VIP boarding....

[H82seaUgo]

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

 

on your tenth cruise, or a suite or jr suite.

[tracyanns]

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.

 

How long ago was that? This was our experience last October. I actually told my husband it would have been better to get regular check in and get #1, atleast we would have been near the bathrooms and not in a small crowded room with the same chairs as the rest of the pier...maybe they were remodeling.

 

We went up the escalators, came around the corner, went through the same security as everyone, as normally you would go straight for normal check in, the VIP was as soon as you go through security on the right, at the end of the regular desk...VIP room was directly to the left of security...

[H82seaUgo]

How long ago was that? This was our experience last October. I actually told my husband it would have been better to get regular check in and get #1, atleast we would have been near the bathrooms and not in a small crowded room with the same chairs as the rest of the pier...maybe they were remodeling.

 

We went up the escalators, came around the corner, went through the same security as everyone, as normally you would go straight for normal check in, the VIP was as soon as you go through security on the right, at the end of the regular desk...VIP room was directly to the left of security...

 

last june, at the southern pier, or the one on the left.

[ChefSusan]

You get VIP status by either booking a Suite or going on 10 cruises. If you book a suite, the only VIP treatment you get is early boarding; after sailing on 10 cruises, you currently get:

• Priority boarding at the beginning of the cruise
  
• Priority debarkation at any port where you tender to the port. Many people will tell you that you also get priority boarding on the tenders back to the ship - this is totally false and not offered. Some people will try and strong-arm the people who are responsible for filling up the tenders, as well as push their way to the front. Total nonsense! Be an adult and wait like the rest of us!
  
• Complimentary laundry for the duration of the cruise. Some say it's daily, some say it's only once during the cruise. We've sent out an average of three bags of laundry on our cruises since getting platinum, and have never been charged.
  
• Complimentary entry into either the slots or blackjack tournament - either or, not both.
  
• Priority seating for your preferred dinner selection. Meaning, you will never be wait-listed for early, late, or Your Time. This does NOT mean that you can push your way to the front of the line for Your Time Dining and demand to be seated. Saw this on one of my cruises and nearly cringed!
  

 

Of course, this will all be changing when JH and the rest of the beard unveil the new Loyalty program in June - or whenever they finalize everything!

[katiel53]

In Ft Lauderdale we asked about VIP boarding and we told by the porters where to go and we were then put through a special line and waited in a special area with juice and cookies.

 

In Pt Canaveral it is necessary to walk to the front of the line, even if it's huge, show the VIP boarding to the person checking boarding docs and then we were whisked away. Our Sign & Sail passes are in a separate room from all the others. Before getting to that room, there is someone directing traffic and that person sends people to the correct location. While waiting to be checked in at the VIP boarding area, there are comfortable chairs instead of standing in line.

 

After the cards are given, we were then put into boarding zone 1 and were the first to board after the wedding parties. I know far more about Pt Canaveral as we sail from there frequently. We haven't done VIP anyplace else other than Ft Lauderdale and it didn't seem as nice there except there were snacks that aren't in Pt Canaveral.

[MomofBoyz]

Port Canaveral - terminal 5 we had a separate waiting area along with the separate line. However at terminal 3 we had the separate line but same waiting area.

 

Also, just a sidenote, at terminal 3 we were moved from the VIP check in to regular because VIP opened after regular and we were there around 10:00 - VIP not open yet.

 

That never happened at terminal 5.

 

Only time it really made a huge difference was with the Owners Suite at Terminal 5 on Sensation and that was SUUWEEET. Front of line, first to board, etc. However, once in a lifetime cause of the cost!

[cruiseVA2012]

I'm traveling in a room with 2 friends, 2 of us have our Platinum status the 3rd does not. Will our other friend have the VIP boarding or will we be forced to leave him to fend for himself?

[LAdad]

VIP at Long Beach? Any experiences?

[Bunkie103]

VIP in Vancouver was almost non-existant. A rather rude employee told us that it no longer was done because almost everyone is VIP. I did see a sign for VIP and in spite of her saying it wasn't a special line there were only a few people on it, including us. I think Carnival sails out of Vancouver so infrequently it just isn't a big issue to Carnival.

[momof4boys]

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

 

 

Maybe it depends on ship. On Conquest and Fantasy the Junior suite is VIP.

[Lets Ride]

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?

 

 

Good Evening

 

Platinum are first, the suites are next.

[momof4boys]

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

 

In Charleston, when you get into the actual port building, there was a separate VIP line. We walked right up, then we were sent immediately to the CCL people getting financial information, given our S & S card, off to pictures and immediately on board. Once they actually allowed us in the port building....it was 10 minutes or less till we were on board.

 

Now....the wait to get into the building is a WHOLE nother story! :(

[njoyndride]

VIP at Long Beach? Any experiences?

 

Long Beach is great. There's a small separate building, they take your name and you remain seated while they get everything ready for you. Once your seapass is ready they escorted us to the entry of the dome and we were on the ship in a matter of minutes. Loved it.

[big_duck]

I'm traveling in a room with 2 friends, 2 of us have our Platinum status the 3rd does not. Will our other friend have the VIP boarding or will we be forced to leave him to fend for himself?

 

Non-platinum in the same cabin or on the same credit card for S&S card may go with you.

[FloridaGators]

Anyone know about San Diego???

[acireta]

We just did VIP boarding in Miami last weekend. We told the first set of employees that we saw that we had VIP boarding, and we got to bypass the long line for the metal detectors. There were separate metal detectors for VIP.

 

We were traveling with 2 people who didn't have VIP boarding but they let them go with us so we could stay together!

 

Then we went up the escalator and into the VIP lounge. The staff were so sweet and funny, and so excited for us for our trip. They had our SnS cards ready to go, and we were checked in within 5 minutes. They walked us to the escalator and wished us a good trip.

 

The longest wait of the whole process was to get through the final check to get onto the gangway after we had our picture taken, but it was maybe 5 minutes.

 

It was an awesome experience, and I will never cruise without VIP boarding again!!

[MrsZee]

Here is another (not so fool-proof) way to get VIP boarding without being platinum, booking a suite or being in a wedding party...

 

Have a toddler in a stroller loaded down with toys, pull a few pieces of luggage behind you, mess up your hair so you look like you just got put through the ringer a few times (bags under your eyes will help too), and try to look as pitiful as possible because you just had to wait in an hour long line in the rain for a shuttle because the port of Mobile couldn't get there S*** together. You'll get moved straight to the front of the line. :D:rolleyes:

 

 

That was awful, but I sure was thankful for that sweet old man.

[wdnoble9999]

Good Evening

 

Platinum are first, the suites are next.

 

No distinction between platinum and suites when boarding on the Miracle in FLL a few weeks back. Both were boarded as a single group, first. Interesting that there was a distinction between 'special needs' folks... handicapped or otherwise requiring special assistance. Platinum and suites were boarded first, with the special access folks allowed on board afterward. Separate lines for VIP, separate waiting area with cookies, water, lemonade, etc. We arrived at the terminal at around 10:30 and were on board by 11:00 or so. Really nice to have a relaxing lunch on the lido before the buffet got slammed with the general boarding crowd. Also allowed us to stake our claim for loungers on the Serenity deck. Nice way to start a cruise, me thinks...

[Jsaxm]

I know people have bagged on the Seattle facilities for VIP, but can someone at least tell me why? Is there a separate line and security for VIP, etc?

 

Thank you!

[glrounds]

Long Beach is great . . . special building . . . coffee, croissants, juice . . . walked to a special entrance door for just VIPs . . . first on board . . .slicker than snot. 15 minutes TOTAL.:D

 

[jiggs]

I was very happy with FLL. We decided to make our first day a beach day and didn't rush to the ship. First cruise with a 2 year old and we didn't want to wait long to get to our cabin.

 

Regardless, the general like was probably 90 minutes long. We bypassed right to an open security lane, right to the end of the check in desks to get the SS...no line for stupid pictures and on board we went.

 

I'm not sure, but it was probably 15 minutes from Taxi to Lido. Almost felt guilty...almost.

[tracyanns]

No distinction between platinum and suites when boarding on the Miracle in FLL a few weeks back. Both were boarded as a single group, first. Interesting that there was a distinction between 'special needs' folks... handicapped or otherwise requiring special assistance. Platinum and suites were boarded first, with the special access folks allowed on board afterward. Separate lines for VIP, separate waiting area with cookies, water, lemonade, etc. We arrived at the terminal at around 10:30 and were on board by 11:00 or so. Really nice to have a relaxing lunch on the lido before the buffet got slammed with the general boarding crowd. Also allowed us to stake our claim for loungers on the Serenity deck. Nice way to start a cruise, me thinks...

 

Not in NY either...same room and all were boarded together.

[Chmie]

A few years ago we had a suite on the Elation out of San Diego which made us VIPs. The terminal was full of passengers but we were guided to VIP boarding and within 15 minutes were walking onto the ship. I don't remember a separate room with plush couches or treats just a separate line. Hopefully our next cruise out of Galveston will be as swift. Sure made us feel "special" walking past all the sweating peons in steerage. :D

[LHP]

VIP in Vancouver was almost non-existant. A rather rude employee told us that it no longer was done because almost everyone is VIP. I did see a sign for VIP and in spite of her saying it wasn't a special line there were only a few people on it, including us. I think Carnival sails out of Vancouver so infrequently it just isn't a big issue to Carnival.

 

 

From everything I have read....San Diego is similar.

 

"VIP" starts after you have gone through Security...which really isn't much of a VIP (since that is where most of the standing in line happens)...

 

But Carnival does not sail out of there year round....so that is what I attributed the less than VIP status to.

[TrulyTexan]

I know people have bagged on the Seattle facilities for VIP, but can someone at least tell me why? Is there a separate line and security for VIP, etc?

 

Thank you!

 

 

We had VIP out of Seattle lasts summer because we had booked a suite. But we arrived at the Port a little after 10:00am so there were no lines at all. So I don't know if there are separate lines for security and check-in. But I do know that there was not a separate waiting area. We were in the lobby with everyone else. But we had a Zone 1 boarding pass and were the first group to board.