Palo/Platinum changes?

[annab3550]

So, I've scaled way back on DCL. But, we sailed last month and my husband and I booked Palo brunch and dinner. I was under the assumption that both meals (minus tips) would be comped as "I thought" a free meal on Palo for two was a platinum perk. Our first meal- brunch- was comped. (Of course we left a good tip). Dinner, however was not. I know there have been recent changes with Palo (like not just choosing what you want from the menu, back in the day there were no prices listed next to items), but has the Platinum perk changed also?

 

[dreamer17555]

You get one meal valued at $50 per adult over 18 in the state room once there is a platinum member in the room.

In this case, you got brunch for free. If you go to Palo twice on the same sailing, you have to pay for the second meal.

It is also not a completely free meal because it’s actually a $50 credit towards your meal. You can obviously easily spend more than that if you add on things to brunch or go à la cart at dinner.

 

[CamColt]

As dreamer17555 noted above you get 1 Palo meal per sailing comped. This has always been the perk (once I wasn't even allowed to use it for brunch).

This is one advantage I found to doing B2B cruises. You can do brunch on 1 sailing and dinner on the other to experience both for "free".

 

[happycamper47]

So, I've scaled way back on DCL. But, we sailed last month and my husband and I booked Palo brunch and dinner. I was under the assumption that both meals (minus tips) would be comped as "I thought" a free meal on Palo for two was a platinum perk. Our first meal- brunch- was comped. (Of course we left a good tip). Dinner, however was not. I know there have been recent changes with Palo (like not just choosing what you want from the menu, back in the day there were no prices listed next to items), but has the Platinum perk changed also?

It's been only 1 as long as I can remember.

EDIT: CamColt wins!!

 

[jwalk03]

Nothing has changed. The platinum perk has always been one $50 credit at Palo per adult in a platinum stateroom. You don’t get it twice on the same sailing.

 

[annab3550]

So weird. I swear I remember both adults in the room being covered. Anyway... thanks for the answer.

 

[Mommb]

The official Platinum benefit is a complimentary dinner at Palo (which, as dreamer17555 described, currently means a $50 credit). Because the price of brunch is now the same as the price for the prix fixe dinner, servers will usually apply the benefit the first time a Platinum guest visits Palo, whether that is brunch or dinner.

The benefit is explicitly described as “limited to one complimentary experience per stateroom, per sailing” so even if two people in a stateroom are both Platinum, they each get only 1 comped meal, as does anyone else over 18 in their room who dines with them.

 

[Aby]

So weird. I swear I remember both adults in the room being covered. Anyway... thanks for the answer.

Yes, all adults in the stateroom are covered with the platinum perk - 1 free meal - either brunch or dinner (if you get the prix fixe menu) or 50$ credit per person for dinner if you order from the a la carte menu.

 

[Calantha]

This whole thing is hitting close to home. I posted about our plans in last week's Palo thread, but let me tell you how it all went down...and update those just tuning in.

We had 2 Platinum rooms - one with me and Friend husband and two with DS (10) and Friend. Anyway...

1. Go to Palo for brunch. Tell server that Friend is in platinum room, but DS can't attend.
2. Server credits us for 3 brunches.
3. I check my account later in the afternoon and that charge was voided and I was charged for 1 brunch.
4. I go to Guest Services.
5. Guest Services desk person tells me "It is only for the Platinum member" - which is so obviously wrong that I ask to speak to the manager.
6. Guest Services Manager comes out, I explain what happened to her. She said she'd call the Palo manager, but understood the dilemma - child is platinum member but child can't go to Palo. In her interpretation, we should have the credit.
7. Palo manager calls me on the phone at dinner, who said he fixed it, but implied it wasn't standard. Was hard to tell on the phone as we were in the dining room and it was very noisy.
8. Guest Services Manager calls me later on and says "It is all fine, just make sure you let them know in advance."

Anyway, lesson learned - talk to Palo Manager before brunch next time but I still don't know what the true answer is!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

The official Platinum benefit is a complimentary dinner at Palo (which, as dreamer17555 described, currently means a $50 credit). Because the price of brunch is now the same as the price for the prix fixe dinner, servers will usually apply the benefit the first time a Platinum guest visits Palo, whether that is brunch or dinner.

The benefit is explicitly described as “limited to one complimentary experience per stateroom, per sailing” so even if two people in a stateroom are both Platinum, they each get only 1 comped meal, as does anyone else over 18 in their room who dines with them.

So, since the Platinum member in the second room is 10 years old, there's no Palo perk for that room, since it also says:
"All Guests must be 18 or older."

 

[annab3550]

This is why I'm confused. (And I totally understand what the written rules are, I'm not arguing, but something changed, or someone made a mistake in the past.)

My DH and I are both platinum, but my DH only earned platinum status last summer as I've done a few cruises without him. (DVC member and other family cruises where he didn't go). We often travel with two female friend who are both silver. So, even when my husband was gold, we'd split between the two rooms to increase chances at Palo, mixology etc. One friend got the benefit of being roomed with a platinum, one with a gold so everything could be booked sooner. I specifically remember going to Palo (the 4 of us) and I was the only platinum. My meal (and my friend who was named in my room) were comped. She was silver. She tried to explain to the server that it should actually be my husband who was comped, but because she was "in my room" her meal was comped instead. That specific meal, apparently only I should have been comped, but they comped the room. Maybe the Palo server made a mistake, I honestly don't know...

 

[Dug720]

I don't know, but I hope they DO start enforcing it. Too many people are taking advantage of the system by splitting up IMHO.

And I'm VERY glad it doesn't apply to people who aren't Platinum staying in the room (or more likely assigned to the room) with a "Platinum" child.

 

[annab3550]

You hope they start enforcing what?

 

[Dug720]

You hope they start enforcing what?

That it only applies to the actual Platinum guest and only if the actual Platinum guest is over 18. It's not fair for people to take advantage of the system since it adversely affects people who cannot split their party.

 

[SirDuff]

This is why I'm confused. (And I totally understand what the written rules are, I'm not arguing, but something changed, or someone made a mistake in the past.)

My DH and I are both platinum, but my DH only earned platinum status last summer as I've done a few cruises without him. (DVC member and other family cruises where he didn't go). We often travel with two female friend who are both silver. So, even when my husband was gold, we'd split between the two rooms to increase chances at Palo, mixology etc. One friend got the benefit of being roomed with a platinum, one with a gold so everything could be booked sooner. I specifically remember going to Palo (the 4 of us) and I was the only platinum. My meal (and my friend who was named in my room) were comped. She was silver. She tried to explain to the server that it should actually be my husband who was comped, but because she was "in my room" her meal was comped instead. That specific meal, apparently only I should have been comped, but they comped the room. Maybe the Palo server made a mistake, I honestly don't know...

But what happened before is exactly what should have happened and exactly as people have described above. She got the free meal because she was sharing a room with you (a Platinum traveler). I don’t understand what you think he made a mistake on?

 

[annab3550]

But what happened before is exactly what should have happened and exactly as people have described above. She got the free meal because she was sharing a room with you (a Platinum traveler). I don’t understand what you think he made a mistake on?

Because my platinum benefit paid for my meal and my friends meal. When apparently it's only supposed to pay for my meal.

 

[European]

Because my platinum benefit paid for my meal and my friends meal. When apparently it's only supposed to pay for my meal.

No, the benefit is for you and everyone 18 and over in your room.

 

[annab3550]

No, the benefit is for you and everyone 18 and over in your room.

That's my question then. If "my benefit" is used to pay for myself and my husband in my room for brunch. Why doesn't "his" benefit cover his and my dinner. In actuality, using your response, only one of us got our benefit.

 

[Kwami]

The perk covers the platinum member and any other guests who are 18+, staying in the same room, and dining at Palo at the same time. It's always been this way.

It does not cover anyone staying in a different stateroom. It does not cover anyone staying in a stateroom when the only platinum member is under 18. It does not cover anyone staying in a stateroom with an 18+ platinum member if that member is not dining at Palo.

 

[European]

That's my question then. If "my benefit" is used to pay for myself and my husband in my room for brunch. Why doesn't "his" benefit cover his and my dinner. In actuality, using your response, only one of us got our benefit.

You both got the benefit, but only once. It’s like the stateroom gifts. You only get them once, no matter how many people are in the room or what the other people’s status is. 2 platinum guests or 1 platinum and 1 silver, you receive the gifts only once (only the lanyards can be different).