Priority rooms ready at 130 today....

Well, I guess the port people knew what to say after all....

Interestingly, the Platinum perks do not show priority rooms ready on the VIFP site. However, on the FTTF perks it IS listed.

I have been Platinum for 10 years and have always gotten my room immediately upon arrival. And that is usually before 12. I will be quite upset if they take away another of my perks (yes, they took away FREE entrance to Casino tournaments and other perks). I actually won $500 from the free entrance once....the next cruise that perk was GONE....it is now "buy one, get one."

 

 

General Information

• Staterooms are available at 1:30 PM.
  
• Lunch is served on Lido deck until 3:00 PM.
  
• Checked luggage service is only available until 2 hours before the ship's published departure time. Guests arriving after this time will be responsible for taking their bags on board.
  
• Guests are not allowed to bring bottled beverages, (e.g., liquor, water, sodas and other non-alcoholic drinks) on board. Please review our beverage policy before you board.
  
• Guests (21 and older) may bring one 750 ml bottle of sealed/unopened wine or champagne, per person, in their carry-on luggage only..

I highlighted the "General Information" because that is just what it is... info for the the general public, ie all passengers....

BUT Plat/Diamond and FTTF are not general public passengers and specific perks come that are not available to the general public....

Well, I guess the port people knew what to say after all....

Exactly. The port people are not the problem. Carnival is telling them to say 1:30.

Exactly. The port people are not the problem. Carnival is telling them to say 1:30.

Yes! And this is a change, and the reason for my curiosity as to why?

Amazing this topic has 9 lives......

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Was on the Vista in early September and could not access our room until 1:30 even though we had selected early boarding and are platinum cardholders.

Was on the Vista in early September and could not access our room until 1:30 even though we had selected early boarding and are platinum cardholders.

We were told that this past April. so we walked to the door, pulled it open, and walked to our room. Room steward greeted us, and introduced himself. We asked if it was Ok to be there, he said, "oh yes. Sure, sure!" All we needed to know. Dropped our stuff, and went back up on deck. Don't ask. You're allowed to, and you know it. So just do it, already. No need to beat this dead horse any deader!

On the 9/15 Sensation our cabin was ready when we boarded around noon (I'm Platinum), none of the others around ours had the envelopes out yet. There were very few D/P on board, only about 30 showed up for the D/P party, smallest turnout I've ever seen.

I tend to think it might depend on the ship, staff and planet alignment. We were on Splendor in April, no FTTF, priority, anything and our rooms were ready as soon as we got on the ship. Maybe it's different because you don't get your S&S card at check in, you get them at your room. I stopped sweating it ages ago. I bring a small bag with the essentials, always expecting I won't get stuff until late at night. :)

I’ve read thru this entire thread and am finding it all very interesting. I tend to agree that it sounds like they’re trying to institute a policy change albeit more slowly than what maybe they intended. I would think they would have to come up with other “perks” to replace it with for those customers who have loyally returned time and again though

We just started cruising about a year ago. I did some when I was young and single 30 years ago but stopped while raising a family and getting everyone through college. So we did a trip on the Fantasy out of Mobile last August and just did the Ecstacy out of Charleston this month. We were in a Grand Suite both times. At both ports we were told by the port workers that our cabin would be ready as soon as we boarded As far as I’ve read that wasn’t a perk listed for suites so it surprised me both times. Last August I just sort of didn’t think that much about it. This time if had more time to research the ins and outs of how cruising had changed and don’t remember reading that anywhere. They also put us in the priority debarkation area and sent us off the boat ahead of the FTTF folks. So I don’t know if it is port specific, a new policy rolling out slowly or what.

We’ll be sailing out of Tampa to Cuba next year The ship is the Paradise and I’ve booked a suite again. I’ll be following along here to see what transpires Thanks folks!

I’ve read thru this entire thread and am finding it all very interesting. I tend to agree that it sounds like they’re trying to institute a policy change albeit more slowly than what maybe they intended. I would think they would have to come up with other “perks” to replace it with for those customers who have loyally returned time and again though

 

We just started cruising about a year ago. I did some when I was young and single 30 years ago but stopped while raising a family and getting everyone through college. So we did a trip on the Fantasy out of Mobile last August and just did the Ecstacy out of Charleston this month. We were in a Grand Suite both times. At both ports we were told by the port workers that our cabin would be ready as soon as we boarded As far as I’ve read that wasn’t a perk listed for suites so it surprised me both times. Last August I just sort of didn’t think that much about it. This time if had more time to research the ins and outs of how cruising had changed and don’t remember reading that anywhere. They also put us in the priority debarkation area and sent us off the boat ahead of the FTTF folks. So I don’t know if it is port specific, a new policy rolling out slowly or what.

 

We’ll be sailing out of Tampa to Cuba next year The ship is the Paradise and I’ve booked a suite again. I’ll be following along here to see what transpires Thanks folks!

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I don't want to add to any confusion. I am on the Fantasy in January. I am in a suite. Early embarkation is the first perk under amenities:

• Priority check-in during embarkation
  
• Upgraded bathroom facilities
  
• 24-hour stateroom service
  
• Carnival Comfort Collection
  
• Bathrobes
  
• Refrigerator
  
• Telephone
  
• Television with A/V input plate
  
• Personal safe box
  
• Individual climate control
  
• 110 AC power outlet
  

Also on the description of the room: "As you step into a Junior Suite aboard Carnival Fantasy, you can’t help but feel that you’re stepping into luxury. With VIP check-in, more indoor space for stretching out and an outdoor balcony made for fresh air and great views, try a Junior Suite for a private oasis away from home."

So perhaps I misunderstood? Does priority check in always mean you get to go to your room right away? I thought that it just meant you got on the ship quicker?

Thanks for all the replies

I apologize if I added to the confusion.

They are two different things.

1) Priority Boarding: A dedicated security and check-in lane has been set aside for all Priority guests on embarkation day.

2) Access to Staterooms: Your stateroom will be ready for you as soon as you board, so you can relax or freshen up for all the fun you are about to have.

Ok. So as you understand it immediate access to your stateroom is not a usual perk with suites? It just happened with me perhaps because as the earlier poster said maybe because of the class of ship? Or something else maybe

Anyway, I just looked and the Paradise is a Fantasy class too :). I’ll keep my fingers crossed. It was nice but I was prepared both times to have to wait awhile

I am not going to count on it being ready. Although, my TA and a rep at Carnival both said my cabin would be ready and accessible when I board. I ALWAYS check my bag and have an oversized "purse" that I carry on the plane/ship with my swimsuit, etc.

Ok. So as you understand it immediate access to your stateroom is not a usual perk with suites? It just happened with me perhaps because as the earlier poster said maybe because of the class of ship? Or something else maybe

 

Anyway, I just looked and the Paradise is a Fantasy class too :). I’ll keep my fingers crossed. It was nice but I was prepared both times to have to wait awhile

Suites do not have their cabins ready at embarkation if it’s before 1:30pm.

I think most people forget where this all came about. The perk of having your stateroom ready upon embarkation came about when FTTF rolled out. It is part of that program, but it was extended to Platinum and Diamond guests. In the beginning, not every ship offered FTTF, so it had been stated that ONLY if the ship had FTTF guests, could anybody go to their room prior to 1:30. This is why suite guests do not get this. Unless, of course, they are platinum, or diamond. Over time, it has morphed into a P & D perk, when in fact it is not. This is also why it is not listed on the perks for P & D guests.

Firemanbobswife, did you mean they don’t normally? That was the conclusion I had come to also with all my reading, but they WERE ready on the two cruises I’ve taken this year and last and I was told both times by the port personnel that they would be ready as soon as we got onto the ship. We boarded at 12n last August and at 11:30a on the trip this month. So I guess it was a fluke of some sort.

I’ll welcome it if it happens my next cruise and will be fine if it doesn’t

I had some friends that were on the same cruise/ship (Sunshine) earlier this year... we had a balcony, they had a Grand Suite. We are Plat and this was their first Carnival cruise. I asked them a day or so into the cruise about embarkation. They arrived after the ship was "cleared" so no waiting and were told their cabin was ready, about 12:30.

Firemanbobswife, did you mean they don’t normally? That was the conclusion I had come to also with all my reading, but they WERE ready on the two cruises I’ve taken this year and last and I was told both times by the port personnel that they would be ready as soon as we got onto the ship. We boarded at 12n last August and at 11:30a on the trip this month. So I guess it was a fluke of some sort.

 

I’ll welcome it if it happens my next cruise and will be fine if it doesn’t

Yes. It is not a perk. If they happened to be ready early, then it was more than likely do to coincidence. Now that the S&S cards are in the mailboxes on many ships, it should keep from people being able to access their suites early. It is not (nor has ever been) a perk of a suite. Like I said earlier in either this thread (or another) I believe the port employees are instructed to tell everyone that their cabins are ready at 1:30PM because they were telling anyone with "Priority" on their boarding pass that their cabins were ready when in fact the only "Priority" guests that had that perk were Diamond and Platinum. They were confusing Priority Boarding with First Access to cabin. FTTF had "FTTF" on them and did not say "Priority" for those that want to throw out that FTTF also has early cabin access. This I know.

Even the old signs on the fire doors never said anything about suites being able to go right in because they weren't supposed to. If you want that perk and aren't D/P you need FTTF.

I am Platinum and I never go right to my room. We always go to the atrium bar when we board the ship and I have never felt like I was losing out by not going to my cabin right away.

Our tradition is to start at the atrium bar and watch people board and have our first drink of many. we are never in a hurry to get to the food or our room.

Pat

Was on the Vista in early September and could not access our room until 1:30 even though we had selected early boarding and are platinum cardholders.

FYI, you didn't slect early boarding, you selected early check in. Big difference.

Pat

FYI, you didn't slect early boarding, you selected early check in. Big difference.

Pat

Since they are Platinum it doesn’t matter what boarding time they selected. Big difference in rules based on your VIPF level.