This old dog learned a new "Platinum" trick...

[MaryAnn261]

One question... kind of along the same lines. What about lines getting back on the ship if it's not a tender port. Is there a special place for Platinum or do you wait with everyone else?

[jimbo5544]

Our group is always escorted to the front of the tender line and we never had anyone get upset.......

If they are implementing it on the return they should have signage.......so at least if the security guard is clueless you can point him in the right direction.......

Never had anyone get upset on tender...but have at the guest relation desk. Agree about the signage, easy to do and will solve any potential issues.

[jimbo5544]

One question... kind of along the same lines. What about lines getting back on the ship if it's not a tender port. Is there a special place for Platinum or do you wait with everyone else?

With everyone else.

[mississauga]

There "may" be a way....

 

the next 3 cruises are to only docked ports...but come Nov on the Liberty (or maybe it is the Destiny in Dec) .... I think we have some tendered ports.

 

I am thinking about mentioning it to the head of Security after we board ...just to make sure his folks are "informed"....

 

couldn't hurt....

 

 

It's been a while since we have tendered so can't remember. Are all security at all ports part of the ship's security team or are some of them, local port security?

 

If local port security, would they be all be "informed"?

 

I agree that signage would be helpful to both platinum and others to avoid any misunderstandings.:) Even for the security person.

 

 

Originally Posted by cascole

LOL - even after all my cruises, I don't think I could pick the head of security out of a lineup on any given ship. :o

 

I believe they wear a navy jacket vs the all white uniforms of the rest of the security team. I spoke to one on the Dream last December and this was what he was wearing.

[jimbo5544]

I recall that office being on the starboard side headed toward that theater, at least on the Conquet class...

 

:)

Learn something new everyday....

[shipfanatic]

Now if they would implement some kind of Platinum line for returning at non-tendered ports....

[*Mach*]

Learn something new everyday....

 

 

Not that I have personal experience 'visiting' that particular office but I did fall into it one day when the door was opened...

:o

Note to self... lean against walls... not doors...

[CrusinCyndi]

Would this be for just platinum guests or would it also include suite guests ?

[*Mach*]

Would this be for just platinum guests or would it also include suite guests ?

 

 

Platinum and above. There is no way to distinguish someone in a suite. Platinum have a platinum colored Sail & Sign card...

:)

[Kurbanfan]

Would this be for just platinum guests or would it also include suite guests ?

 

 

Platinum.......

[Kurbanfan]

Would this apply to only the Platinum card holder or the party they are traveling with? I'm almost Platinum (1 more to go after my October cruise) but my parents are only about 1/2 way there. If we are cruising together and I make Platinum, would the tender pirority perk apply to them as well?

 

It would be no problem.........

[Kurbanfan]

Never had anyone get upset on tender...but have at the guest relation desk. Agree about the signage, easy to do and will solve any potential issues.

 

LOL! We actually had one of the guest service employee's who were told to escort us down to the front of the line get pissy......He obviously didn't want to do his job:rolleyes:

[okgirl]

Of course, I knew about LEAVING the ship but RETURNING to the ship was always a gray area BECAUSE....the Security Guards said the "perk" was only one way. Good to know that Platinum folks get this perk BOTH ways.

 

This was posted on John's blog yesterday....

 

"I mentioned the Platinum experience earlier and wanted to go back to a question I answered some time ago about the tender priority our Platinum guests are allowed. It was mentioned that there was not a fleet wide directive on this which has now been rectified and I can confirm the following.

 

DEBARKATION BY TENDER

 

When you are ready Platinum card holders should go directly to the Guest Services Desk where a Guest Service Associate will arrange a staff member to escort you to the front of the tender ticket line or if a tender ticket system is not being used will take you to straight to the tender.

 

RETURN TO THE SHIP

 

Platinum card holders should go straight to the front of the line and show their cards to the security guards who will allow you on the tender."

 

I was disappointed to see that on John's blog only because I think he actually believes that it works that way. Unfortunately he is wrong at least in my experience.

I have on many occasions had Guest Services tell me that they don't provide escort service, that I should just barge my way to the front of the line. I've even had Carnival employee's down on deck 0 tell me that Platinum doesn't get you to the head of the line.

I've NEVER received return tender priority boarding. The onshore people couldn't care less about my Platinum status.

And everytime I've ever been embarking in Galveston or NOLA I've been told that Platinum doesn't start until you get into the terminal building.

In Galveston you don't get separated out to VIP until after you've cattled called all the way up to the top of the escalator and your funpass is checked, then yes you get to go into a VIP security line, but there isn't anyone there to "insert" you into the next available scanner.

It's even worse in NOLA, you're in the cattle call line until you go through security and get upstairs, then there are 15 agents checking in regular guests and no more than 2 agents checking in VIP.

Remember what a croc it was on the Bloggers cruise last year. One person checking in all those VIP people. It was the longest embarkation that I've ever experienced and I'm not going to cut Carnival any slack because they knew there were going to be a huge number of Platinum guests on that sailing.

At least on next years BC4 we'll be in PC which has the best VIP boarding of any port I've ever experienced.

John and the "beards" are to far removed from this situation. I don't know who ON SITE needs to ensure that these perks are enforced uniformily, but maybe they need to start satisfaction survey's for embarkation and debarkation to see where the problems really exist.

Maybe the CDs need to mention during their embarkation talks about the various VIP perks that are available to these passengers. It would inform the non-Platinum people of what's available to them some day, but it would also educate all of the guests that these are perks that we have earned so that they don't think that we're just rudely trying to bump in line.

The shoreside agents need to be held to certain standards of service to Carnivals most valued customers.

[jimbo5544]

Not that I have personal experience 'visiting' that particular office but I did fall into it one day when the door was opened...

 

:o

 

Note to self... lean against walls... not doors...

 

LOL...so you did come up with a "just thought I would drop in" line?

[*Mach*]

I was disappointed to see that on John's blog only because I think he actually believes that it works that way. Unfortunately he is wrong at least in my experience.

 

I have on many occasions had Guest Services tell me that they don't provide escort service, that I should just barge my way to the front of the line. I've even had Carnival employee's down on deck 0 tell me that Platinum doesn't get you to the head of the line.

 

I've NEVER received return tender priority boarding. The onshore people couldn't care less about my Platinum status.

 

And everytime I've ever been embarking in Galveston or NOLA I've been told that Platinum doesn't start until you get into the terminal building.

 

In Galveston you don't get separated out to VIP until after you've cattled called all the way up to the top of the escalator and your funpass is checked, then yes you get to go into a VIP security line, but there isn't anyone there to "insert" you into the next available scanner.

 

It's even worse in NOLA, you're in the cattle call line until you go through security and get upstairs, then there are 15 agents checking in regular guests and no more than 2 agents checking in VIP.

 

Remember what a croc it was on the Bloggers cruise last year. One person checking in all those VIP people. It was the longest embarkation that I've ever experienced and I'm not going to cut Carnival any slack because they knew there were going to be a huge number of Platinum guests on that sailing.

 

At least on next years BC4 we'll be in PC which has the best VIP boarding of any port I've ever experienced.

 

John and the "beards" are to far removed from this situation. I don't know who ON SITE needs to ensure that these perks are enforced uniformily, but maybe they need to start satisfaction survey's for embarkation and debarkation to see where the problems really exist.

 

Maybe the CDs need to mention during their embarkation talks about the various VIP perks that are available to these passengers. It would inform the non-Platinum people of what's available to them some day, but it would also educate all of the guests that these are perks that we have earned so that they don't think that we're just rudely trying to bump in line.

 

The shoreside agents need to be held to certain standards of service to Carnivals most valued customers.

 

 

Janey... this is actually a new policy. Prior to the discussion of how it works John wrote this:

I mentioned the Platinum experience earlier and wanted to go back to a question I answered some time ago about the tender priority our Platinum guests are allowed. It was mentioned that there was not a fleet wide directive on this which has now been rectified and I can confirm the following.

 

:)

[*Mach*]

LOL...so you did come up with a "just thought I would drop in" line?

 

 

No, but it would have been brilliant!

:)

[LHP]

I was disappointed to see that on John's blog only because I think he actually believes that it works that way. Unfortunately he is wrong at least in my experience.

I have on many occasions had Guest Services tell me that they don't provide escort service, that I should just barge my way to the front of the line. I've even had Carnival employee's down on deck 0 tell me that Platinum doesn't get you to the head of the line.

I've NEVER received return tender priority boarding. The onshore people couldn't care less about my Platinum status.

And everytime I've ever been embarking in Galveston or NOLA I've been told that Platinum doesn't start until you get into the terminal building.

In Galveston you don't get separated out to VIP until after you've cattled called all the way up to the top of the escalator and your funpass is checked, then yes you get to go into a VIP security line, but there isn't anyone there to "insert" you into the next available scanner.

It's even worse in NOLA, you're in the cattle call line until you go through security and get upstairs, then there are 15 agents checking in regular guests and no more than 2 agents checking in VIP.

Remember what a croc it was on the Bloggers cruise last year. One person checking in all those VIP people. It was the longest embarkation that I've ever experienced and I'm not going to cut Carnival any slack because they knew there were going to be a huge number of Platinum guests on that sailing.

At least on next years BC4 we'll be in PC which has the best VIP boarding of any port I've ever experienced.

John and the "beards" are to far removed from this situation. I don't know who ON SITE needs to ensure that these perks are enforced uniformily, but maybe they need to start satisfaction survey's for embarkation and debarkation to see where the problems really exist.

Maybe the CDs need to mention during their embarkation talks about the various VIP perks that are available to these passengers. It would inform the non-Platinum people of what's available to them some day, but it would also educate all of the guests that these are perks that we have earned so that they don't think that we're just rudely trying to bump in line.

The shoreside agents need to be held to certain standards of service to Carnivals most valued customers.

 

 

 

When we sailed out of New Orleans on the Triumph in January, they finally did have VIP starting AT THE EXTERIOR DOOR at the bottom of the escalator.

 

It was VERY nice!!! (but that was the first time)

 

The Platinum perk has always just said "Priority Tendering" .... which most took to mean both ways....but it was always a grey area.

 

I would have found the "employee" on Deck 0 and "introduced" him or her to the letter in my cabin.

 

We usually don't use the "escort" service (since we don't do excursions)....we just use our card in lieu of having to go get a number. We just stand in line like everyone else.

 

 

However, on the Fantasy in May, I was meeting folks for lunch from the Ecstasy in Grand Cayman and the line was a mile long .... so I asked a Social Host the best way to get this perk (since we were not use to taking advantage of this perk) and he dropped what he was doing and immediately escorted us to the tenders himself.

 

Needless to say.....he got some WONDERFUL comments on the comment card.

[okgirl]

Janey... this is actually a new policy. Prior to the discussion of how it works John wrote this:

 

I mentioned the Platinum experience earlier and wanted to go back to a question I answered some time ago about the tender priority our Platinum guests are allowed. It was mentioned that there was not a fleet wide directive on this which has now been rectified and I can confirm the following.

 

:)

 

And I appreciate that they have clarified it, but as with all new policies I suspect that it will still be enforced very sporadically as are all of the other Platinum perks. Sometimes okay, too many times not okay.

Linda...........I'm thrilled to hear about NOLA, now we can only hope for Galveston and all other embarkation ports to follow along.

I know I made it sound like a big deal, but it's my experience that just because the top dogs THINK something works a certain way it rarely does.

I guess the only thing we can do is to continue to be loyal to Carnival while continuing to point out areas of deficiency in their follow through of stated policies.

[Grits53]

Well, this is nice to know! My DH truly hates waiting in lines!

[browneyes7]

Of course, I knew about LEAVING the ship but RETURNING to the ship was always a gray area BECAUSE....the Security Guards said the "perk" was only one way. Good to know that Platinum folks get this perk BOTH ways.

 

This was posted on John's blog yesterday....

 

"I mentioned the Platinum experience earlier and wanted to go back to a question I answered some time ago about the tender priority our Platinum guests are allowed. It was mentioned that there was not a fleet wide directive on this which has now been rectified and I can confirm the following.

 

DEBARKATION BY TENDER

 

When you are ready Platinum card holders should go directly to the Guest Services Desk where a Guest Service Associate will arrange a staff member to escort you to the front of the tender ticket line or if a tender ticket system is not being used will take you to straight to the tender.

 

RETURN TO THE SHIP

 

Platinum card holders should go straight to the front of the line and show their cards to the security guards who will allow you on the tender."

 

I'm platinum........but, I'd rather not risk doing that!:)

[KruznKel]

I'm platinum........but, I'd rather not risk doing that!:)

 

I personally wouldn't do it unless there were people in my party that were in distress or something.. just butting into line because you can.. doesn't seem like a perk for me.. if you are quite capable of waiting do so.. ;)

[cascole]

I personally wouldn't do it unless there were people in my party that were in distress or something.. just butting into line because you can.. doesn't seem like a perk for me.. if you are quite capable of waiting do so.. ;)

 

Not trying to be a brat - but really, honestly curious... if you booked a first class airline ticket or became part of their premier tier customer loyalty program would you still wait in the regular line at check in & security? I think you'd be a very rare breed if that answer is yes.

[mississauga]

Originally posted by Okgirl: Remember what a croc it was on the Bloggers cruise last year. One person checking in all those VIP people. It was the longest embarkation that I've ever experienced and I'm not going to cut Carnival any slack because they knew there were going to be a huge number of Platinum guests on that sailing.

 

At least on next years BC4 we'll be in PC which has the best VIP boarding of any port I've ever experienced.

 

I'm confused. Are you referring to BC3 on the Dream last December? Wasn't that at Port Canaveral? Also, BC4 will be boarding in Miami.

 

I'm asking for a clarification as we will be boarding in PC later this year as first time Platinum. Is this the port that is a problem or will be the best???:confused:

[KruznKel]

Not trying to be a brat - but really, honestly curious... if you booked a first class airline ticket or became part of their premier tier customer loyalty program would you still wait in the regular line at check in & security? I think you'd be a very rare breed if that answer is yes.

 

 

Online in an airport or in line on a tropical island waiting to board.... hmmmm let me think.. I will wait inline on the tropical island.. apples to oranges there doesn't quite compare in my books;)

[PA Dutchman]

They will need to have a seperate line that says Platinum only. If this goes like everything else Platinum, this will be enforced very sporadically as are all of the other Platinum perks.

they already backed off the platinum debarkation off first and moved us with all VIP. Same as for embarkation.

Our Milestone status means nothing.