Jump to content
Cruise Critic Community

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

CountryFox

By CountryFox,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

 Share

Recommended Posts

katiel53

katiel53

Posted
Posted

DH and I are Platinum and we were able to board Carnival Dream before the FTTF people, so not a problem for us. We didn't have any tender ports so I don't know if there would have been a problem.

 

My only concern, and it's a concern not a b--ch, is that when we had to go to the Guest Services desk to resolve a matter with an E gift card, we had to wait behind two FTTF people who seemed to have 2 million questions. We could have run into the same problem with having a Platinum/Diamond ahead of us, but there may be more questions from people who are FTTF as perhaps they are not as experienced cruisers and have a lot of questions/complaints.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
livestocruisetoo

livestocruisetoo

Posted
Posted
Im glad to see that it doesn't effect the general plat/gold club. As to $50.00 richer I hate to say this but by far I am richer only having to do

1 cruise and pay the money. :D

 

Richer than whom? I hate saying it but your math is faulty. Given we both take the same cruise for the same price, do the same things on shore, etc. you start upside down by $50 before my perks, as meager as they are in some peoples minds, kick in. Rather than the monetary cost of the cruises I have taken, I look at their intrinsic value. The places I've been, the people I have met, the things I have seen and done have provided a much greater total return than if that money had been saved, even at the High Yield rates back in the late 70's. Money may not be able to buy happiness but money spent does buy so much more than happiness. :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
JoeWVU

JoeWVU

Posted
Posted

Same as amusement parks - you can pay to be in the fast lane or wait in line. Then they came up with the even faster lane...

 

Going to be the same here - VIP will keep first, then there will be an Even More FTTF line, then the FTTF line, then the regular line...

 

It's still going to depend on how many people show up at what time. If all 2,000 show up at noon - everyone will be waiting somewhat. As usual, if everyone shows up at various times, some will be on quick and some less quick.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
CWcruisers

CWcruisers

Posted
Posted

My only concern, and it's a concern not a b--ch, is that when we had to go to the Guest Services desk to resolve a matter with an E gift card, we had to wait behind two FTTF people who seemed to have 2 million questions. We could have run into the same problem with having a Platinum/Diamond ahead of us, but there may be more questions from people who are FTTF as perhaps they are not as experienced cruisers and have a lot of questions/complaints.

 

This is one of my concerns also because as it is, I have stood in that line behind people that wound up in that line when they shouldn't have been there. I think the tendering thing will still be fine as long as they limit the numbers.

 

Someone mentioned lines for embarkation and I have advocated several times that there should be a separate line for Diamond/Platinum and now another line for FTTF and Suite guest. Can't tell you how many times I've been stuck behind someone in the VIP lounge that did not fill out there boarding passes on line and are now tying up everyone else. Those of us with experience already have everything ready to go, and now, as Diamond cruisers, they don't bother going through all the explanations and just give us our cards and we're off. Our average check in time is 5 minutes or less.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
CruiserBren

CruiserBren

Posted
Posted

I have no problem with FTTF, it's the 2 Platinum people in front of me, one with 8 family members in 4 cabins on their credit card and the other with 12 family members in 6 cabins on their credit card. Then they state, as soon as we get on board, you can go to customer service and set up your own account! So those behind them are waiting 30-40 minutes to get checked in!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
CWcruisers

CWcruisers

Posted
Posted
It makes no sense to have a line for Diamond/Platinum and one for FTTF. The number of FTTF passengers is not significant.

 

I can see a Diamond line and then one for Platinum/FTTF. Now that makes sense.

 

O.K., I'll buy this except there will only be about two or three people in the Diamond line.:p

 

Depending on where you sail from, for instance me from the West Coast, there are not that many Platinums either. My main beef is getting the suite people in a separate line so they're not slowing me down as they have in the past.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
DGP1111

DGP1111

Posted
Posted
I have no problem with FTTF, it's the 2 Platinum people in front of me, one with 8 family members in 4 cabins on their credit card and the other with 12 family members in 6 cabins on their credit card. Then they state, as soon as we get on board, you can go to customer service and set up your own account! So those behind them are waiting 30-40 minutes to get checked in!

 

Brenda: Sorry to read that this happened to you on your one and only Platinum embarkation. Very unfortunate odds. :(

Perhaps now that it's out of the way, it won't occur ever again. I'm feeling fortunate that it never happened once when I was cruising Carnival.

 

.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Sargent_Schultz

Sargent_Schultz

Posted
Posted
O.K., I'll buy this except there will only be about two or three people in the Diamond line.:p

 

Depending on where you sail from, for instance me from the West Coast, there are not that many Platinums either. My main beef is getting the suite people in a separate line so they're not slowing me down as they have in the past.

 

There probably are lots of West Coast Platinums but they may not be cruising from the left coast.

 

As for checking in, something like 4 people checking in 3 separate lines might work. 1 person who's priority would be Diamonds, 1 for FTTF, and maybe 2 for Platinum. If any of the lines were empty, then check in someone from one of the other lines.

 

I imagine wedding parties must enjoy going straight to the head of the line. :p

Link to comment
Share on other sites
skiwee

skiwee

Posted
Posted

WE have the Vista suite booked and I was surprised the only thing it comes with IS priority boarding and disembarking. LOL LAME!! What I do understand is first to board is Platinum, then Suite, THEN this new program. Even still suits have no good comps so this one doesnt bother me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
CountryFox

CountryFox

Posted
  • Author
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 :)

Everyone has a right to their opinion!! no flames here:D:o

:D

Link to comment
Share on other sites
CountryFox

CountryFox

Posted
  • Author
Posted
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.

\

All you need to know is the ins and outs of cruising. On my very first cruise I emailed the players club and go choc straw. and free photo coupon in my room when I arrived. I did the same thing for my upcoming cruise and the sent me an email confirmation for choc, straw and coupon again. So i believe that the more you read here the more perks you get because of your knowledge!! just sayin IMHO:D

Link to comment
Share on other sites
danny91180

danny91180

Posted
Posted
I agree with this..

 

Well I didn't know this until doing a little reading but FTF people are able to get in the same line with platinum / diamond at tender ports and debarkation. I can easily see a few 3 and 4 person cabins with FTTF causing platinum/diamond have to wait to get on a tender boat or wait for debarkation. I also realize some new points people have brought up: 1. a newer but now FTTF people may not have all their cruise docs in order like a seasoned cruiser and cause a line in the vip lounge and 2. Newer cruisers may have more questions at the front desk causing a line and making the people that earned the right to be in the line to wait.

Like I said before, as long as it doesn’t cause platinum/diamond to wait longer there is no reason why to complain. Now this would be a problem for me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
PAPERBKWRITER

PAPERBKWRITER

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 :)

 

Depends how you look at this. You talk about folks with 10 cruises being VIP. A lot of those short cruises put some VIP over the top. Is that fair to the rest who only do 7 day or longer? The reason there hasn't been much negative comments about the FTTF program is because it hasn't affected VIP cruisers much. If someone wants to pony up $50 let 'em.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
golfadj

golfadj

Posted
Posted
Depends how you look at this. You talk about folks with 10 cruises being VIP. A lot of those short cruises put some VIP over the top. Is that fair to the rest who only do 7 day or longer? The reason there hasn't been much negative comments about the FTTF program is because it hasn't affected VIP cruisers much. If someone wants to pony up $50 let 'em.

 

If we have to wait much longer and guest services for FTTF people will be a little annoying.

 

If we are delayed for tender boarding that will also be a little annoying.

 

First they downgrade the perks of platinum and than allow people who are not platinum to get some of the perks we earned makes Carnival to me kind of greedy.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 9 months later...
mohavemommy

mohavemommy

Posted
Posted
I have no problem with FTTF, it's the 2 Platinum people in front of me, one with 8 family members in 4 cabins on their credit card and the other with 12 family members in 6 cabins on their credit card. Then they state, as soon as we get on board, you can go to customer service and set up your own account! So those behind them are waiting 30-40 minutes to get checked in!

 

Found this old thread and wanted to give my recent experience two cents worth here. :p

 

I sailed last week from Long Beach and found the FTTF program to be somewhat of an issue. Those waiting in the priority departure lounge couldn't even make it anywhere near the front half of the line because of the cattle crowding method going on. :eek: There were literally 250-300 people crowding to get further ahead in the boarding line. Numerous people clutching their FTTF papers as well as numerous piggy-back cruisers on Platinums. One family in front of me had in excess of 10 people in their party including several blue cards. :mad: That family had ONE Platinum member. Also witnessed a similar situation on the last day in the departure lounge as we saw it grow from past numbers of 15 or 20 people to close to 80 in there once again also doing the piggy back ride. :(

 

A word of advice, Carnival, don't let that extra $50 alienate your Platinums. FTTF is fine, but give them all the group 1 cards and general boarding then would begin with group 2 cards. ;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...