platinum status questions

[jbreitlow]

Hello,  

 

Thru luck my wife and I have just received platinum status by getting triple and double points for our last three cruises.  I wasnt expecting to this this level for a few more years and I have a few questions about some of the perks.

 

-Concierge Service to assist you with specialty restaurant, entertainment, and shore excursion reservations-What exactly is this?  I dont believe I have ever seen a concierge desk on the ship.  

-Dedicated Pre-cruise Service Desk-This sounds like the first perk.  How is it different?

-Early Pre-booking Access for Entertainment, Dining, Onboard Activities-Is this a phone number we call or is this available on the website?

 

Thanks,

 

[ChiefMateJRK]

The first two don't really exist.  The third is real.  You can pre-book dining five days sooner than others.  It is the normal website process.

[MagnoliaBlossom]

The concierge service is a figment of NCLs imagination.  It doesn’t exist for anyone outside of Haven or,Suites.   Many years ago I did try it out and the concierge hung up on me.  
 

yes, there is a help, desk and they were quite helpful when my dining reservations all:disappeared for my upcoming,Prima,cruise.

[KeithJenner]

You will find that the website still quotes the date 120 days out for being able to book restaurants. However they will still open up at 125 days.

[valleyvillage]

For us the best platinum perks are the two specialty dinners (for two), one with a bottle of wine, and the two free bags of laundry! (one for each of you)

[jbreitlow]

37 minutes ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

The first two don't really exist.  The third is real.  You can pre-book dining five days sooner than others.  It is the normal website process.

What is the "normal website process"

[KeithJenner]

Just now, jbreitlow said:

What is the "normal website process"

Log into your account and go to the dining section to reserve your meals.

[vacation44]

46 minutes ago, MagnoliaBlossom said:

The concierge service is a figment of NCLs imagination. 

Very funny and very true.  NCL should just takeaway that as a listed benefit. 

[G-DawgMN]

59 minutes ago, MagnoliaBlossom said:

The concierge service is a figment of NCLs imagination.  It doesn’t exist for anyone outside of Haven or,Suites.   Many years ago I did try it out and the concierge hung up on me.  
 

yes, there is a help, desk and they were quite helpful when my dining reservations all:disappeared for my upcoming,Prima,cruise.

 I’ve heard legends that the Cruise Next staff will act as a concierge but I have never tried it myself. 

[JIMESOPUS]

@jbreitlow I have called this number, was listed in the FAQ's but was removed. They have helped me with issues with booking restaurants and entertainment. This is the same number you call for the Diamond upgrade request.

Once aboard the cruisenext desk is your Latitudes contact.

Welcome to the club

[ChiefMateJRK]

23 minutes ago, KeithJenner said:

Log into your account and go to the dining section to reserve your meals.

Thanks Keith.  I didn't understand the question either.

[Pitzel]

59 minutes ago, KSSS2013 said:

 I’ve heard legends that the Cruise Next staff will act as a concierge but I have never tried it myself. 

That is correct. We inquired about the "concierge" perk on our last sailing at the Cruise Next desk and they confirmed that they were the "concierge" for Platinum and above Latitudes members who did not otherwise have access to a concierge by being in a suite/haven cabin. They couldn't do absolutely everything that a true concierge could (no escorts off the ship, as an example), but they did have access to the show and restaurant reservation system and could help with making or changing plans. I don't know how much "pull" they have, though, or how much of a time or effort savings they would have been vs. just walking over or calling the normal restaurant and reservation desks.

[itsnotjustme]

2 hours ago, valleyvillage said:

and the two free bags of laundry! (one for each of you)

And just because they only leave you one coupon, you are still entitled to two bags.  Write free Platinum status and your latitudes rewards number on the ticket using each of your numbers once.

[hoopslover]

We couldn't make reservations for all of our specialty dining and latitude perk dinners.  Halfway through the cruise on the Breakaway I called the dining number from our stateroom and he said that since we were sapphire we had priority dining and to just go to the restaurant and ask if we could get in without a reservation.  She looked at our card saying sapphire and said that we would be seated very quickly.  The hostess at Taste also noted the latitude status and we were always seated before others who were waiting.  Doesn't hurt to ask if you have status.  I wouldn't have been disappointed if they couldn't accommodate us but it was good to know that our loyalty was appreciated last month on the Breakaway.

[MagnoliaBlossom]

2 hours ago, KSSS2013 said:

 I’ve heard legends that the Cruise Next staff will act as a concierge but I have never tried it myself. 

They may occasionally help you out, but usually they are faaarrr too busy selling CN certificates to be of help to anybody but themselves,  I have generally found them to be rude, egocentric weinies. 

[ColdCruise]

1 hour ago, Pitzel said:

That is correct. We inquired about the "concierge" perk on our last sailing at the Cruise Next desk and they confirmed that they were the "concierge" for Platinum and above Latitudes members who did not otherwise have access to a concierge by being in a suite/haven cabin. They couldn't do absolutely everything that a true concierge could (no escorts off the ship, as an example), but they did have access to the show and restaurant reservation system and could help with making or changing plans. I don't know how much "pull" they have, though, or how much of a time or effort savings they would have been vs. just walking over or calling the normal restaurant and reservation desks.

You just have to be prepared to wait in the often long line and …just as you get to the number 2 spot in the line, 2 or the 3 people working on the CruiseNext desk leave for the shift. Oh and the person talking to the single remaining CN agent doesn’t understand theCN purchase process and takes 25 minutes.

[Pitzel]

7 minutes ago, ColdCruise said:

You just have to be prepared to wait in the often long line and …just as you get to the number 2 spot in the line, 2 or the 3 people working on the CruiseNext desk leave for the shift. Oh and the person talking to the single remaining CN agent doesn’t understand theCN purchase process and takes 25 minutes.

Yep. Sometimes, it is faster and easier to just make the reservations yourself!

[ColdCruise]

48 minutes ago, Pitzel said:

Yep. Sometimes, it is faster and easier to just make the reservations yourself!

Unfortunately passengers can’t always DO what needs doing themselves… on line or in the app 🤔

[Pitzel]

1 minute ago, ColdCruise said:

Unfortunately passengers can’t always DO what needs doing themselves… on line or in the app 🤔

I was not talking about online or in the app. When onboard, one can pick up the phone and call the restaurant reservations desk or walk over to one of the restaurants to make or change a reservation. That is often faster than waiting for the Cruise Next rep to make the reservations for you.

[complawyer]

confirms what i have always said: "if you want something done right, do it yourself" 

 

around the guest services desk, by the buffet and the pool, there always seems to be someone there and available to make whatever dinner reservations you want. so i recommend prior to leavingfor your cruise, map out where and when you want to make reservations, and as soon as youboard, head for one of the desks mentioned above. they also have copies of the menus for the specialty restaurants

 

other than teppanyaki, which has limited seating and dining times, i rarely have a problem getting a dinner reservation. although we primarily prefer cagney's and le bistro.

 

might go to the mdr a couple of nights, and the buffet. we're not big fans of la cucina, and i think both moderno and teppanyaki have gone down in quality.

 

in very and i mean very desperate times, we might go to o'sheehan's, but i gotta be real desperate

[Kingofthesailaway]

Going to Cruise Next has worked well for me. When I was on the Prima last February, I couldn't get any dinning or shows which was a bummer. The Cruise Next people were able to get me reservations. Same when I was on the Sky in November for dining. Just get to the desk a few minutes before they open!

[JGmf]

On 1/19/2024 at 12:18 AM, complawyer said:

other than teppanyaki, which has limited seating and dining times, i rarely have a problem getting a dinner reservation.

 

I agree.  In fact, when dining anywhere except (the over-hyped and not-so-great) Cagney's, there seemingly are scores of tables that are empty. 

[complawyer]

jgmf.. personally, my wife and i enjoy cagney's (to each his own, i guess). our 1st ncl was on the pearl in 2010, and except for the covid shutdown, we've sailed with ncl consistently since then, (25 cruises) and we always eat at cagneys at least once, especially since one of the choices (dinner's ) are free.

 

if you find that you want to eat at cagney's, and it's crowded, find the maitre'd and go to my vegas handshake. it'll work wonders, and hardly ever fails to score a table.

[vacation44]

We are enjoy Cagney's and have never had a bad experience. 

[Pitzel]

7 hours ago, JGmf said:

 

I agree.  In fact, when dining anywhere except (the over-hyped and not-so-great) Cagney's, there seemingly are scores of tables that are empty. 

We agree with you about Cagney's being overhyped. On the Prima last year, the restaurant was quite noisy and the steaks were just ok. I got the ribeye (a cut that I usually love) and it was exceedingly chewy. We dined in the MDR a couple of nights later and it was quieter, we had better service, and the New York strip there was far superior to what we ate at Cagney's -- and it was free!