This old dog learned a new "Platinum" trick...

[DGP1111]

Just back from Liberty... tender to Cayman.

 

No Platinum tender back to the ship... and in fact, no priority tender to the island either.

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The text of the (supposedly) new Platinum letter was posted by John Heald on the August 5 entry of his blog. It made no mention whatsoever of any assistance during the return trip from a tendered port.

 

http://johnhealdsblog.com/2010/08/05/no-wonder-dracula-hates-it/

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[manmtnmike]

Just back from Liberty... tender to Cayman.

 

No Platinum tender back to the ship... and in fact, no priority tender to the island either.

 

I spoke with a friend I met onboard who was platinum & he had tried to go to the desk for the typical priority escort. The purser he spoke to there had to go ask if that was even a perk & then when he was told yes, the guest services lead told him to just go down & tell security. :rolleyes: ... we all know you dont even get to the point of seeing security until you're almost to the 'ding machine'.

 

I went later so didn't need it this time, but based on that report - they still have a long way to go in this area.

 

Same experience for us this July on Valor.

Mike

[KenMo]

Just back from Liberty... tender to Cayman.

 

No Platinum tender back to the ship... and in fact, no priority tender to the island either.

 

I spoke with a friend I met onboard who was platinum & he had tried to go to the desk for the typical priority escort. The purser he spoke to there had to go ask if that was even a perk & then when he was told yes, the guest services lead told him to just go down & tell security. :rolleyes: ... we all know you dont even get to the point of seeing security until you're almost to the 'ding machine'.

 

I went later so didn't need it this time, but based on that report - they still have a long way to go in this area.

 

I had the same problem on Liberty.

 

The woman at the Purser's Desk told me to just go down there to the front of the line myself. Yeah.....right!

 

Luckily one of the dancers, Alexandra, heard the conversation and escorted us down. She thanked us for returning to Carnival in spite of the customer service.

[LHP]

.

 

The text of the (supposedly) new Platinum letter was posted by John Heald on the August 5 entry of his blog. It made no mention whatsoever of any assistance during the return trip from a tendered port.

 

http://johnhealdsblog.com/2010/08/05/no-wonder-dracula-hates-it/

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.

 

 

John did not put that part in his letter....

 

but this perk is clearly stated in my original post on this thread that came straight from Corporate....not just John.

 

So yes, return to the ship is suppose to be included...but as with many things...consistancy and enforcement is an issue.

[LHP]

We won't have a tender post until November on the Liberty.....

 

usually we don't need to get off the ship early and we usually return at an odd time where there is no line...

 

BUT if there is a line and I need to use this perk...I will.

[CRZCRAZY]

John did put in his blog July 26th:

 

"I mentioned the Platinum experience earlier and wanted to go back to a question I answered some time ago about the tender priority our Platinum guests are allowed. It was mentioned that there was not a fleet wide directive on this which has now been rectified and I can confirm the following.

DEBARKATION BY TENDER

When you are ready Platinum card holders should go directly to the Guest Services Desk where a Guest Service Associate will arrange a staff member to escort you to the front of the tender ticket line or if a tender ticket system is not being used will take you to straight to the tender.

RETURN TO THE SHIP

Platinum card holders should go straight to the front of the line and show their cards to the security guards who will allow you on the tender."

[Julycruise09]

This is exactly what I was thinking of doing in August!

 

Can I jump on with you Donna??? Just for HMC of course!! I still have a few cruises before Platinum....See you in less than 2 weeks!!

[glrounds]

If there were only some way to confirm that those security guards knew about this... and sinage would be nice. It won't be fun to irk other pax who don't know! Guess I'll play it by ear next week in Cayman... and will be sure to report my experience here!

 

EXACTLY ! !

Not only should the security guards be INFORMED, but fellow passengers should know what's going on also. I'd rather stand in the sun than have everybody think I'm some kind of inconsiderate line-cutter. Just not worth it, then.

[DGP1111]

John did not put that part in his letter....

 

but this perk is clearly stated in my original post on this thread that came straight from Corporate....not just John.

 

So yes, return to the ship is suppose to be included...but as with many things...consistancy and enforcement is an issue.

 

Absolutely, Linda.

I was just surprised to see the omission after he'd discussed it in his earlier blog entries as well.

Guess I'll wait and see how it works (or doesn't) in HMC early next month.

<< hug to you and your family!! >>

[cruzn buckeye]

this is an old thread... but.... recently returned from a cruise to GC. My daughter had a sore back and my toe was nearly broken,(slammed on a lounger by the overcrowded pool)... anyway... had a private tour booked... checked with tour desk to see if priority tenders also applied to returning as daughter could not stand in an hour long line... he said yes, just find him, he will be there..... wrong.... he was not there, the line was at least an hour long, my daughters back was hurting... security said " no one gets in the front of the line, I told her we were platinum and was told by CCl that it would be okay, we only needed to find a CCL rep. She said " This is not Carnival, this is Grand Cayman, go to the back of the line". Well... lucky for us, the other security guard called us over and told us to go ahead. No CCL rep there... so no, this is not a perk coming back, at least not in GC.... just thought I would post it in case anyone having health issues that cannot wait in long lines plans on doing so.... good luck....

[Vanessa L]

I was disappointed to see that on John's blog only because I think he actually believes that it works that way. Unfortunately he is wrong at least in my experience.

I have on many occasions had Guest Services tell me that they don't provide escort service, that I should just barge my way to the front of the line. I've even had Carnival employee's down on deck 0 tell me that Platinum doesn't get you to the head of the line.

I've NEVER received return tender priority boarding. The onshore people couldn't care less about my Platinum status.

And everytime I've ever been embarking in Galveston or NOLA I've been told that Platinum doesn't start until you get into the terminal building.

In Galveston you don't get separated out to VIP until after you've cattled called all the way up to the top of the escalator and your funpass is checked, then yes you get to go into a VIP security line, but there isn't anyone there to "insert" you into the next available scanner.

It's even worse in NOLA, you're in the cattle call line until you go through security and get upstairs, then there are 15 agents checking in regular guests and no more than 2 agents checking in VIP.

Remember what a croc it was on the Bloggers cruise last year. One person checking in all those VIP people. It was the longest embarkation that I've ever experienced and I'm not going to cut Carnival any slack because they knew there were going to be a huge number of Platinum guests on that sailing.

At least on next years BC4 we'll be in PC which has the best VIP boarding of any port I've ever experienced.

John and the "beards" are to far removed from this situation. I don't know who ON SITE needs to ensure that these perks are enforced uniformily, but maybe they need to start satisfaction survey's for embarkation and debarkation to see where the problems really exist.

Maybe the CDs need to mention during their embarkation talks about the various VIP perks that are available to these passengers. It would inform the non-Platinum people of what's available to them some day, but it would also educate all of the guests that these are perks that we have earned so that they don't think that we're just rudely trying to bump in line.

The shoreside agents need to be held to certain standards of service to Carnivals most valued customers.

 

We saw the same thing getting on the Miracle last year. The VIP line was insanely long and we were on way ahead of many of those VIPS. Guess when I hit 10 I will simply peruse the lines and take the shorter one.

[Rosefloater]

checked with tour desk to see if priority tenders also applied to returning as daughter could not stand in an hour long line... he said yes, just find him, he will be there.....

 

This is very hit or miss with Platinum priority return tendering. In Feb, we got priority return tendering from Avalon to the Paradise. But in May when we asked about it, the person at the tender entrance said that there was no priority given to Platinum.

 

I don't care if this is a perk or not, but it would be nice if it was consistent one way or the other.

[luckycruzer]

Would it not be you "hear" a rumble coming?

kinda rumble ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,to niii-iii--ight !

[iluvdoxies]

Not that I've had any problems getting on to a tender from a port but this will be nice...

Can you imagine how tweaked the folks in line will be as the Platinum and above guests just wander up in front of the tender queue?

:rolleyes:

 

Worked for us at HMC about a month ago !

 

The line was wayyy long---and we just walked up to the front and asked security if we could go to the front after showing our milestone cards--they said "yes you can " you should have heard the remarks we got as we were walking by the people. Some were quite rude lol. Finally I guess John who had had enough and very rarely says anything, said after a guy yelled hey, there's a line here buddy and Johns says yes there is and we're going to the front of it ,flashing him his card.

 

I cant blame people for being snarky though, it was HOT, no shade and the back of the line was way back by the start of the paths to the beach. But it sure was nice to use that perk that day. I had read about it months ago on one of John's blogs.

[halos]

Can you imagine how tweaked the folks in line will be as the Platinum and above guests just wander up in front of the tender queue?

 

:rolleyes:

 

 

Yes...it's gonna be ugly. I will be platinum on my next CCL cruise. Although I will enjoy the perks, I hate the idea of being glared at while enjoying them....not that it will prevent me from doing so...

 

 

I don't care if this is a perk or not, but it would be nice if it was consistent one way or the other.

I agree.

Carnival does not equal consistancy unfortunately...it's one of their biggest problems, rules not enforced, perks...or no perks.....

I wish they'd get their act together.

[jetsfan]

I think that is great for guests who have been loyal to a company. We will have VIP status next year and I begrudge no one a perk they are entitled too! Enjoy!!

[quickrate]

We had a problem with priority tendering last Jan. on the Miracle altho when it got back to the CD, Malcolm Burns, he personally called me in our stateroom and we had a lengthy discussion about the inconsistency of Platinum perks and he apolagized for the problem and promised to rectify it on the Miracle. He basicly agreed that since perks for platinum were very important especially with the cutbacks we have all seen on Carnival, it was the CD's job on each ship to make sure those perks were being given. He also sent us chocolate covered strawberries with another apology. Will be going to Grand Cayman on the Legend in Oct. and will see what happens.

Pat

[halos]

We had a problem with priority tendering last Jan. on the Miracle altho when it got back to the CD, Malcolm Burns, he personally called me in our stateroom and we had a lengthy discussion about the inconsistency of Platinum perks and he apolagized for the problem and promised to rectify it on the Miracle. He basicly agreed that since perks for platinum were very important especially with the cutbacks we have all seen on Carnival, it was the CD's job on each ship to make sure those perks were being given. He also sent us chocolate covered strawberries with another apology. Will be going to Grand Cayman on the Legend in Oct. and will see what happens.

Pat

 

Hey, when there is an issue and someone lets you know they are going to try to rectify it, that's what's important.... :)

Now, let's hope they actually DO it.

[golfadj]

Platinum for last 6 to 8 cruises and we walk down the steps, show them our platinum card and get right on the tender.

 

Never saw the point of asking someone at guest services to stop what they are doing to take us down.

 

Now on a tender port we walk up to security guard and show him our card and hang out with him a few minutes and he puts us on the tender.

 

Worked for our last two cruises HMC and GC and no problem at all.

 

Rather a nice perk.

[vizzle]

Most platinum are octogenarians anyways. They should get something. At this rate. That is when I will join the platinum club. Ok so maybe your not all old. But really who cares. There probably aren't that many at one given time to make a huge line difference.

[Georgiagolfer]

Most platinum are octogenarians anyways. They should get something. At this rate. That is when I will join the platinum club. Ok so maybe your not all old. But really who cares. There probably aren't that many at one given time to make a huge line difference.

 

Now now vizzle. DW and I are Platinum and at age 63, we don't feel we have reached our prime (lol) yet. :cool:

[halos]

Most platinum are octogenarians anyways.

 

wrong cruise line ;)

[wwwaters]

oc·to·ge·nar·i·an noun \ˌäk-tə-jə-ˈner-ē-ən\

Definition of OCTOGENARIAN

: a person whose age is in the eighties

 

I would venture to say that most platinum guest do not fit innto this catagorey ?

 

Anyway , it is a nice perk.

[TheTravelista]

Most platinum are octogenarians anyways. They should get something. At this rate. That is when I will join the platinum club. Ok so maybe your not all old. But really who cares. There probably aren't that many at one given time to make a huge line difference.

 

I'm 25 and have been platinum for many years...thats considered an octogenarian these days? Learn something new every day :rolleyes:

[NINAVMD]

I dont mean to be personal, but I am just curious..

 

How do you and your husband have the funds/time/ etc, to travel that much?

 

Pleaes tell me what I am doing wrong!!

 

I want to cruise 3+ times a year too!!!!:D:D:D:D:D:D