Platinum to cabins early?

[bookcreator]

I think you are reading about one or two people's experiences perhaps. Although some beg to differ, it has never been a "rule" that platinum guests could go straight to their cabins. Some did, and had no problems. But that is not how it was supposed to be. Now with FTTF, platinum/diamind guests do have those same perks...going straight to their cabins, express luggage, etc.

 

As for the zone thing or VIP room being too full, that is not the norm in my experieces or in reading about most other people's experiences. In Miami for example, the FTTF guests go to a special check-in line, but they do not go into the VIP lounge, nor are they allowed to board before platinum/diamond guests.

 

So don't get too excited based on a couple people's comments about things that really are not the norm. There are always various situations and circumstances and glitches, and issues.....

 

I am blown away by all of these changes. I last cruised barely 6 months ago, which isn't a long time, and I already see three major changes on this board that didn't exist when I cruised (unless I didn't know about them?): Cheers Program, FTTF and going straight to your cabin???

 

The last one has me the most confused. How are people going straight to the cabin? Even as platinum we weren't allowed to go straight to the cabin and that was because the cabins were still being cleaned. So what did they change? Did they stop allowing you to board as soon as the ship clears (which is why the crew was still cleaning...), or do they let you trudge through the hallways while the crew is still trying to clean your cabin?

 

And, being bumped from the VIP lounge because it's full, and being given a zone card? That stinks!

 

I'm off to read more about these changes. Thanks for the threads and info.

 

Actually the problem had more to do with the amount of platinum people on the sailing (this was in Miami), not necessarily FTTF.

 

I do think they should address this increasing problem, or find a plan B for the platinum/diamond people who are being told the VIP room is at capacity and there is nothing they can do but send us back to the regular line.

 

Personally, we went with the flow, but we are diamond, and I think there should be a better provision for a full VIP room. I doubt that other diamonds will be quite as calm about it as we were. The ranks of Platinum are swelling at very fast rates as more and more people rush to get under the Dec 31 deadline - We cruise 10 times a year, so we have 10 embarkations year after year, which does increase the occasional problems more than other poeple who cruise less.

 

Next week, we board the Destiny again in Miami, and they have FTTF as well, so we will see how it goes.

[S0ccerm0m3]

My PVP just explained this to me, since we were too late when we booked our May cruise to get the ES rate. He said that up until the final payment due date (in our case, it's the end of February), if the price drops, your cruise can be "re-booked" at the lower rate, lowering the amount you'll have to pay at final payment. Now, if you've already paid for your cruise in full, I imagine they do a refund to the credit card you used? I don't know, since I never make the final payment until it's due date.

Janis

 

I booked our march cruise in November (no ES). The price dropped by over $300 per cabin (we have 2 cabins) in December before final payment. I called carnival and asked about it. It took them about 2 minutes and the new price immediately showed up on my "manage your cruise". So easy!

[Jabee]

somewhere between discussions of ES prices and other things...I think I have my answer....

 

I am Platinum and will be on the Conquest (which does have FTTF)....so I will still get priority boarding and also can go to my cabin and drop off everything.

[sweetjem]

This is the first time I have cruised since all the changes in the VIFP program....is it true that Platinum members can go straight to their cabins and not wait util 2:00??

 

I would love to be able to board and ditch my carryons before I go to the lido....

 

We always make our way there and go through the doors and if the room is done we go in was in room and was unpacked before 5 on last cruise

[tobyjr10]

Me and my family just came off the valor Christmas cruise. We are platinum members. We went straight to our cabins and with the permission from the person that was cleaning our cabin we were able to ditch our luggage in the closet. Our room was not ready yet. No one stopped us and we did not have to flash our sign and sail cards.

[ScottsSweetie]

Unfortunately, it would seem that not all of the ship's personnel are aware of this perk. On our cruise last month we boarded with the intent of going straight to our room and dropping our carry-ons (we are platinum and our ship did have FTTF).

 

We were stopped by one of the people wearing the "ask me" shirts (we did not have anything to ask). When we stated we were simply going to drop our carry-ons in our room, she told us we were not allowed in our rooms yet. Um, yes, we are. We thanked her for her help and went to our room.

 

Upon coming out of our room, an attendant (not a room steward, someone in a different type of uniform), asked us if we were supposed to be there. Um, yes, we are.

 

It makes me a little angry that we have to explain ourselves to people who should know the rules better than us.

 

And, by the way, our room appeared to be completely ready at that time (but it was already 12:45 or so).

[stewpapa]

They did give a zone 1 boarding card, but platinum boarded and then FTTF, and then diamond (us).....I do suspect this will become a problem with diamond passengers that are more vocal than we are.

 

Why were Platinum put ahead of Diamond?

 

You may be able to go straight to your cabin but it does not mean it will be cleaned and ready. I am diamond and on my last cruise my cabin steward told me he was sorry my cabin was not finished being cleaned because every cabin he had was platinum and/or diamond. Which makes it almost impossible to have them already as soon as everyone is allowed to start embarking. I told him that was alright that I would be back about 2:00 so go ahead and finish all the others up first. He was very grateful. He said he wished everyone was that understanding. So I am sure he had already heard about it from someone else.

 

I do not want my room steward rushed to clean my room...I want it clean. We are Platinum, next cruise we will go put our stuff in the closet and tell him to take his time!

[rick&james]

which ships have it ???

[terri910]

Unfortunately, it would seem that not all of the ship's personnel are aware of this perk. On our cruise last month we boarded with the intent of going straight to our room and dropping our carry-ons (we are platinum and our ship did have FTTF).

 

We were stopped by one of the people wearing the "ask me" shirts (we did not have anything to ask). When we stated we were simply going to drop our carry-ons in our room, she told us we were not allowed in our rooms yet. Um, yes, we are. We thanked her for her help and went to our room.

 

Upon coming out of our room, an attendant (not a room steward, someone in a different type of uniform), asked us if we were supposed to be there. Um, yes, we are.

 

It makes me a little angry that we have to explain ourselves to people who should know the rules better than us.

 

And, by the way, our room appeared to be completely ready at that time (but it was already 12:45 or so).

Did you show them your Platinum Sign & Sail card? I know we were stopped once on the Inspiration a couple of months ago, but as soon as they saw our Sign & Sail and realized we were Platinum, they waved us on.

 

If you showed it to them, then yeah....not good when the customer knows more about the product than the company selling the product!

[golfadj]

Unfortunately, it would seem that not all of the ship's personnel are aware of this perk. On our cruise last month we boarded with the intent of going straight to our room and dropping our carry-ons (we are platinum and our ship did have FTTF).

 

We were stopped by one of the people wearing the "ask me" shirts (we did not have anything to ask). When we stated we were simply going to drop our carry-ons in our room, she told us we were not allowed in our rooms yet. Um, yes, we are. We thanked her for her help and went to our room.

 

Upon coming out of our room, an attendant (not a room steward, someone in a different type of uniform), asked us if we were supposed to be there. Um, yes, we are.

 

It makes me a little angry that we have to explain ourselves to people who should know the rules better than us.

 

And, by the way, our room appeared to be completely ready at that time (but it was already 12:45 or so).

 

Very often at Carnival the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing.

[Retired Sparky]

On our Jan Glory cruise I was Platnum and we were the last one of our group to get on

 

[terri910]

Very often at Carnival the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing.

That's true at any large company. I don't think even Carnival is as bad as Boeing, in that regard.....Or the government, for that matter.

[mek]

Does Glory have FTTF? We are Platinum and the only reason I care about drooping carry on bags in the cabin before going up to the Lido for lunch is because DH uses a transport chair and it is nice to only push him and not have to manage anything extra.

[onthehighseas606]

We were on the Inspiration and we were platinum. We could not go to our cabin as soon as we boarded. We were told the cabin was not ready nor could we leave our carry ons. There's plenty of misinformation that was given to us - particularly on the b2b cruise.

[DanJ]

I purchased FTTF for the Dream cruise we just left today. We arrived outside the terminal at noon and used the priority door. They escorted us through security and over to the VIP check-in. Since there was a line, they took us over to the next open regular check-in counter and did up our stuff. Off we went to the ship ahead of whoever else was in the VIP line. Onboard within about 12-15 minutes of arriving out front. Once on the ship, we went straight to our cabin, and dropped off our carryons. The cabin was done and ready for us, although they were hard at work in the area. Said hi to a few people as we made our way back upstairs. No one questioned us. It did, however, take most of the afternoon for our luggage to trickle it's way down to us even though they did have the bright orange FTTF tags added pierside.

[lmcubs]

I am Platinum, but my cabinmate is not. Will she be able to go in VIP line with me and go to our cabin early?

Thanks

[Kudos2Fly]

I am Platinum, but my cabinmate is not. Will she be able to go in VIP line with me and go to our cabin early?

Thanks

 

From my experience Yes, My husband is Platinum but I'm not YET. I have my Feb 7 cruise which will be my 9th. Then plan on doing another cruise before Dec. But with us we are married and always of course put everything on the same sail and sign cards. I think your cabin mate will be able to board with you, just not take part in any of the Platinum benefits from my understanding.

[Mikel1733]

Very often at Carnival the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing.

 

Very true Stu! Seems like what is stated as rules is interpreted differently on each ship.

[Mikel1733]

Double post

[bookcreator]

Why were Platinum put ahead of Diamond?

 

 

Yes, the room was full and there was a line to get into the VIP room. We were turned away, and they did clearly see the diamond on the docs. They said they could not too anything, there were just too many platinum people on the sailing, and they could even get into the room either. They showed us to the regular checkin and we got a zone 1 tag.

 

We were told that there was more platinum people on the ship than any other group, and we were told the projections showed that the ranks of platinum will swell by Dec 31.

 

So I guess we have to get used to it. Platinum is the old gold category now, with so many platinum that it really means nothing at all.

 

Diamonds just get lost in the shuffle.

[golfadj]

Yes, the room was full and there was a line to get into the VIP room. We were turned away, and they did clearly see the diamond on the docs. They said they could not too anything, there were just too many platinum people on the sailing, and they could even get into the room either. They showed us to the regular checkin and we got a zone 1 tag.

 

We were told that there was more platinum people on the ship than any other group, and we were told the projections showed that the ranks of platinum will swell by Dec 31.

 

So I guess we have to get used to it. Platinum is the old gold category now, with so many platinum that it really means nothing at all.

 

Diamonds just get lost in the shuffle.

 

Working on getting to diamond but wrong if Diamonds dont get what they are supposed to.