Platinum requirements changing

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

...

Perhaps I'm just misreading this, but are you saying you cut in front of other passengers to get on the tender because you're platinum? Or are you saying the agent escorted you to the front of the line and got shamed by other passengers? Either way, I would have shamed you as well. We're platinum and we get in line with the rest of our fellow passengers. You should do the same. There's nothing special about being a platinum member that you need to shove down someone's throat. But then, some people always feel entitled.

 

My take on that was they went up to the front of the line and made the inquiry (about priority tender service back to the ship, which is a supposed benefit) and then the (ill-informed) agent made some comments which were not correct (perhaps not even appropriate).

 

Tom

[rickcop44]

My take on that was they went up to the front of the line and made the inquiry (about priority tender service back to the ship, which is a supposed benefit) and then the (ill-informed) agent made some comments which were not correct (perhaps not even appropriate).

 

Tom

 

Hmm. Thanks Tom. I guess I get my dander up a bit when I see people trying to lord their so-called status over others - rule playing or not as mentioned by Thundertouch. Every one of our Carnival cruises has been seven days or longer. I have no problem with folks abiding by the rules to get to platinum status. But I will admit that it irks me a titch when I read (especially on Heald's blog) about people who complain because they were forced to sit with the common folk. Or were upset that they didn't get treated as honored guests at dinner. Or who feel that the cabin steward should appear within 30 seconds of them calling and requesting in-room drinks (actually saw this one). This ain't White Star lines, folks. It's Carnival. They're in business to make money and they don't care what the source of that money is - whether 3 day or 7 day cruises. Carnival will happily take your money. They get my next chunk in February 2012. We'll be platinum and outside of the color of my card, you'll never know I am as I will happily stand in line with everyone else.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Hmm. Thanks Tom. I guess I get my dander up a bit when I see people trying to lord their so-called status over others ....

 

Understood!

 

... Carnival will happily take your money. They get my next chunk in February 2012. We'll be platinum and outside of the color of my card, you'll never know I am as I will happily stand in line with everyone else.

 

Have you ever used the Platinum line at Guest Services? I do take advantage of that (even though people in the regular line have made some "comments" to me), though I'll admit that a couple of times the regular line would have been quicker!

 

Tom

[VioletHorse]

Very interesting - giving credit for land tours and onboard expenses! I wonder about the Suite Bonus though, as it says you receive that only if you pay the "published fare" - does that mean full list price, or any advertised special rates?

 

Tom

 

If you have been upgraded (free) or upsold (for a fee) to a suite, you will not get the Suite Bonus. If your original booking was for a suite at a rate that was in effect with HAL or your TA, you'll get the Suite Bonus.

 

Your onboard spending will also include anything that you ordered/reserved prior to embarcation, such as liquor and wine purchases and ship sponsored shore excursions.

 

It's a very fair and equitable program, although the perks themselves are a bit weak.

[themnms]

A perk is just that ...a PERK and it should be honored.

 

 

I agree

[NCTribeFan]

Wait, you mean I can now get priority tender BACK to the ship?

 

I whined and whined about this and HMC. If you want to stay on that beautiful beach as long as possible, you can't because you have to stand in the blazing hot sun for 20 or 30 or 50 or more minutes for the return tender.

 

But, NOOOOOO. You only get priority when you leave the ship!

 

Can you tell I haven't sailed Carnival in over a year?

 

Fewer smoking areas AND priority return tenders! Yippee!

 

Now just give me some credit for my onboard spending toward Milestone status and I'll really be happy! :p

[golfadj]

Wait, you mean I can now get priority tender BACK to the ship?

 

I whined and whined about this and HMC. If you want to stay on that beautiful beach as long as possible, you can't because you have to stand in the blazing hot sun for 20 or 30 or 50 or more minutes for the return tender.

 

But, NOOOOOO. You only get priority when you leave the ship!

 

Can you tell I haven't sailed Carnival in over a year?

 

Fewer smoking areas AND priority return tenders! Yippee!

 

Now just give me some credit for my onboard spending toward Milestone status and I'll really be happy! :p

 

We found this out on Heald's blog and have done this at HMC and GC about 3x now with no problem at all.

[halos]

. But I will admit that it irks me a titch when I read (especially on Heald's blog) about people who complain because they were forced to sit with the common folk. Or were upset that they didn't get treated as honored guests at dinner. Or who feel that the cabin steward should appear within 30 seconds of them calling and requesting in-room drinks (actually saw this one). .

 

LOL...easy solution...don't read the blog ;)

[quickrate]

We found this out on Heald's blog and have done this at HMC and GC about 3x now with no problem at all.

So are you saying now in GC they are honoring the priority tendering back to the ship? This is one place I would use this perk cause the lines to get back to the ship can be really long! Did you just walk to the front of the line and show your platinum card? I will be in GC in Oct. on the Legend.

Pat

[golfadj]

So are you saying now in GC they are honoring the priority tendering back to the ship? This is one place I would use this perk cause the lines to get back to the ship can be really long! Did you just walk to the front of the line and show your platinum card? I will be in GC in Oct. on the Legend.

Pat

 

That is exactly what we did and we got right on.

 

First time did it a year ago on HMC showed it to security guard (carnival employee) told us to wait right here for next tender (none at the dock at the moment) and put us right on next one. Had nice conversation with him while waiter as I recall.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

My guess is they will add some milestone perks, since there are none now other than the one time OBC.

 

or other levels.

I hope so

[near the beach]

We have been told quite a while that a new and improved Past Guest Recognition Program will make people happy. At least that is what they have been saying on the Carnival site. We won’t be Platinum until January. Like everyone else we will wait until then to see what Carnival has in store for us. I have been writing Carnival for years giving them suggestions. I am sure that they have received many suggestions that were an attempt to improve things. The on line Carnival Store may finally come to life. Giving someone points for the amount they spend on board does not make much sense to me. If that were to happen Carnival cruisers would not pre pay anything and just wait until they were on board. We cruise because we enjoy it. Not for the free laundry. However we won’t turn it down.

[cruzn buckeye]

So are you saying now in GC they are honoring the priority tendering back to the ship? This is one place I would use this perk cause the lines to get back to the ship can be really long! Did you just walk to the front of the line and show your platinum card? I will be in GC in Oct. on the Legend.

Pat

 

The last time I went to GC in April, we went to the front of the hour long line... at least an hour long line... and were told by security where the line began. Now mind you, I had already read here that you could now get priorty tendering back to the ship in GC here on cruise critic. So, before we headed out, we checked at the information desk, and tour desk. We were told that we are not to worry, they would be there and make sure we got priorty tendering. I needed to be sure because my daughter had hurt her back and there was no way she could stand in that long line. If not, we were going to just suck it up and stay on the ship. So anyway, I told security that we were platinum and had priorty tendering. She said " this is not the ship. This is Grand Cayman. You need to go to the back of the line". I told her that Carnival said their rep would be there. Sorry, she said... one line for everyone... As we started to walk away, another security officer called us back and told us to go ahead... Dont always count on it in GC. If there is a reason you cannot stand in the long line such as health issues.... don't count on it... just sayin'...

[LHP]

by blusry:

 

"Our most recent cruise aboard the Conquest was the first bad experience with using the status. We left the ship in Grand Cayman as a group for a ship sponsored excursion and returned to town to shop. We were shamed by the agent in front of other passengers with the attempt to board the tender to return to the ship via the front of the line."

 

 

 

 

Perhaps I'm just misreading this, but are you saying you cut in front of other passengers to get on the tender because you're platinum? Or are you saying the agent escorted you to the front of the line and got shamed by other passengers? Either way, I would have shamed you as well. We're platinum and we get in line with the rest of our fellow passengers. You should do the same. There's nothing special about being a platinum member that you need to shove down someone's throat. But then, some people always feel entitled.

 

This is a perk we EARNED. (just like VIP check in) It is not an entitlement.

 

John Heald posted last year that the tender PERK is SUPPOSED to be both ways....but the poorly trained employees usually don't know this.

[LHP]

Wait, you mean I can now get priority tender BACK to the ship?

 

I whined and whined about this and HMC. If you want to stay on that beautiful beach as long as possible, you can't because you have to stand in the blazing hot sun for 20 or 30 or 50 or more minutes for the return tender.

 

But, NOOOOOO. You only get priority when you leave the ship!

 

Can you tell I haven't sailed Carnival in over a year?

 

Fewer smoking areas AND priority return tenders! Yippee!

 

Now just give me some credit for my onboard spending toward Milestone status and I'll really be happy! :p

 

 

This is a crap shoot. Our oldest son sailed in March with his college friends....and when they were returning to the ship from Half Moon Cay there was a long line.

 

He had his Platinum card in his hand and the security guard flagged them all to the front.

[CanWeGoYet?]

This is a crap shoot. Our oldest son sailed in March with his college friends....and when they were returning to the ship from Half Moon Cay there was a long line.

 

He had his Platinum card in his hand and the security guard flagged them all to the front.

 

I'm wondering if the line wasn't too bad when he was there. When I was in the line to tender back, that line went on forever - I can't guess in yards but it was half the length of a football field it seemed. No crew or security til you were near the front. I'm not platinum, but I feel for those who are and know they should get priority on tendering back. It would have been a long long walk past so many in line, and then if the crew shamed you in front of all & sent you back - to the very back by then, how humiliating.

[DFW Airwolf]

So basically you're saying those with the most money should be rewarded the most? People who love to cruise but can't afford a more expensive cabin aren't as important? Don't get me wrong, I book balconies and suites but I don't think that makes me more important than the person in the 1A. My reward is that awsome balcony I have-yep, I'm a member of the balcony snob club!:D

pat

 

 

Look at Airline FF programs. Those PAXs who book First Class tickets get more credit toward Elite Levels. The same way that those who book consolidater fares like trhu Priceline & such get no FF points or miles.

 

Also this is why I stated there should be more Levels so that those who book enough 1A cruises will achieve status. They just wont get as high of status as a Suite Cruiser who cruise the same amount.

 

And YES it is all about Rewarding those who Support the Cruise Line with more $$$$. Also think about Las Vegas. Those who Gamble more $$$ get bigger benefits. Doesnt matter how much you win or lose, just how much you risk during a session. (They know the Odds will favor them in the end)

[NCTribeFan]

John Heald happened to be the CD on my Fantasy sailing last year. He was on for 2 or 3 sailings when they first moved her to Charleston. I did the 7-night (Nassau, Grand Turk and HMC).

 

I'm pretty sure I had requested that Host Mach ask John whether it was possible to have the priority boarding for RETURNS to the ship, and he replied that, at that time, it wasn't. There was a thread on here about it and the argument was that the port/island is responsible for the return tenders.

 

And my argument was that that would NOT apply at HMC!

 

Hopefully, my nagging and whining helped get this policy changed!

 

Guess I'll just have to book another cruise that goes to HMC to check it out! :D