The Trials of Check-In!

[RJChatsworth]

It started two years ago. Whenever we check-in at dockside to embark any Cunard ship we have a problem which began as mildly amusing, not only for us, but also for those manning the desks which has become quite irritating. It last happened in August boarding QE but happened again today with QM 2.

 

Good morning Mr R and all goes well at check-in. My wife is with me. Which Mrs R is checking in - there is only one Mrs R. But we have two in that cabin - check-in lady says she doesn't know what to do and calls a supervisor who looks in dismay and says I have not seen this before. After much faffing about one Mrs R is deleted until the next time. I went to Reception and they said they'd never come across a phantom passenger before but would advise an officer. I also contacted my Personal Cruise Specialist in Southampton and after investigating with experts came up with nothing. I await the officer's response.

 

Also today at check-in the lady said she wouldn't be able to take our photos because the camera was bust. She told us to get our piccies taken at security when we boarded the ship. I relayed the message at security and they swiped my card and said there is your photo and showed me. It was me but an old photo as the hair line was different. No-one can explain that almost suggesting at security and Reception that couldn't happen!

 

Then on returning to our tidy cabin from the drill prior to sailing there was a man in uniform looking in our wardrobe. He was a bit taken aback when we entered the cabin and said he was checking to see if we were on the ship as there was no evidence that we had boarded.

 

An interesting day!

[fantasy51]

I can see it could become irritating. However, it makes a great story! You can approach each cruise now wondering what story you'll have with which to regale us.

[pmb1]

… Then on returning to our tidy cabin from the drill prior to sailing there was a man in uniform looking in our wardrobe. He was a bit taken aback when we entered the cabin and said he was checking to see if we were on the ship as there was no evidence that we had boarded.

 

An interesting day!

Let us hope that the idiot who thinks that you aren't aboard is the one who would otherwise be posting charges to your onboard account.

[DDBINK1]

I can see it could become irritating. However, it makes a great story! You can approach each cruise now wondering what story you'll have with which to regale us.

 

Are you suggesting the post is untrue? Or that the same or similar problem may occur with minor changes next cruise? I can see there being a storage of pics in the system but I don't see how a person could be allowed past the check in without getting a pic taken?? The check in area always has multiple cameras and people to take pics for the security check in. Maybe I am too tired to understand this whole line of thought sharing??

[Salacia]

It started two years ago. Whenever we check-in at dockside to embark any Cunard ship we have a problem which began as mildly amusing, not only for us, but also for those manning the desks which has become quite irritating. It last happened in August boarding QE but happened again today with QM 2.

 

Good morning Mr R and all goes well at check-in. My wife is with me. Which Mrs R is checking in - there is only one Mrs R. But we have two in that cabin - check-in lady says she doesn't know what to do and calls a supervisor who looks in dismay and says I have not seen this before. After much faffing about one Mrs R is deleted until the next time. I went to Reception and they said they'd never come across a phantom passenger before but would advise an officer. I also contacted my Personal Cruise Specialist in Southampton and after investigating with experts came up with nothing. I await the officer's response.

 

Also today at check-in the lady said she wouldn't be able to take our photos because the camera was bust. She told us to get our piccies taken at security when we boarded the ship. I relayed the message at security and they swiped my card and said there is your photo and showed me. It was me but an old photo as the hair line was different. No-one can explain that almost suggesting at security and Reception that couldn't happen!

 

Then on returning to our tidy cabin from the drill prior to sailing there was a man in uniform looking in our wardrobe. He was a bit taken aback when we entered the cabin and said he was checking to see if we were on the ship as there was no evidence that we had boarded.

 

An interesting day!

 

RJ - Interesting, indeed! I would find it rather disconcerting, to say the least! Will you be requesting a chat with whomever is in charge of Security?

 

Best wishes to you & your wife for an enjoyable voyage. -S.

[Pushka]

It's the little things that get annoying and makes you wonder if they get the big things right.

 

On an RCL cruise last year, when scanning my pass, it came up with a guy's name, and the person before me (a guy!) came up with my name. It was almost like we had to prove that we were right, and their system had messed up! Weird.

[balf]

What happened to the QM2 ghost?

 

David.

[RJChatsworth]

Since my first post I have spoken to the manifest officer on the ship. He tells me that it does happen from time to time that the shore side check-in computers show a phantom passenger but he said it doesn’t usually happen with one person over such a protracted period. He said he didn’t think he could do anything about it, ‘computers old boy’ although he didn’t use those last two words, but the sentiment was there. He said he would take the matter up with Cunard in Southampton, but don’t hold your breath!

Someone asked about other check-in positions taking our photographs. When our lady said her camera was bust the person on an adjacent check-in, having not heard our conversation, remarked quite loudly, ‘My camera isn’t working’, and I suspect that prompted our lady to suggest we should have our photos taken at ship’s security as we boarded. As I mentioned previously, when our cards were swiped at security up came old photos of us. The manifest officer couldn’t explain this and said when he checks us on his office computer we are shown as having no photos at all. Reception had also remarked separately that we had boarded the ship without any photographs being taken, nor was there any evidence of the old ones we had seen at security. The manifest officer is investigating. No-one has suggested we should have new ones taken.

[Salacia]

Since my first post I have spoken to the manifest officer on the ship. He tells me that it does happen from time to time that the shore side check-in computers show a phantom passenger but he said it doesn’t usually happen with one person over such a protracted period. He said he didn’t think he could do anything about it, ‘computers old boy’ although he didn’t use those last two words, but the sentiment was there. He said he would take the matter up with Cunard in Southampton, but don’t hold your breath!

Someone asked about other check-in positions taking our photographs. When our lady said her camera was bust the person on an adjacent check-in, having not heard our conversation, remarked quite loudly, ‘My camera isn’t working’, and I suspect that prompted our lady to suggest we should have our photos taken at ship’s security as we boarded. As I mentioned previously, when our cards were swiped at security up came old photos of us. The manifest officer couldn’t explain this and said when he checks us on his office computer we are shown as having no photos at all. Reception had also remarked separately that we had boarded the ship without any photographs being taken, nor was there any evidence of the old ones we had seen at security. The manifest officer is investigating. No-one has suggested we should have new ones taken.

 

RJ, thanks for the update. Since there's no boarding photos of you on file, you won't have any problems with security at disembarkation, will you? -S.

[fantasy51]

Are you suggesting the post is untrue?

 

No, of course not! I refer you to the Wiki dictionary. Story: a recounting of a sequence of events.

 

This is exactly what the OP gave us: a sequence of events. 'Story' does not imply made-up. I was trying to put a positive spin on things for the OP. He's had all these things happen to him in the past and it therefore seems likely that they'll happen in the future. He can approach check-in with trepidation and annoyance or he can approach it with a sense of fun, knowing that he'll give us a few laughs when he tells us about it.

[RJChatsworth]

Just to complete the story of our check in. Tomorrow we arrive in Southampton. Yesterday we received a full page typed letter from the chief cashier about non payment of our on board account. Cash/credit cards etc and about payment deadlines etc. We'd had our usual credit card swiped at shoreside check in two weeks ago! They had no record of it.

 

I wish they'd been as casual with our final payments a few weeks ago!!

[Toffeegirl68]

Surely if you never got on, you couldn't have spent anything - plus, if you never got on, they can't expect you to leave so won't go looking for you!

 

You could dance all night and sleep all day on a sun lounger and eat in the Kings Court.

 

Go on !!! Stow away and write a blog!!!

[RJChatsworth]

And finally........ This is the first time I can ever remember, in all the cruises we have been on, we did not receive a final questionnaire on the day before disembarking.

 

Perhaps we should never have been allowed on!

[Salacia]

And finally........ This is the first time I can ever remember, in all the cruises we have been on, we did not receive a final questionnaire on the day before disembarking.

 

Perhaps we should never have been allowed on!

 

RJChatsworth, well, I wouldn't say "finally" until you actually disembark :)

BTW, we didn't get a survey questionnaire (QM2 last October). Instead, it was sent via e-mail after we arrived home. Cheers, -S.

[Whitemarsh]

It started two years ago. Whenever we check-in at dockside to embark any Cunard ship we have a problem which began as mildly amusing, not only for us, but also for those manning the desks which has become quite irritating. It last happened in August boarding QE but happened again today with QM 2.

 

Good morning Mr R and all goes well at check-in. My wife is with me. Which Mrs R is checking in - there is only one Mrs R. But we have two in that cabin - check-in lady says she doesn't know what to do and calls a supervisor who looks in dismay and says I have not seen this before. After much faffing about one Mrs R is deleted until the next time. I went to Reception and they said they'd never come across a phantom passenger before but would advise an officer. I also contacted my Personal Cruise Specialist in Southampton and after investigating with experts came up with nothing. I await the officer's response.

 

Also today at check-in the lady said she wouldn't be able to take our photos because the camera was bust. She told us to get our piccies taken at security when we boarded the ship. I relayed the message at security and they swiped my card and said there is your photo and showed me. It was me but an old photo as the hair line was different. No-one can explain that almost suggesting at security and Reception that couldn't happen!

 

Then on returning to our tidy cabin from the drill prior to sailing there was a man in uniform looking in our wardrobe. He was a bit taken aback when we entered the cabin and said he was checking to see if we were on the ship as there was no evidence that we had boarded.

 

An interesting day!

 

Oh oh….I wonder. No it couldn't be.

 

Well what a strange turn of events, but sometimes things just go wrong all at once. Probably best just to get it over and done with. You seemed to have taken everything that happened with good humour, so good for you.