With platinum status, how do you go about tendering at ports? My understanding is that you can bypass the lines. Do you just go to the front of the line (and chance the ire of those patiently waiting)?

Thanks.

I am not sure if all the ships do it the same way. On the Elation we were able to get Priority passes at the Info desk. So the people in the tender line did not know we didn't have an early excursion. We still had to wait in line, but it was the early line.

LHP probably knows more about this.

I do get a few looks when there is a long line at the Info desk and I walk right up to the Concierge Club section.

Dwayne

I have read about this being handled several different ways.

Since we don't do excursions and are never in a rush to get off the ship....we simply use our Platinum card as "a number". In other words, if (for some reason) we want to get off the ship with group number ONE...we don't have to go to the lounge to get a number. We just flash the Platinum card and they let us on.

I will never forget the last time we tendered with :group one: and here are all these people with the number ONE stuck on their shirts and one lady (a cruiser...not crew) did ask me..."where is your number?" (like I had broken some rule). I have to admit that since she was snotty about it...I was "a little" snotty back (flashed the Platinum card) and said "if you are Platinum with Carnival....you don't have to get a number...you just come and go as you please". To which she replied..."oh".

BUT there is also a second way of doing this (which we have never used, because we were not in that big a hurry but others have). IF you need to get off quickly for an excursion, you can go to the Purser's Desk and they will have someone escort you PASSED all those folks standing in line and put you right on the tender. Again, we have never done this....but I know folks that have.

If that woman got all huffed about us not having a sticker...I can't imagine the fit she would have had if someone had said "excuse me...you have to wait..these people get on first!"

That does remind me of our last cruise....the Holiday was late getting into port due to fog which means that basically EVERYONE was trying to get on the ship at ONE TIME! What a crowd!

Anyway, once we got past security....every line was "out the door"...and of course we simply walked over to the VIP room....sat down a few minutes as the Rep finished up with her other Platinum member (we were next) and then she processed our paperwork...escorted us to get our Embarkation picture (stopping the other line) to make us next and then escorted us to get our Sail and Sign picture (stopping the line ) to make us next....which put us on the ship about 10 minutes after we got past Security. It was wonderful!!!

Thanks,

I remember the last time I cruised, someone got to the front of the line at the Purser's Desk and a couple of people made that 'humph, wonder why they get such special treatment' look and all I could think was only two more and I'll be there!

You have to remember, people who have cruised 10 or more times have spent considerably more money than the first or second time cruisers and really do appreciate small perks.

Now, 25 or more cruises and you really DO get the VIP treatment.

Thank you Carnival!

The embarkation is really nice, I like the VIP lounge a lot more than the long lines.

Most of the pursers desks now have a VIP line.

I really love the perks. This is not an official one, but it did happen recently. It was pouring the rain on Roatan and we had purchased a shore excursion. We decided we didn't want to go. The policy said no refunds for rain. They told the lady beside me at the desk she would have to wait to see if they cancel the excursion before she would get a refund. We had the same excursion, the Officer waiting on us said yes, and immediately credited our account!

It is nice to be appreciated.

Dwayne

We normally just show our Platinum card to leave the ship with the first group.

Marylovestocruise, that should be my mothers name. In a couple weeks my mom Mary will be on her 32nd Carnival. Thanks for stating how those that have been on so many cruises deserve the perks. And your almost there yourself.
Cassandra

quote:

Originally posted by Cassandra M.:
We normally just show our Platinum card to leave the ship with the first group.

Marylovestocruise, that should be my mothers name. In a couple weeks my mom Mary will be on her 32nd Carnival. Thanks for stating how those that have been on so many cruises deserve the perks. And your almost there yourself.
Cassandra

If my youngest son ever decides that cruise forums are his thing, that would be a good handle for him. He is 16 and will be a Milestone Rewards Member by the end of next year. (although he wil have turned the ripe old age of 17 by then!!)

The funny thing is some take less trips and spend more money and don't qualify. I have friends who take the small trips often on one single cruise line and yet one longer cruise abroad can cost more than all the small cruises put together. As for us, we go by destination so we don't stick with one ship line. Who knows where we'll be after the February trip but one thing is certain, we won't qualify to line up first! lol

I will have to remember that about just showing the card for tendering early. We didn't have any tenders this past cruise, because Cayman was cancelled and we docked on Cozumel this time. We do just show the card for final disembarkation and leave when we want ahead of the line, no matter which number they are on.

Of course they give Platinum guests the number 1 for disembarkation. Since we were driving, I just took my time getting off the ship. Our luggage was up front in the small number 1 section, so it was easy to find. These are pretty good perks.

Dwayne

If my youngest son ever decides that cruise forums are his thing, that would be a good handle for him. He is 16 and will be a Milestone Rewards Member by the end of next year. (although he wil have turned the ripe old age of 17 by then!!) [/QUOTE]
LHP
That's alot of cruises your son as done for his age. I have 2 nephews which have cruised every year of their life and probably will continue at least once a year and I thought they had the record for most cruises at their age. Your son has beat them bad.

quote:

Originally posted by Cassandra M.:
If my youngest son ever decides that cruise forums are his thing, that would be a good handle for him. He is 16 and will be a Milestone Rewards Member by the end of next year. (although he wil have turned the ripe old age of 17 by then!!)

LHP
That's alot of cruises your son as done for his age. I have 2 nephews which have cruised every year of their life and probably will continue at least once a year and I thought they had the record for most cruises at their age. Your son has beat them bad. [/QUOTE]

We did not start cruising with him until he was 5 (almost 6) and our oldest son was 8...but because of high school academic competitions and now college....the oldest (now 19) has missed a few. (A fact he is not happy about...might I add!!)

quote:

Originally posted by marylb:
The funny thing is some take less trips and spend more money and don't qualify. I have friends who take the small trips often on one single cruise line and yet one longer cruise abroad can cost more than all the small cruises put together. As for us, we go by destination so we don't stick with one ship line. Who knows where we'll be after the February trip but one thing is certain, we won't qualify to line up first! lol

I intend to "sail them all" before my debarkation (well, except NCL...I don't do freestyle dining....a fine cruiseline, just personal preference)...but for now, Carnival has taken excellent care of our son with autism and we can't change until he outgrows their program. He just loves them!!!

LHP you have no idea how pleased I am to hear that. In fact we just went on an NCL cruise in mid-November with two friends. For us Freestyle was more than perfect as we liked to dine with them and without them depending on the romance meter.

Our sailing friend's son is high functioning autistic and he was not on the trip though he does cruise with his dad most times. I will pass your info along to him as it is important. His son is as precious as a kid can be and we say he just says and does things we all wish we could say and do. Thanks for your perspective and hopefully others may read it and not fear cruising.

quote:

Originally posted by marylb:
LHP you have no idea how pleased I am to hear that. In fact we just went on an NCL cruise in mid-November with two friends. For us Freestyle was more than perfect as we liked to dine with them and without them depending on the romance meter.

Our sailing friend's son is high functioning autistic and he was not on the trip though he does cruise with his dad most times. I will pass your info along to him as it is important. His son is as precious as a kid can be and we say he just says and does things we all wish we could say and do. Thanks for your perspective and hopefully others may read it and not fear cruising.

RCCL also has a special program they advertise.

Here is the link:

http://www.alumnicruises.org/Autism/Autism%20Individual...ism_Ind_homepage.htm

You may want to forward that to your friend.

Carnival has basically done the same things for us but I have never seen them advertise it anywhere. Of course, we are all still learning. Back when we started cruising with our son, there wasn't much known in the general public about autism accept the movie "Rainman".

We have come a long way!!! Thankfully!!

Princess has a similar "priority tender boarding" program but it only works for boarding from the ship & not a return trip. Does Carnivals program cover both directions?

quote:

Originally posted by RichC:
Princess has a similar "priority tender boarding" program but it only works for boarding from the ship & not a return trip. Does Carnivals program cover both directions?

That is a very good question!!! We have never tried doing it in reverse....because whenever we have come back to the ship, there is usually no line. (we don't stay off the ship long)

I will have to check on that!!