FTTF vs. Platinum & Diamond... what's your opinion?

[jimbo5544]

Jim,

 

Excellent! Close to being our best ever and Breeze is for sure our new favorite ship.

 

We had 6 days of heavy winds so we smacked her around quite a bit, but after the winds calmed down on the last day she sailed very smooth and no worse for the wear.

Great, good to know. Look forward to your review - albeit I wont see it till I get back:)

[PaulMedik]

Great, good to know. Look forward to your review - albeit I wont see it till I get back:)

 

 

Jim,

 

Hopefully my review will at least be in progress by then. I copied 5836 pics from my laptop to my home computer last night and still have the last day or two on camera cards to download. After I get them all on my PC I'll edit and upload over the next few days then get started....hopefully. ;)

[Sparky2]

FTTF people also get prority tender and their own line at guest services just like Platinum/Diamond per carnivals website. On our last sailing on the Sensation the FTTF guest services line was the same line as the platinum diamond vip. Is it safe to assume that the FTTF tender line is the same as platinum diamond? Can anyone confirm this? If true this means a platinum diamond could be pushed back behind 30 to 60 FTTF people when trying to board a tender or at guest services.

 

Platinum/Diamond guests were assured that they not be affected. However there are several stories where FTTF were let on board before Platinum/Diamond.

 

What is everyones thoughts? Platinum/Diamond and non Platinum/Diamond thoughts.

 

The only benefit that Platinum/Diamond members are getting through FTTF being added is that our cabins are ready and our luggage should arrive sooner.

[gusandgidgetsmom]

I guess I am in the minority here. At first I thought and verbalized Wow 50.00 and they get the extra perks I do for sailing for over 25 years. Then I realized I would get the benefit of having my room ready and luggage arriving promptly when I was on a FTTF ship so have revised my opinion.

I cruise for the love of cruising--don't care if I get extras or not. I am not loyal to any company for extra perks, but am loyal because they have the product I most desire at that time. I am not saying that I do not partake of the extras if they are given to me. As far as FTTF it does not involve lots of people so I am ok with that. If they want to pay extra to get on the ship early, tender early, then let them. I'm not going to sweat it--I am on a Cruise and loving it!!

[jimbo5544]

Jim,

 

Hopefully my review will at least be in progress by then. I copied 5836 pics from my laptop to my home computer last night and still have the last day or two on camera cards to download. After I get them all on my PC I'll edit and upload over the next few days then get started....hopefully. ;)

Can't wait...I love your reviews. Even when I sailed with you, I waited for the next installment!;)

[CDNseekingheat]

I am not platinum/diamond on carnival. Having said that, I feel it's another slap in the face for those that are.

 

Some people here are very loyal to carnival and I just can't grasp why. As a 'loyal' customer, wouldn't you like to receive an obc for booking another cabin for your 1st time sailing friend? How about a discount coupon for a balcony? A nice way of saying thank you from a different cruise line ... it's called good customer service, something which carnival needs to really improve.

 

This is a brilliant idea!!!

If Carnival would have started the perks you suggested instead of the other perks that they are now selling, their loyal customers would not be upset right now.

I think that is our point of contention... we were assured of certain perks ONLY if we sailed 10+ times. So we pay the several thousands of dollars to get to those perks and now they are selling those perks for $50. - What the heck??!!

I'm ALL FOR the FTTF program, I think it's awesome! BUT, they are insulting many long time loyal customers by the way that they are implementing this program.

[TerReuv]

This is a brilliant idea!!!

If Carnival would have started the perks you suggested instead of the other perks that they are now selling, their loyal customers would not be upset right now.

I think that is our point of contention... we were assured of certain perks ONLY if we sailed 10+ times. So we pay the several thousands of dollars to get to those perks and now they are selling those perks for $50. - What the heck??!!

I'm ALL FOR the FTTF program, I think it's awesome! BUT, they are insulting many long time loyal customers by the way that they are implementing this program.

 

But, FTTF does not have all the perks that Plat/Dia have. There are several things like the free laundry that FTTF does not have. I bought FTTF for our cruise in October. Mainly for the early on and getting room & luggage earlier. The Plat/Dia people have earned more things that the FTTF people are getting and they don't have to pay the $50!

[jeanarch]

We are Platinum ..We have cruised so many Carnival cruises because they are driving distance. We have never taken a 3 day and only one 4 day with a group. Now that the nice things have been degraded to everyone getting the same things with the FTTF (such as boarding & tendering & customer service lines) it is time we looked at other lines. Princess out of Galveston (we have sailed before) is now close & NCL is in New Orleans and so is RCL (once before). We have sailed Celebrity and enjoyed it. Have always enjoyed Carnival but if the perks are not there anymore we have no problem paying for a few more dollars on other lines. Variety is the spice of life and maybe it's time we mixed other lines in.

 

Just my 2 cents but I do think Carnival should rethink the FTTF and have separate lines for them. They diminish the value of Platinum & Diamond.

[bguppies]

I guess I am in the minority here. At first I thought and verbalized Wow 50.00 and they get the extra perks I do for sailing for over 25 years. Then I realized I would get the benefit of having my room ready and luggage arriving promptly when I was on a FTTF ship so have revised my opinion.

I cruise for the love of cruising--don't care if I get extras or not. I am not loyal to any company for extra perks, but am loyal because they have the product I most desire at that time. I am not saying that I do not partake of the extras if they are given to me. As far as FTTF it does not involve lots of people so I am ok with that. If they want to pay extra to get on the ship early, tender early, then let them. I'm not going to sweat it--I am on a Cruise and loving it!!

 

Same here.

 

I had literally just finished my platinum cruise and shortly after they announced the addition of the FTTF system.

 

Irritated me when I first heard about it.

 

But I too enjoyed the early access to the cabin and having 4 of our 6 bags waiting at our cabin at 11AM. (the other two before noon)

Was amazing being completely unpacked by shortly after noon and officially starting the vacation.

 

Port Canaveral, clearly had the FTTF folks behind the Diamond'Platinum cruisers every step of the way, as did the crew onboard.

So I had no problems with the FTTF program, once I saw what I had gained versus what was made availble to the newbie cruisers paying for FTTF.

 

As long as Carnival keeps throttling the amount of cabins available for FTTF, then I have no problem.

 

When Carnival starts releasing FTTF to as many as will pay for it, THEN it will become problematic for those who have earned their perks.

 

Bill

[bguppies]

But, FTTF does not have all the perks that Plat/Dia have. There are several things like the free laundry that FTTF does not have. I bought FTTF for our cruise in October. Mainly for the early on and getting room & luggage earlier. The Plat/Dia people have earned more things that the FTTF people are getting and they don't have to pay the $50!

 

The things that platinum/diamond get that FTTF don't are completely negligable.

The free laundry is the only worthwhile thing.

 

Platinum gifts usually are worthless crap. (except the Tervis tumbler was decent)

 

The pins we never take home anyway.

 

The strawberrys....meh...

 

The best parts of platinum/diamond are the early embark/debark, customer service line and tendering, which FTTF does get.

 

Bill

[i5trucker]

I have been on 24 cruises with Carnival. Not because of the perks, but because I love cruising and have always had a great time on their ships. The real question here is , why do people that have one or two cruises think they deserve the same perks as those who have cruised anywhere from 10 to 50 times? Other lines have past guest programs for their loyal guests. It is not different than frequent flyer miles. This used to mean something to Carnival. They should remember it is us past guests that bring many new cruisers to them.

 

 

I am not looking for the same perks as being D/P, I am looking to take advantage of what Carnival is selling for $49.

[lego7191]

Last week on Breeze I visited the Platinum line several times for various reasons. On the first visit, which was to swap rooms for two cabins' passengers the line was ~20 deep for Platinum and way out and around the corner for the regular line. Carnival had a rep working the line and pulled folks that weren't in the correct line out and directed others to where they really needed to be such as the excursion desk or the dining room for time changes.

 

Reading this comment and some of the others about the tender lines makes me wonder - Is there something on the sail and sign card that indicates if a guest is FTTF? (like a sticker, logo, etc?) Obviously it's easy to look at someone's card and determine if they are platinum or diamond, but with FTTF, is there any way that someone looking at the card could make that determination? Wonder if some of those in the Guest Services' line or tender line are not FTTF, but just trying to take advantage of the fact that you cannot look at their card and determine this fact.

[CDNseekingheat]

But, FTTF does not have all the perks that Plat/Dia have. There are several things like the free laundry that FTTF does not have. I bought FTTF for our cruise in October. Mainly for the early on and getting room & luggage earlier. The Plat/Dia people have earned more things that the FTTF people are getting and they don't have to pay the $50!

 

What's your point? Am I missing something? Something in my post seemed to have offended you and I am not sure what it was I said.

 

I am not pointing fingers at FTTF passengers if that was your perception. I think it's a fantastic idea. I wish they introduced it years ago, I would have gladly paid to avoid some of those crazy lines.

 

I just don't like how Carnival is pulling this off.

[bguppies]

- Is there something on the sail and sign card that indicates if a guest is FTTF? (like a sticker, logo, etc?) .

 

There is a large logo on Diamond/Platinum cards with VIFP in the bottom right corner.

 

You really can't miss it.

 

I'd assume that FTTF would have a similar logo imprinted on FTTF cards.

 

If not, they could have a sticker like you get on your card for the bottomless bubbles program.

 

I'm sure someone will be along shortly with a picture of their recent card.

 

Bill

[lcp9984]

FTTF people also get prority tender and their own line at guest services just like Platinum/Diamond per carnivals website. On our last sailing on the Sensation the FTTF guest services line was the same line as the platinum diamond vip. Is it safe to assume that the FTTF tender line is the same as platinum diamond? Can anyone confirm this? If true this means a platinum diamond could be pushed back behind 30 to 60 FTTF people when trying to board a tender or at guest services.

 

Platinum/Diamond guests were assured that they not be affected. However there are several stories where FTTF were let on board before Platinum/Diamond.

 

What is everyones thoughts? Platinum/Diamond and non Platinum/Diamond thoughts.

I just got off Ecstasy yesterday and purchased FTTF. When we were ready to "tender" we simply reported to Guest Services in the line clearly marked "Platinum/Diamond/FTTF" and we were escorted by a Carnival employee to the head of the tender line. Well worth the cost.

[lcp9984]

There is a large logo on Diamond/Platinum cards with VIFP in the bottom right corner.

 

You really can't miss it.

 

I'd assume that FTTF would have a similar logo imprinted on FTTF cards.

 

If not, they could have a sticker like you get on your card for the bottomless bubbles program.

 

I'm sure someone will be along shortly with a picture of their recent card.

 

Bill

The sail and sign card does have the FTTF logo on it !

[bookcreator]

I just got off Ecstasy yesterday and purchased FTTF. When we were ready to "tender" we simply reported to Guest Services in the line clearly marked "Platinum/Diamond/FTTF" and we were escorted by a Carnival employee to the head of the tender line. Well worth the cost.

 

 

We have now tendered in Belize and Cabo San Lucas with FTTF.

 

Sorry to say, the platinum/FTTF, and diamond passengers were such high numbers that we had a large room to wait in, with hundreds of people. Mostly because "everyone in your party" can tender with you.

 

We are diamond, and we see only huge amounts of platinum on cruises that, there is no priority anything for anyone; especially in tendering.

 

The bottom line is - we did not get off in Belize or Cabo, it was not worth the long lines.

 

The diamond category is a forgotten entity in the perks now we find. Next time we will book and early very short Carnival excursion to get off the ship and have the day in port. That is a much better option than diamond priority tendering, which doesn't really matter.

[lego7191]

There is a large logo on Diamond/Platinum cards with VIFP in the bottom right corner.

 

You really can't miss it.

 

I'd assume that FTTF would have a similar logo imprinted on FTTF cards.

 

If not, they could have a sticker like you get on your card for the bottomless bubbles program.

 

I'm sure someone will be along shortly with a picture of their recent card.

 

Bill

 

Yep.

Familiar with the Platinum card since that's where I fall. Was curious about sail and sign cards for FTTF folks. I thought I indicated that in my post. Maybe not.

 

In any event, I did locate a pic from another thread. Logo is on the back.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=36057060&postcount=3

[bookcreator]

Yep.

Familiar with the Platinum card since that's where I fall. Was curious about sail and sign cards for FTTF folks. I thought I indicated that in my post. Maybe not.

 

In any event, I did locate a pic from another thread. Logo is on the back.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=36057060&postcount=3

 

 

They give you the orange ones and they put them on your luggage tags when they take your luggage.

 

They checked our name on a list and then put those on our luggage tags. Our room was ready but the luggage was along about an hour later.

[cruzn buckeye]

This is a brilliant idea!!!

If Carnival would have started the perks you suggested instead of the other perks that they are now selling, their loyal customers would not be upset right now.

I think that is our point of contention... we were assured of certain perks ONLY if we sailed 10+ times. So we pay the several thousands of dollars to get to those perks and now they are selling those perks for $50. - What the heck??!!

I'm ALL FOR the FTTF program, I think it's awesome! BUT, they are insulting many long time loyal customers by the way that they are implementing this program.

Perfectly stated.

[BenjiRodney]

Ok I'm spending several thousand dollars on 3 cruises this year to reach Platinum status, until I do in November I have no problem shelling out an extra 50 for a few perks that I will eventually earn.

[danny91180]

I am not platinum/diamond on carnival. Having said that, I feel it's another slap in the face for those that are.

 

Some people here are very loyal to carnival and I just can't grasp why. As a 'loyal' customer, wouldn't you like to receive an obc for booking another cabin for your 1st time sailing friend? How about a discount coupon for a balcony? A nice way of saying thank you from a different cruise line ... it's called good customer service, something which carnival needs to really improve.

 

I think that's a great idea. I'm sure past guests, 1, 2, 6 past cruises and especially the really experienced past guests, sell more of their friends then a travel agent. Even if the person books through a travel agent, it was the friend that sold them to take the cruise.

[Cruizinman]

Ok I'm spending several thousand dollars on 3 cruises this year to reach Platinum status, until I do in November I have no problem shelling out an extra 50 for a few perks that I will eventually earn.

 

Yep, that was Carnivals plan, welcome to the club,you did well.