Not what it once was

Just grinning and calling customers by name isn't sufficient to be called great service. Platinum level membership has several "perks" First on & off. Luggage in room quickly. Chocolate strawberries waiting in room. Gift with a logo in the room. Cocktail party. and a few other things representing little investment by Carnival. None of the above items were performed or delivered without prompting. A "head" waiter at dinner who described the ice cream as "sugar free" when told that is raised my sugar level by over 200 points thought it was fodder for joking for the remainder of the week. The room service was spotty at best. Refrigerators are no longer stocked; room service is the source of in-room beverages. Requests made to the room steward are generally deflected by telling the customer who to call. The cocktail party waiters were bordering on surly. The entertainment has bounced back a bit but is still generally a variety of showcases for the staff singers and dancers. Variety is sparse. The "wandering" staff on the Lido deck seems to be noticeably smaller. Almost no beverage service left. In preparation for leaving, the theater was FULL of platinum, First ti the fun, special assistance, and anyone who wandered in people. It diluted the "exclusive" nature of the experience to the level of being a peasant. Upon reaching the baggage there was about a 30 minute wait for the area to be opened. Nice coordination. Although the amenities and service were somewhat lacking, there were several delightful staff members. The young woman, Ericka from Joplin Missouri, who hosted the trivia games, was the epitome of spunk and determined motivation. The young woman from India who assisted at dinner defined friendly. The young man who prepared breakfast omelets made customers feel special and made it look easy. Issuing Sign & Sail cards in various colors denoting  various levels of privilege is meaningless if the staff don't confer appropriate attention. First time and nearly first time cruisers seem compelled to inquire what the colors mean. "Not much" is a mean spirited but accurate response.