Platinum Disappointment

[Elaine5715]

11 hours ago, wemjam said:

CC is not the only place to get information... again they have a guest services desk you could have simply asked any questions at, and as Diamond it is a pretty quick trip usually.  Just saying.

 

Also, after the start up they did put letters and instructions out on all this (and maybe an email? not sure about that but I have a vague memory of it). Right in the beginning it was a bit chaotic, but a short while after like on my 2nd, 3rd, 4th cruises,  I remember getting letters in my room about where to "find" all the things that used to be delivered.  However, you can't expect that they will keep providing such instruction for the next 10 years so every single possible customer that hasn't sailed for a while can 'catch up'

Many, many emails

Edited April 28, 2023 by Elaine5715

[bluesman0711]

Yep emails and in room info is how we were advised.

[MagnoliaBlossom]

3 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

https://www.carnival.com/vifp/terms-and-conditio

3 hours ago, stevethepirate said:

It's a Platinum perk. They're not doing the tournaments, so they give you $25 in free play. You have to go to the casino desk and ask for it. On some ships they just give you cash.

 

I see.  We did receive FunPlay on our last sailing, but when the poster said cash, I thought this was something different.

[BlerkOne]

1 hour ago, MagnoliaBlossom said:

 

Some ships will just hand you $25 cash instead.

[WhiteOptima]

I received no email before Sunshine last year and just did a B2B and received for the first cruise but not the second.  And I never saw a QR code in our room.  I actually had to go to GS because they charged me for a bottle of water in my room that I did not use as my VIFP drink.  We got them from the bar.

 

Yes I do know my perks but I learned more here on CC than Carnival.  The water is hit and miss if you use the one in the room with charging you or as your perk and I did not know we could order cookies instead of strawberries.

 

My thing is having to go to Sea Day Brunch for your free drink.  We went the first week and we are not MDR people so didn’t even bother the second week.  I use to just take the coupons and go in to get the drinks and leave.
On recent Celebration cruise the Platinum/Diamond party was at 4pm on Saturday, day before debarkation.  Since the letter said you would receive one glass of wine there would be a free drink on your account after 3pm that day.  In all my years of cruising and these were 7 days, I have never had the party on the last day.

[WhiteOptima]

1 hour ago, BlerkOne said:

Some ships will just hand you $25 cash instead.

Yep had that on Sunshine and Pride.  Celebration asks slots or tables and I said slots and was on my S&S.

[kdr69]

On 4/27/2023 at 5:21 PM, HOUSTONVIP said:

not sure where you get your  "announcement" but it was never clear to us. Disappointed that it wasn't made clear.

 

uhmmm what about all the papers on your bed and desk with directions and info when you entered your room?

[kdr69]

9 hours ago, Boxerjim said:

they really don't advertise the changes. 

ya I know right?? Its only on their website and emails, youtube, Cruise Critic, Face without books, every cruise blog known.  They really need to do better at getting the word out your right.

[wemjam]

15 hours ago, stevethepirate said:

It's a Platinum perk. They're not doing the tournaments, so they give you $25 in free play. You have to go to the casino desk and ask for it. On some ships they just give you cash.

 

This is a a good example for us specifically of what the OP should have done.  We were not "aware" of this change but knew there should be a perk so we asked at guest services about this.  They sent us to the casino.  We asked about it and they handed us $25 each.  So for us a simple question or two and bam $50!  Totally worth it.  Now we know and ask every cruise 😆

[Elaine5715]

3 hours ago, wemjam said:

This is a a good example for us specifically of what the OP should have done.  We were not "aware" of this change but knew there should be a perk so we asked at guest services about this.  They sent us to the casino.  We asked about it and they handed us $25 each.  So for us a simple question or two and bam $50!  Totally worth it.  Now we know and ask every cruise 😆

Or simply asked their cabin attendant.  My guess is they deleted emails from Carnival  when they didn't have a cruise planned and two years later when it is common knowledge, want to know why no one told them.  

[icft]

Just a few thoughts.

 

1. The OP said it was not a big deal. Somehow when someone mentions something on CC folks assume they are seething and can't sleep at night for the angst. The OP didn't get, didn't care enough to interrupt his vacation enjoyment to track it down and now they are back essentially saying "whatever happened to..."

 

2. Folks here seem to forget that pre-covid you didn't have to do a lot of research before a cruise. You got on the ship and they took care of you just as they had done even before Carnival had an internet site or there was a CC or YouTube. On our first cruise in 2001 we knew nothing. Your cabin steward and the Fun Times told you everything you didn't know you needed to know (the app is great for finding things you know to look for, but reading the Fun Times you found out about things you didn't even know you needed to know). On that first cruise we didn't miss a thing even though we did no research and really gave it no thought - it was just a lark to see what cruising was.

 

3. I'm happy for all the folks that Carnival informed about new ways post-covid, but on our September 2021 cruise neither me or my wife got any emails about changes other than a ton of stuff about proof of vaccine and masks. Our cabin had no paper at all let alone any notice about where to get water etc. Sure, now for some cruises we get an email with that kind of information but it is hit and miss (and sometimes we get emails about a cruise while we are on the cruise or after we get back) so I have no problem understanding that the OP didn't get any email and didn't know to go looking for things he didn't know he needed to go look for.

 

Bottom line, for about 48 years all you need to know was how to get on the ship and they would fill you in on the rest once you were aboard. Now you have to do research to even know what you need to research. The OP was caught unawares by the change but now knows. Why keep piling on?

 

 

 

 

 

[hammer76]

Interesting. I see a lot of people trying to take it easy on Carnival for various reasons for why they are not taking care of their priority customer base of customers that choose Carnival from all the others. I've read not enough crew, too expensive, gotta go request it, etc. We've been on two platinum cruises since COVID. Nothing. No little gift. No turndown service. One room cleaning per day. We didn't even meet our room steward until the third day of each cruise. I'm trying to figure out why I have to take time from my expensive vacation to run down crew members for these basic things. I don't see cruise fares coming down but getting more expensive. Drinks certainly aren't coming down. Sorry, but I don't see why I am responsible for these perks. We've only sailed Carnival since October 2004. No, some of these things are not enough to ruin a vacation but they made that same vacation a bit more memorable.

 

 

[mz-s]

Only on this forum is it the guests fault when carnival makes cutbacks. 

[ray98]

If the Carnival Triumph poop cruise happened today many in this group would be saying you should be thanking Carnival for the extra days at sea.

[mz-s]

10 minutes ago, ray98 said:

If the Carnival Triumph poop cruise happened today many in this group would be saying you should be thanking Carnival for the extra days at sea.

I actually think somebody here did call the triumph cruise an extended vacation.

[BlerkOne]

18 minutes ago, ray98 said:

If the Carnival Triumph poop cruise happened today many in this group would be saying you should be thanking Carnival for the extra days at sea.

We never are so lucky. I'd love a free cruise even if it included some primitive camping.

[BlerkOne]

1 hour ago, mz-s said:

Only on this forum is it the guests fault when carnival makes cutbacks. 

Change happens. It isn't the guest's fault.

 

If your cruise begins today and the ship isn't there, do you assume just another cutback or do you bother to ask someone?

[EngIceDave]

15 hours ago, Boxerjim said:

explain their stock drop:)

 

Earnings didn't meet expectations, not because too many people don't ask customer service or have their FREE GIFTS delivered on a silver platter.

[FastShip24]

On 4/27/2023 at 10:03 AM, sgttami said:

I believe you have to go to Pixels to get gifts etc.  and call from your cabin for in room treats and go to casino for your $25 cash.

Correct

[wemjam]

18 hours ago, icft said:

Just a few thoughts.

 

2. Folks here seem to forget that pre-covid you didn't have to do a lot of research before a cruise. 

 

Bottom line, for about 48 years all you need to know was how to get on the ship and they would fill you in on the rest once you were aboard.

 

 

 

Ummmm  I tend to disagree.  In all my years cruising (not 48 like you obviously, but 20+) do you know how many people we have spoken to and helped give information for things they didn't know or understand while cruising?  No exaggeration probably hundreds.  Even with announcements, reams of paperwork in the rooms, etc.

 

No one is trying to pile on anything, the consensus here seems to be something very simple.  If you have a question ask someone. 

 

Anyone that is reading this board to "learn" things for a cruise should take that one simple fact away.

 

Ask here on CC, ask the front desk, as your steward, on board ship there are lots of people that know what they are doing - simply being observant and if you see something they seem to maybe know you don't... just ask.  IF there is one thing I am sure of, most experienced cruises LOVE to talk cruising and are more than happy to help answer questions.

[wemjam]

18 hours ago, hammer76 said:

Interesting. I see a lot of people trying to take it easy on Carnival for various reasons for why they are not taking care of their priority customer base of customers that choose Carnival from all the others. I've read not enough crew, too expensive, gotta go request it, etc. We've been on two platinum cruises since COVID. Nothing. No little gift. No turndown service. One room cleaning per day. We didn't even meet our room steward until the third day of each cruise. I'm trying to figure out why I have to take time from my expensive vacation to run down crew members for these basic things. I don't see cruise fares coming down but getting more expensive. Drinks certainly aren't coming down. Sorry, but I don't see why I am responsible for these perks. We've only sailed Carnival since October 2004. No, some of these things are not enough to ruin a vacation but they made that same vacation a bit more memorable.

 

 

First several of these things you mention are not "level" related and have nothing to do with their "priority customers" which I assume you are referring to Platinum?  Not enough crew, expenses, no turn down, one room cleaning, etc.  

 

Fact is costs are up everywhere and labor is hard to come by, anyone that works anywhere can attest to this.  

 

Change happens, many of the things you mention are changes that happened way before Covid, cruising in general on Carnival transitioned away from the overly pampered way we were used to. Post Covid changing the procedure to picking up your gifts and such is just another Change.

 

If you didn't meet your room steward until day three on multiple cruises then it is likely you weren't around when they were.  Their hours are not 24/7.  This has not been our experience at all.

 

Change is a fact of life, this has come up so many times on these boards and been beat to death. Some change is good/some is bad and an individuals opinion on which it is will be different as to how it affects them personally.  

 

The fact is none of us are forced to cruise with any particular line, so I don't understand why people who continue to cruise over and over again with Carnival (or any cruise line) want to continually complain about their service.  Are there things I see (especially compared to years past) that annoy me about them - most certainly.  Are there things about new programs/offerings I love - absolutely.  It is my decision to cruise with them and I choose to take the bad with the good because there is no one line out there (that I can afford anyhow lol) that would ever meet every single expectation I might have.

 

 

[silverturtle]

We are pretty new at the cruising thing. We've only been on 7 cruises on Carnival and NCL. Things have changed since covid, the workforce isn't the same, we have to wait longer to purchase food onboard and even on land. We try to be more patient on those working to make us comfortable or feed us. I really didn't think the extra perks mattered, but we were just in a suite for the first time this past march and LOVED the priority boarding both going to shore and boarding for the cruise and getting off the cruise. But the other perks I don't think I'd even miss. I don't get too excited about the ship on a stick...or whatever it's called, I don't think id put it on display in my home.  And the free bottle of water, the pin, the free laundry I can live without those too. I guess I don't see the point in getting all worked up over the water, pin and laundry. Now that 25 dollars from the casino?.... yea,,  where do I go get that?????? 🤩

[Honolulu Blue]

1 hour ago, silverturtle said:

I don't get too excited about the ship on a stick...or whatever it's called, I don't think id put it on display in my home. 

AFAIK, Carnival has never used those trophies as a general Platinum or Diamond perk. I've earned all of mine by answering the right question(s) at the right time. And yes, they're prominently displayed where I live. Not that too many people get a chance to see it. 😃

 

I've heard of people begging or nagging the entertainment department or Mr. Heald and receiving them that way. But that's not the same, IMHO.

[wemjam]

46 minutes ago, Honolulu Blue said:

AFAIK, Carnival has never used those trophies as a general Platinum or Diamond perk. I've earned all of mine by answering the right question(s) at the right time. And yes, they're prominently displayed where I live. Not that too many people get a chance to see it. 😃

 

I've heard of people begging or nagging the entertainment department or Mr. Heald and receiving them that way. But that's not the same, IMHO.

Ya, it is amazing what someone will do for one of those.  I would much prefer the begging to what a lot of people I see now do - basically cheat.  It is real easy to get all your answers right when you are looking up the answers to about 3/4 of the questions on your phone.

 

Hubby and I used to love these and still go sometimes, but we are very competitive and just go (and always have) for the most part to compete against each other lol!  The last one we were at there was a group of 4 women sitting in a corner that were answering the questions together AND if they didn't know they looked it up on line (which about 1/2 the questions).  Of course guess what, they won because they had 100% correct.  And the woman went running and screaming all excited to claim here trophy - REALLY people?  I felt bad enough about it that I went up to another table a little ways away that came in 2nd (it was a gentlemen and his young preteen/early teen daughter) that actually were answering it on their own.  I told them if it is any consultation YOU were the ones that REALLY won, , the other 4 were looking everything up on line. 🙄

 

 

[Honolulu Blue]

30 minutes ago, wemjam said:

Ya, it is amazing what someone will do for one of those.  I would much prefer the begging to what a lot of people I see now do - basically cheat.  It is real easy to get all your answers right when you are looking up the answers to about 3/4 of the questions on your phone.

 

Hubby and I used to love these and still go sometimes, but we are very competitive and just go (and always have) for the most part to compete against each other lol!  The last one we were at there was a group of 4 women sitting in a corner that were answering the questions together AND if they didn't know they looked it up on line (which about 1/2 the questions).  Of course guess what, they won because they had 100% correct.  And the woman went running and screaming all excited to claim here trophy - REALLY people?  I felt bad enough about it that I went up to another table a little ways away that came in 2nd (it was a gentlemen and his young preteen/early teen daughter) that actually were answering it on their own.  I told them if it is any consultation YOU were the ones that REALLY won, , the other 4 were looking everything up on line. 🙄

Thanks for sharing your story. I apologize for not noting the cheaters in their quest for trophies. You covered it nicely. Some people really want those ships on a stick and are willing to break the rules in order to get them. I assure you that I won all of mine fair and square, and I'm fine with never getting another one.