Embarkation day on a cruise ship is a busy time for everyone. The crew have just successfully disembarked thousands of passengers and must get ready for the next set of cruisers to set sail.
One of the biggest jobs for the crew to tackle is making sure each stateroom is ready. Bedding, towels, and the entire cabin are thoroughly cleaned as soon as passengers leave.
But getting that room ready takes some time.
One of the perks cruise lines give loyal passengers is the ability to get on the ship faster and get to their staterooms faster as well. However, this doesn’t mean a stateroom attendant is given superpowers to clean a cabin with extra speed.
John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, recently replied to a disgruntled passenger that complained about a stateroom not being ready, even though they were Platinum-level members of the VIFP Club.
The passenger’s message read as follows:
“If we are platinum you said we can go straight to our room. That is a LIE John Heald. We took our bags to our room. We had a 14 hour drive from Mechanicsville to Miam. My husband needed to sleep. —–is our steward. He had no sympathy and bluntly told us to leave. This is another perk pulled from under our feet. Our stewards name is———. Some person in authority needs to tell her!”
While Platinum and Diamond members of the VIFP Club are given priority check-in and boarding on embarkation day, this does not mean staterooms are ready for passenger use right away.
Heald responded to the message on Facebook, clarifying Carnival’s boarding policy with his usual wit and charm:
“Thank you and of course I understand that your husband was tired after a long drive like that. However, as others have been agreeing with you and to make sure that I once again clarify this please allow me to be as clear as possible,” Heald stated.
“Diamond, Platinum, Faster to the Fun Guests, those in suites and anyone from Cleveland, Ohio ( kidding FFS [For Fun’s Sake]) can go to their cabins as soon as they go on board. They can drop off their luggage but, please, leave straight away. The cabins will not be ready to the high standard you will all expect until approx. 1:30pm. Please then leave. No shower, no unpacking, no napping, no rumpy pumpy and this is all to support the brilliant hard work of your state room steward. Thanks so much again for your understanding.”
The main perk of these loyalty levels and Faster to the Fun is that passengers can drop off their luggage and go about the ship. They can enjoy the pools, restaurants, and amenities of the ship without having to drag a few bags all over the vessel.
But passengers expecting to go to their stateroom right away and take a long snooze before lunch will be disappointed.
Some cruise lines will not allow guests access to their cabins at all unless they are suite guests, and typically only premium cruise lines allow for cruisers to drop off their bags as soon as they board the ship.
Besides it being a hassle to carry backpacks and carry-ons all over the ship, it also makes for extra crowded cruise ship elevators on embarkation day.
For those who want to hit the pool right away or explore the ship without the extra burden, purchasing Faster to the Fun is one way to do it before reaching a higher loyalty status.
Carnival does state that suite guests will be able to access their rooms upon arrival.
Platinum and Diamond guests with Carnival also have priority debarkation. Platinum level is reached at 75 points and Diamond level is reached at 200 points.
