them are pretty funny.

So let’s take a look…

1. Threats Against John Heald’s Family

John Heald’s official job title is “Brand Ambassador” for Carnival, but that title really doesn’t do him justice for the amount of work he does.

He is the public face of the cruise line on social media, and so he was always going to bear the brunt of the Carnival Rewards backlash.

He has admitted that he had sleepless nights from replying to upset Carnival cruisers on the subject, and that he was willing to listen and pass on the feedback to the “beards”.

But making threats to his family? Over a change to a loyalty program?

It’s ridiculous. No matter what you think about Carnival Rewards or indeed any decision that any business takes, you don’t wish ill on someone’s wife, daughter or anyone else in their family.

John has spoken before about the weird comments he’s received about his family, in particular his daughter Kye, and so he shares only limited updates on them.

And yet, apparently the removal of VIFP means that a small handful of people feel justified in lashing out at people not even employed by the cruise line.

Pretty sickening, really.

Suggested read: How To Contact John Heald – Carnival Brand Ambassador

2. Or Suggestions His Parents Should Be Ashamed

This was a particularly cold one – a cruiser called Tony who suggested that perhaps John’s parents would be ashamed considering what Carnival was doing.

That’s a really low blow, and a horrid comment to make to anyone. But it’s made even worse by the fact that John has been quite open about the loss of his parents, especially the more recent loss of his mum in 2023.

He didn’t overshare, but he did tell his loyal Facebook fans about his mum’s passing, and the difficulties he had, which helped a lot of cruisers to share their own stories of parental loss.

So it was definitely awful for Tony to make such a crass comment, even if done rashly.

3. The Petition to Fire Christine Duffy

From the sickening to the slightly funny now, because one Carnival passenger was so furious over the changes and the introduction to Carnival Rewards that they started a petition.

This petition was to pressure the Carnival board to remove Christine Duffy from her position as president of the cruise line, and instead “consider the well-being of their passengers”. Implying that Duffy’s continued leadership would almost cause health problems for cruisers.

So surely, with the immense backlash on social media, this petition racked up thousands upon thousands of signatures and gave the cruise line pause for thought, yes?

Look for yourself.

It didn’t get very far.

It’s fine to be annoyed, but calling for the sacking of Christine Duffy is a bit much.

4. Accusations of Trying to Tank the Company

There’s being angry at a company, and then there’s accusing it of corporate sabotage because you didn’t like the loyalty perks changing.

While I totally get the frustration – especially for people who were finally reaching a milestone status after decades of sailing – suggesting that Carnival’s senior management is purposefully trying to destroy the company is, frankly, a stretch.

Carnival may have missed the mark with this new rewards program, sure. But even the most cynical take shouldn’t lead to the idea that there’s a grand internal conspiracy to obliterate shareholder value just to take away a fruit basket or priority boarding.

This particular comment mixes reasonable disappointment with total economic paranoia – going so far as to hope the stock price crashes so people lose their jobs. That’s not just overreaction. That’s rooting for a full-blown corporate implosion because you’re annoyed you didn’t get a pin.

5. They’re “Literally” What?

Hyperbole is nothing new on the internet, especially when someone feels personally wronged by a corporate decision.

But using “literal” here adds an unexpected – if unintentional – comedic flair. Unless Carnival has installed some truly wild new amenities in the Platinum and Diamond Lounges, I think we’re safe to assume this was meant figuratively.

It’s OK to be upset. Just maybe… think before you imply something pretty digusting.

6. Is it Really a Demotion?

This one gets points for dramatic flair, if nothing else.

There’s been a lot of talk about how Carnival Rewards feels like a “downgrade,” especially for those who had just earned status or were close to it under VIFP. And sure, if you were eyeing Diamond after years of cruising and now the goalposts have moved, that’s frustrating.

But comparing it to being demoted from president to dishwasher? That’s not just apples to oranges – it’s apples to washing up liquid (or “dish soap” to the largely American audience of Carnival cruisers).

Yes, some of the perks have changed and the way you earn rewards is very different, but you’re not exactly being asked to don rubber gloves and scrub plates. You are still paying for a cruise, and ultimately getting some (small) extras depending on how much you spend.

You’re still cruising. Yes, you might feel like your loyalty is one-sided. But you still get to have fun when you sail.

7. Threats to Remove Gratuities

After a couple of fun ones, I wanted to end with this because I think it’s a really important overreaction to be aware of.

I’ve seen a few posts circulating online of people trying to encourage other guests to cancel their automatic gratuities as a way of getting Carnival’s attention. And it’s the complete wrong tactic.

Removing gratuities doesn’t punish the executives or the marketing team who designed Carnival Rewards.

It punishes the crew – the people cleaning your cabin, serving your meals, entertaining your kids, and working incredibly long hours far from home.

These aren’t the folks who decided to restructure the loyalty program. They’re the ones who make your cruise experience feel special regardless of what your VIFP status or new Carnival Rewards tier might be.

John Heald addressed this directly, noting that while he knows 99.9% of cruisers wouldn’t stoop to that level, the fact that it’s even being floated as an idea is worrying.

Because even a small number of people pulling gratuities out of spite could have a very real impact on staff who rely on those tips.

It’s completely fair to voice your dissatisfaction with the new program. Send feedback. Post your opinions. Sign petitions, if you must.

But don’t take it out on the people who’ve done nothing but try to make your vacation memorable.

Read more: Why You Can – But Shouldn’t – Opt Out Of Carnival’s Gratuities

Final Word

Emotions are high on Carnival Rewards, even once the dust has started to settle. And some people will never be happy about the changes.

I wrote an article highlighting the reasons why it might not be such a bad thing, and I was accused several times on social media of being a corporate shill. Trust me, my opinion’s not for sale, and Carnival’s never paid me a dime.

I do understand the very valid reasons people don’t like it and the backlash has mostly been reasonable. But some of these overreactions are way too far.

Some are funny. Others really aren’t. And so it’s important to remember to voice your dissatisfaction in the right way.

And maybe be a little kinder to John Heald.

Related Posts

• The Craziest Complaints From Carnival Cruise Guests
• Carnival Rewards Explained – Your Full Guide To Carnival’s New Loyalty Program
• The 7 Things Cruisers Hate Most About Carnival’s Loyalty Program Changes