Benefit of being Platinum?

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?

Laundry!

You got to enjoy a lot of cruises!

The Sail & Sign card is prettier. :)

LOL - Too funny, and all true! Seriously though, I have read some other posts about FTTF mentioning that they go on "after" the Platinum and Diamond guests, so I am wondering if the chaos I am encountering has more to do with our arrival time or something? We have always tried to get to the port around 11-11:30 as we have always been under the impression that boarding doesn't start until this time or later. I am thinking now if we want to be in that first group we need to arrive earlier.. then it will just be Platinum members etc?

Old timers at this and we are used to the days when they wouldn't even let you start boarding the ship until like almost 1pm.

I'm not sure where you have sailed from to have had that experience, we have sailed as Platinum on Pride out of Baltimore and multiple times on Victory out of Miami. In Miami, FTTF has their own check-in set up alongside regular check-in and Platinum has a separate lounge.

Plus, FREE laundry, and the card actually is prettier. :D

I think there is chocolate delight delivered to your stateroom on one day, as well as a Carnival Logo Gift on each sailing (YMMV with those).

And of course the VIFP party.

We're platinum. Like to get on early too but I know the ship isn't leaving without us. I pack extra patience, give most the benefit of the doubt, things happen. Just breathe all will be okay![emoji41]

The little other perks are nice.. but that insanity of check in drives me crazy!!! LOL. That was the #1 reason we wanted to achieve Platinum status.. they can keep the chocolate.

VIFP party question though... I believe I may be behind the times here as an old timer. We haven't bothered to try to attend one of these "Parties" for quite some time now as the few times we did go including last time (now this is a few years back), it basically felt like 1/2 the ship was there. They were held in the main show lounge and it was full to the rim.... waiters walked around with drinks and plates of treats, but you were lucky to snag anything at all with so many people there. You got to shake the captains hand and others as you went in...I just read something now though that this may have changed? So basically you just sat there in the big show lounge and maybe got a drink or one stuffed mushroom if you were lucky. Nothing else happened.

its all little things, but IMO they all add up to a smoother nicer cruise.

- Laundry Is probably the BEST perk I think

- Guaranteed requested Dining times

- Your stateroom is ready when boarding

- Priority Tendering

- I was also told (off the record) by a PVP that if you book a GTY room you will be placed at the highest available opening at the time of final payment cut off. (IE: once final payment cut-off passes, the Platinum & Diamond QTY bookings get placed first. So you have a better chance at a higher cabin over other GTY bookings)

----- also anyone linked to your booking will more likely be placed on the same floor at least as you.

- Buy one GET ONE FREE Casino Tournament entries

- a matching PRETTY pin to go with your card.. LOL

I always thought FTTF just got you on the ship faster and that was it? To me this is a complete gamble of timing... and most people spending it just throw away their money. Depending on the port, if you get there at the right time, you could simply walk right on. My first cruise was the ONLY cruise I have ever had to sit and wait to board.

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?

Some ports seem to do a better job with priority embarkation than others. Sometimes I'm crammed into a way too small holding area with standing room only after checking in and before boarding, and other times I'm directed to sit in the same general boarding area as everyone else. I agree it doesn't feel much like a perk. When I did my milestone 25th cruise and got a white card, I was directed to a certain area to wait to embark, and then was apologized to when I finally did get to embark because they had seated me in the wrong area for priority embarkation. That so-called one time milestone was just another cruise in my opinion. I did not even get so much as a thank you for number 25. There was no recognition to that whatsoever. I don't use the laundry because it is wash and fold and I'm very particular about my laundry. I do not like the chocolate delight. And the past couple of platinum gifts were the toiletry bags which I have never used.

Platinum isn't much of a benefit on Carnival. But it is what it is. If it is perks you are after, Carnival is not the cruise line for you. Cruise lines with perks cost more. It is like booking a suite on Carnival. That doesn't come with much in way of perks either. My last cruise was on HAL and it was only my second cruise on HAL. I ended up with a free upgrade from inside to oceanview on HAL, and then an additional offer to upgrade to a spa balcony for a very small charge which I jumped on. I got treated way better on cruise number 2 with HAL than I have ever been treated on Carnival with 26 cruises sailed.

As a platinum cruiser, you do not have to pay for priority embarkation/tenders etc. FTTF people DO have to pay for that.

Almost every "perk" can be purchased. Anyone on the ship can get laundry- you get some done free. Anyone on the ship can purchase canapes or chocolate covered strawberries. Anyone on the ship can buy a bottle of water, entry to the blackjack tournament, game tokens, etc. The benefit to being platinum is Carnival is giving you some of these things without you paying for them.

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.

We're fairly new to cruising, we have been on 3 and have our fourth booked for next year. We purchased FTTF for every single cruise. I thought the benefits that they GIVE you were so valuable that I paid $60 for just a few of them... AND with the understanding that we go behind you. On all three cruises we boarded right after platinum and diamond. You may have come in when boarding already started. On our first cruise we were on the boat, dropped off our luggage, and we were having lunch by 11:00am. That reminds me... I believe that you having your cabin ready when you board is something that happened as a result of FTTF. Truth be told, that's actually the benefit that I most wanted in purchasing it. So to add up all the benefits, you get a package of VIP treatment valued at $60 - extra, extra VIP treatment because you go before the VIP purchasers, some kind of chocolates in your room, a party with free alcohol and snacks, a gift in your room, free laundry, a pin, free water, a complimentary drink coupon, priority reservations for spa and dining, plus a whole bunch of one time treats such as free steakhouse meal.

We're just turning gold on this next cruise. I'll continue to sail on Carnival as long as it is a good value and a fun use of our vacation dollars. I hope that someday I turn platinum and can get all those perks - but if not, I'll sure have fun on each of the 75 days!

Hope the list helped put it all into perspective. Sometimes we just need a little reminder of how lucky we are! http://boards.cruisecritic.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Ok, again... I am missing the boat.. That is twice someone has said "free water." Where and when is this? I have never known that we get free water and have always pre-purchased bottled water prior to cruising (so glad they lowered the price!).

The one or two times I did take the big bottle of water in the room I was charged for it.

What the???????

Don't get too excited. You get a single bottle of water in your stateroom for free. It is a fairly new change. (That is now the sole benefit of being a Red cruiser. Gold also gets a hard to use free drink coupon the final night and a pin. Platinum is the first level that really gets anything worthwhile.)

http://www.carnival.com/loyalty/benefits.aspx

Don't get too excited. You get a single bottle of water in your stateroom for free. It is a fairly new change. (That is now the sole benefit of being a Red cruiser. Gold also gets a hard to use free drink coupon the final night and a pin. Platinum is the first level that really gets anything worthwhile.)

 

http://www.carnival.com/loyalty/benefits.aspx

single bottle per person in the cabin, and it is a 1-liter bottle.

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?

Methinks you are, indeed, missing the boat with an inadequate understanding of how to be sure you are getting the Platinum benefits you have earned (and understanding what they consist of).

The majority of your consternation seems to be around the similarity of FTTF benefits which can be purchased versus the Platinum benefits which are earned. The same old broken record. Trying to argue that the VIP line is as long as the general boarding lines because of FTTF is stretching it rather thin.

It has been my experience that general boarding follows FTTF which follows P&D. I have not had the experience of witnessing a boarding where P&D did not go first - ahead of everyone else. Upon arriving after the commencement of boarding (and the P&D's have already boarded) I have always been escorted to the head of whatever line was formed and processed through.

That leaves Guest Services. Always a dedicated line for P&D and FTTF (with no one ever in it).

I gather that it is as you suspect - you're standing in the wrong lines.

single bottle per person in the cabin, and it is a 1-liter bottle.

Is it everyone in the cabin? Or is it just for the people who are at the VIFP level that gets the benefit? (So if I'm a Gold, and I cruise with a newbie- do they get the perk as well? If so, that surprises me. It isn't listed as a "everyone in the cabin" perk. Not that it matters.)

Is it everyone in the cabin? Or is it just for the people who are at the VIFP level that gets the benefit? (So if I'm a Gold, and I cruise with a newbie- do they get the perk as well? If so, that surprises me. It isn't listed as a "everyone in the cabin" perk. Not that it matters.)

you are probably correct. I cruise with my wife and we have the same # of days, so we are both them same level :) Sorry for the confusion.

Platinum has some nice benefits, especially the laundry as we only take one suitcase for the two of us.

yeah, between the free laundry and also not having to buy FTTF but getting the perks, looking forward to Platinum this winter. It will also be interesting to see how the VIFP party changes since there should be MUCH less attendance than before.

yeah, between the free laundry and also not having to buy FTTF but getting the perks, looking forward to Platinum this winter. It will also be interesting to see how the VIFP party changes since there should be MUCH less attendance than before.

Less people at the party means more drinks for you Steve:):)

yep... and you know the LUSH that I am!!! :P

yep... and you know the LUSH that I am!!! :P

just have to make sure I stand at least 10 ft away in Feb so I have a shot at getting one:):)

if you stand closer, I will make sure I get you one too :)