Platinum Tendering - The Return Trip

[Onetrufan]

Leaving on the Dream Western Carib next week and would like to know if there is priority boarding for Platinums on the return trip to the ship or is it hit or miss depending upon the port. Thanks.

[SANDYJABS]

I asked the CCL Man at the front of the tender line in Belize (I do not think he is an employee on the ship but rather hired by CCL to work the tender lines and lives in Belize) He was very rude to me, I cant remember exactly what he said but he was very nasty but basically he said No you go on just like everyone else waving me away with his arms like get the heck out of here :( - This was my first experience with tendering as Platinum so I really was just asking because honestly I did not know - I felt like taking his name and reporting how rude he was but didnt. So if its Belize I would say no on the return tender. Maybe other ports are different.

[dbrucern]

There is no priority tendering back to the ship only getting off and even then it is hit and miss, we have had those with early scheduled excursions get off first.

[okgirl]

No, you don't get priority tendering back to the ship. Those dock workers couldn't care less about our Platinum status.

 

I'm not one to even use the service leaving the ship. I'm never in that much of a hurry to leave, so I just wait until the crush has died down and go at my leisure......frankly I don't like to tender, so lately I haven't even been getting off the ship in tender ports.

 

It would be nice when docked at a pier if they added a separate Platinum line to reboard the ship. It could be through the crew entrance or something like that. It wouldn't cost them a thing since they have the same security setup at both entrances.

[firefly333]

I know some platinums, if they are pushy and act like its their right .. they have sailed on ahead saying out loud .. IM VIP .. and no one stopped them from cutting the line at the front... works.

 

There does seem to be some confusion if platinum are supposed to get this or not.. I dont wait until the last minute, so the lines are not so long it makes any difference to me, so I just wait.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Only one way, From the ship.

[LHP]

No, you don't get priority tendering back to the ship. Those dock workers couldn't care less about our Platinum status.

 

I'm not one to even use the service leaving the ship. I'm never in that much of a hurry to leave, so I just wait until the crush has died down and go at my leisure......frankly I don't like to tender, so lately I haven't even been getting off the ship in tender ports.

 

It would be nice when docked at a pier if they added a separate Platinum line to reboard the ship. It could be through the crew entrance or something like that. It wouldn't cost them a thing since they have the same security setup at both entrances.

 

Good point....

[boaterette]

I know in Cabo we have used it to get back on the ship. John Heald in one of his blogs has stated that it does work both ways. And by the way we asked politely. Not everyone is pushy.

[Elaine515]

Leaving on the Dream Western Carib next week and would like to know if there is priority boarding for Platinums on the return trip to the ship or is it hit or miss depending upon the port. Thanks.

 

 

 

 

Although John has said that it works both ways, that is not always the case. When leaving HMC this past August, my parents (Milestone) and a couple of other relatives (some Platinum, some not) went right to the front of the line with no problem at all....

 

When my husband, myself, my 17 yr old daughter (all Platinum) and daughters boyfriend went to the front of the line we were told no....

 

More of the "the right hand doesn't always know what the left hand is doing" :(

[cb at sea]

You get on the next tender when you get to the dock...no one has priority...just get in line, and board! Tenders run about every 15-20 mins back and forth.

[iTouch]

No and you they don't need one. Who's in a hurry to get back on board:confused: If there is a line then grab a cold beverage and pull up a seat and enjoy until the line is gone.........nobody has to stand in line.......

[gumballz]

We asked in Cozumel last year and were told no. We waited in the extremely long line, no problem. Life is good. But, as we got to the front of the line, a member of security pushed a woman in front of us. I asked what was going on and she told me "I have to pee". Bodily functions rule over Platinum status in Coz, I guess. ;)

 

(I guess I should make a point of saying that I KNOW this is not a tender port....I was inquiring because of a thread I had seen on Cruise Critic before we left)

[evandbob]

And when I got thru the security checkpoint my last time in Belize I just walked on board the tender in front of those waiting rather than go to the back of the line. I had my platinum card out already, was polite, and got a decent seat for the return to the ship, no problem, I'm a NYer, we're used to getting along with people.

[Rosefloater]

It is hit or miss. One time coming back to the ship from Catalina Island (Paradise cruise), a security person saw my platinum s&s card and waived us up to the front of the line. A few months later, I asked a security guard if platinum card holders could go to the front of the line and was told 'no'.

 

I would ask the security personnel at the front of the line.

[golfadj]

We have been in two situations where we were entitled to platinum tendering back to the ship and both times had no problem getting it.

[SadieN]

It is hit or miss. One time coming back to the ship from Catalina Island (Paradise cruise), a security person saw my platinum s&s card and waived us up to the front of the line.

 

It really helped us that cruise. There were all of 15 people in line at the time.:p Saved us all of 1 minute.

[pjtulsa]

If Carnival is going to say that it is a benefit both directions there needs to be a sign to clarify to all the non platinums that may have an attitude... I think that it is a small reward for the number of cruises we have taken,.

[iTouch]

Since platinum tendering both ways is a benefit offered by CCL why should I not take advantage of it since we are platinum?

 

 

It's not offered both ways.....if you got a return priority than you were lucky.....

[iTouch]

If Carnival is going to say that it is a benefit both directions there needs to be a sign to clarify to all the non platinums that may have an attitude... I think that it is a small reward for the number of cruises we have taken,.

 

Platinum is only priority tender off the ship.......

[Tapi]

We just returned from the Dream. There was no priority tendering going back to the ship in Belize. The person checking ID's was a Carnival security guard (had the ID and the shirt at least). We asked him and flat out he said that there's no return priority tendering, so we stood in the back of the line which wrapped around the building on three sides. Fortunately, the tenders in Belize are big so the line moved quickly

[firefly333]

Although John has said that it works both ways, that is not always the case. When leaving HMC this past August, my parents (Milestone) and a couple of other relatives (some Platinum, some not) went right to the front of the line with no problem at all....

 

When my husband, myself, my 17 yr old daughter (all Platinum) and daughters boyfriend went to the front of the line we were told no....

 

More of the "the right hand doesn't always know what the left hand is doing" :(

 

You would think John would know if its a policy or not.

 

seems to be one of those gray areas. Luckily for me its never been a issue. The lines have been so short, I wouldnt have cared either way.

[gazingm42]

Depends on the port. What it depends if the crew is Carnival itself or a local

port employee.

 

In most cases its just a own way priority.

[golfadj]

It's not offered both ways.....if you got a return priority than you were lucky.....

 

When John Heald says it is a platinum benefit that is good enough for me.

[golfadj]

Probably just the reason not many folks have had any luck using it coming back. :rolleyes:

 

At least leaving the ship you are escorted by a guest services officer while you get all the dirty looks and nasty comments.

 

We just hold up our card and walk right to the tendering boat and never had a problem

 

Amazed over the hostility over this .

[DrLookGood]

I will try one more time and than give up with you.

 

John Heald has said that platinum cruisers are supposed to get priority tendering back to the ship. I take what he says as Carnival policy, Why do you refuse to accept this?

 

When platinum cruisers want to do this you accuse them of thinking they are better than anyone else? I and any other platinum cruiser are just taking advantage of a perk being offered by Carnival to their frequent customers. They set the rules and I am following what they set.

 

Nothing more nothing less.

 

Stu,

 

I don't want to get confrontational, but John Heald was incorrect. Platinums only get priority tender when getting off the ship, not the other way around. If you call Carnival, they will tell you this much.

 

Also, logically speaking if you were correct, there would have been a separate VIP marked line on each tender from port, but there is not and for a good reason - it is not a perk for platinum.