I'm the only Platinum, so can't use Platinum priveleges

[jane01jp]

We are sailing on 7 day Norwegian Fjords cruise June 29.

My family booked 2 adjoining cabins. I am Platinum, and my wife, son, and daughter are each gold.

I tried to go online and book activities today, and can't for all of my family (those staying in adjoining room) until the gold window opens.

I realize that someone could abuse this privelege by linking a very large group, but it seems odd that I can't book for all of my immediate family of 4.

From previous discussions, I know some people think that Disney's policies are sacrosanct, but this particular policy seems goofy.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We are sailing on 7 day Norwegian Fjords cruise June 29.

My family booked 2 adjoining cabins. I am Platinum, and my wife, son, and daughter are each gold.

I tried to go online and book activities today, and can't for my family until the gold window opens.

I realize that someone could abuse this privelege by linking a very large group, but it seems odd that I can't book for my immediate family of 4.

You can only apply the Platinum perks to those in your room. Castaway Club perks apply to the stateroom, based on the highest level in that room.

That's the way it's always been, as far as I know.

The way DCL controls people from using it for large groups, is by keeping the feature narrowed by room.

That's probably why each room is it's own reservation.

I thought we already covered this in your past thread:
http://www.disboards.com/threads/disappointed-platinum-member.3462993/

 

[jane01jp]

Princess, we did cover that in my last thread.

And, I'm aware that it is the rule. I'm also aware why they have the rule.

I still think it's lousy.

Like I said, just because it is their rule, doesn't make it good policy. If it did, Disney would never change policies.

Kind of like with the AHOD reversal.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Princess, we did cover that in my last thread.

And, I'm aware that it is the rule. I'm also aware why they have the rule.

I still think it's lousy.

Like I said, just because it is their rule, doesn't make it good policy. If it did, Disney would never change policies.

Kind of like with the AHOD reversal.

Well, I doubt that it's hurting DCL to have the policy, otherwise it would change. The issue is whether DCL needs to offer any perks at all for returning cruisers. The answer is "no". But they do. And they limit how those perks are assigned.

It seems to be working fine for them.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

it's not goofy, for the very reason you gave...if all platinum guests could book their full parties including non-platinum party members in multiple staterooms, then nobody else would get much chance at anything. Sorry it didn't work out for your party but I don't see how they can allow small parties to do it but not larger parties. I suppose I'm kind of used to booking Palo for myself and then adding additional people onboard. But I don't think it's bad policy.

 

[Expatriat]

Well, I doubt that it's hurting DCL to have the policy, otherwise it would change. The issue is whether DCL needs to offer any perks at all for returning cruisers. The answer is "no". But they do. And they limit how those perks are assigned.

It seems to be working fine for them.

I agree. There is no way they could fairly "bend the rules" on this policy. They would have to make a new policy declaring how many is too many. It would open up a whole new can of worms. The number of Platinum cruisers is multiplying rapidly, which has already caused DCL to cut benefits (that short-lived $350 OBC) and previously great amenities (better gift bags & contents, 3 huge shrimp cocktails as a room service food gift, behind the scenes tours, etc.). As the numbers keep climbing, it won't be long before the booking early/boarding early won't even seem like a perk. I think that for now what they are doing is fair and as Shmoo pointed out, they don't HAVE to do anything, so I am grateful that so far they still do!

 

[closetmickey]

We are sailing on 7 day Norwegian Fjords cruise June 29.

My family booked 2 adjoining cabins. I am Platinum, and my wife, son, and daughter are each gold.

I tried to go online and book activities today, and can't for all of my family (those staying in adjoining room) until the gold window opens.

I realize that someone could abuse this privelege by linking a very large group, but it seems odd that I can't book for all of my immediate family of 4.

From previous discussions, I know some people think that Disney's policies are sacrosanct, but this particular policy seems goofy.

I'm with you (as stated before)....and I will never be Platinum. Immediate family should be included. Imagine this scenario....a couple without children sails DCL 5 times before children. They have babies and cruise another 5 (or 6,7,8,9) times. That's a lot of cruises! But..... they essentially would have to take 15 cruises total to enjoy the Platinum check in/pre booking of excursions as a family. Kind of penalizes you for brining this kiddos along. It's just silly.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I'm with you (as stated before)....and I will never be Platinum. Immediate family should be included. Imagine this scenario....a couple without children sails DCL 5 times before children. They have babies and cruise another 5 (or 6,7,8,9) times. That's a lot of cruises! But..... they essentially would have to take 15 cruises total to enjoy the Platinum check in/pre booking of excursions as a family. Kind of penalizes you for brining this kiddos along. It's just silly.

Not at all. If it's necessary to have 2 rooms, each parent can be booked into each room, making each room "Platinum". As I noted, a room is considered to be whatever the highest level Castaway Club member is in each room.

Once your phantom Platinum couple starts having kids, and require that second room, they can get those perks for both rooms, they just need to split up (well on paper, anyway).

Just because, I'm Platinum, I don't need my kids to get Platinum perks, unless they are in my room, or they've earned the perks themselves.

 

[jane01jp]

I don't need my kids to get Platinum perks. But, I would like to do shore excursions as a family.

I also realize Disney doesn't HAVE to offer any benefits. And yet they do. I wonder if it is out of benevolence, or if they think it might be good for business?

I have read references to benefits that have changed over time. So, it's obvious that even the impeccable Disney does change its mind from time-to-time.

This will make it more likely that we will use non-Disney shore excursions.

 

[closetmickey]

Not at all. If it's necessary to have 2 rooms, each parent can be booked into each room, making each room "Platinum". As I noted, a room is considered to be whatever the highest level Castaway Club member is in each room.

Once your phantom Platinum couple starts having kids, and require that second room, they can get those perks for both rooms, they just need to split up (well on paper, anyway).

Just because, I'm Platinum, I don't need my kids to get Platinum perks, unless they are in my room, or they've earned the perks themselves.

But many families never need two rooms....

 

[PrincessShmoo]

But many families never need two rooms....

So, if everyone is in one room, then everyone gets the Platinum perks. Again, the perks are awarded to the room, based on the highest Castaway Club level in the room.

 

[closetmickey]

Well, yes!! How did I forget that??

 

[CampbellzSoup]

Why would platinum benefits be extended beyond just one room if others aren't at that status?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Why would platinum benefits be extended beyond just one room if others aren't at that status?

That's the question I have.

The returning cruiser perks should be FOR the returning cruisers, not others "in their party" regardless of kinship.

DCL apparently feels that awards for loyalty should be given to those who earned them, not others who happen to be related.

 

[JW9DVC]

That's the question I have.

The returning cruiser perks should be FOR the returning cruisers, not others "in their party" regardless of kinship.

DCL apparently feels that awards for loyalty should be given to those who earned them, not others who happen to be related.

Hard to book excursions and dining reservations in advance when you all want to partake. So "in the party" does matter, especially when traveling together.

We all know its highest level per room. oP is simply saying that they would like the others to be considered for the ease of booking, as they are all linked and basically the two rooms are used like one.

JW

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hard to book excursions and dining reservations in advance when you all want to partake. So "in the party" does matter, especially when traveling together.

We all know its highest level per room. oP is simply saying that they would like the others to be considered for the ease of booking, as they are all linked and basically the two rooms are used like one.

JW

Each room is a separate reservation. If OP wanted to have everyone get the perks, then everyone would need to be booked in the same room as the Platinum member.

 

[JW9DVC]

Each room is a separate reservation. If OP wanted to have everyone get the perks, then everyone would need to be booked in the same room as the Platinum member.

It's hard to do that when you need to have the two rooms to fit all the people at times comfortably, I know each room is a separate reservation, the way it's being used though is like one room. I never said it was the same reservation.

JW

 

[CM Dad]

I'm with you (as stated before)....and I will never be Platinum. Immediate family should be included. Imagine this scenario....a couple without children sails DCL 5 times before children. They have babies and cruise another 5 (or 6,7,8,9) times. That's a lot of cruises! But..... they essentially would have to take 15 cruises total to enjoy the Platinum check in/pre booking of excursions as a family. Kind of penalizes you for brining this kiddos along. It's just silly.

If they are on one room they all could take advantage of the Platinum benefits. If they need to book two rooms, the adults would need to split up for the reservations, since you need and adult in each room and they would get two rooms with Platinum benefits.

 

[Sytrace]

The OP is the only Platinum member. The spouse is Gold as well as the other guests in the room.

 

[allears]

Why would platinum benefits be extended beyond just one room if others aren't at that status?

Because the poster believes his is an exception to the rule and his situation should be handled differently than everyone else who has to abide by the rules of the program