Disappointed Platinum Member

[jane01jp]

Our first 3 cruises were all in 2 connecting insides (family of 4), our most recent we decided we'd try all 4 of us in a Cat 4 verandah. At the end of the cruise we decided from here on out we're going back to connecting insides.

I hope everything works out and you enjoy your cruises.

When we took the Alaska cruise, we had one verandah cabin and one inside that were right across the hall from one another. That was a good setup.

 

[JW9DVC]

Tangent- how did you get sons girlfriend in cabin by herselfb if 19? They would not let us book our 19 year old without an over 21 (although they told us we could switch once on board)..
2. You could switch son to girlfriends cabin so you would at least have gold. Even if he does not actually stay in thst cabin.
3. Seems like they dont give you much with platinum anyway?

Do you have to be 21 to book? An adult is 18.

 

[wdrl]

I guess that's one way to look at it. Rules are rules, even if a nuclear family must be split up to follow them.

I think a reasonable person would agree that cruise lines should accommodate nuclear families in determine benefit levels. But at the same time, one could question what constitutes a nuclear family? Does a girlfriend sailing in a separate stateroom qualify as part of a nuclear family? How about the cousins, in-laws, and great nephews and nieces that are part of a large family gathering? Where does a reasonable person draw the line?

 

[jane01jp]

my feeling is that this is a very small issue. I don't even bother to check in at platinum because its at the back of the building. I can pretty much walk right up to the counter when I go through the first timers line, I actually did this in October as the cc line was busy. as I say I don't bother walking to the back. we were given a #2 which I think I would have received anyways. they were boarding 1 through 10 so we walked right on. the only thing I see a platinum person getting is a 'special' room to sit in which I don't see as special at all. theres nothing else is there? I've sat there a few times and I have never seen anything else. am I missing something?

last October we booked, and paid for, three cabins. ourselves and our two grown childrens cabin. we all boarded together, dh and I could have been on a few minutes earlier than them but it was worth it to me to be with my family. I would never have expected that they could slip in with us just because our cabins are linked. all our numbers were pretty close so we all got to get on together anyways.
its just not a big enough perk to worry about, in my mind. i'm sure it is for some but don't sweat the small stuff.

Agree that it is a small issue. I won't sweat the small stuff. But, then maybe Disney shouldn't offer the "small stuff" as a benefit.
The only odd thing about your comment is the term "slip in with us."

At $4,000 per passenger, my wife and 17 year old are not exactly stowaways.

 

[jane01jp]

I think a reasonable person would agree that cruise lines should accommodate nuclear families in determine benefit levels. But at the same time, one could question what constitutes a nuclear family? Does a girlfriend sailing in a separate stateroom qualify as part of a nuclear family? How about the cousins, in-laws, and great nephews and nieces that are part of a large family gathering? Where does a reasonable person draw the line?

Yeah, I can understand the girlfriend issue for our December cruise. But, my wife and daughter are the only ones in the adjacent cabin for our June cruise.

If the person at Disney had shown your ability to differentiate between these two situations, I would have been a lot more satisfied with the outcome of the conversation.

 

[texas disney mom]

Do you have to be 21 to book? An adult is 18.

I do not know. I am very confused now. It seems like we are the only ones who have experienced this.

 

[ASchwa]

Yeah, I can understand the girlfriend issue for our December cruise. But, my wife and daughter are the only ones in the adjacent cabin for our June cruise.

If the person at Disney had shown your ability to differentiate between these two situations, I would have been a lot more satisfied with the outcome of the conversation.

When I read your posts I didn't realize that it was just your nuclear family going on the Norway cruise. I agree that your wife and daughter should board with you. Anyway, there is a group on another site for this cruise if you would like to join. I am also going to Norway on that cruise. Counting down the days!

 

[tinkerone]

Agree that it is a small issue. I won't sweat the small stuff. But, then maybe Disney shouldn't offer the "small stuff" as a benefit.
The only odd thing about your comment is the term "slip in with us."

At $4,000 per passenger, my wife and 17 year old are not exactly stowaways.

I apologise if this was in any way offensive. it was not meant to be but maybe a bad term on my part. what I was trying to get across was the 'where do they draw the line' question more than anything else. there are so many families that do what your doing so at what point do they say no? should my three cabins have been able to board together because we are all related and I paid for the three cabins? all the reservations were linked. if I did it then that would encompass a whole lot of others who wanted to do it. what about the palo perk. if they bend the rule for boarding should they do the same for palo? same circumstances, everyone booked together. nothing different.
these offers are made for platinum cruisers so I get where they are coming from. I also understand what your feeling. I really do hope you get the answer you want and that it all works out. its at the very very beginning of your cruise so no mater what happens, don't let it start your vacation off wrong.
wish you the best.

 

[closetmickey]

To the OP- I would absolutely all go up to board together, especially for the cruise when all of you are immediate family. I am sometimes frustrated by those who cannot see some grey area in a written rule. Just be prepared that if they do not allow it, that you may have to wait a short bit. Enjoy your cruises!

 

[SonicGuy]

At the end of the day, if this is the biggest concern in your life right now - you're very blessed. Have a great trip!

 

[Saamh]

4 or 5 people boarding with a boarding group #1 card is reasonable. No one will question it at the port. Just show your 1 card and enjoy your trip. I'm a neurotic rule follower but in this case it doesn't make sense for you to not board together. Now 16 people all trying to get on with 1 card is excessive so I can see why they have this policy.

 

[CM Dad]

By the way, the first person (Ryan) that I spoke to on the phone was polite. He put me in touch with his supervisor (Sue), who was kind of snarky, in my opinion.

I asked why they had this policy. She said: "It would be unfair to other platinum members if you had a large group of, like, 16 people with you that you wanted to have check in under platinum."

I mentioned that this was a far-fetched, non-compelling argument, and asked if I could have someone else call me. She said that someone else would call me within 24 hours, but that they wouldn't do anything about it either.

I'm really not looking for anything out of them, other than the benefits that they advertise.

When I check in, I will ask for the 1st-time cruiser lanyard (since that is where I am checking in). I will proudly wear it to the Gold/Platinum members' reception.

Not sure why you think the example of a large group of 16 people is far fetched. I paid for 4 staterooms for a January cruise on the Wonder with a total of 15 people. My wife and I are gold, but travelled in the Walt suite along with our adult son. Our three daughter are all silver CC members and we booked in separate cabins with their husbands/boyfriends/children. It would have been nice if they could take advantage of all the concierge benefits, but that is not something I expected or requested. It turns out that during this time some of the concierge rooms on the Wonder were being renovated so the concierge host did invite them to some of the events, but that was a pleasant surprise to me.

 

[gasbuddy36]

Let me give explicit details.

1. Yes. I have complained to Disney, both by phone, and by e-mail.

2. They have had little chance to respond, since I just complained today.

3. Booking details:

Upcoming cruise 1 (12/12/15 Fantasy):

Cabin 1 - me (age 54) and my 19 year-old son. I am platinum, he is gold.

Cabin 2 - my son's 19-year old girlfriend. She had not cruised with Disney.

We will all have to use the regular check in. We cannot even use Castaway Club check in for her. We could have all stayed in one cabin, but it would have been awkward.

Upcoming cruise 2 (6/29/16 Magic):

Cabin one - me and my now 20 year old son. He will still be gold.

Cabin two - my wife and my 17 year-old daughter. Both are gold.

We are a nuclear family, and we are not all adults.

Our only option, if we wish to check in together, is to do it as gold members. Alternatively, we can cancel one of the cabins and all check in under platinum.

You are incorrect. As long as your reservations are linked and all members for both rooms show up at the platinum checkin desk at the same time, you all will be allowed to check in. However based upon room 2 PAT will determine their boarding number.

 

[bumbershoot]

I guess it might be. I would be saving a few thousand dollars. But, we would be cramped. The point is, Disney's policy is not customer-friendly and has made me at least think about it.

Well, it's fair for all the others who are platinum behind you, isn't it?

Do you have to be 21 to book? An adult is 18.

Things get odd in cruise-land. I'm not sure of DCL's policy, but with Royal, pretty much unless you're married, 18 is NOT an adult who can book on your own.

 

[Otimon]

Good heavens! All of this is really of no consequence. Deal with, and do, whatever is in front of you at the terminal, be it Gold or Platinum difference, line difference, time difference, etc. etc.

The important thing is you'll end up together very quickly where it counts: on the beautiful Disney ship with a wonderful cruise ahead.

Bon voyage.

 

[llachance]

I can't believe you would move into one cabin...that said when I checked in with my daughter (28) in a connecting cabin last year she didn't have the same privilege of checking in at the platinum desk and she was finished checking in before I was. We were giving boarding card 1 and she had boarding card three. The woman at the platinum desk gave us all boarding card 2...not a big deal. When I went with my other daughter and her family it was their first cruise. We just waited until their number (us 1 them 10 or so) because that was the thing to do - and what a treat it was to see their faces when they board. We are going again next week. My daughter has a PAT of 10:30 and we don't have to have one because we are platinum. We are taking DCL transfers from WDW so I am sure they will be to open boarding before we get there. BTW - although everyone who has sailed before gets a lanyard I am the only platinum in the family so get the platinum lanyard, we have 3 golds and a silver - and that's the lanyards they will get. For PALO reservations I reserved for my husband and I and added my daughter and son-in-law when their booking opened up....Too much drama for boarding

 

[TiggerBouncy]

In the scheme of things, you are getting upset over nothing at all. Also, your example is not entirely valid. For example my wife has TSA pre-check. I don't. She can either join the regular TSA line with me, or wait on the other side (keep in mind that the only thing TSA Pre-check REALLY gets you is to the front of the line quickly and if the airport is very overstaffed, keeping shoes on). We went to a broadway show with some friends. They were members and we weren't. We were one party. They were allowed in and could gather stuff and meet us at our seats, but not take us with them. It's fairly common and more than you think.

If there are reservations you want to make in the ship, forgo the pictures (as platinum, you have plenty and you can get some on the ship) and go in first to take care of business. If there are not, spend some time with your family and talk about the upcoming fun you will share. You can't get in your cabin anyway, so the only difference here is if you are waiting in the terminal or standing in the hallways on the ship.

Really, this is just not worth the trouble of getting upset about, much less calling Disney to make a fuss about or posting on some boards about.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[wilma-bride]

Do you have to be 21 to book? An adult is 18.

I do not know. I am very confused now. It seems like we are the only ones who have experienced this.

I was unable to book my 20 year old daughter into a stateroom on her own previously, I had to book my husband in that room with her. It may have been because there was also a 9 year old booked into that room though.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I agree with the OP that the Platinum benefits are so small, they should honor the ones that they have.
From the responses, it sounds like you can just all board together, even with different boarding times. I'd just go with that unless you really do want to all share a room.

 

[Little Doe]

The boarding numbers are based on how soon you check in on your check in day. Be up at 12:01am and check them all in. It will not be a big deal. To quote a famous movie -- "Let it go, Let it go" It is a vacation to have fun not to cause stress. May your day at check in be wonderful.