Has the color of your VIFP Card resulted in any extras?

[KendallGator]

With all of threads for and against the new FTTF program, let me ask about maybe some unwritten benefits to being Platinum or Diamond. Has having a Platinum or Diamond card (or even Gold) resulted in any unexpected benefits? Do you find the staff remembers you better? Greets you differently? When you plop the card on the blackjack table, do the pit bosses see/treat you as a loyal guest? Do your cabin stewards go out of their way just a little more than normal?

 

Before anybody flames this question in terms of elitism, this is just a question that some may think about when it comes to the FTTF program. Those paying the $50 will get great benefits, but there may be some unwritten benefits that will still keep the loyals feeling like VIPs in other areas. Sometimes the little things can be more valuable than priority boarding.

[vacruizer]

Nothing other than a lot of the crew asking how many cruises we'd been on and what ships. We were on a sailing in July that seemed to have a really high percentage of first time cruisers and we only saw one other platinum card the whole week (doesn't mean there weren't a few more.) I'm not a gambler, though, so don't know about the casino.

[cathyz]

With all of threads for and against the new FTTF program, let me ask about maybe some unwritten benefits to being Platinum or Diamond. Has having a Platinum or Diamond card (or even Gold) resulted in any unexpected benefits? Do you find the staff remembers you better? Greets you differently? When you plop the card on the blackjack table, do the pit bosses see/treat you as a loyal guest? Do your cabin stewards go out of their way just a little more than normal?

 

Before anybody flames this question in terms of elitism, this is just a question that some may think about when it comes to the FTTF program. Those paying the $50 will get great benefits, but there may be some unwritten benefits that will still keep the loyals feeling like VIPs in other areas. Sometimes the little things can be more valuable than priority boarding.

A couple of cruises ago we had an A/C issue and they went way above and beyond to fix it and give us stuff and OBCs and attention because of the issue. I'm not sure if it was because we are Platinum or if we were just lucky or if they're always like that on the Spirit. And our last cruise, also on the Spirit, we had the best table location ever in the MDR and the best waiter (he was the most senior in that dining room) and was engaged to the sommelier up in the Steakhouse, so was particularly knowledgable on wine, it was quite special. We thought maybe because the majority of us at the table were Platinum we got special treatment, or maybe again, we just got lucky.

[jimbo5544]

Nothing recently. Our tenth cruise was on the Ecstasy. They had just started the platinum program. First thing was as we got on the ship, they said welcome home, not welcome back. Nothing extra....just a nice touch. The 2nd thing was that we got upgraded to the owners penthouse suite for free. There was a situation where a family of 3 had a room for two and were refusing to have a rollaway in the room. We had a room with a drop down bunk and we were only two. We were paged to the gust relations desk and they said they had a siuation as the ship was sold out. They said the only room open was the owners penthouse suite. We got the upgrade for free. When asked alter on, they said we got it because we were one of two parties on the ship that were platinum.

[firefly333]

If they see my silver card, they say "welcome back" which I like.. its enough.

[CWcruisers]

A couple of cruises ago we had an A/C issue and they went way above and beyond to fix it and give us stuff and OBCs and attention because of the issue. I'm not sure if it was because we are Platinum or if we were just lucky or if they're always like that on the Spirit. And our last cruise, also on the Spirit, we had the best table location ever in the MDR and the best waiter (he was the most senior in that dining room) and was engaged to the sommelier up in the Steakhouse, so was particularly knowledgable on wine, it was quite special. We thought maybe because the majority of us at the table were Platinum we got special treatment, or maybe again, we just got lucky.

 

I've had that happen also where the Matre'd has told me I had been given the best waiter in the dining room, and it was true, fantastic service. I took a girlfriend cruise with 10 of us total and we were given a great table and another fantastic wait team.

[gfy012]

We have always had the best bar waiters ever. They could be walking on the other side of the lido deck and look our way and hold up a bucket which we would nod and they would return with a bucket and receipt ready to be signed.......but I don't think that has anything to do with my card being silver cause he knew our number by heart. LOL!

[misstopgun]

I agree most of the time it just prompts more questions about how many cruises and which ships we have been on. I am happy to see that though because I wouldn't want a family member who has cruised less than 10 cruises to be treated any differant than we are. All paid, all should enjoy the same customer service.

 

More ofton than our card, we are recognized by crew members we have met on other cruises, especially in the casino. It's great to see a dealer we had two years ago is now a pit boss. I can think of three occaisions such as this.

[shortstop95]

We've been platinum now for several years- but our recent cruise in July was the first since the new VIFP program was rolled out. I do have to say as the OP suggests- I did feel the staff was much more in-tune to us. Staff who I had no contact were able to call by name on several occassions. I'm not sure how they knew who I was. It was an excellent cruise and there did seem to be some heightened awareness (or at least we perceived it). The ship was crowded and there were TONS of platinum folks aboard. We had bought into the hype and were really looking forward to the revised loyalty program and were slightly disappointed to not see the BIG changes we all had probably hoped for. All in all, it's still very nice to be platinum and I look forward to the day when I might be diamond!