Platinum Members and New Liquor Policy

[zeppekitty]

What's a "milestone member"?

[DebJ14]

What's a "milestone member"?

 

25 cruises or more

[framerman]

Does anyone know if Platinum status Carnival Cruisers get a 'pass' on liquor purchased in port and it is still delivered to our cabin the night before debarkation as opposed to us having to pick it up on debarkation morning?

Why would we be any different?

[DanBoy]

Whoa........show me the thread......please please please:p

 

It is called "perks" and considering platinum do ge the perk of getting off the ship first......it would only make sense...

 

Now that actually makes perfect sense

[NavarreCruiser]

Well we are platinum and I have to say I have not seen any of the instances you brought up. Infact every cruise I go on I get to see the list of how many platinum members are on board (casino list that I have to sign for the slot tournament) and the most I have seen on any of our cruises was about 15. That was the most. And that includes 4 in our group. That is not very many on a ship of over 3,000. But I have to say I have seen many more fools onboard:p

 

 

We also cruise with Carnival frequently and sign up for the free slot tournament entry. We tend to cruise in the "off" seasons when costs are lower. Our experience has shown this to be true of many veteran cruisers. We have often seen 60 or more platinum/ milestone cruisers on the casino list.

 

By the way, do not ask at guest relations how many platinum/milestone cruisers are on the ship if you want an accurate total. I have done this more than once and was given numbers totally unrelated to the number of names on the casino list. They just gave me a number apparently thinking I had no way to check.

[misstopgun]

Not too long ago, there was a trip report with someone saying they witnessed a guest going off on a Carnival employee because the retractable roof was over the lido deck pool and they demanded that the roof be pulled back and they had to do it because they were platinum guests. (I would search for the thread but the search feature is currently disabled.) Not commanding the ship, but close. And we all have seen the trip reports with people who witness buffet line cutters and when confronted, they say "I can, I am platinum".

 

I can understand where you are coming from. However, especially at these ports where you debark at 7AM, how it is fair that one set of guests can get their goods the night before while the other have to wait until the morning of? What if they wanted to pack it in their luggage and they do not do a self-assist debark? The Carnival response is "you are not platinum, sorry about your luck"? That would not make me want keep cruising with them and eventually obtain my own platinum status.

 

I do not mean to start issues or a platinum/non-platinum war, and I have absolutely no problems with any of the Carnival perks as advertised on the website, but it just seems like every time Carnival enacts a new policy or procedure, the first response here tends to be "but we are platinum, so that should not apply to us".

Anyone making demands about anything not listed in the platinum perks are just rude people. Same goes for people cutting in line. That is not a perk. It would be my guess those people were rude before they became platinum.

 

I do take advantage of the free wash and fold. I paid for laundry service my first nine cruises so they still owe me a few. I still pay for my ironing.

 

I also use the free entry into the blackjack tournament. I paid my entry the first nine cruises. Funny thing is, I have never won it with the free entry but did when I paid.

 

I take advantage of VIP check in. My husband has mobility problems and before we became platinum we paid to join what was once the Carnival Vacation Club so that we could get him on the ship without much issue. I am glad we no longer have to pay for that privilage.

 

We have priority deparkation in ports but the only time we use that privilage is when we have to tender in. We spent our first nine cruises not being able to take independent tours because we couldn't be sure of getting off the ship on time. Because we have been to these ports multiple times it is nice to have more options.

 

As far as the liquor policy goes, I think it was a poor decision on Carnival's part. If I purchased liquor and could not pack it the night before when I put out my bags, the savings would not be worthwhile. I hope this is a test and they are losing liquor sales because of it and they will change it back. I don't buy liquor to take home anymore because we fly to any port. After 9/11 you can no longer take it on the plane and liquor in luggage is heavy. If you pay baggage fees for over weight or extra bags you have lost any savings.

 

So don't hate all platinum members. Just remember most are not out to abuse their privilages. And remember, when we become milestone and you are platinum, we don't get anything better than you except 25% off of one cruise. Then nothing else until we hit 50.

[deadmoney]

.........." It would be my guess those people were rude before they became platinum."

 

Yep, that would be my guess also.

 

On another note, do you think we could get carnival to change it to 5 cruises instead of 10:D

My fifth cruise is coming up on 5/8;)

[misstopgun]

.........." It would be my guess those people were rude before they became platinum."

 

Yep, that would be my guess also.

 

On another note, do you think we could get carnival to change it to 5 cruises instead of 10:D

My fifth cruise is coming up on 5/8;)

hmmm..maybe I could contact them and tell them I am platinum and I demand they change their policy. Do you think that would work? lol

[golfadj]

.........." It would be my guess those people were rude before they became platinum."

 

Yep, that would be my guess also.

 

On another note, do you think we could get carnival to change it to 5 cruises instead of 10:D

My fifth cruise is coming up on 5/8;)

 

Sure

And I have a bridge for sale only slightly used.

[Georgiagolfer]

And the debate continues, Platinum vs. Steerage. DW and I are Platinum but we sail with CCL because we like the product, not for the "perks." In fact we only care about 3 of these each cruise:

1. Free entry to blackjack (me) and slots (DW) tournament

2. VIP boarding

3. Free wash and fold laundry

[Reva_Dearchi]

And the debate continues, Platinum vs. Steerage. DW and I are Platinum but we sail with CCL because we like the product, not for the "perks." In fact we only care about 3 of these each cruise:

1. Free entry to blackjack (me) and slots (DW) tournament

2. VIP boarding

3. Free wash and fold laundry

 

 

Hey I'll take these 3 plus the liquor delivery!

[pnjkeith]

What is next, platinum guests have their own swimming pool on the ship? The right to remove a non-platinum guest from a casino table if there are no available seats and a platinum guest wants to play?

 

I understand the concept of the platinum membership, and I have no complaints with the original benefits offered. You know, the ones actually listed on the Carnival website. But now, more and more, we are seeing special exceptions are being made to every policy or procedure (as silly as some are) for platinum guests.

 

And you wonder why some people believe that platinum benefits include allowing them to command the ship and cutting the line at the lido deck buffet.

 

Is that why I get dirty looks when I flash Platinum Card and go to the front? :D:D

[gsm1cox]

.........." It would be my guess those people were rude before they became platinum."

 

Yep, that would be my guess also.

 

On another note, do you think we could get carnival to change it to 5 cruises instead of 10:D

My fifth cruise is coming up on 5/8;)

 

I agree, but the few ruin it for the many great platinum members out there. Anyone out there who is given a benifit for what ever reason will take it. As long as the benifit is out there for all and it does not hurt anyone then it is ok for a CCL to offer it.

[jessemon]

As a Platinum guest I'd love to be able to do that... On a serious note you have to be joking right? The Platinum program with its current benefits is almost laughable

No, it is laughable.....

 

I really want to see when CCL finally unveils the long await revamp of the program with added benefits

 

String us along John (Heald) will continue to tell us it will happen...No date on that though....lol....

[golfadj]

As a Platinum guest I'd love to be able to do that... On a serious note you have to be joking right? The Platinum program with its current benefits is almost laughable

 

No, it is laughable.....

 

I really want to see when CCL finally unveils the long await revamp of the program with added benefits

 

String us along John (Heald) will continue to tell us it will happen...No date on that though....lol....

 

Even John is now saying he will not predict new platinum benefit program. We do like the benefits we are getting though.