Key Aspects:
- A Platinum Carnival cruiser has complained that self-assist guests are permitted to debark before their priority debarkation benefit.
- The cruise line has explained why self-assist debarkation is essential for efficiency and how the priority benefit applies.
- Priority guests are still the first off even if they self-assist their own luggage, despite some confusion about how the perk works.
With Carnival Cruise Line’s new Carnival Rewards program and loyalty changes very much in cruise news lately, it’s no surprise that travelers are examining different perks.
One guest is upset at a particular perk and claims it isn’t a perk at all because of how Carnival implements the benefit.
So frustrated is the guest that they reached out to John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, and not very politely.
The guest notes that they are Platinum, one of the higher level members of the cruise line’s Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) program. So am I, for what it matters (it doesn’t – for me or for them).
They have sailed recently aboard Carnival Vista, which is homeported year-round from Port Canaveral, offering 6- and 8-night Caribbean itineraries. Their problem, however, isn’t with anything onboard the ship, but with leaving the ship.
“We are supposed to get off the ship before the rest of the passengers who are not [Platinum],” the guest said.
“Our routine is I put our luggage out the night before and let Carnival handle it. Then on debarkation morning, we go to the MDR for breakfast as soon as the doors open. Why has Carnival started to let those schlepping their own bags off before platinum and diamonds? This is not then priority is it, Mr. Butterball?”
By putting their luggage out for the crew to handle for debarkation, this guest is clearly not self-assisting as they leave the ship. Furthermore, by attending the Main Dining Room breakfast, they’re also not interested in debarking as soon as possible.
That’s fine, of course, everyone has different preferences for debarkation morning. I prefer to debark right away and am, in fact, “schlepping” my own bags off.
What this “priority” guest appears to want is for the entire ship to wait until they have enjoyed their breakfast and feel ready to make their way off the ship.
Despite the very rude “Mr. Butterball” directed toward John Heald, he still responded to their concerns.
“Our VIFP guests do have priority and are the first guests to leave the ship who the night before had placed their bags outside of their cabin door,” he confirmed.
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This does not mean Platinum and Diamond guests are actually the first to debark, however. They are simply the first to have their luggage handled by crew members and organized in the cruise terminal for a smooth departure.
“We must allow those who have taken self assist, carrying all their own bags, to leave the ship. There are two basic reasons for this,” Heald explained.
“1 – We do not have storage space on the ship to keep overnight every suitcase and bag from every guest. 2 – It helps guests, including Diamond and Platinum, to leave the ship as early as possible to make a flight, etc.”
To be clear, even self-assist guests are subdivided into priority and non-priority departures. Diamond and Platinum guests who will be carrying all their own bags have a special location to wait for debarkation, and they are escorted off the ship as soon as customs has cleared the vessel.
This is not the first time Heald has addressed the same issue, but one more point must be made.
This is not a new policy, though the guest claims Carnival has “started” it. In fact, this order of debarkation priorities has been in place for years. If they really are Platinum, the guest ought to be aware of this.
Why Can’t Priority Debarkation Be Honored?
While this guest claims that their priority debarkation perk is not being honored, the order of debarkation and permitting self-assist guests off the ship first is essential.
Carnival Vista, for example, has a double occupancy of 3,934 guests. This could mean 8,000 or more bags that need to be moved off the ship.
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If crew members had to move every single bag, debarkation would take significantly longer. Instead, self-assist guests are leaving the ship, moving through customs, and exiting the cruise terminal and parking lots even while crew members are sorting and organizing bags for regular debarkation.
The longer debarkation takes, the later embarkation for the next sailing must be. This would have a knock-on effect for when the ship could depart its homeport or how early it must return at the end of the cruise.
