DIAMONDS and PLATINUMS ONLY - NO GUESTS - OFFICIAL

[Artemus]

Hello mint!

[Seshat91]

On our May 24 sailing on the Dream, the platinum and diamond party was held on the second sea day (we left Sunday, party was tuesday). Invitations were taken at the door but guests were allowed from what we could tell. It was held in the Burgundy aft lounge (punchliner) and front row was reserved for diamond guests. We had 32 diamond on board and maybe 100 Platinum at best? The room was maybe half full. The band played, video was shown, and line dances were done. The appetizers weren't my cup of tea, but they had the sushi, sliders, and something else. Drinks were plenty strong, but I prefer mine weaker and often request such. Everyone had multiple beverages and snacks. The bar in the lounge was not utilized so people couldn't sit there and order drinks.

 

As far as the diamond party, my dad was able to bring 2 guests, myself and my grandmother who are both Platinum. It was held in the piano bar on our second port day (thursday). This was the slot tournament cruise so a very interesting group.

[jwjax]

Actually I think they interpret the "rules" different on each ship.

 

Rules!!

 

You are correct!. This rule means this, and this, and maybe that!!:confused:

 

Here are some examples.... from our recent Valor sailing!:cool:

 

Priority Boarding! - CCL sends out Email and Voice mail...do not arrive before 2:00pm!!:eek: We (Platinum) arrive at 10:45 am, after going thru security, we are escorted to the VIFP Lounge! We are told that General Boarding has already begun???:confused: What??

 

Priority Debarkation! - Hmm..VIFP letter says for Platinum/Diamond guests to assemble in theater at 7:45am for Priority debark! We arrived at the Entrance to said theater at 7:30am only to be overrun by guests already debarking general Zones 1, 2, 3, and within a minute or so 4, 5, 6.:eek: REALLY!!!:confused:

 

 

Sorry, this is off topic, but still about the "RULES"

 

This not a complaint! Just an observation about the "Rules"

Edited May 31, 2015 by jwjax

[islandwannabee]

Just off the sunshine on Friday. We are diamond, no one at the door taking invitations or giving out beads:(, so really anyone could have walked in and enjoyed.

[Out to sea!]

You could just ask JH.

 

Ask JH what? :confused:

[Out to sea!]

The reason "nothing has changed" is because 99% of the complaints here are so insignificant and self-important that no respectable professional would consider them worthy of reporting. To me, thats doing their job quite well.

 

The reason for no response is a person could spend 24 hours a day sparring with the disgruntled who have more time on their hands than sense.

 

Logic and reason will never stop those with their personal axe to grind. We all know who they are - and so do they. Just watch, you'll see.

 

Obviously you have missed all of the battles just over the party when it was Gold/Plat/Diamond and so many people stating that they could bring however many people they wanted (and that is just one subject of many here). Those threads could have been nipped in the bud right from the get go by someone official stating "These are the rules........".

 

And that's the thing, there is no sparring with an official from Carnival. It's their boat, their rules. Someone doesn't like it then they can go play somewhere else. Yet they leave us, those with no power, to advise others of their rules. If they are going to pay someone to be here they should be doing the job, not me or you.

Edited May 31, 2015 by Out to sea!

[Out to sea!]

Interesting to think about, the effect of social media on businesses' decisions. I know they are watching here pretty routinely. As I check here daily and follow John Heald' s Facebook page, I can tell you that he does polls all the time about various things like do you like singing waiters in the MDR. The thing is, there is often a striking parallel between what he puts on his page and what is currently being discussed here.

 

I'm pretty sure they are at least interested enough in what is said here to at least ask a wider customer base what they think. I agree that it does not necessarily lead to a definitive policy change that can be linked back to here. Interesting aside, NCL recently started charging a fee for room service and then made a policy that no food could be brought to your room from restraints or buffets. The public pretty much had a cow via posts here, on their Facebook page, and who knows where else. They retracted the policy about bring food back within 2 weeks. So, they are listening, and if enough people are mad enough, you might see a change.

 

Personally, I always thought that it was someone here seeing things on his blog and bringing it here.......not the other way around.

 

As for NCL, I know that they read CC and have an account as I have seen many times where they will post for someone to call them to fix a problem. That's what I haven't seen here......anyone from CCL asking members for input or offering to help or even provide a response to a heated discussion. If CCL is here, why don't they answer up questions, especially ones that get heated, instead of letting us duke it out????

Edited May 31, 2015 by Out to sea!

[Out to sea!]

Actually I think they interpret the "rules" different on each ship.

 

Each ship should not have the authorization to "interpret" the rules as they see fit. No point of having a fleetwide rule if it's not going to be followed fleetwide.

[n6uqqq]

Do the rationalizations help you sleep at night?

 

Yes they do. Does being the CC hall monitor help you sleep at night? You must have been an awesome hall monitor in high school.

[love my grandkids]

Yes they do. Does being the CC hall monitor help you sleep at night? You must have been an awesome hall monitor in high school.

 

very funny

[AngAndBoys]

Personally, I always thought that it was someone here seeing things on his blog and bringing it here.......not the other way around.

 

As for NCL, I know that they read CC and have an account as I have seen many times where they will post for someone to call them to fix a problem. That's what I haven't seen here......anyone from CCL asking members for input or offering to help or even provide a response to a heated discussion. If CCL is here, why don't they answer up questions, especially ones that get heated, instead of letting us duke it out????

 

My perception has been that I've seen it here first, but I haven't kept an official tally or anything. :D

 

I agree that NCL is traditionally more worried about social media than Carnival. Ever been to a meet and greet on one of their ships where officers come and give you their phone numbers and literally ask you to give them a chance to fix a problem before you bash them here? They are clearly well aware of what gets said here.

 

Carnival's answer seems to be John Heald. They use a likeable face to protect themselves on Facebook. So far as I know, no other line has an active face to the public like that. And HE is tuned into what's here. I've seen him respond to concerns from here on his FB page. So, while ncl has a faceless nameless person answering people here, CCL has JH responding to people's needs and gripes quite publicly and a whole army of his loyal fans to bash their complaints and make them look stupid in the process. Brilliant!

 

Still, I do think, for whatever reason, NCL does seem to fear and respond to social media backlash more. But I think Carnival pays plenty of attention too.

[AngAndBoys]

Each ship should not have the authorization to "interpret" the rules as they see fit. No point of having a fleetwide rule if it's not going to be followed fleetwide.

 

Have you ever known Carnival to consistently enforce a rule? I'm not being sarcastic. That just doesn't appear to be something corporate focuses on.

[love my grandkids]

My perception has been that I've seen it here first, but I haven't kept an official tally or anything. :D

 

I agree that NCL is traditionally more worried about social media than Carnival. Ever been to a meet and greet on one of their ships where officers come and give you their phone numbers and literally ask you to give them a chance to fix a problem before you bash them here? They are clearly well aware of what gets said here.

 

Carnival's answer seems to be John Heald. They use a likeable face to protect themselves on Facebook. So far as I know, no other line has an active face to the public like that. And HE is tuned into what's here. I've seen him respond to concerns from here on his FB page. So, while ncl has a faceless nameless person answering people here, CCL has JH responding to people's needs and gripes quite publicly and a whole army of his loyal fans to bash their complaints and make them look stupid in the process. Brilliant!

 

Still, I do think, for whatever reason, NCL does seem to fear and respond to social media backlash more. But I think Carnival pays plenty of attention too.

 

It is remarkable how many posts from here find their way to JH's fb page for answers and sometimes the CC post has been distorted over there.

 

Happen to like the guy but dont think that he should be making his cruise lines passengers help up to ridicule.

[AngAndBoys]

PS, don't get the wrong idea, I love JH and really do think the marketing, publicity people at CCL are diabolical geniuses for using him to such an advantage.

[AngAndBoys]

It is remarkable how many posts from here find their way to JH's fb page for answers and sometimes the CC post has been distorted over there.

 

Happen to like the guy but dont think that he should be making his cruise lines passengers help up to ridicule.

 

Yeah, but you might note that HE never says anything vaguely negative or impolite. I'm sure they're well aware that public viciousness on social media will do that for them. They probably learned THAT from reading this board. Haha!

[Out to sea!]

Yes they do. Does being the CC hall monitor help you sleep at night? You must have been an awesome hall monitor in high school.

 

No, I was too busy in band and choir. "Redirecting" is another form of rationalization though. ;)

[Out to sea!]

Have you ever known Carnival to consistently enforce a rule? I'm not being sarcastic. That just doesn't appear to be something corporate focuses on.

 

Actually, yes I have but I agree, the rules they enforce are far and few in between and the ones they enforce are the ones that will get them into big trouble if they don't (such as underage drinking). That being said, it would be nice for them to pull their collective heads out of the sand and understand it's pointless and rather irritating to make a rule if you're not going to enforce it.

Edited May 31, 2015 by Out to sea!

[love my grandkids]

Yeah, but you might note that HE never says anything vaguely negative or impolite. I'm sure they're well aware that public viciousness on social media will do that for them. They probably learned THAT from reading this board. Haha!

 

But he publishes letters or posts that he knows will hold them up to public ridicule. And one should never do that to your paying customers.

 

The people who constantly criticize Carnival while not sailing with them are just wrong IMHO.

[SellN4U]

Sorry if I missed this in the 293 responses, but doesn't Carnival have a policy that the whole immediate family staying in a cabin automatically gets the same loyalty level as the person with the highest level in the cabin? This upcoming cruise will be out 3rd on Carnival, but we have cruised RCCL about 16 times and my DW has the most number of cruises, so myself and our DS get to be Diamond along with her.

[love my grandkids]

Sorry if I missed this in the 293 responses, but doesn't Carnival have a policy that the whole immediate family staying in a cabin automatically gets the same loyalty level as the person with the highest level in the cabin? This upcoming cruise will be out 3rd on Carnival, but we have cruised RCCL about 16 times and my DW has the most number of cruises, so myself and our DS get to be Diamond along with her.

 

No they dont.

[figdu]

Each ship should not have the authorization to "interpret" the rules as they see fit. No point of having a fleetwide rule if it's not going to be followed fleetwide.

 

So now you are going to tell a ship captain what he is or isn't allowdd to do?

[Budget Queen]

As a Platinum member, married to a gold member, he will not be allowed to go with me. I have traveled many of my cruises solo, so this will not bother me to attend alone. However, there are many women as well as men, who would not go to the party alone. Many would like to be able to get up there and dance with their partners during the party. Is that wrong to want? I wonder why the invitation could not have been for the platinum +1 guess? I appreciate the party, but i hope they will eventually change it where 1 partner will be allowed.

 

COSTS. Why should there be guests? It's a LOYALTY party, with clear guidelines who qualifies and who does not.

[Elaine5715]

So now you are going to tell a ship captain what he is or isn't allowdd to do?

 

The Ship Captain has nothing to do be the Hotel Operations. It would be simple for Carnival to require consistent hotel practices especially since they are going to be blasted for each inconsistency.

[figdu]

The Ship Captain has nothing to do be the Hotel Operations. It would be simple for Carnival to require consistent hotel practices especially since they are going to be blasted for each inconsistency.

 

 

I want to be standing there when you tell him he has nothing to do with what happens on his ship.

[mintsugarcube]

Hello mint!

 

Hello Art! Where in Roanoke are you? We are off 419

Edited June 1, 2015 by mintsugarcube