VIP Boarding Question

[2snorkel/cruisers]

My husband and I will have VIP boarding this cruise and we will have other family members on the same cruise who do not have it but we are traveling together. Will Carnival let them board with us as well?

[big_duck]

Only if you are paying the bills.

[Alliezona09]

Only if they are minors or you are attaching the S&S card to your credit card~

[firefly333]

Have you been reading any of the Faster to the Fun threads?? For $49.95 each cabin can board VIP. Otherwise, only if you are paying their onboard expenses and they have to check in with you because they are on your credit card.

 

http://www.carnival.com/Activities/Excursion/101031

 

You can always check in and go sit with them in the regular boarding area too, its not that big of a difference.

[leadout_kv]

I can't promise this but I have seen at the port depending on the mood of the carnival reps they'll let the whole party board together. It's just what I've seen so as there's have said it may not be possible.

[richfret]

That brings up a good point. I also have heard in the past that some Carnival reps would allow others in the party to board with VIFP cruisers. Now with the new $49 program, they will probably tell the non VIFP cruisers to pay for the priviledge. Kind of good news, bad news.

[serene56]

My husband and I will have VIP boarding this cruise and we will have other family members on the same cruise who do not have it but we are traveling together. Will Carnival let them board with us as well?

 

 

how many family members are you talking about?

 

I know the last few cruises I was able to get my dad to board with us but we needed to add him to my credit card information.= so when we check in his onboard spending is tied to my card.

 

By doing this his card was with ours.

[KenMo]

According to JH, even if you purchase FTTF you do not get in the VIP lounge.

 

Still would be separate boarding unless as already stated...they are minors or are on your credit card.

[scperk]

We have gotten our cards and gone over and boarded with our friends so we could get a boarding picture together...Once they allowed one couple to board VIP with us but that was long ago..Dennis

[2snorkel/cruisers]

Thank you all for the information!

[BigDfromTN]

Just be aware.

 

If you do get to take them with you into the VIP area. Their S&S cards are in another area and someone will have to go there and retrieve those cards for them. This in my opinion is asking a bit much and truly holds up others that have earned the VIP status.

 

If you want to board with them. I would suggest you go to VIP, Let them go to their designated spot. Then meet up and have pics made etc. After they get their cards. IF they are boarding you can likely have them tag along with you at that point.

 

Enjoy your cruise!

[travler27]

On our last cruise out of NOLA, the regular boarding went much faster than VIP. They may just beat you on board anyway.

[LittleJeanne]

We only had 1 experience with cruising with family members that were in a different room and not VIP. And it would be hard to tell from our experience what is or isn't allowed.

 

Our son is a police officer and is at the shoting range on a regular basis. The backpack that he was using as his carry-on is the backpack that he uses when going to the range. Apparently he had 3 bullets that had fallen down into an outer pocket of his backpack and were wedged into a seam. He thought he had completely emptied out the backpack before packing it with his cruise stuff. But when he put the backpack through the metal detector it found the bullets. Security then detained our son and his wife for questioning. The 2 boys aged 12 and 14 walked with us to the VIP lounge. Hubby and I were processed through quite quickly and then sat just outside of the VIP room with the boys waiting for their parents. We didn't try to take the boys in with us or utilize any of the amenities in the room while with the boys. The ladies running the VIP room seemed very worried about us though and brought out cookies and lemonade for the boys. They also asked if they wanted coloring books etc.

 

After about 45 minutes, during which our son had to show his police ID, and fill out multiple reports, and sign off on his luggage that he had checked being pulled and searched. They finally released our daughter in law to go get in the regular line. Our son, meanwhile was heald until the ships head security officer could leave the ship and come out and read through all the reports and talk to our son. he then released him to board the ship.

 

By the time our son was released our daughter in law was just being called to the counter to actually check-in. The security people walked our son right up to our DIL and then came and apologized to us for the delay.

 

Once their family was all checked in with their red and blue cards the security guy brough them over to where we were waiting in the VIP area and one of the VIP ladies escorted the group of us to the front of the line.

 

We were at the port by 10 am and according to everyone we must have hit the perfect lull to get our son processed though so fast. They said usually when someone has items in their carryons that aren't allowed by federal law they have to wait at least 2 hours. The VIP lady said she has seen people actually miss the ship over it.

 

Once our son showed his police id and everything was ironed out the staff went above and beyond to make sure that we got onto the ship and we were all treated with respect and courtesy.

[jrmende63]

Our son and Daughter in law were allowed to board with us in VIP, however, we were the only ones at that time in VIP. The rest of the VIP's had not shown up yet...Yep we were early! I don't think now though with the F2F program that folks will be allowed to do this. I guess it is a waiting game to see or not!