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I was wondering how Platinuim , Diamond and Suite People feel when

CountryFox

By CountryFox,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

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Elaine515

Elaine515

Posted
Posted

Where are all the diamond/platinum passengers who were bitching and complaining when this program first came out???

 

I will tell you I thought it stunk...wasn't fair to those of us who cruised 10 times or more etc... But after some time, it occured to me that it really doesn't matter as long as it is kept to a minimum... And personally, I think most of you are donating $50 for no real good reason...

 

Unless you REALLY have a need for it, like cruising with young kids or cruising with someone with a health issue, the rest is just throwing away $50 that can be used for something else... hello DOD !!!

 

If you get to the Port early enough, you get Zone 1... you don't have to pay for it...

If you get to the Port late, there is usually no line and then you just sign in and walk on, you don't have to pay for it

If you have a question for Guest Services, pick up the phone and ask them or go to them at an off hour, no line and you don't have to pay for it

If you are on a cruise with no tender ports, then you don't have to pay for it...

 

And if you're going to tell me that you paid $50 so you don't have to carry around your carryon and can drop it off in the cabin, well then hahahahahah... That is just plain ridiculous...

 

OK... flame away :)

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klmorg

klmorg

Posted
Posted
Where are all the diamond/platinum passengers who were bitching and complaining when this program first came out???

 

I will tell you I thought it stunk...wasn't fair to those of us who cruised 10 times or more etc... But after some time, it occured to me that it really doesn't matter as long as it is kept to a minimum... And personally, I think most of you are donating $50 for no real good reason...

 

Unless you REALLY have a need for it, like cruising with young kids or cruising with someone with a health issue, the rest is just throwing away $50 that can be used for something else... hello DOD !!!

 

If you get to the Port early enough, you get Zone 1... you don't have to pay for it...

If you get to the Port late, there is usually no line and then you just sign in and walk on, you don't have to pay for it

If you have a question for Guest Services, pick up the phone and ask them or go to them at an off hour, no line and you don't have to pay for it

If you are on a cruise with no tender ports, then you don't have to pay for it...

 

And if you're going to tell me that you paid $50 so you don't have to carry around your carryon and can drop it off in the cabin, well then hahahahahah... That is just plain ridiculous...

 

OK... flame away :)

 

But FTTF really didn't affect you, or your perks, or your cruise, did it??

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tracyvansmith

tracyvansmith

Posted
Posted
$50 richer.

 

It doesn't matter to me but there are differences. I did FTTF this past October and loved it and then went on another cruise in Dec as a platinum. With FTTF you don't get to go to the VIP lounge before boarding which I thought was very nice. You also don't get free laundry or the chocolate strawberries delieved to you cabin or the gift. Loved FTTF but like being platinum even better......

 

Does not matter to us either. We will be $50 richer and also enjoying all the other perks we get. :D

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mzloolue

mzloolue

Posted
Posted
True but wish they didnt take away a number of our platinum perks under the new platinum program.

 

I agree.

 

There is someone on another thread who says that they are diamond and were not allowed to get into the vip line due to it being filled.

They also reported that they were given zone 1 and boarded after the fttf people.

 

I do know that the last time I cruised, in September, they called zone 1 before all the platinum folks in line had got into the walkway.

We got caught up and had to wait for zone 1 folks to clear the area before we could get into the hall.

I don't know, but I thought they could have waited 3 to 5 minutes to let the platinum line empty into the hallway.

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golfadj

golfadj

Posted
Posted
I agree.

 

There is someone on another thread who says that they are diamond and were not allowed to get into the vip line due to it being filled.

They also reported that they were given zone 1 and boarded after the fttf people.

 

I do know that the last time I cruised, in September, they called zone 1 before all the platinum folks in line had got into the walkway.

We got caught up and had to wait for zone 1 folks to clear the area before we could get into the hall.

I don't know, but I thought they could have waited 3 to 5 minutes to let the platinum line empty into the hallway.

 

they obviously care less about platinum than they used to.

 

we booked our next cruise about 4 weeks before sailing, leaving in two weeks.

 

we are wait listed for early seating. Since platinum only has priority for dining times now betting we dont get early.

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mzloolue

mzloolue

Posted
Posted (edited)
they obviously care less about platinum than they used to.

 

we booked our next cruise about 4 weeks before sailing, leaving in two weeks.

 

we are wait listed for early seating. Since platinum only has priority for dining times now betting we dont get early.

 

It will be interesting to see what happens with that wait listing.

 

This is the thing, for us, the big deal with platinum is the vip boarding.

At this point it is the only reason we might choose Carnival over another line.

If the integrity of the vip boarding is not maintained, then there is no reason to book Carnival.

Truthfully, I have been a pretty good customer of Carnival, but I am not loyal to a company, I am loyal to myself.

Edited by mzloolue
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ciera123

ciera123

Posted
Posted (edited)

If you get to the Port early enough, you get Zone 1... you don't have to pay for it...

 

And if you're going to tell me that you paid $50 so you don't have to carry around your carryon and can drop it off in the cabin, well then hahahahahah... That is just plain ridiculous...

 

OK... flame away :)

 

No flames, just an explanation of why we're doing FTTF in May....

On our first Carnival cruise in May 2010, we were at the port at 10:30AM hoping to get a low zone but ended up with 11. With FTTF we can get there at the same time and it's not a concern.

It might be ridiculous for you, but that doesn't mean it is for everyone. We like to get on the ship and discover all the different areas while the ship is fairly empty and everyone else is on the Lido. It will be nice to be able to have a place to drop our bags off, then go do what we want to do.

Another perk for us is express luggage. I like to get our bags unpacked, clothes hung and stateroom organized as early as I can so that I can be settled in and really feel like I'm on vacation!

Debarkation is not a perk for us as we always stay in the port city for a day or 2. We're in no hurry to get off the ship! But to some who may have had to book a morning flight, it might be worth the $50 for this perk alone, so that they don't have to worry about missing their flight.

Just my thoughts.....:)

Edited by ciera123
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Elaine515

Elaine515

Posted
Posted
But FTTF really didn't affect you, or your perks, or your cruise, did it??

 

Nope, not one bit but last week on the Breeze they didn't have it yet so I'm not 100% certain that it won't affect us on our next cruise... I don't believe it will I just think some could be wasting $50...

 

 

 

No flames, just an explanation of why we're doing FTTF in May....

On our first Carnival cruise in May 2010, we were at the port at 10:30AM hoping to get a low zone but ended up with 11. With FTTF we can get there at the same time and it's not a concern.

It might be ridiculous for you, but that doesn't mean it is for everyone. We like to get on the ship and discover all the different areas while the ship is fairly empty and everyone else is on the Lido. It will be nice to be able to have a place to drop our bags off, then go do what we want to do.

Another perk for us is express luggage. I like to get our bags unpacked, clothes hung and stateroom organized as early as I can so that I can be settled in and really feel like I'm on vacation!

Debarkation is not a perk for us as we always stay in the port city for a day or 2. We're in no hurry to get off the ship! But to some who may have had to book a morning flight, it might be worth the $50 for this perk alone, so that they don't have to worry about missing their flight.

Just my thoughts.....:)

 

If you have an early flight, you just go to Guest Services and they will give you a #1 Tag and you don't have to pay the $50....

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golfadj

golfadj

Posted
Posted
No flames, just an explanation of why we're doing FTTF in May....

 

On our first Carnival cruise in May 2010, we were at the port at 10:30AM hoping to get a low zone but ended up with 11. With FTTF we can get there at the same time and it's not a concern.

 

It might be ridiculous for you, but that doesn't mean it is for everyone. We like to get on the ship and discover all the different areas while the ship is fairly empty and everyone else is on the Lido. It will be nice to be able to have a place to drop our bags off, then go do what we want to do.

 

Another perk for us is express luggage. I like to get our bags unpacked, clothes hung and stateroom organized as early as I can so that I can be settled in and really feel like I'm on vacation!

 

Debarkation is not a perk for us as we always stay in the port city for a day or 2. We're in no hurry to get off the ship! But to some who may have had to book a morning flight, it might be worth the $50 for this perk alone, so that they don't have to worry about missing their flight.

 

Just my thoughts.....:)

 

Can easily see where it makes sense to people

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Mekamax

Mekamax

Posted
Posted

We'll see how it goes for the first time on our next cruise BUT actually liked the program as I always thought if friends traveled with us we would feel guilty doing the Platinum and letting them board on their own but this way it would be their choice to pay to get on when we do or not so no guilt... LOL I'd think about using it if it was offered and I didn't already have Platinum..

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Arizona cruisers

Arizona cruisers

Posted
Posted

So far we haven't experienced it as the ships we have been on since the roll out do not have FTTF. We have one booked for next fall on the Liberty and are sailing with four other couples that are not platinum. They all decided to do the FTTF (we are platinum and will be on the ship for the first part of a B2B). It is the Western Caribbean, so there are two tender ports, so I think we are all going to like this.

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beta98beta

beta98beta

Posted
Posted
It doesn't matter to me but there are differences. I did FTTF this past October and loved it and then went on another cruise in Dec as a platinum. With FTTF you don't get to go to the VIP lounge before boarding which I thought was very nice. You also don't get free laundry or the chocolate strawberries delieved to you cabin or the gift. Loved FTTF but like being platinum even better......

 

If you spend a lot gambling in the casino you get these things too.. well at least at the New Orleans port. On my last cruise my cabin mate was shocked at the perks we got. Every night some other gift was delivered from chocolate strawberries (delivered twice) to free spirits in the casino (all can get this after so many points on the slot machinces) to badge holder, free picture coupons, etc. The last night they found me in the casino (how they knew I was in there was beyond me... goes to show they see everything on those ships) and gave me a 40% off my next cruise coupon. One lady gambled so much they gave her a FREE cruise, I'm thinking she must have been gambling thousands a day and probably had paid for that cruise many times over, LOL.

 

Anyway a lot people don't know about the gamblers perks so just thought I would mention it. You have to join the Ocean Players club before your cruise to get the most benefit of it all. you can google it.

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satbeachbill

satbeachbill

Posted
Posted (edited)

Well, I for one don't think even platinum is all it's cracked up to be. We took the Valor out of Miami Dec 2nd. Arrived about 12 noon( later than we usually do). The VIP ticket desk went just fine, then we were immediately directed to go up the stairs and board. Well, we went up the stairs and stopped. There were 800 people in line - ahead of us - just standing there. The line was barely moving. It took 25 minutes to hear that first PING of our cards. So much for VIP.

The last morning, we elected to do self assist disembarkation. We (as VIP's) were directed be in the theater at 730 sharp. - ok -. We got there at 715 - along with 300 other people!!..and 1000 bags of luggage..... and we sat and sat and sat. We didnt' start off until 800 am....although we had seen others already leaving. So wants with that? VIP?............it's worth about what we paid for it........:mad:

Edited by satbeachbill
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