Platinum Benefit Question

[Barsnikel]

Just curious... 

 

"Priority Guest Services assistance by phone" .....    I've never used this benefit, but I have always assumed this was "on board".. calling from your cabin

...  But I was wondering if it might also be on-shore... that is, when calling Carnival for an issue or problem  (instead of your PVP)...

.

Edited August 3, 2019 by Barsnikel

[evandbob]

I believe for Platinums it is only an on board line.  When you become Diamond, there is a dedicated Diamond Desk # to call for reservations, questions, issues, etc.

 

I've found the Diamond Desk staffed with competent agents, as compared with the regular Carnival #.

[PhillyFan33579]

Like the last poster stated, this perk only applies when you are actually on a ship. 

[Carol1560]

Yeah good luck with them answering the phone.

I have always had to go to guest services to get anything resolved

 

[Florida Paesano]

12 minutes ago, Carol1560 said:

Yeah good luck with them answering the phone.

I have always had to go to guest services to get anything resolved

 

 

This is what I have experienced time and again also.  It's always been faster for me to just go to Guest Services.  Bottom line is the Priority Guest Services assistance by phone just has not been a worthwhile benefit in my opinion.

[SNJCruisers]

12 hours ago, Florida Paesano said:

  Bottom line is the Priority Guest Services assistance by phone just has not been a worthwhile benefit in my opinion.

Just like the majority of the platinum perks.

[Nic6318]

2 hours ago, SNJCruisers said:

Just like the majority of the platinum perks.

 

Hi

 

What are you crapping about? More than enough people are willing to PAY for the FTTF perks that are part of the platinum perks. Don't you take advantage of the priority boarding and debarkation perk? You do have access to your cabin when you board. For those that have multiple issues, that short line at the guest service desk saves them hours of waiting. 

 

I agree that the gift that they give you may not compare to game show prizes, but they are free. I like that they are going to clean my dirty underwear and bathing suits for free so I don't have to carry them home like that. 

 

It always amazes me how people feel a need to complain about something that is free. Customer perks have never been a reason to favor any company. If you haven't found value in the product that a company offers you shouldn't be supporting them.  

[NCTribeFan]

I've used the Platinum phone number on the ship with good results.  Now that it seems they sell a hundred FTTFs per sailing, there's ALWAYS people in the Platinum line, so it can't hurt to try the phone first, right?

[Steve551]

We use our Platinum Perks:

 

Priority check-in and boarding

Platinum and Diamond VIFP Party

Complimentary beverage at Sea day Brunch (or at breakfast or lunch in Main Dining Room)

“Chocolate Delight” strawberry plate

Priority water shuttle boarding

Casino: Buy-one-get-one-free tournament entry

Carnival logo gift

Priority debarkation

Priority reservations at Specialty Restaurant

Complimentary Wash & Fold laundry service

 

I guess we don't use the other perks that much....

[SNJCruisers]

19 hours ago, Nic6318 said:

 

Hi

 

What are you crapping about? More than enough people are willing to PAY for the FTTF perks that are part of the platinum perks. Don't you take advantage of the priority boarding and debarkation perk? You do have access to your cabin when you board. For those that have multiple issues, that short line at the guest service desk saves them hours of waiting. 

 

I agree that the gift that they give you may not compare to game show prizes, but they are free. I like that they are going to clean my dirty underwear and bathing suits for free so I don't have to carry them home like that. 

 

It always amazes me how people feel a need to complain about something that is free. Customer perks have never been a reason to favor any company. If you haven't found value in the product that a company offers you shouldn't be supporting them.  

I don't look at things through rose colored glasses these days. Sixteen out of my first twenty cruises were on Carnival, but only three of my last thirteen have been.  The thank you perks that other lines give you for reaching a certain status blow the nonsense that you get on Carnival out the window.  Later this month will be my 20th on Carnival.  I first cruised with them in 1986 and I have been Platinum for 10 years.  I always take advantage of priority boarding and the only other perk worth anything to me is the roped off area at guest services.  Gave up on the free laundry done in hot water years ago.

What amazes me is that people are willing to pay 119.95 for FTTF on my Horizon cruise in a few weeks. 

[PhillyFan33579]

17 hours ago, Steve551 said:

We use our Platinum Perks:

 

Priority check-in and boarding

Platinum and Diamond VIFP Party

Complimentary beverage at Sea day Brunch (or at breakfast or lunch in Main Dining Room)

“Chocolate Delight” strawberry plate

Priority water shuttle boarding

Casino: Buy-one-get-one-free tournament entry

Carnival logo gift

Priority debarkation

Priority reservations at Specialty Restaurant

Complimentary Wash & Fold laundry service

 

I guess we don't use the other perks that much....

 

I am confused by your post. Did you list the perks and then realize you don’t use them that much?  The only perk we use every cruise is the buy one get one free entry for the slot tournament. 

[Nic6318]

4 hours ago, SNJCruisers said:

I don't look at things through rose colored glasses these days. Sixteen out of my first twenty cruises were on Carnival, but only three of my last thirteen have been.  The thank you perks that other lines give you for reaching a certain status blow the nonsense that you get on Carnival out the window.  Later this month will be my 20th on Carnival.  I first cruised with them in 1986 and I have been Platinum for 10 years.  I always take advantage of priority boarding and the only other perk worth anything to me is the roped off area at guest services.  Gave up on the free laundry done in hot water years ago.

What amazes me is that people are willing to pay 119.95 for FTTF on my Horizon cruise in a few weeks. 

 

Hi

 

Exactly. You use the Carnival's perks, but suggest they are of little value while noting others are more than happy to pay for what is only a portion of what is given to you. Then you make a point about comparing Carnival's rewards to what you can get from other companies. It's not rocket science to see that other companies have promotions that would seem better. What I am suggesting is that you are putting those rose colored glasses on selectively if you in any way think that you are not paying for what you get with those other companies. It has always been the consumers responsibility to find the best value for themselves. In the cruise industry there seems to be a product for every taste/need. The fact is, you are still complaining about the product that you bought and paid for, the perks are included in the price. Nobody should buy a product for the perks, if you did, you made a mistake. 

 

If you are just trying to point out your past errors to help newer cruisers, you could do it in a more constructive way.

[NCTribeFan]

I use priority boarding and tender - I refuse to call it a "water shuttle" (did they decide Carnival cruisers are too stupid to Google "tender" and figure out what a tender port might be?? 😵).  Only ever use the laundry on long sailings since I don't live in t-shirts and cargo shorts, and they'll ruin more-delicate items.  Occasional visit to the Service Desk because I can never, ever get the kiosks to take my gift cards.  Usually give away the Plat gift.  Don't want the strawberries (already overeat when I sail).  Get my free drink.  Don't do the casino tournaments now that it's BOGO and I'm usually solo.  Rarely in a hurry to disembark so don't use that.  Rarely dine in the specialty restaurants (but looking forward to getting my free Diamond dinner soon).

 

Yes, it's nice to get something but do I continue to cruise Carnival for the loyalty perks?  Absolutely not.  In fact, over the past couple of years, I've sailed 4 times on 3 other lines (HAL, NCL & MSC) plus 3 x on Carnival.  Just really want something a little different.  Same things on every Carnival ship from Fantasy to Horizon, just more of the same on the newer, bigger ships.  Sailing Sunshine to Bermuda at the end of October, which will be my Diamond sailing.  Honestly, I never expected to get there because I'm just pretty burned out on Carnival and since I don't always have to pay 200% on other lines as a solo, I'm certainly not going to pay more to stick with Carnival!

 

p.s.  As a CCL shareholder, I'm delighted that people are will to pay for FTTF.  With those other 3 lines I've sailed recently, not having priority anything hasn't really had an impact.  So check-in takes a little longer.  Not worth spending a dime for me (love the reason that people buy FTTF is because "I don't like to wait in line" as though there are people who enjoy it! 😄

Edited August 7, 2019 by NCTribeFan

[Steve551]

6 hours ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

 

I am confused by your post. Did you list the perks and then realize you don’t use them that much?  The only perk we use every cruise is the buy one get one free entry for the slot tournament. 

I said that we use our perks and then listed out the ones we use. BUT, that's not all of the perks offered.

 

[havanadaydreaming]

My wife is a platinum and I'm just about to go gold.  im ecstatic about her having laundry benefit, that's fantastic.  I pack half as much stuff since I can get it laundered mid cruise. 

 

I think she usually gives her plat gift away, usually to a kid.