Platinum Tendering - The Return Trip

[golfadj]

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.

 

Let me tell you why I think you are wrong.

 

I have used this three times once HMC, once Belize and once Grand Cayman.

 

Each time went up to the Carnival security guy at the pier showed him our card and he told us where to wait.

 

Also when we leave ship we walk down to the gangway show our card to the people running debarkation and they put us on the tender. Never have had a problem doing this, never anybody being controntational about this either.

[DrLookGood]

Let me tell you why I think you are wrong.

 

I have used this three times once HMC, once Belize and once Grand Cayman.

 

Each time went up to the Carnival security guy at the pier showed him our card and he told us where to wait.

 

Also when we leave ship we walk down to the gangway show our card to the people running debarkation and they put us on the tender. Never have had a problem doing this, never anybody being controntational about this either.

 

I guess we can agree to disagree :).

 

Also, please don't take an offense, but looking at your avatar, it could have been that a combination of platinum card and platinum hair was responsible for you being put on the tender out of your turn without any problem. I was raised to respect older people, so quite frankly I don't think I would have raised an issue with your boarding out of order even if I felt that this is not the perk you are entitled to. Depending on the conditions (length of line, air temperature, etc) I might raise an issue with younger people cutting the line.

[golfadj]

I guess we can agree to disagree :).

 

Also, please don't take an offense, but looking at your avatar, it could have been that a combination of platinum card and platinum hair was responsible for you being put on the tender out of your turn without any problem. I was raised to respect older people, so quite frankly I don't think I would have raised an issue with your boarding out of order even if I felt that this is not the perk you are entitled to. Depending on the conditions (length of line, air temperature, etc) I might raise an issue with younger people cutting the line.

 

No problem with us having a respectful confersation.

[iTouch]

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

 

LOL well I am kinda sure that nobody at the front of the line even knows or cares who John is.....

[iTouch]

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.

 

John Heald does not make the policies.......John shouldn't say stuff like this unless it is confirmed in print and made clear company wide to all employees........which obviously is not......

[Sargent_Schultz]

Carnival Spirit sometimes has Platinum tender boarding. I know for a fact in Alaska they did in Sitka on our cruise. On the ship they gave us tickets to tender back and said to just go to the head of the line.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NCTribeFan]

Sheesh, people. Chill!

 

As has been pointed out by several, I think it depends on where you are and who you ask.

 

At MOST ports, it is NOT Carnival staff you are manning the tender lines. They are port employees and they absolutely couldn't care less what color your boarding card might be.

 

I asked this question about return tender before I took my solo Fantasy cruise in May 2010 that called at HMC. In that case, it IS Carnival employees running things. And also, in that case, I was making my fourth visit to HMC and only booked that cruise so I could return there.

 

It's crazy to have to pack up your stuff and stand in the hot sun in line for a LONG LONG time to tender back to the ship when you have VIP privileges.

 

I believe Host Mach even asked John at that time about getting priority RETURN tenders for VIP and the answer was that it was not available. Later, it seems Carnival decided that this could be done, at least at HMC.

 

Well, I booked a last minute cruise on 11/26, again just to get to go to HMC (and because it was an astounding $209 pp for an OV), so I guess I'll find out in a few weeks.

 

You know, I really don't think my Platinum perks are a big deal, but the more people gripe about our sense of entitlement, the more I'm going to shove my Platinum card down their throats. Not my fault you're suffering from Platinum Envy, is it? :p

[golfadj]

John Heald does not make the policies.......John shouldn't say stuff like this unless it is confirmed in print and made clear company wide to all employees........which obviously is not......

 

1. John did say it in writing and no reason not to believe him.

2. I have asked security guards in all 3 ports where we have taken advantage of this and never a problem.

3. Nobody on line has ever said a thing to us about this. No confrontations at all.

4. If anyone confronted us about it I would point him/her to security guard and let them hash it out with them while we are sitting on the tender.

 

I do not make the rules but when we are told that a platinum benefit is available to us we will, if it suits our convenience take advantage of it. Anyone who would get physical with us would be very sorry.

[rlkubi]

DFW, what's with the attitude? I am also Platinum. I am not rich and haughty but if that is a perk of Platinum I would take it! Has nothing to do with class warfare - only that it is a perk of going on 10+ cruises.

 

I have not tried to do it back on the ship but believe me would definitely do it if I could! I love the priority tendering off the ship and yes you do get a lot of dirty looks.:rolleyes:

[NCTribeFan]

Once again - I'm not interested in the opinions of those suffering from Platinum Envy.

 

I'd like to hear from anyone who has RECENTLY stopped at Half Moon Cay.

 

As I noted, I think this is entirely different from other ports because it involves ONLY Carnival personnel - so there's absolutely NO reason why priority tender on the return should be a problem.

 

And if Host Mach is around, perhaps if we can't get a concensus opinion here (and how often does that ever happen :p ), perhaps he can ask Mr. Heald specifically about HMC, as he did prior to my last trip there.

[NCTribeFan]

I don't follow Mr. Heald's blog (I don't care for him, personally - thinks he's way more funny that I think he is - reminds me to much of my ex's father (also English)...

 

but I just posed this question re: HMC on his blog. If any of you do follow it and he responds, please post it here.

 

Thanks.

[babyblue78]

I would imagine that platinum tendering would not be a problem at HMC. While we are not platinum, on our last cruise we were booked in the "Private Oasis" cabana. As part of the perk, we were escorted to the front of the tender by the Carnival staff. So, I'll bet that they extend the benefit to other VIP guests as well.

[golfadj]

I don't follow Mr. Heald's blog (I don't care for him, personally - thinks he's way more funny that I think he is - reminds me to much of my ex's father (also English)...

 

but I just posed this question re: HMC on his blog. If any of you do follow it and he responds, please post it here.

 

Thanks.

 

Happy to do so.

[Simplertimes]

I'm only going on my 2nd cruise soon, but I see no problem at all with Platinum getting perks, including tendering. I wish I had found cruising before we did so that I might be getting to that point!

 

We were in a buffet line where a woman who was VIP thought she could cut in front of everyone. A guy in line spoke up to her and she said "I'm VIP". He said, "I am too, but you have to wait in line for food just like everyone else!" She left in a huff and went to a different line, but her husband said he had been tryiing to tell her that, but she wouldn't listen to him! It didn't matter to me either way - I was on vacation and wasn't going to let a line cutter bother me!

[sparkscruiser]

From the Carnival site and it does not specify only leaving the ship - so I would assume it is for both directions....

 

Platinum Member Priority tender boarding

[golfadj]

I'm only going on my 2nd cruise soon, but I see no problem at all with Platinum getting perks, including tendering. I wish I had found cruising before we did so that I might be getting to that point!

 

We were in a buffet line where a woman who was VIP thought she could cut in front of everyone. A guy in line spoke up to her and she said "I'm VIP". He said, "I am too, but you have to wait in line for food just like everyone else!" She left in a huff and went to a different line, but her husband said he had been tryiing to tell her that, but she wouldn't listen to him! It didn't matter to me either way - I was on vacation and wasn't going to let a line cutter bother me!

 

As a platinum cruiser on Carnival cutting in line is just wrong.

[NCTribeFan]

It never occured to me to try the Priority Buffet Line! :p

[LHP]

This is yet another example of Carnival mastering the art of inconsistancy.

 

I have literally read in the Platinum letter on one ship that priority tendering is ONLY departing the ship....but none of the other ships letter's said "ONLY departing the ship".

 

But John Heald has posted multiple times that it is both ways....

 

AND in the description on the website....it only says "priority tendering".

 

Well to me that means BOTH ways.....because tendering is tendering.....

[LHP]

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: You are exactly right.

 

My husband flies every week. He buys a coach ticket and gets upgraded for free to FIRST CLASS almost every flight. Those in coach do not have any right feeling slighted because he gets to fly First Class.....he has spent the money with Delta to earn THAT PERK.

 

I get that same "attitude" when I use the Conceige Line at Guest Services.

 

If others are jealous of the perks...they should spend the money and become Platinum.

[golfadj]

Stu: You are exactly right.

 

My husband flies every week. He buys a coach ticket and gets upgraded for free to FIRST CLASS almost every flight. Those in coach do not have any right feeling slighted because he gets to fly First Class.....he has spent the money with Delta to earn THAT PERK.

 

I get that same "attitude" when I use the Conceige Line at Guest Services.

 

If others are jealous of the perks...they should spend the money and become Platinum.

 

Be careful that someone does not throw you into the ocean the next time you take advantage of the perk you have earned with Carnival.

[Kelownacruiser]

Here's the difference I see this compared to Airline frequent flyer status or hotel frequent stays. To get status on Carnival you need to take 10 cruises, so let's say for the average cruiser that would be 1 cruise a year = 10 years to make Platinum. Now, if you're older and have more vacation time or are retired, you may make this threshold in say 5 years. The difference comes in that you now have this Platinum perk for the rest of your life, every single time you cruise. Airline status is earned each year and is only good for one year after you've earned it. So if I decide that the perks of being an Elite member on Air Canada is worth it to me, I can achieve it in 1 year. Not so for Cruise Line status. Once earned, it's always yours and it takes a long time to earn it. Interestingly, the amount of money you need to spend to achieve status on a Cruise Line or an Airline is probably fairly close but one is for life, the other is for 1 year.

I think that that perks a great, and you should be recognized for loyalty, maybe upgrades, guaranteed dining times, departure lounge, special party, late check out etc, but I don't like the idea that someone can jump ahead of passengers when tendering, in either direction or priority embarkation/debarkation. This perk directly inconveniences me and the majority of the other passengers on the ship that have spent good money (just like you did) to take this cruise.

 

I say make the perks special to those that can earn it but not at the expense or inconvenience of the rest of the "Steerage" passengers.

[golfadj]

Here's the difference I see this compared to Airline frequent flyer status or hotel frequent stays. To get status on Carnival you need to take 10 cruises, so let's say for the average cruiser that would be 1 cruise a year = 10 years to make Platinum. Now, if you're older and have more vacation time or are retired, you may make this threshold in say 5 years. The difference comes in that you now have this Platinum perk for the rest of your life, every single time you cruise. Airline status is earned each year and is only good for one year after you've earned it. So if I decide that the perks of being an Elite member on Air Canada is worth it to me, I can achieve it in 1 year. Not so for Cruise Line status. Once earned, it's always yours and it takes a long time to earn it. Interestingly, the amount of money you need to spend to achieve status on a Cruise Line or an Airline is probably fairly close but one is for life, the other is for 1 year.

I think that that perks a great, and you should be recognized for loyalty, maybe upgrades, guaranteed dining times, departure lounge, special party, late check out etc, but I don't like the idea that someone can jump ahead of passengers when tendering, in either direction or priority embarkation/debarkation. This perk directly inconveniences me and the majority of the other passengers on the ship that have spent good money (just like you did) to take this cruise.

 

I say make the perks special to those that can earn it but not at the expense or inconvenience of the rest of the "Steerage" passengers.

 

Sorry that it bothers you that we get priority tendering but Carnival makes the rules for its platinum guests and we are just following them.

[MszKitty]

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.

 

But on the other hand, we were denied priority in Cabo. And we asked politely too. To top it off, I wasn't feeling well (no, not from drinking...lol...just a combination of heat and some sea sickness from the catamaran/snorkel trip we took.) Priority tendering would have been wonderful that day.

[golfadj]

Does it occur to the people who are annoyed at the perks that platinum passengers get is this is how Carnival keeps us coming back.

 

We cruise usually 3x per year and for the past 5 years all with Carnival. All things being equal we keep coming back as we like the perks.

[Kelownacruiser]

Sorry that it bothers you that we get priority tendering but Carnival makes the rules for its platinum guests and we are just following them.

 

I agree that you're just following the rules, I would too if I was in your position, I'm just commenting that I think some of those rules are ones I don't agree with. I do agree that you should get some perks for being a loyal customer. You should get some things that I don't. I just don't think one of those perks should be something that actually adversely affects a lot of other paying customers.

 

I'm not begrudging you the perk if Carnival says you should get it, but don't expect me to to watch you get to the front of the line with a smile on my face.