Baltimore Platinum Cruisers

[sallyb]

I'm looking for some feedback from platinum cruisers from the Port of Baltimore. We are booked on the Pride for our first platinum cruise. We cruised Pride two years ago and there were so many platinum cruisers that they used all the #1 & #2 boarding numbers. There was no special room, just a separate section of the same chairs. DH wants our first platinum experience to be special- he wants the room with couches, cookies, etc. that we see from Florida ports. If anyone has recently sailed from Baltimore as platinum, can you please tell me about your experience?

[sallyb]

Well I know there ere plenty of platinums in 2009, where are they now?

[lives to cruise]

I was just at the Port last Sunday and they still only have a section roped off in the main waiting area where Platinum's sit. I have to say that Ft Laud. haad the best Platinum waiting area and yes, cookies and pastries and juice an coffee. Maybe Baltimore will catch up someday.

[WhansaMi]

I'm looking for some feedback from platinum cruisers from the Port of Baltimore. We are booked on the Pride for our first platinum cruise. We cruised Pride two years ago and there were so many platinum cruisers that they used all the #1 & #2 boarding numbers. There was no special room, just a separate section of the same chairs. DH wants our first platinum experience to be special- he wants the room with couches, cookies, etc. that we see from Florida ports. If anyone has recently sailed from Baltimore as platinum, can you please tell me about your experience?

 

As far as I know, the situation is still the same. I'll come back and let you know of any changes in April.

 

But, and I mean this nicely, I really do.... is this really something to be concerned about? Small amenities like that are nice.... but, is it something to be fretful over, or plan to leave from another port to have?

 

Cruises are wonderful. You've been fortunate to be able to take ten of them; many people never have the opportunity, or if they do, it is once in a lifetime.

 

I consider myself fortunate, in today's economy, to be able to experience such luxuries -- the twice daily room service, the white glove dinner treatment, the afternoon teas, just the opportunity to lie by the pool and have someone wait on me.

 

Now that I've reached the half century mark, I have really grown to appreciate the concept of "gratitude". There is so much we take for granted... so much to be grateful for that we seem to somehow consider "our due".

 

I'm watching the news of Japan, and remembering Katrina, and the tsunami in Phuket, and it all makes me wonder if we have lost the ability to have perspective on our lives, and the lives of others around us.

 

So, if I were you, I'd go to my hubby, give him a big hug and a big kiss, and tell him that I am HAPPY that we will be out in the open area, where **everyone** could see just how lucky I am to have this wonderful, blessed life with him.

[nybumpkin]

We were VIP in Baltimore last July. There was a separate room for check-in and a separate waiting area for zones 1 and 2 to wait (we were zone 2). The check-in room was crowded. All I was interested in was being early to board so we could get a cabana on HMC - the rest of it didn't matter to me. And it all worked just fine.

[ryanpatricksmom]

It hasn't changed. The only segregated area is where you actually check-in. While you wait to board you will be in a roped off area facing the gen pop. :D

 

The only thing that I will mention is if you are sailing when the weather is still chilly....wear warm clothes. The waiting area, especially along the wall where priority boarding is parked, can be very cold if they've opened up the overflow boarding area. We had a boarding delay in December, and it was freezing...and I was wearing a sweatshirt and jeans.

[Ptlm21]

Sailed the Pride from Baltimore last week (3/6). Huge line when we arrived but were directed immediately to (our first on any cruise line) VIP registration. Waited all of 30-45 seconds before being seated to complete registration. We were then escorted directly to the gangway and moved quickly with the line onto the ship. Cabins weren't accessible at that point (still being serviced), but we were permitted to drop our carry-ons off at our cabin. Went to Lido deck & had lunch.

Total time from drop off by hotel shuttle to lunch on Lido deck was less than 20 minutes!

Loved it! Now reluctant to sail with any other line because we don't want to go through an embarkation w/o the VIP incentive ever again! It was a really nice perk in Baltimore.

Think you will be pleased at how quick and easy you get through the "system."

[PA Dutchman]

More and more platinums and all the VIPs trying to bring all there friends and relatives thru the VIP area. So we will see more and more people in the VIP areas. Miami has the best waiteing area and they throw the non VIPs out. Thats our entertainment in the VIP area. It only matters prior to the start of embarkation after that, don't really matter. We did 3 cruises out of Baltimore all Platinum and all they do is put you in a different row of chairs prior to embarkation with the rest of the VIPs. You get on the ship 10 to 15 min before the herd starts.

[sallyb]

As far as I know, the situation is still the same. I'll come back and let you know of any changes in April.

 

But, and I mean this nicely, I really do.... is this really something to be concerned about? Small amenities like that are nice.... but, is it something to be fretful over, or plan to leave from another port to have?

 

Cruises are wonderful. You've been fortunate to be able to take ten of them; many people never have the opportunity, or if they do, it is once in a lifetime.

 

I consider myself fortunate, in today's economy, to be able to experience such luxuries -- the twice daily room service, the white glove dinner treatment, the afternoon teas, just the opportunity to lie by the pool and have someone wait on me.

 

Now that I've reached the half century mark, I have really grown to appreciate the concept of "gratitude". There is so much we take for granted... so much to be grateful for that we seem to somehow consider "our due".

 

I'm watching the news of Japan, and remembering Katrina, and the tsunami in Phuket, and it all makes me wonder if we have lost the ability to have perspective on our lives, and the lives of others around us.

 

So, if I were you, I'd go to my hubby, give him a big hug and a big kiss, and tell him that I am HAPPY that we will be out in the open area, where **everyone** could see just how lucky I am to have this wonderful, blessed life with him.

 

I'm with you. It's DH that just wants this first platinum experience to be over the top. I'm so happy to be able to cruise from home! This enables us to take a second cruise in the same year! I realize how lucky we are, just get me on the ship.