Benefit of being Platinum?

[crusinpsychRN]

Another perk is getting on before the hoards and get to the Red Frog to get a free beer if you're the first one there!:D

[love my grandkids]

Another perk is getting on before the hoards and get to the Red Frog to get a free beer if you're the first one there!:D

 

Always better to beat the hoards:)

[Retired_to_Cruise]

I for sure agree with this!! Now that there are so many Platinums, adding FTTF to the mix doesn't make boarding so special anymore. I enjoy cruising Carnival, but realize that my perks aren't what keeps me cruising them

Pat

 

I don't know if this is mentioned earlier, but the number of FTTF cabins sold on most cruises are usually around 20. That number makes no dent at all in the boarding sequence for Diamonds and Platinums if the port crew is able to manage the proper boarding procedures. And, that number has absolutely no impact on the revenue of Carnival Cruise lines - about $1000 per cruise per ship. To get your nose out of joint for this insignificant part of the cruise is a waste of time - or - you are just looking for something to make you unhappy so you can complain.

Edited July 2, 2015 by Retired_to_Cruise

[skrufy]

Were on our first platinum cruise last year, out of New Orleans. All went smoothly, very short and quick moving check in line. The only hicup was the porter did not mark our luggage and it arrived late in the afternoon. Our next expierence with platinum will be out of wonderful (ha, ha) Miami, who lost my luggage for a day.

[Sparky2]

OK, so this may be unpopular to post, but it is a genuine question. I feel like maybe I am missing something somewhere?

 

What is the real benefit to being Platinum (or higher) anymore with FTTF? The last couple cruises we have gone on, we had to wait for FTTF, and even general boarding, to get on and exit the ship in front of us. The FTTF and Platinum/Diamond guests all use the same "special" areas on the ship (the front desk), and for boarding and getting off - so we had to wait in big long lines everywhere anyhow.

 

We went to the VIP room to check in and waited 30 minutes - and then they just pointed us toward the hoard of general boarding people (so like 100 or more people in front of us). Used to be you went to the front of the line with an escort. When you get to the port to board, the line for VIP was as long as the line for general boarding (because of the FTTF) outside security area. One time we had to go to the general boarding desks and wait there, for like 5 groups of people in front of us, check in because the VIP area was all full (and I could see FTTF paperwork and red cards coming out of there).

 

I wholeheartedly understand the FTTF and I don't knock it - good for cruisers and good for Carnival - puts some extra bucks in their pocket to keep cruise prices low for everyone - but it is quite frustrating for someone that has spent 12+ years acquiring the Platinum status (and tens of thousands of dollars with the company) to have some of their key benefits diminished due to being grouped with those that spent $50 to have rooms with up to 4 people receive the same benefit.

 

I am thinking I am missing the boat (pun intended) here, and maybe I am just not getting in the right lines, arriving at the right time, something?

 

Since they've offered FTTF, Platinum now have their luggage delivered earlier plus get to go imediately to the cabin.

[Sparky2]

Since they've offered FTTF, Platinum now have their luggage delivered earlier plus get to go imediately to the cabin.

 

I tried to "edit" but I was too late, even though the edit button was still there.

 

I wanted to add that being able to go to the cabin immediately is the only reason I now have no objection to FTTF as long as they limit the amt. sold. Also, it was nice being able to unpack right after having lunch and before muster drill.

[love my grandkids]

I tried to "edit" but I was too late, even though the edit button was still there.

 

I wanted to add that being able to go to the cabin immediately is the only reason I now have no objection to FTTF as long as they limit the amt. sold. Also, it was nice being able to unpack right after having lunch and before muster drill.

 

Last two times (including the Conquest 1/24 where we didnt get to meet) didnt get luggage until at least 4 pm so not sure how well this feature is working

[HectorAchilleus]

Last two times (including the Conquest 1/24 where we didnt get to meet) didnt get luggage until at least 4 pm so not sure how well this feature is working

 

I think that the logistics of delivering all of the FTTF and other luggage has been more challenging than Carnival expected. On our last cruise (Glory out of Miami), we did not get any of our luggage until after the muster drill. On the two before that it worked fine, but on the Pride out of Tampa, we were still missing a suitcase at dinner time. I happened to run into it on another floor as we went to dinner. Frankly, I am amazed that they can deliver all of the stuff in a few short hours, so we did not complain. Not much of a perk, though.

[linbobky]

I don't care what anyone says, they have more than the 15 or 30 fttf on each sailing!:(

[N2Mischief]

I agree, WAY more than 15 or 30!

[naz022292]

I've only cruised Carnival and I've only been on 3 cruises so far. I'll be gold on my next trip. After all this talk I went and looked up NCL figuring it must give so much better platinum benefits. I was surprised to see that no one receives priority boarding unless you book a suite on that particular cruise. Looks like most of the benefits that platinum gets are given to everyone that even cruised just one day. It looked like Carnival gives much better perks to the loyalist of their customers. As for NCL - I would bet that you would prefer to board with 30-or 45 cabins with FTTF as opposed to board AFTER all of the suite guests. Unless I read the information wrong, that's what it looks like you would have to do unless you too booked a suite.

Edited July 4, 2015 by naz022292

[glrounds]

"but it is quite frustrating for someone that has spent 12+ years acquiring the Platinum status (and tens of thousands of dollars with the company) to have some of their key benefits diminished due to being grouped with those that spent $50 to have rooms with up to 4 people receive the same benefit."

 

With 25 Carnival cruises I feel the same way. :confused:

[naz022292]

For me it's all about the laundry. We're now taking longer cruises and I can pack for a week and simply send out some laundry. I also do like the little things: the strawberries, the bottled water, the party.

 

I know other lines have much better perks. Maybe when we retire and we can cruise more often I'll see what those perks are like. In the meantime, I'll take the little bit Carnival gives us.

 

BTW, we're on the West Coast and there are only a few lines that cruise out of here. Our loyalty is limited to those lines that are close.

 

What are the better perks on the other lines? Not being sarcastic, but when I look online, unless I'm missing something, the other lines give almost identical benefits to almost every past guest. On top of that, the other lines all seem to allow those that purchase more expensive cabins the right to get on the ship before the loyal customers. You would actually have to wait to go on the ship AFTER them no matter what loyalty level you are.

[glrounds]

On our Liberty cruise last year we were on before my inlaws were and they are platinum. There were at least 800 platinums on this trip.

 

5 or 6 years ago whenever I would go to the Casino cage to get my FREE Platinum Slot Tournament chip, they would check my name on their list and I would ask them how many Platinums onboard. It was usually 30-50 ! :rolleyes:

[love my grandkids]

"but it is quite frustrating for someone that has spent 12+ years acquiring the Platinum status (and tens of thousands of dollars with the company) to have some of their key benefits diminished due to being grouped with those that spent $50 to have rooms with up to 4 people receive the same benefit."

 

With 25 Carnival cruises I feel the same way. :confused:

 

agreed

[love my grandkids]

For me it's all about the laundry. We're now taking longer cruises and I can pack for a week and simply send out some laundry. I also do like the little things: the strawberries, the bottled water, the party.

 

I know other lines have much better perks. Maybe when we retire and we can cruise more often I'll see what those perks are like. In the meantime, I'll take the little bit Carnival gives us.

 

BTW, we're on the West Coast and there are only a few lines that cruise out of here. Our loyalty is limited to those lines that are close.

 

Laundry is a nice perk. Great to do a 15 day cruise and take one large suitcase for the two of us.:)

[cruzn buckeye]

I've only cruised Carnival and I've only been on 3 cruises so far. I'll be gold on my next trip. After all this talk I went and looked up NCL figuring it must give so much better platinum benefits. I was surprised to see that no one receives priority boarding unless you book a suite on that particular cruise. Looks like most of the benefits that platinum gets are given to everyone that even cruised just one day. It looked like Carnival gives much better perks to the loyalist of their customers. As for NCL - I would bet that you would prefer to board with 30-or 45 cabins with FTTF as opposed to board AFTER all of the suite guests. Unless I read the information wrong, that's what it looks like you would have to do unless you too booked a suite.

 

Actually 30 to 45 cabins with up to 4 person per cabin, possibly 180 people , is a lot more than would be in the limited amounts of suite cabin guests...

[HectorAchilleus]

I don't care what anyone says, they have more than the 15 or 30 fttf on each sailing!:(

 

I know that waiting at the tender area on the Glory last June, there were over 150 waiting for priority boarding, and hardly any of them were holding Platinum or Diamond colored S&S cards. They did not prioritize Diamonds or Plats either - it was a chaotic rush. We did not even get onto the first or second tender. Before FTTF, there would be 10-15 waiting for tendering.

[Jana60]

OK, so this may be unpopular to post, but it is a genuine question. I feel like maybe I am missing something somewhere?

 

What is the real benefit to being Platinum (or higher) anymore with FTTF? The last couple cruises we have gone on, we had to wait for FTTF, and even general boarding, to get on and exit the ship in front of us. The FTTF and Platinum/Diamond guests all use the same "special" areas on the ship (the front desk), and for boarding and getting off - so we had to wait in big long lines everywhere anyhow.

 

We went to the VIP room to check in and waited 30 minutes - and then they just pointed us toward the hoard of general boarding people (so like 100 or more people in front of us). Used to be you went to the front of the line with an escort. When you get to the port to board, the line for VIP was as long as the line for general boarding (because of the FTTF) outside security area. One time we had to go to the general boarding desks and wait there, for like 5 groups of people in front of us, check in because the VIP area was all full (and I could see FTTF paperwork and red cards coming out of there).

 

I wholeheartedly understand the FTTF and I don't knock it - good for cruisers and good for Carnival - puts some extra bucks in their pocket to keep cruise prices low for everyone - but it is quite frustrating for someone that has spent 12+ years acquiring the Platinum status (and tens of thousands of dollars with the company) to have some of their key benefits diminished due to being grouped with those that spent $50 to have rooms with up to 4 people receive the same benefit.

 

I am thinking I am missing the boat (pun intended) here, and maybe I am just not getting in the right lines, arriving at the right time, something?

 

Basically the advantage is that I get all the perks of the FTTF program $49, laundry service about $40 worth per cruise, a entry in the slots tournaments $15, priority dining reservations, priority Spa reservations, chocolate covered strawberries $5, a logo gift about $15, 1 lg bottle of water $3, past guest party with usually at least 3 free drinks $24, and a free drink coupon with which I paid for a $10 Long Island tea and while you can buy all of these services I get them for free! That's more than $161/ cruise! And I get all of this just for choosing Carnival for very low priced, high quality cruise vacations in the past. So it's a win-win!

Edited July 5, 2015 by Jana60

[rrraydon]

From Carnival my favorite Platinum perk is the laundry...from RC my favorite Diamond perk is the 3 free bar drinks per evening or just going to the diamond lounge and drink as many drinks as I'd like during that 3 hr period each evening and using the 3 drink vouchers for cokes to take back to the cabin for later. The 2 perks between the 2 cruise lines are equal to each other in my opinion.

[love my grandkids]

Basically the advantage is that I get all the perks of the FTTF program $49, laundry service about $40 worth per cruise, a entry in the slots tournaments $15, priority dining reservations, priority Spa reservations, chocolate covered strawberries $5, a logo gift about $15, 1 lg bottle of water $3, past guest party with usually at least 3 free drinks $24, and a free drink coupon with which I paid for a $10 Long Island tea and while you can buy all of these services I get them for free! That's more than $161/ cruise! And I get all of this just for choosing Carnival for very low priced, high quality cruise vacations in the past. So it's a win-win!

 

We used to get free admission to slot tournement now bogo. Used to get guaranteed dining time, now well maybe we can get you the time.

 

Platinum is not what it used to be.

[Jana60]

We used to get free admission to slot tournement now bogo. Used to get guaranteed dining time, now well maybe we can get you the time.

 

Platinum is not what it used to be.

 

I've never been turned down a dining time or location I wanted if I went to the the maitre d and asked. Since I definitely always play two tickets in the slot tournament anyway it does save me the $15 to get one free.

[skittl1321]

Platinum is not what it used to be.

 

None of the levels are. You have to be platinum to go to what used to be the past guest party now. You need 25 nights just to get a free drink- you used to get a party of them on your second cruise (where you could easily get 3, or more).

[love my grandkids]

I've never been turned down a dining time or location I wanted if I went to the the maitre d and asked. Since I definitely always play two tickets in the slot tournament anyway it does save me the $15 to get one free.

 

Hubby and I would get two tickets for B/J tourney and he would use both. Now we refuse to play as our protest.

 

Once we booked closed to sail date and we were given late dining and MD said he couldnt move us.

 

Went to guest services to complain and than we were moved to early.

[naz022292]

Actually 30 to 45 cabins with up to 4 person per cabin, possibly 180 people , is a lot more than would be in the limited amounts of suite cabin guests...

 

Actually, there are more than 30-45 suites on the cruise. I added up some on a Pride cruise and got to 28 - with many floors/sections saying sold out. Also remember THEY would ALL be ahead of you getting on the ship. After that, you'd be mixed in with everyone else. I'm just suggesting that, at least from what I am reading, Carnival does a much better job with rewarding loyal guests.