Back From Four Day Triumph Premier Cruise (With Your Time Dining For The First Time)

[Border Granny]

My husband and I finally booked a Premier cruise when we got the invitation and it had a four day Triumph on it. I could live on a ship, but a four or five day is more to my husband's liking, so this was perfect for us. I asked a few questions about the premier cruises on here before our cruise, and was wondering how the four day would compare with the longer ones. I also read everything I could about your time dining, there has been so much discussion about that, so thought I would recount our experience.

 

Let me start by saying it was a very nice cruise. The ship underwent the Coast Guard inspection that day, so boarding was a little delayed, but we were onboard by 11:30. We boarded after the wedding parties and the other priority boarding groups, but it went very quickly once we started. Our cabins were ready by 1:30 and we had our luggage by 2:00.

 

A word about our cabin location......we were in 6375, and I fully understood the location when I booked it. It is directly over the casino bar bandstand, but we knew we were going to be in the casino until late every night, and we wanted a balcony cabin right by the elevator and there was nothing left on the higher floors. But, if you go to bed early this is not the cabin for you, it sounds like the band is in your hallway, we jokingly sang along with the band in bed on the nights we went to bed before they quit playing :)

 

We decided to try your time dining, and we absolutely loved it. We got a table for two, and after the first night we requested that same section and wait staff (Florence and her assistants Alvin and Jolly, who were excellent), and we had the personal attention from them just like if we were at assigned dining. They knew our preferences and were a joy to interact with.

 

I'll do a quick rundown of events relating to the premier cruise:

 

Our Premier cruise casino host was Bunny, who is on the Glory when she is not doing premier cruises. She is absolutely wonderful, and was always very visible and accessible to all the premier cruisers. She said this was the first four day premier cruise, and she was worried how she was going to get everything done in four days, but she did it.

 

Departure day, we had the Tervis Tumblers in our cabin, along with the invitation to the cocktail party that evening. Everyday there would be something in the cabin, along with a black envelop with details for events. The cocktail party was well attended, appetizers I've never seen on the ships before, and good variety of drinks. We also had lanyards identifying us as part of the premier cruise (had the clear plastic pouch which contained a drinks on us card). A quick comment about the drinks on us....a lot of people have complained that bar service was slow with the card, but I have never had a problem with slow service and did not on this cruise. There were plenty of servers and they were very attentive.

 

We had the first of daily snowball raffles at the party, then everyone went to the casino and got their cash. I had $450 and my husband $300, and they give you cash, so you can do with it what you want, but of course we gave ours back to the casino:).

 

Second day we had a box with a dozen cookies. Some people have complained on here that they have received cookies that were old and stale, but ours were very good, just too many to eat:)

 

Everyday there were snowball raffles....all I can say about those is that we didn't win, but some nice cash was given away. The last night a cruise was given away, balcony stateroom, it was the big prize.

 

Third day we received a bottle of Prosecco in the cabin, ended up taking it to dinner the last night, which was a nice touch.

 

Fourth day we received the nice 2015 planner and pen. I'm pretty techie for an old broad, but I like the old school things too, so I was happy with that. We had the free slot tournament the last sea day, and I made the finals, but came in 8th in the final round, and won $50. The winner received a free cruise. I took my winnings and bought entries for the regular slot tournament held later that day, and my husband ended up winning that and $500, so that was a bonus!

 

The last night the regular Triumph casino host, Vaska, who was also very nice, walked up to me and thank us for cruising with them, and handed me letters for me and my husband. We both had free interior cabins on several cruises to choose from. The only problem is that they must be taken before March at the latest, and due to some things coming up with us I don't think we are going to be able to take advantage of it :(

 

We had received an envelop in our cabin with luggage tags in zone 5 for departure, which is the first group after self assist. When our regular ones came we were in group 12, so that was a nice surprise.

 

We had a very nice cruise, everyone was extremely nice and attentive, we couldn't have asked for a better experience, we hope to do another one sometime. If you have any specific questions, ask away!

 

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[abcsteward]

Sounds like a wonderful time... I did a Premier Cruise on the Magic a couple years back and it was fun!!!

[texast518]

My husband and I finally booked a Premier cruise when we got the invitation and it had a four day Triumph on it. I could live on a ship, but a four or five day is more to my husband's liking, so this was perfect for us. I asked a few questions about the premier cruises on here before our cruise, and was wondering how the four day would compare with the longer ones. I also read everything I could about your time dining, there has been so much discussion about that, so thought I would recount our experience.

 

Let me start by saying it was a very nice cruise. The ship underwent the Coast Guard inspection that day, so boarding was a little delayed, but we were onboard by 11:30. We boarded after the wedding parties and the other priority boarding groups, but it went very quickly once we started. Our cabins were ready by 1:30 and we had our luggage by 2:00.

 

A word about our cabin location......we were in 6375, and I fully understood the location when I booked it. It is directly over the casino bar bandstand, but we knew we were going to be in the casino until late every night, and we wanted a balcony cabin right by the elevator and there was nothing left on the higher floors. But, if you go to bed early this is not the cabin for you, it sounds like the band is in your hallway, we jokingly sang along with the band in bed on the nights we went to bed before they quit playing :)

 

We decided to try your time dining, and we absolutely loved it. We got a table for two, and after the first night we requested that same section and wait staff (Florence and her assistants Alvin and Jolly, who were excellent), and we had the personal attention from them just like if we were at assigned dining. They knew our preferences and were a joy to interact with.

 

I'll do a quick rundown of events relating to the premier cruise:

 

Our Premier cruise casino host was Bunny, who is on the Glory when she is not doing premier cruises. She is absolutely wonderful, and was always very visible and accessible to all the premier cruisers. She said this was the first four day premier cruise, and she was worried how she was going to get everything done in four days, but she did it.

 

Departure day, we had the Tervis Tumblers in our cabin, along with the invitation to the cocktail party that evening. Everyday there would be something in the cabin, along with a black envelop with details for events. The cocktail party was well attended, appetizers I've never seen on the ships before, and good variety of drinks. We also had lanyards identifying us as part of the premier cruise (had the clear plastic pouch which contained a drinks on us card). A quick comment about the drinks on us....a lot of people have complained that bar service was slow with the card, but I have never had a problem with slow service and did not on this cruise. There were plenty of servers and they were very attentive.

 

We had the first of daily snowball raffles at the party, then everyone went to the casino and got their cash. I had $450 and my husband $300, and they give you cash, so you can do with it what you want, but of course we gave ours back to the casino:).

 

Second day we had a box with a dozen cookies. Some people have complained on here that they have received cookies that were old and stale, but ours were very good, just too many to eat:)

 

Everyday there were snowball raffles....all I can say about those is that we didn't win, but some nice cash was given away. The last night a cruise was given away, balcony stateroom, it was the big prize.

 

Third day we received a bottle of Prosecco in the cabin, ended up taking it to dinner the last night, which was a nice touch.

 

Fourth day we received the nice 2015 planner and pen. I'm pretty techie for an old broad, but I like the old school things too, so I was happy with that. We had the free slot tournament the last sea day, and I made the finals, but came in 8th in the final round, and won $50. The winner received a free cruise. I took my winnings and bought entries for the regular slot tournament held later that day, and my husband ended up winning that and $500, so that was a bonus!

 

The last night the regular Triumph casino host, Vaska, who was also very nice, walked up to me and thank us for cruising with them, and handed me letters for me and my husband. We both had free interior cabins on several cruises to choose from. The only problem is that they must be taken before March at the latest, and due to some things coming up with us I don't think we are going to be able to take advantage of it :(

 

We had received an envelop in our cabin with luggage tags in zone 5 for departure, which is the first group after self assist. When our regular ones came we were in group 12, so that was a nice surprise.

 

We had a very nice cruise, everyone was extremely nice and attentive, we couldn't have asked for a better experience, we hope to do another one sometime. If you have any specific questions, ask away!

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

 

In your opinion how comfortable were the beds? Too firm? Last 2 times on Magic they were too firm, we are in mid-70's. We are going to b on Triumph 12 days in March. Just asked this ? on another post. Thanks, Tom

[pirate4me2]

Thanks for posting about your cruise, it sounds like fun! We have not done a Premier Cruise, how do you qualify for one?

[Border Granny]

Texast518, we thought the bed was very comfortable. We have a pretty high end mattress at home, and we slept better on the ship :). We are 65 and 71, and we tend to not sleep as well as we used to, so were pleasantly surprised.

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[Border Granny]

Pirate4me2, we have been receiving the premier cruise offers for a few years now, and just never have booked one until now. We tend to spend a good amount of time in the casino when we cruise, but I have seen posters say that they don't gamble very much and they have gotten the offer, so who knows how Carnival decides who to send them to, it seems to be a mystery :)

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[texast518]

texast518, we thought the bed was very comfortable. We have a pretty high end mattress at home, and we slept better on the ship :). We are 65 and 71, and we tend to not sleep as well as we used to, so were pleasantly surprised.

 

 

Sent using the cruise critic forums app

 

thanks!

[Namelocg]

I just booked my first ever Premier Casino cruise. Going on the Splendor February 22nd. Happy birthday to me.