Couple questions on diamond status

I have 17 more nights before My wife and I become Diamond. Two benefits will be a one time dinner for two at the supper club a one time cabin upgrade or third or fourt person free. Am I required to use these perks when I reach diamond on the cruise that I become diamond. Also on the cabin upgrade what category are you upgraded to. In other words if I book interior would I be upgraded to ocean view, or higher.

Have been diamond for past 3 cruises.

We used both upgrades to go from o/v to extended balconies. You go up one class for the benefit. Believe you can do it whenever you wish.

Have not used steakhouse one yet but dont know of a time frame involved.

We have certainly enjoyed being Diamonds.

We both received a letter granting the dinner at the steak house when we turned "diamond", and we've used my wife's letter, but mine is still in the safe. We keep forgetting to take it along on a cruise. :p Bottom line,,,you can use it whenever you please. No problem.

"SKY"

I have 17 more nights before My wife and I become Diamond. Two benefits will be a one time dinner for two at the supper club a one time cabin upgrade or third or fourt person free. Am I required to use these perks when I reach diamond on the cruise that I become diamond. Also on the cabin upgrade what category are you upgraded to. In other words if I book interior would I be upgraded to ocean view, or higher.

You can use your dinner vouchers any time after you reach Diamond. With the Diamond gift ( leather passport cover and luggage tag ) that Carnival will send you, you will receive a letter for you to bring to redeem on the ship. If you forget it, they can check but less of a hassle if you have your letter with you.

I believe that all the extra Diamond benefits say to redeem within 18 months, but as someone at the Diamond desk told me, they are very flexible with that as it is only a one time perk.

With the cabin upgrade, you pay for one category and will be upgraded to the best cabin up. Lowest inside to best ocean view. Lowest OV to best balcony. Spa, scenic OV, extended or premium balcony not included.

Hope this helps to answer your questions.

Once you receive the welcome letter after turning Diamond, you bring it onboard for the dinner perk. You will have 12 months to use the upgrade/perk for the cabin from turning Diamond, don't know if if they extend it.

You can use your dinner vouchers any time after you reach Diamond. With the Diamond gift ( leather passport cover and luggage tag ) that Carnival will send you, you will receive a letter for you to bring to redeem on the ship. If you forget it, they can check but less of a hassle if you have your letter with you.

 

I believe that all the extra Diamond benefits say to redeem within 18 months, but as someone at the Diamond desk told me, they are very flexible with that as it is only a one time perk.

 

With the cabin upgrade, you pay for one category and will be upgraded to the best cabin up. Lowest inside to best ocean view. Lowest OV to best balcony. Spa, scenic OV, extended or premium balcony not included.

 

Hope this helps to answer your questions.

I've been looking here for you, ..not here as much, too busy, but have 8 booked, and have my 75th with Carnival coming next month. 100 total, and more booked. Hope all is well with you.....judi

I've been looking here for you, ..not here as much, too busy, but have 8 booked, and have my 75th with Carnival coming next month. 100 total, and more booked. Hope all is well with you.....judi

Don't want to hijack this thread. Email me at

marysfm at rogers dot com

You can use your dinner vouchers any time after you reach Diamond. With the Diamond gift ( leather passport cover and luggage tag ) that Carnival will send you, you will receive a letter for you to bring to redeem on the ship. If you forget it, they can check but less of a hassle if you have your letter with you.

 

I believe that all the extra Diamond benefits say to redeem within 18 months, but as someone at the Diamond desk told me, they are very flexible with that as it is only a one time perk.

 

With the cabin upgrade, you pay for one category and will be upgraded to the best cabin up. Lowest inside to best ocean view. Lowest OV to best balcony. Spa, scenic OV, extended or premium balcony not included.

 

Hope this helps to answer your questions.

We were able to use ours on the Pride for extended balcony. However cannot use it for aft balcony or aft wrap. Tried to as they were open but were told no. Diamond desk is rather helpful.

Thanks everyone for your comments. These boards have never let me down. You guys are the best.

Happy sailing

Jim

I have just booked a 9 night journey cruise to Bermuda on the Splendor and I am looking at an 8 night on Valor. By next year I should be Diamond.

We were able to use it for an aft facing balcony. I think it was an 8M.

Don't want to hijack this thread. Email me at

marysfm at rogers dot com

just sent it..j

help . please.we are on a aug. 29th cruise, and want to book for oct. 4th while onboard. the 4th will be our diamond cruise. when we book do we tell the ambassador that this is our diamond, and if we book inside on Riviera will he be the one to bump us up??? or do we have to call when we get home??? thanks so much

help . please.we are on a aug. 29th cruise, and want to book for oct. 4th while onboard. the 4th will be our diamond cruise. when we book do we tell the ambassador that this is our diamond, and if we book inside on Riviera will he be the one to bump us up??? or do we have to call when we get home??? thanks so much

call diamond desk after you get back but why use it to go from inside to o/v?

IMHO book o/v and than use it to go to balcony.

help . please.we are on a aug. 29th cruise, and want to book for oct. 4th while onboard. the 4th will be our diamond cruise. when we book do we tell the ambassador that this is our diamond, and if we book inside on Riviera will he be the one to bump us up??? or do we have to call when we get home??? thanks so much

The Future Cruise rep cannot upgrade you for your Diamond perk. After you book with him/her, you can go to GS and ask them to call the Diamond desk for you.

I am not sure if they will upgrade you for that cruise or not. However it will not hurt to call and ask.

My thinking ( someone correct me if I am wrong ) is that you must be Diamond already and then request the upgrade for a future cruise. You do know that on paper they say you have 12 months to request that perk and 18 months to use it? However, most of us have been told that they are very flexible in the time frame as it is a one time perk only.

Have been diamond for past 3 cruises.

 

We used both upgrades to go from o/v to extended balconies. You go up one class for the benefit. Believe you can do it whenever you wish.

 

Have not used steakhouse one yet but dont know of a time frame involved.

 

We have certainly enjoyed being Diamonds.

If you used both upgrades do you also have the one-time Free Steakhouse also? I was under the impression it was one or the other, not both... Thanks..

If you used both upgrades do you also have the one-time Free Steakhouse also? I was under the impression it was one or the other, not both... Thanks..

Hi Elaine,

Those are 2 separate perks. Each Diamond guest gets 1 free cabin upgrade and 1 voucher for 2 to a specialty restaurant. We also get a Diamond event on each cruise with the captain.

Other than those 2 one time only perks, not much different than Platinum other than dining time is guaranteed and laundry is unlimited.

Hi to Doug

Hi Elaine,

 

Those are 2 separate perks. Each Diamond guest gets 1 free cabin upgrade and 1 voucher for 2 to a specialty restaurant. We also get a Diamond event on each cruise with the captain.

 

Other than those 2 one time only perks, not much different than Platinum other than dining time is guaranteed and laundry is unlimited.

 

Hi to Doug

Larry & I are using ours for two separate cruises OV to Lido Balcony on the Valor B2B in Dec. Will probably eat at steak house the first night of each cruise. Since we pretty much just cruise Fantasy class might just as well use them both in Dec.

Char

Larry & I are using ours for two separate cruises OV to Lido Balcony on the Valor B2B in Dec. Will probably eat at steak house the first night of each cruise. Since we pretty much just cruise Fantasy class might just as well use them both in Dec.

Char

LOL, so after those 2 cruises, all your Diamond perks except the for the Captain event are gone.

Enjoy them on the Valor. Nicer using them both on a B2B:D

If you used both upgrades do you also have the one-time Free Steakhouse also? I was under the impression it was one or the other, not both... Thanks..

We have used both upgrades but havent used free steakhouse yet. Believe we each get one dinner for two but not sure about that.

LOL, so after those 2 cruises, all your Diamond perks except the for the Captain event are gone.

 

Enjoy them on the Valor. Nicer using them both on a B2B:D

You do get guaranteed dining times of your choice and think unlimited laundry but never have gotten to what the laundry max was when we were platinum so that is kind of irrelevant.

Capt event is nice.

We have used both upgrades but havent used free steakhouse yet. Believe we each get one dinner for two but not sure about that.

Did you each not get a letter about a month after reaching Diamond? You bring the letter with you to redeem the dinner for 2.

You do get guaranteed dining times of your choice and think unlimited laundry but never have gotten to what the laundry max was when we were platinum so that is kind of irrelevant.

 

Capt event is nice.

Exactly. We never use the laundry perk on the 7 days cruises and on the longer ones, may use it for underwear and socks for DH. I don't like that hot water is used for everything. Even when we were Platinum, we never had problems getting the dining time we wanted so don't see those as Diamond perks.

Did you each not get a letter about a month after reaching Diamond? You bring the letter with you to redeem the dinner for 2.

 

 

 

 

Exactly. We never use the laundry perk on the 7 days cruises and on the longer ones, may use it for underwear and socks for DH. I don't like that hot water is used for everything. Even when we were Platinum, we never had problems getting the dining time we wanted so don't see those as Diamond perks.

We got the letter. Typically we only decide on the ship whether to go to steakhouse. If we particularly enjoy our tablemates we wouldnt go unless we had special occasion.

Love the laundry. They do all except my expensive blouses and dresses and bras. Happy with results and we only take one large suitcase for cruise whether it one or two weeks.:)

We were not really impressed with the Diamond benefits, though it's more than was offered previously (and I suppose they don't have to do anything for you)!

We sail in suites, so the cabin upgrade is useless. They would not allow us to book a balcony and get bumped up to a suite (a savings for us), nor book a low level suite and get upgraded to a higher level. It just seems if that's what one generally books, and how one arrived at those 200+ nights, that they'd throw you a bone.

Regarding the 3rd/4th person in a cabin for free. When our either of our sons come along (23 and 28), we prefer - as do they - their own cabin. We enjoy our own private space. Thus, that option was useless for us as well.

The free dinner in the steakhouse was nice. Though, that's where we eat every night anyway! The downside, IMO, is that it's a one time only deal - ONCE IN YOUR LIFE. On NCL those who hit platinum receive a "Complimentary Dinner for Two at Le Bistro with a Bottle of Wine" on EACH sailing. That's a gift which keeps on giving, so to speak !

I'll also add that Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and NCL each give you the ability to earn additional points towards higher loyalty levels - often from booking higher level cabins or booking promotions. Carnival built in something into their program (Cruise Day Points vs. VIFP Points), but never bothered to implement it. Not sure if Jim Berra's departure (to Royal Caribbean) marks a point where something like that is now more or less likely to occur.

Heading out on the Sunshine on Saturday - where I'll earn 8 more VIFP points (in a GS). Then in September we're on a 3 night Royal Caribbean sailing in an OS cabin, and will earn 6 points (double for suites). For our 4-night November Celebrity sailing (in an RS) we'll earn 72 points - enough to easily get us to Elite+ : "discounts on beverages and specialty dining, unlimited complimentary cappuccinos and lattes, 200 free internet minutes and much more."

Basically most other lines offer incentive/rewards for those who spend more with the company, which is how most loyalty programs work. Do I expect Carnival to change? Nope, I'm not holding my breath. Still, we still sail them from time to time - when the date/ship/ports are right... but everything else being equal, it's not my first choice - like it was years ago.

Just my $.02 ! :)

Tom

I forgot to add... in addition to the extra points towards a superior (IMO) rewards program, that suite on Celebrity also comes with:

With Carnival, my suite comes with... priority embarkation/debarkation, a tub, and... that's the "biggies".

Oh, I also forgot, though the cabin is a bit more expensive than the GS on the Sunshine, Celebrity (actually their Blue Chip Club/casino) gives me a flat 20% off the cabin fare!

Tom