No more First Cabin Access for Diamonds/Platinums?

[JT1962]

It sounds like another possible money-saving cut. If they end this perk, I see 2 options for those that not being able to access their room immediately upon boarding is a deal breaker:

 

1. Just show up for boarding after 1:30, or whatever time they say rooms will be available. There also is usually little, if any, wait to board at that time.

 

2. Choose another cruise line that has rooms ready as soon as you board. HAL has this for everyone. The downside is they may delay boarding for everyone until the rooms are ready.

 

 

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[Cruisin 4 Ever]

Wasn’t a rumor. A carnival employee said the perk was only for fttf. Then a different carnival employee said diamonds/platinums still have the perk. Meanwhile JH blamed another FB group for creating a rumor. AND, reference to platinums/diamons having this perk has been removed from carnival’s site...not to mention plat/diamond folks have been reporting that they haven’t had early access to their cabins.

Exactly. How does their employee happen to make such a big error. And why then try to blame the poster instead of taking responsibility for it? All very fishy

[winddawn]

I recently made my first booking for 2018 on a cruise line other than Carnival. I'm thinking more and more that was a good decision. Carnival seems to have too many uncertainties this year. That's unfortunate.

[skiingj]

2. Choose another cruise line that has rooms ready as soon as you board. HAL has this for everyone. The downside is they may delay boarding for everyone until the rooms are ready.

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I do love HAL's embarkation with the rooms ready and MDR open for lunch. Makes for a much better experience for everyone, no matter of status.

[558]

I am Platinum with Carnival and it makes NO difference to me if they keep early boarding as a perk or if they remove it. We never board the ship earlier than 2:30pm-3:30pm.

Bring it on Carnival!

[winddawn]

There has been talk about Carnival removing early cabin access for Diamonds and Platinums and having it be exclusively for Faster To The Fun.

 

Even though it has been denied on Carnival's FB page, this perk is no longer showing under FTTF. The other benefits that D/P share with FTTF still say so, however, "First Access to Stateroom" isn't included.

 

So my question is:

If "First Access to Stateroom" is no longer a perk for Diamonds or Platinums, will it be the final straw that causes you to leave Carnival?

 

Hopefully this is just a rumor and a mistake. But if not, then I think this is the end for me. I shouldn't have to purchase FTTF for upwards of $90 to get all the same perks as FTTF plus having my cabin ready upon embarkation.

 

I have 33 cruises with Carnival. I recently booked my first 2018 cruise on another line because the casino offer was way better than what Carnival has offered me this year. My new offer came with many of the benefits I've been accustomed to on Carnival being platinum, so it doesn't feel to me like I'm missing anything.

 

Imo, Carnival has been heading down the wrong path recently.

[rainbowflag]

Since Carnival reduced their housekeeping labor and assigned many more cabins to the stewards we have come to appreciate all the more the early access benefit of Platinum. We need this time to perform a deep cleaning of the room before we unpack. On average during our past 5 cruises we have each spent 20 minutes wiping out the inside of the drawers and wiping down the closet shelves. We use wet wipes to wipe down the TV remote, the phone receiver, light switches and the bath room.

 

It's bad enough labor reductions force us to clean Carnival's cabins for them but now Carnival won't give us early access to perform the necessary work their overworked crew leave for us.

 

Yes, we'll return to RCCL if Carnival forces our hand.

[firemanbobswife]

I have 33 cruises with Carnival. I recently booked my first 2018 cruise on another line because the casino offer was way better than what Carnival has offered me this year. My new offer came with many of the benefits I've been accustomed to on Carnival being platinum, so it doesn't feel to me like I'm missing anything.

 

Imo, Carnival has been heading down the wrong path recently.

 

I agree. I am super excited to go back to Celebrity. Can't beat the value on the deal I got. I have stuck up for Carnival about a lot of things, and to me I could understand some of the changes. However, having immediate access to my cabin along with the Priority embarkation/debarkation, and GS line are the benefits I care about the most. It saves me now $90 and from having to hunt down FTTF. Without it, I see no real advantage that Carnival gives over other lines for me. Price isn't always a factor, either. Plenty of things I have turned the other way about, but everyone has a breaking point. This in fact, would be it for me.

[Drazil65]

I'm loving RCCL more and more.

LOL...RCCL has it's own way of nickel and diming guests, we have sailed many times with them and they are not that different from CCL. You are fooling yourself if you think they are not getting their pennies too. LOL...

[jimbo5544]

I agree. I am super excited to go back to Celebrity. Can't beat the value on the deal I got. I have stuck up for Carnival about a lot of things, and to me I could understand some of the changes. However, having immediate access to my cabin along with the Priority embarkation/debarkation, and GS line are the benefits I care about the most. It saves me now $90 and from having to hunt down FTTF. Without it, I see no real advantage that Carnival gives over other lines for me. Price isn't always a factor, either. Plenty of things I have turned the other way about, but everyone has a breaking point. This in fact, would be it for me.

 

 

 

Good question, I really don’t know. I can tell you I would be royally (no pun intended) p o ‘d. I would actually express my displeasure to every Carnival exec I know, mostly in person when we will see them on the Horizon New York in May for the naming ceremony. From there, who knows.......

 

 

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[dmdiver]

I need a choice that says, No, it would not make me stop sailing Carnival, but yes, it is an important perk that I enjoy - in fact it is the most important one to me. I like to carry on my luggage, go to my cabin & get everything organized. Then, my vacation has truly begun. I like the free laundry as well - means I can pack a little less.

[firemanbobswife]

I need a choice that says, No, it would not make me stop sailing Carnival, but yes, it is an important perk that I enjoy - in fact it is the most important one to me. I like to carry on my luggage, go to my cabin & get everything organized. Then, my vacation has truly begun. I like the free laundry as well - means I can pack a little less.

Then I would use the "Not bothered" Which was supposed to be "Not bothered enough to stop". Somehow that last part got left off and I couldn't edit the actual poll.

[Retired_to_Cruise]

There has been talk about Carnival removing early cabin access for Diamonds and Platinums and having it be exclusively for Faster To The Fun.

 

Even though it has been denied on Carnival's FB page, this perk is no longer showing under FTTF. The other benefits that D/P share with FTTF still say so, however, "First Access to Stateroom" isn't included.

 

So my question is:

If "First Access to Stateroom" is no longer a perk for Diamonds or Platinums, will it be the final straw that causes you to leave Carnival?

 

Hopefully this is just a rumor and a mistake. But if not, then I think this is the end for me. I shouldn't have to purchase FTTF for upwards of $90 to get all the same perks as FTTF plus having my cabin ready upon embarkation.

 

As of 1 minute ago, (Sunday, March 18, 2018, 6:30 pm CDT) Priority boarding is listed on the Carnival website in both the FTTF benefits (First one listed) and the Platinum and Diamond benefits (Sixth one listed).

[firemanbobswife]

As of 1 minute ago, (Sunday, March 18, 2018, 6:30 pm CDT) Priority boarding is listed on the Carnival website in both the FTTF benefits (First one listed) and the Platinum and Diamond benefits (Sixth one listed).

Boarding isn't the issue. That hasn't been changed.

[BookDragon]

As of 1 minute ago, (Sunday, March 18, 2018, 6:30 pm CDT) Priority boarding is listed on the Carnival website in both the FTTF benefits (First one listed) and the Platinum and Diamond benefits (Sixth one listed).

 

As stated many times previously, The issue is not Priority boarding. The issue is 1st Cabin Access. As of 1 minute ago platinums/diamonds are not listed under Fttf FAQ, First Access to Stateroom and it has been removed from other areas on the website.

[Retired_to_Cruise]

Boarding isn't the issue. That hasn't been changed.

 

Sorry, my mistake. First Access is listed as the 2nd benefit on Faster to the Fun . Just checked it after you response.

[firemanbobswife]

Sorry, my mistake. First Access is listed as the 2nd benefit on Faster to the Fun . Just checked it after you response.

Correct. But "Note: This is also a benefit for VIFP Diamond and Platinum guests" is missing.

[coolson_2000]

Perk website from November 16, 2015.

Nothing listed for "early access to cabins". Looks like a non-issue

 

https://web.archive.org/web/20151116030014/https://www.carnival.com/loyalty/benefits.aspx

 

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[mcarney]

That is where they had it and it WAS a perk as evidenced numerous places such as the FTTF page, at embarkation, on the ship, etc. Carnival’s website has always been pretty sad. Try and find what Suite perks are included! It’s practically impossible.

 

No matter where it was listed, it in fact WAS (and hopefully still is a perk). If they were “just doing it” then it wouldn’t have been in writing. I will back up my claims with evidence.

When did you get that email with regard to the suite? I'm wondering if everyone who books a suite gets it automatically or did y'all ask what was included and they sent the email.

 

Thank you

[Jamman54]

I think everyone needs to calm down and stop being riled up. Until a reliable poster that is a Diamond or Platinum member reports that they were not allowed to access their cabins upon boarding, speculating does absolutely no good. Deep breaths everybody! :cool:

[firemanbobswife]

Perk website from November 16, 2015.

Nothing listed for "early access to cabins". Looks like a non-issue

 

https://web.archive.org/web/20151116030014/https://www.carnival.com/loyalty/benefits.aspx

 

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It is an issue. See post #18. Maybe someone can also find where it said it before as well.

[firemanbobswife]

When did you get that email with regard to the suite? I'm wondering if everyone who books a suite gets it automatically or did y'all ask what was included and they sent the email.

 

Thank you

 

I emailed Carnival after a “discussion” on here where people were saying Suites also got early access to their cabin along with FTTF/Diamonds/and Platinums. I asked if it was a perk of a Suite and they confirmed it was not.

[mcarney]

I emailed Carnival after a “discussion” on here where people were saying Suites also got early access to their cabin along with FTTF/Diamonds/and Platinums. I asked if it was a perk of a Suite and they confirmed it was not.

 

Thank you very much ... this is very helpful --- How long ago was this if you don't mind me asking.

[coolson_2000]

Another from November 26, 2013.

 

https://web.archive.org/web/20131126112445/https://www.carnival.com/loyalty/benefits.aspx

 

Still no mention of "early access to cabins" but it was obviously happening. How can something have been removed from a website when it wasn't there to begin with? I think some people want any excuse to jump board from Carnival, fabricated or not. You're grownups. If you want to leave, nobody is stopping you. You don't need an excuse to go.

 

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[firemanbobswife]

Thank you very much ... this is very helpful --- How long ago was this if you don't mind me asking.

 

It was end of December.