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

[winddawn]

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....

Great idea LHP. If all of Carnival's Platinum guests reminded the security staff on the trip from the ship to the shore, then all security staff would be informed very quickly indeed.

[CorvetteLady]

I can see this being a problem when there are more platinum guest than non-platinum guest. They already try to limit the laundry on the Dream when there are a lot of platinum guests. I know it happened on our 9 day cruise, I don't remember the exact number but I think close to 2/3 of the passengers were platinum or above.

 

I think it would be a good idea to have two lines at the tender dock, that way you wouldn't have to get in front of someone.

[DGP1111]

Depending on the ship...(best as I can remember) their office is just off the Atrium...either to the left port side just before you go into the main theater....OR to the right (still PORT side) as you go into the main theater.

 

Don't ask me how I know....:eek:

 

LOL

 

Linda, in all the CCL sailings I've done, I had zero clue where those were located. Thankfully I've never needed to know . . . but I know now, thanks to you!! :) :)

[NCTribeFan]

See? I asked about this before I cruised Fantasy in May because we were stopping at HMC and I didn't understand why it wasn't possible to have priority tendering to RETURN to the ship FROM HMC, where the line is always very, very long with practically no shade.

 

In fact, I waited until what I thought was plenty late, and still ended up sitting near the bar (thankfully found a seat at a table with a two couples who allowed me to join them under an umbrella).

 

I would've preferred to have spent that last 20 minutes or so on the beach. That's why I go to HMC!

 

Anyway, good to hear. And I'd like to think that my whining about it helped get the new policy implented! :D

[mississauga]

I can see this being a problem when there are more platinum guest than non-platinum guest. They already try to limit the laundry on the Dream when there are a lot of platinum guests. I know it happened on our 9 day cruise, I don't remember the exact number but I think close to 2/3 of the passengers were platinum or above.

 

I think it would be a good idea to have two lines at the tender dock, that way you wouldn't have to get in front of someone.

 

I believe the 2/3 of all passengers were past guests but only 600 were platinum.

 

Are there even over 2000 platinum members altogether? Don't know.... just asking.:)

[LHP]

I believe the 2/3 of all passengers were past guests but only 600 were platinum.

 

Are there even over 2000 platinum members altogether? Don't know.... just asking.:)

 

You are correct.

 

There was the largest number of "past guests"...but around 600 Platinum...still with 600 Platinum, that is a lot of laundry.

 

And it was still just a request. We could have used it multiple times if we wanted to.

[LHP]

See? I asked about this before I cruised Fantasy in May because we were stopping at HMC and I didn't understand why it wasn't possible to have priority tendering to RETURN to the ship FROM HMC, where the line is always very, very long with practically no shade.

 

In fact, I waited until what I thought was plenty late, and still ended up sitting near the bar (thankfully found a seat at a table with a two couples who allowed me to join them under an umbrella).

 

I would've preferred to have spent that last 20 minutes or so on the beach. That's why I go to HMC!

 

Anyway, good to hear. And I'd like to think that my whining about it helped get the new policy implented! :D

 

 

SCORE

 

for NCTribeFan !!!!

 

 

Thanks!!!

[DaDivaMom]

I will so use this perk!!!!

[nybumpkin]

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

That was exactly our thought three weeks ago in HMC. Long line, already a number of people trying to cut in line, no security in sight - and we were going to try to go to the front of the line? You gotta be kidding! We waited with the masses. I'll use the Platinum line at the purser's desk because it's marked, but if the tender line isn't marked I don't want a confrontation.

[quickrate]

If there were only some way to confirm that those security guards knew about this... and sinage would be nice. It won't be fun to irk other pax who don't know! Guess I'll play it by ear next week in Cayman... and will be sure to report my experience here!

 

Cascole, you definitely want to be able to use this perk in Cayman as this can be a hot long line when you're coming back to the ship. Have a great cruise next week-I'll see you in Nov. on the Spirit!:D

[quickrate]

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;)

 

Have you ever stood in line in Grand Cayman where there is no shade, the sun is beating down,and there is absolutely no organization? You can bet your booty the next time I'm in Cayman, I will use this perk!:cool: Have fun in Cayman Cascerole!

[jetskier]

On Fantasy class ships, the security office is off the Atrium past the guest services office on the right.

 

Dave

[Kurbanfan]

Have you ever stood in line in Grand Cayman where there is no shade, the sun is beating down,and there is absolutely no organization? You can bet your booty the next time I'm in Cayman, I will use this perk!:cool: Have fun in Cayman Cascerole!

 

Yep........last May it was raining.....and no line:D

[CRZCRAZY]

It might be handy to print John's blog and carry it in case anyone on the ship says they haven't heard about it yet....

[centurycruiser]

I was in Grand Cayman on one cruise where the line must have been close to 500 people long. That would have been a nice perk that day!

[maritaysa]

The long line in Cabo to come back on the ship (and the short time spent there), can discourage us from getting off at that port. Now that I know about priority tendering to return, I won't be so discouraged. With a bad knee, and a weak back (and after the walking while at port), the last thing I want to do is stand in an unnecessary line. This is good news!

 

One new thing that I noticed last week when returning from our Splendor cruise, was having to wait in line (lines roped off going back and forth), to get our luggage. That was not fun. We really wanted to get on the road, because we still had another 2+ hour drive home!

[luv2cruise777l]

This is how John addressed that in his blog yesterday:

 

Now, one of the concerns here is that it was reported to me by some ships that the occasional guest was trying to bring a party of 5, 10 or more, none of them whom were Platinum card holders. Obviously we can’t allow this as it is unfair to the rest of the guests. If you have kids in the family who are not platinum then of course that is fine but outside of this we need to keep this a benefit for those who have cruised with us ten times or more. For those guests who have reached Milestone status we will arrange for George Clooney and Megan Fox to put you on their backs and swim you back to the ship.

 

http://johnhealdsblog.com/2010/07/26/in-training/

 

:)

 

I will finally reach my Milestone cruise on my next sailing although I don't have any tender ports on that sailing but I am looking forward to my next tendered port so they can arrange for George Clooney to swim me back to the ship! :p:D

[cascole]

I will finally reach my Milestone cruise on my next sailing although I don't have any tender ports on that sailing but I am looking forward to my next tendered port so they can arrange for George Clooney to swim me back to the ship! :p:D

 

LOL... now thats what I call a perk!

[shiloh25]

Where can I find a list of all the platinum perks? Free laundry?!

[mugsey]

Sorry, but what is a platinum card? Do you mean a platinum credit card ? Sorry confused

[ManyMore]

Once since being platinum they made us wait until self assist people had debarked the ship. I kept saying to the staff... We are all platinum! We get of first! They chose to simply ignore us.

 

I agree there should be a sepeate platinum line at the tendor ports so there is no issue of other passengers giving us a hard time. We shouldn't have to carry our platinum letter from Carnival around with us.

 

Also I think Carnival needs to update their perks and Milestone people should have a different color card. When someone gets there I think it should be quite visable! I know I would like it when I get there! Maybe a blacj card or something would be nice. Lets face it, it doesn't cost Carnival any more to have the card a different color.

[DEBnGAB]

Sorry, but what is a platinum card? Do you mean a platinum credit card ? Sorry confused

 

10+ cruises on Carnival and you are a Platinum cruiser eligible for additional perks.

[southbayer]

I hear, read what your sayin, but I won't believe this policy until I read it on the Carnival website for myself. And then I can print it out and take it with me while I'm on shore.

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."

[montekat]

Instead of getting the "personalized stationery", I wish they would issue a card similar to RCCL's concierge club card which shows that we are entitled to Platinum perks and list what they are on it. It could have our name printed on it. I know we get the platinum colored S&S card, but not everyone recognizes it for the perks it entails. If we had a card that clearly showed it, we could just flash it in front of anyone who gives us the hairy eyeball and say "SEE!"

[okgirl]

I can see this being a problem when there are more platinum guest than non-platinum guest. They already try to limit the laundry on the Dream when there are a lot of platinum guests. I know it happened on our 9 day cruise, I don't remember the exact number but I think close to 2/3 of the passengers were platinum or above.

 

I think it would be a good idea to have two lines at the tender dock, that way you wouldn't have to get in front of someone.

 

The laundry thing was a one time only thing and they just asked us to please limit ourselves if possible to one bag, but they didn't actually restrict us.

 

It seems that the Bloggers cruises are heavy on the Platinum cruisers and is what made boarding for BC2 in NOLA so horrible. It wasn't like they didn't know we were all coming.

 

Which makes me wonder about PC now that I think about it. One of my earlier posts I said that they weren't using the VIP lounge in PC anymore, but actually for "normal" cruises they might. It was on BC3 that they had the special VIP que and that may have been because there were again, so many Platinums and they learned their lesson in NOLA.

 

So it's possible in PC that you still go through a VIP security line to get into the terminal, but if you get to the top of the escalator there isn't a red cordoned off VIP que right in front of you, just turn to your left and go into the VIP lounge.