Platinum Benefits Question

[ScottsSweetie]

I have looked at Carnival's website but I did not see the answer.

 

If I remember correctly, for priority tendering, we are able to bring a certain number of other people with us - can anyone confirm?

 

Also, re: priority main dining room reservations - if we have another booking "linked" with ours, will they also receive our dining time if we use our platinum privilege? We are going to be booking in the next few days for an October cruise, and in my experience we may not get our choice of dining time.

 

Thanks!

[sjcruiser]

I believe this has changed under the new VIFP system/rankings, now it's only the VIFP members, and maybe minor children/child. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong. For dining, I had Platinum members linked to my booking, and was told the Priority was for specialty dining only, although the website says otherwise. I was able to get my preferred dining seating by writing John Heald on his blog.

Edited August 12, 2014 by sjcruiser

[NCTribeFan]

I'm afraid I'm not much help even though I'll be on my 20th Carnival cruise soon (and became Platinum under the old rules at cruise #10).

 

I usually either sail solo or with a friend in the same cabin. I'm pretty sure that, technically, only the people in your cabin get priority boarding/tendering, unless they are children in another cabin.

 

Don't know about dining, either, I'm afraid. Plats aren't even guaranteed dining times any more. I always get my requested late seating, but I think the guarantee only applies to Diamond now. Website says "priority" dining reservations (whatever that means!).

 

If your bookings are linked, though, you should be given the same time. If it isn't what you want, you'll have to visit the maitre'd after boarding and see what he can work out for you.

[stargate fan]

I have looked at Carnival's website but I did not see the answer.

 

If I remember correctly, for priority tendering, we are able to bring a certain number of other people with us - can anyone confirm?

 

Yes. Each Platinum and Diamond member may bring up to five guests for priority tendering.

 

Also, re: priority main dining room reservations - if we have another booking "linked" with ours, will they also receive our dining time if we use our platinum privilege? We are going to be booking in the next few days for an October cruise, and in my experience we may not get our choice of dining time.

 

Thanks!

 

This is a good question. I don't have an answer but maybe someone else does. I'd like to know also.

[serene56]

 

Also, re: priority main dining room reservations - if we have another booking "linked" with ours, will they also receive our dining time if we use our platinum privilege? We are going to be booking in the next few days for an October cruise, and in my experience we may not get our choice of dining time.

 

Thanks!

 

 

as long as all the bookings are linked together-- you should be good.

You all took traditional time correct?

[TennesseeTater]

Yes. Each Platinum and Diamond member may bring up to five guests for priority tendering.

 

 

This is the first I've seen that a platinum customer can take guests with them on the tender (outside of family). Is it on the Carnival website? Now, if somebody in the family is platinum he/she could obviously bring their family to the guest services desk for priority tendering. If somebody is platinum and their friends in another cabin are not, I don't know if that would work. Not saying that stargate fan is wrong, just saying I haven't seen that before.

[NCTribeFan]

I'll tell ya, there were so many blue-card-holding FTTF people in May when we arrived at HMC, I had to yell at them to stop the stampede. Sheesh. They were crazed.

 

I'm pretty sure they actually looked at our cards once we got down to the tender area before they let us board (because there were people jumping on the elevator between the Lobby deck and Deck 0). :rolleyes:

 

So whether they'd let you bring a crowd with you or not may depend on the ship, or whomever is at the service desk that morning or at the tender. Like most things with Carnival, it probably varies.

Edited August 13, 2014 by NCTribeFan

[nodogkisses]

I have looked at Carnival's website but I did not see the answer.

 

If I remember correctly, for priority tendering, we are able to bring a certain number of other people with us - can anyone confirm?

 

Also, re: priority main dining room reservations - if we have another booking "linked" with ours, will they also receive our dining time if we use our platinum privilege? We are going to be booking in the next few days for an October cruise, and in my experience we may not get our choice of dining time.

 

Thanks!

 

 

 

I'm fairly certain that if your two bookings are "linked" you'll get your preferred dining time. When I booked a last minute cruise a few months ago, my preferred time wasn't available, but the Carnival rep said, "I see you're Platinum" and she just gave me my preferred time. I didn't have to say a word.

 

Also, on that same cruise, we decided to dine at the Steakhouse one night and the girl taking reservations said they were full for that particular evening and none were available. I then asked her if being Platinum helped me get in--voila-- we had a reservation right away.

 

I don't know anything about taking people not in your room on the first tender, though. Kinda makes me think that would really fill that first tender up fast if Plats/Diamonds took several people with them. Doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

 

 

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[Disconnections]

I'm fairly certain that if your two bookings are "linked" you'll get your preferred dining time. When I booked a last minute cruise a few months ago, my preferred time wasn't available, but the Carnival rep said, "I see you're Platinum" and she just gave me my preferred time. I didn't have to say a word.

 

Also, on that same cruise, we decided to dine at the Steakhouse one night and the girl taking reservations said they were full for that particular evening and none were available. I then asked her if being Platinum helped me get in--voila-- we had a reservation right away.

 

I don't know anything about taking people not in your room on the first tender, though. Kinda makes me think that would really fill that first tender up fast if Plats/Diamonds took several people with them. Doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

 

If you play the DYKWIA card with your Platinum status, you can have your room service order expedited, as well.

 

But stargate fan is correct, priority tendering will be extend to up to five guests per Platinum member. However, to bring guests, you need to visit the Passenger Services desk when you're ready to tender. Walking down to Deck Zero with them will be a hit or a miss, as YMMV.

[misslucy01]

Mmmmm....might not want to pull the "do you know who I am" with someone preparing your food and delivering it.....jussayin.

 

 

Misslucy01

[ScottsSweetie]

Okay, thanks for the replies. I knew I had seen the "five extra people" for tendering. We only need two as DH and I are cruising with his parents. We hope to do traditional late seating, and will definitely link our reservations together and hope that we can get that time.

 

Again, thanks to all who replied! :)

[jonbgd]

Really 5 each Platinum cruiser

More watering down of Platinum benefits:rolleyes:.

It should be... If they are in your cabin or your kids, to extend this benefit too

Edited August 14, 2014 by jonbgd

[cruise pup]

To bring guests, you need to visit the Passenger Services desk when you're ready to tender. Walking down to Deck Zero with them will be a hit or a miss, as YMMV.

 

In June my Carnival Splendor cruise stopped at Half Moon Cay. The Platinum guests had to report to the Board Conference Room for the priority tenders. There was a ship's officer with a walkie talkie who looked at our cards and then waited for clearance and escorted us down to Deck 0. We did not report to the service desk. I think the instructions were listed in our welcome letter.

[cruise pup]

Mmmmm....might not want to pull the "do you know who I am" with someone preparing your food and delivering it.....jussayin.

 

 

Misslucy01

 

I knew a waiter who would tell customers, "Don't give me a hard time. I get to your food before you do!"

Edited August 14, 2014 by cruise pup

[Disconnections]

In June my Carnival Splendor cruise stopped at Half Moon Cay. The Platinum guests had to report to the Board Conference Room for the priority tenders. There was a ship's officer with a walkie talkie who looked at our cards and then waited for clearance and escorted us down to Deck 0. We did not report to the service desk. I think the instructions were listed in our welcome letter.

 

I've always taken an elevator down to Deck Zero holding my Platinum card in hand when tendering. I've never followed the instructions on the sheet of paper. In fact, I've never received a paper with instructions. I'm pretty sure when they have a separate meeting area, it is usually only for the first couple of tenders. Otherwise, guests are advised to visit the Guest Services desk when they wish to be escorted down. They're not going to keep a ship's officer with other staff in a room for the entire time spent in a port of call when there will be limited, if any, passengers coming to that room after the first couple of tenders.

Edited August 14, 2014 by Disconnections

[cruise pup]

I've always taken an elevator down to Deck Zero holding my Platinum card in hand when tendering. I've never followed the instructions on the sheet of paper. In fact, I've never received a paper with instructions. I'm pretty sure when they have a separate meeting area, it is usually only for the first couple of tenders. Otherwise, guests are advised to visit the Guest Services desk when they wish to be escorted down. They're not going to keep a ship's officer with other staff in a room for the entire time spent in a port of call when there will be limited, if any, passengers coming to that room after the first couple of tenders.

 

Since following the instructions was not an inconvenience and worked out swell, there would be no point in doing it any other way.

[NCTribeFan]

I've always gone to the service desk because I always want the first tender possible to HMC. I want to spend every minute I possibly can there.

 

Before FTTF, I've had a private escort. First experience, I was nearly attacked by a woman who was highly indignant when the group from the theater arrived to find me already standing there waiting for the tender. Seriously, the Carnival guy had to intervene (her lovely daughter still managed to ram the backs of my ankles with Jr's stroller; I'm sure it was unintentional :rolleyes: ).

 

Anyway, I'm not going to put myself at risk of a mob attack by a bunch of no-nothing rednecks by going down on my own. :p

[ScottsSweetie]

We have also used priority tendering before - we were advised to visit the Guest Services desk when ready. Upon doing so, we were escorted to the tender by Guest Services personnel.

Edited August 14, 2014 by ScottsSweetie
spelling

[Regestd]

We were with three other couples on the Sunshine last February and are both platinum, we were able to take up to 5 others early on the tender with us. I didn't realize it until I saw it in very small print in Fun Times about tendering. We just all went down together and were escorted to the front of the line. Worked great since we had an early tour that was not booked through the ship.

[imluvncruzn]

We are platinum and have used the priority tendering at least 3x that I can think of. Each time we have reported to guest services when our group was ready and have been escorted down stairs to the tender.... and we have been allowed to take up to 5 additional non-platinum guests with each platinum card holder.