Past guest party on Victory sailing 5/16/15

[ZoeyVictoria]

I just returned home from the first sailing of the Victory since the new rules for the past guest party were in effect. I am Gold, my SO is Platinum. On night one, the steward left a letter for him describing his Platinum benefits; it included a mention of the "Platinum/Diamond" party. I received a letter describing my Gold benefits; it included a mention of the "Gold/Platinum/Diamond" party. On night two, we returned to the cabin to find a letter for my SO that included the Platinum/Diamond party, and a letter for me that included no mention of the party but had a coupon good for a free drink (up to $9) after 5 p.m. on the last night of the cruise. The original letter was gone; apparently while we were out of the cabin, our steward had gone through our pile of paperwork and removed the letter!

 

As it turned out, my SO had no interest in attending the party, either with or without me. Our dinner companions, who are both Platinum, attended the party and told us that turnout was approximately 20 people. Four (two couples) were Diamond, and at least two Golds showed their original letters to gain admittance into the party. Apparently there were a lot of wasted/unused drinks.

 

I have no problem with missing the party. I do have a problem with the original letter listing the Gold/Platinum/Diamond party as one of my Gold benefits being removed from my cabin. I think the way it was handled was very tacky.

[bigdog1958]

I just returned home from the first sailing of the Victory since the new rules for the past guest party were in effect. I am Gold, my SO is Platinum. On night one, the steward left a letter for him describing his Platinum benefits; it included a mention of the "Platinum/Diamond" party. I received a letter describing my Gold benefits; it included a mention of the "Gold/Platinum/Diamond" party. On night two, we returned to the cabin to find a letter for my SO that included the Platinum/Diamond party, and a letter for me that included no mention of the party but had a coupon good for a free drink (up to $9) after 5 p.m. on the last night of the cruise. The original letter was gone; apparently while we were out of the cabin, our steward had gone through our pile of paperwork and removed the letter!

 

As it turned out, my SO had no interest in attending the party, either with or without me. Our dinner companions, who are both Platinum, attended the party and told us that turnout was approximately 20 people. Four (two couples) were Diamond, and at least two Golds showed their original letters to gain admittance into the party. Apparently there were a lot of wasted/unused drinks.

 

I have no problem with missing the party. I do have a problem with the original letter listing the Gold/Platinum/Diamond party as one of my Gold benefits being removed from my cabin. I think the way it was handled was very tacky.

 

I agree, not only tacky but I do not believe a cabin steward should go through your stuff, even if he gave it to you in error. However, on these boards I am sure there will be many people who comment, that will say it was an error so he has the right to go through you stuff to get it back... They are the ones who always say carnival does no wrong... They will blame you for leaving it in your cabin for him to take it...

[falkcor]

As it turned out, my SO had no interest in attending the party, either with or without me. Our dinner companions, who are both Platinum, attended the party and told us that turnout was approximately 20 people. Four (two couples) were Diamond, and at least two Golds showed their original letters to gain admittance into the party. Apparently there were a lot of wasted/unused drinks.

 

and here begins the 'parties are poorly attended' and 'in an effort to reduce waste' that will probably be used as justification to cancel the party in a few months :rolleyes:

[ZoeyVictoria]

I agree, not only tacky but I do not believe a cabin steward should go through your stuff, even if he gave it to you in error. However, on these boards I am sure there will be many people who comment, that will say it was an error so he has the right to go through you stuff to get it back... They are the ones who always say carnival does no wrong... They will blame you for leaving it in your cabin for him to take it...

 

I don't blame the steward; I feel certain that he was ordered to retrieve the letter.

[love my grandkids]

Very surprised only 20 people attended.

 

Tacky to retrieve the letter

[cruizinisthebest]

and here begins the 'parties are poorly attended' and 'in an effort to reduce waste' that will probably be used as justification to cancel the party in a few months :rolleyes:

 

Yup! Overcrowded let's reduce whose invited. Underattended, let's cancel.:rolleyes: Whatever Carnival on this tackiness in general. Although I don't blame the room steward. Maybe he mistakenly put out the old letter.

Edited May 21, 2015 by cruizinisthebest

[wanderingjew]

and here begins the 'parties are poorly attended' and 'in an effort to reduce waste' that will probably be used as justification to cancel the party in a few months :rolleyes:

If they do I wont sail CCL anymore

 

To see what I think CCL stands for see my sig LOL :D :D

[SMSACE6]

and here begins the 'parties are poorly attended' and 'in an effort to reduce waste' that will probably be used as justification to cancel the party in a few months :rolleyes:

 

This would not surprise me at all. But Victory is also probably not a ship that appeals to many platinum and diamond cruisers, because it is older and does not have all the bells and whistles of the bigger/newer ships. Time will tell what happens.

[jimbo5544]

I just won a bet that after the first review of the "new" party it would be less than 4 posts before someone would say the elimination would soon be coming.;) Mark, I owe you a drink if we ever sail together!

[TheBubbs]

Remember when they had the "last night" party with free drinks? They canceled it and sited poor turnout as the reason. All the ones I attended was packed!

[mississauga]

I think the room steward should have told you in person that he left the letter in error or was given it in error. He should not have removed it by going through your paperwork. Or if he/she do not see you, just leave the new letter. Most people will understand that this is a new letter and replaces the original one.

 

This happened to us a few months ago re the liquor and tobacco laws in Texas. We were originally given the old letter and the next day, a new one appeared. Our room steward did not go through our pile of paperwork to remove the old one.

 

Once paperwork is left and the guest has moved it from its original placement, then removing it is going through your personal paperwork.

 

To the OP: did your husband not attend because you were not invited?

 

The small # of Platinums attending could be due to the fact that many may not have realized that there has been a change and thought Golds were still included and did not want to deal with the crowds. Perhaps they never attended before.

 

 

As a Diamond, I never had a problem with the crowds. I don't even drink but enjoy going with my DH and friends who do drink.

[mississauga]

Remember when they had the "last night" party with free drinks? They canceled it and sited poor turnout as the reason. All the ones I attended was packed!

 

 

I agree!

[falkcor]

I just won a bet that after the first review of the "new" party it would be less than 4 posts before someone would say the elimination would soon be coming.;) Mark, I owe you a drink if we ever sail together!

 

haha, well based on the op's comment i'm just calling it how i see it... sounds very similar to the 'conditions' carnival cited when they did just that to the 'fun farewell' party... and tbh, it'd just be carnival achieving their 'end goal' in terms to this poor loyalty party - it's already been beat up a few times.

 

regardless, i'll take it... it could happen! ;)

[wanderingjew]

haha, well based on the op's comment i'm just calling it how i see it... sounds very similar to the 'conditions' carnival cited when they did just that to the 'fun farewell' party... and tbh, it'd just be carnival achieving their 'end goal' in terms to this poor loyalty party - it's already been beat up a few times.

 

regardless, i'll take it... it could happen! ;)

John Heald will say "BRILLIANT Cheers Mate" :D :D

[love my grandkids]

haha, well based on the op's comment i'm just calling it how i see it... sounds very similar to the 'conditions' carnival cited when they did just that to the 'fun farewell' party... and tbh, it'd just be carnival achieving their 'end goal' in terms to this poor loyalty party - it's already been beat up a few times.

 

regardless, i'll take it... it could happen! ;)

 

They put out a note of the farewell party the first day and never said it again and surprise most people didnt remember it and turnout was poor.

 

As someone said back than, it was setup to fail.

 

However dont think Carnival plans to have this happen for this party.

[falkcor]

They put out a note of the farewell party the first day and never said it again and surprise most people didnt remember it and turnout was poor.

 

As someone said back than, it was setup to fail.

 

However dont think Carnival plans to have this happen for this party.

 

yeah, it definitely was setup to fail... more appropriately, it was set up to reduce the expense of the previous version of the past guest party... and then through a calculated decision to very poorly publicize it, offer an excuse to cancel it...

 

then it was more rigidly restricted to only gold plus members, and offered a drink coupon to all past guests, with even more restrictions... oh well 'people complained' that the coupons were too restrictive so they give us water... and oh well 'people complained' that the parties were too overcrowded... so they took back both...

 

all of these iterations of the past guest type party - from captains reception -> fun farewell -> gold+ party -> drink coupon -> plat/diamond party (and all the revisions / restrictions / reductions resulting) have all had one common goal: the reduction of expense for the 'perk' on the whole... so i'm just saying, don't be too surprised if it does happen...

Edited May 21, 2015 by falkcor

[ready2cruzagain]

and here begins the 'parties are poorly attended' and 'in an effort to reduce waste' that will probably be used as justification to cancel the party in a few months :rolleyes:

 

I agree...the same thing that happened to the Farewell party. Poorly advertised and by the end of the week everyone forgot it was even going on.

[Jimmy Geegitz]

Question...does the Platinum member get a free drink coupon for last day?

[ZoeyVictoria]

 

To the OP: did your husband not attend because you were not invited?

 

 

He just wasn't interested in going. Before we met, I sailed on RCI more than the other cruise lines, and he sailed on Carnival more. He went to the past guest parties years ago, before we met, and said that they weren't enjoyable in part because they were so crowded. When we began sharing a household, he was given my Diamond status on RCI, so we go to the Diamond Lounge together before dinner or have one of the three drinks each per day that are complimentary at almost any bar during the cocktail hours (5:00 - 8:30). RCI's generosity in including spouses/domestic partners in loyalty status made Carnival's policy of exclusion to appear a bit cheap to us (or stingy, or unkind, you choose the adjective). As we select future cruises, my SO is less and less quick to research Carnival first.

[ZoeyVictoria]

Question...does the Platinum member get a free drink coupon for last day?

 

No. My SO said he would have preferred the coupon to the party. I did not use my coupon because we were playing in the casino the last night and prefer not to drink while gambling.

[CruiseReg]

I just won a bet that after the first review of the "new" party it would be less than 4 posts before someone would say the elimination would soon be coming.;) Mark, I owe you a drink if we ever sail together!

 

But don't give it to him until after 5pm on the last night of the cruise LOL

[kdinkus1]

Did you confront the steward? You stated: " Apparently while we were out of the cabin, our steward had gone through our pile of paperwork and removed the letter!" I am wondering if your invitation was laying in plain sight or among other Carnival papers? If it was, then I don't understand the problem about it's retrieval. BUT if it was among your 'personal' items, (I keep piles of lists/papers/receipts/Carnival items/ etc... all together), then you should have at least spoken with steward. Especially since you made this comment here on the CC boards. I'm sure the steward meant no harm however I would imagine that Carnival's policy would frown on their employees 'rummaging' thru our things. (not saying that a few might but I certainly hope not!) Anyway, I do appreciate the reminder to keep important papers/receipts in the safe or at the very least, 'hidden' out of sight.

[SMSACE6]

but don't give it to him until after 5pm on the last night of the cruise lol

 

lol....:d

[AZ Karaoke Girl]

I would rather attend a party with 20 people with free drinks and appetizers than a party in the huge theater with hundreds all practically tackling the waiters to get their hands on the free drinks. Just saying.:rolleyes:

 

I quit attending the past guest parties for that reason. Now that I am platinum, I am hoping I have a much calmer and truly appreciative event rather than a grab & go fest.

Edited May 21, 2015 by AZ Karaoke Girl

[ZoeyVictoria]

Did you confront the steward? You stated: " Apparently while we were out of the cabin, our steward had gone through our pile of paperwork and removed the letter!" I am wondering if your invitation was laying in plain sight or among other Carnival papers? If it was, then I don't understand the problem about it's retrieval. BUT if it was among your 'personal' items, (I keep piles of lists/papers/receipts/Carnival items/ etc... all together), then you should have at least spoken with steward. Especially since you made this comment here on the CC boards. I'm sure the steward meant no harm however I would imagine that Carnival's policy would frown on their employees 'rummaging' thru our things. (not saying that a few might but I certainly hope not!) Anyway, I do appreciate the reminder to keep important papers/receipts in the safe or at the very least, 'hidden' out of sight.

 

The paper was not an invitation, it was a "welcome back" letter listing the benefits of being a Gold member. It was buried in a stack of Carnival flyers re: spa deals, excursions, room service menu, daily planner, laundry bag, etc. There was a "bookend" type of device attached to the front of the mirror, a few inches above the desktop, that we kept all paperwork stacked in, with the letter buried somewhere in the stack. Once Carnival gave me the paperwork and I read, sorted, and stored it, I considered it to be mine, no longer belonging to Carnival. The steward was very courteous and competent, but always solemn and not as outgoing as many are. He was very emphatic that we needed to be the ones to ask Guest Services for a refrigerator for insulin storage, not him, and seemed uneasy to be asked to obtain one. My first impression (which I still hold) was that it was not his idea to "retrieve" the letter, but something he was instructed to do. I considered asking him about the letter, but did not want to make a bigger deal out of something that I believed he could not have been comfortable doing. The comment that I made on CC was my interpretation of something that happened during my cruise, as many (if not most) comments are.

 

Edited to add: My SO's letter was also missing from the stack of paperwork. His letter (or its replacement) was found with my new letter, on top of the (gigantic) television.

Edited May 21, 2015 by ZoeyVictoria