Platinum Status Question

[mimird]

I am currently one cruise away from earning Platinum. There is a possibility that we will take a cruise this year, so then I would have it! We are hoping to go on an Alaskan Cruise next year and take both sets of our parents, so we would have 3 staterooms. Is there any real advantage to having platinum for that cruise? If none of the others have it, can we all check in and board together? Can I book excursions for other staterooms if our reservations are linked? Can I book a table at Palo for all of us together? Does it make a difference if I book all the rooms myself? If the answer is no to everything, I'm not really sure what the Platinum status would do for me. Thanks!

 

[DCSWO]

I think the answer is no to all. You can board together but you would have to wait and board with them and not with platinum members. You cannot extend your benefits to non-platinum members and that is what you would be doing by booking excursions, Palo, etc.

 

[jdb in AZ]

I am currently one cruise away from earning Platinum. There is a possibility that we will take a cruise this year, so then I would have it! We are hoping to go on an Alaskan Cruise next year and take both sets of our parents, so we would have 3 staterooms. Is there any real advantage to having platinum for that cruise? If none of the others have it, can we all check in and board together? Can I book excursions for other staterooms if our reservations are linked? Can I book a table at Palo for all of us together? Does it make a difference if I book all the rooms myself? If the answer is no to everything, I'm not really sure what the Platinum status would do for me. Thanks!

Would you be the only platinum passenger, or would your DH and kids also have that status? You need one platinum person in each stateroom to qualify for the benefits. Once on board you could move people around to change their sleeping arrangements.

If you're the only platinum cruiser you can still check in and board together if you're willing to board with the lowest status family member. You can book a table at Palo for everyone at 75 days out, or book as soon as you board the ship.

 

[BethA]

We have had people in our group not platinum and Palo was free for everyone. It is possible if your reservations are linked you might be able to book. I really do not remember on that one.

 

[Trera]

I think the restriction on Palo is that there must be a platinum cruiser in the room and that entitles everyone over 18 to a free Palo meal.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We have had people in our group not platinum and Palo was free for everyone. It is possible if your reservations are linked you might be able to book. I really do not remember on that one.

In any one given room, if there's a Platinum member, that member and all guests 18 and over IN THE SAME ROOM are comped at Palo.

If you had more people than that who were comped, you got lucky.

• **Offer includes dining service fee for one dinner, for Platinum Castaway Club member and Guests staying in member's stateroom who are 18 years of age or older. Subject to availability. Limited to one complimentary experience per stateroom, per sailing.

 

[DCLCrazy64622]

I am currently one cruise away from earning Platinum. There is a possibility that we will take a cruise this year, so then I would have it! We are hoping to go on an Alaskan Cruise next year and take both sets of our parents, so we would have 3 staterooms. Is there any real advantage to having platinum for that cruise? If none of the others have it, can we all check in and board together? Can I book excursions for other staterooms if our reservations are linked? Can I book a table at Palo for all of us together? Does it make a difference if I book all the rooms myself? If the answer is no to everything, I'm not really sure what the Platinum status would do for me. Thanks!

If you put one platinum person in each room (to include kids for the third room) then everyone should get Palo for free and be able to board after concierge. They don’t care where you sleep. The staterooms are in name only.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

If you put one platinum person in each room (to include kids for the third room) then everyone should get Palo for free and be able to board after concierge. They don’t care where you sleep. The staterooms are in name only.

Well, I'm not sure that works if the kids are under 18. If the Platinum member in a room is under 18, I'm not sure everyone else will still get the Palo meal free.

 

[dvcgirl1]

Trera is correct...if there is a Platinum member in the stateroom, then everyone else in that stateroom (over 18) would be able to get a free Palo meal. Any Platinum benefits (free gift of sparkling wine, chocolates, or fruit), Castaway Club gift, etc. would go to the stateroom or rooms that have a Platinum member in it. Many people who are travelling with family and staying in multiple rooms make the room reservations with that in mind and move people around once on board. You just go to Guest Services and ask for additional keys.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Trera is correct...if there is a Platinum member in the stateroom, then everyone else in that stateroom (over 18) would be able to get a free Palo meal. Any Platinum benefits (free gift of sparkling wine, chocolates, or fruit), Castaway Club gift, etc. would go to the stateroom or rooms that have a Platinum member in it. Many people who are travelling with family and staying in multiple rooms make the room reservations with that in mind and move people around once on board. You just go to Guest Services and ask for additional keys.

Even if the platinum member in that room ineligible to dine at Palo?

 

[mimird]

Unfortunately I would be the only person with platinum so it sounds like it really would not do me much good in this case. There are a couple other golds so maybe we could spread them out on the reservations so we could could book things sooner. Thanks for the responses!

 

[mmouse37]

Even if the platinum member in that room ineligible to dine at Palo?

I think so.....not 100% positive but I seem to remember our friends booking their minor platinum child in another stateroom so those adults could get Palo benefit. Again, not 100% positive.

MJ

 

[CM Dad]

Even if the platinum member in that room ineligible to dine at Palo?

Not sure. The benefits page for the Castaway Club in the DCL site says "***Offer includes dining service fee for one dinner, for Platinum Castaway Club member and Guests staying in member's stateroom who are 18 years of age or older. Subject to availability. Limited to one complimentary experience per stateroom, per sailing."

Since it says the Platinum Castaway Club member AND Guests staying in member's stateroom, it sounds like the guests in that room would not be able to get the free mail, but who knows if that is how it is enforced.

 

[IrishEye]

If you put one platinum person in each room (to include kids for the third room) then everyone should get Palo for free and be able to board after concierge. They don’t care where you sleep. The staterooms are in name only.

Be careful here. Life boats are assigned by stateroom not family members so the stateroom you are assigned to will be your life boat station. Once you board be sure to go to guest services to have people re-assigned to a room instead of just moving yourselves, you will be given a new KTTW card with the proper emergency station listed.

 

[Billinaz]

I am currently one cruise away from earning Platinum. There is a possibility that we will take a cruise this year, so then I would have it! We are hoping to go on an Alaskan Cruise next year and take both sets of our parents, so we would have 3 staterooms. Is there any real advantage to having platinum for that cruise? If none of the others have it, can we all check in and board together? Can I book excursions for other staterooms if our reservations are linked? Can I book a table at Palo for all of us together? Does it make a difference if I book all the rooms myself? If the answer is no to everything, I'm not really sure what the Platinum status would do for me. Thanks!

Yes, I did this on our upcoming cruise. I was platinum, others were even first time cruisers. 1 email to DCL had it all set for both excursions and Palo.

 

[Dug720]

Yes, I did this on our upcoming cruise. I was platinum, others were even first time cruisers. 1 email to DCL had it all set for both excursions and Palo.

I suspect that had more to do with you cruising Concierge than anything else.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I suspect that had more to do with you cruising Concierge than anything else.

I was thinking the same thought.

 

[gotomu212]

Be careful here. Life boats are assigned by stateroom not family members so the stateroom you are assigned to will be your life boat station. Once you board be sure to go to guest services to have people re-assigned to a room instead of just moving yourselves, you will be given a new KTTW card with the proper emergency station listed.

We have been able to get KTTW door privelages for moving people around but we’ve never been able to actual change the names and muster stations for people once onboard. We were told room assignments for the entire ship are done to balance lifeboats and taking people in and out of one room can cause unbalanced for the whole boat (that’s one of the considerations when they start assigning GT assignments). Maybe other people have had different experiences?

I took heart that in thousands and thousands of cruises muster stations haven’t been an issue.

 

[IrishEye]

I want to be clear I was referring to swap, not adding a person to a room. I was responding to the comment that they don't care where you sleep the staterooms are in name only. The staterooms are more than just a name in an emergency, they are used in the emergency roll call at the safety life boat stations. Just can't imagine sending an 8 year old child who is registered into another room down to meet aunt Claire to stand by for evacuation. If someone wants to expand their CC status to other rooms, be sure that the other person who would normally be in that other room is listed in your room in order to enable a trade once aboard.