Splitting platinum cruisers into different rooms

[Doingitagain]

DH and I are platinum cruisers. We are traveling with another couple who will be first time cruisers. We haven't booked yet. We thought of splitting us into two staterooms so that both staterooms could book excursions and Palo early. If we do that, can we switch before we cruise so each couple is listed on the stateroom where they will sleep?

We would have a platinum cruiser be the primary name on one stateroom and one of he new cruiser names on the second stateroom, so we wouldn't be changing the primary name.

Have others done this? Any comments on pros and cons? TIA?

 

[ktate82]

We did this with friends last January. Once we got on board, they "switched" us and printed us new room cards. It worked out fine.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

DH and I are platinum cruisers. We are traveling with another couple who will be first time cruisers. We haven't booked yet. We thought of splitting us into two staterooms so that both staterooms could book excursions and Palo early. If we do that, can we switch before we cruise so each couple is listed on the stateroom where they will sleep?

We would have a platinum cruiser be the primary name on one stateroom and one of he new cruiser names on the second stateroom, so we wouldn't be changing the primary name.

Have others done this? Any comments on pros and cons? TIA?

Just a note - you don't have to switch rooms, exactly. Just get a blank room key card (no charging privilege and not usable for getting off and on the ship) for those who will be sleeping otherwise. But, everyone will have to attend the muster station that the room they are booked into is assigned to. Each person's KKTW card (the "real" one) can have it's own onboard account back up, so the accounts won't get muddled if you opt to stay with the original reservation setup.

I think if you switch the second room's platinum cruiser before the cruise, that second room won't get the Castaway Club gift (since there's no longer a CC member in there), if that matters to you.

 

[cedricandsophie]

We always do this with our family. Four of us are platinum and we put a platinum in every room. But we never switch back officially. We simply get extra Keys to match up people with the rooms they actually sleep in. This way everyone gets platinum bags, free palo and a bottle of preseco.

 

[gometros]

We always do this with our family. Four of us are platinum and we put a platinum in every room. But we never switch back officially. We simply get extra Keys to match up people with the rooms they actually sleep in. This way everyone gets platinum bags, free palo and a bottle of preseco.

What's preseco?

 

[ASchwa]

What's preseco?

Prosecco is the Italian sparkling white wine that is equal to Champagne. Some are very good but not as expensive as Champagne.

 

[gometros]

Prosecco is the Italian sparkling white wine that is equal to Champagne. Some are very good but not as expensive as Champagne.

Thanks. Didn't know about that benefit. We had to split up to, since we're traveling with our adult children who aren't even gold yet. This thread was helpful, because I hadn't thought about the key situation.

 

[MunFam]

The thing that would concern me most is the muster station situation. In the event of an emergency, I want to be with my family. Being booked in to separate rooms, even side by side may result in different stations/life boats. If you change rooms on board, does it change your life boat assignment? Do you lose your Palo privileges?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

The thing that would concern me most is the muster station situation. In the event of an emergency, I want to be with my family. Being booked in to separate rooms, even side by side may result in different stations/life boats. If you change rooms on board, does it change your life boat assignment? Do you lose your Palo privileges?

You must attend the muster drill for the room that you (the general "you" not specific "you") are actually booked into. As well as use that muster station/lifeboat for any real emergencies.

If you change rooms officially, as in actually change the reservation, you are then assigned to the new room's muster station. If you've only been issued a blank room key to sleep in that room (not changed on the reservation) you still attend the muster drill for the room you are actually assigned to.

Don't know about the Palo thing, though. Not sure how that would work.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

This will be an unpopular post but it bothers me that people try to cheat the system to get a free gift and Palo experience. I've earned the right and I think others should as well. We travel with 3 other people that are gold. We do not try and get them Platinum perks. We hope and pray we get the same tours and Palo dinners. If not, we wait till we are onboard to get it all worked out.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

This will be an unpopular post but it bothers me that people try to cheat the system to get a free gift and Palo experience. I've earned the right and I think others should as well. We travel with 3 other people that are gold. We do not try and get them Platinum perks. We hope and pray we get the same tours and Palo dinners. If not, we wait till we are onboard to get it all worked out.

You're right, it will be an unpopular post. But, I agree.

 

[jane01jp]

This will be an unpopular post but it bothers me that people try to cheat the system to get a free gift and Palo experience. I've earned the right and I think others should as well. We travel with 3 other people that are gold. We do not try and get them Platinum perks. We hope and pray we get the same tours and Palo dinners. If not, we wait till we are onboard to get it all worked out.

I know. I received very little support from this forum when I suggested that my wife and 17 year old daughter (who are gold) staying in a connecting cabin, be able to board with me (platinum) and my 20 year old son (gold).

I was told that I was "entitled," trying to get something for nothing, and so on.

The responses seem a little inconsistent - a bit of a double standard, if you will, from people who seem to love the letter of the rules, but not the spirit.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

You can't change the names of the people in the rooms. Especially not the lead persons. You also can't "officially" move out the platinum and keep the platinum benefits.

You can get keys to the staterooms and sleep in other rooms, but not change the names. You are supposed to report to the muster station of the stateroom you are registered in.

 

[gometros]

This will be an unpopular post but it bothers me that people try to cheat the system to get a free gift and Palo experience. I've earned the right and I think others should as well. We travel with 3 other people that are gold. We do not try and get them Platinum perks. We hope and pray we get the same tours and Palo dinners. If not, we wait till we are onboard to get it all worked out.

It's not cheating the system at all. The system allows members of your group to benefit from the person with the highest level. We are a family group and since I earned the right, then my family gets to benefit from that right too.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

It's not cheating the system at all. The system allows members of your group to benefit from the person with the highest level. We are a family group and since I earned the right, then my family gets to benefit from that right too.

I'm of the opinion that DCL thinks that "family" is whoever is in any one room. As in a nuclear family, dad, mom, and minor kids. Once you start splitting up dad & mom to cover Aunt Sue & Uncle Bob and their kids, it's not nuclear.

That's cheating the system.

The perk is to reward the people who've cruised before, not siblings, or even kids, if they haven't cruised before.

Here's what the Castaway Club site says:
Once you complete your first cruise, you become a Castaway Club member with benefits based on the number of times you sail with us.

It specifically says "you", not "and any others in your group (or family)". The only perks that are extended are to those "in your room" for the in room gift and Palo meals.

 

[shelbell77]

I agree. Until now we've always been a stage behind our traveling friends. We never did anything to try and get benefits we didn't earn rightfully.

People complain about all the price increases, but don't understand that this type of behavior increases costs.

This will be an unpopular post but it bothers me that people try to cheat the system to get a free gift and Palo experience. I've earned the right and I think others should as well. We travel with 3 other people that are gold. We do not try and get them Platinum perks. We hope and pray we get the same tours and Palo dinners. If not, we wait till we are onboard to get it all worked out.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

It's cheating the system IF you have no plans to be in that room and just want everyone to get the perks of extra gifts (beach bags), champagne or chocolates and Palo reservations.

 

[Expatriat]

I'm of the opinion that DCL thinks that "family" is whoever is in any one room. As in a nuclear family, dad, mom, and minor kids. Once you start splitting up dad & mom to cover Aunt Sue & Uncle Bob and their kids, it's not nuclear.

That's cheating the system.

The perk to to reward the people who've cruised before, not siblings, or even kids, if they haven't cruised before.

Here's what the Castaway Club site says:
Once you complete your first cruise, you become a Castaway Club member with benefits based on the number of times you sail with us.

It specifically says "you", not "and any others in your group (or family)". The only perks that are extended are to those "in your room" for the in room gift and Palo meals.

Very well said, and I completely agree!

 

[gometros]

I'm of the opinion that DCL thinks that "family" is whoever is in any one room. As in a nuclear family, dad, mom, and minor kids. Once you start splitting up dad & mom to cover Aunt Sue & Uncle Bob and their kids, it's not nuclear.

That's cheating the system.

The perk is to reward the people who've cruised before, not siblings, or even kids, if they haven't cruised before.

Here's what the Castaway Club site says:
Once you complete your first cruise, you become a Castaway Club member with benefits based on the number of times you sail with us.

It specifically says "you", not "and any others in your group (or family)". The only perks that are extended are to those "in your room" for the in room gift and Palo meals.

It's DCL's opinion that counts and as long as they allow it, then it's not cheating. If they didn't, then the benefit would be extended to each person on an individual basis, not by room. I paid for the rooms, so I get the benefit.

 

[rhinodadz]

That's cheating the system.

The perk is to reward the people who've cruised before, not siblings, or even kids, if they haven't cruised before.

Gotta disagree. The Castaway Club FAQ says:

The Castaway Club benefit level―Silver, Gold or Platinum―is determined by the Guest with the highest membership level in the stateroom. All Guests staying in the same stateroom will enjoy that member’s benefit level for the duration of the cruise.

Guests traveling with you, but staying in a different stateroom, will enjoy the benefit level of whichever member has the highest membership level in their stateroom.

By earning Platinum status I have the right to share it with whomever I want to put in the stateroom with me, family or not. And if my DW (also Platinum) is registered in a separate room she has the same right. After that, the sleeping arrangements are irrelevant.