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Boarding Priority

tgmg00a

By tgmg00a,
in Princess Cruises

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tgmg00a

tgmg00a

Posted
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How does Princess establish their boarding priority? I would expect Elite status and the like members would get a preference, but for the first time folks are there assigned time or is it the first in line get handled first.

 

Thanks

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Pam in CA

Pam in CA

Posted
Posted
How does Princess establish their boarding priority? I would expect Elite status and the like members would get a preference, but for the first time folks are there assigned time or is it the first in line get handled first.
It depends on the port but generally, in-transit passengers board first, wedding party passengers next, BVE passengers, Elite passengers, Platinum passengers and finally, general boarding based on when you arrive for check-in. You'll be given a boarding group number. Boarding usually starts between 11:30-Noon. Those needing assistance are boarded a few at a time between groups.
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Mary Ellen

Mary Ellen

Posted
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It depends on the port but generally, in-transit passengers board first, wedding party passengers next, BVE passengers, Elite passengers, Platinum passengers and finally, general boarding based on when you arrive for check-in. You'll be given a boarding group number. Boarding usually starts between 11:30-Noon. Those needing assistance are boarded a few at a time between groups.
Where do suite passengers come into play? Are they part of the general boarding?
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Sox Fan Cruiser

Sox Fan Cruiser

Posted
Posted

If there is an Elite lounge then Elites will be the first to board. There isn't always one and it fills up. And all members of your party must be Elites to get in the lounge.

 

If you aren't in the Elite lounge, then all Elites and Platinum are together and will board at the same time. There is no different between Elites and Platinum in this area. Gold does not get this perk.

 

After that they will start boarding the general population. It's by what time you arrived at the Port.

 

Once they start boarding they continue by when you arrived. But the Elite and Platinum folks get to proceed on board and not wait at the "back of the line".

 

(Legalese: There may some differences to the above based on the port of embarkation.)

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Pam in CA

Pam in CA

Posted
Posted
I defer to Pam. She thought of everyone!
I forgot the full suite passengers as well. :)

 

When I did the BVE on the Sapphire a couple of weeks ago, it was a highly unusual boarding. I got there by 10:30am and the terminal was just about empty! However, there were a few very dressed up people checking in. Odd. :) Turned out that there was a luncheon for 200 people (not sailing), a wedding with about 75 guests taking place in the Wheelhouse at about Noon, and another large wedding party boarding for the cruise. Princess had them all checked in by just after 10:30am. I boarded at 11:15am and for the first hour, just about everyone I saw had either a suit or a dress on. The only people not dressed up were the B2B's. :) Totally strange, but nice.

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Bruin Steve

Bruin Steve

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And us lowly Rubies? We can get on early if we board as "cargo"... :)

 

Seriously...Last time I just got to the ship fairly early ...got a really good number...and we were onboard pretty much right on the heels of the Elites and Platinums...

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RickEk

RickEk

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I forgot the full suite passengers as well. :)

 

When I did the BVE on the Sapphire a couple of weeks ago, it was a highly unusual boarding. I got there by 10:30am and the terminal was just about empty! However, there were a few very dressed up people checking in. Odd. :) Turned out that there was a luncheon for 200 people (not sailing), a wedding with about 75 guests taking place in the Wheelhouse at about Noon, and another large wedding party boarding for the cruise. Princess had them all checked in by just after 10:30am. I boarded at 11:15am and for the first hour, just about everyone I saw had either a suit or a dress on. The only people not dressed up were the B2B's. :) Totally strange, but nice.

 

We were on this sailing. From what I was told, the suits were Princess executives, including the CEO.

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Lanwood

Lanwood

Posted
Posted

Does Princess ever follow their notified boarding times??

ie - deck x = 11am, deck y = 12pm etc

Or is it just a best attempt to stager eager new arrivals?

Always get the e-mail, but never actually seen it followed through as yet.

Always as discussed above followed by FIFO (first in First out) number system.

 

The only cruise line that I've been on that actually followed the notified deck=time system was Cunard....

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trbarton "Live from...." Rare

trbarton

Posted
Posted
Does Princess ever follow their notified boarding times??

ie - deck x = 11am, deck y = 12pm etc

Or is it just a best attempt to stager eager new arrivals?

Always get the e-mail, but never actually seen it followed through as yet.

Always as discussed above followed by FIFO (first in First out) number system.

 

The only cruise line that I've been on that actually followed the notified deck=time system was Cunard....

 

I've never seen it enforced so I feel that's it just a guideline.

 

Tom:)

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IECalCruiser

IECalCruiser

Posted
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General boarding is first come first served.

 

Do people who are general boarding have to stand in a que the entire time and wait to board? I have back issues and although I am alright when moving or sitting I can't stand in one position for any period of time.
It does vary by port. I have not been to a port where there was not seating available. The exception may be San Francisco because boarding had already begun when we got there for our March 5 cruise. This is an example for several ports.

 

  • In LA (San Pedro) Blue, Gold and Ruby are assigned boarding groups based upon check in time. Once you are checked in, you can sit down until your boarding group is called.
  • In Copenhagen you are sent to a specific set of rows of chairs and they call rows to check-in and board.
  • In Vancouver there was a waiting area with rows of seats divided into an area for Elite, Suite and Platinum passengers and another for Ruby, Gold and Blue. You filled the seats as you arrived and they boarded by row.

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IECalCruiser

IECalCruiser

Posted
Posted
In San Francisco I have priority boarding but that only gives me a special line for check-in but after that I'm in a line with everyone else. No priority line for boarding.

 

Tom:)

For reasons I won’t go into, we didn’t get to Pier 35 for our March 5 cruise until almost noon. Traffic was not bad and our luggage was quickly unloaded from our taxi and transferred to the baggage handlers. Boarding had already started when we made it into the terminal and there was no line at the preferred check-in and we quickly had our cruise cards. There was a fairly long line snaking back from the entry door to security to the front of the building back to the entry door to security and back to the front of the building again with people boarding. We started to get at the end of the line, but someone realized we had come from the preferred check-in and they ushered us into the portion of the line line closest to the entry door allowing us to skip 2/3 of the waiting line. We hadn't asked for this, but we didn't refuse. After we went through security, there was Princess staff checking cruise cards. When they noticed our black cards, they escorted us to a separate shorter line that was boarding forward rather than midships. Don't know how much quicker we got on board, but there was some priority, at least for us. We didn't flash our black boarding passes and push for priority in boarding, but we didn't turn it down when offered.
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sept10dsm

sept10dsm

Posted
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While we were gold a few years ago we were travelling with my daughter with a baby. They did let us board with Elite! I was very happy and surprised. We did not ask for anything special nor was there an issue with the child.

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ggprincess2004

ggprincess2004

Posted
Posted
Do people who are general boarding have to stand in a que the entire time and wait to board? I have back issues and although I am alright when moving or sitting I can't stand in one position for any period of time.

 

If, when you arrive, it looks as if there will be significant line and you will not be able to stand, find a Princess rep and request a wheelchair. If one is not immediately available, you and your party will be escorted to a special seating area until one becomes available. Please do not be shy about doing this. At various points in time, most of us will experience physical limitations which are not immediately apparent, and taking help where available makes it possible to enjoy various things, including cruising. Bon Voyage!

 

I have issues which can flare up without much "notice", so what I can easily do one day may not be possible the next. What I have learned is to respect the limitations and do what I can, accept help when needed.

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