My impressions of cruising with a Platinum card

[LHP]

We had several people in the group who needed to get credit for past cruises on Carnival so they too would be extended an invitation to the Past Guest party aboard the Pride last week. Months ago, they made an attempt to contact Guest Relations and submit evidence (booking ID or folio numbers, sail dates and other stuff like pictures, etc). but were told that if the cruise was prior to 1994, they were out of luck.

 

I had our TA contact a Guest Relations supervisor who told him the same thing. So, I went to the Purser's desk with my list once we got on the ship. It took a while, but every past guest in the group was issued an invitation to the past guest party. In the process, the Purser in charge, printed out a form that he requested be turned back in, where the PAX could list all past cruises. He then input the ship and sail dates into the computer and all the people at least in our group, had their missing cruises posted.

 

Liike I said this took some effort on the part of Robert, the Purser in charge, but everyone in the group who was missing credit for a sailing got it rectified while on the ship. So, if you don't have much luck going through Carnival, you can always take evidence to the Purser's desk at an off time (don't go when it's busy), and have them add the information to your cruise profile.

 

As the group leader, I made it easy for the Purser by having a small file on each past guest I simply gave over to him (I had only a total of 4 people who were missing this information). What seemed to help most was having the following: ship and sail date (most important), cabin number, and booking ID or folio number (off of an old sail & sign card). Photos were okay, but the other information is what the Pursed input into the profile.

 

I know a while back my husband was missing a sailing that he should have been credited, as we cruised together. In this instance, Guest Relations was able to add the sailing, taking the information from my profile. But in talking to the person assisting me, they said they were no longer able to post any cruises prior to 1994 - they said it has become a huge problem now that the new past guest program has begun. Way too many dishonest people out there wanting to get credit for cruises they didn't take. She admitted this was going to hurt the honest people out there.

 

I know to take what Carnival says with a grain of salt as well as the stuff you read on the internet. Please understand that what what I was told - it doesn't mean you won't find someone out there to help you. I have learned that Carnival and the other cruise lines are not always consistent in what they tell you - your mileage may vary!

 

Good luck!

 

 

With your permission Sailifsh, I would like to copy and post this message under the FAX Number - General Information to give additional help now and in the future!!

[Sailfish]

Regarding past guest perks:

 

All things considered, past guest perks where we are concerned, do matter, and frequently influence which cruise line I choose.

 

For years, Carnival could not compete for our business because other cruise lines had better ships and could seal the deal with very generous past guest perks. That's not the case any more. Carnival's ships have improved, their qulaity is much higher in all areas, and with their past guest program, I will definitely take them into serious consideration where otherwise I would not.

 

As a Diamond member, Royal Caribbean still offers me more perks than as Platinum member with Carnival. I'll know more after my cruise on the Valor in December - by then, Carnival should have the program fully implemented.

[Sailfish]

With your permission Sailifsh, I would like to copy and post this message under the FAX Number - General Information to give additional help now and in the future!!

 

It's very nice of you to ask, but this is a public forum - it's not a problem to repost!

 

I can't stress enough that everyone should take what they read here and elsewhere on the internet with a grain of salt. Just because I state things are one way doen't mean your experience will be the same. It's nice to get feed back to validate your position, but there will always be enough people out there to dispute your findings. Don't get angry and don't feel badly.

 

Suzi

[jamon]

I read Michelle's and others post about the perks that come with 10 cruises on Carnival...My question is this, I have 11 Carnival cruises and all are on my past guest history...Michelle stated in the very first post on this that as soon as she walked in she went to the first rep and told them she was Platinum and they escorted her to the correct lounge....What proof do I need to bring with me to prove this to a rep or anyone else if they don't believe me...Maybe a copy of my cruise history printed from the Carnival board would suffice? Anything else I should bring for proof...thanks

[Sailfish]

I read Michelle's and others post about the perks that come with 10 cruises on Carnival...My question is this, I have 11 Carnival cruises and all are on my past guest history...Michelle stated in the very first post on this that as soon as she walked in she went to the first rep and told them she was Platinum and they escorted her to the correct lounge....What proof do I need to bring with me to prove this to a rep or anyone else if they don't believe me...Maybe a copy of my cruise history printed from the Carnival board would suffice? Anything else I should bring for proof...thanks

 

Your cruise documents should indicate your "level". I wouldn't think you need to take proof - the agent checking you in will have this information. Once you check in, you will get a special silver card to show your status.

 

There was no special "Concierge" lounge in Long Beach. It sounds like some ports have them/some don't. I would think all you would have to do is ask to be pointed in the right direction.

[LHP]

I read Michelle's and others post about the perks that come with 10 cruises on Carnival...My question is this, I have 11 Carnival cruises and all are on my past guest history...Michelle stated in the very first post on this that as soon as she walked in she went to the first rep and told them she was Platinum and they escorted her to the correct lounge....What proof do I need to bring with me to prove this to a rep or anyone else if they don't believe me...Maybe a copy of my cruise history printed from the Carnival board would suffice? Anything else I should bring for proof...thanks

 

 

When you get your documents, on the very front where they list your booking number, yada yada yada it should say VIP Check In above the list of names on that booking.

 

However, if you are sailing pretty soon....it may not say that. Some of these documents were printed before the trials were over. (as in our case) I have an email from my PVP stating that we are all indeed Concierge Club members and I plan to have that with me...in case they don't want to take my word that we are all Platinum.

[LHP]

Your cruise documents should indicate your "level". I wouldn't think you need to take proof - the agent checking you in will have this information. Once you check in, you will get a special silver card to show your status.

 

There was no special "Concierge" lounge in Long Beach. It sounds like some ports have them/some don't. I would think all you would have to do is ask to be pointed in the right direction.

 

 

Sorry, Sailfish...did not mean to "post duplicate information". You must type faster than I do!!!

 

From what I understand, Sailfish is correct. The VIP Check In at this port is more of a "special line" than a special room. Either is fine with me!!!

[Naismith]

I'm sorry I just can't stay out of this fray. :rolleyes:

As a businessman, I must observe that the "perks" are SUPPOSED to "skew" your opinion of a cruise line. That's the reason they are being offered: to generate BRAND LOYALTY, to setup a competitive "I've-got-more-cruises-than-you thing", to keep you, once you've become an experienced cruiser, from moving on to other competitive lines.

 

And as a businessman, if you are looking to buy a new delivery vehicle, or engage a new cleaning company, where are you going to get your information about that company?

 

Are you going to look in CONSUMER REPORTS for their objectivity? Are you going to talk with lots of people about their various experiences?

 

And if you hear great things from someone who gets lots of perks for having a big fleet or large contract covering lots of locations, aren't you going to want to keep that in mind, as you consider the kind of treatment that YOU are going to get for your smaller purchase?

 

I think Michelle P's informative post was very helpful in making clear that Carnival Platinum cruisers get a different product than rank-and-file cruisers.

[msolberg]

I'm sorry I just can't stay out of this fray. :rolleyes:

As a businessman, I must observe that the "perks" are SUPPOSED to "skew" your opinion of a cruise line. That's the reason they are being offered: to generate BRAND LOYALTY, to setup a competitive "I've-got-more-cruises-than-you thing", to keep you, once you've become an experienced cruiser, from moving on to other competitive lines.

 

And as a businessman, if you are looking to buy a new delivery vehicle, or engage a new cleaning company, where are you going to get your information about that company?

 

Are you going to look in CONSUMER REPORTS for their objectivity? Are you going to talk with lots of people about their various experiences?

 

And if you hear great things from someone who gets lots of perks for having a big fleet or large contract covering lots of locations, aren't you going to want to keep that in mind, as you consider the kind of treatment that YOU are going to get for your smaller purchase?

 

I think Michelle P's informative post was very helpful in making clear that Carnival Platinum cruisers get a different product than rank-and-file cruisers.

 

I think its only fair that you start your own thread on this subject - you are off topic - against the rules.

 

Diane

[Naismith]

My statement was that her opinion (that the entire Carnival cruise line is mediocre) was not valid, because she had only been on one 4 day cruise on the Celebration....She is making assumptions about an entire line with insufficient data. Therefore her opinion about the entire Carnival cruiseline is not valid. period

 

But there are other sources of "data" about cruiselines than mere personal experience. There are reviews by independent professionals, books that provide ratings, lots of cruiser reviews on various websites, not to mention experiences on OTHER cruise lines as points of comparison. I did a lot of research before making my decision to try Carnival.

 

To declare one's cruise experience with this line to be the ONLY source of validity--well, you can think whatever you want. Obviously, others don't agree, which was helpful to know.

 

She believes that we (Carnival cruisers) are all settling for mediocrity, which is an insult and she was told so!!

 

Not so. In the quote you cited (and thank you for providing it for others to see), I had NOT talked about Carnival cruisers in general. I talked about me, that, "I would be settling for mediocrity" if I chose Carnival again, which I am planning on. My exact words were "I," *not* "you," *not* "Carnival cruisers." Yes, I did mention "lots of people" choosing mediocrity, but I meant that as a general phenomenon of how something could become dominant without being high quality, and included lots of examples in the same breath (Windows computers, VHS video, Ford Escorts).

 

If YOU don't feel you were settling for mediocrity, fine, you can disagree. I just don't understand the need to declare my opinion "invalid."

 

Further, your statement that my opinions are "invalid" until going on a longer cruise doesn't seem to make much sense, because I only do 3-5 night cruises. If we have a full week, we do other kinds of vacations. So shorter cruises are the only thing that matters to MY opinion of a cruise line and whether I'll cruise again.

 

For future reference, if someone is going to complain about their "treatment" on this board, IMO the mature thing to do is list "all the facts."

 

First, I was asking a question, not complaining. And I didn't want to waste people's time going through all that again.

 

I thought the question I was asked was germance to THIS thread, because it seems that getting extra perks is going to color one's opinion of a cruise line at least as much as not having been on a lot.

 

And that's the end of that. Thank goodness!!!

 

Oh, great, we agree on something.

[GayleR]

This thread will go "poof" very soon, I'm afraid.:cool:

[voyagerfl]

I agree lets keep on track.

I recently inquired (e-mailed) why a certain post was pulled and was told it was because it was turned in to a "Chat" between posters.

Please don't ruin it for the rest of us.

 

MichelleP: Thanks for your post.......I look forward to the tour and the Free Laundry......etc...........

 

Did the tour include any other areas of the ship..?? I'd love to see the crew areas or engine areas (probably a security problem)

[mummy]

2-9? So if my next cruise will be my 2nd cruise, does that mean I get a gold instead of a blue? I think my mom's on her 2nd (my first) was blue...

 

You'll get a gold. :D

 

btw, your first was my second and I just did my third...

 

(this is starting to sound disturbingly like "who's on first")

[MichelleP]

Hey everyone, sorry I have been lax about answering questions but I've been sick and away from the computer.

 

Mrs Michelle P, you mentioned the behind the scenes tour that you went back stage, and also to the galley. Were there any other areas that they showed you. I will be Platinum on our next cruise in October, and I have always been interested in the going on's in the back of the house.

 

Thanks for the info.

 

MichelleP: Thanks for your post.......I look forward to the tour and the Free Laundry......etc...........

 

Did the tour include any other areas of the ship..?? I'd love to see the crew areas or engine areas (probably a security problem)

 

Unfortunately, the backstage area and galley were the only areas we got to see on the behind-the-scenes tour. Someone inquired about the Bridge but was told that's no longer possible.

 

I read Michelle's and others post about the perks that come with 10 cruises on Carnival...My question is this, I have 11 Carnival cruises and all are on my past guest history...Michelle stated in the very first post on this that as soon as she walked in she went to the first rep and told them she was Platinum and they escorted her to the correct lounge....What proof do I need to bring with me to prove this to a rep or anyone else if they don't believe me...Maybe a copy of my cruise history printed from the Carnival board would suffice? Anything else I should bring for proof...thanks

 

I actually didn't show any proof (and it wasn't on my documents as they were printed before we even went on our 9th cruise.) I just marched up to the lady and said, "We're platinum!" and she handed me off to someone who took us to the Skippers Club, seated us, and took our documents to get our sail-and-sign cards. I guess you could say they took my word for it. When she left with our documents I had a momentary worry that Carnival had messed up and they would kick us out of the Skippers Club saying we weren't platinum after all, but happily, that wasn't the case. :D

[MichelleP]

Argh, double post. :mad:

[msolberg]

I actually didn't show any proof (and it wasn't on my documents as they were printed before we even went on our 9th cruise.) I just marched up to the lady and said, "We're platinum!" and she handed me off to someone who took us to the Skippers Club, seated us, and took our documents to get our sail-and-sign cards. I guess you could say they took my word for it. When she left with our documents I had a momentary worry that Carnival had messed up and they would kick us out of the Skippers Club saying we weren't platinum after all, but happily, that wasn't the case. :D

 

LOL - that's funny. That's how I will do it on Saturday and if they want any other proof I will supply it.

 

Can't wait!! :)

 

Diane

[Longin2cruise]

Do the perkis begin with your 10th cruise or after you have completed your 10th cruise? I'm trying to figure out how many cruises I have before qualifying. Thanks.

[MichelleP]

The perks begin ON your 10th cruise.