Long road trips and big expectations can make tempers flare, especially when things don’t go as planned.
In a heated letter posted on social media, a Platinum level Carnival guest accused the cruise line of reneging on its promise of early cabin access.
“If we are Platinum, you said we can go straight to our room. That is a LIE,” wrote the passenger. “This is another perk pulled from under our feet.”
Citing exhaustion after a 14-hour drive, the guest on an unidentified Carnival voyage expressed outrage that the stateroom steward “bluntly told” her and her husband to leave after they attempted to use the cabin to take a nap before it was officially ready.
John Heald, Carnival’s charismatic brand ambassador, responded with his trademark humor but also clarified the cruise line’s policy.
“Diamond, Platinum, Faster to the Fun Guests, those in suites, and anyone from Cleveland, Ohio (kidding), can go to their cabins as soon as they go on board,” he stated.
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But he also expressed the access was simply to drop off items.
“They can drop off their luggage, but please, leave straight away. The cabins will not be ready to the high standard you will all expect until approximately 1:30 p.m.,” he continued, shining a light on the demanding schedules faced by stewards.
For Carnival Cruise Line’s hardworking stateroom stewards, the time between disembarkation of one cruise and embarkation of the subsequent cruise is a whirlwind of activity.
After passengers from the previous voyage leave, crew members have just a few short hours to prepare the ship for hundreds, if not thousands, of new arrivals.
This includes cleaning, restocking, and ensuring staterooms meet cruise line – and passenger – standards.
Balancing Efficiency and Guest Enjoyment
But even with those tight turnarounds, the cruise line does offer a range of boarding perks for its loyalty members, particularly those in the VIFP (Very Important Fun Person) Club.
Platinum and Diamond members receive expedited boarding that allows them to skip long lines and board the ship early with a dedicated check-in line and priority luggage delivery that gets their belongings to their staterooms earlier in the day.
These guests, along with those who purchase the Faster to the Fun (FTTF) program or stay in suites, can access their cabins earlier than other guests. However, as Heald clarified, this is limited to dropping off luggage if arrival is before 1:30 p.m.
However, that doesn’t mean the perk isn’t worth it, as guests can begin enjoying and exploring a ship as soon as they embark.
For example, passengers can head to the pool deck to soak up the sun, grab a bite at popular spots like Guy’s Burger Join or the Blue Iguana Cantina, or enjoy a cocktail at one of the ship’s bars to toast the start of a vacation.
Many ships also host welcome events, with Diamond and Platinum members typically invited to exclusive receptions where they can mingle with other cruisers and ship officers.
All guests will always find live music and entertainment as they settle into vacation mode, and many use embarkation time to get familiar with the ship’s layout and to book shore excursions, dinner reservations, and spa treatments.
For families, kids’ clubs like Camp Ocean provide activities for younger passengers, while sports courts and fun areas are also open to entertain and give everyone something to do while waiting for their staterooms.
So, while guests may not have full access to their cabins after boarding a ship, they can give the tireless crew time to make everything perfect by taking advantage of all the fun to be had even before unpacking.
