Platinum guests accessing rooms as soon as boarding

[izzypooch]

We are platinum and cruising next week on Ecstasy and haven't done a Carnival cruise since the FTTF deal kicked in. I understand platinum people can also go directly to their rooms as soon as they board, but do you just walk through the closed hallway doors? How exactly does it work? I'm afraid I will be getting dirty looks.

 

 

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[freagan]

If the ship ship has FTTF then the signs on the closed doors will be amended to include an invitation for Diamond/Plat/FTTF to go directly to their rooms.

 

There is a picture of the sign around here somewhere.

[DebJ14]

We are platinum and cruising next week on Ecstasy and haven't done a Carnival cruise since the FTTF deal kicked in. I understand platinum people can also go directly to their rooms as soon as they board, but do you just walk through the closed hallway doors? How exactly does it work? I'm afraid I will be getting dirty looks.

 

 

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It is very easy - you walk up to the door and open it and walk through to your cabin. There is a sign on the door inviting Platinum and Diamonds and FTTF people to come on it. Keep your Platinum cards in your hand as you may be challenged once you get through the door. We were in our recent cruise on the Freedom. We were allowed to pass, but some people who got in the door behind us showed their red card and were told to come back when the rooms are ready.

Our room was ready, but the door was open. We put stuff in the safe, unloaded the carry-on and put it under the bed. We left the door open while there as that was the way we found it. The room steward popped his head in and said "Welcome Home." We used that opportunity to tell him we always wanted ice. He was back in a few minutes with a full ice bucket. Don't worry about the dirty looks - we've gotten rude comments during Priority boarding in Galveston and when the person from guest services escorted us down to the tender and put us at the front of the line. You are Platinum and you earned the perks - don't worry about the haters out there!

[judyzoo]

Don't worry about the dirty looks - we've gotten rude comments during Priority boarding in Galveston and when the person from guest services escorted us down to the tender and put us at the front of the line. You are Platinum and you earned the perks - don't worry about the haters out there!

 

I'm platinum and am wondering how to get priority tender boarding. Do I need to push through everyone on line to get to the front? Can't imagine doing that. I'm sure I'd get more than just rude comments.

[DebJ14]

I'm platinum and am wondering how to get priority tender boarding. Do I need to push through everyone on line to get to the front? Can't imagine doing that. I'm sure I'd get more than just rude comments.

 

You do not do this alone. You go to Guest Services and a uniformed member of the staff escorts you down to the tender area. They part the crowd for you and leave you at the front of the line and wish you a good day ashore.

 

You do have to have thick skin as there will be all kinds of nasty comments made about "Who do you think you are?" etc. I have had people seated near us on the tender ask about it and when I explain that it is a perk for having made Platinum they seem to understand and express the desire to get to Platinum themselves.

 

On RCI we get priority tendering by virtue of booking always booking a grand suite or better. In that case it is the Concierge who escorts us down to the tender from the Concierge lounge.

 

If you have a private tour it is a real timesaver - no need to get a tender ticket and wait until your tender number is called.

[nodogkisses]

Can you tell me if a ship does not have FTTF, can Platinum guests access their stateroom upon boarding the ship to just drop off luggage, etc.? I read conflicting answers regarding this and would like to know what the actual rules are. Thanks.

[Georgiagolfer]

Can you tell me if a ship does not have FTTF, can Platinum guests access their stateroom upon boarding the ship to just drop off luggage, etc.? I read conflicting answers regarding this and would like to know what the actual rules are. Thanks.

 

While some post that they have always gone straight to their room once they achieved Platinum, it was never an official CCL Platinum perk. They just did it on their own. DW and I have been Platinum quite a while, and our cruise on Fascination 6/1 was the 1st time we ever had early access to our room. Fascination has FTTF.

[cuyahoga11]

Can you tell me if a ship does not have FTTF, can Platinum guests access their stateroom upon boarding the ship to just drop off luggage, etc.? I read conflicting answers regarding this and would like to know what the actual rules are. Thanks.

 

The actual rule is no but there are always those that feel rules are there to bend.

[Captain Carnival]

As a platinum/diamond guest, boarding first, the only one to give you a "dirty look" would be other platinum/diamond guests who I suspect may be doing what you are "entitled" too.

[Elaine5715]

Some of these "dirty looks" might be more in the mind of the looker. I know when I see folks morning or early or walking to the head of the line , I and everybody else are watching as much out of curiosity and wondering if I am in the right place and doing the right thing especially when I was a novice Cruiser.

[ccruisequeen]

Looking forward to unloading my carry-on luggage in Sept for my first Platinum cruise (FTTF) has just been added.

[misguidedangel]

I get that look every time I stand in the VIP line at guest services with other VIP's....I don't do the happy dance and flash my Platinum card, but I do find ways to flash inconspicuously so others see I don't have a usual colored card *BG*...

 

As for getting to the rooms...not a problem last September on the Liberty....True, we weren't allowed to board until after 1230pm, but still, no issues.

[Elaine5715]

I get that look every time I stand in the VIP line at guest services with other VIP's....I don't do the happy dance and flash my Platinum card, but I do find ways to flash inconspicuously so others see I don't have a usual colored card *BG*...

 

As for getting to the rooms...not a problem last September on the Liberty....True, we weren't allowed to board until after 1230pm, but still, no issues.

 

What sailing on the Liberty? I was on the 9/1/12 and boarding started very late.

[Terre]

I apologize for hijacking this thread, but how do y'all get the platinum logo in your signatures? I have tried copying and pasting from Carnival's website and from other posters. I can copy image, but can't get it to paste in my signature and I want one there!:(

[luv2cruisin]

Can you tell me if a ship does not have FTTF, can Platinum guests access their stateroom upon boarding the ship to just drop off luggage, etc.? I read conflicting answers regarding this and would like to know what the actual rules are. Thanks.

 

 

We just came off the Carnival Dream Port Canaveral June 22. On embarkation, we were guided through to the VIP lounge (processing), then immediately onto the ship in time for lunch with some of our carry-on's. We were told specifically not to forget to drop our luggage off as soon as we board as that was one of the Platinum perks. I thought that was nice of the staff to remind us of that.

Disembarkation was the best part! We woke, ate, then at our leisure headed down to the gangway where staff directed us to the short cut to the front of the line (we carried our luggage off, so could leave anytime we wished).

We are proud to have remained loyal to Carnival and appreciate those perks :)

BTW... just learned that we could have had chocolate covered strawberries in the evenings.... if you like those, double check about this sweet treat when you board.

[ccruisequeen]

I apologize for hijacking this thread, but how do y'all get the platinum logo in your signatures? I have tried copying and pasting from Carnival's website and from other posters. I can copy image, but can't get it to paste in my signature and I want one there!:(

 

Upload it to photobucket or another photo saving site, then use the code to add it to your signature.

[ccruisequeen]

BTW... just learned that we could have had chocolate covered strawberries in the evenings.... if you like those, double check about this sweet treat when you board.

 

Only on certain lengths sailings.

[Terre]

Upload it to photobucket or another photo saving site, then use the code to add it to your signature.

 

Okay, I was able to copy yours and paste into a Word doc and save into My Pictures folder, but I still can't paste it into my signature...

 

Sorry, OP, I've hijacked your thread and that's illegal..sorry!

[Terre]

Okay, I think I have it...thanks, Cruise Queen!

[ccruisequeen]

Okay, I think I have it...thanks, Cruise Queen!

 

:):o:cool:

[DebJ14]

Some of these "dirty looks" might be more in the mind of the looker. I know when I see folks morning or early or walking to the head of the line , I and everybody else are watching as much out of curiosity and wondering if I am in the right place and doing the right thing especially when I was a novice Cruiser.

 

The dirty looks are unfortunately often accompanied by snide remarks.

[CRUISE2062]

We were on the Esctasy in May and walked straight to our cabin around 11am. No problems!:)

[jimbo5544]

We were on the Esctasy in May and walked straight to our cabin around 11am. No problems!:)

It is your vacation after all, don't let those closed doors get in the way.:cool:

[Bookbug53]

It is your vacation after all, don't let those closed doors get in the way.:cool:

 

They probably used their platinum card to pry them open just like I do. :p:D

[Sparky2]

We are platinum and cruising next week on Ecstasy and haven't done a Carnival cruise since the FTTF deal kicked in. I understand platinum people can also go directly to their rooms as soon as they board, but do you just walk through the closed hallway doors? How exactly does it work? I'm afraid I will be getting dirty looks.

 

 

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That's the only reason I don't object to people paying for FTTF. Platinum/Diamond members also get to go to their cabin as soon as they board the ship. That's a very nice new perk for us.