Faster to the Fun program announced today

[LHP]

I'm not sure I understand your post... Are you saying that the new "Excursion" was sold on your current Sensation cruise and that the new program CAUSED you to be miss-categorized as Platinum rather than Diamond??? How did either of these cause your suitcase to be held in the Naughty room??? Sorry if I'm dense but I'm not understanding the connection here?????? :confused:

 

I believe Tom was referencing my comment that Carnival can not handle what they have now.

 

Carnival has a history of messing up toast....which is why the VIPs issues with this new program is NOT about what folks will get....it is the reality of Carnival's inability to deliver programs like this correctly.

 

During the Milestone program.... Carnival (at different ports) repeatedly could not find our cards because they were "different". BC3 for example....we boarded with a sticker.

 

And when we went to stand in line at Guest Services to get our Sail and Sign cards (yes there was even a line at VIP with 600 Platinums onboard)....they could not find the cards to print them on. So they asked us to come back in an hour.

 

So we were on the ship for an hour with no way to buy a DOD....(except for the kindness of Floatie who bought them for us).

 

An hour later we went BACK to stand in line again ..... and finally got our Sail and Sign cards.

 

And this is how they handle their most "valued" customers.

 

Again, this has happened to us MANY times at different ports.

 

All because the Milestone card was something out of the ordinary.

[LHP]

We recieved an e-mail from Carnival maybe about 3 or 4 months ago and did take part in the survey.

We have been Platinum for a few years now.

The way I understand this whole deal is, the Platinum and Diamond will board 1st. Then the cruisers who pay the $50. Then general boarding. This is all after the wedding parties as it has always been.

I believe there will now be three lines at the pursers desk. One for the VIP's, one for the cruisers who paid the $50 and one for the general public. The priority tendering will go to VIP's first then the cruisers who paid the $50.

This is the part that's fuzzy to me.....I believe that the VIP's will get Zone 1 for debarkation and the cruisers who paid the $50 will get zone 2. All others will be debaked as always.

 

 

That will be fine.... IF that is the way it is handled.

 

It has been confirmed that F2F will share the VIP lines before security...there will not be a 3rd line for that.

 

And I would be VERY surprised to see a 3rd line at Guest Services. (I just do not see where they would have the room)

 

It has also been stated that F2F dining priority will come AFTER all the Plat/Diamond requests (Early/Late changes) have been handled....

 

But again, we have already had VIPs told NO to that when it was a "guarantee" (us being one of them)....

 

VIP Self Assist Debarkation has always just been a crapshoot.

 

Personally, if Carnival was handling the commitments that they already have well.....you would not have heard a peep out of me.

 

All I have ever expected is for them to do it RIGHT.... sadly I have years of history that give me severe doubts.

[VolzCruiser]

Plus we get the two additional 'perks', getting into the room early would be nice, the luggage we have always had before dinner,

 

So this has been confirmed that Platinum members get these perks as well

[DGP1111]

When the VIFP details were initially leaked, and later (after multiple years of silence) finally announced, absoultely nothing I saw in print from Carnival used the word Perk.

Nothing.

 

The words I repeatedly saw being offered were Benefit, Reward, Recognition, and Loyalty.

 

The word Perk can often be interchanged with Advantage, Bonus, Gratuity, Gravy, Lagniappe, and Plus. (I've always loved the word Lagniappe, since my Louisiana days) :)

 

If anyone cares to give this a try . . . go back to a few of the posts on this thead (or others involving VIFP/FTTF) and use the word Reward in place of Perk, then see if it makes some of the comments sounds rather different.

 

I (personally) don't consider any of my insurance benefits as perks (and the same for future retirement and/or social security). Definitely not perks if I've worked for them, paid dearly for them, and deserve them.

 

No, absolutely not the exact same as benefits/rewards/perks regarding leisure vacations, but they can be compared.

 

_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____

 

 

When I see a really hight post count it seems like someone who cruises the iinternet a lot more then the ocean.

 

Your CC post count, in no way, shows how much cruising knowledge or how helpful you are.

 

It does show how much time you spend on the internet/CC.:D

 

I happen to fully disagree with the "in no way" broad-brush statement. There are numerous people here on these boards, who've been around for quite some time, and I'm very grateful they've got many numerous posts that I can use for my own research.

 

Also . . . you are currently spending more time posting on Cruise Critic than I am. I do think that my own post count does in several ways reflect on my knowlege of the cruise industry, so perhaps there are exceptions?

.

.

[Cruise4Music]

Also . . . you are currently spending more time posting on Cruise Critic than I am. I do think that my own post count does in several ways reflect on my knowlege of the cruise industry, so perhaps there are exceptions?.

 

Of course there are exceptions to everything.

 

Most hight volume posters are wonderful people with vast knowledge.

 

A very small number seem to take over thread after thread with just about the same old song.

 

I sure don't see how my 550 or so post in almost 2 years match up to you over 7,000 post.

 

But I will take your word for it.:D

[dclark]

Why even test the new program?

 

You already know the outcome.

 

Thanks for keeping an open mind.

 

It sounds better to call it a "test" rather than a roll out, it is a roll out. Improvements in service or to a ship are called roll outs, things that cost are money are "tests".

This is not something that requires "an open mind", it is fact, much like if you go swimming, you WILL get wet!

Open mind? I heard that thrown around when details about the changes to the loyalty program were leaked. Limits on laundry, removal of guaranteed dining.Yup, loyalists like yourself said "keep an open mind".

Guess what? It was as bad as most concluded.

When they moved the captains cocktail party to last day and changed the to "Fun Farewell",people like myself said this was step to get rid of it all together.Loyalists like yourself said "keep an open mind" it could better. Sorry, but making conclusions based on the obvious facts available doesn't make one closed minded, it makes one accurate.

They'll sell 100's of these ftf. Why not? In fact, why not sell 500 per ship? Make half the ship "VIP"?

[coops]

LHP,

I posted on another thread that you mention Carnival said the cabins will be ready by 1130. Where and when did you see this?

 

If this is true then I have no desire to pay 49.00 for Fun Faster Pass. All I want is to go to cabin to drop off stuff. Don't get why Carnival can't get with the program like some other cruise lines. Thanks,

Dawn

[halos]

LOL! I didn't even think my comment needed a rebuttal. Alot of people are affected by this change including me.

 

 

:osorry

[DGP1111]

. . . I sure don't see how my 550 or so post in almost 2 years match up to you over 7,000 post.

 

But I will take your word for it.:D

 

A good part of that difference was/is due to being part of 6-8 roll calls per year for multiple years. That and creating a few lengthy cruise reviews after my return. It definitely starts to add up, and sometimes I admit to looking back on it all and thinking, "Sheesh, Don, couldn't you have spent that time better doing something else??" :o

 

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[SJ]

Does guest services ask to see the color of your s&s card before helping you if you are in the platinum line? I wonder what Carnival will use to distinguish those who purchased the program? I find it awkward for guest services to ask for your card before helping you.

 

What happens to boarding for people who chose not to purchase the f2f but got to the port an hour or 2 earlier than those who did purchase? Are they really going to make me sit and wait until all f2f passengers board?

[pe4all]

A good part of that difference was/is due to being part of 6-8 roll calls per year for multiple years. That and creating a few lengthy cruise reviews after my return. It definitely starts to add up, and sometimes I admit to looking back on it all and thinking, "Sheesh, Don, couldn't you have spent that time better doing something else??" :o

 

.

You really shouldn't worry about defending yourself to anyone. Those who frequent the boards (and almost too frequently frequent them!:D) know whose words to trust, or not. Now, back to subject at hand. Will I get my luggage before my first seating dinner???:p:D

[cruisebie]

Knowing Carnival's propensity for inconsistency, I won't be surprised to soon see posts from outraged cruisers who have purchased the FTF and then don't receive all the benefits they have been promised. As LHP said, Carnival can mess up toast (and does, hence all the "why can't I get warm toast" threads)

 

Also, consider the following before buying one of these passes.....

 

What if the previous cruise is late returning? Early embarkation & early stateroom availability will be fairly useless for those who have purchased the pass. although I guess it will still be earlier than the hordes of cruisers trying to all board at the same time.

 

If you have paid 49.95 and intend to take advantage of early disembark, what if you are on a late returning cruise? Again, the funds you have forked over have purchased a pretty diminished benefit.

 

Priority dinner seating? If they accomodate platinum & diamond cruisers before the FTF pass holders, I would think there is an excellent chance that the MD's hands will be tied by the time they get to FTF pass holders, especially if there are 400-500 platinum or diamond cruisers onboard. But you will be ahead of the rest of us, so I guess that is something.

 

As a general rule, platinum & diamond cruisers have been on enough cruises that they just roll with the punches when it comes to these kind of things. I would not expect a first or second time cruiser to be so understanding when they have shelled out 49.95.

 

And btw, I am not platinum or diamond. I will have 8 Carnival cruises once I cruise in September, so I'm at the gold level.

[jonbgd]

Will I get my luggage before my first seating dinner???:p:D

 

Only if you want to pay extra:D

[cruzn buckeye]

Regarding priority tendering in port... The way it works now, is if you have priority tendering, you would go to the guest services dept., and let them know when you are ready to debark. They would then escort you to the front of the line. Now what will they do? Will they have a separate door for vips and fttfs to use? Or will they have two areas somewhere that you go to to debark and the masses are now into hundreds... how will they get this amount of people to the front of the line? Seriously? I don't see others that are wanting to debark, especially if they have a private tour booked say in Grand Cayman, to patiently wait until these hundreds line up to debark. I know I wouldn't. I would be lining up as quickly as I could get there. Makes no sense to me at all..

Just like the dining... so is the maitre d going to have separate lines for vips, fttfs and those that did not purchase this perk? How in the world are they going to do this? It seems like a lot of extra work for those on the ship?

Will there be someone stationed at each firedoor only allowing vips and fttfs in their cabin? I understand that Carnival is trying to make a buck by making this offer, but... I just don't see this working out very well...

[vanityfur]

 

I have also read several comments from people who have bought the FttF in order to have immediate access to their cabins.

However my understanding, from what I read, was that they were buying priority access to their cabin and not necessarily immediate access.

It sounds to me like they may still be hauling their carry ons around for a while.

 

Nope... When you purchase it, it clearly states that it offers guaranteed stateroom access upon boarding... I won't be hauling my carry-on anywhere except straight to my aft balcony...

 

And, platinums need not worry about me using FTTF to board ahead of them. My family will board ahead of them with or without the FTTF... We cruise Carnival bc of how well they handle special needs issues... We don't make our decision based on something as silly as perks/benefits/whatever...

[gfy012]

Regarding priority tendering in port... The way it works now, is if you have priority tendering, you would go to the guest services dept., and let them know when you are ready to debark. They would then escort you to the front of the line. Now what will they do? Will they have a separate door for vips and fttfs to use? Or will they have two areas somewhere that you go to to debark and the masses are now into hundreds... how will they get this amount of people to the front of the line? Seriously? I don't see others that are wanting to debark, especially if they have a private tour booked say in Grand Cayman, to patiently wait until these hundreds line up to debark. I know I wouldn't. I would be lining up as quickly as I could get there. Makes no sense to me at all..

Just like the dining... so is the maitre d going to have separate lines for vips, fttfs and those that did not purchase this perk? How in the world are they going to do this? It seems like a lot of extra work for those on the ship?

Will there be someone stationed at each firedoor only allowing vips and fttfs in their cabin? I understand that Carnival is trying to make a buck by making this offer, but... I just don't see this working out very well...

 

Depending on the port, some ports do have a separate VIP line for tendering. Also not everyone gets off at the same time, so there was never an issue of extra work, or crowding in our experience.

[cruzn buckeye]

Depending on the port, some ports do have a separate VIP line for tendering. Also not everyone gets off at the same time, so there was never an issue of extra work, or crowding in our experience.

In all my cruises, I have never known any ship to have separate VIP line for tendering, embarkation yes, tendering... why didnt someone tell me? At the guest service desk, I was not told about another line, I was told to come to the desk for an escort to the front. Which port or ship are you talking of? Just curious as I have never experienced this even with 23 cruises...

Oops, I didnt say that out loud did I, ? There are some on this thread that don't like that mentioned...

Anyway, even though there was not an issue of extra work before, when you add perhaps a hundred or more additional people with this perk , and some go here and some go there, and some wait till they are done, I see it becoming extra work...

[gfy012]

In all my cruises, I have never known any ship to have separate VIP line for tendering, embarkation yes, tendering... why didnt someone tell me? At the guest service desk, I was not told about another line, I was told to come to the desk for an escort to the front. Which port or ship are you talking of? Just curious as I have never experienced this even with 23 cruises...

Oops, I didnt say that out loud did I, ? There are some on this thread that don't like that mentioned...

Anyway, even though there was not an issue of extra work before, when you add perhaps a hundred or more additional people with this perk , and some go here and some go there, and some wait till they are done, I see it becoming extra work...

 

Tender to Cabo on the Spirit. I think these numbers are being terribly inflated lol! We have been platinum for awhile now and everytime I saw the list while signing for my slot token the most I ever saw on our cruises was maybe 20 tops. I think the only time you see a huge amount of VIP's is on the cruise critic group cruises. Wasn't there one with over 600 on a ship once. Now those are the cruises to stay away from. But evidently they have no problem on those either.

[cruzn buckeye]

Tender to Cabo on the Spirit. I think these numbers are being terribly inflated lol! We have been platinum for awhile now and everytime I saw the list while signing for my slot token the most I ever saw on our cruises was maybe 20 tops. I think the only time you see a huge amount of VIP's is on the cruise critic group cruises. Wasn't there one with over 600 on a ship once. Now those are the cruises to stay away from. But evidently they have no problem on those either.

Okay, that explains it, I have never been to Cabo or even cruised from California. No wonder I have not seen this. As far as lots of Vips, two cruises ago, when I went to get my free tournament entry, I was on the THIRD page of vips... and there were many per page.. there was not a cruise critic group on that one. It is the changes coming, that may make the work increase. We shall all see soon enough... I am cruising on the Liberty in a few weeks, our friends took advantage of the fttf so they can be right behind us boarding, and will be able to join us on our tour. I still think it is not going to work....I don't mind others getting perks, its just that I think loyalty should be rewarded, no purchased. I love the extra perk of going to the cabin as soon as you board... but in my opinion, this should have been a perk for platinum anyway... if they can do it for fttf, they could have done it for platinum... I love cruising, that won't change, it won't affect the amount of fun I have... it will affect the loyalty perks that I have earned...

[gfy012]

Okay, that explains it, I have never been to Cabo or even cruised from California. No wonder I have not seen this. As far as lots of Vips, two cruises ago, when I went to get my free tournament entry, I was on the THIRD page of vips... and there were many per page.. there was not a cruise critic group on that one. It is the changes coming, that may make the work increase. We shall all see soon enough... I am cruising on the Liberty in a few weeks, our friends took advantage of the fttf so they can be right behind us boarding, and will be able to join us on our tour. I still think it is not going to work....I don't mind others getting perks, its just that I think loyalty should be rewarded, no purchased. I love the extra perk of going to the cabin as soon as you board... but in my opinion, this should have been a perk for platinum anyway... if they can do it for fttf, they could have done it for platinum... I love cruising, that won't change, it won't affect the amount of fun I have... it will affect the loyalty perks that I have earned...

 

Let us know how it works. I am platinum with Carnival but not loyal in any way lol. We cruise other lines also. We just happened to get platinum by the itineraries I chose, not because I planned it :)

[AZ Karaoke Girl]

Although I'm not happy about them offering this to non VIFP, I keep going back to Carnival because I have the most fun on my Carnival cruises. I have cruised NCL & RCI too but I keep coming back to Carnival for a reason and it isn't because of the VIP benefits. I won't bail on them over this although I will voice my opinion to the beards. Complaining on cruise critic isn't going to do it.

[cpdawgs]

:eek:Do you have any idea how many cruises LHP has taken, solely on Carnival??? If you don't like her posts please just put her on ignore and leave your personal attacks off the boards.

I apologize. I am just frustrated with all of her attacks against Carnival, yet she continues to cruise them 1/2 a dozen times a year. Although I am not nearly as elite as her, I do have 21 with 3 more booked. And although I don't often post here (almost never) I have been reading the boards for years. Yesterday, she complained a dozen times in different posts on Facebook and then I saw more complaints here. I will work on figuring out how to put her on ignore. Thanks

[LuckyZ]

I just sent an email to my PVP to ask him about the capacity-controlled business. I'd like confirmation that this is NOT going to be unlimited (I don't care what the booking site says).

 

You are naive to think there will be limits on this in the long run. If Carnival can make money for themselves, they will be letting more and more people take this option REGARDLESS OF HOW PLATINUM AND DIAMOND CRUISERS THINK ABOUT IT.

 

I think in the short term they will put limits so people won't get so worried about it, but once you turn your back, it'll become unlimited.

 

And they thank all of you for also spending tens of thousands of dollars for making your way to elite status the hard way.

[halos]

I apologize.

It's all good. I understand how this place can make one boil over on occasion. ;):)

[gfy012]

You are naive to think there will be limits on this in the long run. If Carnival can make money for themselves, they will be letting more and more people take this option REGARDLESS OF HOW PLATINUM AND DIAMOND CRUISERS THINK ABOUT IT.

 

I think in the short term they will put limits so people won't get so worried about it, but once you turn your back, it'll become unlimited.

 

And they thank all of you for also spending tens of thousands of dollars for making your way to elite status the hard way.

 

LOL! They could make way more money by charging each person $1.00. And nobody would know the difference.