VIP boarding....

[gusandgidgetsmom]

Seattle was the worst VIP ever for us!!! Not only were we VIP but my daughter-in-law was on crutches and we got stuck boarding with everyone else. We were there early as well.

What about Seattle?

[tammi0916]

Just read your review of the valor....it was great!!! We have booked OS 7317, originally had an aft but upgraded to the suite.....we spend a lot of time in our cabin and on the balcony. Like you there are 3 of us, DD and I spend ALOT of time together until she abandons me for camp carnival. DD is turning 9 on this cruise and I turn 50! Sooooooo excited!

 

 

thanks so much! We had a great time on that cruise. I am looking forward to our next one in July on the Pride!

 

Tammi

[Guest LoveMyBoxer]

Does a Junior Suite count to get VIP boarding? We will be in a Junior Suite in May.

 

Sorry, no.

[goinsoon]

My Miami VIP experoence was awesome, easy and by far heads and shoulders above Tampa.

 

we walked inot the terminal, saw the VIP sign with NO ONE in line, i tried removing the srap thingy and got yelled at by security, went and got a Carnivl rep 10 feet away who opened it. Went straight to VIP, a separate area........just keep asking for VIP if you miss the signs.....waited maybe 3 people and then did not have to wait to board at all. Left theroom and just went to board...not a problem.....whole process maybe took 15 minutes the week of Feb 12 on the Valor.....

 

akk i can say is GREAT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! in Miami.....

 

About two weeks till Tampa boarding...first time VIP. What is it like in Tampa? Thanks.

[H82seaUgo]

Sorry, no.

 

are you sure? i always though they were included, but i was platinum once i sailed in one.

[Guest LoveMyBoxer]

are you sure? i always though they were included, but i was platinum once i sailed in one.

 

Yes, we had a junior suite last year on the Pride and no VIP. :(

[LisaH]

Anyone know what it is like in Fort Lauderdale?

 

It was great! We just took our first Carnival Cruise in Feb on the Miracle. We had booked an Ocean Suite. Our embarkation was delayed as there was a medical emergency on the previous cruise.

 

The VIP boarding came in very handy. We bypassed all lines and believe me the security line was so long as everyone arrived at the port at the same time due to the delayed boarding. We went right through and were directed to the VIP lines. We then waited in a roped off area for a short time and were allowed to board about 20 minutes later.

 

The check-in lines for non VIP probably took at least an hour...Now we are spoiled.

[mizLORInj]

About two weeks till Tampa boarding...first time VIP. What is it like in Tampa? Thanks.

 

We arrived at the Tampa port around 11am and after entering the building went up an escalator to the security area, where I did not see VIP posted anywhere. So we waited in the 10 minute security line which wasn't a big deal. Not sure if they have a separate security line when it's peak arrival time. If it had been more busy at the time we arrived, I probably would have asked about it.

After you are past security, there is a separate check-in room; it's clearly marked.

No separate room for waiting to board but you'll be on after wedding parties board.

Have fun! We had great weather on the Legend Western itin when we sailed it late 2010.

[near the beach]

Our experience was in Miami the same security line and in Ft. Lauderdale a separate security line. Then both to a separate check in and waiting area were you get called to board before the number one from the other waiting area.

 

So far Miami has had the best VIP lounge.

 

We did not have VIP status when we last sailed from Tampa. However the VIP area was very small and a lot of the VIP’s were sitting out in the regular waiting area with the rest of us.

 

We have two cruises coming up from two different terminals in Port Canaveral. We will soon see what the VIP check in is like there.

[cruisenanny]

Does a Junior Suite count to get VIP boarding? We will be in a Junior Suite in May.

 

Yes. JS, OS and GS all get VIP boarding. (the ONLY difference between the JS and OS is the balcony size, otherwise it is exactly the same room) Go to Carnival and view your luggage tags or boarding pass, it should say VIP. Enjoy!

[Spurs Fans]

We had one of the two Owner's Suites on Sensation last summer out of Port Canaveral. We always arrive early anyway, so there was no line as we entered the building through the VIP entrance. We were stopped and asked which room we were in, as soon as we said Owner's Suite, we were treated like royalty. We were escorted up the escalator, past the regular counter and into a private office where a very nice lady made our room cards for us. Then she escorted us out of the office, directly to security and then onto the ship. She led us up to our room and gave us a tour of the room. We did not have to wait till the regular time to get into our room. It was a very nice experience!

[truecruiser]

We had one of the two Owner's Suites on Sensation last summer out of Port Canaveral...

 

i thought they changed the owner's suites on all fantasy class ships into camp carnival space years ago when they dry docked them to put in waterworks:confused:

[PegNRay]

Does FLL have a separate vip entrance?

 

Thanks

[tiggerman101]

Here is my experience with the following ports (note that we always get there early):

 

-Miami: Separate lines upon entering, nice separate rooms for check in with couches, etc. walk out to escalator and your good to go.

 

-Ft Lauderdale: Separate counters, small room "area" by the windows. We were early and it got very crowded. Led to the ship first.

 

-Jacksonville: separate security line, led to a small room for check in, then wait back out in a roped off area and on ship before everyone else.

 

-Seattle: Um...card table in middle of check in area. Set in a separate area and led on the ship first.

 

-New York: Seperate line and led to small room for check in. The room had couches, but got pretty crowded waiting. led on ship first.

 

-Barcelona: Take escalator upstaires to seperate open area above the masses. Check in at table and relax on couches. led back down and onto ship first.

 

-San Juan; Separate line and small room for check in and waiting. Led on ship first.

 

-New Orleans: Separate entrance, lines, etc. Small room for check in and led on ship first. NOLA was the port that really made a difference being VIP for me. We bypassed horrendous lines for check in. My sister and I were on the ship an hour and a half before the rest of my (non VIP) family and we all arrived at the same time.

 

Overall, they are all different. Most have water, etc set out and cookies in the area. If you go when they are already boarding then you basically just zoom through, check in, and get on the ship.

[Greatescapes]

In Galveston, you are escorted around long lines and through security to a comfortable room where coffee, juice and breakfast pastries awaits you while you set on plush couches until you are called to come sit at a desk as you check in and they give you your Platinum VIP card a little small talk with the guest relations people before you are swept off to board the ship first! Oh ... how Platinum has its privileges..... (I do remember setting in those lines watching those people be escorted around and wishing man I wish I was VIP) Its well worth the wait! :D

[gelo7]

Some ports give you a "special" room and you get a faster check in.

[JaniceB]

Anyone had VIP in Vancouver?

[near the beach]

i thought they changed the owner's suites on all fantasy class ships into camp carnival space years ago when they dry docked them to put in waterworks:confused:

 

Camp Carnival is on deck ll. The owner’s suites are on deck 12. Passengers in the owner’s suites get “special” treatment.

 

I heard that Carnival has them on all of the Fantasy class ships. Probably on all ships.

 

They are hard to get and very expensive.

[H82seaUgo]

Camp Carnival is on deck ll. The owner’s suites are on deck 12. Passengers in the owner’s suites get “special” treatment.

 

I heard that Carnival has them on all of the Fantasy class ships. Probably on all ships.

 

They are hard to get and very expensive.

 

if memory serves, they didn't put them on the last couple of fantasy class ships. not sure which ones or how many.

[JUGGER]

so, what exactly is vip boarding? If i remember correctly everyone waits in a very long line to go through security then you get your zone card....is that when you go to vip area? Or do vip's go through a different security (shorter) line? It seems to me that the long wait is going through security, after that it's a pretty painless wait. Can anyone clarify the procedure for vip boarding?

hi--vip boarding is for passengers who have sailed more the 10 cruises with carnival---there is a separate line--quick and painless----otherwise you stand in line with the regular passengers---and that too moves fast. The joyces---happy cruising

[tracyanns]

In NY you have a separate secruity line and then are escorted to a private room with comfy couches, cookies, coffee and lemonade. Then you are escorted onto the ship.

 

You must have gone on a different pier than us...and that is another issue...some ports have different piers and depending on if something is going on, you could be in a different one where things might be different.

 

In October when we sailed out of NY on pier 88 we went in the same building, up the same escalator, through the same security lines and there is no VIP until after security...a separate counter that had 1 person checking people in where we were led to the VIP room that consisted of ice water and the same chairs everyone else sat in, which didn't have enough chairs for everyone. We were led to the area they took your sign and sail pics and then walked onto the ship...the only thing special was that we got to board first...other than that...it was no different than the others but we got a separate check in area.

[H82seaUgo]

You must have gone on a different pier than us...and that is another issue...some ports have different piers and depending on if something is going on, you could be in a different one where things might be different.

 

In October when we sailed out of NY on pier 88 we went in the same building, up the same escalator, through the same security lines and there is no VIP until after security...a separate counter that had 1 person checking people in where we were led to the VIP room that consisted of ice water and the same chairs everyone else sat in, which didn't have enough chairs for everyone. We were led to the area they took your sign and sail pics and then walked onto the ship...the only thing special was that we got to board first...other than that...it was no different than the others but we got a separate check in area.

 

we had that once, early in the vip program.

 

last we used it, we went to the end of that rest room house, id'd ourselves, they took us to the front of the security line, let us go through (got some dirty looks, which i gave right back), and then escorted to the check-in area.

 

and all the way through, had a separate line, including the picture taking part.

[Lily429]

not too impressed, as others have said really the only perk is priority boarding and disembarking, which was nice. Good to know I won't be missing much on my future cruises!:D

[MardiGras316]

How do you get VIP status with Carnival? What is it like at the Charleston site?

[ellen9974]

I would also like to know about VIP in Charleston :)