VIPS only. Have you ever used the credit card method to take nonVIPs with you?

[Tapi]

Until our Dream cruise last October, I didn't even know this rule exception existed. We were with my elderly mother in law who was traveling by herself in a separate cabin.

 

When we got to the point where VIP's go one way and regular passengers go a different way, she had this look of horror (she doesn't travel very much and felt like a lost child at the thought of checking in by herself). We asked the Carnival rep if there was any way my MIL could check in with is and she said no. We were ready to go to regular check-in (there was no way we were going to leave my MIL go by herself) and that's when the Carnival Rep suggested to US to put her on our Sail & Sign account so that she could check-in with us at VIP.

 

Needless to say, we took the suggestion. I dont think that we were taking advantage of the system, but I can see how this rule exception can be abused by some.

[mzloolue]

I have, but I actually was paying for the other cabin.

[gfy012]

It does create a problem for VIP's. If you have brought as many as 10 cabins with you to VIP check-in, that means those who have earned VIP must wait for them to check in those 10 cabins. And, the VIP rooms are not that big so now there is no room in VIP for those who have VIP on their fun pass. Do you actually pay for all those cabins sail and sign bills or do you go to the front desk once on the ship and change everyone to their own card? That would be considered a loophole.

Pat

 

10 cabins? Again with the over exaggerations LOL! I put everything on my card for points and they pay me back. Win win situation. I would think others take advantage of this also . Where is the loophole in that?

[kerrytens]

So, is it a bad thing that I was given VIP boarding (including use of the lounge) by CCL? I had contacted their special needs department because of my child's autism and our boarding was just shy of remarkable as a result. We were met at the door of the terminal, lines were stopped to aid the CCL personnel whisking us to the lounge for check-in and finally they escorted us onto the ship.

 

Should I feel bad about this because I may have inconvenienced a Platinum person? Hope not, because I don't:D

[jetsfan]

only my kids.

[vanityfur]

So, is it a bad thing that I was given VIP boarding (including use of the lounge) by CCL? I had contacted their special needs department because of my child's autism and our boarding was just shy of remarkable as a result. We were met at the door of the terminal, lines were stopped to aid the CCL personnel whisking us to the lounge for check-in and finally they escorted us onto the ship.

 

Should I feel bad about this because I may have inconvenienced a Platinum person? Hope not, because I don't:D

 

SAME here.

[LHP]

So, is it a bad thing that I was given VIP boarding (including use of the lounge) by CCL? I had contacted their special needs department because of my child's autism and our boarding was just shy of remarkable as a result. We were met at the door of the terminal, lines were stopped to aid the CCL personnel whisking us to the lounge for check-in and finally they escorted us onto the ship.

 

Should I feel bad about this because I may have inconvenienced a Platinum person? Hope not, because I don't:D

 

Absolutely not.

 

VIP has always been also used for handicapped check in.......

 

All the cruise lines do this....

 

Hope you had a wonderful cruise.

 

Our 21 year old with Autism has completed 50 Carnival cruises and it has really made a difference in his life. Hope you had the same experience.

[LHP]

As with anything in life, some ports are tougher than others.

 

Of all the different ports we have been through....I think Miami is the toughest.

 

We have been through Miami many time and the stories we heard while just sitting there for the justification (my TA said I could) .... were quite interesting.

 

Smaller ports are probably not as tough because everything is so close ....

[lucky13elec]

I've never used the credit card way. I have used the book my wife in one room & me in another cabin way three times & one more to go. We just open up the balconies so you get access the both rooms. In my defence two of the times were with my s-i-l who has MS she uses a walker for long walks. But the orther two we're just getting around the rules.

[Elaine515]

Linda, I understand what you're saying and I have definitely seen it happen BUT... my understanding of the FTF is everyone (up to 5 people) in the same cabin only... Even if someone in that cabin puts others on their credit card, they should not be allowed to board because they are not Platinum/Diamond... they only paid to get passengers in their cabin on the ship earlier.... they didn't pay to get others on their credit card on the ship earlier...

 

Hope the Carnival Personnel understand this...

[Scott34787]

The problem with this is they are already selling fttf "excursions" for the April cruises... How do they know how many platinums/diamonds will be on there...

 

I'm guessing they they are using historical data and averages.

 

Also keep in mind the FTTF peeps go AFTER the diamonds and plats.

 

I know it doesn't seem like it sometimes, but Carnival does think these things out. They didn't get to be #1 by constantly screwing up.

 

 

I also found a very interesting article on New Customers vs Exisiting.. it may help explain why Carnival does some of the things it does.

http://www.businessknowhow.com/marketing/new-customers.htm

[big_duck]

I know it doesn't seem like it sometimes, but Carnival does think these things out. They didn't get to be #1 by constantly screwing up.

 

Except the people who put them there are no longer there.

[Amy Giard]

Except the people who put them there are no longer there.

 

 

I know what you mean... Disney has not grown a bit since Walt died.

[big_duck]

I know what you mean... Disney has not grown a bit since Walt died.

 

Eisner damn near killed it.

[Amy Giard]

Eisner damn near killed it.

 

From the NY Times:

"Under Mr. Eisner's tenure, Disney grew from a small theme-park operator and movie studio into a sprawling media company. In that time, the company added 7 theme parks (for a total of 11), a cruise ship line, a successful stage play division and 10 domestic cable channels - including the highly profitable ESPN - and acquired the ABC broadcast network. Revenues increased to $30.75 billion in 2004, from $1.5 billion in 1984. The stock price has increased 1,646 percent. And the number of employees grew fivefold, to 129,000, from 28,000."

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/26/business/media/26eisner.html

 

Yup.. darn near killed the mouse.

[Chigirlcruzin]

10 cabins? Again with the over exaggerations LOL! I put everything on my card for points and they pay me back. Win win situation. I would think others take advantage of this also . Where is the loophole in that?

 

See post #7 in this thread. Someone stated he/she puts up to ten cabins on the same CC so they can all go through VIP.

[quickrate]

10 cabins? Again with the over exaggerations LOL! I put everything on my card for points and they pay me back. Win win situation. I would think others take advantage of this also . Where is the loophole in that?

 

Sorry! It was post #7 who said they take up to 10 cabins thru VIP with them. I realize for you this is a win win situation but not for those left waiting behind you while you check in all your non-vip members. And for those who want to start hollering class distinction, it has nothing to do with that. One of the best perks of VIP status is not having to wait in long lines at check-in and this is being watered down by those who see nothing wrong with taking all there friends and family thru VIP.

Pat

[quickrate]

So, is it a bad thing that I was given VIP boarding (including use of the lounge) by CCL? I had contacted their special needs department because of my child's autism and our boarding was just shy of remarkable as a result. We were met at the door of the terminal, lines were stopped to aid the CCL personnel whisking us to the lounge for check-in and finally they escorted us onto the ship.

 

Should I feel bad about this because I may have inconvenienced a Platinum person? Hope not, because I don't:D

Of course you shouldn't feel bad!! You have a valid reason for VIP check-in.

Pat

[prattmom]

Sorry! It was post #7 who said they take up to 10 cabins thru VIP with them. I realize for you this is a win win situation but not for those left waiting behind you while you check in all your non-vip members. And for those who want to start hollering class distinction, it has nothing to do with that. One of the best perks of VIP status is not having to wait in long lines at check-in and this is being watered down by those who see nothing wrong with taking all there friends and family thru VIP.

Pat

 

Totally agree. Far more bothered by this than the fttf people since they're behind me ;)

[big_duck]

Totally agree. Far more bothered by this than the fttf people since they're behind me ;)

 

Careful saying something like this, some Healdite will accuse you of being elitist.

[prattmom]

Careful saying something like this, some Healdite will accuse you of being elitist.

 

They can accuse me of whatever they want... ;)

[kerrytens]

Our 21 year old with Autism has completed 50 Carnival cruises and it has really made a difference in his life. Hope you had the same experience.

While my daughter has not been as many cruises as your son, she LOVED her last one on NCL the most. We now call it cruise therapy because she came home with the most wonderful attitude - even her teachers pointed out that they should work on getting funding to take other kids on cruises to get that same benefit!

 

Glad to hear that your son benefits from his cruising too.

[kerrytens]

Of course you shouldn't feel bad!! You have a valid reason for VIP check-in.

Pat

Thanks.

[mzloolue]

So there have been several times that dh and I have taken our three big kids and their significant others or friends on cruises.

 

We had three or four cabins.

 

At that time we were not platinum, so we waited and waited and waited in the long long lines, but

 

if FttF had been available then and all four of our cabins were on our credit card, then would all 8 or 10 of us have been able to have priority boarding for one $50 fee?

Like $5 or $6 a person?

What a deal!

[gfy012]

Sorry! It was post #7 who said they take up to 10 cabins thru VIP with them. I realize for you this is a win win situation but not for those left waiting behind you while you check in all your non-vip members. And for those who want to start hollering class distinction, it has nothing to do with that. One of the best perks of VIP status is not having to wait in long lines at check-in and this is being watered down by those who see nothing wrong with taking all there friends and family thru VIP.

Pat

 

It makes no difference. I have to wait behind whoever is in front of me. And those people in front of me could ALL be VIP's. Or not. Nobody even knows that some in our group are not VIP's. So for all anyone knows we are ALL VIP's.